So Google has made the switch to Google Play from their various different named services (they now have Play Books, Play Music, the Play Store…) to bring a sense of cohesiveness to their offerings.  That part I understood and thought was a great idea. Then todays rumors takes it one step further.  According to a story from the Wall Street Journal Google will soon have a “portfolio” of Nexus devices for sale from their devices section in the Play Store. While this is great news, it isn’t a surprise by a long shot. Google once offered the original Nexus online before but it was only available with T-Mobile bands. Back in March this rumor started that Google was going to sell Nexus Tablets online (also initially from the Wall Street Journal).  

So this seems to be something a little more than just a run of the mill rumor.  If you head to the Play Store now you will be able to find the current Nexus (the Galaxy Nexus manufactured by Samsung) which is unlocked and can be used on either T-Mobile, AT&T, and other compatibile GSM networks (aka.. neither Sprint or Verizon). Google has previously mentioned that CDMA networks (like Sprint and Verizon) require proprietary software which prohibits Google from Open Sourcing it completely. (And we all know how happy companies are to start law suits if there is a hint of a reason.) So that seems to mean that it wont be as likely for Google to be able to sell unlocked verzions of their phones to CDMA networks. So had AT&T bought T-Mobile, this store would not be nearly as interesting. It might also mean (this is pure 100% speculation on my part and not a “leak”) that Google might finally be pulling out their own cellular network. 

Back in the day I always felt that they would work on their own ISP (http://news.netapex.org/?p=429), and they have even started working towards placing fiber around certain areas of the country. But mobile seems to be the new standard, and rightfully so. So now would be the prime time to put out the Google Phone that I have been waiting on (http://news.netapex.org/?p=542). Stay tuned, Google I/O is going to reveal sooooo many secrets that you might end up having to go adopt an Android.w

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As usual, Google is making moves that some may call random, silly, and totally unexpected. Well to those people I say, sit back and listen. There are always (yes always!) things happening behind the curtain that most people do not know about. While some see the switch from Android Market and various other Google products (Books, Music…) to Google Play as a dumb idea, it actually falls in line with their future plans. Remember, Google thinks forward. The obvious side to this is that all of these items will “Play” on your Android phones. But Google does not want to be known as a one trick pony. If they did, they would have just stayed doing search. Everyone knows what happens when you put all of your eggs in one basket though, so Google branched out. They went Android, Google TV, Google Music, Google Voice, Documents, Maps, Movies, even self driving cars. But that still leaves Google with a big hodge podge of products without a unified theme (except that they are owned by Google of course).

Here is where Google Play comes in. Even with the small list of items above, you can see that only certain ones would fall into the “Play” category. You do not play maps, or documents, and while as a child you might play cars, it is highly frowned upon to play cars on the expressways now days. But you can fully see playing music, movies, games (apps) and even television shows from a device. Whether that is an Android phone, tablet, or (spoiler alert) even an as of now unreleased home media device. You might wonder why not just stick with the Android label for some of this. Well I see two reasons for that. One reason, these are not simply Android only products. They will run on IOS, and even Windows devices. But the second reason is one that will become obvious this year. You have a phone, a tablet and even a Google TV that all run Android. So “if” Google decides to make a media center style device that can push video, audio, apps, and so forth throughout your living area, what do they call it? The Android homebox? The Android do-hicky? People hear android and think touch screen, open source, and a bit of geekiness. Google will want this to be something that EVERYONE, from the uber geek to the grand mother, will want to have in the house to make life easier. Imagine a Roku style box that you put on your network and it just automatically talks to your other Android devices. So Google HAD to come up with another way to categorize the things that this unnamed device could do (or play). This way, when the time comes for that product or others like it to be announced, you will already know what it can play without having to wonder.

Posted via email from NetApex

They make hardware better.  Today (or as futuristic as this sounds… tomorrow!) Google introduced their latest version of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich *Android 4.0*  That version was released on their newest flagship phone made by Samsung and given the official name Galaxy Nexus (sadly they decided not to go with the Nexus Prime moniker.)

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People who know me as a very vocal Google apologetic have been asking me a lot over the past few hours about my thoughts on the passing of Steve Jobs.  Some found it strange that I did not immediately post something about his passing.  Others asked me if I think that is going to be a problem for Apple (and quietly wondered if that was going to be good for Google but at least they were tactful enough not to ask it.)

Let me start with the fact that I did not make a post when I heard the news.  Sometimes you have to be the person that breaks news to people that may not have heard it elsewhere.  Othertimes you are the person that needs to voice your thoughts on why, or what, or when something is going on.  Then there are times when you just need to stop, have a moment of silence and mourn.  There was nothing that I needed to post that the Internet did not already have covered.  There was not a corner you could look at that did not have the news posted, a video playing, or a photo displayed of one of the greatest business minds of our time.  So the words I needed to say at that time were not meant for the viewers on the WWW.  Even though I personally had not met Steve Jobs, I felt the only words that were left to say were “goodbye.”

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I find it sad that technology has evolved into more than trying to have the best devices and has instead become a “who has the best lawyer” event.  When the suits all started I was worried about Google.  More specifically I was worried about Android.  There was Microsoft making their play and HTC quietly nodding and paying what was due.  Then Apple decided to jump into the mix and throw their lawyers at both HTC and Samsung for their devices.  The differences, ignoring who is right and wrong in the lawsuits, is that while Microsoft says “pay me a license and we both make money,” Apple is saying, “stop what you are doing, this is my sandbox alone.”  One might question if Microsoft would be doing the same if their mobile OS was in a better position, but one can only speculate.  Meanwhile Google has continued to say that it would support the handset manufactures in their cases but no one had seen Google really do anything besides give words of encouragement.  Even one of my best friends (and someone who always keeps me tethered to the earth when I tend to float higher towards the Google cloud) told me he was starting to worry a bit about what was going to happen with Android.  So I thought I would take a moment and reitterate what is known out there right now.

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