Tag: Nexus

Elite does well after buying Nexus Telecommunications

Posted on June 5, 2017 by - News

history-of-headphones-1895Elite Telecom has said that it has lifted its revenue to over £50 million since it bought Nexus Telecommunications.

The Nexus buy was the fifteenth since 2008 and apparently added £16m in revenue and 35 staff to the Elite business. Elite will now have 135 staff members across seven offices.

Matt Newing, CEO at Elite, said: “Nexus has a great reputation in the industry and is a perfect complement for Elite. We share a similar high-service culture, and we believe the combination of our two companies’ unified comms and IT products and services will deliver the strongest client offering in the industry.

“Nexus has some bespoke service-wrap solutions to meet individual customer requirements that Elite Telecom will offer to our wider customer base, which focus on corporate and enterprise clients. Its great customer base is backed by a strong team of people who we’re really happy to welcome to the Elite Group.”

Elite was a comms VAR before expanding more into IT, and now offers managed services around data, storage and security as well as cloud solutions.

In its most recent filing, Elite reported revenue of £22.5 million for the year ending 31 July 2016.

Apple’s paws in pie stopped Nexus fingerprint sensor

Posted on January 26, 2015 by - News

6a00d8341c630a53ef01348199b317970c-600wiA buyout deal by Apple effectively nixed Motorola’s chance to put a fingerprint sensor under the bonnet of its Nexus 6.

Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside said that the dimple at the back of the Nexus 6 was originally intended to play host to a fingerprint sensor. After all it had all the technology – it was a pioneer in bringing fingerprint recognition to its Atrix 4G smartphone.

At the time Motorola used Authentec which was purchased by Apple a year later for a price of $356 million.

Authentec was the best supplier around, “the second best supplier was the only one available to everyone else in the industry, and they weren’t there yet”.

Apple’s buy out effectively meant that the Nexus 6 was left without biometric authentication and the world was given the impression that Apple was the first to put the technology on a mainstream phone.

It looks like Motorola made the right move. The HTC One max had the slow and buggy experience that puts users off trying to use the feature.

 

Lollipop causes headaches for old Nexus users

Posted on November 21, 2014 by - News

kojakThe Tame Apple Press is rubbing its hands with glee that Google’s latest OS, Lollipop, appears to break old versions of its  flagship Nexus tablet.

The BBC , which is a big fan of Apple gear, seems to have spun the story as if the bug broke all Android machines, when actually the OS has positive reviews.

“Early adopters of Google’s latest Android operating system are warning others of problems with the software, “thundered Auntie only to admit in the next paragraph the bugs only affected Nexus 7 users. The Nexus 7 came out in 2012.

There is no doubt that there is something wrong with Lollipop and its reaction to some of the gear under the bonnet of an Ancient Nexus 7, but frankly, it is amazing it upgraded at all.

The BBC hints that more problems have not arisen because the OS is only available to a limited number of machines, because many network operators and device manufacturers have yet to complete their own tests.

Ironically, the OS was supposed to revamps the system’s user interface, offers greater control over notifications, and makes changes to the way the OS executes code, which Google said should mean fewer “temporary glitches” than before.

Android Lollipop adapts its look to suit smartwatches, smartphones and tablets

Nvidia, LG and Motorola have also released Android Lollipop updates for some of their handsets and tablets.

The work around for Nexus 7 users is to turn off Google Now, change transitions to zero and limit it to two background apps maximum.

Several Android Lollipop users have also highlighted compatibility problems with Air-based apps.

Apple said sorry  in September after faults with iOS 8 caused some of its new iPhones to be unable to make and receive calls, which was supposed to be the phone’s main job.

Google gets its hardware knickers in a twist

Posted on November 17, 2014 by - News

Nexus 9A report by financial analysts at Seeking Alpha suggests that Google has come adrift with its smartphone hardware strategy.

Seeking Alpha claims the Nexus programme does not now include the kind of devices most people would rush out to buy.

And even devices like the joint Google-HTC One GPe – which the analysts describe as the “Rolls Royce” of five inch Android smartphones is in a spot of bother. Because it’s sold out.

The Nexus 5 is last year’s model with an ancient Qualcomm 800 CPU and less memory.

The Nexus 6 is sold out but anyway it’s too big because few want a six inch screen.  The Motorola G isn’t sold out but it’s last generation.

Seeking Alpha Analyst Anton Wahlman says that everything Google is selling on its site is sold out, suggesting the behemoth is losing its way on the hardware front. You can read more of what he has to say about the debacle, here.

Motorola leaks phablet Nexus 6

Posted on September 25, 2014 by - News

Google the OgleMotorola is rumoured to be working on two devices for Google which include an upgraded Nexus 5 and a phablet-like Nexus 6.

According to Nine to Five  the Nexus 5 will extend the screen up to a 5.2in diagonal, but the Nexus 6 will arrive with a huge 5.92in display.

The handset,  codenamed ‘Shamu’, will be based on the second generation Moto X, with a few minor tweaks to make it easier to use given the larger screen. The volume and power buttons would be moved further towards the centre of the side of the handset, but the overall design would remain the same. That means it will have an aluminium outer frame, curved rear and forward-facing speakers.

The 2,560×1,440 resolution display will have a pixel density of 498ppi. Under the bonnet is a 2.6GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The rear-facing camera will reportedly use a 13-megapixel sensor and the ring flash first seen on the new Moto X. It should also use a 3,200mAh battery.

The new handset will run Android L, presumably in 64-bit mode.

It will be the first time Google has tried to release two smartphones simultaneously and the Tame Apple Press claims that it is just copying Apple’s move. After all Apple was the first to introduce phablets wasn’t it?  A 5.92in screen would make the Nexus 6 one of the largest mainstream handsets around.

Quanta to miss tablet forecast on poor Nexus sales

Posted on September 17, 2013 by - News

nexus7Quanta Computer could miss its tablet target due to weaker than expected sales of Google’s new Nexus 7 tablet. Quanta was hoping to ship 20 million tablets this year, but Digitimes reports it is already having trouble keeping up with the plan.

As a result, Quanta could revise its tablet shipment target for 2013 by as much as 40 percent, to just 12 to 13 million units. In addition to the Nexus 7, Quanta also has orders for Amazon Kindle tablets. Although Nexus and Kindle Fire tablets were originally conceived to target the low-end, but the market evolved. Today, $200 tablets aren’t really low end, as there are plenty of cheaper white-box products priced closer to $100.

On the other hand, people who are willing to pay a bit more tend to go for Apple’s iPad mini, which is pricier still. Rumour has it that Google will not tap Asustek for the next generation Nexus 7, which means Quanta could lose the Nexus deal altogether in mid-2014. In addition, Compal has already grabbed part of the Amazon contract.

Nexus 7 out, Nexus 4’s price cut

Posted on August 28, 2013 by - News, Products

nexus4-ceGoogle’s Nexus 7 has gone on sale in Britain. Prices start at £199 for the 16GB version, while the 32GB one costs £239. In addition to Google’s Play Store, it is also available at Currys, Tesco, Argos, Amazon and John Lewis.

It is competitively priced. Although it’s based on a  Qualcomm chip which is also used in the Nexus 4, the Nexus 7 features a 1920×1200 screen and as it is a Nexus device, software support is second to none. In many respects, it renders other cheap 7-inch tablets rather pointless, which is hardly great news for Google hardware partners. The Nexus 7 is now available in France, Germany and Spain, too. However, smaller markets will have to wait.

The Nexus 4 has been around for a while, but it is still a very competitive product. It might not have a 1080p screen or the latest greatest processor, but it’s a great workhorse and its build quality is still superior to any Samsung phone out there. Now it’s an even better deal, as Google slashed the price for the 8GB model to just £159, while the 16GB version now costs £239. If LTE isn’t a must have, the Nexus 4 is truly a steal for anyone who does not want to get bogged down in a two-year carrier deal.

Google is also expected to roll out a new Nexus 10 later this year and rumours of a Nexus 5 superphone are rampant. Let’s not forget the Moto X, either, although it is limited to the US market.

It’s all good news for Android fans and Google, but Google hardware partners are probably not amused. With such low prices, Nexus products are disruptive and they are hard to keep up with. They always get the latest updates and on the hardware front they offer great value, although they don’t tend feature the latest tech out there.

The only good bit news for other Android peddlers is that Google doesn’t appear to be trying too hard. Geeks love Nexus gear, but average people have no idea that it exists at all. Google is simply not marketing Nexus products properly, but this might be about to change. Googlerola recently announced that it would spend a few hundred million dollars on Moto X marketing and if Google starts marketing Nexus products just as aggressively, well then,  anything could happen.

Taiwan fears Nexus doom

Posted on July 12, 2013 by - News

NexusThe second generation Nexus 7 should do rather well, but some vendors fear it is going to be walloped by tough competition.

It has been predicted that up to eight million second-generation Nexus 7s should be sold globally in 2013, but, according to Digitimes, that figure might prove tougher than many thought.

Supply chain makers in Taiwan claim that many vendors will launch competing models.

The next generation Nexus 7, co-developed by Google and Asustek Computer is expected to be in the channel by the end of the month.

It features a 7-inch 1980 by 1200 display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 5-megapixel rear and 1.2-megapixel front cameras.

The expected price will be around US$199 or $249 if you want Wi-Fi support.

While it is a good spec, and a reasonable price,  the naysayers say that the first-generation Nexus 7 only managed six million units because it was as cheap as chips.

Since there are now loads of 7-inch devices with competitive prices, the second-generation Nexus 7 will no longer have a pricing advantage.

It will have to see off competition from sub-US$169 7-inch tablets from Acer, HP and Lenovo.

Europe to binge on cheap tablets

Posted on March 1, 2013 by - News, Opinions

nexus7The tablet boom is still going strong and according to Forrester Research, plenty of growth is expected over the next few years. Tablet ownership in Europe is expected to quadruple by 2017.

At the moment, an estimated 14 percent of European online consumers own a tablet, and the number should hit 55 percent by 2017. But who stands to gain from the boom?

Google needs no shops says Rubin

Posted on February 27, 2013 by - News, Products

nexus7Rumours of Google’s retail store push seem to have been just that, groundless rumours. Android boss Andy Rubin now says that Google does not need its own retail stores.

Speaking to AllThingsD, Rubin said the need for physical stores is simply not there anymore. Consumers can get plenty of information online or through word of mouth.

Taking into account the sheer volume of bias and fanboy fuelled hype found in most tech reviews, we believe the latter option is a better choice.

However, Rubin believes consumers no longer have to go into stores to “feel” gadgets. He added that Google’s hardware effort is still in its infancy and we have to agree. Google’s Nexus programme is basically a way of showing the world how not to launch and market phones, or how to ruin perfectly good products with terrible execution.

“For Nexus, I don’t think the program is far enough along to think about the necessity of having these things in a retail store,” said Rubin. He went on to say that Google has no retail store plans and that it has nothing to announce. That’s nada.

For some strange reason, Google seems to view Nexus gear as a nuisance, something to get out of the way while developing newer versions of Android and web services. Tangible stuff is dirty in the Google mindset. Even Rubin refers to his own Nexus gear as “these things,” rather than actual products that could be very competitive and generate plenty of revenue if Google somehow managed to do things right.

Just ask Samsung.

Nexus 4 shipments estimated at just one million units

Posted on February 8, 2013 by - Gossip, News, Products

nexus4-ceGoogle’s Nexus 4 has been on sale for three months, although one could argue that it has been on sale for a couple of weeks, since it wasn’t really available anywhere. For some reason, Google grossly underestimated demand for its latest vanilla Android phone, resulting in ridiculous shortages in every single market.

Android enthusiasts managed to work out that Google shipped just a million units in the first three months of sales, after four months in production.

Fixing Nexus supply problems is Google’s new priority

Posted on January 23, 2013 by - News, Products

nexus4-ceThe botched Nexus 4 launch has already turned into a rather embarrassing episode for Google, but Larry Page is trying to reassure investors and analysts, although it could be too little, too late.

Page mentioned the problems during Google’s Q4 earnings report, but he did not say much and he did not provide any new details.