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Android circles are freaking out after a statement made by Android lead Sundar Pichai suggests we could see the next version of Android unveiled (in some capacity) during this week’s Google I/O developer conference. According to Bloomberg, Google will preview Android L (Lemonhead, Lollipop?) during this year’s keynote, with Pichai going on the record as saying:
“I want the world to understand what we are doing sooner.”
-Sundar Pichai
While that quote doesn’t necessarily reveal much, Bloomberg says this is Mountain View’s effort for greater transparency in regard to firmware updates. With Apple already giving the world a preview of their next OS release for mobile — iOS 8 — during WWDC last month, perhaps this is Google’s way of stealing some of Apple’s thunder.
Where we didn’t expect to see anything more than a Google app redesign at this year’s I/O, we suppose the event (and Android) is still too young to pin a specific pattern of announcements or releases. As we all know, when it comes to Google (and Android), you never know what you’re gonna get.
In the back of our minds, we can’t help but hope Google will also provide a limited developer preview of Android L before it officially rolls out to the world with their rumored Android Silver program. Hey, we can dream, right?
As we prepare our bodies and our minds for tomorrow’s event, don’t forget to check out the full 5-page interview with Sundar Pichai here as well as his Q&A session here. It’s a great read.
No. Just… No.
Why not? This will allow developers, OEMs, and carriers to start preparing their products early in time for the official consumer release.
it also allows consumers to see if its a big upgrade or a small one, and whether its worth waiting for a phone to launch with the update, or if you can just get a phone today that’s going to take forever to get updated but it wouldn’t bother you much.
Or they could buy a Nexus or Moto phone and feel pretty good about getting the update when it comes it. If you buy a phone that takes forever to get updated that’s your own damn fault.
That’s why i said peep the update and decide whether or not its worth it to buy a nexus or something else.
I have a Nexus 4, and the updates were cool, but honestly none of the updates were big. And with the hardware trade offs you sometimes get when buying a Nexus, I would have probably been happier with a phone with better hardware.
I’m looking to buy a new phone and if this next update is 5.0 or has some crazy features then I’ll wait. But if it’s android 4.5 and still kitkat, and the tweaks are minor, then I have no reason to wait or get a nexus. I’ll just cop a phone with the hardware I want.
I guess I’m more of a “pretty darn good is good enough” guy where I’ve been happy with a string of Nexus phones, and paying $200-$300 more for slightly better hardware doesn’t appeal to me. The lack of a manufacturer’s skin, the access to timely Android updates and the reasonable price all make the Nexus (and now some of the Moto) phones the most appealing.to me.
Nah!! Not for me. A Google Edition phone would tailor more to me since I look at the hardware side of things. It’s why I choice the HTC One M8. The only thing that got me were front facing speakers and the phone being quite heavy.
Though, I envy those that can settle with a Nexus device. I’d love to not have to pay so much for a phone. =.S
Are you saying the front facing speakers are a negative for you? That’s something I really like about the HTC Ones. I hate all these devices having speakers facing away from you when you’re looking at the screen. It doesn’t make any sense aiming the speakers away from the listener.
But again, having front facing speakers isn’t worth the extra money to me.
No. I’m answering with root not being part of my answer. With root it doesn’t natter what phone you want when it comes with updates. LoL!!
A Google Edition HTC One M8 would be perfect for me if I wanted updates.
However, I don’t mind Sense at all, so I get my phones from carriers. And I root, so updates aren’t much an issue for me.
Yeah i mean i love price of the Nexus, and updates are great. But the biggest gripes for me were battery life and camera (and to a much lesser extent the display) of the Nexus 4. I know Nexus 5 have improved on some things. For me, the other devices are worth an equal look at with the Nexus.
My Camera and display and battery life were all downgrades from the Evo LTE i had before it. I have to grab my girlfriends iphone 5 if i want to take a pic while out and a bout
Updates are important to me..if they are major. If the updates are minor, then i don’t mind waiting a 2 or 3 months. As far as manufacturer skins go, to me that depends on the skin. I do not like the aesthetics of touchwhiz, but I do like the way the new sense looks and performs. I havent used LG’s skin yet so I cant comment on that.
A $400 Nexus is definitely a steal and a half. But would i pay an extra $150 for a kick ass camera and a battery that lasts twice as long? I might.
Well there has been a significant Android release in July the last couple years so I hope so. Looking forward to a great update from Google. Then again KitKat was just announced last Sepetember so maybe we wait until then. Google has been somewhat unpredictable with their releases, at least compared to Apple.
I’m speculating that it’s an early preview so that they can get the UI design guidelines out to developers well in advance of an actual rollout. This way developers and coordinate their update with the L-release. And also any relevant under the hood changes that may affect developers’ applications, unlike API 19 where Google totally dropped the ball in regards to how KitKat would affect apps that make use of expandable storage. I still see users and developers alike on Google’s forums slamming Google over the change, the way it came out, and the lack of proper documentation.
EDIT: See my post below.
Ok, so I just read the full statement. Apparently the reason behind this, as per Sundar Pichai himself, is that OEMs were sick of one company (the Nexus builder) getting early access to the OS, and everyone else having to scramble to release their update around the holidays. With this new process, OEMs and developers will get easy access, and that way when Google “releases” the new update in the Fall, the update should be ready to go on numerous devices near simultaneously.
Good to hear. This will likely also help when the Android Silver program eventually rolls out.
I am so excited to see where we are going… BRING IT!!!
Momma always said: Life is like a box of Lollipops – you never know what you’re gonna get.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but that would’ve been better since Kit Kat is Chocolate ;).
I am now realizing that they mean the flavors and not the product. I’ve always thought, “It’s chocolate that you’re getting how do you not know?”
I get that from you using Lollipops. I was going to say the same thing, but then I thought there are different flavors. You have no idea, but you just put my mind at ease.
Durin123 has changed your life forever.
You guys must be soulmates.
(」゜ロ゜)」
Beta please Google :)
I’m still running cupcake…;)
You need to throw away that phone lol
Motorola Cliq?
T-Mobile G1 here.
lol, are you wanting to stay grandfathered into the unlimited data plan or something?
Bring. It. On.
However, I don’t mind Sense at all, so I get my phones from carriers. And I root, so updates aren’t much an issue for me.