Originally Posted by Cloudane:
“True. Much like a few iDevice releases in the past, they need to do that as there isn't enough incentive (innovation to cost ratio) for the device to be a success on its own merits.”
When I think about it yesterday, the event was remarkably thin on marketing reasons why people who own old Nexus devices should upgrade.
Perhaps it's unfair to draw comparisons with Apple, but I do like the way they detail the hardware improvements and explain it in human terms. i.e. the processor is twice as fast as last years, which leads to this (presentation of an app that takes advantage of the new capabilities), it also has smart switching between high performance and battery efficiency - which gets you on average x hours more battery use. They'll tell you about the aperture and then explain in human terms why it's an update you'll appreciate with your photography. They really do a great job of selling you on the new hardware and mix in a bit about what they've done in combination with software to seal the deal.
I guess Google has less opportunity to do this kind of thing because the guts is all generic stuff other Android phones have. While in the iPhone, at least some of it is exclusive made for Apple by Apple (at least designed). Yes Google did do some of this with the photography section yesterday, but there was little all else.
Apple has slowly been stepping away from unnecessarily cutting new software features from older devices. Mainly these days the stuff you can't use is because of hardware such as 3D Touch and rise to wake both having dependencies on newer hardware components. I guess they realised it creates ill-feeling with customers to make them feel like you are purposefully screwing them over by cutting them off from features their existing phone is quite capable of executing.
All of that being said, I am happy Google is now trying to create flagship devices that deliver a pure Android experience with great hardware. Until now the choice has been pure Android with middle of the road hardware, or loads of crap layered on top of Android with much more exciting and capable hardware. There is no longer a conflict in my mind. If i decide I want to buy an Android device, I know that device will be a Pixel.