We like to assume that Google caters to users who compile their own builds from the code. I think that's absolutely false.
Some folks working for Google really care about open source for open source's sake. I respect and admire those folks. But I'm pretty sure Google, on the corporate level, only cares about Android being open source so OEM's can afford to build devices that use Google search and GMail. Google's primary goal is to make huge piles of money.
I *think* the Nexus phones were designed solely to have a reference for application developers. A series of devices that all use the same, and most current, API level. The point release numbers just don't matter. What matters (to Google) is that software developers can buy a phone to use to build apps, so more people buy Android phones, and more people use Google search and GMail.
We're the ones who decided the "developer" tag on developer phones meant the OS and custom ROMs, not Google.
Some folks working for Google really care about open source for open source's sake. I respect and admire those folks. But I'm pretty sure Google, on the corporate level, only cares about Android being open source so OEM's can afford to build devices that use Google search and GMail. Google's primary goal is to make huge piles of money.
I *think* the Nexus phones were designed solely to have a reference for application developers. A series of devices that all use the same, and most current, API level. The point release numbers just don't matter. What matters (to Google) is that software developers can buy a phone to use to build apps, so more people buy Android phones, and more people use Google search and GMail.
We're the ones who decided the "developer" tag on developer phones meant the OS and custom ROMs, not Google.