Nexus6
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Are you an Android N beta tester?
Sure, Google only proclaimed its newest build of Android N a "beta-quality" candidate yesterday, but that's more than enough time to formulate a hot take. With the new method of announcing and testing releases extremely early, the folks at Mountain View have made enrolling as a beta tester incredibly easy -- if you own a compatible device (Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, General Mobile 4G) then you can click a button on this website to dive in. Of course, if you haven't already enrolled, the usual warnings still apply. This test software still has some issues to work out, and if you decide it's not for you, then going back to Marshmallow will require a full device wipe so keep your important data backed up elsewhere. Surely some of you have already taken the plunge, so click below and let us know how it's going -- or what's holding you back.
Talking it out: Why I'm switching from Verizon to Google Fi
I've been a loyal Verizon customer since the mid-1990s when I got my first StarTac. Heck, I even work for them, technically. And for the duration of that two-decade relationship, despite the company's excruciatingly lackluster customer service, my fealty to Big Red never wavered -- even as my bill monthly slowly bloated. It was a gradual increase, barely noticeable with the company's auto-pay feature. In fact, it wasn't until I recently renewed my two-year contract and found myself conscripted into Verizon's EDGE program that things got out of hand.
Google Play Store bids the Nexus 6 farewell
You read that right: The Motorola-made handset is no longer sold through Google's online shop. Droid Life has discovered that the Nexus 6 has been taken out of the Play Store, a little after a year since the phone was launched. As always, though, you don't have to permanently say bye-bye, au revoir, adios or sayonara to the model, since there are a lot of third-party sellers out there -- a cursory search on eBay shows us tens of thousands of Nexus 6s for sale. If you'd rather not trust an online seller, well, there's always Google's newer phones: the LG-made Nexus 5x and the bigger, Huawei-manufactured Nexus 6P.
Android Marshmallow reaches devices next week
Anxious to know when Android 6.0 Marshmallow will reach your existing devices? Google is more than happy to oblige. Existing Nexus devices will start getting Marshmallow next week, including the 5, 6, 7, 9 and Player. And of course, if you spring for the shiny-new Nexus 5X or 6P, you'll get Marshmallow right out of the box. There's no word on third-party device updates just yet, but we'd expect news from some manufacturers in the near future. Be prepared to wait longer than Nexus owners, though -- other companies' customized takes on Android typically require more time in the oven. Get all the news from today's Google event right here.
Verizon makes it easier to bring (some) phones to its network
As a CDMA-based carrier (until LTE takes over), Verizon isn't nearly as friendly to the bring-your-own-phone trend as the likes of AT&T or T-Mobile. You can't usually swap SIM cards and expect your unlocked phone to work. Thankfully, the carrier recently made the process a whole lot easier... provided you have the right device, that is. It'll now activate compatible, unlocked versions of the iPhone 6 and Nexus 6. So long as you can find your device's ID and pick up a Verizon SIM, you can jump over to Big Red without having to ditch your existing hardware. You'll likely be stuck if you own another device, but that's more due to technology (few unlocked phones have full Verizon CDMA and LTE support at present) than anything else.
Nexus 6 price plummets to £304 in the UK (update: now £400)
A couple of weeks ago, Motorola slashed the prices of its top handsets in the UK as part of another of its temporary sales. If the opportunity to pick up a heavily discounted Moto X or Nexus 6 passed you by, we've got a couple of reasons you needn't feel too dejected. Firstly, there's rumblings of new hardware on the horizon, so that Moto X you could've snagged on the cheap mightn't be as fresh as you'd like in the near future. If the Nexus 6 is more your bag, however, then we've got even better news. The official price of the Motorola-made handset has just hit an all-time low in the Google Store: the 32GB model is now only £304, and the 64GB version an equally reasonable £379.
The Android M Preview makes for a surprisingly usable daily driver
Late last week, I fired my up Mac's Terminal, pecked out a few half-remembered commands, looked them up, typed them out more slowly and that was that. After a few moments of silent finger-crossing, I was the proud owner of a Nexus 6 running the Android M Developer Preview. I then did something I didn't really expect to: I turned off my iPhone and made the snap decision to use Android M -- unfinished as it is -- as my main squeeze until Google I/O came to an end. The show's long over by now, but I've still (mostly) left my iPhone off to see how this highly incomplete version of Android stands up in day-to day-use. And you know what? For something that's very clearly a preview, it doesn't make for a bad daily driver.
iPhones can be Google VR viewers, too
As we walked out of today's Google I/O keynote, we -- and all other keynote attendees -- were handed the second-generation version of Cardboard, Google's low-tech effort at a VR headset. As was announced at the keynote itself, the new Cardboard is designed to fit phones that are 6-inches or larger, which makes sense given the size of Google's own Nexus 6. It's also now much easier to set up; in just three easy steps. Another improvement is that it no longer has the magnetic ring trigger of the original, which apparently didn't work with all phones. Now it has a simple top button that when pressed, activates a lever coated in capacitive tape -- think of it as a cardboard finger touching the phone's screen. This, of course, makes the Cardboard viewer compatible with a lot more phones -- including, yes, the iPhone.
LG and Huawei are reportedly making Google's Nexus phones this year
If you were disappointed that your only choice for a new, official Google phone last year was the gargantuan Nexus 6, you'll be glad to hear that 2015 could be very different. Android Police sources have elaborated on previous rumors with word that both LG and Huawei are working on Nexus handsets this year. The LG device, nicknamed Angler, would have a 5.2-inch screen and might borrow the G4's six-core Snapdragon 808 processor -- effectively, it'd be a modernized Nexus 5. Huawei's phone, Bullhead, would pack a bigger 5.7-inch display and could step up to a Snapdragon 810 chip. Think of it as a not-so-ungainly Nexus 6.
Google's Nexus 6 will finally reach Verizon on March 12th
Yes, the rumors were true -- after a months-long wait, Verizon has confirmed that it'll launch the Nexus 6 on March 12th, with stores picking it up on March 19th. The Google-powered phone will still be relatively expensive, at $250 on a two-year contract or $27 per month on Edge, but you will get both HD voice calling (Android 5.1 comes standard) and a free 6-month subscription to Google Play Music All Access for your trouble. Is it worthwhile at this point? That's hard to say. This is still the latest and greatest Android flagship phone, but there's no question that Verizon missed the boat, as it sometimes does. If you wanted a relatively pure Android experience on Big Red, you probably bought a Droid Turbo or Moto X last fall.
Android 5.1 arrives with HD calling and safeguards for stolen phones
After weeks of teasing, it's here: Google has officially unveiled Android 5.1 Lollipop. The new release focuses on support for features that usually depend on extra software to work, such as multiple SIM cards (handy for prepaid service in countries like China and India) and higher-quality HD voice calls on networks like T-Mobile or Verizon. You can control your WiFi networks and Bluetooth devices from the quick settings area, too.
Google's 'Nexus' phone network might only be for Nexus 6 phones
This week at MWC Google exec Sundar Pichai confirmed rumors that the company plans to launch its own wireless service, but a Wall Street Journal report claims it will only work with Google's Nexus 6 smartphone. Pichai stressed that the service would not operate on a large scale, and restricting it to a single device (even older Nexus phones are reportedly out), would just about fit that. We should've seen this coming once Pichai said it would be the "Nexus" of virtual phone networks, but according to the WSJ it will also combine WiFi connections with the cell networks of Sprint and T-Mobile for service. As the paper points out, other Motorola-built phones are already in use for primarily-WiFi carriers like Republic Wireless and Cablevision's new Freewheel. The newest Nexus 6 and Android Lollipop form the right combination for network-hopping, which could lead to the service launching within the next few weeks.
Verizon's Nexus 6 could arrive very soon
Are you a Verizon subscriber holding out for a Nexus 6 on Big Red? Well, your wait might be over pretty soon. Leaked in-store marketing materials are starting to float about and Verizon auto-uploaded a promo video for the handset (now made private) to its YouTube channel, as spotted by Phandroid. Apparently those banners and related items are set to display come March 11th with the device releasing the next day. What's more, Phandroid's sources say that when the launch does happen, Moto's big-screen device'll pack Verizon's enhanced LTE service (voice over LTE) and Lollipop 5.1. Until the Nexus 6 actually hits your local Verizon store, maybe watch our video review (below) again -- it'll make the wait exactly 3:48 shorter.
Nexus 6 versus the Moto X: which one belongs in your pocket?
Moto X or Nexus 6? It's a question that has bugged many fans of "pure" Android (including myself) for a few months, and it's not hard to see why. Although both Motorola smartphones are sleekly designed and pack some clever software tricks, they couldn't be more different in some areas. The Moto X is a mid-size, mid-priced device with the "good enough" hardware to match, but it's wonderful to hold and touts features even its bigger sibling lacks. The Nexus 6, meanwhile, is an all-out flagship for those who refuse to compromise on specs or software updates, even if it means carrying a massive beast of a handset. So which one deserves a place in your pocket? I spent a few weeks with each to find out, and the answer might surprise you.
Google's Nexus 6 is now available to pre-order in the UK
It's been a little over a month since the Nexus 6 was unveiled, and now the super-sized Android smartphone is nearly ready to make its UK debut. The 32GB 'Midnight Blue' model is now available to pre-order from Amazon, or you can reserve one through Vodafone on new contracts starting at £39.50 per month. (The carrier is also throwing in a free Moto 360 with the first 500 orders, so act fast and you might be able to snag a matching timepiece.) Alternatively, you can pre-order the smartphone on Carphone Warehouse's site for £499 (32GB) or £550 (64GB) off-contract, or with a new monthly plan with Vodafone, O2 and EE.
Nexus 6 review, Lisa Kudrow talks 'The Comeback' and other stories you might've missed
This Saturday, why not sit back, kick up your feet and let us bring you up to speed on all the latest tech news. Over the past seven days, we spoke with Lisa Kudrow about "The Comeback," reviewed the Nexus 6, investigated the legal issues behind Airbnb, and more. It's all just a click away, folks. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Nexus 6 review: Google shows it can make a big-screen phone
Which is easier to juggle on your daily commute: a small smartphone and tablet together, or a 6-inch phone that merges features from both? Consumers once leaned toward the former, but many have lately changed their minds. The so-called phablet has come a long way since Samsung came out with the first Galaxy Note in 2011, and now it's not uncommon to see several of them as you walk down the street. Nearly every manufacturer has at least one or two such devices in their lineup, so it's about time Google stepped in with some outsized hardware of its own. The company just launched the Nexus 6, a 6-inch phone made in collaboration Motorola that comes with a winning feature list and is just as glorious as the Moto X it shares a likeness with. Aside from being a strong handset in its own right, it's meant to be a blueprint to inspire Google's partners as they work on their own devices. It's not as affordable as Nexus phones from the past two years, but at $649 it's still less than most premium-grade flagships of similar size. With that in mind, let's find out if the Nexus 6 serves as an encouragement... or a disappointment.
AT&T and Sprint spill the beans on Nexus 6 pricing
If you've been wondering just how much a Nexus 6 will set you back if you'd rather not pay Google $649 up front, your wait is over. Following early T-Mobile info, both AT&T and Sprint have divulged launch details for Android 5.0 Lollipop's poster child. AT&T's pre-orders start on November 12th, when it will sell the giant smartphone for a hefty $250 on contract, $23 per month over two years or $683 outright. Sprint will have the new Nexus in-store on November 14th, when you can get it for either $29 per month or $696 total. Both carriers are roughly on par with T-Mobile ($27 per month), but it's evident that the carriers aren't giving Google special treatment. This is a flagship device, and the networks are pricing it accordingly. As for Verizon? Big Red tells us that it still isn't ready to reveal its plans -- don't be surprised if its Nexus 6 variant arrives fashionably late. Update: Looks like T-Mobile is pushing back the launch 'til November 19th.
Moto 360 metal bands arrive, gold option in tow
A few days before other retailers offer the option, and coming just after the goods appeared on Amazon, Motorola has officially put new bands on sale for its Moto 360. If you've already purchased one, or look to do so soon, the smartwatch now comes with your choice of silver or black metal bands for $299. Fancy the look of leather instead? There are the usual options in stone and black, with a congac hue on the way. In addition to those, stitched bands from DODOcase and silicone colors from TYLT are in the works. The gold model that broke from cover via the aforementioned retailer was properly outed as well in an 18mm width, but it'll cost you a bit more at $329. The light silver metal band comes in the narrower option, too.
Google's Nexus 6 is a high-powered handful (hands-on)
It's a little funny to see Motorola finally crafting a Nexus phone after Google sold it to Lenovo, but hey -- life is peculiar that way. What's more important is that Motorola has taken its responsibilities as Keeper of the Nexus name seriously, and put together a phone that's as big on power as it is big in your pocket. Let's go for a quick tour, shall we?
