The Nexus 6 may be the first taste app developers get of Android Lollipop, but some of the social reaction so far has been a little on the sour side.
Along with announcing the full name of its latest platform update, Google and its partner Motorola took the wraps off its largest-ever tablet, a 5.9-inch device that will come at a cost of $649. The Nexus 6 will be available for pre-order later this month.
Twitter comments from app developers were more mixed than usual. A few seemed to think there was some logic in the Nexus 6 size, given Google and Motorola's competition.
Google's Nexus 6 is a 'big' change for the Nexus line http://t.co/wdwukxCXbu pic.twitter.com/VtB8dqAVcY
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) October 16, 2014
Well.. this is nice! Google's Nexus 6 is a giant phablet designed for Android Lollipop http://t.co/HizubZS2Rm via @verge
— Diego Cibils (@aspekt) October 16, 2014
Others suggested that a "go big or go home" approach is too off-putting.
5.9 inch? Who can use a phone so big? http://t.co/wDPtVL0tQt
— Cristina Georgescu (@mcgeorgescu) October 16, 2014
More controversial, however, was the fact that the cost of the Nexus also increased substantially with version 6.
Oooh I do love the Nexus... pricey this time round --> Google reveals the $649 Nexus 6, pre-order on October 29th http://t.co/G4udciwbSe
— Christine (@CMoz) October 15, 2014
Nexus 6 is 6-inch phablet, costing 649$. I don't like these changes. Don't think I'm going to pick one up http://t.co/GFlybDbgEg
— Michael Pankov (@const_float) October 16, 2014
Wow. Google really jacked up pricing for the new Nexus 6. H/t @trey_menefee http://t.co/OIaS5X4Uqv
— Larry Salibra (@larrysalibra) October 16, 2014
And while vendors and analysts are intrigued by devices that offer a compromise between a phone and a tablet, the Nexus 6 may be another example of a product that will have to gain mindshare with app developers.
Damn. It's a phablet. http://t.co/UIlLGOFWxY #nexus6
— Peter Goodman (@petegoo) October 15, 2014