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Google was stupid to release the Nexus One. They created a fragmented developer environment, stabbed Android licensees in the back and terrified carriers all in

Google was stupid to release the Nexus One. They created a fragmented developer environment, stabbed Android licensees in the back and terrified carriers all in fell swoop. They're going to have to work very hard to get the industry to trust them again. It may already be too late.

FooBarWidget 17y ago
I don't think so. None of this would have happened if the manufacturers and carriers didn't fuck up. Google's Nexus One might very well save the platform by serving as an example of how things should be done.
- kylec 17y ago
  Here's hoping that they keep the device updated like Apple does with the iPhone (unlike HTC/T-Mobile with the G1 that's still stuck on Android 1.6). One of the reasons why I like buying Apple is because they continue to add value after the sale.
  - cantastoria 17y ago
    I wouldn't count on this from Google. The release of the Nexus shows they have a very muddled strategy as far as Android goes. It looks like they thought they could pull off some of Microsofts' old tricks but Android is open source and they had no way of keeping the handset makers from messing with it. The Nexus is a retreat from this strategy.
- qeorge 17y ago
  None of this would have happened if the manufacturers and carriers didn't fuck up. Is this to suggest Google wouldn't have released a phone if they were more impressed with the G1, Droid, et all? There's been "G Phone" rumors for at least 2 years. It is an interesting thought, though. What is your basis?
eli 17y ago
How does it fragment the environment any more than the release of any new Android phone?
- cantastoria 17y ago
  Imagine if Microsoft had released a "Microsoft PC"? Why would anyone buy anything else? If you're a Android licensee now you're forced to differentiate whether you want to or not because you have to compete against the favored Nexus. The Android dev environment was destined to be a fractured mess to begin with. The Nexus just sped up the process.
  - eli 17y ago
    I still don't see how that has anything to do with fragmenting the platform. If anything, a semi-official reference device would work to unify the platform around that implementation, no?
    - cantastoria 17y ago
      Why would HTC and Motorola follow the Nexus? What's in it for them? As far as they were concerned the whole point of Android was that there was no reference implementation. If the start looking to the Nexus as a reference implementation all they get is to become box makers for Google's software. As an Android developer, if you want to cover the whole market, you're now going to have to deal with handset makers at war with the developer of the platform. I can't see how the Nexus provides anything but more motivation for Android licensees to make their products significantly different from what Google is offering.
      - theBobMcCormick 17y ago
        > Why would HTC and Motorola follow the Nexus? What's in it for them? Considering HTC makes the Nexus, I think it's pretty clear what's in it for them. :-)
  - dannyr 17y ago
blasdel 17y ago
They should have made the Nexus One, but as Android's iPod Touch: low markup, no cell modem, faster hardware. It was pretty moronic of them to pull a Zune, especially when their partners making iPod touch competitors are fucking things up even more than their phone manufacturers.

FooBarWidget 17y ago

I don't think so. None of this would have happened if the manufacturers and carriers didn't fuck up. Google's Nexus One might very well save the platform by serving as an example of how things should be done.

kylec 17y ago
Here's hoping that they keep the device updated like Apple does with the iPhone (unlike HTC/T-Mobile with the G1 that's still stuck on Android 1.6). One of the reasons why I like buying Apple is because they continue to add value after the sale.
- cantastoria 17y ago
  I wouldn't count on this from Google. The release of the Nexus shows they have a very muddled strategy as far as Android goes. It looks like they thought they could pull off some of Microsofts' old tricks but Android is open source and they had no way of keeping the handset makers from messing with it. The Nexus is a retreat from this strategy.
qeorge 17y ago
None of this would have happened if the manufacturers and carriers didn't fuck up. Is this to suggest Google wouldn't have released a phone if they were more impressed with the G1, Droid, et all? There's been "G Phone" rumors for at least 2 years. It is an interesting thought, though. What is your basis?

eli 17y ago

How does it fragment the environment any more than the release of any new Android phone?

cantastoria 17y ago
Imagine if Microsoft had released a "Microsoft PC"? Why would anyone buy anything else? If you're a Android licensee now you're forced to differentiate whether you want to or not because you have to compete against the favored Nexus. The Android dev environment was destined to be a fractured mess to begin with. The Nexus just sped up the process.
- eli 17y ago
  I still don't see how that has anything to do with fragmenting the platform. If anything, a semi-official reference device would work to unify the platform around that implementation, no?
  - cantastoria 17y ago
    Why would HTC and Motorola follow the Nexus? What's in it for them? As far as they were concerned the whole point of Android was that there was no reference implementation. If the start looking to the Nexus as a reference implementation all they get is to become box makers for Google's software. As an Android developer, if you want to cover the whole market, you're now going to have to deal with handset makers at war with the developer of the platform. I can't see how the Nexus provides anything but more motivation for Android licensees to make their products significantly different from what Google is offering.
    - theBobMcCormick 17y ago
      > Why would HTC and Motorola follow the Nexus? What's in it for them? Considering HTC makes the Nexus, I think it's pretty clear what's in it for them. :-)
- dannyr 17y ago

blasdel 17y ago

They should have made the Nexus One, but as Android's iPod Touch: low markup, no cell modem, faster hardware. It was pretty moronic of them to pull a Zune, especially when their partners making iPod touch competitors are fucking things up even more than their phone manufacturers.