Earlier this week, we gave you our take on what we thought would happen with the Nexus lineup. Now we have confirmation that the Nexus lineup is indeed “dead”. Android Police is reporting that they have two independent sources confirming that the 5.0″ Sailfish and 5.5″ Marlin will be marketed as the Pixel and Pixel XL respectively.
In addition to the name change, Android Police is reporting that Google will advertise Marlin and Sailfish as being “The first phones built by Google.” Those familiar with the two devices will find this odd since the devices are both confirmed as being built by HTC. Earlier this year, there were reports that Google would be “much more opinionated” about the design and production of the 2016 Nexus/Pixel devices. If this were the case, Google would indeed feel comfortable taking credit for the devices.
Confirmation of the name change also further strengthens speculation that Google will have a different purpose for its 2016 phones. No longer will the Nexus lineup be a reference device for others in the industry to follow, instead Google may be looking to take a chunk of the market as its own with the 2016 Pixel phones. Whatever the reason behind the decommissioning of the Nexus moniker, we will be in for an exciting month come October.
How fitting that Google went back to HTC when they decided to start making Google phone’s again. Despite the Nexus name, the Nexus One phone was a Google phone with no mention of the manufacturer on the phone itself.
> Now we have confirmation that the Nexus lineup is indeed “dead”.
Not really “confirmation” is it? Just because another Android rumour site quotes unnamed “sources”, that’s not confirmation, that’s just more rumour.
And you didn’t even include a link to the Android Police story so that other people could make up their own mind about its validity.
See http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/09/01/exclusive-googles-new-phones-will-be-called-the-pixel-and-pixel-xl/
FYI, Android Guys did an editorial on the “death of Nexus” 1 day before the original Android Central article: http://www.androidguys.com/2016/08/29/the-nexus-lineup-is-dead/
AC article here: http://www.androidcentral.com/end-nexus-2016-google-phones-forge-new-path
So the Android Police and Android Central articles confirmed their original thought!
I don’t think you understand the word “confirm” in the same way that I do. This story will only be confirmed when we have an official announcement from Google or HTC.
Perhaps validates would have been a better way to put it. Assuming the AP and AC sources are good.
I think I’d go with “appears to back up”, But then I’m naturally cautious :-)