UK 3G Xoom not a Google Experience Device...???

[slug2zero]

I recently found this article published by V3...
I wonder if this is why the 3G is being delayed by another week?
Motorola Xoom and Atrix smartphone to ship 'business ready' - IT News from V3.co.uk

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[Adam J Purcell]

Yes, I've read this elsewhere and it does make me very concerned. The primary factor in choosing the Xoom for me was that it was a Google Experience Device (I own a Nexus One for the same reason). I don't want Motorola (or HTC or Samsung, etc.) to weld their own user interface over the stock Android one.

These continual delays in releasing the 3G Xoom already have me considering giving up on it. Now I hear about Google working with LG to build a 'Nexus Tablet' (I thought that was what the Xoom was meant to be). Should I just cancel my Xoom preorder and wait a few more months for a real Google Experience Tablet?

I am very conflicted right now...

[Droid-Xer]

I say hold out fellas and try it for yourself first. There was so much speculation about the xoom before hitting state side that no one knew what it was going to be til they got their hands on it. But I do agree, no google experience then I wouldn't have bought it.

[cazza]

I recently found this article published by V3...
I wonder if this is why the 3G is being delayed by another week?
Motorola Xoom and Atrix smartphone to ship 'business ready' - IT News from V3.co.uk

Not sure I really understand this? what exactly IS google experience?

[Adam J Purcell]

Not sure I really understand this? what exactly IS google experience?

I'm not sure what the official definition is but to my understanding a 'Google Experience Device' is a phone (potentially a tablet, too) that is ordered and specified by Google but built by a regular mobile phone manufacturer on their behalf. The software is 'pure' Android, without any additions or modifications by the hardware manufacturer. These are intended by Google to act as reference design devices and are very much built with developers in mind (the boot loaders are unlocked, all the debug features are present and Google ensures these are the first devices to get OS updates, etc.)

In the case of phones the first was the Nexus One, built by HTC (and initially only sold direct from the Google website), and more recently that was phased out in favour of the Nexus S, built by Samsung.

I've got a Nexus One and I very much like the fact that there isn't any HTC junk on there (such as their Sense UI), not to mention the fact I've been happily running the official OTA Gingerbread for some time. Just the way the Android deity intended!

[cazza]

Ok thanks, I have a desire and actually like sense so I think probably not being a techy that won't be a problem for me.