Category Archives: Nexus S

Google Beginning to Roll Out Android 2.3.6 to Nexus S (Voice Search Bug Fix)

Posted by on September 2, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

Looks like this dark, ugly chapter in the Nexus S novel is finally coming to an end. The voice search bug we first reported on (that would erroneously activate the application intermittently while the user is using other apps) frustrated a lot of users, but Google finally promised a fix would be here soon.

Well, it’s Friday and Google has mentioned that the update is now rolling out. All users won’t see it right away, of course, as some carriers will have to test and approve it first (this one’s actually coming in the form of a minor Android OS update 2.3.6).

Some Canadian users who have the device through their carrier are also beginning to receive it, but no word on other regions. Look for Android 2.3.6. Baseband I9020AUCKF1. Build Number GRK39C. [Google]

Google Gives Insight Into Nexus S’ Role on Final Space Shuttle Mission [Video]

Posted by on September 1, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

Wondering what those two Nexus S units were doing aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis on the final mission for NASA’s human-manned program? Google gathered up the souls who wanted to employ the Nexus S for the mission (and future uses) and had them talk about why they chose the Nexus S and what they’d use it for.

NASA is using Nexus S phones to upgrade a trio of volleyball-sized SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites), originally developed by MIT. The phones help the robotic satellites perform tasks the astronauts used to do, like recording sensor data and capturing video footage. In the future, the phones will control and maneuver the SPHERES using the IOIO board and possibly the Android Open Accessory Development Kit (ADK).

So it looks like Google’s Open Accessory move is aiming to improve lives for more than just consumers and hobbyists. One can only imagine what they’ll be able to do with the Nexus Prime when it comes out. Anywyay, the video’s above if you were curious yourself. [Google]

Google Finally Releasing Fix for Nexus S Voice Search Bug

Posted by on August 30, 2011 1 comment

This image has no alt text

Just over two weeks ago, we reported on a long-withstanding bug affecting many Nexus S owners after being asked to shed some light on the matter due to Google’s lack of communication to owners regarding the problem. The bug was discovered as early as April 2011 and has since gone unsolved. Thankfully, it seems our little spotlight worked (we like to think so, anyway) as a Google employee confirmed that an OTA update that addresses this issue will be rolling out soon.

The bug related to Voice Search. The application would continually pop-up and disappear, sometimes so fast that the user can’t press the “cancel” button on the pop-up in time. It happens often for some and only intermittently for others, but either way we’re sure we’d get annoyed if it kept popping up when we were trying to use a different application. No timeframe still, but at least they’re close to a rollout and we know things are being worked on. [Google]

Hey Google, Why No Nexus Love for Verizon?

Posted by on August 22, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

When Motorola, Google, and Verizon teamed up for the launch of the original Droid smartphone during the holiday season of 2009, the course of Android was forever changed. The phone shipped with top-of-the-line specs for its day and featured a stock build of Android 2.0 Eclair. Its life as the first and only device with the newest version of Android was short lived, however. Just a couple of months later in January of 2010, Google introduced their own flagship Android handset, the Nexus One. The long-rumored Google Phone was a collaboration with HTC and outpaced the Motorola Droid by introducing an even newer version of Eclair, Android 2.1. The Nexus One was an experiment in mobile phone sales with Google selling the GSM device unlocked for use on compatible carriers. The handset was eventually picked up by carriers worldwide, including T-Mobile and AT&T in the United States. As a CMDA-based provider, Verizon was left out.

We all know the story from there. Android saw several more updates over the course of the year. By the time the holidays rolled around once more a new build of Android was ready for launch. Google introduced the Nexus S by Samsung to go along with Android 2.3. Verizon’s Droid had aged by now, though it was followed by several big-name launches. Still, a stock Google flagship device was not in the carrier’s future lineup. T-Mobile saw the Nexus S. AT&T saw the Nexus S. Even Sprint, with their CDMA network, saw a custom version of the Nexus S complete with additional 4G WiMAX radio. If Google and Samsung could make these accommodations for other carriers, why no Nexus S for Verizon?

While the actual answer is most likely mired in politics, a fledgling 4G LTE network, and a crammed roadmap of releases for Big Red, it’s hard to see why the carrier was not included. If it wasn’t for the Motorola Droid and Verizon’s aggressive marketing campaign there may have never been a future for phones like the Nexus S. Not only is Verizon one of the largest mobile providers in the nation, but a recent study by Chitika shows Verizon as the top Android carrier, as well, with 41 percent of devices running the OS originating on VZW’s network. It would seem like a no-brainer to go to Verizon for the launch of new flagship Android products. Google perhaps skipped over Verizon for the Nexus S in exchange for exclusive rights to launch the first Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola XOOM. But that device quickly spread to other networks and became available as a WiFi-only model, and a tablet has no where near the same reach as a smartphone. So Google, where’s the Nexus love?

As we all know, a new device is in the pipeline — a Nexus phone designed as the launch partner for yet another version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. Rumors surfaced towards the end of last week the the so-called Nexus Prime was spotted around Verizon’s offices, apparently getting the once over for consideration for a fall release. Those rumors, as unsubstantiated as they are, give us hope that Verizon could finally see a big name, stock Android phone. Perhaps the Nexus line, which hasn’t exactly made it to the best sellers list, could see a significant boost in popularity from the partnership. It sounds like a win-win.

Full disclosure here: I am a Verizon subscriber and first bought into Android with the Motorola Droid. With a contract soon to expire and a fervent love for all things stock Android, even speculation that the next Nexus phone will land on Verizon is enough to keep me from signing my life away for a Motorola Droid Bionic or Samsung Galaxy S II. Both will no doubt be great phones, but for Android purists in search of a device that pushes the boundaries of the platform’s capabilities, it’s not a hard choice to hold out to at least see if the Nexus Prime makes its way to Verizon, and hopefully with LTE in tow.

So for my sake, I will ask the question again. Google, where’s a Verizon Nexus phone? Anyone who can help me with the answer please get in touch.

 

Photos: Ice Cream Sandwich on the Nexus S

Posted by on August 11, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

Don’t get too excited, though. Four images of the next version of Android running on a Nexus S have surfaced giving us our first look at the changes Google has in store for Ice Cream Sandwich, but unfortunately they don’t reveal much. While we get a glimpse at the new, bluer look of things, a Honeycomb-esque embedded search bar, and a new launcher tray, it looks like the redone version of Android might be a bit underwhelming. We hate to pass judgement based on a set of pictures showing off a few screens of the OS, but what has been hyped as a complete overhaul of Android merging Gingerbread with Honeycomb appears here to be more or less your standard iterative update.

Information passed along to Android Police and RootzWiki along with the pictures is a bit more promising. Though it is being said the Ice Cream Sandwich will consist mostly of UI tweaks (meaning older devices are still in the running for this one), several updates and additions are noted. The Android camera app will feature a panorama mode, Google Shopper will be bundeled with the OS and take advantage of NFC capabilities of future handsets, Gmail is re-themed to match the look of ICS, and the Apps/Widgets launcher borrows from Honeycomb.

ics-1 ics-2 ics-3 ics-4

The update will find its way to the Nexus S as an update, but the next Nexus device, referred to here as the Nexus Prime will be the first to get dibs on the updated OS. Word is the build we are looking at is rather early and Google has no definitive idea of when the OS will launch. It has been suggested that we could see our first Ice Cream Sandwich devices in October.

[via AndroidPolice, RootzWiki]

Nexus S Owners Still Without Fix for Voice Search Bug

Posted by on August 10, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

Since late April, shortly after the Nexus S was released to the masses, a bug with Voice Search has haunted many users. Some have been so annoyed to the point where they’ve just ended up returning the phone. Others have looked to third party solutions such as flashing custom ROMs as well as downloading applications that keeps the issue from happening.

The bug causes Voice Search to initiate without the user expressly opening the application or holding the search button. It happens more often than others for some folks with reports of the application flickering on top of any application they’re using, making the phone useless until they find some way to get it to stop (usually by restarting the phone, but that only helps the problem for so long).

Google has supposedly been investigating since the problem was pointed out to them, but they have since let nearly 4 months’ worth of complaints pile up with nary a word on their progress. Early troubleshooting efforts wondered if different combinations of hardware versions and software versions caused the issue, but so many different people have reported the issue that those variables don’t seem to be the ultimate cause of the issue.

Even AT&T Nexus S owners, who are on the latest hardware version and on Android 2.3.4, are having the issue, meaning whatever the problem is Google likely hasn’t made an attempt to fix it. Users are urging others to try to get Samsung and the carriers they bought the phone from to offer support, but that doesn’t seem to be working. We’re not sure why they’ve been so pedestrian on getting to the bottom of this, but we’re hoping this spotlight will help get things rolling on a true fix. [Google Support Forums, Thanks Patrick!]

Samsung Nexus S $350 for One Day Only

Posted by on August 1, 2011 No comments

This image has no alt text

The Samsung Nexus S is still a great phone despite what we believe to be a multi-core followup on its way soon. If you were ever in the market for one, now may be another great opportunity to jump on int as DailySteals has it for just $350 unlocked. It’s compatible with T-Mobile’s 3G network in case carrier compatibility is important to you. If you’re in for one, head over there and get started now. Only 15 hours to take advantage of this one as of the time of this posting. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]