Term of the Moment
indoor positioning system
Definition: Google Nexus
An earlier line of Android phones and tablets from Google. Introduced in 2010, five years later, the Nexus brand evolved into the Pixel; however, both are "pure Android," which has only Google-designated user interface features and apps and no extras from the carriers. See Pixel phone.
Open Source or Closely Controlled
Although Google promotes Android as an open source platform for all hardware vendors, it has collaborated to create devices that adhere to Google standards. In 2010, Google sold the HTC-manufactured Nexus One directly from its website. Subsequently, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus phones from Samsung were offered by the carriers. In 2012, Google's e-commerce site sold Nexus devices from Samsung, LG and others.
Motorola Mobility - In, Then Out
Also in 2012, Google acquired Motorola's phone division (Motorola Mobility), and although later spun off to Lenovo, Motorola introduced the Nexus 6 phone in 2014. Tablets from HTC followed. Also in 2014, a set-top box made by Asus was introduced (see Nexus Player), and smartphones from LG (Nexus 5X) and Huawei (Nexus 6P) came out in 2015. See Android and Nexus One.
Google Nexus 6P
Open Source or Closely Controlled
Although Google promotes Android as an open source platform for all hardware vendors, it has collaborated to create devices that adhere to Google standards. In 2010, Google sold the HTC-manufactured Nexus One directly from its website. Subsequently, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus phones from Samsung were offered by the carriers. In 2012, Google's e-commerce site sold Nexus devices from Samsung, LG and others.
Motorola Mobility - In, Then Out
Also in 2012, Google acquired Motorola's phone division (Motorola Mobility), and although later spun off to Lenovo, Motorola introduced the Nexus 6 phone in 2014. Tablets from HTC followed. Also in 2014, a set-top box made by Asus was introduced (see Nexus Player), and smartphones from LG (Nexus 5X) and Huawei (Nexus 6P) came out in 2015. See Android and Nexus One.
Introduced in late 2014, Motorola's Nexus 6P phone (left) shared the same 2560x1440 resolution as the Galaxy Note 4. The Nexus 6 was the first device to support Google's wireless network (see Google Fi). (Image courtesy of PCMag.com.)