Samsung, Google Delay Product Unveiling Out of Respect for Steve Jobs
Nexus Reveal Pushed Back
Just how important was Steve Jobs to the tech industry? Well, consider this: Google and Samsung have both decided to delay major product announcements this week out of respect for the recently deceased tech magnate.
In a statement issued Friday, Google said it would delay the unveiling of its upcoming and highly-anticipated Nexus smartphone, reportedly the very first smartphone to use a new version of the popular Android mobile operating system. Popularly known as "Ice Cream Sandwich," the operating system was originally supposed to get its big introduction during a joint event with Samsung at the CTIA Enterprise & Applications show in San Diego, California. Samsung is building the hardware for the Nexus.
"Under the current circumstances, both parties have agreed that this is not the appropriate time for the announcement of a new product," Samsung said in a statement. "We would ask for the understanding of our clients and media for any inconvenience caused. We will announce a new date and venue in due course."
Google wouldn't confirm that the Nexus was to be on display this week (the show was scheduled for Tuesday, October 11), but the company did admit to the media that the postponement was made out of respect for Jobs, who died of complications due to pancreatic cancer on Wednesday.
All of this means we will have to wait just a bit longer to get a good look at Ice Cream Sandwich, which is expected to mash-up several different features found in both smartphone and tablet versions of the Android platform. To date, Android has appeared on a number of Samsung Nexus phones, including the Nexus One and Nexus S.
The delay will only help Apple, which recently revealed the newest version of its own popular smartphone, the iPhone. Making the unveiling last week was new Apple CEO Tim Cook, who took over the position from Jobs in August. Without an Android unveiling, people will spend more time focusing on Apple's iPhone 4S and the revamped mobile operating system, iOS 5. Still, a very classy move by both Google and Samsung.
Asked what his impressions of Jobs were, Google CEO Larry Page had this to say: Steve Jobs "was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance...My thoughts and Google's are with his family and the whole Apple family."
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