Note: This is just a thought/blog post. This was written to encourage discussion. This is not based off any facts or reports, I'm not saying there certainly won't be a Nexus 2012 phone (I wouldn't mind if there is), but I'm just throwing my thoughts on the matter.
Based off previous Nexus releases, Google typically release a Nexus device on a new version of Android:
Nexus One: 2.1 Eclair (Eclair 2.0 had been around before the Nexus One, but not 2.1)
Nexus S: 2.3 Gingerbread
Galaxy Nexus: 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Nexus 7: 4.1 Jellybean
Now I'm wondering where Google will go from here. A couple of questions I have in regards to a new Nexus phone is:
1. Is there a likelihood that the next version of Android (Key Lime Pie) will be released before the end of 2012?
2. Would Google release a new Nexus device without a new version of Android software running on it?
In reference to point 1, I'm not so sure. Google had just released Jellybean, and while it was a superb release, I'm not so sure if Google would be dishing out another version of Android this year. ICS had been revealed in October 2011 with the release in November I believe. Jellybean was revealed late June this year at Google's I/O event. A new Nexus version would have had the least amount of time worked on it, which could mean possibly an even smaller update than Jellybean and a less impressive software update for the release of a new phone.
The second point is what I'm most interested in. Would Google go ahead and release a new Nexus device without a new version of Android accompanying it? Almost sounds like blasphemy, but it could be an option this year. Is Google's Nexus line now a strong enough brand (with the success of the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus before it) that it can stand as its own product and doesn't have to rely on the appeal of a new Android version that Nexus devices have had so far? Again, I'm not so sure.
And hypothetically if Google were to release a Nexus phone this year, without the next version of Android and just run on Jellybean, what type of phone would it be and how would they market it? Looking at the Nexus 7, I initially thought that it could be a good specced device for a relatively low price; great bang for your buck as the Nexus 7 is. However, the Galaxy Nexus still exists, also has Jellybean and would almost certainly be cheaper than the Nexus 2012 phone anyway. If people were after value for money Nexus phone, the Galaxy Nexus would possibly be the preferred phone and would make the Jellybean running Nexus 2012 phone almost obsolete.
So another option would be to make the phone an immensely high-end phone with the latest and greatest specs to compete head-to-head with the Galaxy S3, HTC One X and iPhone 5. I believe this would be an almost-acceptable alternative to not having a new version of Android, but would still leave it without
And who's to say Google even need to release a new phone? The Galaxy Nexus is still a very capable phone, runs Jelllybean exceptionally well even with it's now 'mediocre' specs. Google have also released a new Nexus device this year in the form of a 7" tablet. Do they really need to release a phone?
I honestly don't think a new Nexus phone is required for 2012. If one is released, I'm thinking it'll be a smaller software update than Jellybean was, or be a stand-alone phone which wouldn't have much appeal unless it was ridiculously high-specced. I feel the hardcore Android consumers have gotten their Nexus fix with the Nexus 7 and Jellybean. Let Google continue to work on Key Lime Pie and have a robust software update (possibly even big enough to be a 5.0 release rather than a 4.2), and maybe hold off the release of a new Nexus phone until 2013 some time (possibly Google I/O).
Feel free to tear my post apart and call me a moron.
Based off previous Nexus releases, Google typically release a Nexus device on a new version of Android:
Nexus One: 2.1 Eclair (Eclair 2.0 had been around before the Nexus One, but not 2.1)
Nexus S: 2.3 Gingerbread
Galaxy Nexus: 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Nexus 7: 4.1 Jellybean
Now I'm wondering where Google will go from here. A couple of questions I have in regards to a new Nexus phone is:
1. Is there a likelihood that the next version of Android (Key Lime Pie) will be released before the end of 2012?
2. Would Google release a new Nexus device without a new version of Android software running on it?
In reference to point 1, I'm not so sure. Google had just released Jellybean, and while it was a superb release, I'm not so sure if Google would be dishing out another version of Android this year. ICS had been revealed in October 2011 with the release in November I believe. Jellybean was revealed late June this year at Google's I/O event. A new Nexus version would have had the least amount of time worked on it, which could mean possibly an even smaller update than Jellybean and a less impressive software update for the release of a new phone.
The second point is what I'm most interested in. Would Google go ahead and release a new Nexus device without a new version of Android accompanying it? Almost sounds like blasphemy, but it could be an option this year. Is Google's Nexus line now a strong enough brand (with the success of the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus before it) that it can stand as its own product and doesn't have to rely on the appeal of a new Android version that Nexus devices have had so far? Again, I'm not so sure.
And hypothetically if Google were to release a Nexus phone this year, without the next version of Android and just run on Jellybean, what type of phone would it be and how would they market it? Looking at the Nexus 7, I initially thought that it could be a good specced device for a relatively low price; great bang for your buck as the Nexus 7 is. However, the Galaxy Nexus still exists, also has Jellybean and would almost certainly be cheaper than the Nexus 2012 phone anyway. If people were after value for money Nexus phone, the Galaxy Nexus would possibly be the preferred phone and would make the Jellybean running Nexus 2012 phone almost obsolete.
So another option would be to make the phone an immensely high-end phone with the latest and greatest specs to compete head-to-head with the Galaxy S3, HTC One X and iPhone 5. I believe this would be an almost-acceptable alternative to not having a new version of Android, but would still leave it without
And who's to say Google even need to release a new phone? The Galaxy Nexus is still a very capable phone, runs Jelllybean exceptionally well even with it's now 'mediocre' specs. Google have also released a new Nexus device this year in the form of a 7" tablet. Do they really need to release a phone?
I honestly don't think a new Nexus phone is required for 2012. If one is released, I'm thinking it'll be a smaller software update than Jellybean was, or be a stand-alone phone which wouldn't have much appeal unless it was ridiculously high-specced. I feel the hardcore Android consumers have gotten their Nexus fix with the Nexus 7 and Jellybean. Let Google continue to work on Key Lime Pie and have a robust software update (possibly even big enough to be a 5.0 release rather than a 4.2), and maybe hold off the release of a new Nexus phone until 2013 some time (possibly Google I/O).
Feel free to tear my post apart and call me a moron.