October has become the de-facto month where Google announces and even releases new mobile devices for their Nexus line. This range offers a pure Android experience, without manufacturer overlays or delays with updates. On October 15, Google officially introduced not one, but three new Nexus devices, along with the next version of Android.
Android L becomes Android 5.0 – Lollipop
While Google announced Android L earlier this year, little was said about what the full name of the next version of Android would be. The company finally laid speculation to rest with the announcement that the next version of Android will be 5.0 – Lollipop.
This is the first major update to the Android platform pretty much since Android 4.0 was released back in 2011. While the different versions of 4.0 introduced useful features and changes, the overall look of the system has largely remained the same. Android 5.0 will change this, with what is called Material Design, which brings a universal look (user interface) to apps across all devices.
Beyond a new look, 5.0 will introduce a new operating environment and coding that allows apps to run faster and more efficiently on existing hardware. Support for faster and more powerful processors is also being included so over the next few years you can expect to see phones and tablets become even more powerful.
To begin with, Android 5.0 will be available on the newly announced Nexus devices, along with older Nexus devices (7, 7 (2012), 5 and 4), some Motorola devices, and all Google Play Edition devices. The company has not set an official release date for this update, but you can probably expect it sometime in mid-November. Other devices will have to wait until the manufacturers can adopt this version of Android to their systems.
The Nexus 6
Like most other popular devices, there have been solid rumors about the Nexus 6 all over the Internet. True to these ruminations, the 6 will be made by Motorola and will be a large phone – 6 inches in fact. Here is a brief rundown of the important specs for business users:
- Screen size – The display is 5.96 inches diagonally, with the total size being 6 inches from top-left to bottom-right.
- Battery – The battery is 3220 mAh, which should be more than enough to see you through a day. Motorola has also included their fast-charging technology which can produce six hours of use from a 15 minute charge.
- Processor and RAM – The processor is a top of the line Snapdragon 805 quad core 2.7 GHz. There is also 3 GB of RAM, which means there is more than enough processing power to run everything you need.
- Memory – The device is available with either 32 GB or 64 GB of storage.
- Price and availability – Unlike previous Nexus devices, this phone starts at USD 650 for the 32 GB version, while the 64 GB version costs USD 700. Pre orders for this device start on the Google Play store on October 29 with the device being released in mid-November of this year.
The Nexus 9
The Nexus 9 is the newest tablet in the Nexus line. Made by HTC, it looks to have been designed to compete directly with the iPad Air. Here is a brief rundown of its tech specifications:
- Screen size – The display on this device is 8.9 inches diagonally, with the total size being 9 inches from top-left to bottom-right.
- Battery – The battery is a 6700 mAh, which should be more than enough to see you through a couple of days of use.
- Processor and RAM – There is a high-quality processor running at 2.3 GHz. There is also 2 GB of RAM, which means there is more than enough processing power.
- Memory – The device is available with either 32 GB or 64 GB of storage.
- Price and availability – This tablet starts at USD 400 for the 32 GB version. There is also be a keyboard case, which looks similar to those purchased for Microsoft’s Surface. The device is available to pre order from the Google Play store on October 17, with a release date of November 3 of this year.
The Nexus Player
This new Nexus device is the next step in the evolution of the Chromecast, or Google’s device-to-TV broadcasting device. Like similar solutions, it allows users to stream content from their devices, or stations like Netflix, onto their TV or HDMI monitors. While at first glance this may not be the most useful device for businesses, there is one feature that could prove popular: You will have the ability to broadcast what’s on your device’s screen on your television screen.
This includes Chrome tabs, so if you use cloud-based software like Google Apps you can technically use this to stream presentations or to collaboratively work on documents in a meeting format.
Coming in at USD 99 per set, this could be an affordable solution for companies who don’t want to invest in a projector, or who already have a television screen in their office. The system went up for pre order on the Google Play store on October 17.
If you would like to learn more about Google’s Nexus devices contact us today and we can help you make the right tech decisions for your business.