16 gigs is just way too small, I don't want to put stuff on the cloud.

[JeffDenver]

They like that you are amusing and are thanking you for making them feel really smart.

LOL, whatever you gotta tell yourself.

 

[Aquila]

I think we can discuss this without insulting each other and/or comparing thanks ratios. I second the motion for a main blog post about the history and philosophy of the Nexus program.

 

[Scott7217]

The Chromebook is indeed a cloud focused device, but it is meant to be your first cloud laptop and transitional. You need an SD card to get all your old stuff into the cloud to begin with. LOL

It also serves as a bootable source when needed.

Okay, that makes sense. I don't own a chromebook, but I can see your reasoning behind the SD card. Also, I didn't know that you could boot from an SD for a chromebook, but I think it's analogous to what people did with the first Nook Color tablet when that first came out. I've heard people put stock Android on an SD card, inserted it into the Nook Color, and booted directly into a vanilla Android environment. (I don't think it's necessary for the later Nook tablets because those have full access to the Google Play Store now.)

So, if I had to summarize, the SD card on a chromebook serves several functions:
1. It helps users load their stuff into the cloud.
2. It helps new users transition from a competing product.
3. It allows users to boot their device when needed, which developers may find useful.
4. It provides expandable storage that's limited only by your budget. (You can buy multiple SD cards and swap them when needed.)
5. It helps in cases of catastrophic device failure. (Just pull out the card, insert it into a new device, and continue where you left off.)
6. It simplifies the lineup of devices because you do not need to sell multiple models that differ only by internal storage (e.g. an 8 GB model versus a 16 GB model).
7. It allows users to perform tasks when internet access is unavailable.
8. It complements the cloud when internet access is available.
9. It allows side loading of apps that are not available from an online store.
10. It provides a means of transporting data that could otherwise be intercepted over the internet. (Just take the card out, go to a new destination, and drop it off.)
11. It provides concrete evidence that Google is not against removable storage on products designed to Google specifications and sold in the Play Store.
12. It provides a possible lawsuit defense against Apple in cases where Apple has a similar product that lacks an SD card slot.

Would similar reasoning apply to a hypothetical Nexus smartphone with a micro SD card slot? You could take the same reasons I summarized and just replace the word "chromebook" with "Nexus." Would that make sense?

 

[minnemike]

YEah, in some regard the N4 could be considered a developer's platform too and a bootcamp device for the new cloud, but I think it's marketed appeal is much more than that.

From what I have read, the Chromebook (and it's price point being so high) is not really targeted as a consumer device. It has been rolled out as a development platform or something for only the most geeky of Chrome/Google fans to dive into. But laptops have a totally different purpose than a phone and the vision here is most likely a "home base" for all your google appliances. But, to be sure, this is purely a developer's machine to dive into the world of Chrome.

Here is a good article: The Chromebook Pixel project - Android Authority

 

[berdinkerdickle]

SD cards are inexpensive.
The cloud uses data - costs more for bigger data plan.
Even some of the cheapest phones have SD slots, so it can't cost the manufacturer much at all.
I just don't see why anyone would argue against having hardwired expandable storage.

 

[TheLibertarian]

They don't? What do all those likes and thanks mean then?

Any regarding this topic? Hahaha.

Will you be purchasing the Google Edition GS4?

 

[Aquila]

SD cards are inexpensive.
The cloud uses data - costs more for bigger data plan.
Even some of the cheapest phones have SD slots, so it can't cost the manufacturer much at all.
I just don't see why anyone would argue against having hardwired expandable storage.

The argument against having them is outlined in the reason Google did away with them, but I don't think many people are arguing that they're useless or that having them makes the phone worse. I think it's more accurate to say that not having it doesn't cripple the device. There are a lot of positions ranging from "I don't want you to have it" to "I don't care if I have it or not" to "I must have it" to "I want to force you to have it" and everything in between. Both of the extremes are of course ridiculous positions for anyone that isn't involved in the manufacturing conversation, such as all of us.

 

[Scott7217]

YEah, in some regard the N4 could be considered a developer's platform too and a bootcamp device for the new cloud, but I think it's marketed appeal is much more than that.

From what I have read, the Chromebook (and it's price point being so high) is not really targeted as a consumer device. It has been rolled out as a development platform or something for only the most geeky of Chrome/Google fans to dive into. But laptops have a totally different purpose than a phone and the vision here is most likely a "home base" for all your google appliances. But, to be sure, this is purely a developer's machine to dive into the world of Chrome.

Here is a good article: The Chromebook Pixel project - Android Authority

Thanks for the article on the Chromebook Pixel! That was a good read!

So, if I understand your reasoning correctly, if there were a cheaper Chromebook available, that would appeal more to consumers. Likewise, if there were a more expensive Nexus 4, that may appeal to developers because such a model would presumably have more developer-friendly features, like a micro SD card slot. Do I have that correct, or am I missing something?

 

[Scott7217]

It actually goes far beyond just drivers. It will be interesting to see how many features they can or choose to retain without the Sense and Touchwiz frameworks. If it were as simple as drivers, the mods would be able to port the camera software, Beats, and software for other features over to the N4 easily. Unfortunately, these are integrated with the framework, so it will be interesting to say the least.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I look at the Google Edition phones as a big experiment. The high price alone will discourage the average consumer because few people are willing to pay so much up front. So maybe these phones will only appeal to Android fans who would have bought a Nexus but wanted a different hardware configuration instead.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were a lot of bugs with these phones. However, the phone companies and Google will learn from the experience. Next year we'll probably see several phones from different manufacturers for sale on the Google Play Store, in addition to the Nexus.

 

[dsneedmd]

I think the answer to all our problems is a Bluetooth or wi/fi external portable(battery powered) HD. Paying to stream data is crazy expensive, & not available too often.

 

[Funkyoid]

I have just bought a nexus 4 and I although I am not worried about the 16gb my partner is (who I also got a nexus 4 for as a present) and so I bought a wifi external battery powered hard drive called gauntlet node and its amazing. I had a spare 2.5" HDD drive anyway so the wifi enclosure was worth its weight in gold in my opinion. It has pass through internet so no problems accessing my wifi internet and the wifi drive at the same time. You can connect 8 devices at once, so I now have 1TB for more than just my nexus 4 but my kindle too. Plus battery last 5.5hrs with it being used. I have taken it camping so I can watch movies and access the internet on more than one device using my mifi . Its brilliant. It cost me ?75 - but I would have paid that for the extra memory on the phone and to be honest this is way better. If you dont have a hard drive then there is that cost too - or they sell a complete package (320gb plus enclosure) for ?100. But you can buy 1tb drives for about ?50 anyway. Just an idea for those who really do want LOTS of extra space and dont mind the portable wifi hard drive option.

 

[Captainbob767]

I think the answer to all our problems is a Bluetooth or wi/fi external portable(battery powered) HD. Paying to stream data is crazy expensive, & not available too often.

One could carry a 2 TB drive and battery to power it, in a roll cart, and you could store hundreds of movies on it. Never have to stream or use the cloud, ever.......:-X

 

[minnemike]

Thanks for the article on the Chromebook Pixel! That was a good read!

So, if I understand your reasoning correctly, if there were a cheaper Chromebook available, that would appeal more to consumers. Likewise, if there were a more expensive Nexus 4, that may appeal to developers because such a model would presumably have more developer-friendly features, like a micro SD card slot. Do I have that correct, or am I missing something?

I don't know about the developer phone angle... I think that was more likely with the previous Galaxy Nexus. Also, I think as a developer, you are more inclined to just use PC via USB for software loading? Not sure. But I would say the entire current Nexus line is aimed at getting you into the google world as a whole, which is to say, a cloud world.

BTW, there are several cheaper Chromebooks available, but they are not an official Google product. These cheap ones are really just meant to be Google centric netbooks, whereas, the Pixel is aimed to be a developer product to bring Chromium to the next level beyond a linux based netbook. In theory, it should be able to run all the monster serverside apps via the cloud that Google is envisioning... as mentioned in that article, "the Ferrari of Chromebooks" able to power its way into new cloud territory yet to be developed.

 

[Captainbob767]

I don't know about the developer phone angle... I think that was more likely with the previous Galaxy Nexus. Also, I think as a developer, you are more inclined to just use PC via USB for software loading? Not sure. But I would say the entire current Nexus line is aimed at getting you into the google world as a whole, which is to say, a cloud world.

BTW, there are several cheaper Chromebooks available, but they are not an official Google product. These cheap ones are really just meant to be Google centric netbooks, whereas, the Pixel is aimed to be a developer product to bring Chromium to the next level beyond a linux based netbook. In theory, it should be able to run all the monster serverside apps via the cloud that Google is envisioning... as mentioned in that article, "the Ferrari of Chromebooks" able to power its way into new cloud territory yet to be developed.

And it certainly is expensive.

 

[Funkyoid]

If you live in a rural area like I do with no 3g, and really poor broadband then although I agree with cloud storage and really use it where I can, its not reliable. I need the option. The gauntlet node battery WiFi HDD is amazing and for those who want other options I really recommend it.

 

[Scott7217]

I don't know about the developer phone angle... I think that was more likely with the previous Galaxy Nexus. Also, I think as a developer, you are more inclined to just use PC via USB for software loading? Not sure. But I would say the entire current Nexus line is aimed at getting you into the google world as a whole, which is to say, a cloud world.

BTW, there are several cheaper Chromebooks available, but they are not an official Google product. These cheap ones are really just meant to be Google centric netbooks, whereas, the Pixel is aimed to be a developer product to bring Chromium to the next level beyond a linux based netbook. In theory, it should be able to run all the monster serverside apps via the cloud that Google is envisioning... as mentioned in that article, "the Ferrari of Chromebooks" able to power its way into new cloud territory yet to be developed.

I'm not sure how the Galaxy Nexus would be more of a developer phone than the Nexus 4. Perhaps you're thinking of the Galaxy Nexus variants that have 32 GB storage and LTE? I think a lot of people would like a developer-edition Nexus 4 with 32 GB and LTE.

My idea of using a micro SD card to help developers comes from what I've heard people do with the Nook Color. You can put Android on an SD card and boot directly from the card, which might be useful for testing purposes. If a hypothetical Nexus 4 had a card slot, that would make it even more useful.

Given that the Nexus line is supposed to get users into the cloud, wouldn't it make sense to have a micro SD card slot so that people can load their data into the cloud using the micro SD card that they pulled from their old phone? It would analogous to what you previously said about the Chromebooks having an SD card slot so that users can load data from their old computers into the cloud.

As for the cheaper Chromebooks, some are sold via the Google Play Store. You can buy models from Acer and Samsung. I'm not exactly sure why these Chromebooks wouldn't be just as official as the Chromebook Pixel.

 

[minnemike]

I might be wrong, but for a phone, simply going direct via your USB interface is preferable for developers - not doing the data shuffle. I do not think SD boots are a sought after option when you are talking software development or even ROM development, since there are existing methods to root, load a ROM, etc - a hardware interface thing. For a laptop, it is different.

I'm not familiar with everything sold in the play store, but I would assume the Google name (just as with the Nexus and no mention of LG) would determine "official" flagship product or not. NOt sure what the marketing theory is with having all the chromebook options there other than they all include free google drive cloud storage space.

 

[Scott7217]

I might be wrong, but for a phone, simply going direct via your USB interface is preferable for developers - not doing the data shuffle. I do not think SD boots are a sought after option when you are talking software development or even ROM development, since there are existing methods to root, load a ROM, etc - a hardware interface thing. For a laptop, it is different.

I'm not familiar with everything sold in the play store, but I would assume the Google name (just as with the Nexus and no mention of LG) would determine "official" flagship product or not. NOt sure what the marketing theory is with having all the chromebook options there other than they all include free google drive cloud storage space.

It's possible that booting directly from a micro SD card would be extremely desirable on the Nexus 4, but since it was never offered in the first place, we will never know. With respect to laptops, I'm not sure how it would be different to a point where you would need an SD card. Couldn't people use a USB thumb drive instead? As far as I know, Chromebooks come with USB ports.

Perhaps there is a reason why some products bear the Google name and others don't. (I would be interested to know the reasons why.) However, I tend to view products that get updated directly from Google as being the "official" Google products.

 

[minnemike]

from personal preference, I can tell you those USB ports are prime real estate for my mouse and regular sized keyboard when working extensively (as a developer would) on a laptop.

AS far as booting from SD on a phone... can you do that with any phone? Isn't that a bios ROM thing only with PCs? Phone ROMs are a whole different monster? I'm not familiar.

 

[Scott7217]

from personal preference, I can tell you those USB ports are prime real estate for my mouse and regular sized keyboard when working extensively (as a developer would) on a laptop.

AS far as booting from SD on a phone... can you do that with any phone? Isn't that a bios ROM thing only with PCs? Phone ROMs are a whole different monster? I'm not familiar.

I can relate to your view on USB ports. There just doesn't seem to be enough of them. I would vote for more USB ports on all devices.

Personally, I think the SD card slot on the Chromebook is just a convenient way to load photos from your digital camera. Just pull the card out of your camera, insert it into the SD card slot, and upload the photos. Would photo transfers be another reason to include a slot on the Nexus 4? You could insert a card from your fancy DSLR into your Nexus and transfer the photos without using a computer. That might be handy.

I honestly don't know if you can boot from micro SD on any phone. The Nexus 4 doesn't have a slot, so we can't test that possibility. I haven't been paying too much attention to other phones because I really like using my Nexus.

If I recall correctly, the reason why booting from SD was popular with the Nook Color was that it was the novice's way to add stock Android without voiding your warranty. You just download everything to the SD card, insert it into the Nook Color, and turn it on. If something went wrong, you just turn it off, remove the card, and everything goes back to its original state.

So maybe a micro SD card slot might be useful on a Nexus. It wouldn't be for loading stock Android obviously because the Nexus already has it. However, it might be good for loading up custom ROMs for a test drive. If you like the results, just load the ROM to your phone. If you don't, just pull the card out, and you're back to stock. That sounds useful to me.