Samsung, Google unveil 'Galaxy Nexus'
At a special event in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Samsung and Google jointly announced the Galaxy Nexus and unveiled Android 4, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), the next major version of Google's mobile operating system. The hardware specs are impressive and the platform update offers some compelling new features.
Google first announced plans for ICS during its Google I/O conference back in May. The search giant said that the update would likely come in the fourth quarter and that it would bring together the Android tablet and smartphone environments in a cohesive user experience. The big unveiling was expected to take place alongside CTIA earlier this month, but was pushed back to this week and relocated in Hong Kong alongside the AsiaD conference.
Samsung started the press event by unveiling the Galaxy Nexus, an impressive new smartphone that the consumer electronics company codeveloped with Google to serve as the ICS launch device. Rumors about the device's lofty specs have been circulating for months. The highlight is its 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display with an impressive 1280x720 resolution. The device has a curved form factor that is said to give it a natural feel despite its large size.
The device also has a 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP4 CPU, front and rear-facing cameras and 1GB of RAM. Samsung says that there will be separate models with HSPA+ and LTE connectivity available depending on region. Other connectivity features include Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC. It also has the full array of sensors, including a built-in gyroscope and barometer. The device is scheduled to ship in November with Android 4 on board.
