Why We Need Multiple Nexus Devices - Part I

As a lover of technology and by extension, smartphones and their OS's, I have gone head first into many arguments over the past year or so. I respect all the operating systems for what they do and their unique abilities but the truth is that the one I use the most is that thing called Android. Yes, yes, we've heard the word on many occasions whether we wanted to or not and I am aware of the fact that we all have various feelings about the said OS.

There's an ever present issue in the world of Android. The issue of skins vs stock Android. All Android OEMs put a skin, or, to put it simpler, a variation of the 'User Interface' as some might put it, on their devices. We've had Touchwiz from +Samsung Mobile, HTC's Sense and Motorola formerly had Motoblur which, if you ask me, is an absolutely terrible name. Each of these manufacturers, and many others around the world place their own twist on Google's idea of what the UI should be. Some of them, like +HTC even go a step further and tinker with the multitasking of the OS.

The truth is that some persons are quite fond of these 'skins.' Another fact is that many persons are not and rather the stock experience because it has now become refined and pretty to say the least.

Let's have a look at what led to this moment. In the year 2010, Google unveiled the first Nexus device, the Nexus One by HTC and it was touted as a developers phone. It was unadulterated. No skins, no carrier bloat, no twist in the puzzle; it was just pure Android. In the same year, Google also released the Nexus S by Samsung. Again, the same held true. No bloat, no skins, even though this one was released on a couple carriers because the popularity of Nexus devices among the Android faithful had already grown immensely.

In 2011, we all watched with mouths ajar as Google unveiled Sammy's second Nexus device, the Galaxy Nexus.  What was even more important was the presence of Ice Cream Sandwich. This was the latest version of Android and this is the version that turned the tide. The inclusion of +Matias Duarte to the Android team made the OS a site to behold. It was no longer jagged and unsightly; it was finally pleasing to the eye. We thank you for this Matias. As joyful as this moment was, it raised a very stirring question. What's going to happen to all the skins that were needed to make Android pretty? They were obviously no longer needed, but would the OEMs concede defeat to the mighty Google?

Join me in Part II as we delve deeper into this mystery.