Not a "real Nexus?" WTF?

**Murph5150** · 04-30-2012, 06:59 PM

I've read many threads, most of them flaming one phone or another, but I've read many people writing that the Galaxy Nexus isn't a "real Nexus." Why the hell would people say that? This phone, which I recently upgraded to from a Rezound, is the best performing phone I've ever owned. Thoughts?

**dmmarck** · 04-30-2012, 07:02 PM

It's just a metaphysical viewpoint on stuff, usually coming down to an individual's subjective belief of what a Nexus may or may not be.

**Patrick Schroedl** · 04-30-2012, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by dmmarck

It's just a metaphysical viewpoint on stuff, usually coming down to an individual's subjective belief of what a Nexus may or may not be.

This.

In perhaps less abstract terms, different users have different viewpoints about what levels of carrier (Verizon) integration/interference (update vetting, data usage restrictions, pre-installed apps) disqualify a "Nexus"-branded phone from retaining the 'authentic' (again, open to interpretation) "Nexus" (Google) experience.

**chubb** · 04-30-2012, 07:12 PM

My short list definition of a nexus as follows.
Easily unlocked and rooted
Vanilla android
No manufacturer skins
No carrier bloatware(city I.D, Let's Golf, etc. I don't consider My Verizon bloatware. VZW backup assistant, toss up on that one.)
People get all up in arms because the updates don't come right from Google. There is something about the keys to connect to the CDMA network that the carriers won't release. So Sprint and Verizon have to test and approve each update which will slow down the process compared to GSM phones.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

**Murph5150** · 04-30-2012, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Lumenii

This.

In perhaps less abstract terms, different users have different viewpoints about what levels of carrier (Verizon) integration/interference (update vetting, data usage restrictions, pre-installed apps) disqualify a "Nexus"-branded phone from retaining the 'authentic' (again, open to interpretation) "Nexus" (Google) experience.

I think it is pretty safe to say this phone delivers a true Google experience sans the late 4.0.4 update.

**Patrick Schroedl** · 04-30-2012, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Murph5150

I think it is pretty safe to say this phone delivers a true Google experience sans the late 4.0.4 update.

I certainly don't disagree.

**qnet** · 04-30-2012, 08:30 PM

I haven't been on this forum in quite awhile. I remember I once spent almost all my time on the internet here, waiting on the Gnex release LOL.

The Verizon Nexus never really felt like a pure Google phone as I have experienced it in the past but, I don't dispute that it's a real nexus phone.

Now that I've learned how to Root and am comfortable installing custom roms, having a pure Google device on any particular network is not as important to me as it once was. When the next nexus device is released, if there is any carrier interference, I can now make the phone I purchased my own the way I want it.

**moosc** · 04-30-2012, 08:35 PM

How many threads do we need on this subject? Its even been talked about on the podcast.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

**pauliphone5** · 04-30-2012, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by qnet

I haven't been on this forum in quite awhile. I remember I once spent almost all my time on the internet here, waiting on the Gnex release LOL.

The Verizon Nexus never really felt like a pure Google phone as I have experienced it in the past but, I don't dispute that it's a real nexus phone.

Now that I've learned how to Root and am comfortable installing custom roms, having a pure Google device on any particular network is not as important to me as it once was. When the next nexus device is released, if there is any carrier interference, I can now make the phone I purchased my own the way I want it.

Which is one of the nicest things about a phone like this.

**pauliphone5** · 04-30-2012, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by moosc

How many threads do we need on this subject? Its even been talked about on the podcast.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

How many members do we have? Nobody is forcing you to read these threads I hope.

**asmallchild** · 04-30-2012, 08:55 PM

just rooted today, it is DEFINITELY a nexus

**Wildo6882** · 04-30-2012, 08:57 PM

I've been (impatiently) waiting for the Nexus to get updated to fix the issues that made me stray from it in the first place, and I'm not too pleased that Verizon has such a heavy hand in the update process. I'll be the first to admit I don't fully understand how all that works. But why would Verizon "have" to have a hand in the update process because of CDMA radios when Apple releases their update to the masses for CDMA and GSM phones and it doesn't seem to have any effect on the radios whatsoever.

I'm definitely not bashing Android and singing the praises of Apple. I just don't understand why Samsung has to run it through Verizon when Apple doesn't. I want the Nexus to work like it should. It's such an awesome phone.

I agree with what others have said about what makes a Nexus. And Verizon's overly aggressive hand is the only thing I see that would make it "not be a Nexus."

**SSHGuru** · 04-30-2012, 09:47 PM

Google is the one that sends the updates. Verizon is the one that has to give the thumbs up.

I would guess the update isn't too far off. I'm happy with it right now so I'm not very upset.

**SOTK** · 04-30-2012, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Murph5150

I've read many threads, most of them flaming one phone or another, but I've read many people writing that the Galaxy Nexus isn't a "real Nexus." Why the hell would people say that? This phone, which I recently upgraded to from a Rezound, is the best performing phone I've ever owned. Thoughts?

You may be referring to the difficulties Google has run into working with CDMA carries and devices. Its true that a few months back Google made the decision to stop releasing or pushing official development ICS versions to Galaxy Nexus CDMA phones. It has something to do with legalities and problems inherent within CDMA technology and licenses. I'm no lawyer so i don't completely understand the whole problem but I do know enough that until CDMA carriers change some things, having a Nexus device on their services makes it difficult for Google to develope on.

This could be what you've stumbled upon in certain threads.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

**Jerry Hildenbrand** · 04-30-2012, 10:14 PM

An update can consist of 4 parts:
system image
boot image
recovery image
radio image

Google builds the system image, boot image, recovery image from their source code.

Samsung and Verizon build the radio image.

In the system image, there are a handful of files that need changed because the Nexus is on a CDMA network. Google does not have the required licenses to re-distribute these files, they must come from Samsung and Verizon.

Google has a penta-band unlocked reference device. They build a version of Android for it, and test on it. When it passes their testing, the update is ready as far as Google is concerned. Verizon and Samsung then take that update (probably in the form of source code, not zip files) and make the required changes to allow the Nexus to work on a CDMA network. When finished, they give the green light for the update to be distributed from Google's servers.

Take everything above, and apply it to LTE as well, since it's a very closed and proprietary standard.

Because these versions are different when built, they need a different version number. This is why the GSM Nexus and CDMA Nexus will never be on the same version.

4.0.4 is the current version of Android. Any fixes special or specific to the CDMA Nexus are not included -- because Google does not have license to include them.

4.0.5 (maybe) will be the version for CDMA. It will never be in AOSP, because it uses code that is not open source.

Now is the time to ask any other questions. I'll try to answer if I know the answer.

**Andrew Martonik** · 04-30-2012, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Murph5150

I've read many threads, most of them flaming one phone or another, but I've read many people writing that the Galaxy Nexus isn't a "real Nexus." Why the hell would people say that? This phone, which I recently upgraded to from a Rezound, is the best performing phone I've ever owned. Thoughts?

Wait a sec. I'm not getting in on the real vs fake Nexus argument right now, but just because its the best performing phone you've ever used doesn't make it a Nexus...

The phone can be great and not a Nexus at the same time. Those things aren't mutually exclusive. I think people take it the wrong way when some say that the Verizon model is a "fake", assuming that that means its not a capable device.

**Jerry Hildenbrand** · 04-30-2012, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by martonikaj

Wait a sec. I'm not getting in on the real vs fake Nexus argument right now, but just because its the best performing phone you've ever used doesn't make it a Nexus...

Don't get me started Andrew. :P

The people who make the phone, write the software, and coined the term Nexus decided it was. Anyone else can crow all they like, but their definition has little bearing

**Andrew Martonik** · 04-30-2012, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand

Don't get me started Andrew. :P

The people who make the phone, write the software, and coined the term Nexus decided it was. Anyone else can crow all they like, but their definition has little bearing

Hah okay Jerry, just thought I'd throw it out there. I think your previous post was quite informative and gets people to ask the right (technical) questions about the subject.

And yes I agree, what some random people say has little bearing to what "Nexus" really means. Google (who make the device and distribute the software) are the first and last authority on what device is a Nexus.

**Jerry Hildenbrand** · 04-30-2012, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by martonikaj

Hah okay Jerry, just thought I'd throw it out there. I think your previous post was quite informative and gets people to ask the right (technical) questions about the subject.

And yes I agree, what some random people say has little bearing to what "Nexus" really means. Google (who make the device and distribute the software) are the first and last authority on what device is a Nexus.

Which brings forth the real question:

What is a Nexus?

**Andrew Martonik** · 04-30-2012, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Hildenbrand

Which brings forth the real question:

What is a Nexus?

Think you'd be hard pressed to get an on the record statement from someone at Google telling you what they define it as, if only to not start an amazing flame war (even worse than what's going on now!) from every single Galaxy Nexus owner.

I'd assume that the "purists" would say that a Nexus is a device which can get its fully functioning software compiled directly from AOSP/Google with no strings attached.

It of course hits a grey area because I'm sure Google would love to be able to freely distribute the CDMA/LTE radios if they could, but they simply aren't allowed to. Which then brings another, deeper grey area as to why they decided to try and make a "Nexus" on Verizon in the first place if they knew ahead of time that they wouldn't be able to distribute the radios.

**Jerry Hildenbrand** · 04-30-2012, 10:45 PM

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.

**2defmouze** · 04-30-2012, 10:47 PM

Nice post up there, Jerry. I even learned me a thing or 2

**davey11** · 04-30-2012, 11:12 PM

Ah the stuff we gotta give up to be on a blazing fast lte network. Since no gsm nexus can get speeds like us, it's a fair trade.

This post courtesy of Tapatalk2

**voghan** · 04-30-2012, 11:35 PM

If you have to root your phone to get access to an app that is available in the market.... it's not a real Nexus. If the phone never moves past Android 4.0.2... its not a real Nexus. I bought this phone because I was tired of running a phoned one or two versions behind. Deep down I wonder if Verizon will release Jelly Bean on this phone.

I shouldn't have to root to get these things yet I feel I must root to get these things. Its not a real nexus.

**Droid800** · 05-01-2012, 02:54 AM

Originally Posted by voghan

If you have to root your phone to get access to an app that is available in the market.... it's not a real Nexus. If the phone never moves past Android 4.0.2... its not a real Nexus. I bought this phone because I was tired of running a phoned one or two versions behind. Deep down I wonder if Verizon will release Jelly Bean on this phone.

I shouldn't have to root to get these things yet I feel I must root to get these things. Its not a real nexus.

If you're talking about Wallet, you don't have to root to get it. And we don't even know why it isn't officially available. For all we know, sprint has an exclusivity deal for carrier subsidized phones with wallet. (Only sprint phones in the us have wallet, the others are unlocked)

And for the last time: Verizon does not control which updates this phone gets. It will get updated to jelly beand and whatever comes after it, and Verizon has no say in the matter. You've had ICS for six months longer than any other phone on Verizon, and will STILL get updates sooner. The complaining that this 'isnt a real nexus' is not only false, but its patently absurd.

If you don't feel its a real nexus, there's the door. Enjoy attempting to root that Razr maxx or rezound.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2