A Jelly Bean line of Nexus devices

Joe

Google has just announced their upcoming Nexus line of tablets and phones, all running the newest version of Android: Jelly Bean 4.2.

Why is Google using the same version name to their new flavor of Android is beyond me. If you consider that this upgrade is not a new major version, then why increment the 4.2 counter? Why not simply call it 4.1.1?

Here's a question for previous/current Nexus owners: Have you been satisfied by the Nexus devices so far? How do they compare to other Androids?

AvoK95

Nexus devices get the first updates as soon as they are announced and they almost never get outdated.

yasamoka

4.1.x is not really introducing any new features, it's just bug-fixes and performance improvements generally.
Google seem to want to emphasize that 4.2 is not only a bunch of bugfixes and performance improvements like 4.1.2 generally was. Calling it 4.1.3 would not give it a significant importance. It's still a stupid reason to call it 4.2, but whatever.

I don't own any Nexus devices myself, though I have tried the Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, and Nexus 7. I could only tell you what I know.

From now on here, this is going to be a rahmu-type post with some yasamoka-style parenthesis:

Nexus devices:

1) No racism: Region-free. No waiting for updates for your phone's region. All Nexus phones are treated equally. No phone-racism.

2) Good hardware choice: I'd put some faith in Google for choosing hardware that is easy to develop for and deliver updates to without breaking compatibility. That would show with their use of Qualcomm and TI-OMAP chipsets in the Nexus line of devices. These chipsets are easier to develop for than Exynos (and maybe NovaThor, which was used in several midrange 2012 Xperia devices). The Nexus One had Qualcomm, the Nexus S had non-Exynos, the Galaxy Nexus had the TI-OMAP4460 chipset, and the new LG Nexus 4 has a Qualcomm S4 Pro chipset (most powerful thing out there, mostly). TI-OMAP chipsets are open-source (contrary to what was said that they have recently quit the chipset market, TI is expanding)

Note: Galaxy S2 had two versions, i9100 and i9100G. The former has Exynos, the latter has TI-OMAP4430 (almost same a GNex chipset). The latter was released at the end of 2011 (beginning of 2012). It was the rarer phone at the time, and had a smaller development community and a smaller amount of custom ROMs compared to the i9100. However, it is claimed that the i9100G is the easier-to-develop for phone, and would eventually turn out to be better supported (on the long run). If it hasn't happened now, it's probably happening soon. The S2 is still quite a beefy phone.

3) Latest software: Nexus devices always get the latest updates. This is because the Android code itself is developed to support the Nexus phones first. First, factory images are released (and dumped and leaked). Second, the newest Android version's source code is published. Third, manufacturers get to work developing their own flavors of Android for their non-Nexus devices, and the developers community gets to work developing custom ROMs . It's obvious that Nexus devices would always get the latest software first.

Check out: AOSP, the Android Open Source Project

4) What's great about the Nexus program itself is that it has been shown that non-Nexus devices can become "Nexus" devices by getting admitted into AOSP. The Xperia S has the honor of being the first phone. The binaries have already been released and now I'm guessing Google is at work. At almost the same price point as the Galaxy Nexus, having quite similar specs, having an LCD screen (advantages & disadvantages to AMOLED), 4.3" display (for those how like to get snug with their phones), good design, it's quite a good deal.

My 2 yen.

haidcar

rahmu wroteGoogle has just announced their upcoming Nexus line of tablets and phones, all running the newest version of Android: Jelly Bean 4.2.

Why is Google using the same version name to their new flavor of Android is beyond me. If you consider that this upgrade is not a new major version, then why increment the 4.2 counter? Why not simply call it 4.1.1?

Here's a question for previous/current Nexus owners: Have you been satisfied by the Nexus devices so far? How do they compare to other Androids?

I was surprised they announced the new line of nexus devices despite canceling their press event due the hurricane. I think they were forced to due to the leaks, nevertheless i am glad they did.

its not the first time that Google uses the same name for a new android version (2.0 and 2.1 were both called eclair). I think one way to think of it is that 4.2 is service pack to 4.1 it includes new features that build up on the 4.1 jellybean.

i have been a nexus user for almost a year now, and i very happy. no bloatware, no OEM customization, and we receive the latest updates as soon they are released by Google.

I think anyone who cares about having phone with stock experience and receive the latest updates, should pick a nexus device specially now since they are very affordable.

m-sabra

Being a nexus user (nexus s) i can tell you about my experience,the major advantage you get over all other android devices is software updates on time,for example my aging nexus s got jellybean before current samsung flagship the Galaxy s 3,and like yasamoka said,no regions,a unified firmware for all the world,all nexus devices have a very active custom roms development community,and supported by popular after market firmware like cyanogenmod.one of android biggest problems is fragmentation (lots of devices still use the relatively old Gingerbread) a problem that is inexistent on nexus devices,just take a look at the Galaxy s 1 and the Nexus s which both have very similar specs,while the galaxy s 1 is still stuck with android 2.3,nexus s is already running jelly bean.

as for the version name,they just found this update to be more important than just 4.1.3 (third number bumb usuall mean bug fixes) and doesn't include much features to be a new major version,so 4.2 JellyBean it is.