Google's new phones will be called the Pixel and the Pixel XL

So Google discontinues Pixel laptop (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/08/google-discontinues-t...) which is very disappointing by the way (I have 2015 Pixel LS running Ubuntu - best laptop ever had) and then renames well known Nexus phones as Pixels? This cannot get more confusing and I just don't understand their reasoning.

This seems like such an odd move to me seeing as Google has made a much greater effort over the last year in marketing the Nexus line of phones. Sure, the Nexus line still isn't exactly a household name, but I'm sure it's more well known than the Pixel line.

I've had the pleasure of using my friend's Pixel C and 2015 Chromebook Pixel and was thoroughly impressed with both from an industrial design perspective. I personally find the Chromebook Pixel even better looking than the MacBook Pro I'm currently using. The Pixel design team really seems to know what they're doing, which makes me disappointed that this year's Nexus(now Pixel) phones look to be heavily derivative of HTC's hardware rather than having a more original design as employed by the rest of the Pixel line.

I can see why Google wants to make a Pixel phone, and after seeing the other Pixel products I want them to make one too, but it seems strange that they would choose to rename this year's upcoming phones when they are following the usual Nexus blueprint of being heavily based on a partner's design rather than purely Google's own. This is of course assuming the leaks I've seen regarding the new Nexus/Pixel phones prove to be accurate.