GOOGLE NEXUS
Google Nexus is a line of mobile devices co-developed by Google and several original equipment manufacturer partners, that run the Android operating system. Nexus devices are the first Android devices to receive updates to the operating system. As of October 2013, the latest devices in the series are the Nexus 5 phone by Google and LG, and the second-generation Nexus 7 tablet computer by Google and Asus.
Let’s talk about : Nexus 7 Nexus 5 Project ARA
NEXUS 7 :
The second generation Nexus 7 is a mini tablet computer co-developed by Google and Asus that runs the Android operating system. It is the third tablet in the Google Nexus series, a family of Android consumer devices marketed by Google and built by an original equipment manufacturer partner. All Nexus devices, including the Nexus 7, run a version of Android 4.3, free of manufacturer or wireless carrier modifications commonly included on other Android devices. Nexus products also feature an unlockable bootloader, which enables replacement of the device's firmware which in turn enables "rooting" the device, thereby enabling user access to privileged control over the Android environment and further development or modification of the operating system.
The Nexus 7 (ASUS-1A008A) is both thinner and lighter than its predecessor. It is manufactured by Asus, and comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, It has 2 GB of RAM (doubling that of the previous generation) and is available with either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal flash memory storage.
The reviews of the second-generation Nexus 7 have been highly favorable with many reviewers claiming it to be the best 7-inch tablet in the market. Reviewers praised the device for its size, design, display, price, inclusion of a rear-facing camera, contemporary user interface and the growing number of tablet-optimized Android applications. However, it was criticized for lack of expandable storage and its limited availability. It has been praised for being a notable improvement over its predecessor. The device competes with iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HDX and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and 8.0.
NEXUS 5 :
The Nexus 5 is a smartphone co-developed by Google and LG Electronics that runs the Android operating system. The successor to the Nexus 4, the device is the fifth smartphone in the Google Nexus series, a family of Android consumer devices marketed by Google and built by an original equipment manufacturer partner. The Nexus 5 was unveiled on October 31, 2013, and released for online purchase on Google Play Store the same day.
The exterior of the Nexus 5 is made from a polycarbonate shell with similarities to the new Nexus 7, unlike its predecessor, which used a glass-based construction.
Its hardware it is powered by a 2.26 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2 GB of RAM, either 16 or 32 GB of internal storage. The Nexus 5 includes an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization (OIS).
SOFTWARE: The Nexus 5 is the first Android device to ship with Android version 4.4, named "KitKat". The release includes an updated user interface, incorporating a home screen with access to Google Now on a dedicated page and with a dedicated voice command, Google+ Hangouts with text messaging support, improved performance, improved NFC support (such as the ability to emulate a smart card), a new "HDR+" camera shooting mode, native printing functionality, a screen recording utility, and other new and improved functionality.
ISSUES: After the camera was unfavorably compared with other high-end smartphones, Google said that software is to blame, and has promised a fix in the coming weeks. It has been speculated that poor audio quality could also be a fixable software problem. Google is working on fixing this issue. There is a problem with the camera capturing solid green or black photos, seemingly caused by the face unlock operation. Also may be caused by using Google Goggles. The Wi-Fi can crash when trying to automatically connect to a network. The buttons audibly jiggle when the phone is shaken.
PROJECT ARA :
Led by Motorola’s Advanced Technology and Projects group, Project Ara is developing a free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones. We want to do for hardware what the Android platform has done for software: create a vibrant third-party developer ecosystem, lower the barriers to entry, increase the pace of innovation, and substantially compress development timelines.
Our goal is to drive a more thoughtful, expressive, and open relationship between users, developers, and their phones. To give you the power to decide what your phone does, how it looks, where and what it’s made of, how much it costs, and how long you’ll keep it.
The design for Project Ara consists of what we call an endoskeleton and modules. The endo is the structural frame that holds all the modules in place. A module can be anything, from a new application processor to a new display or keyboard, an extra battery, a pulse oximeter or something not yet thought of!