News & Reviews:   Google Nexus 5

If you are using a Google Nexus device now – take note of this news. Google just listed the end-of-support dates for their current Google Nexus devices, i.e. end dates when they will roll out updates, security updates and releases of new OS versions.

After months of wondering what L starting dessert would be used for the next Android L, Google have finally and officially announced Android 5.0 Lollipop. Unlike previous updates, there are a number of huge upgrades to the mobile operating system and this includes a flatter Material Design look and feel and a new 64-bit compiler. Notifications are now floating in a Google Now-like card based system and they are both actionable as well as drop down. The 64-bit compiler will move from the previous Dalvik compiler to a more efficient ART compiler, which promises equal performance across all types of processors. The new ART compiler also promises nearly double the performance for some systems resulting in faster load times and performance along with support for larger than 3GB of RAM.

While the Google Nexus 5 is still a fairly new smartphone, many are already wondering how the next version, theGoogle Nexus 6 smartphone may look like. True, LG made the last two Google Nexus smartphones, but new rumours indicate that we could see the next version being made by Lenovo, which recently bought out Motorola. This has resulted in a concept render from 91mobiles.com which is both curved and colourful. Tech specs and features are still mostly rumours but point towards a 3GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB / 64GB / 128GB storage, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, a 5.2-inch curved display with full HD 1080p pixel resolutions. It could also have a self-healing backside, although if it does have such a LG G Flex-like feature, it seems more likely that it would be made by LG than Lenovo. No news on Malaysia pricing or release dates but we're expecting the Google Nexus 6 to get announced in Q4 of 2014, around the same time as the Google Nexus 5 announcement last year. For now, check out the concept render in this article.

Traditionally, most Nexus products and devices usually don't get named according to their brand makers and often times they are either called the Google Nexus 4 only. This has always been the official stance except for when Samsung did the Nexus S. Recent reports in Korea have highlighted the fact that if LG had their way, they'd have named the recent Google Nexus 5 the Nexus G. While it isn't a big secret that LG did make the recent Google Nexus 5 device, Google said no, perhaps to avoid confusion with other similarly named Google products like the Motorola Moto G. LG is well known for their G series of devices like the LG G2, LG G Flex, LG G Pad and many other LG G products.

Some more Google Nexus 5 rumours to talk about include possible specs leaked from an anonymous source. This includes:

• Made by LG
• Codename "Megalodon"
• 5.2-inch OLED display (1920 x 1080 resolution)
• 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
• 3GB RAM
• 16MP rear camera (4K video recording)
• 3300 mAh battery

Quite a few people are waiting to see what Google have in store for us with their new-and-upcoming Nexus 5. Recent reports have stated that the Nexus 5 may use Nikon camera technology. The reports are rather vague on which technology is being used exactly except for the fact that it may use a triple sensor array. Whether or not this refers to a mini 3CCD Nikon sensor remains ambiguous but the reports claim that it is to be one of the main draws for the Nexus 5. While it isn't an ultra-pixel camera sensor like the one inside the HTC One, such a technology could mean a much better camera equipped smartphone for Google (provided the lens is equal as well).