Nexus 4 will not get the same kit kat!

[Aquila]

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the snapdragon 800 have some sort of low power listening chip, like in Motorola's x8 system? This would explain why this is exclusive to the nexus 5 because in the launcher the phone is always listening for the "OK Google" hotword.

Posted via Android Central App

We're not sure if the chip can do it or not like the X8, but the Nexus does not. You have to be on the home screen and have the screen on in order for it to work on the Nexus. The Moto X can do it when the screen is off or from within any app, screen, etc.

 

[Justin967]

We're not sure if the chip can do it or not like the X8, but the Nexus does not. You have to be on the home screen and have the screen on in order for it to work on the Nexus. The Moto X can do it when the screen is off or from within any app, screen, etc.

Yes I understand the Moto X works differently than the nexus 5 does, but the snapdragon 800 has low power listening capabilities. perhaps google only wants it to work from within the launcher. anything is possible. The point is is that with that launcher the phone's microphone is listening for that keyword when the phone is on the launcher. How often are people on the launcher? probably enough to make a difference in battery levels is my guess.

 

[TechAddict]

Hmmmm. Doesn't sound too good. I'm just about to try out Android and was prepared to give up the SD slot and removable battery for timely OS updates you'd get with a Nexus. If Google plans to start trimming those updates to Nexus phones that are not even THAT old it kinda negates that benefit IMHO, what will they trim from the next update? I was going to go for the N4 as a first foray into Android but might wait to see if this turns out to be true, if so, it'll likely be the SGS4.

 

[gone down south]

Stop listening to unsubstantiated rumors.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[cporier91]

This is a confusing situation...

 

[Aquila]

They seemed pretty clear that they were testing how it's used and whatnot prior to evaluating whether or not to and how to push it out to everyone else, possibly through the Play Store. It's nothing new for Google to use us as beta testers...

 

[5L Mustang]

If I touch the small Google bar on the top of my lock screen and say"ok Google" I use voice commands. So where is the difference on the n5? Am I missing something here?

sent from Nexus 4 Posted via Android Central App

 

[yfan]

There is a basic lack of understanding in the OP. The Google Experience Launcher is NOT part of KitKat. It's just the launcher Google bundles with the Nexus 5. KitKat, the OS will be exactly the same on Nexus 4 as on the Nexus 5.

With the Nexus 4, Google dropped the AOSP browser, which, BTW, remains part of AOSP. Just as Chrome was available in the Play store for anyone with an older device to download, the GEL will be as well.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Aquila]

If I touch the small Google bar on the top of my lock screen and say"ok Google" I use voice commands. So where is the difference on the n5? Am I missing something here?

sent from Nexus 4 Posted via Android Central App

With the new search you just don't have to touch the bar. Only difference from that standpoint.

- - - Updated - - -

There is a basic lack of understanding in the OP. The Google Experience Launcher is NOT part of KitKat. It's just the launcher Google bundles with the Nexus 5. KitKat, the OS will be exactly the same on Nexus 4 as on the Nexus 5.

With the Nexus 4, Google dropped the AOSP browser, which, BTW, remains part of AOSP. Just as Chrome was available in the Play store for anyone with an older device to download, the GEL will be as well.

Posted via Android Central App

Good explanation, thanks!

 

[ysbg]

Just as Chrome was available in the Play store for anyone with an older device to download, the GEL will be as well.

If that is true then that's all good, but do you have any evidence that GEL will be available in the Play store for anyone to download? Why would the people over at Google say that the launcher is exclusive to the N5? As far as I know, even though AOSP browser was not included in N4, it was not replaced with something exclusive to the N4.

 

[Google4Lifee]

For those who know android police. you know Ron Amadeo... He is the guy with the apk teardowns!
He said he thinks that GEL come to other devices.

Check out his google plus to see what he said... https://plus.google.com/+RonAmadeo/posts

 

[Citizen Coyote]

There is a basic lack of understanding in the OP. The Google Experience Launcher is NOT part of KitKat. It's just the launcher Google bundles with the Nexus 5. KitKat, the OS will be exactly the same on Nexus 4 as on the Nexus 5.

With the Nexus 4, Google dropped the AOSP browser, which, BTW, remains part of AOSP. Just as Chrome was available in the Play store for anyone with an older device to download, the GEL will be as well.

Posted via Android Central App

Good clarification. You're right, KitKat does not include any modifications to the launcher. It's the same (more or less) as it was in 4.3. However, the Nexus 5 is the first Nexus to my knowledge that includes exclusive software features that won't be available on other Nexus devices, at least to start. That's very Applesque, and in my opinion an ominous sign for the Nexus program.

 

[JRDroid]

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the snapdragon 800 have some sort of low power listening chip, like in Motorola's x8 system? This would explain why this is exclusive to the nexus 5 because in the launcher the phone is always listening for the "OK Google" hotword.

Posted via Android Central App

Yes it does. The 800 has a low power coprossesor. However, Google chose to employ it for other background tasks, not always listening. This is why the touch free control only works from the launcher and not from other apps, the lock screen, or a locked (screen off) phone.


Also, for the record, the Galaxy Nexus didn't get HDR when the Nexus 4 launched, so Google has held back software features from older Nexus devices before.

 

[bleached]

The 800 has a companion core but it is being used for the motion sensing capabilities of the 5.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[yfan]

Why would the people over at Google say that the launcher is exclusive to the N5? As far as I know, even though AOSP browser was not included in N4, it was not replaced with something exclusive to the N4.

The quote The Verge supposedly obtained from Google (without attribution) says that the GEL is exclusive to the N5, but notably not that it will always remain exclusive to the N5 - that very quote floats the possibility of a Play Store update. Google has been on the road to make take apart different things that used to be bundled with the OS and making them available as apps on the Play Store. Search (eventually Google Now), browser (chrome), and now messaging (with Hangouts) and the launcher. Reports are also that the GEL is heavily based on Google Now, which means an update to Google Now may even bring it to your device.

Google has an incentive in doing it this way. This is going to become their way of circumventing OEM skins, I believe. All OEMs of Android (if they want to be in the Open Handset Alliance) have to accept the bundle of Gapps - all of it. Imagine if Google started bundling the GEL into Gapps. OEMs can still include their skin, but users would be able to get the Google experience if they want.

I don't have any insider information. But this seems to me the logical path.

 

[ConTejas]

None of these Nexus 5 exclusives are hardware dependent as far as I know. Unlike the Moto X, the Nexus 5 does not have any kind of low-power companion chip that powers the "always listening" feature the X has. In fact, the new voice features on the Nexus 5 specifically only work if you're in the launcher or already in Google Now. All of these things should work just fine on the Nexus 4 and other handsets, which is why many of us are confused/angry/disappointed that Google has walled them off (for now at least). It goes against everything we thought we knew about the Nexus program.

As for when we'll get 4.4, I suspect it will show up (with whatever features excluded) in the coming weeks, probably by the end of the month.

You need to read up a bit more on the 800. It can do everything the X8 chip can do, only much better. It's just a matter of time before the devs create the same "always listening" features to flash.

Snapdragon 800 Processors | Mobile Technology | Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors

On topic, I would take anything from the verge with more than a grain of salt.

 

[Sicily1918]

On topic, I would take anything from the verge with more than a grain of salt.

So, a salt lick?

 

[Rule9]

When did google start doing these dirty market tricks ?

It's not dirty really. Google is now moving most of it's own apps out of AOSP and into their own possession to protect their property, which is understandable.

What is unforgivable is the new design direction Android is moving towards, and the blame for that I place squarely on Sundar Pichai who IMO is F-ING up android in every available orifice. Almost all of the Google apps with redesigns suck more than the older versions before he came aboard, as does this new launcher. At this rate he might as well change his name to Stephen Elop.

The quality of the Android OS and Google apps peaked at 4.3 as far as I'm concerned.

 

[gabbott]

But maybe the launcher is just exclusive to the nexus 5 at present because kit Kat isn't yet available for anything else.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ysbg]

It sounds like the logical path indeed, and I hope that you are right. That would be some pretty shabby reporting by the verge.

Posted via Android Central App

Edit: that was a reply to yfan.