samsung. galaxy nexus

Android Ice Cream Sandwich versus iOS 5: Killer features

What I'm about to attempt--comparing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Apple iOS 5--is a little like tiptoeing through a minefield. Most of you won't be happy and somebody could get hurt. (Read: me.)

Yet, this comparison must be done. For one thing, Google and Apple have both recently unveiled huge changes that respectively make their mobile operating systems far more powerful, and in some ways more similar to each other. For another thing, weighing the pros and cons of each platform against the other is a scenario that's played out daily among many people who are deciding which phone to buy.

Just a few parameters before diving in. First, I'm overwhelmingly looking at software, not hardware, but I'll point out where hardware does factor in. iOS 5 runs on multiple devices, but is the most powerful right now on the iPhone 4S. Ditto Ice Cream Sandwich. The unreleased Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the one phone that can currently show off the OS update's full spectrum of features, since it was purpose-built to be compatible with them all. That will change for both operating systems as additional future devices are built with the hardware to support the new software.

Second, I'm not just talking about new additions, but trying to look at the OS in its entirety.

Third, I'm looking at what each OS can do natively. Yes, there are scores of third-party apps you can download to do just about anything to satisfy something that one OS lacks that another has, but what we're looking at here is what Apple and Google have decided to bestow, not clever external developers. And I'm not talking about anything you can achieve only by jailbreaking or rooting. Official, but optional apps created by Apple and Google are OK--like Find My Friends and Google Voice.

Third, I'm throwing in two "fun" features for each (these will be the last two). I wouldn't recommend buying an iOS 5 or Ice Cream Sandwich device solely because of them, but they're pleasantly show-offy conversation pieces unique to each platform.

Got all that? Let's go.… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1563: A Nexus, Razr and a Lytro. It's the tech trifecta! (Podcast)

VidBlogger Nation's founder Marc Scarpa joins us to talk about his Social TV Network and the rise of new media. Buzz Out Loud's own legal advisor Gil Cabrera joins us to talk about Samsung and its reach for something, anything in their patent battles with Apple. Guess what, they aren't winning. But you know who IS winning? Steve Ballmer. It's Gadgets Galore with the Samsung Nexus, Droid Razr and the Lytro camera. Which one is Molly going to buy?

Verizon gets first dibs at Galaxy Nexus (Update: Maybe not)

Samsung has confirmed via its Facebook page that the Galaxy Nexus will be available exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the U.S. during its initial release. However, Samsung has said that it's possible for other carriers to offer the phone at a later date.

Samsung and Google announced the Galaxy Nexus along with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich last night at a press conference in Hong Kong. The Galaxy Nexus is the latest in the Nexus line of phones that is developed with Google's guidance, and is meant as a showcase for the latest Android operating system.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy Nexus first impressions: Ice Cream Sandwich makes it sparkle

It's been a wild day in Android land. Earlier this morning, Motorola and Verizon pulled back the curtain on the sleek, gorgeous, and positively anorexic Motorola Droid Razr, only to have the spotlight stolen by the double-whammy of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. (Compare the specs here.)

The phone is bound for the U.S. and parts of Asia and Europe, starting in November.

Now, Samsung spent most of the day tripping over its own leaks with regards to the looks and specs of the phone, but that didn't dampen our admiration any. It's a phone that any carrier would be proud to offer, from the HD screen and 1.2GHz dual-core processor to the 1080p HD video capture and playback, to the barometer and NFC chip embedded within.

We'll know more when we get our hands on the device in due time, both in Hong Kong with CNET Asia and here in our San Francisco headquarters. For now, here's what we think.… Read more

Ice Cream Sandwich adds tons of new features

After Samsung launched its Galaxy Nexus at the flashy Android event across the Pacific in Hong Kong, Google execs took the stage to announce Ice Cream Sandwich, the next version of the mobile operating system.

Also, called Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich is clearly designed to unify the Android experience. And as Matias Duarte, Google's senior director of Android user experience said, it's also built on three design principles: "enchant me, simplify my life, and make me awesome."

Here's an almost-complete list of Ice Cream Sandwich. We'll explore these in more detail over … Read more

Motorola Droid Razr vs. Samsung Galaxy Nexus (chart)

Today's definitely a big day in Android land, with not one but two big phone announcements. First, Motorola announced the Droid Razr, which packs plenty of power in a very slim package.

Later, Samsung released news of the Galaxy Nexus, which sets the standard for Android phones with the brand-new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. We know many Android fans out there want to know the facts about both these handsets, so we created a quick and dirty spec sheet comparison. Of course, we're still discovering details about the Galaxy Nexus as we write this, so we'll be sure to fill in any missing information once we find out. Let us know in our comments section if you spot anything missing.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy Nexus details: A secret no more

Samsung's secrecy surrounding the Galaxy Nexus has now completely unraveled, just a half hour before the company's official launch event with Google. All the details of the Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich are here.

The spec sheets Samsung passed out to the pres spells it out:

4.65-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED HD screen 1.2GHz dual-core processor Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash 1.3-megpaixel front-facing camera 1080p HD video capture and playback 1GB of RAM 16GB or 32GB internal memory versions 1750mAh battery Bluetooth 3.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Android Ice Cream Sandwich launch: Watch with us!

The CNET crew is poised to bring you complete coverage of the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone, along with Google's Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, from the companies' joint event tonight in Hong Kong.

There's hardly a need to guess at the design, thanks to a trigger-happy Samsung employee, who seems to have briefly published the top-secret Web page on Samsung's site hours before the event (see photo above). (P.S.: It looks like the preorder Web site will live here when Samsung publishes it.

Our hardworking team from CNET Asia in Singapore will … Read more

Ice Cream Sandwich widget photos leaked online

Google is set to pull the wraps on Ice Cream Sandwich tonight, but a series of leaked screenshots already offer a peek at some of the redesigned widgets in the latest update to Android.

Snapped by someone known as Geek Vundotra and posted online by Android Police, the screenshots show what the Gmail, e-mail, and calendar widgets will apparently look like in the new Ice Cream Sandwich flavor.

The Gmail widget sports a somewhat cleaner interface compared with its Honeycomb counterpart, complete with a different and more readable screen font. The e-mail widget has been given the same coat of … Read more