Google Nexus S

To the big names in the telecommunications industry, the launch of the Google Nexus S came as a surprise. A year after the Google Nexus One was introduced, Google partnered with Korean electronics manufacturer; Samsung; to develop the Google Nexus S. Previously, the Google Nexus One was made available only through Google supply chains. This limited market placement of the Google Nexus One ultimately contributed to its poor sales. Now, Google has bounced back by producing its second phone, the Nexus S and improving its marketing plan to make it more accessible to consumers.

Design
At first glance, the Google Nexus S bears a striking resemblance to the Samsung Galaxy S. Samsung had revamped the design of its Galaxy S phone; giving it a more hip and trendy look, and this is also evident in the Nexus S. The Nexus S weighs 129g – only slightly heavier than the Galaxy S. It has an ergonomic design, with rounded edges and curves at all the right places, making it very comfortable to handle. The 4-inch AMOLED screen has been upgraded with Contour Display Technology, which makes it look more sleek and polished. The screen is curved to mirror the contours of the viewers’ face. However, this appears to be merely an aesthetic feature which confers little benefit in terms of ease of use. It also has a 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel camera at the back with LED flash.

Features
At the core of the Google Nexus S lies a 1 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM. The Google Nexus S impresses with its hardware – it never lags even when switching between programmes. A GPU chip also allows the user to stream high and standard definition content smoothly. The Nexus S has an internal storage capacity of 16GB, which is sufficient to say the least. However, had the Nexus S been given micro SD card support, it would have allowed users to transfer data without having to connect to the PC. Furthermore, it would have provided users with additional storage space for multimedia content.

Within the Nexus S is the fastest and latest Android Operating System – the Android 2.3 Gingerbread. This gives the Nexus X the edge over other droids like Vibrant from T-Mobile which runs on the 2.2 Froyo. Another notable feature of the Nexus S is its Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. The NFC chip enables the transmission of data over limited distances. Although the NFC chip has not been widely adopted and accepted in countries like the U.K. and the U.S.; it is a big hit in Japan as a means of mobile money transfer.

Another fantastic feature of the Nexus S is its intelligent keyboard. Users will warm up to the keyboard in no time as it remembers more words and recognises frequently used words. This makes text messaging a breeze. The front-facing camera allows for video-calling and self portrait photography. The camera also supports video recording but only at a resolution of 720 x 480 pixels, which is unimpressive for a smartphone.

The AMOLED screen with WVGA resolution displays 16M colors, and is great for watching videos on YouTube. Images are crisp and bright, with just the right dimensions, as opposed to the awkward display on the considerably larger screen sported by HTC Desire HD. However, upon closer inspection, the screen seems to emit an odd greenish hue.

Pros and Cons
The great thing about the Nexus S compared to other smartphones is its long-lasting 1,500 mAh battery. Based on tests done on the Nexus S, its battery provides up to 2 days of standby time. Therefore, it spares users the hassle of having to carry a charger wherever they go.

However, a major shortcoming of the Nexus S is its sound quality. Although the rear speakers are capable of emitting exceptionally loud sound, in-call sound quality is poor – voices sound unclear and distant. However, sound clarity during calls to and from land lines is much better. In terms of aesthetics, the Nexus S falls short. Compared to the more popular smartphones like the iPhone 4 and HTC Desire, the Nexus S gives off a cheap feel because of its heavy use of light plastic.

Conclusion
The Google Nexus S is one of the top Android phones currently in the market. Its design is chic and presentable; and its super fast and responsive screen sets it apart from the rest. Moreover, when the NFC chip eventually catches on and gains popularity across the globe, the Nexus S may very well be catapulted to the top of the Android food chain. In conclusion, if you were pleased with the Samsung Galaxy S, then the Nexus S is likely to tickle your fancy as well, as both have almost similar hardware and design.