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Print 21 comment(s) - last by StormyKnight.. on Oct 16 at 7:47 AM
Leaked images show a Google-branded Sony Android

Sony Corp. (TYO:6758) has quietly built a name for itself in the world of Android smartphones -- with models like the Gingerbread-powered Xperia Play 4G (aka "The PlayStation Phone") and the "Live With Walkman" music-minded handset.  That said, its sales of Xperia Androids remain well removed from the volumes of market leaders.  

But the company -- which has thus far escaped lawsuits from Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Apple, Inc. (AAPL), perhaps due to prior art concerns -- is reportedly preparing to take a big step forward into the limelight, with some help from Google.

Images posted to Google Inc.'s (GOOG) picture sharing service Picasa show a Google-branded Sony smartphone, which is reportedly dubbed the "Nexus X".  The images were posted by someone called "Mutul Yeter" whose name offers no Google search hits (other than about the posted images) -- suggesting the name is a pseudonym.

Such things -- as the Xperia Blog who first covered the possible leak, notes -- can be faked.  However, the device looks reasonably plausible in the mid-resolution images posted.  

Sony Nexus X
The Sony "Nexus X" [Image Source: Mutul Yeter/Picasa]

It appears to be loaded with Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean", and pack the typical 'Droid fare -- a front and rear camera, plus microUSB.

So far Google has worked with a number of OEMs on "Nexus" branded smartphones, but not Sony.  The first in the series -- the Nexus One (Jan. 2010) -- was built by HTC Corp. (TPE:2498).  It was succeeded by the Nexus S (Dec. 2010) and Galaxy Nexus (Nov. 2011) from Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (KSC:005930).

Sources: Picasa, Xperia Blog


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Get a Nexus from every company
By quiksilvr on 10/15/2012 1:03:51 PM , Rating: 5
I honestly think 5 flagship devices is all Google needs:

Nexus 4 from HTC
Nexus 4.5 from Samsung
Nexus 5/X from Sony
Nexus 7 from Asus
Nexus 10 from Motorola

Just have these 5 solid, clean OEM Android devices from all different manufacturers. These companies can sell their own devices too, but Nexus should at least be mature and decent for those that don't want to have subsidized deals from cell phone companies and don't want skins and want updates to their OS in a timely fashion.




RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By retrospooty on 10/15/2012 1:35:25 PM , Rating: 2
I love the idea... The more Nexus the better. Leave off the carrier crap and give faster updates to those that want it.

Not that I personally care because I usually run custom ROM's, but it was nice to get my Android 4.1.2 update on my Nexus 7 the day it was released. Alot of people seem to like that, and everyone hates the carriers bloat.


RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By theapparition on 10/15/2012 3:59:26 PM , Rating: 2
Google seems to be implementing a Nexus program. Details supposedly to drop on Oct 29th.

If true, then all manufacturers will be able to make Nexus devices, as long as they meet the requirements. There are already rumors of a LG Nexus, HTC Nexus, and a Samsung 10" Nexus Tablet.


By GulWestfale on 10/15/2012 8:05:51 PM , Rating: 2
i have an xperia ray and am quite happy with it. nice design, good performance, not too much skinning/useless apps like samsung and some others... i don't know why sony phones aren't more popular.


By foolsgambit11 on 10/15/2012 8:12:52 PM , Rating: 2
Makes sense from a manufacturer standpoint to some degree. After all, Samsung and HTC have both had issues with patents on their UI extensions, if I remember correctly. Going stock may be looking more and more appealing.


RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By Samus on 10/15/2012 11:09:53 PM , Rating: 2
Carriers aren't fond of the Nexus concept for obvious reasons. They like to load phones up with crap, put their logo on the front of back, and offer them in exclusive colors. It's amazing what Apple (and Samsung SGS3) has accomplished with carrier cooperation.

A unified architecture is obviously huge for the consumer, but since when did the carriers care about consumers? AT&T acknowleged a 90%+ customer dissatifaction rating in 2010 and said they don't have any plan to improve customer relations. I mean, wow.


RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By tayb on 10/15/2012 1:57:30 PM , Rating: 2
I say the more the merrier. Why stop at 5? I wish all Android phones were vanilla Android "Google Experience." I haven't found a single carrier/manufacturer customized ROM that I thought was an improvement over vanilla. Granted, I can run my own custom ROM but my biggest annoyance is the upgrade schedule, or more importantly the complete lack thereof.

Plus, having the ability to buy unlocked phones out of contract for reasonable prices is huge. Unlike the iOS market Android phones can be found for super cheap second or third hand and these unlocked phones are great for people who travel overseas.


By retrospooty on 10/15/2012 2:30:17 PM , Rating: 2
"I say the more the merrier. Why stop at 5? I wish all Android phones were vanilla Android "Google Experience.""

+1

then again, no-one would but the carrier ones. LOL.


RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By RufusM on 10/15/2012 4:13:44 PM , Rating: 2
The one big thing for me the Google AOSP ROM doesn't have are notification menu toggles and brightness slider. I really wish Google would add this to the AOSP ROM.


By NellyFromMA on 10/15/2012 3:27:10 PM , Rating: 1
The best elite phone no one needs or will buy. Cool.


RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By TakinYourPoints on 10/15/2012 4:21:40 PM , Rating: 2
I agree, give Google as much control as possible. Clean unfettered ICS along with guaranteed and timely updates. That shouldn't be too much to ask. Carrier nonsense is one of the biggest problems with the platform.


RE: Get a Nexus from every company
By manual123 on 10/16/2012 5:47:12 AM , Rating: 2
but could that lead to less freedom? If Google has more control then could we run into a more closed model like the likes of M$ or Apple? I know it wouldnt be as walled as Apple but still, it wouldnt have the same deviation that we have today. Otherwise there wouldnt be as much of a reason for as many different models if no matter the brand, the basics arent gonna be that different. but I do like where you coming from though...


Hmmm
By NellyFromMA on 10/15/2012 3:48:54 PM , Rating: 2
I guess I don't understand the need for tons of only minorly different phones. Haven't we kind of come to a 'common denominator' in terms of phones at this point. Every time a new Android comes out, I kind of just yawn. It's not that exciting seeing marginal incremental changes that have little to no impact.

Sad to say, but at this point screen real estate is the only thing aside from OS software that even makes anyone feel like their phone is an upgrade at this point, and the Android updates are kind of at terrible pace from the point Google releases to the point it makes it onto your device (not counting rooting).

Idk, maybe thats just the ultimate destination of general purpose computers; overly generic.




RE: Hmmm
By theapparition on 10/15/2012 4:02:38 PM , Rating: 2
You don't understand it, so stop right there.

All phones, even the iPhone, have pretty much similar specs. It's the details that make them different.


RE: Hmmm
By augiem on 10/15/2012 4:21:10 PM , Rating: 2
Marginal incremental changes are exactly what brought us from the terrible Tmobile G1 to where we are now with Android devices. If you expect anything other than a slow evolution in technology, you'll be disappointed 99.9999% of the time regardless of the product or field. Evolution at a steady pace means that in 5 years you will have something amazingly better than now, but you may not notice it along the way. I've got gadget magazines sitting around from about 2005 and it's a real trip to read through those. It's mind boggling to think all that happened in 7 years.


RE: Hmmm
By manual123 on 10/16/2012 5:43:24 AM , Rating: 3
But he has a point. Aside from us techy folks, were we read all the specs and know what they mean, the common buyer isnt going to and thus the differences between the 'new' phone and the current model may seem minimal at best. What does a HTC One do that this RazrM doesnt? Same OS, same apps, same microusb. The only differences for the commoner is with or without SD card and removable batt which for alot of people isnt nearly a deal breaker as some us make it out to be. Yes most of the changes in models has been small but it does seem like were at the point of multiple phones being cranked out without a big enough difference to sway me away from a already existing device(flag ships excluded for the moment).


YES!
By ksherman on 10/15/2012 2:00:58 PM , Rating: 2
Then the one segment of the Android smartphone market that was un-complicated will become a complicated mess of similar but slightly different devices!

</s>




RE: YES!
By Netscorer on 10/15/2012 2:17:33 PM , Rating: 2
Not at all! Consumers would appreciate the choice and different price points based on their needs. One size fits all Apple strategy only worked when they had relative monopoly on the market and consumers did not have much choice when selecting their first smartphone.
I would personally love for Sony to design real high-end Nexus model where they do not spare expense to give me the best of Android experience. Someone else might go for a cheap LG model because they want good enough experience and access to unaltered Android OS.


RE: YES!
By retrospooty on 10/15/2012 2:34:05 PM , Rating: 2
First off, this is a good thing. More options = better, no matter what.

Secondly, what is so complicated about Android models? If you want one pick one that meets your needs. Variety is the strength of the platform, not the weakness. Want a "1 phone fits all" with no SD card, no micro USB, no removable battery no large screens, no options whatsover, get an iPhone.


By Roffles on 10/15/2012 2:55:27 PM , Rating: 2
I hope this rumor is true because the LG Nexus is gimped without the spare battery and expandable storage. Hopefully a different phone from a different manufacturer will get it right. The new S4 Pro processor has my mouth watering.




Nexus ROM
By StormyKnight on 10/16/2012 7:47:19 AM , Rating: 2
Actually, what would be really cool would be a ROM that turns any Android phone into a Nexus. Lets you turn off or remove the skins or even give you the option of choosing a skin if you like.




"I mean, if you wanna break down someone's door, why don't you start with AT&T, for God sakes? They make your amazing phone unusable as a phone!" -- Jon Stewart on Apple and the iPhone











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