Why a Nexus Two?
Last January I was itching to get my hands on a Nexus One. There was so much hype behind the device it made it hard for anyone following technology not to get caught up in the drama. Once I finally purchased my device I was happy to find it lived up to the hype. The next logical step was to become moody waiting for Froyo (Android 2.2). I just had to be the first among my friends to show off Flash playing on a mobile device.
Sadly, Google’s original concept for selling the Nexus One did not take off. Handsets simply do not sell well without a hands on experience unless you are a geek. For this reason, many have claimed the Nexus One as a failure even though Google found other ways to put its flagship product in the hands of consumers, notably through a deal made with Vodafone in Europe. It was at this point Google pulled the plug on its online sales model and made a statement amounting to never becoming a retailer again.
I was skeptical and heartbroken all at once.
Now, if the rumors turn out to be true, there is going to be a Nexus Two. What has changed? Consumer interest in Android.
The success of Android, along with the reality of Android fragmentation gives Google an opportunity to leverage its brand and address the consumer and manufacturers all at once.
Remember, one of the few real statements regarding Gingerbread, the next Android update, was it would focus on the user interface. Speculation has broadened what this might mean by suggesting Google wants to produce a vanilla Android so good the manufacturers will not muddy it up with interfaces like HTC’s Sense or Motorola’s Blur. Seriously, I doubt the manufacturers are going to get excited over the interface no matter how good it is, but the thought has given bloggers something to write about.
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