Samsung’s Galaxy series has now reached its sixth iteration. Last years version (the Galaxy S5) didn’t sell all that well according to rumors. Maybe it looked a little too much like the Galaxy S4? The last Galaxy model I liked, was the S2. Until last year, when I saw the Alpha. With its metal band, it looks really good. With the S6, and especially the S6 Edge, Samsung has won me over. They are really nice-looking. But design is not everything. Sadly for the Samsung fans, it’s no longer possible to swap the battery or memory card. This will be a deal breaker for many.
I was really fond of the first HTC One (later dubbed M7) when it came in 2013. I liked the M8 even more when it was released a year later in spring 2014. It was no surprise when HTC again kept the original design (although tweaked) with the new M9. I’m not sure if I like the gold on silver look. I tend to like the darker versions more. In this case: Gun Metal Grey.
On October 15 2014 Google revealed that Lollipop is the codename for Android 5.0. From November 3, the rollout will begin to hit users of Nexus 4, 5, 7 (both 2012 and 2013 version) and 10. Plus the Google Edition devices.
With Lollipop comes a totally new user interface, called “Material Design”. Presented at this years Google I/O, the new design is built in “layers” to give a perception of depth.
Some of the new features are:
Project Volta
Android 5.0 should make your battery last longer between charges and a new battery saver mode enables you to squeeze out even more when reaching critical levels.
Guest mode
No need to worry when someone wants to borrow your phone. Lollipop has a new guest mode, allowing other Google users to logon momentarily. They can’t access any of your stuff. If you share your phone with certain people regularly, you can also set up several profiles.
New first-time setup
By touching two NFC capable Android phones, you can transfer all your data from your old phone to your new. You can also choose which backup to restore from via the Cloud.
Do not disturb mode
Notifications has got an overhaul. You can also activate a “do not disturb” mode where no notifications will bother you. Or you can choose which notifications that come through (priority mode).
Faster
Android RunTime (ART) has replaced the Dalvik runtime and offers a performance boost overall.
At the same time as Lollipop was revealed to be the codename for the next version of Android, Google also announced a new phone, a new tablet and yet another take on an entertainment hub. (Remember the Nexus Q and Google TV anyone?)
Nexus 6
Nexus 6 is a phone made by Motorola. As the name suggests, the display is six inches. Since such a big phone isn’t for everyone, the Nexus 5 will still be available.
Quote from the official Android blog:
This new phone has a contoured aluminum frame, a 6-inch Quad HD display and a 13 megapixel camera. The large screen is complemented by dual front-facing stereo speakers that deliver high-fidelity sound, making it as great for movies and gaming as it is for doing work. It also comes with a Turbo Charger, so you can get up to six hours of use with only 15 minutes of charge.
13MP with optical image stabilization
Dual LED ring flash
f/2.0 aperture
4K video capture at 30fps
Battery:
3220mAh
Qi wireless charging
Weight:
184g
Nexus 9
Nexus 9 is a tablet made by HTC. The company also made the first Nexus phone, the Nexus One, back in 2010.
Quote from the official Android blog:
With brushed metal sides and 8.9-inch screen, the Nexus 9 is small enough to easily carry around in one hand, yet big enough to work on. And since more and more people want to have the same simple experience they have on their tablets when they have to do real work, we designed a keyboard folio that magnetically attaches to the Nexus 9, folds into two different angles and rests securely on your lap like a laptop.
The main specs are:
Display:
8.9″ IPS LCD
4:3 aspect ratio
QXGA (2048×1536)
Gorilla Glass 3
Double tap to wake
CPU:
64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver 2.3GHz
RAM:
2GB
Storage:
16GB or 32GB
Camera:
8MP Rear camera
f/2.4 aperture
Auto-focus, LED flash
Battery:
6700mAh
Weight:
425g
Nexus Player
Nexus Player is an Android TV device made by Asus.
Quote from the official Android blog:
A streaming media player for movies, music and videos. It’s also a first-of-its-kind Android gaming device. With Nexus Player you can play Android games on your HDTV with a gamepad, then keep playing on your phone while you’re on the road. Nexus Player is Google Cast Ready so you can cast your favorite entertainment from almost any Chromebook or Android or iOS phone or tablet to your TV.
The main specs are:
Chipset:
1.8GHz Quad Core, Intel Atom
Imagination PowerVR Series 6 Graphics 2D/3D Engine
RAM:
1GB
Storage:
8GB
Display out:
HDMI 1080p 60Hz)
Accessories:
Remote (included)
Gamepad
Availability and prices
Nexus 9 and Nexus Player will be available for pre-order on October 17. Nexus 9 will be in stores starting November 3. Nexus 6 will be available for pre-order in late October and in stores in November—with options for an unlocked version through Play store, or a monthly contract or installment plan through carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon. Specific carrier rollout timing will vary. Check out google.com/nexus for more details on availability.
