nex5

This isn’t a review of the Nexux 5. Rather, it’s a review of Google’s new strategy of integration as displayed in the KitKat-running Nexus 5.

You’ll find a gazillion reviews on the Nexus 5 over the next month, some detailing every feature and function. In general, these reviews will tell you that the Nexus 5 is a great phone with a great form-factor and exterior design, incredible screen, good battery life and excellent general performance. They’ll also point out that nothing even comes close to the Nexus 5’s value for money ($349 unlocked). And Nexus5/KitKat has little surprises (such as LTE tethering, even on AT&T).

I’m here not to add yet another review to the mix, but to zero in on what really matters: How Googley is this phone, exactly?

The short answer is: pretty Googley but not Googley enough.

To the extent that Nexus 5 succeeds (is better than other phones), it succeeds with integration. To the extent that Nexus 5 fails, it fails to integrate.

Here’s what I’m talking about.

Steve-Wozniak

He may have been misquoted about disliking the new iPads, but Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently had something else to say which might prove even more controversial: that Apple and Google should work together.

“Sometimes I say ‘Go to Joe’s Diner’ and [Siri] doesn’t know where Joe’s Diner is,” Woz told the BBC’s UK technology program Click — adding that, “Usually I find out that Android does.”

KitKat 10

Android 4.4 is one of Google’s most intriguing updates yet, predominantly because it brings a revamped version of Androids traditional UI, in addition to shipping with some of the most unique stock wallpapers we have ever seen. However, unless we purchase the Nexus 5, it’ll be quite a while until we can get our hands on the new OS – which would mean we didn’t get to enjoy the beauty of the freshly designed backgrounds for some time.

But thanks to a very generous Android enthusiast, we have obtained a system dump consisting of all 10 wallpapers which ship with KitKat. So, fortunately, we do not have to wait for the operating system to be ported to our devices before we can download and install the backgrounds.

November Android Dist Numbers

Yesterday, Google published the latest distribution figures of the Android operating system which ran over a 7-day period. The numbers reveal a consistent growth in the amount of Android users running Jelly Bean, whilst older versions of the operating system continue on their path towards extinction.

Android-4-4-launcher

If you have a newer Nexus device, or the Google Edition Galaxy S4 or HTC One, then you won’t have to wait too long for the Android 4.4 KitKat update. But it’s safe to say everyone else is in for a lengthy wait. If you’re already feeling impatient and you want a bite of that KitKat early, then you may be interested to hear you can download and install the new launcher now.

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