The site 9to5Google reported this week that an “extremely reliable source” says Google plans to open retail stores later this year.

The purpose of the stores, according to the post, is to sell Google products like the Nexus line of phones and tablets, and also to promote hard-to-understand future items like the Google Glass idea.

The author speculated that Google might also sell Google merchandise like T-shirts.

All this sounds like either crazy talk, or the kind of Apple envy that may have motivated Microsoft to open a chain of retail stores.

But I think Google Stores could be a huge advantage for Google.

Google has two founders — and a split personality.

There’s the Sergey Google — the idealistic, Google Glass wearing, Vibram-loving Google where a campus full of brainy geeks invent the future.

Then there’s the Larry Google — the pragmatic, realist Google where starry-eyed optimism is balanced with sound business sense and smart strategic investment, enabling the company to adapt and grow in a changing global marketplace.

Should Google “Larrify” its Android policy and start denying Android access to companies that Google finds harmful to the world — and its business? 

Every smartphone I purchase for my household has to have a few specific features, one of which is a removable battery. Lately, I’ve been concerned over the growing trend of OEMs locking up the backs of their devices and thus making the battery non-removable (at least without having to grab a screwdriver). I’m not sure what advantages, if any, having a non-removable battery provide, but I am certain of the advantages having a removable battery provide.

Google is only hours away from stockpiling the Play store with Nexi galore. Sometime after midnight (PST) the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and Nexus 7 32GB/3G are expected to go on sale here in the US. Rumors have already been flying around that the Australia Play Store quickly sold out, and judging by the giddy schoolgirl reactions I’m seeing on Google+, I’d say the same will happen here in the states.

It’s no secret that Nexus devices lack SD card support. In fact, the only Nexus device to ever have it was the Nexus One. We’ve heard all sorts of reasons for Google’s decision, however, none have been as absurd as the one Google’s Director of Android User Experience, Matias Duarte, gave while falling victim to an impromptu “Ask me anything” on Google+.