Another Hint That Google Will Dump Nexus Programme in Favour of Project Silver

We've been hearing murmurs about Android Silver, a new rumoured project by Google, for quite some time now. A new leak links the shutdown of Google's existing and successful Nexus programme, which purportedly includes the rumoured Nexus 6, with the said Android Silver project.

Evan Blass (@evleaks), noted tipster who has a long history of leaking accurate information long before anyone else, posted a couple of tweets on Saturday indicating the same. The first tweet stated that the entire Nexus project was being shut down.

While the second seemed like a hat tip to the existence of the Android Silver project.

Reports from last month describe an expanded lineup of Android Silver devices much like the current Google-sponsored Nexus series, with a focus on promoting manufacturers who do not use elaborate customised Android UI skins, offering a stock-Android experience, just like the Nexus devices.

The supposed Android Silver will purportedly promote only five devices at a time, and ensure that customers are exposed to products conforming to Google's guidelines, especially at retail locations such as carrier outlets where Samsung and others typically have huge branded sections and sales staff. Google would presumably commit a large marketing budget for Android Silver devices.

A programme such as Android Silver would definitely give Google a degree of control over the market that is currently dominated by a few companies which customise Google's operating system greatly, often ending up delaying software updates. Android Silver, with its stock - or near-stock - OS experience would allow Google greater control on the Android update experience, one of the biggest complaints of the users of Mountain View's OS.