Comment by jewbacca | Hacker News Reader

Comment by jewbacca | Hacker News Reader

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1. The Nexus line is supposed to be something like Google's Android reference device, and implements the minimum common set of features -- up-to-date computing hardware and screen, reasonable-resolution cameras, standard set of sensors (GPS, acceleration, etc.). An SD card slot doesn't really add any technical possibilities.

2. Google probably wants to push the idea that any storage beyond local apps should be to the cloud.

(which is comically unviable in Canada, where you're paying $25-50 per 1 GB of mobile data)

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A year ago, I got a Nexus 5 after a long search for a replacement for my stalwart iPhone 3GS. The lack of SD card was the primary sticking point, and caused me days of choice-agony. In the end, price and "cleanliness" (stock android, lack of shitware, doesn't fight software customization very hard) won out.

Google's advert claims "The ultimate Android experience", not the "The minimum common set of features Android experience".

It is likely that Google's take on "The ultimate Android experience" is different to yours: i.e. "cloud-sync" rather than "mount/unmount SD cards".

FWIW - I'm pro-removable memory myself, for cost & convenience of data transfer

I pay $30 for 6GB of LTE data per month (Rogers, via a promotional plan that they've offered countless times). And I generally use about 200MB in an average month as I'm virtually always around WiFi of some sort. Which is exactly what Google envisions, with most of their cloud solutions defaulting to only operating over WiFi.

SD storage has always been a mess on Android because it was originally added just as an easy way to port music and movies over. It was essentially supposed to be read-only memory. Then of course apps and users started using it and the ugly, messy history is notorious.

I'm not in Canada, but I do use Google Play Music on my commute (2-3hrs per day) with it's streaming curated playlists. That eats through a ton of bandwidth. That chewed through about 3GB last month before I had to stop listening while out and about.

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