I think I understand why, having just bought one when I went to the US for WWDC last month (seems to have been fortunate timing).
Unlike some crapware-laden blatant iOS-wannabe Android phones, the Galaxy Nexus is a pretty great phone that is different and better than the iPhone in many ways. But, unlike most Android phones I have seen, it still provides a fairly elegant and clean user experience that is attractive to the same kind of user that the iPhone is (me, for instance; so far, I buy a new iPhone every time Apple introduces one).
Of course, better means different things to different people, but here are some of the things I found to be superior, per my preferences as a user:
• much bigger screen (I strongly prefer the tradeoff of making it marginally harder to reach the top opposite corner with my thumb in exchange for being able to see more usable information with my eyes) for better book reading and web browsing
• typing feels better and is more accurate (due to larger size & haptic feedback I think)
• incomparably better maps navigation; even when I already have my iPhone 4S in my hand I get the Galaxy Nexus out of the backpack if I need directions
• no worrying that Apple will rip me off retroactively, by disabling an app I bought from them (the Airfoil Speakers debacle) to protect some fucked licensing arrangement to make my phone work only with expensive proprietary hardware and not with standard commodity hardware
• can load any software I want, not just from the maker's app store, without requiring me to exploit a bug in the OS to jailbreak
• integrates with Google Voice
It does have deficiencies, too; it crashes much more than my iPhone, the OS lacks the level of polish in a lot of ways, camera isn't as good, etc. Which is better depends on the user, and still would probably be the iPhone for most.
My point is just that the $349 unlocked Galaxy Nexus has some aspects which could be considered advantages over the iPhone, but it is still appealing to exactly the kind of user that the iPhone appeals to. Somebody who wants a smooth, uncluttered, pretty pocket computer that "just works" with minimal hassle. Google removes the crapware, gets rid of the funk-ass nonstandard UI skins, provides all the system updates, automatically links up with whatever services in their ecosystem you use... so with this phone they've done the best job of creating that type of product.
Therefore, to the iPhone, I think the Galaxy Nexus is the most directly threatening Android phone yet produced.
So, supposing you were an asshole with some bogus patents to go trolling with, that's probably where you'd want to start.
Unlike some crapware-laden blatant iOS-wannabe Android phones, the Galaxy Nexus is a pretty great phone that is different and better than the iPhone in many ways. But, unlike most Android phones I have seen, it still provides a fairly elegant and clean user experience that is attractive to the same kind of user that the iPhone is (me, for instance; so far, I buy a new iPhone every time Apple introduces one).
Of course, better means different things to different people, but here are some of the things I found to be superior, per my preferences as a user:
• much bigger screen (I strongly prefer the tradeoff of making it marginally harder to reach the top opposite corner with my thumb in exchange for being able to see more usable information with my eyes) for better book reading and web browsing
• typing feels better and is more accurate (due to larger size & haptic feedback I think)
• incomparably better maps navigation; even when I already have my iPhone 4S in my hand I get the Galaxy Nexus out of the backpack if I need directions
• no worrying that Apple will rip me off retroactively, by disabling an app I bought from them (the Airfoil Speakers debacle) to protect some fucked licensing arrangement to make my phone work only with expensive proprietary hardware and not with standard commodity hardware
• can load any software I want, not just from the maker's app store, without requiring me to exploit a bug in the OS to jailbreak
• integrates with Google Voice
It does have deficiencies, too; it crashes much more than my iPhone, the OS lacks the level of polish in a lot of ways, camera isn't as good, etc. Which is better depends on the user, and still would probably be the iPhone for most.
My point is just that the $349 unlocked Galaxy Nexus has some aspects which could be considered advantages over the iPhone, but it is still appealing to exactly the kind of user that the iPhone appeals to. Somebody who wants a smooth, uncluttered, pretty pocket computer that "just works" with minimal hassle. Google removes the crapware, gets rid of the funk-ass nonstandard UI skins, provides all the system updates, automatically links up with whatever services in their ecosystem you use... so with this phone they've done the best job of creating that type of product.
Therefore, to the iPhone, I think the Galaxy Nexus is the most directly threatening Android phone yet produced.
So, supposing you were an asshole with some bogus patents to go trolling with, that's probably where you'd want to start.