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Google announces the Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Android 5.0 Lollipop


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Posted (edited)

Now that we know more details about Google's new Nexus devices and Android 5.0, I thought I would create a new thread rather than continue posting in @Dos_Box's year old thread. :)

 

Sources: google.com/nexus/9, nexus/6 & lollipop-5-0 (via Ars Technica)

 

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First up is the Motorola-build Nexus 6. With its latest Nexus phone, Google is tackling phablets. Even for a phablet, though, the Nexus 6 is huge: it has a 5.96-inch, 2560×1440 display (493 PPI). (Compare that to the pocket-busting Note 4, which is "only" 5.7 inches.) The base Nexus 6 has a 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core SoC, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, 13MP and 2MP cameras, and a 3200 mAh battery. The Motorola-built device has a design heavily based on the 2014 Moto X.

 

The phone can be pre-ordered in "late October" and will be in stores "in November." Unlike previous Nexus phones, Google says the Nexus 6 will be widely available from various retail outlets and carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Best Buy, and the Google Play store.

 

The Nexus 6 will start at $649—far more expensive than previous Nexus phones.

 

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The Nexus 9, Google's newest tablet, is a departure from past Android tablets in the most important factor: the screen. Android tablets have traditionally been 16:9, but the Nexus 9 is closer to 4:3, the same aspect ratio as the iPad. The tablet will be worse for watching movies, but it should be a little more versatile for other tasks—larger 16:9 tablets often feel unwieldy when used in portrait mode.

 

While the Nexus 10 was built by Samsung and Asus has made both Nexus 7s, the Nexus 9 is made by HTC. This marks the first time since 2011 that HTC has built a tablet.

 

The Nexus 9 has an 8.9-inch 2048×1536 LCD (245 PPI), an Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC at 2.3GHz, 16 or 32GB of internal storage, an 8MP rear camera, a 1.6MP front camera, and a pair of front-facing speakers. It's made out of aluminum and weighs 418 g—51 g less than a Wi-Fi iPad Air (469 g). It will come in white, black, and gold (or Indigo Black, Lunar White, and Sand if you want to get fancy), and a keyboard dock and stand (sold separately) will be available to make the tablet into a tiny Android-powered convertible.

 

The Tegra K1 is notable for being a 64-bit processor; with 64-bit support in Android L, the Nexus 9 is the first Android device to have both 64-bit hardware and software.

 

Preorders for the tablet start October 17, and the device will appear in stores on 3 November and will start at $399.

 

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More important than a single device, though, is the next version of Android: 5.0, Lollipop. Lollipop is expected to be the biggest Android update in several years. It brings a new, heavily animated user interface design, better battery life, and a ton of other features.

 

There's also a new app runtime called ART that Google says will significantly boost the speed of most apps. Google released a sneak preview of the OS earlier this year, called the "Android L Developer Preview." As the name would suggest, the Developer Preview gave a taste of what the new OS would be like to develop for, but it lacked most of the user-facing improvements that would be part of the final package.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wk-PY2dBKaA

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PL-t6ViojWR4x_IZMCGAxpwnHscqfBNk_v&v=yYHY3MFiq1o

Edited by Arthur
Posted
I'm almost tempted to sell my OnePlus One for a Nexus 6. The super fast turbo charging feature (a.k.a. Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0) will be incredibly useful.
Posted
I'm almost tempted to sell my OnePlus One for a Nexus 6. The super fast turbo charging feature (a.k.a. Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0) will be incredibly useful.

 

very useful!

 

Ive been saving for the 6 for a few months not been bothered about the size, if its too big then I'll go back to my Nexus 4 and sell the 6.

 

The turbo charging is a big plus for me, often have to carry a battery pack around to charge up if im out all day. just stick the charger in my bag, find a plug for 15 minutes and Im sorted.

Posted

Here's a list of all of the new features in Android Lollipop.

 

Material Design

A bold, colorful, and responsive UI design for consistent, intuitive experiences across all your devices

 

  • Responsive, natural motion, realistic lighting and shadows, and familiar visual elements make it easier to navigate your device
  • Vivid new colors, typography, and edge-to-edge imagery help to focus your attention

Notifications

New ways to control when and how you receive messages - only get interrupted when you want to be

 

  • View and respond to messages directly from your lock screen. Includes the ability to hide sensitive content for these notifications
  • For fewer disruptions, turn on Priority mode via your device’s volume button so only certain people and notifications get through. Or schedule recurring downtime like 10pm to 8am when only Priority notifications can get through
  • With Lollipop, incoming phone calls won’t interrupt what you’re watching or playing. You can choose to answer the call or just keep doing what you’re doing
  • Control the notifications triggered by your apps; hide sensitive content and prioritize or turn off the app’s notifications entirely
  • More intelligent ranking of notifications based on who they’re from and the type of communication. See all your notifications in one place by tapping the top of the screen

Battery

Power for the long haul

 

  • A battery saver feature which extends device use by up to 90 mins
  • Estimated time left to fully charge is displayed when your device is plugged in
  • Estimated time left on your device before you need to charge again can now be found in battery settings

Security

Keep your stuff safe and sound

 

  • New devices come with encryption automatically turned on to help protect data on lost or stolen devices
  • SELinux enforcing for all applications means even better protection against vulnerabilities and malware
  • Use Android Smart Lock to secure your phone or tablet by pairing it with a trusted device like your wearable or even your car

Device Sharing

More flexible sharing with family and friends

 

  • Multiple users for phones. If you forget your phone, you still can call any of your friends (or access any of your messages, photos etc.) by simply logging into another Android phone running Lollipop. Also perfect for families who want to share a phone, but not their stuff
  • Guest user for phones and tablets means you can lend your device and not your stuff
  • Screen pinning: pin your screen so another user can access just that content without messing with your other stuff

New Quick Settings

Get to the most frequently used settings with just two swipes down from the top of the screen

 

  • New handy controls like flashlight, hotspot, screen rotation and cast screen controls
  • Easier on/off toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and location
  • Manually adjust your brightness for certain conditions. Then, adaptive brightness will kick in based on ambient lighting

Connectivity

A better internet connection everywhere and more powerful Bluetooth low energy capabilities

 

  • Improved network handoffs resulting in limited interruption in connectivity. For example, continue your video chat or VoIP calls without interruption as you leave the house and switch from your home Wi-Fi back to cellular
  • Improved network selection logic so that your device connects only if there is a verified internet connection on Wi-Fi
  • Power-efficient scanning for nearby Bluetooth low energy (“BLE”) devices like wearables or beacons
  • New BLE peripheral mode

Runtime and Performance

A faster, smoother and more powerful computing experience

 

  • ART, an entirely new Android runtime, improves application performance and responsiveness
     
    • Up to 4x performance improvements
    • Smoother UI for complex, visually rich applications
    • Compacting backgrounded apps and services so you can do more at once

     

    [*]Support for 64 bit devices, like the Nexus 9, brings desktop class CPUs to Android

     

    • Support for 64-bit SoCs using ARM, x86, and MIPS-based cores
    • Shipping 64-bit native apps like Chrome, Gmail, Calendar, Google Play Music, and more
    • Pure Java language apps run as 64-bit apps automatically

Media

Bolder graphics and improved audio, video, and camera capabilities

 

  • Lower latency audio input ensuring that music and communication applications that have strict delay requirements provide an amazing realtime experience
  • Multi-channel audio stream mixing means professional audio applications can now mix up to eight channels including 5.1 and 7.1 channels
  • USB Audio support means you can plug USB microphones, speakers, and a myriad of other USB audio devices like amplifiers and mixers into your Android device
  • OpenGL ES 3.1 and Android extension pack brings Android to the forefront of mobile graphics putting it on par with desktop and console class performance
  • A range of new professional photography features for Android Lollipop that let you
     
    • Capture full resolution frames around 30 fps
    • Support raw formats like YUV and Bayer RAW
    • Control capture settings for the sensor, lens, and flash per individual frame
    • Capture metadata like noise models and optical information

     

    [*]State of the art video technology with support for HEVC main profile to allow for UHD 4K 10-bit video playback, tunneled hardware video decoding to save power and improved HLS support for streaming

OK Google

Easy access to information and performing tasks

 

  • Even if your screen is off, you can say "OK Google" on devices with digital signal processing support such as Nexus 6 and Nexus 9
  • Talk to Google on the go to get quick answers, send a text, get directions and more

Android TV

Support for living room devices

 

  • User interface adapted for the living room
  • Less browsing, more watching with personalized recommendations for content like movies and TV shows
  • Voice search for Google Play, YouTube and supported apps so you can just say what you want to see
  • Console-style Android gaming on your TV with a gamepad
  • Cast your favorite entertainment apps to your big screen with Google Cast support for Android TV devices

Accessibility

Enhanced low vision and color blind capabilities

 

  • Boost text contrast or invert colors to improve legibility
  • Adjust display to improve color differentiation

Now in 68+ languages

15 new additions

 

  • Basque, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese (Hong Kong), Galician, Icelandic, Kannada, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu

Device set up

Get up and running in no-time

 

  • Tap & go: instant set up of your new Android phone or tablet by simply tapping it to your old one (requires NFC)
     
  • Whenever you get a new Android phone or tablet, you can bring over your apps from Google Play automatically from any of your old Android devices

And a whole lot more

 

  • Tap & pay: easily manage multiple payment apps by quickly switching between them
  • Print preview and page range support
  • Revamped display for battery, Bluetooth, data usage, and Wi-Fi settings and new search functionality
  • New device level feedback for Nexus devices in Settings > about phone > send feedback
  • Easier sharing with
     
    • Improved ranking of your options within the share menu
    • Android Beam: lets you share a file with someone nearby by gently tapping the two devices together

     

    [*]Where supported by the hardware, your device will wake up as soon as you pick it up or tap the screen twice

    [*]Improved hardware keyboard accessory support including support for multilingual, emoji input, search key, and improved app and system key chords

Posted

$649! That's not Nexus pricing :(

 

My Nexus 4 is due for upgrade in January. Don't know if I'll get the Nexus 6 now, as the price is so silly.

 

And oh look, 1440p. Silly resolution confirmed.

Posted
Yeah, yeah, yeah...can we move the default home screen to the centre yet? *fingers crossed*

 

Wait... branded Android has something Vanilla doesn't?

 

:p

 

If it's the Google Now Launcher, then technically the home screen IS the middle one.

Posted
Yeah, yeah, yeah...can we move the default home screen to the centre yet? *fingers crossed*

 

The original launcher has the home screen in the centre, it's only the newer fancypants launcher that has it on the left. Of course, if you've a Nexus 5, then you've only got the fancypants launcher.

 

Actually quite annoyed about how expensive this Nexus 6 is, especially given that no-one sells the Moto X on contract which would be my other choice (i.e. as close to vanilla Android as you can get).

Posted

Android 5.0 Lollipop OTA for Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi) and Nexus 10 will drop on Nov. 3rd, other devices later in November « Android Police

 

We have a reliable source (two, in fact) telling us that the first over-the-air updates to Android Lollipop will come not to the Nexus 4 or 5, but to the Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013 Wi-Fi), and Nexus 10. Why? Because they're all Wi-Fi devices - supposedly hardware with cellular data will have to wait a bit longer to get the OTA, meaning the Nexus 4, 5 and 2013 Nexus 7 with LTE will be stuck a bit longer waiting for the L update. The updates for the Wi-Fi devices will arrive on 3rd November.
Posted
I was tempted to make a move from my N4 to the N6 , but that price :( At least the N4 is getting lollipop

 

I've got an original Nexus 7 (with HSPA+) and a Nexus 5. I've got the Nexus 5 on contract, so I'm stuck with that for another year. However, I really like the look of the Nexus 9 and it does look like an iPad...Which I don't mind as the build quality looks better.

Posted
I've got an original Nexus 7 (with HSPA+) and a Nexus 5. I've got the Nexus 5 on contract, so I'm stuck with that for another year. However, I really like the look of the Nexus 9 and it does look like an iPad...Which I don't mind as the build quality looks better.

 

I am in the same situation as you. However I dont want to re-flash my Nexus 5 atm (and I cant see how to get my 1st gen Nexus 7 to run L ATM). I am therefore playing with the emulator

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