In the world of Android, there are many devices for us to choose from. Google develops the core OS and then various device manufacturers take that, modify that to fit their various phones and tablets, (and phablets), and then release it to the market, leaving customers with large number of choices. Having a huge and diverse market like this causes competition within these manufacturers and that’s always so good for consumers and Android eco system.
But there may be some Android lovers who appreciates Apple‘s way of doing it – single choice from one company which does it all.
Obviously that method can’t be implemented with Android, and it never should be, and it never would be.
What I envision is a hybrid system.
A hybrid system for Android device manufacturing.
In my envisioned future of Android, companies like Samsung, Sony, Huawei and dozen others will continue introducing various different handsets as they please, like they do now. But I see Motorola doing something else.
As Motorola is now owned by Google, I think Google should continue the Nexus line with Motorola and Motorola only.
As for Nexus phones, Google should introduce 3 of them:
- Either “Nexus HD” (High End), “Nexus” (Middle Range), and “Nexus Mini” (Low End).
- Or “Nexus” (High End), “Nexus Mini” (Middle Range), and “Nexus Micro” (Low End).
- Or something else they’d like. 😉
I personally like the first option, but Google can use the second option if they don’t like to have any suffix for the name of their flagship phone. I’ll use the first option withing this post.
“Nexus HD” will be the flagship – it’ll have all the features Google has to offer. Super processor, super memory, super camera, and super everything. This will have the highest price of the three devices, targeting for the premium users.
“Nexus” will be the device for mid range – everything will be one-step-behind-super. I think this will be the device with most sales.
“Nexus Mini” will be the low end device, targeting the young market. Specs will be good, still usable, but not as premium as above choices.
Phones are not the only thing in Nexus line; the tablet should be available in two flavors – “Nexus Tab”, and “Nexus Tab Mini”. You get my point, give everything super to Tab while Tab Mini should have one-step-back specs.
Why do we need a hybrid system?
Some people are confused by the high number of choices they face when they try to enter the world of Android. While the higher number is choices is good for some, for others it’s not. Someone like that can simply look at the Nexus line and pick up one from the limited available options.
Google is the one who knows Android best – so it makes sense for them to establish a line like this, just like Apple did. Start developing the OS and hardware at the same time and keep building them together to make them perfect matches. Release new version of the Nexus line every year, include pure Android on them without any manufacturer made skin. Release OS upgrades for them as they become available, we will no longer have to wait for other manufacturers to fill Android with bloatware and put on some ugly make up, before they finally make it available for customers (I am still waiting for JB update on my Sony Xperia P!!!).
If someone don’t like that method, dozens of other manufacturers will still be there.
18 responses to “A Hybrid System for Android Device Manufacturing – Google Motorola Should Do It”
Well I think we all expect that in the future the Nexus range will all be Motorola, but do we need 3 simultaneous versions of the nexus out all the time? I don’t think so, one is fine. If you want to make it simple do you want people asking questions like “do I want the motorola google nexus mini 3 or is the motorola google nexus HD 2 better?” Because often I think the answer will end up: “ahhhhhh damn it, to confusing, I’ll buy the lastest Galaxy S (or iphone *shudders*)”
Actually I originally thought about having just one device. But what about people who don’t have enough money to get a premium device? We shall at least have 2 – “Nexus” and “Nexus Mini”. What do you think about that?
Great Explanation. Thanks!!!
Welcome. 🙂
Hmmm a hybrid – sounds bad ass. Will be interesting to see how things play out thats for sure 🙂
That way Android will have something to offer for people who wishes that both hardware and software were from the same company. 🙂
There might be several possible interests in a Google to “build” or “label” some Nexuses:
1- the “example” effect: both a proof of concept (“see? It can be done”) and a state of the art (“see how using this combination gives a nice product?”)
2 – the “eat its own food” effect: “see, I am too expecting to make money with this”
3 – the business effect : “I will earn lots of money with this product”
I would personally think that Google ix playing 1/ and 2/, in the same way that I think that Mictosoft with its tablet pretends to play 3/, but wiil fail.
Why? It is a different business from their core business, that’s why. Their life does not depend on the success of “this” product but on the success of one of its components. They would happily welcome a hardware competitor which would yotally outsell them!
It’s too that this won’t be Google’s core business, but it wouldn’t hurt Google to earn some extra cash this way too.
There can always be devices with superior specs from other companies. But just like I said, this would be the option for someone who is looking for a device with an OS that both are developed by the same company.
Okay, I agree with your product mix and the rational for the three systems. However, would an upgrade in the OS upgrade with the device? If so, that is a good thing. But, if you have to purchase an upgraded phone for each OS system, then that is just too costly in the long run. Do you not agree? For example, I own a Kindle fire. If I wanted a system upgrade then I must also upgrade the device to the HD model. Would your vision of this product work in that way?
As I mentioned in the blogpost, Google should “Release OS upgrades for them as they become available”. That’ll ensure that users of this product line will always have the latest version of Android in their hands. There should be no need to buy a new device if a device’s specs supports the new version of OS.
The only thing is that the Nexus line isn’t really meant for the “normal” user, it’s more directed towards developers. Up until nexus 4, nexus phones weren’t really popular among “regular” buyers. And with such low prices of nexus 4,7 and 10, it’s clear that Google isn’t planning on making any money from hardware (as opposed to Apple). I think that Google will keep the nexus line as it’s own separate thing, however I think that interesting things will come from Motorola (like the rumoured X Phone) aimed at the “regular” customers.
Well, I don’t see any reason that “Nexus line isn’t really meant for the “normal” user”, can you explain why? Jut because it wasn’t “popular” doesn’t mean it wasn’t meant for “regular buyers”.
Motorola will continue to introduce it’s other lines of course, but in a perfect world, we’ll have a pure “Google Phone”, or at least that’s how I see it. 🙂
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Pretty good idea. Though maybe just 2 choices in each space is better. 2 choices in phone and 2 in tablet. At least to start with.
Yeah, agree with you. That’d be even better. But the mini version’s price will have be bearable for someone in a developing country.
fantastic
Nexus is pure android goodness.. i also thought it was a developers phone a while back. but it’s not missing any regular phone features.. i don’t see why it shouldn’t be used by any user. and above all nexus phones get their updates more quickly than any other, mainly because of the reason you mentioned about the manufactures and their bloatware. Speaking of which, same here with the Xperia P.. its’ so hard, to know JP is out there and not being able to get it. I’ve checked the updater a million times now.. it’s like they’re punishing me for something, i just don’t know what i did. 🙂
“above all nexus phones get their updates more quickly than any other” – Yeah, that’s exactly why I love the Nexus line and I’d be happy to see something like this implemented.
About the JB update for Xperia P, I am still waiting. This is so bad from Sony. :/