5 ms·

I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default. This new pixel phone will probably also do so, being a direct (ish) google phone. I think its because if

I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default. This new pixel phone will probably also do so, being a direct (ish) google phone. I think its because if the cruft 3rd party OEMs have been adding that google has been making these phones. So, yes, you can buy a device with stock android. It just has to be a google phone, not a 3rd party for the most part.

radiorental 10y ago
> I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default. Is this strictly true if google bakes their apps in (play music etc.)
- viraptor 10y ago
  Sure. You get the extra apps baked in, but the system itself is not being changed.
Gorbzel 10y ago
This was my understanding as well. Except now, two issues: 1) More a quibble, but I'd say that people around here pushing AOSP makes the term "stock Android" a bit less clear. 2) Article claims the new Pixels will have some other variant of Android, based on current stock Nougat but with additional support baked in for things like their new VR headset and Google Assistant. Which strengthens FuzzyZeus' point: determining which version of Android a given phone comes with (and which it can support, both now and in the future) is an extremely muddled game, with the OEMs and now Google itself not doing anyone any favors.
- livingparadox 10y ago
  Unless google has changed paths recently, I'd imagine that the additional support is just hardware+apps. I don't think they modified the OS in any way exclusive to the Pixel. The same OS software will likely be available to any other OEM shipping that version of nougat.
endemic 10y ago
Kind of ruins one half of the "choice" argument in favor of Android. "You can choose any Android phone you want, as long as it's a Nexus/Pixel!"
- livingparadox 10y ago
  You can choose any android you want, even if its not a Nexus/Pixel. It just might not be as good, because its not controlled by google. But, I do think that argument died a long a time ago because of the cruft OEM's have been adding to android and the common refusal to upgrade phones (though that has been getting better lately).

radiorental 10y ago

> I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default. Is this strictly true if google bakes their apps in (play music etc.)

viraptor 10y ago
Sure. You get the extra apps baked in, but the system itself is not being changed.

Gorbzel 10y ago

This was my understanding as well. Except now, two issues: 1) More a quibble, but I'd say that people around here pushing AOSP makes the term "stock Android" a bit less clear. 2) Article claims the new Pixels will have some other variant of Android, based on current stock Nougat but with additional support baked in for things like their new VR headset and Google Assistant. Which strengthens FuzzyZeus' point: determining which version of Android a given phone comes with (and which it can support, both now and in the future) is an extremely muddled game, with the OEMs and now Google itself not doing anyone any favors.

livingparadox 10y ago
Unless google has changed paths recently, I'd imagine that the additional support is just hardware+apps. I don't think they modified the OS in any way exclusive to the Pixel. The same OS software will likely be available to any other OEM shipping that version of nougat.

endemic 10y ago

Kind of ruins one half of the "choice" argument in favor of Android. "You can choose any Android phone you want, as long as it's a Nexus/Pixel!"

livingparadox 10y ago
You can choose any android you want, even if its not a Nexus/Pixel. It just might not be as good, because its not controlled by google. But, I do think that argument died a long a time ago because of the cruft OEM's have been adding to android and the common refusal to upgrade phones (though that has been getting better lately).