JR Raphael: Pixel is the rebirth of Google's unrealized Motorola dream

[Ry]

Pixel is the rebirth of Google's unrealized Motorola dream | Computerworld

Pixel, on the other hand, is overtly poised to provide a "pure Google" experience -- an extra Googley take on Android that puts Google services and concepts front and center. It's "the best of Google," as the Pixel marketing materials explain it. Sound familiar? It should: That's the same exact phrase the Google-owned Motorola used when promoting its original Moto X phone three years ago.

You know what else sounds familiar? The way Google is separating its hardware and Android divisions. Google Android SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer, speaking to Bloomberg, described his complicated relationship with Google's new hardware division and its leader, Rick Osterloh:

Google has deliberately built a firewall between the hardware and Android divisions so other phone makers' proprietary technology doesn’t leak. Lockheimer ... says his group will treat the hardware team like any customer. "Samsung is a very important partner, as is LG, Huawei and so on," he says. "Rick is an important partner. ... Everyone is treated the same, including Rick’s team."

That language is remarkably similar to the equal-treatment assurances we heard back when Google was in the midst of acquiring Motorola.

 

[Aquila]

So far I liked it better when it was moto but I'm pretty optimistic about one of the directions this could go.

 

[Ry]

https://medium.com/@punitsoni/motorola-done-right-ba025a362765#.dnvcosu5h

Punit Soni agrees.

Buying Motorola and ensuring firewall between Moto and Android was an attempt at this. But the difference in culture (Motorolans != Googlers), confusion (was the separation between Moto and Android, or Moto and all Google?), and the enormous challenges that were pre-existing in the Android ecosystem made it very hard to operate.
The new setup is much better. The hardware team is fully inside Google (run by the same smart people who ran Moto btw), there is clear separation between Android and hardware team, and the hardware team is free to collaborate with any part of Google outside of Android to build the best phone possible. Google seems to have gotten closer to the ideal structure that allows it to build great services and great hardware. Now the proof of the pudding will in the eating… umm execution.

 

[Almeuit]

I am hoping it is good. They just need to ship it to me already .