Google Nexus S
Google Phone 2 out to spoil the iPhone party
The Nexus S is the successor to the Nexus One; Google’s first attempt at a mobile phone, launched last year to no real critical acclaim. Its latest has been built by Samsung and is one of the first phones to feature the new Android “Gingerbread” operating system that comes with sweet improvements such as better graphics, gyroscrope support (like the iPhone 4), a more polished virtual keyboard, better audio and built-in Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, which we’ll come to.
It’s a gorgeous phone to look at. Sleek rounded edges and a curved glass that is designed to fit the contours of your face. However, in the hand it feels plasticky and less solid than other premium phones such as the iPhone 4 or HTC Desire HD.
You can store a decent selection of digital media on its 16GB memory, however those wanting to transfer their whole music collection will be disappointed at the lack of memory card slots for expanding storage capacity. The Nexus S is fast to boot up (switch on) and the interface is a visual treat with an animated home screen and dazzling menus. Icons are pin sharp as are photos and HD movies when viewed on the 4-inch super AMOLED screen.
It sports a good 5 megapixel camera with basic photography adjustments such as exposure compensation, scene modes and white balance. However, the video camera is less than impressive – the results are blurry and blocky at times and its not HD compatible. Unlike the iPhone, the Nexus S supports ‘Flash’, meaning videos will play in a wider range of websites when browsing the internet from the handset. NFC is a technology that transfers information over very short distances. Oyster cards use NFC to open London tube and rail ticket barriers, for example. With this technology built into phones, it paves the way for cash-less payment transactions in the future. If other products are also NFC-enabled, you can swipe the Nexus S over an item of clothing or movie poster to download more information to the handset. Expect more of this in 2011.
In conclusion, the Nexus S is one of the best Android phones around. A slick interface, great looks and more powerful than many of its competitors. However, we would have liked to see more social networking integration, a memory card slot and HD movie recording.
Google Nexus S Specification
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Storage: 16Gb int
Screen: 4-inch WVGA 480×800 Super AMOLED
Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, 7.2Mpbs HSDPA, 3.5mm jack, N WiFi, NFC, A-GPS
Camera: 5MP/front 640×480
Video: 720×480 6.7 hours 3G
Dimensions: 63x124x11mm Weight: 129g
£549 sim free or free on £35 a month contract
www.google.co.uk/nexus
