Nexus

349 'Nexus' stories May 2011 - November 2014

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Google Nexus Player review: stuck in the middle

Mark Hearn Nov 3 2014 - 10:00 am PT

For the past several years Google has been winning. The company is responsible for the world’s most popular search engine. Its Android mobile operating system has the lion’s share of worldwide smartphone shipments and the tech juggernaut’s advertising platform generates gigantic sums of money every year. So when a habitual winner like Google actually loses, it typically doesn’t handle defeat too well, and despite all of the company’s accolades, it’s been getting clobbered in one area for almost four years straight.

Google has successfully captured your desktop’s homepage and managed to work its software into the pockets of millions of people, however the Internet’s reigning search king has continuously struggled to find success in one very critical space — the living room.

Since 2010, Google has been aggressively trying to attach itself to your television, and despite several software and hardware revisions, the company has continued to come up short. However, when Google revealed Android TV during its annual I/O developer conference earlier this year, hordes of cord-cutting couch potatoes were optimistic about what the future might hold.

Fast-forward to today and Google’s first Android TV-powered device has been deemed fit for full duty by the company’s leadership. But does Google’s Nexus Player have enough bells and whistles to stand out in an extremely crowded space loaded with cable boxes, game consoles and other TV-friendly contraptions?

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Google Nexus 9 head to head: coming straight from a year with the iPad Air

Seth Weintraub Nov 3 2014 - 10:00 am PT

I’ve been an iPad Air user for a solid year. Sure, I’ve tried tried and reviewed other devices, but my go-to device for reading at night, some light work on the train or plane and just brain dead playing Facebook/Twitter/G+/Reddit/Email/Video chatting has been the Space Gray iPad Air 16GB.

Before the Air, I had used both of Google’s Samsung Nexus 10 and Asus Nexus 7 (2012) tablets and found them OK devices. The Google I/O version Nexus 7 power supply broke about 8 months in and I didn’t bother getting it fixed. The Samsung Nexus 10 was actually an under-rated device, in my opinion, probably mostly because the initial software wasn’t as polished as it should have been.

So with the Nexus 9, Google has had a long time to get its software right, and I shouldn’t have gotten déjà vu when I started using the Nexus 9, right?…
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Google Nexus 9 unboxing and overview (Video)

Dom Esposito Oct 31 2014 - 5:35 pm PT

With every great smartphone, there must be a great tablet, right? Well, that’s particularly true for Google. Today we’re taking a look at the HTC-made Nexus 9. Will the Nexus 9 be tough competition for the Android tablet market? Only time will tell, but let’s go ahead and dive into the box first to see what it’s all about…

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Google Nexus 6 unboxing and first impressions (Video)

Dom Esposito Oct 31 2014 - 2:06 pm PT

Google’s Motorola-made Nexus 6 is finally a thing. Preorders didn’t go over well for everyone, but hopefully it won’t be too difficult to pick one up from a carrier or the Play Store after its official launch. Meanwhile, here’s what you can expect from the Nexus 6 if you decide to grab one. We’re unboxing the Nexus 6 and taking a closer look at what it has to offer in terms of design and overall first impressions. Is this going to be the best Android flagship in 2014? Let’s find out…

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PSA: Google’s Nexus 6 preorders are live

Dom Esposito Oct 29 2014 - 10:16 am PT

Google has just raised the gates on Nexus 6 preorders via the Play Store. The Nexus 6 preorder date was unveiled on its Play Store landing page earlier this month and the time has finally come…

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PSA: Nexus Player game controller now available for $40

Stephen Hall Oct 27 2014 - 7:29 am PT

Along with the Nexus Player that Google announced a couple of weeks ago, the company said that a game controller—that looks a lot like a Wii U classic controller—would soon be available to buy separate of the Player’s $99 price. Up to four people would be able to play at once using this controller, and it looked like the Nexus Player could become the Ouya that never was with its help.

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Google confirms November 3rd Android 5.0 Lollipop release

Jordan Kahn Oct 22 2014 - 8:16 am PT

Following several rumors of a possible November 3rd release for Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google today confirmed the release date in a note to developers (via AndroidPolice).
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Lollipop will see big update to Gmail app, will handle non-Gmail accounts too

Ben Lovejoy Oct 20 2014 - 6:55 am PT

[protected-iframe id=”7770eb70df41976815fdd008a9ff8e18-22427743-8994189″ info=”https://vid.me/e/yx3″ width=”368″ height=”490″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

If you were wondering why Google hasn’t yet introduced an updated version of the Gmail app on Android to match its Material Design guidelines, the answer appears to be that it has something big in store. Gmail 5.0, which will be introduced as part of Android 5.0 Lollipop, will for the first time allow you to access all your email accounts within the same app, Gmail and non-Gmail alike …
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Nexus 7 and 10 reportedly set to get Android 5.0 Lollipop on Nov. 3, Nexus 4 and 5 to follow

Chance Miller Oct 16 2014 - 5:25 pm PT

Following this morning’s report that Android Wear 2.0 would drop on November 3rd, Android Police now reports that Google is planning to release Android 5.0 Lollipop to a trio of Nexus devices on that same day. The report claims that Lollipop will hit the 2012 WiFi-only Nexus 7, the 2013 WiFi-only Nexus 7, and the Nexus 10 on November 3rd.

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HTC says One (M8) and One (M7) to receive Lollipop within 90 days of Google’s release

Stephen Hall Oct 16 2014 - 9:01 am PT

According to tweets recently posted by HTC, the company’s One (M8) and One (M7) will be getting the recently announced Lollipop update sometime within 90 days of receiving it from Google. These devices are added to the long list of Android hardware that will be receiving the update, along with many of Motorola’s lineup, and notably, most relatively recent Nexus devices (including even the 2012 Nexus 7).

@nickmgray We're aiming to update the HTC One (M8) to Android 5.0 within 90 days of receiving the final software from Google. Stay tuned!

— HTC (@htc) October 15, 2014

@imdiane This applies to the HTC One (M7) as well.

— HTC (@htc) October 15, 2014

Android 5 Lollipop statue makes its way to Google’s campus

Seth Weintraub Oct 15 2014 - 11:18 am PT

As is tradition, Google now has a Loli statue in its Android statue garden commemorating the 5.0 L release of Android. Via +AlexRuiz.

Update: Here’s the video unveil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTxTLyLUjP4&feature=youtu.be

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AT&T outs its Nexus 6 variant, possible cost of $49.99 on contract

Chance Miller Oct 14 2014 - 8:05 pm PT

Earlier today it was reported that Google would finally unveil the Nexus 6 for all to see tomorrow, October 15th. Thanks a variety of leaks, including one of our own, we already know almost everything about it except for pricing and carrier availability. This evening, however, AT&T appears to have inadvertently outed the device on its website, revealing some of that information.

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Report: Google to announce Nexus 9 and Nexus 6 tomorrow, retail availability in November

Chance Miller Oct 14 2014 - 9:36 am PT

According to a new report out of Forbes, Google will announce both the Nexus 9 tablet and Nexus 6 smartphone tomorrow. The report claims that Google had originally planned to hold an event for the devices, but decided it against it due to it wanting to continue to fine tweak Android “L” until the last-minute. Instead, both of the devices will be announced via a blog post.

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Nexus 9 image (up)leaks, now all we need is a launch event and a price tag

Seth Weintraub Oct 6 2014 - 3:41 am PT

Just this weekend the Nexus 9 walted its way through the FCC and now the HTC-built Nexus tablet is making the leaked image rounds. Interestingly, the back material looks similar to that of the rubber on the Samsung-built Nexus 10 which is now 2 years old.

Together with the Nexus 6/X, which is also making the rumor rounds including our own exclusives and some new Benchmarks, we’re expecting a launch event in the next week or so. Stay tuned.
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Someone got caught in public with the Nexus 6 (Photo)

Stephen Hall Oct 1 2014 - 10:43 am PT

A week ago today we gave you an exclusive look at what the upcoming Nexus 6/X will likely turn out to be. Along with that report, we created a render which, as far as we knew, reproduced very closely what the device actually looks like. Today, it seems that a photo has surfaced showing what we can confirm is the very same rumored Motorola device being used in public (via Android Police).
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Exclusive: This is ‘Shamu,’ Motorola’s upcoming Nexus 6/X

Stephen Hall Sep 24 2014 - 4:56 pm PT

Google’s upcoming “Nexus 6” (some claim it will be called “Nexus X” because of Blade Runner) has long been rumored, and there have been many leaked specifications and details rolling out for quite some time now. But there hasn’t been much solid information about the device quite yet, leaving many who have passed on the iPhone 6 and OnePlus One hopelessly waiting to know if the wait will be worth it. For those of you who fall into this category, you’re in luck.

We can now corroborate previous rumors that its screen size nudges it out of smartphone territory, and closer to the likes of the recent push for phablet devices. If any smartphone is really a phablet, this is it—shipping with a behemoth screen that’s a massive 5.92-inches diagonally, with the device’s body being just a bit larger than that. 9to5Google has also learned that, as for the overall appearance of the device, it’s basically going to be a scaled up 2nd generation Moto X with some minor tweaks to make the larger size easier to use.

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Google starts replacing damaged Nexus 5 phones for free

Chance Miller Sep 3 2014 - 2:07 pm PT

Google, according to several user posts on Google+, has recently opened up a replacement program for people who damage their Nexus 5. While the company has yet to officially announce this program, users are reporting that if you have a damaged Nexus 5, Google will offer a one-time replacement for free.

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Nexus 6 rumored to be launched as Nexus X to avoid Blade Runner trademark, expected quiet launch around Halloween

Ben Lovejoy Aug 25 2014 - 5:41 am PT

We heard last month that there was a new Nexus phablet on the way, code-named Shamu. The device is said to have a 5.9-inch 1440×2560 screen and a fingerprint sensor, and to be made by Motorola rather than LG – and seemed a good candidate for the Nexus 6.

PhoneArena is now citing anonymous Motorola sources as saying that the device will instead be launched as the Nexus X, to avoid trademark issues over the Nexus-6 androids in the Philip K Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep – later turned into the cult movie Blade Runner …
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PSA: Google Cardboard is also compatible with iPhone (Video)

Dom Esposito Aug 22 2014 - 6:53 am PT

If you’re not familiar with Google Cardboard, it’s one of the most affordable and portable VR (virtual reality) headsets to date. It’s a very simple creation in terms of design and functionality, but provides a solid look into the future of technology without breaking the bank.

Google unveiled Cardboard at I/O 2014, but it was designed with Android devices in mind. The official Cardboard app is nowhere to be found on Apple’s App Store, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost for iOS users. Google may not care about iOS as a platform, but stereoscopic 3D is nothing new. In fact, there is a good handful of apps available for iOS that are also compatible with Google Cardboard…

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Rumored Motorola Nexus reportedly features a 5.2-inch QHD display and a Snapdragon 805 processor

Mark Hearn Aug 13 2014 - 10:38 am PT

A few weeks ago we heard that Motorola was developing Google’s next Nexus device and aside from a rumored 5.9-inch display, its specs were were pretty much unknown. Today, however, an alleged benchmark of the unannounced handset has hit the web and it tells the tale of a powerful up-and-comer. The device listed packs a smaller 5.2-inch 1440p display, a 2.6GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 4K video capture, a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter and Android L.

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Google releases updated build of Android L for Nexus 5 and 7

Mike Beasley Aug 7 2014 - 11:23 am PT

Google today released a slightly newer build of its upcoming Android L operating system for two Nexus devices. Spotted by Android Police, the updated version of the OS sports a build number of LPV81C, which is only two days newer than the previous developer release, though Google’s build numbering scheme does allow for newer builds to use an older date code if only minor changes have been made since that date.

That seems to be the case here, as no major changes have yet been spotted in the updated releases. It’s quite possible that this was simply a small maintenance or bug fix patch to resolve small issues that had been discovered. The updated build is only available for Nexus 5 smartphone and Nexus 7 tablet at the moment, though it could be released for other devices later.

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Motorola rumored to be developing phablet-sized Nexus device w/ Google as it transitions to Lenovo

Chance Miller Jul 28 2014 - 1:09 pm PT

Over the weekend, a report was published claiming that Google and Motorola were working together on a 5.9-inch Nexus device codenamed the Shamu. This afternoon, The Information published a separate report corroborating this weekend’s source.

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Motorola and Google reportedly developing a 5.9-inch Nexus phone codenamed ‘Shamu’

Chance Miller Jul 26 2014 - 12:02 pm PT

The fate of Google’s Nexus line of devices has been up in the air for several months now, with LG saying it is not working on a device for it and Android Silver reportedly taking over its role. At Google I/O last month, however, Googler David Burke confirmed that the company is still heavily interested in the Nexus line of devices. Rumors have also recently circulated that HTC is working on a 9-inch Nexus tablet dubbed the Volantis. Now, Android Police is reporting that Google and Motorola are working on a device codenamed Shamu.

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Asus reportedly sold more tablets than Apple in Japan during first half of 2014

Chance Miller Jul 17 2014 - 12:22 pm PT

Image via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml1LzNFn8kc">TechSmartt</a>

According to figures released by market research company BCN, Asus sold more tablets than Apple during the first half of 2014 in Japan. Asus’ market share rose 8 percent year-over-year during the first half of 2014, the report claims, giving it a 38.9 percent portion of the tablet market in Japan. Apple, on the other hand, holds a 36.4 percent share (via Nikkei). This is the first time Asus has ever held the top spot in Japan, according to the report.
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