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Samsung Nexus S: Next Google phone to launch Dec. 16 with Gingerbread

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,

Google Nexus S

The Google Nexus S is officially the next Google phone, as Google confirmed it this morning, throwing up a product page for the upcoming smartphone. What's so special about it? Well, for starters, it's the first phone to ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and Google says that owners of the Nexus S will be the first to receive future software and app updates. It's got a 4-inch WVGA display, tri-band HSPA (but no HSPA+ to take advantage of those faster T-Mobile speeds,) a 5 megapizel camera, front-facing VGA camera, and near-field communication built-in. It has 16GB of storage built-in, and 512MB RAM with a 1GHz Hummingbird processor. Other interesting tidbits include the contour display, which kind of shapes to your face, integrated VoIP support, and gyroscope.

You'll be able to purchase the Nexus S on December 16th at Best Buy locations for $199 with a two-year T-Mobile contract, or $529 unlocked. On December 20th, it'll be available in the UK at Best Buy UK and Carphone Warehouse.

Read More | Nexus S via Google Blog


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T-Mobile G2 Android smartphone first to use HSPA+

T-Mobile G2

Okay, so we know that launched their super-fast HSPA+ network recently, and up to this point, only data-specific devices are able to take advantage of those increased speeds. However, that’s about to change with the impending launch of the T-Mobile G2. Yup, the G1, the first phone to hit the market a couple of years ago, is finally getting its successor in the G2, and it’ll be the first phone to support HSPA+ speeds. It will be available next month, and it’ll be built by HTC (which means it should be awesome.) Here’s a statement from T-Mobile on the news:

“T-Mobile is proud to have launched the world’s first Android-powered phone, the T-Mobile G1, which captured the imagination of developers and consumers alike nearly two years ago.  Now, we are readying its successor - the T-Mobile G2 with Google.  Delivering tight integration with Google services, the G2 will break new ground as the first smartphone specifically designed for our advanced HSPA+ network, which delivers today’s available 4G speeds.  In the coming weeks we’ll share more details about the G2, including information on how current T-Mobile customers can get exclusive first access. Visit http://g2.t-mobile.com to register for updates.”

Read More | T-Mobile G2

Viliv S7 finally priced, starts at $629 on Dynamism

Viliv S7 price announced on DynamismFor those wondering how much the impressive Viliv S7 swiveling tablet notebook would cost, wonder no more, because Dynamism has finally let it be known.

The S7 has a swiveling 1024x600 7-inch touchscreen and pack in a 1.33 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1 GB memory, 60 GB HDD/16 GB SSD, and Windows XP. It has an impressive 9 hours of battery life, and will go from sleep to wake in 4 seconds. Pricing starts at $629, and jump up to $799 is you wanna rock the 32GB SSD model with built-in HSPA 3G access. Head on over to Dynamism to sign up to be notified when pre-orders begin. These won’t last long.

Read More | Viliv S7 Product Page

AT&T To Upgrade to HSPA 7.2 Soon

HSPA Express CardAT&T has announced that they are upgrading their HSPA 7.2Mbps speed to their wireless network later this year, making it compatible with new smartphones and laptop express cards that will also be released around the same time. The company says that the upgrade will allow the faster access before the LTE networks merge in 2011 or 2012. They will be adopting LTE as part of the Generation Partnership Project, a collaboration of equipment makers and carriers along with Verizon Wireless and many global GSM carriers.

Read More | Phone Scoop

Novatel MiFi gives you a personal 3G Wi-Fi hotspot

Novatel MiFi

has just announced the future release of their new MiFi 3G portable hotspot, and we are officially excited. Using the MiFi, you’ll be able to grab the signal from your EV-DO Rev. A or HSPA account, and share it over Wi-Fi to a group. For example, you can hit up Starbucks with two buddies, break out the MiFi, and all three of you can hit the Internet without paying for Starbucks Wi-Fi three times. The MiFi device itself looks just as awesome as its usage scenarios, as it just as long and wide as a credit card, and isn’t really that tall. Novatel is also touting that the battery will last for 4 hours when used actively, and 40 hours when on standby. Nice.

Mark our words - we are going to be keeping an eye on the news leading up to the Novatel MiFi official release. Expect to see if available for purchase in for first half of 2009.

Read More | Novatel Wireless

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