A look back at Google’s Android flagships: the Nexus family

Android purists have always had the same response to new smartphone announcements from the likes of HTC, Samsung or LG. "I'll just wait for the next Nexus." And why not? For years, Google's Nexus line served both as its official flagship products and...

The Daily Roundup for 08.02.2013

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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The Daily Roundup for 07.03.2013

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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American redux: Apple, Motorola, Lenovo and the pulse of stateside manufacturing

Apple, Motorola, Lenovo and stateside manufacturing

Google introduced the Nexus Q close to a year ago. It was an intriguing device with a standout design, but its high asking price and limited functionality meant it wasn't long before the Q was pulled from virtual shelves. A peculiar product and, perhaps, a cautionary tale, but the sphere was also interesting for another reason: it was manufactured in the USA. That credential is a rarity, and in the consumer technology business, almost an anomaly. It's fast becoming a lot more common, however, with some big players setting up a stateside manufacturing presence. Awareness of the potential advantages of doing so can only increase, and serve to debunk the myth that future technology can't be built on American soil.

After flirting with the idea, then committing to build a computer in the US, Apple chose its redesigned Mac Pro for assembly in the states. Lenovo has a PC production facility up and running in North Carolina, and Google-owned Motorola will be putting together its next flagship, the Moto X, in Texas. Time will tell whether other companies will follow suit, and to what extent, but if the arguments in favor of US manufacturing hold up, we could see the trend sustained in the long term, leading to many more gadgets bearing a US birthmark.

American redux Apple, Motorola, Lenovo and the pulse of stateside manufacturing

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Mobile Miscellany: week of June 24th, 2013

Mobile Miscellany week of June 24th, 2013

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, the Galaxy S 4 was spotted in purple garb, a new Windows Phone was outed for AT&T and US Cellular officially welcomed a budget handset from ZTE into its ranks. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of June 24th, 2013.

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WSJ: Google working on an Android-powered game system, smart watch and new Nexus Q

According to the Wall Street Journal, Google might make another foray into living room hardware as it's currently developing an Android powered gaming console. Since that's just not enough of a rumor bomb, the talkative "people familiar with the matter" also claim a wristwatch and followup to its "postponed" Nexus Q project are on the way. If you believe the rumors, its reason for jumping into all these categories is to beat products Apple is reportedly developing in the same categories, with at least one of them launching this fall. Finally, the leaks indicate Google's next major Android update will be "tailored to low-cost devices in developing countries," and are ready to go in a much wider variety of devices.

That could mean laptops or even appliances running the rumored Key Lime Pie flavor of Android, built by manufacturers like Samsung which is already working on a watch of its own. Also mentioned is HP, which the report goes on to claim is building laptops that run Android. Companies like Ouya, Mad Catz, Pebble and GEAK probably think Mountain View is already late to the party, but official OS-level support and heavily marketed hardware could take these segments to the next level.

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Source: Wall Street Journal

Mixed messages on Nexus Q support suggest Google doesn’t know what to do with it, either

Mixed messages on Nexus Q support suggest Google doesn't know what to do with it, either

Yesterday there was some pretty damning news for owners of Google's Nexus Q musical orb: the device isn't supported in the current version of the its Play Music app. This much is undoubtedly true, and verified by many owners. What's less clear, however, is whether this really is the end of the road. All the signs may be there, but some readers have forwarded us emails received from Google Play Support advising that a fix for Nexus Q streaming is definitely on the way. We contacted Google directly, but it was unable to give an official statement on the issue. We were simply told that the developer product never made it to commercial release, and as such the company can't promise either way. Mountain View isn't shy about shuttering much-loved services, so Nexus Q owners might take a small amount of solace from this current ambiguity, at least enough to delay taking matters into their own hands.

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Google confirms Nexus Q not supported in latest version of Play Music

Google confirms Nexus Q not supported in latest version of Play Music

Google Play music is about to reveal its saddest song... for owners of the Nexus Q that is. In fact some might say it's the funeral march. It's been confirmed to Phandroid that the latest update of Google's Play Music service -- that we saw outed yesterday -- doesn't support the firm's own music streamer. A statement given to the website confirms the fact, with little to suggest it'll get any better for the little black ball going forward. Final nail in the coffin? Who knows, but given that it was erased from view on the Play store some time ago, and orders never charged, you might want to dust off that black hat after all.

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Source: Phandroid

Google confirms Nexus Q not supported in latest version of Play Music

Google confirms Nexus Q not supported in latest version of Play Music

Google Play Music is about to reveal its saddest song... for owners of the Nexus Q that is. In fact, some might guess it's the funeral march. Phandroid and Android Police both report having received confirmation that the latest update of Google's Play Music service -- that we saw outed yesterday -- doesn't support the firm's own music streamer. A statement given to the websites confirms the fact, with little to suggest it'll get any better for the little black ball going forward. Does this signify the final nail in the coffin? Potentially. But, given that it was erased from view on the Play store some time ago, and orders never charged, you might have already guessed that outlook not so good had been the prediction for some time.

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Source: Phandroid, Android Police

Nexus Q scores CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies, reminds you of its existence

Nexus Q scores CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies, reminds you of its existence

Sure, Google may have temporarily mothballed the Nexus Q, but some of the caked-on cobwebs are being wiped off thanks to the very first nightly release of CyanogenMod 10.1 for the device. Christened steelhead, the build outfits Mountain View's orb with Android 4.2.1 -- a welcome upgrade if you're still rocking CyanogenMod 9, or worse: its stock configuration. If you'd like to bring your media sphere up to speed with its Nexus-branded brethren, hit the source link for the download.

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Via: Droid Life

Source: CyanogenMod