I like this Nexus 5 case the most so far

Ringke Fusion in Mint from Amazon

I really like the Ringke Fusion the most. 

I haven't tried too many different styles but I've had three which cover a range of styles: 

Ringke Fusion in mint. Caseology TPU in matte turquoise. Some cheap flip cover case in mint off Ebay.

The Ringke Fusion is my favorite because it actually makes the device a little bit more comfortable to hold. Most of the comfort is thanks to rounded edges along the rear of the device. The rest of it's comfort is thanks to added grip from it's less slippery material. The case adds just a little bit of bulk but the rounded edges make it less noticeable than something like the Caseology TPU case (shown above, center) which has very noticeable flat sides.

Next to a Moto X sporting a translucent teal tpu case

The biggest downside to the case is that it discolored extremely quickly and without any sort of plateau. It started getting dirty, and it continued to get dirtier with time. Now it's a very dingy gray-mint and I'm in the process of looking for another mint colored case that will be as easy to continuously use. I tried to sand through the stained material but it didn't really help too much. Now it just looks like a sanded gray-mint bumper...

I just ordered a Cruzerlite Antibacterial Skin in teal so hopefully that'll at least allow me to perhaps pick up a case in a different, less-delicate, color.

A Hope of Mine for Android in 2014

a wish: Android 2014

This year, I would like to see advancement in touchless controls across all Android manufacturers in 2014. I really liked the Moto X's implementation and was pretty shocked to see it wasn't included on the Nexus 5,  at least not to the same abilities. I do use the "Ok Google" hot phrase to set reminders and alarms ALL THE TIME, as well as other commands like traffic ETAs to specific places and movies playing at certain movie theaters. Even though it would be a bit easier to hit the mic, I use the hot phrase from a home screen to use that epic Voice Search potential. Hopefully there's even more functionality added this year.

Samsung's GS5, the Next Overrated Galaxy... or should I actually care this time?

Opinion: Samsung's GS5, 2/4/14

Samsung's Galaxy S5 is almost here.

I mostly don't care but I have a feeling that Samsung could very well be next in line for a Nexus device... Even though I'd still prefer Motorola put one out before they transfer leadership over to Lenovo, it would be healthiest for Motorola to keep it's brand associated with what are hopefully relevant devices later this year. Returning to my original point however, I feel like the recently renewed relationship between Google and Samsung might include plans for another Samsung manufactured Nexus device, as a sort of show of continued interest from both sides within the platform.

No other manufacturers, except for perhaps LG and/or Sony, can really afford to detract attention from their own branded devices this year the way Samsung can:

• HTC... Is not in a good position to release a device that could rival or surpass whatever flagship they release as well this year. They especially can not release a rival device that makes them much less money, which they certainly need. I imagine it's all on the m8 for HTC for now.  If they can achieve enough success then we'll see the the spin-off devices.
• Motorola... Clearly has potential. Just like the Moto X itself would have been a fantastic Nexus device as it showed the direction Android's going (or should be going)... but it wasn't. I believe the same will happen this year. Even though Motorola is not a stranger to releasing "different" devices that are really not (Moto X vs Droid+ Mini/ Ultra/ Maxx), a Nexus would affect both whatever momentum as a brand the company presently has, and the sales of devices they want to be appealing now and in the future.  The only reason I don't have a Moto X is because I have a Nexus 5, even though I probably like Moto X more.
• LG... isn't necessarily as unlikely to be the manufacturer yet again as HTC and Motorola, but I think with releases like the G Flex, LG is setting itself up in a position to perhaps try something new as it's own brand, just to see if maybe it will stick. Last year we didn't think LG would be making the Nexus 5 because they had a made of point of saying that they had been successful with the Nexus 4, but they didn't necessarily need such a success again. Well this year I think there will be a familiar story but perhaps they'll actually stick to it. Just like Motorola, having a Nexus device based on whatever flagship is out means losing some sales from that flagship.
• Sony... would be a good manufacturer for a Nexus device, imo. They've been using on screen buttons and they slimmed their custom skin down to a close to stock look. I just don't think it'll come to that. Sony doesn't have much presence in the US but I think that if they wanted to, they could release a Nexus device to get in the hands of people who currently don't think they could go for a Sony device when there are other options available. I imagine the main reason Sony hasn't been, and likely won't, be a Nexus device manufacturer, is because it seems like their devices probably have a higher manufacturing costs. At least for their flagships, which is what a Nexus device would be closest too. I think it would be possible for Sony to ditch a lot of the pricier components of their high end devices to lower manufacturing expense, but I don't know how interested the brand really is in such an idea that could either grow their potential market or hurt their current market. I doubt the Xperia Z Ultra GPE has very encouraging sales.

Of the brands listed above, HTC, LG, and somewhat Sony, have typical flagship releases a bit earlier in the year which means if they were to produce a Nexus device, it would likely have to be better than current flagships devices and leave room for their future flagship devices a few months later. They'd have to somehow make something  that doesn't take away from current potential customers as well as future customers. 

This is where Samsung comes back into the equation.

Samsung also typically releases their flagship a bit earlier in the year. It seems to me like Samsung's Galaxy devices and the "Galaxy Experience" have become sort of parallel to the rest of Android, which is the primary reason why Google felt the need to intervene and discuss the future of the Google/Samsung partnership. Either way, while the GS4 had some dominating sales last year (and probably this year so far too), there's also been word of a high rate of GS4 owners putting their devices up for sale already (compared to the same trend with the GS3), even before the new GS5's release; meaning it's a not a matter of loyal users simply upgrading like Apple users. This is where Samsung could capitalize on it's own negative trend (if it were to recur in 2014)  by putting out the GS5 and marketing the hell out of it once again. Let it have it's success... then when interest begins to fall or slow down like usual later in the year, Samsung could then put out the next Nexus device for a slight boost for the manufacturer.

Google wanted Samsung to ease up on the software making Samsung devices stand apart from the rest of Android. What better way to do that than with the newest version of Google's Android? I'd say "stock" but if it's like the Nexus 5 then it could be a uniquely Google experience.  I think the Nexus device being part of whatever compromise the two companies came to makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Another encouraging factor that could benefit such a possibility, and the reason I might care about the the GS5, is the rumor that this years Galaxy devices may actually fall more in line with Google's encouraged hardware standards.
Plus, since Galaxy devices don't necessarily have to be the most future proof to sell to the majority of Samsung's current market, a slight hardware (processor, etc) and big software update could still easily meet the expectations for a 6th generation Nexus device. That's also without necessarily detracting too much attention from Samsung's top devices which will still likely have lots of differentiating software features. 

With a successful GS5 launch in early 2014 and a Nexus launch in the fall. Samsung could potentially be both what the general public often thinks is the standard for Android (sadly, the Galaxy line), as well as the more official Google standard for the following generation of Android, the Nexus device. 

Samsung is also the best suited oem to release a new device just months later that could be considered competition, but with a different appeal to a different user. Perhaps any success they see with the Nexus device would even encourage them to actually promote Android itself, which has come a long way since the last Samsung manufactured Nexus.

Of course, this is just all my opinion. I don't really know what kind of interest Samsung has to put out a Nexus device considering their success relative to all the other manufactures that could have their own reason for making a Nexus device this year.  Maybe it is a better idea to let HTC try to recoup, for Motorola to show they're not changing with new leadership, for Sony to finally make an impact within our market as well as finally get a turn, or LG again, because they're experienced with the nature of the line and can seemingly do it for a good price as well.

Who Owes Who?

Opinion: Samsung vs Google

Who Owes Who?

Android is huge nowadays. There are many devices available from many manufacturers, but among the many, Samsung dominates. 

My question is, who owes who and for what? Sure Samsung devices occupy a large part of Android, and it was Samsung that really went and marketed the hell out of their devices to graft their name into consumers heads everywhere. But even before the Galaxy S II's success the most popular Android device I remember was the Motorola Droid and Verizon's whole "Droid Does" marketing campaign. iPhones were only available on AT&T for a long time and the other options were the "Droids" and Blackberry devices (which was what I had) for all other carriers. That was a hefty bit of time for people to get into [or turned off by] Android. (Unfortunately, Android was nothing like it is now, especially not in comparison to iOS then)

With that in mind, did Samsung really build up all too much? I was never very fond of any particular OEM's "skin" which might explain why I didn't really get into Android until ICS was around. That also might have something to do with my distaste for Touchwiz, and it seems quite a large number of people out there share my feelings too. I don't think Touchwiz was as much of a selling point as it's comparatively hefty size was. People were picking between the small iPhone everyone had or the big Samsung Galaxy available and marketing itself to the same folks. Sometimes having what everyone else has is a plus and other times people want something more unique. Either way, the trend of picking a big phone basically continued  and grew through today, where it's the norm, with many non enthusiast consumers on Galaxy and even Note lines for their size, as well as basic brand recognition.

I can't say Samsung doesn't deserve it's credit for being able to succeed in the ways mentioned so far, staying competitive and trendy (at risk of what seems like perpetual lawsuits), pulling off potentially risky concepts (phablets), marketing like crazy. Those are all good business.

The problem I have with Samsung begins here, where Samsung is this platform giant. Despite the fact that Android provided the platform that allowed for such success, Samsung constantly seems like it's trying to cover up the fact that Android is NOT their own... or even Android in general. I just don't get it. Instead of using amazingly useful services like Google Voice Search and Google Now, Samsung insists on using their own S-Voice and, imo at least, Google Now is made just a bit less available to do it's thing or for user's to know. This along side all the parallel apps and services like mail, browsers, app stores, media stores, and basically everything else there could be... which was supposedly addressed very recently... makes Samsung seem like a crappy manufacturing partner for Google to have. To me, I feel Samsung's been intentionally covering up Android and it's services in order to prevent users from becoming too acquainted or comfortable with such services, because perhaps there's a plan to jump ship. 

I'm sure they'd say that their responsibility is to promote the benefits of their product and that promoting Android-wide features would be equally, perhaps more so, promoting their competition, especially considering the competition often has better implementation of Android's standard content. They could also say that the position of the brand has been set by the users that bought into the company; and that the manner of their advertising is simply what works for the consumer that doesn't want to be pay any attention to details about OSes and such that they simply don't care about, and that they want the product with the features they can show friends a few times and then not use. I guess I really just wish Samsung would take some initiative in fortifying it's position with Google and within a platform against the actual competition. Rather than making subtle threats in the background and inconveniences in front. 

With discussions having taken place and a supposed better relationship between the two companies, I'm hoping that 2014 and many years following will show me that Samsung isn't simultaneously trying to cover up Android, and that the manufacturer can use the progress that's been made [by Android]  to it's advantage... as well as everyone else in the Android [enthusiast] community. 

The Rumored End of the Google Nexus

opinion/rumor: Google Nexus to be discontinued (2015)

They Say The end of the Google Nexus is upon us...

Is the end of the Google Nexus actually happening anytime soon? Hell if I know... but if it were to happen, I really don't think that the replacement would be the Google Play Editions (GPE) devices. 

For one, GPE devices run stock Android but the devices themselves were not designed for it. In other words, GPE devices are a lot like the Developer Editions (DE) that are also available by manufactures (like Samsung and HTC), minus some features the device was designed to have... for the same price. So the market for GPE versions of devices is clearly a pretty small one with the experience being largely what is made of it. With both versions, the end user still has to rely on the OEM to release updates just as they would with a regular ol' subsidized, carrier-locked device. Granted the difference in time of updates will certainly be drastically different between versions, with GPE versions being quickest since they require less configuration.

Meanwhile Google can use it's Nexus line to achieve a few goals simultaneously:

1. It creates a platform standard that represents what Google believes an Android device should be in itself and be capable of, within a generation of devices. The Nexus line essentially sets the bar for user experience, device functions/practicality, and platform features. Examples of these standards could be: OIS, display resolution, display color accuracy, Google Now (and integration, such as GEL), Google Wallet and NFC compatibility (HCE), among other things.
2. The Nexus line creates an affordable and up-to-date device for developers to test on. It's easily unlocked, modified, and can be restored. Google can and will provide some of the quickest updates and more importantly, they make available that important information such as factory images to assist/assure developers.
3. With the Nexus 5 we got the Google Experience. The Nexus line is no longer simply an indicator of the platforms overall progress, it's now also an example of how our devices can integrate with the [Google] services we rely on day to day. One could even say the Nexus 5 and it's Google experience shows the progress of Google's Services themselves.

So the Nexus line, in my opinion, is not so easily replaced by Google Play Edition devices. Confused GPE devices without the sales to warrant strong manufacturer support, are not ideal for developers. The standard of the Android platform can not be set by the largest manufacturer whom makes it a point to drive a wedge between the end users and the true driving force for the platform, Google.

Then there's Motorola.
edit: Google is selling Motorola to Lenovo

Motorola, by all means, could take the place of the Nexus line. When the Moto X was released... I basically wanted the then-upcoming Nexus 5 to have all the same features and focus of the Moto X. I didn't particularly want a device with all the flagship specs checked off, but a practical device designed around the end user. While waiting for the Nexus 5 release, I frequently told myself that I ought to just consider the Moto X because in the end, that was the phone I actually wanted, it was just priced too high for me to consider without seeing what the Nexus 5 actually turned out to be. In the end I did get a Nexus 5 and once I'd had it for a while, I was too used to it's speed/performance and color accuracy to go for a Moto X when it's price dropped Cyber Monday following Cyber Monday. Even now, I have to admit that I'm basically convincing myself not to buy an affordable ($299) Moto X that I clearly don't need. I'm telling myself it would be better to wait till gen 2 comes around in the fall, and to hope that Motorola gets pricing right on release this next time around.

The problem with Motorola taking such a place would be that the situation would actually become unfavorable to manufacturing partners. Having awesome devices that perform well, are designed with the user in mind, and get super fast updates, all at a low price (and low profits) from a manufacturer that doesn't have to stress as much about profitability... that's definitely not something that would go well with manufacturing partners. Not that there aren't [very frequently] times that I don't particularly care for a rather large manufacturer of Android devices... I understand the situation, and like I always say, Google profits indiscriminately, so it will probably continue to do what it can to please it's partners.

My hopes for 2014 include Motorola releasing the next generation Moto X at a low price like we're seeing right now. I think it should be, since the people interested in the device will likely be weary of jumping at the chance to buy one at a high starting price... since the price for the current Moto X, on contract or off, dropped pretty rapidly since it's release.

As for the Nexus device, I'm not too sure there'd be any reason to release a Motorola made Nexus device, unless there's no next gen Moto X. If it comes down to LG making yet another Nexus device in 2014, I'll probably do my best to consider something else this time around. Hopefully there is a Moto X-2 or something along those lines available. I kind of suspect that if the Nexus line was looking to come to an end next year, then there's a chance we could see a higher spec'd device from Motorola that would give developers a device option backed by a Google company. I guess right now it's all just a bunch of speculation with so many reasonable outcomes possible, we're just going to have to wait and see what actually happens.