Connect with us

Google Play Edition Program is DEAD Apparently

Featured

Google Play Edition Program is DEAD Apparently

The Google Play Edition program of stock OEM flagships appears to have been given the chop


News

It’s not such a big deal for those of us outside the US, but according to reports Google has axed the Google Play Edition branch of devices available on its webstore inside the land associated with star spangled banners and bald eagles.

To recap, the Google Play Edition line was essentially the product of an agreement between Google and several key manufacturing partners, including Samsung and HTC, amongst others. It meant that flagship Android devices, such as the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S4, could be purchased directly from Google Play with no third party interface overlay. Instead they carried a completely stock build of Android – just as you’d find on Google’s own Nexus devices, and this also meant timely updates to the latest software versions and unlocked bootloaders. Once again, however, the Google Play Edition line-up (or GPE, as it has come to be called) was only available in the US.

Emphasis on “was”. According to Ars Technica, a glance at Google Play in the States earlier this week showed GPE devices listed as “no longer available for sale.” The publication contacted Google for comment, but true to form the big G remained silent. While that means there’s nothing official just yet, Ars Technica has reached the only logical conclusion; that GPE is dead.

The reason that verdict doesn’t seem so wild or far-fetched is because GPE appears to have been winding down for a while now; there hasn’t been a new GPE model device since Spring 2014, and while a Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE model was heavily leaked and rumoured it never actually showed up on Google Play. Likewise, Google had at one point alluded to expanding the GPE availability outside of the US, of course that never happened either.

“The program hit its peak early last year, when a full half-dozen devices were listed all at once: theGalaxy S4, the HTC Ones M7 and M8, the first-generation Moto G, the Sony Z Ultra, and theLG G Pad 8.3,” writes Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham.

“Like doomed kids making their way through Willy Wonka’s factory, they silently dropped out one by one. Now they’re all gone, and it looks a whole lot like the program has wrapped up.”

The report goes on to outline some very good reasons for the possible demise of GPE, but the most compelling really is how the handsets compared to Google’s own Nexus devices in terms of price and specs. These handsets occupied the same store space and featured similar specs as Nexus phones but crucially cost about twice as much – market forces played out in much the way you might expect and GPE sales were lacklustre.

“OEM hardware was often superior to Nexus hardware in terms of build quality, camera quality, and battery life, but not superior enough to tip the scales for most buyers,” said Cunningham.

“In a market more accustomed to paying the full unlocked price for smartphones, the GPe phones might still have found a foothold, but they were only ever distributed in the subsidy-happy US market. Next to “$200” versions of what looked like the same phones to casual observers, the GPe phones were hobbled out of the gate.” In other words, had Google rolled the GPE program out in Europe and Asia, it might not have tanked so hard.

For now it seems like GPE is gone, but perhaps it will return one day. Hopefully next time it’ll appear in a few other regions as well as Google’s home territory.


Paul Briden

11:34, 26 Jan 2015

The Google Play Edition software of inventory OEM flagships seems to were given the chop

News

It’s now not any such large deal for the ones folks out of doors america, however in line with studies Google has axed the Google Play Edition department of units to be had on its webstore within the land related to superstar spangled banners and bald eagles.

To recap, the Google Play Edition line used to be necessarily the made from an settlement among Google and a few key production companions, together with Samsung and HTC, among others. It intended that flagship Android units, such because the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S4, may well be bought in an instant from Google Play without a 3rd birthday party interface overlay. Instead they carried an absolutely inventory construct of Android - simply as you’d in finding on Google’s personal Nexus units, and this additionally intended well timed updates to the recent device variations and unlocked bootloaders. Once once more, on the other hand, the Google Play Edition line-up (or GPE, because it has end up referred to as) used to be handiest to be had in the United States.

Emphasis on “used to be”. According to Ars Technica, a look at Google Play within the States in advance this week confirmed GPE units indexed as “now not to be had on the market.” The newsletter contacted Google for remark, however actual to shape the large K remained silent. While that suggests there’s not anything reliable simply but, Ars Technica has reached the one logical end; that GPE is lifeless.

The explanation why that verdict doesn’t appear so wild or a long way-fetched is as a result of GPE seems to were winding down for a at the same time as now; there hasn’t been a brand new GPE style software in view that Spring 2014, and whilst a Samsung Galaxy S5 GPE style used to be closely leaked and rumoured it by no means in fact confirmed up on Google Play. Likewise, Google had at one aspect alluded to increasing the GPE availability out of doors of the United States, in fact that by no means came about both.

“The software hit its height early final yr, while a whole part-dozen units have been indexed abruptly: theGalaxy S4, the HTC Ones M7 and M8, the primary-era Moto P, the Sony 0 Ultra, and theLG P Pad 8.3,” writes Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham.

“Like doomed youngsters making their method thru Willy Wonka's manufacturing unit, they silently dropped out one at a time. Now they are all long past, and it seems an entire lot like this system has wrapped up.”

The document is going on to stipulate a few excellent purposes for the imaginable death of GPE, however probably the most compelling actually is how the handsets in comparison to Google’s personal Nexus units when it comes to worth and specifications. These handsets occupied the similar retailer area and featured identical specifications as Nexus telephones however crucially value approximately two times as so much - marketplace forces performed out in so much the best way you may be expecting and GPE gross sales have been lacklustre.

“OEM hardware used to be frequently awesome to Nexus hardware relating to construct high quality, digital camera high quality, and battery lifestyles, however now not awesome sufficient to tip the scales for so much consumers,” stated Cunningham.

“In a marketplace extra conversant in paying the whole unlocked worth for smartphones, the GPe telephones would possibly nonetheless have discovered a foothold, however they have been handiest ever allotted within the subsidy-satisfied US marketplace. Next to “$200” variations of what appeared like the similar telephones to informal observers, the GPe telephones have been hobbled out of the gate.” In different phrases, had Google rolled the GPE software out in Europe and Asia, it will now not have tanked so onerous.

For now it turns out like GPE is long past, however in all probability it's going to go back in the future. Hopefully subsequent time it’ll seem in a couple of different areas in addition to Google’s house territory.

Paul Briden 11:34, 26 Jan 2015
Comments

More in Featured

Popular

Featured

Advertisement
To Top