nexus

ISS floating orbs to get Nexus S phones

The shuttle Atlantis is set to carry two Nexus S phones into orbit tomorrow that will turn a trio of floating satellites on the International Space Station into remote-operated robots.

The 135th and last flight of the shuttle program, set for 11:26 a.m. ET, will help advance the cause of robotkind when the Android handsets are attached to the bowling ball-size orbs.

Propelled by small CO2 thrusters, the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (Spheres) were developed at MIT and have been in use on the ISS since 2006.

As seen in the vid below, they look like the Star Wars lightsaber training droid but are designed to test spacecraft maneuvers, satellite servicing, and flight formation.

Normally, the Spheres orbs carry out preprogrammed commands from a computer aboard the ISS, but the Nexus Android phones will give them increased computing power, cameras, and links to ground crew who will pilot them. … Read more

Sprint to deliver fix for Nexus S 4G reception

After several weeks of frustration, Samsung Nexus S 4G owners should get a fix for the WiMax woes early next week. The carrier has yet to make an official announcement, but SprintFeed reported today that a software update scheduled for July 11 will enhance Wi-Fi and 4G performance and alter the signal strength indicators.

The update won't bring a new flavor of Android, but the improved connectivity should be more than enough for most users. The upgrade also promises to enable the NFC secure element and address the 4G widget, TTY support, and speakerphone audio quality.

Sprint made a good play two months ago when it added the respectable Samsung Nexus S 4G to its lineup. Not only did it bring some much needed stock Android to a CDMA carrier, but also it bested T-Mobile's version of the phone by adding 4G.

Yet, it was the 4G support that soon raised the ire of many Nexus S 4G buyers.… Read more

Testing the Nexus S 4G's WiMax woes

The Samsung Nexus S 4G arrived to plenty of fanfare last month, as Google's flagship Nexus phone was finally blessed with 4G in the form of Sprint's WiMax network. Unfortunately, we've heard plenty of reports that the 4G radio on the Nexus S 4G is either defective or just not up to snuff compared with other Sprint 4G devices. We decided to test this claim out on our own. Here are our findings.

Last weekend, I took the Nexus S 4G out to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and the 4G coverage was dismal to nonexistent. … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 55: Over 4.5 billion served (Podcast)

How is the Android Market like McDonalds? What's up with all of the missing Gingerbread updates? and What does Google Plus mean for ye Android faithful?

News

Rumor: Samsung Nexus Prime to be first Ice Cream Sandwich phone http://cnet.co/mfqF1M

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G up for preorder http://phandroid.com/2011/06/29/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-4g-now-on-pre-order-at-verizon-starting-at-529/

Yet another Facebook phone http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20075421-251/htc-status-announced-for-at-t-and-facebook-fanatics/

T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide is all about the camera http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20074689-251/new-t-mobile-mytouch-4g-slide-ready-for-close-up/… Read more

Rumor: Samsung Nexus Prime to be first Ice Cream Sandwich phone

Google and Samsung could be teaming up once again and this time for the first Android 4.0 handset. According to sources close to Boy Genius Report, this latest collaboration bears the code name of Prime and could ultimately arrive as the Nexus Prime when it debuts late in the year. The handset should significantly improve upon its predecessor Nexus devices on multiple fronts, including processor speed and display resolution.

Keeping with other Pure Google experience smartphones, the Nexus Prime is expected to be devoid of any carrier customization or preloaded applications. Rumors also have been swirling that the first … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 54: Stealing stuff with Jaymar Cabebe! (Podcast)

Download.com Associate Editor Jaymar Cabebe stops by to help Antuan Goodwin host today's show. We take a look at CNET's wishlist for the rumored next Nexus phone and, boy, are our expectations great. Leaked photos show that LG is taking aim with a dual-screen gimmick phone at an entry level price. If rumors are to be believed, Antuan will have something to look forward to on his HTC Thunderbolt and so do you Motorola Atrix 4G users. Jaymar helps us figure out what Yahoo is up to with its new Play music app for Android and Antuan … Read more

Hulu Plus app launches for Android

Hulu Plus has made its long-awaited debut on Android.

Launching in Google's Android Market yesterday, the new Hulu Plus app allows Android users who subscribe to the $7.99-per-month service to stream TV shows and movies directly to their mobile devices.

For now, the app supports just six Android phones--the Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid II, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix. But Hulu is promising support for more Android phones as the year progresses.

New subscribers to Hulu Plus can try the service free for one month before deciding whether to kick in … Read more

What we'd like from the Google Nexus 4G

One of Android's most notable franchises got new life last week after rumors predicted the launch of a new Nexus smartphone. Pegged (for now) as the Google Nexus 4G, the "absolute beast" device would continue the stock Android tradition of the original HTC Nexus One and the more recent Samsung Nexus S. Carrier and manufacturer details are still a mystery (though AT&T is a likely contender), but Thanksgiving has surfaced as a likely release date.

Rumored features on the Google Nexus 4G include a dual-core 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz CPU, a 720-pixel high-definition screen, … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 53: Mythical unicorn phone from the future (Podcast)

We get questionably definitive proof that someone at Google listens to the show with Google's roll out of its an app compatibility function for the Android Market, just weeks after we complained about system requirements for Android apps. You can thank us later. Also, we take a look at a free entry-level Android phone, get video proof that the Droid 3 is coming from Motorola, and speculate on what may end up being the unicorn of smartphones, the Nexus 4G---not to be confused with the Nexus S 4G--a phone with specs that you wouldn't believe. But which of … Read more

Report: Details leaked on next Google Nexus phone

Boy Genius Report says it's received "exclusive" word from a source on just what we'll find in the next version of Google's Nexus smartphone.

With the third iteration of the Nexus possibly to be named the Nexus 4G, BGR is calling it an "absolute beast."

The new Nexus will be powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz CPU, either a Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 or a low-power 28nm Krait-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, says BGR. If true, those specs run counter to earlier reports that the new Nexus would be outfitted with … Read more