為什么Android Geeks購買Nexus設備

The Galaxy S III is the highest-selling Android phone, but much of the geeky buzz is around the Nexus 4 – and the Galaxy Nexus before it. Nexus devices are special because they don’t have some of Android’s biggest problems.

Galaxy S III是最暢銷的Android手機，但大部分令人討厭的話題都圍繞著Nexus 4 –以及之前的Galaxy Nexus。 Nexus設備之所以特別，是因為它們沒有Android的一些最大問題。

These problems include a lack of official updates, manufacturer-created custom interfaces that slow things down and detract from the experience, and bloatware preinstalled by manufacturers and carriers.

這些問題包括缺乏官方更新，制造商創建的自定義界面(這些界面會減慢速度并損害用戶的體驗)以及制造商和運營商預先安裝的過時軟件。

什么是Nexus設備？ (What’s a Nexus Device?)

Google started the Nexus program with the Nexus One, which wasn’t as successful as they’d hoped. They also released the Nexus S, which was not extremely popular. The program started picking up steam with the Galaxy Nexus phone, the popular Nexus 7 tablet, and now the Nexus 4 smartphone, which was sold out for months after being introduced.

Google從Nexus One開始了Nexus計劃，但沒有像他們希望的那樣成功。他們還發布了Nexus S，該產品并不太受歡迎。這項計劃開始使Galaxy Nexus手機，流行的Nexus 7平板電腦以及現在的Nexus 4智能手機如虎添翼。

Nexus devices are designed by Google and sold directly on Google’s Play Store, although they’re manufactured by other hardware manufacturers (LG makes the Nexus 4, ASUS makes the Nexus 7, and Samsung makes the Nexus 10.) Nexus devices are Google’s official reference and developer platform. Google’s Android engineers develop the software for Nexus devices and are responsible for releasing updates.

Nexus設備由Google設計并直接在Google Play商店中出售，盡管它們是由其他硬件制造商制造的(LG制造Nexus 4，華碩制造Nexus 7，三星制造Nexus10。)Nexus設備是Google的官方參考和開發者平臺。 Google的Android工程師為Nexus設備開發軟件，并負責發布更新。

With other Android devices, manufacturers work on their own software. For example, Samsung is responsible for rolling out updates to the Samsung Galaxy S III, and they’re nowhere near as fast as Google is. They also don’t support devices for as long.

使用其他Android設備，制造商可以使用自己的軟件。例如，三星負責推出對三星Galaxy S III的更新，而更新的速度遠遠不及Google。他們也很長時間不支持設備。

Nexus devices also allow easy bootloader-unlocking, which makes it possible to install custom ROMs and root the device very easily. They are intended for developers, after all.

Nexus設備還允許輕松進行Bootloader解鎖，這使得可以安裝自定義ROM并非常容易地對設備進行植根。畢竟，它們是供開發人員使用的。

及時的Android更新 (Timely Android Updates)

When a new version of Android comes out, it’s tested on these Nexus devices and Google immediately updates them with the new version of Android. If you have a Nexus 4, you can rest easy knowing you’ll get first access to new versions of Android. You won’t have to wait 6 months for your device’s manufacturer and carrier to roll it out, nor will you have to install a community-supported ROM that may not work properly with all your hardware.

發行新版本的Android時，已經在這些Nexus設備上進行了測試，Google會立即使用新版本的Android更新它們。如果您使用的是Nexus 4，則可以輕松自在地了解自己將首次使用新版本的Android。您無需等待6個月的時間即可讓設備的制造商和運營商推出該設備，也不必安裝一個社區支持的ROM，該ROM可能無法在所有硬件上正常工作。

When Android 5.0 is released, Nexus devices will receive it immediately. It won’t ever appear on most of the devices people currently own, and it probably won’t even appear on many new phones and tablets until 6 months later

當發布Android 5.0時，Nexus設備將立即收到它。它永遠不會出現在當前用戶擁有的大多數設備上，而且甚至要到6個月后才會出現在許多新手機和平板電腦上

With another Android device, your device may be outdated from the moment it leaves the store and never receive an update. Google now offers access to development releases of Android to manufacturers so they can roll out updates quicker, but this doesn’t seem to have helped. Smartphones and tablets are still launching with Android 4.1 today, even though Android 4.2 has been out for more than three months.

如果使用其他Android設備，則從設備離開商店那一刻起，您的設備就可能已過時，并且永遠不會收到更新。 Google現在向制造商提供了Android開發版本的訪問權限，因此他們可以更快地推出更新，但這似乎沒有幫助。盡管Android 4.2已經發布了三個多月，但智能手機和平板電腦今天仍在與Android 4.1一起發布。

The Android Update Alliance, announced in 2011 to ensure all Android devices would receive updates for 18 months, was never mentioned after its announcement, even though many Android manufacturers signed on. Google and Android manufacturers made a promise, and promptly forgot all about it.

Android更新聯盟于2011年宣布，以確保所有Android設備都能在18個月內收到更新，盡管許多Android制造商都簽署了該協議，但該聲明從未提及。 Google和Android制造商做出了承諾，并立即將其全部遺忘。

For more information about the Android update situation, read Why Your Android Phone Isn’t Getting Operating System Updates and What You Can Do About It.

有關Android更新情況的更多信息，請閱讀為什么您的Android手機無法獲取操作系統更新以及您可以采取的措施。

純Android系統，無皮膚或膨脹軟件 (Pure Android, No Skins or Bloatware)

Nexus devices also offer a “pure Android” or “vanilla Android” experience. They run Android as Google’s developers intended it, not as software engineers at Samsung, HTC, or other manufacturers intended it. Many people run Cyanogenmod on devices from other manufacturers simply to get a more vanilla Android-like experience on their hardware.

Nexus設備還提供“純Android”或“香草Android”體驗。他們按照Google開發人員的意愿運行Android，而不是三星，HTC或其他制造商的軟件工程師。許多人在其他制造商的設備上運行Cyanogenmod只是為了在硬件上獲得更原始的類似于Android的體驗。

This means that you won’t find any preinstalled NASCAR apps or other junk apps carriers and manufacturers are currently adding to their phones. These apps are installed in the system area and eat up storage space, even after you disable them.

這意味著您將找不到任何預裝的NASCAR應用程序或其他垃圾應用程序運營商，而制造商目前正在將其添加到他們的手機中。這些應用程序已安裝在系統區域中，并且即使禁用了它們也會消耗存儲空間。

You also won’t find skins like Samsung’s TouchWiz or HTC’s Sense (notorious for slowing things down and eating up more battery life) on these devices. These custom skins often hide Android’s best features, like Google Now and the multitasking menu.

您也不會在這些設備上找到像三星的TouchWiz或HTC的Sense(以減慢速度并消耗更多電池壽命而臭名昭著)的皮膚。這些自定義外觀通常會隱藏Android的最佳功能，例如Google Now和多任務菜單。

Some people may prefer these skins, so this is a matter of taste. However, manufacturers don’t allow people to disable these skins and use vanilla Android. The only way you can do so is by installing a custom ROM like Cyanogenmod.

有些人可能更喜歡這些皮膚，所以這是一個品味問題。但是，制造商不允許人們禁用這些外觀并使用香草Android。唯一的方法是安裝自定義ROM，例如Cyanogenmod。

價錢 (Price)

Price has also become a factor. In North America, smartphones are typically sold on-contract and are very expensive if purchased off-contract. ($649 for the an off-contract iPhone, and much more if you want more storage on your iPhone).

價格也成為一個因素。在北美，智能手機通常按合同出售，如果按合同購買則非常昂貴。 (非合約iPhone的價格為649美元，如果您想在iPhone上增加存儲空間，則需要更多價格)。

Unlike most phones, Nexus phones are sold off-contract for very reasonable prices. The Nexus 4 starts at $299 off-contract, and it’s composed of fairly high-end hardware. If you want to avoid getting locked into a contract – for example, to use a prepaid carrier or just to shop around for the best service – these phones are a great deal.

與大多數手機不同，Nexus手機以非常合理的價格按合同出售。 Nexus 4的合同外售價為299美元，它由相當高端的硬件組成。如果您想避免陷入合同困境(例如，使用預付費運營商或只是為了獲得最好的服務而四處逛逛)，那么這些電話非常有用。

It’s a shame there are so few other reasonable options for buying a high-quality phone off-contract.

可惜的是，沒有這么多其他合理的選擇可以外包購買高質量的電話。

Android制造商丟球了 (Android Manufacturers Have Dropped the Ball)

The reason Nexus devices are so compelling is because Android manufacturers have dropped the ball. They offer devices running outdated versions of Android, regularly drop support from fairly recent devices, and are very slow to roll out updates. Their phones are packed with bloatware and custom skins that can’t be disabled.? They don’t offer reasonable off-contract prices for people who don’t want to be locked into a contract with their carrier.

Nexus設備如此引人注目的原因是因為Android制造商放棄了。他們提供運行舊版Android的設備，定期從較新的設備中刪除支持，并且推出更新的速度非常慢。他們的手機上裝有無法禁用的膨脹軟件和自定義皮膚。他們不為不想與承運人簽訂合同的人提供合理的合同外價格。

Nexus devices aren’t perfect. The Nexus 4 doesn’t have the longest battery life, the most storage, or the best camera. It doesn’t have LTE, which may be important to you. It has a glass back, which doesn’t inspire the most confidence. But it does have the best Android software experience.

Nexus設備并不完美。 Nexus 4沒有最長的電池壽命，最多的存儲空間或最好的相機。它沒有LTE，這可能對您很重要。它有玻璃后背，無法激發最大的信心。但是它確實具有最佳的Android軟件體驗。

If you want better hardware, you’ll have to compromise on software.

如果您想要更好的硬件，則必須在軟件上妥協。

Android should be a vibrant platform with a variety of hardware choices. But, for many Android geeks who have been burned in the past by bloatware, bad custom skins, and lack of support, Nexus devices are the only option.

Android應該是一個充滿活力的平臺，具有多種硬件選擇。但是，對于過去因過時的軟件，糟糕的自定義外觀和缺乏支持而被燒死的許多Android極客而言，Nexus設備是唯一的選擇。

Image Credit: Dru Kelly on Flickr, Johan Larsson on Flickr

圖片提供： Flickr上的Dru Kelly，Flickr上的Johan Larsson