Google Nexus 6 Its the end of the Nexus brand

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Re: The carriers forced the price

Now we find out that Android 5 (Lollipop) returns to a stand-alone SMS app by default located on the home/favorites bar with the Hangouts app relegated to the apps pages (at least on the N6). Why would Google make a step backwards like this, and move away from their SMS/Hangouts integration? Because no doubt the carriers forced it upon them as another condition to partner the Nexus 6. The carriers want to maintain their lucrative SMS money tree as long as possible.

Anybody who thinks Google used to sell the N4 and N5 on the play store at a loss is a fool. The high outright purchase margin on the N6 is the only way the carriers would agree to partner it. We can't beat the carriers by buying an N6 on the play store anymore, the carriers have stitched that up.

The Nexus program has been stolen away from us ....

 

[Ry]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

Yes they can, if updates come from carrier servers. And Verizon can always claim it has to certify the CDMA portion in addition.

I don't think updates come from the carriers servers. Have you seen the OTA URLs?

In the case of Motorola, after approval, they get pushed from Motorola servers. In fact, there was an update for the DROID RAZR that Motorola accidentally pushed.

Posted via Android Central App (Moto X)

 

[brosko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

Look, I'm not saying Google should still sell Nexus phones at $400. All I'm saying is from a consumers perspective, a choice is now gone, and Nexus phones will now just be seen as a pure Android phone at the same price as other flagships.

Exactly, to us the consumer and end user it doesn't matter what kind of business deal google has with their manufacturers or who makes money and who takes a loss.
The only thing that we see and feel is that the nexus line (and the value of the devices)that we know (for the last couple of years at least) seems to have died.

 

[brosko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

Stop right there.

What you think or want or believe is irrelevant. A Nexus is not "about" anything other than what Google says and/or wants it to be.

One can still have a certain perception and expectation about a product though.

 

[ryanr509]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

The nexus brand is whatever the hell Google wants it to be

 

[ultravisitor]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

One can still have a certain perception and expectation about a product though.

Sure. That doesn't mean that person's expectations are right or reasonable, though.

 

[brosko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

Sure. That doesn't mean that person's expectations are right or reasonable, though.

There's no right, wrong or reason in someone's expectations. The only question is whether they will be fulfilled or not.

 

[brosko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

The nexus brand is whatever the hell Google wants it to be

Right, and for the last few years they wanted it to be a line of extremely low priced bang for your buck pure android devices thus they were perceived this way. Now they've done a complete turn around and I'm fine with that. As you said they can do whatever the hell they want.

 

[ultravisitor]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

There's no right, wrong or reason in someone's expectations.

Of course there is. You don't have to like that, but it's true.

 

[brosko]

Re: The carriers forced the price

This phone won't sell, way too big. Too bad cause it's pretty dang nice other than size. Needs to be closer to 5".

Posted via Android Central App

Unfortunately it probably will sell. This will only feed the bad habit of making 6" phones. Sad

It wouldn't be so bad if it would come on 2 sizes . that way we're all happy!

 

[bulletmark]

Re: The carriers forced the price

Unfortunately it probably will sell. This will only feed the bad habit of making 6" phones. Sad

I agree it will probably sell well because there will be plenty of spruikers pushing it at those high margin retail shops where the punters go. "It's the same as the iPhone 6 but a bit cheaper". The wages of those spruikers get paid for by those punters.

 

[Gekko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

Comments from another forum on Play Store pricing -

Hopefully they're ($649) the off-contract "carrier" price which traditionally is 100-150$ higher than the Google Play Store price.

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It's been the same pricing every year now. The only difference this time is Google hasn't said anything yet but carriers have. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus off contract price was $649 and Google Play was $399. T-Mobile Nexus 4 price was $499. Best buy had the Nexus 5 going for $799 when it launched. Sprint had the Nexus 5 at $150 ON CONTRACT. I'm expecting a nice surprise from Google when it hits the play store.

 

[Gekko]

Re: The carriers forced the price

Comments from another forum on Play Store pricing -

Hopefully they're ($649) the off-contract "carrier" price which traditionally is 100-150$ higher than the Google Play Store price.

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It's been the same pricing every year now. The only difference this time is Google hasn't said anything yet but carriers have. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus off contract price was $649 and Google Play was $399. T-Mobile Nexus 4 price was $499. Best buy had the Nexus 5 going for $799 when it launched. Sprint had the Nexus 5 at $150 ON CONTRACT. I'm expecting a nice surprise from Google when it hits the play store.

 

[ncvikingx97]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

They are keeping the nexus 5, at a cheaper price, so they are keeping the affordability there. In the end , it really comes down to affordability vs quality, and now we have both options.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[vtpmt81]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

Will the Nexus 6 be unlocked when sold via a US carrier. Most high end phones in the UK are unlocked. I think Google/Motorola haven't produced a phone that represents good value globally. It is possible to make a high specification Android phone at a reasonable price. Other companies have done it. At this price, Google should have waited for a smartphone friendly 64 bit SoC. I'll pass on the Nexus 6 for now. Too much of a premium for the pure Android experience. I like the Nexus 6. It's just too expensive. And too big.

Great points.

However, this phone is different from the Nexus 4 and 5. The Nexus 4 and 5 are great phones that perform very well to this day. The Nexus 4 was fragile, had a washed out screen, a mediocre camera, and had to be on T-Mobile or hacked to get LTE. The Nexus 5 had an average camera, mediocre battery life, and the hardware was far from premium. The Nexus 4 wasn't officially supported by Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint. The Nexus 5 wasn't officially supported by Verizon or AT&T.

The Nexus 6 is different. This is a premium Google Device with no compromises. It has a high end screen, high end processor, high end build quality, high end camera, high end benchmarks, and the latest software. It has the support of the top 5 U.S. carriers - that is huge. I am sure that the big carriers worldwide will also carry this phone. This is not the phone for the Android user that likes good hardware and good price balance. The Ascend Mate, Xiaomi Mi4, Nexus 5, Moto G, Moto X, etc. are the phones that offer good hardware at a good price. All of these devices have compromises in some way but all are very good.

Google is following the Apple and Samsung model. Offer a high phone with a high end price. Samsung gives you features and awesome display and camera while Apple gives a top performing phone with premium hardware and camera. Google is trying the same thing.

 

[Crispy]

Re: The carriers forced the price

Maybe Moto, LG, HTC, and Samsung forced the price. Maybe they got tired of Google undercutting their partners.

Posted via Android Central App (Moto X)

They couldn't care less, as the Nexus line has almost no sales.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

I'm okay with disagreeing.

 

[brosko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

The nexus brand is whatever the hell Google wants it to be

Of course there is. You don't have to like that, but it's true.

Regardless of what google gives us we can expect what ever we want. Who is to say what is right? You?
The right or wrong is all relative to what expects from something. It is not clear cut true or false.
Think about it for a while.

 

[brosko]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

The nexus brand is whatever the hell Google wants it to be

Brand identity is important. However, Google is the one that is responsible for establishing and maintaining that brand. Whatever any of us want to call the Nexus brand is irrelevant. Google has created the Nexus 6. You can take it or leave it. Either way, the Nexus 6 will be the Nexus 6.

By that logic Google is also responsible for establishing and maintaining (for 2 years at least) the belief by their consumers that the nexus brand is value orientated.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Its the end of the Nexus brand

By that logic Google is also responsible for establishing and maintaining (for 2 years at least) the belief by their consumers that the nexus brand is value orientated.

I'm not sure they were preaching value - I think they were building enthusiasm for getting away from carrier contracts. And making it easy for people to say no to them, should they choose to. It could easily be both reasons and probably more.