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Revealed: Everything Google Will Unveil at its Oct. 29 Android Event

30 points by rkudeshi 14y ago

rkudeshi 14y ago
Why do companies keep using size-based nomenclature? E.g. Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Galaxy Tab 7, Galaxy Tab 10? It may seem like a good idea, but if the product is successful, how do you name next year's model? The Nexus 7-2? If the models were only going to be updated annually, like Apple does, then I guess it would work (2012 model, 2013 model, etc). But Google and Samsung both seem to be releasing product updates faster than that, so I don't know how they can iterate without confusing average consumers (Nexus 7 2nd-generation model?).
- mtgx 14y ago
  I agree it does tend to get rather confusing and a mouthful when pronounced. Samsung revealed the Galaxy Note 10.1 this year, so I expect the one from next year will be called Galaxy Note 10.1 2.0, or something. This kind of product naming is but a side effect of the way companies like Samsung create products. For them a new product is just another variation from their product line-up, that adds to the complexity of creating and supporting them. They don't really think in terms of creating strong brands. The only thing they understand about branding is that once they have a run-away success, they need to include that name in all future products, from low-end to high-end, which ends up ultimately diluting and destroying that brand.
- ChuckMcM 14y ago
  I'm tempted to say "because size matters" but the reality is probably closer to the fact that it is a user facing discrimination factor. If you're marketing something you need to be sure the users who might buy it, will look at it, and to do that you want to be sure the user discrimination factors are in the headline/lede. So if, as a marketeer, your research shows that consumers shop based on 'brand', 'os', and 'size' you want to make sure your headlines include 'Google' 'Android' and '10'. As others have pointed out 'Nexus' is fast becoming an identifier as 'Google's preferred flavor of Android' so replacing Android with Nexus in the headline is OK too. Because there isn't a lot of 'control' in the size market at Google (remember that Dell launched the first 7" Android device?) You're kind of stuck with a number rather than a synonym like 'nano' or 'mini'. Sadly, if thenextweb really has laid out the contents of the announcement on 10/29 then both Microsoft and Apple have enough time to put some deflecting language in their presentations to maximize their impact. Releasing that info early is a great boon to Android's competitors and not helpful. We'll see though. I know when I was at Google the contractor that leaked a picture of the T-Mobile G1 was summarily fired they were that serious about keeping the wraps on things.
- bookwormAT 14y ago
  "If the models were only going to be updated annually [...] But Google and Samsung both seem to be releasing product updates faster than that" Like Apple, Google releases only one smartphone each year. Samsung is not so consistent, but Samsung's top 2 smartphone models, Galaxy S and Galaxy Note, also get exactly one update each year. So, the successor of the Nexus 7 could be "the Nexus 7 from 2013"
  - mynegation 14y ago
    Exactly. Car industry used this naming scheme for a while now. E.g. BMW 528: 5-series with 2.8 L engine. And then you specify a model year.
    - mikeevans 14y ago
      Or you can use something like E39, to refer to the generation of models. (equally unhelpful, unless you're a car person)
- majormajor 14y ago
  Leaving the model specifics out works fairly well. E.g. 'MacBook Pro 13-inch Early 2011' becomes just 'MBP 13"'.
- mbell 14y ago
  Its better than the "New iPad", still have no idea what Apple was thinking on that one.
  - skeletonjelly 14y ago
    My only confusion is what they'll call the next one, and what they'll call the old New iPad. I'm assuming they'll use it to classify issues in documentation amongst other things.
    - mbell 14y ago
      My guess is that the iPad's form factor is pretty much done. I don't see a massive change in screen size, resolution, shape, or packaging form factor. Any large departure from the current iPad will likely be a different product. If thats the case they may simply be transitioning to the way they name their computers. e.g. 'Late 2012 iPad' for the rumored update coming up.
    - yen223 14y ago
      They will probably name the next iPad "iPad Early 2013", similar to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
mmastrac 14y ago
The article contains at least one mis-prediction: Android already supports vertical panoramas. I've used that feature before.

30 points by rkudeshi 14y ago

Why do companies keep using size-based nomenclature? E.g. Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Galaxy Tab 7, Galaxy Tab 10? It may seem like a good idea, but if the product is successful, how do you name next year's model? The Nexus 7-2? If the models were only going to be updated annually, like Apple does, then I guess it would work (2012 model, 2013 model, etc). But Google and Samsung both seem to be releasing product updates faster than that, so I don't know how they can iterate without confusing average consumers (Nexus 7 2nd-generation model?).

mtgx 14y ago
I agree it does tend to get rather confusing and a mouthful when pronounced. Samsung revealed the Galaxy Note 10.1 this year, so I expect the one from next year will be called Galaxy Note 10.1 2.0, or something. This kind of product naming is but a side effect of the way companies like Samsung create products. For them a new product is just another variation from their product line-up, that adds to the complexity of creating and supporting them. They don't really think in terms of creating strong brands. The only thing they understand about branding is that once they have a run-away success, they need to include that name in all future products, from low-end to high-end, which ends up ultimately diluting and destroying that brand.
ChuckMcM 14y ago
I'm tempted to say "because size matters" but the reality is probably closer to the fact that it is a user facing discrimination factor. If you're marketing something you need to be sure the users who might buy it, will look at it, and to do that you want to be sure the user discrimination factors are in the headline/lede. So if, as a marketeer, your research shows that consumers shop based on 'brand', 'os', and 'size' you want to make sure your headlines include 'Google' 'Android' and '10'. As others have pointed out 'Nexus' is fast becoming an identifier as 'Google's preferred flavor of Android' so replacing Android with Nexus in the headline is OK too. Because there isn't a lot of 'control' in the size market at Google (remember that Dell launched the first 7" Android device?) You're kind of stuck with a number rather than a synonym like 'nano' or 'mini'. Sadly, if thenextweb really has laid out the contents of the announcement on 10/29 then both Microsoft and Apple have enough time to put some deflecting language in their presentations to maximize their impact. Releasing that info early is a great boon to Android's competitors and not helpful. We'll see though. I know when I was at Google the contractor that leaked a picture of the T-Mobile G1 was summarily fired they were that serious about keeping the wraps on things.
bookwormAT 14y ago
"If the models were only going to be updated annually [...] But Google and Samsung both seem to be releasing product updates faster than that" Like Apple, Google releases only one smartphone each year. Samsung is not so consistent, but Samsung's top 2 smartphone models, Galaxy S and Galaxy Note, also get exactly one update each year. So, the successor of the Nexus 7 could be "the Nexus 7 from 2013"
- mynegation 14y ago
  Exactly. Car industry used this naming scheme for a while now. E.g. BMW 528: 5-series with 2.8 L engine. And then you specify a model year.
  - mikeevans 14y ago
    Or you can use something like E39, to refer to the generation of models. (equally unhelpful, unless you're a car person)
majormajor 14y ago
Leaving the model specifics out works fairly well. E.g. 'MacBook Pro 13-inch Early 2011' becomes just 'MBP 13"'.
mbell 14y ago
Its better than the "New iPad", still have no idea what Apple was thinking on that one.
- skeletonjelly 14y ago
  My only confusion is what they'll call the next one, and what they'll call the old New iPad. I'm assuming they'll use it to classify issues in documentation amongst other things.
  - mbell 14y ago
    My guess is that the iPad's form factor is pretty much done. I don't see a massive change in screen size, resolution, shape, or packaging form factor. Any large departure from the current iPad will likely be a different product. If thats the case they may simply be transitioning to the way they name their computers. e.g. 'Late 2012 iPad' for the rumored update coming up.
  - yen223 14y ago
    They will probably name the next iPad "iPad Early 2013", similar to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

mmastrac 14y ago

The article contains at least one mis-prediction: Android already supports vertical panoramas. I've used that feature before.