Nexus S 4G Review

The Nexus S was the third of only 3 devices 100% sanctioned by Google and running pure Android. Sprint is teaming up with Samsung and Google to bring it’s version of the phone the Nexus S 4G to it’s WiMax network. Besides the 4G radio there are no differences between the original Nexus S and the Nexus S 4G and with specs that are starting to look slightly dated is it worth your money?
Design and Build Quality
The Nexus S 4G like the Nexus S before it has some pretty great hardware design; Samsung did an amazing job with the front of the device particularly. The screen when turned off is flush with the black accents making it almost seem to vanish. The Nexus S 4G also features a contoured display and while the precession effect it has is nominal at best it does protect more of the screen when placed face down. The back of the device on the other hand looked really nice with a faint pattern all over. Unfortunately despite looking nice the light plastic material used in it’s construction make it feel cheap to the touch. The super AMOLED display on the front of the device is every bit as mind blowing as on the Galaxy S line.
Specifications
A Samsung Hummingbird processor that is clocked in at 1GHz powers the Nexus S 4G. The Nexus S 4G has 512 MBs of RAM and 16GB nandflash storage. The trade off for such a huge flash storage is that there isn’t an SD care slot like most Android phones so the memory is not expandable. The Nexus S 4G has dimensions of 4.88 x 2.48 x 0.44 and weighs in at 4.6 ounces.
Camera and Special Features
The Nexus S 4G features a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash capable of 720p video. Stills taken from the phone were less than stellar compared to other high-end Android phones. The Nexus S 4G also features a front facing 1.3-megapixel cameras for video chat. The Nexus S 4G is the first phone to get new Android updates and is one of the first in the country to feature NFC for mobile payments.
Battery Life
The Nexus S 4G features the same battery as the original Nexus S but while the original Nexus S had decent battery life the Nexus S 4G’s power hungry radio makes for a real problem. You can probably get a full days life out of it but in solid use I wouldn’t expect more than 6 hours.
Wrap up
While the Nexus S 4G is a great device that’s one of the best in terms of software-based features it’s less than current specs and lack luster battery life make it hard to recommend. If your stuck on Sprint and want the pure Android experience it’s your only option.
Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blogger for First in Education where she’s recently written about public health education programs along with a piece on appraiser & assessor jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and working with origami.

New Update in Google Android

Google has always been among the top companies in the world that has come up with various innovative and productive products. In 2010, Google launched their new product known as Google Translate. This product is certainly the best product on the web when it comes to translating texts of different languages. Google Translate can handle machine translation and romanization of non-Roman scripts without any problems and it helps a lot of people to understand scripts that are difficult to understand. The best thing about Google Translate was that you can use it on your Android and use voice capabilities like speaking the word or a phrase that you want to translate rather than typing it. It would also allow you to translate SMS sent to you in foreign languages.

Google Translate for Android

However, in 2011 Google has decided to upgrade Google Translate for Android market and they have really simplified the product further. If we take a quick look at some of the best changes that are made in the new Google Translate there is a dropdown box that helps users to select languages that they want to translate text from and into. This makes it easier for the users to handle the software the way they want it. Google has also tried to improve the layout by adding cleaner layout and bigger icons for better overall presentation.

The Conversation Mode is certainly the most innovative feature of the new Google Translate as it allows you to have a personal translator in your mobile phone. You can start talking in English with your Conversation Mode on and the software will translate all your words into another foreign language and speak it out loud.

Similarly, when the other person speaks in foreign language, Google Translate will translate that and read it out to you in English. However, this mode is still under testing and therefore currently you can only translate between English and Spanish. On the other hand, factors like background noise and regional accents can ruin the entire translation process and Google is working on it. The earlier Google Translate software is used in more than 150 countries and supports 53 different languages.

 

What can IT asset management do for you?

The fast-moving nature of the world of technology means it can be easy to get left behind, but this is not something many modern businesses can afford to do.
Not every innovation will catch on and a cautious approach to the purchase of equipment will sometimes prevent you from being sold a non-starter. However, the way the modern world of commerce works means you will usually need at least basic IT capabilities to succeed in any sector, so the notion of keeping up with the latest developments becomes relevant for everyone.
Let’s assume you are somewhere in the middle of the IT spectrum; you do not have a multi-national network of computers and mobile devices to deal with, but you are also not just maintaining one desktop PC on a farm. You might have a collection of computers linked up in an office and a few laptops with remote access capability.
In this situation, you will probably consider yourself to have a fairly manageable portfolio of IT, yet even at this level it may be worthwhile to use IT asset management tools. It means you can let someone else worry about the life cycles of your equipment; perhaps when replacements are required, or the ongoing costs involved.
The process is not restricted to hardware either, with elements of software able to be introduced into calculations. While some details such as the renewal date of a piece of software may be simple, it is the sort of task that can slip between the gaps in a business’s operations.
Of course, all of these issues are exponentially more difficult as the size of the company increases, making such software hugely useful for firms that have several offices. The beauty of arranging for this type of responsibility to be simplified externally is that it gives you and the rest of your team more time to carry out projects focused on growing your firm.

Illuminated Kindle e-readers could arrive this year, also, might not

Rumors relating to a new Kindle, or three, land in our inbox with surprising frequency, but when they come from our brethren at TechCrunch, we'll definitely give it a listen. Devin Coldewey reports how he was lucky enough to snatch a glance at an in-development Kindle, which sports an illuminated screen. Amazon's purchase of Finnish firm Oy Modilis, which has a quiver of patents pertaining to lighting technology, adds credence to the idea that an e-reader with some form of lighting could be in the works, and Coldewey thinks he's seen it. He says tapping the screen reveals a slider that, when dragged to the right, "lit up evenly with a rather cool light." Importantly -- for eyes and batteries alike -- the light is said to be softer, and of a gentler blue-white color, compared to the harsh white common in LCDs. The loose-lipped wielder of this device claims that the industrial design isn't finished yet, but did hint at a 2012 release. We're not holding our breath, but the chance to do away with additional light accessories, is definitely enough to have us keep our fingers crossed.

VisiJax turns you into one big bicycle warning system

Anyone who's ever done any bike riding in a big city knows that it's one of the more harrowing experiences of modern society. So, why not protect yourself as much as humanly possible? The VisiJax electronic cycling jacket seems like a pretty solid start. The neon-colored waterproof windbreaker features some 23 LEDs worth of butt-saving protection, with white lights on the front and red on the rear. The iMASS active signaling system, meanwhile, detects when the cyclist lifts his or her arm and triggers the corresponding turn signal. The jacket runs on three AAA batteries, which should give you around 200 hours of use. You can pick one up now in the UK for £129 (or £149 after May 31st).

Reported Tegra 4 roadmap hints at LTE, Q1 2013 release

Time to put on our "skepticles" as we pore over some reportedly leaked Tegra 4 details. NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang went on record saying that we could expect a new Tegra "every single year", so if anything, the fourth iteration of the series is slightly overdue. Chinese site VR-Zone, however, thinks it's got the inside skinny on how the next deployment might look. If its alleged roadmap leaks are to be believed, there will be four variants, three with a quad-core ARM Cortex A15 configuration, with clock speeds from 1.2 to 2.0GHz. What caught our eye a little more, though, was the "SP3X" flavor. Not because it favors the A9, but because it appears to bring LTE to the table right off the bat. That said, given that it's not that long since NVIDIA announced the same for Tegra 3, we can't help but wonder if something just got lost in translation.

Universal Studios' films now available on iCloud, Fox still grounded

Back in early March, it became clear that content from Fox and Universal Studios would be held back from being available in the all-encompassing iCloud, presumably due to the HBO release window stranglehold impacting both libraries. Today, however, the tides of change are having an impact of their own. Mac Rumors is reporting that Universal titles no longer boast the unfortunate warning that they used to, allowing iTunes users to enjoy titles from iTunes in the Cloud. Regrettably, Fox titles still exhibit the hold back, but we're told that negotiations are ongoing to remedy that. So, movie plans back on for this evening?

Tweetbot for iOS updated with iCloud syncing of timelines and more across devices

Nearly a year after it debuted and caught our eye as an incredibly well structured Twitter client for the iPhone, Tweetbot's latest revision uses Apple's cloud servers to sync the experience instead of just content. Version 2.2's iCloud based syncing of account settings, timeline position, DMs and Mute filters lets those deep in the iLife go from iPhone to iPad or vice versa without missing a beat. The only possible fly in the ointment? The tablet and phone version are still separate apps that cost $2.99 each, but satisfied customers who have already ponied up can start enjoying their seamless transitions as soon as they've updated.

Ask Engadget: best NYC wireless carrier?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from is from Is from MigFig who's relocating to the five boroughs and is worried about his cellphone service. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Hi guys, I'm moving to NYC next month and wanted to know if I should stick with Sprint or switch carriers. I'm aware Sprint's cheaper to AT&T and Verizon and I like unlimited plans. Thing is, coverage is spotty where I am right now, 3G is a joke (no 4G, either). Will this get better when I'm in the city or should I start shopping around for a new carrier? Thank you, Engadget!"

So, New York residing Engadgeteers, let's tear up the cellphone coverage maps and tell us which one you can really trust when you're wandering around mid-town. Chime in with your real-world experience down there in the comments section, where it's nice and warm.

Nokia takes over Times Square for Lumia 900 launch event (video)

We're still not exactly sure what Nicki Minaj has to do with Nokia's new Lumia 900, but the company put her at the center of its promotional efforts in a launch event Friday night that took over Times Square. Oh, you missed it? For just the visual effect of what went on, including CGI dancers on massive LED displays and coordinated effects on the tourist destination's many existing video boards (been there, done that) you can check out our gallery of pics from the event, or look below for the video. If you're all about the phones, Nokia is pushing its Windows Phone 7 flagship with new "the smartphone beta test is over" ads -- there's also one of those embedded after the break. So, is anyone concerned Nokia might not be doing enough to promote this new phone?

Max Payne to rampage on iOS April 12th, Android April 26th

Are you a smartphone user with an itchy trigger finger? Listen up. Rockstar Games has announced that the one and only Max Payne will begin terrorizing your iOS and Android devices in the very near future. The wares will be available for Apple-branded gear (iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S, along with the iPod touch 4 and all iPad iterations) on April 12th, and Google's implements two weeks later on the 26th. Max Payne Mobile is promising to deliver HD graphics, high resolution textures and exclusive content via the company's Social Club service to your miniaturized screen. Rockstar did not elaborate on which Android sets would be supported, but promised to publish a full list "in the coming weeks." Limber up those thumbs, charge up that handset and get ready to lay waste to... pretty much anything that moves.

Origin PC EON15-S and EON17-S gaming laptops available now, priced from $1,525

In the market for a beastly portable gaming rig that won't break the bank? Origin PC today announced availability of its EON15-S and EON17-S gaming laptops, with pricing starting at $1,525 and $1,576, respectively. You'll of course still be able to hand over an arm and a leg depending on how you opt to build out your system, but considering that the base model is priced at nearly half the amount its predecessor was when it was announced this time last year, we imagine additions will wield a softer blow than they did in 2011. Both systems include Intel HM77 Ivy Bridge chipsets, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M, 670M or 675M graphics with Optimus power-conservation technology, and a 5.1 ONKYO surround sound system. Both cases offer unique designs, with black, red, silver or custom finishes, and a colorful backlit keyboard. What else could you possibly need? Perhaps a press release and a few more pictures -- and we've got both for you right here.

Everything old is new again: NVIDIA rebrands Fermi-based GT 520 and 510 into 600-series

NVIDIA may have trotted out a brand new beast, ripe with fresh Kepler architecture, but that doesn't mean it put Fermi to bed. Allow us to introduce you to the GT 520 and the GT 510, or as they now prefer to be called, the GeForce GT 620 and GeForce 605, respectively. These OEM GPUs have traded half of their memory and a few clock speed tweaks for OpenGL 4.2 support and a low-end position in the firm's new 600-series. Despite their very Kepler-esque numbering (and NVIDIA's website placing them in the same "product family" as the flagship GTX 680), Tom's Hardware says the firm's Bryan Del Rizzo confirmed the 605 and 620 are Fermi-based graphics cards. Then again, not all cousins share the same surname. File this under "extended family" and call it a day.

Android Open Kang Project brings hyper-customization to your nav bar (video)

Still dallying at the corner of Custom ROM Road? Then maybe the forthcoming update from Team Kang (AOKP Build 30, no less) will entice you onwards. The preview clip after the break reveals a new level of freedom for the ICS navigation bar, including the ability to add up to five buttons, assign them to apps or actions as you wish, modify their icons and add separate long-press functions. It also gives you the ability to incorporate Nova Launcher actions into the bar, effectively bringing a whole extra layer of customization. Reactions over at RootzWiki range from "I'm crying, this is a beautiful moment" to "I just broke my hand punching a wall," but the latter dude admitted he'd been drinking.

Gates Foundation collaborates with Manchester University to develop potable toilet water

It's an unsettling thought, having to drink water from that bowl in your bathroom, but if the need ever arose, wouldn't you be glad to know it was clean and safe? Dr. Sarah Haigh, a researcher into the properties of nanomaterials at Manchester University, is currently pursuing this goal with a $100,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. With the help of nanomaterials and bacteria, Haigh believes that hydrogen can be easily extracted from not only the water, but human waste itself, which could then be processed into clean water. Should the system work effectively, Haigh stands to receive an additional $1,000,000 grant to further her research and develop inexpensive purification systems for use in nations without modern infrastructure. And you thought nothing worthwhile would come from purchasing Microsoft Office.

Microsoft discounts Xbox Live for Windows Phone games for Easter, offers iOS / Android prices

If your smartphone Sunday lacks the holiday flair you were hoping for, Microsoft is serving up a basket full of economically priced Easter eggs. Seven Xbox Live Windows Phone games have shed their premium pricing for the weekend, letting patient gamers pick up titles like Angry Birds and Max and the Magic Marker for the standard 99 cents. Other titles in the hitherto unannounced sale include Burn the Rope, Doodle God, Toy Soldiers: Boot Camp, IonBallEX and De Blob. Just in time for folks who need more than bunny-shaped GPS routes to celebrate Easter.

Switched On: Not weaned from Windows

This recent announcement that Dell would not be pursuing new smartphones for the time being following the retirement of its Venue Windows Phone devices raised the spotlight on PC companies -- at least those other than Apple -- and why they have struggled so mightily in the US smartphone market. Virtually every major PC company, including HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba and ASUS, has either passed completely on entering the domestic market or released only a handful of models without much carrier support behind them. HP, of course, made the largest investment in mobile with the purchase of an ailing developer of devices and operating systems. But even before that Palm slapped its forehead, HP had only casually flirted with smartphones, releasing a few token Windows Mobile smartphones.

PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps.

To be fair to these companies, the investment demands of the ultra-competitive smartphone market have proven formidable for many companies, including many, like Motorola, Nokia and RIM, that were once considered masters of the game. Even companies that have not seen such a prolonged decline, like HTC, can find the tables turned on them in the course of a financial quarter. But PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps.

The Channel

PCs are sold through many channels; two of the most important are big-box retailers, direct sales, and VARs. These channels are much less of a force in the smartphone market, where most of the distribution is through carrier stores and their agents. The flip side of this is that smartphone companies haven't done well in the tablet market in part because those products have been distributed through more PC-focused channels. PC makers are used to listening to the demands of enterprise customers and consumers in aggregate, but that's a far cry from customizing product for the demands of carriers.

The Chips

The PC chip market is essentially a duopoly of Intel and AMD, which limits PC OEM choice. In contrast, the smartphone market has a broader range of ARM licensees. Not only is there NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments to name three leaders, but a few major smartphone providers such as Apple and Samsung use their own ARM customizations. Such competition helps to create lower prices, but it also means more tradeoffs from which to choose and more optimizations to really take the best advantage of particular architecture.

The Chops

While fast compared to the consumer electronics sector, the PC market has longer product development times than the fiercely competitive smartphone market. And while being freed from Microsoft's dictatorial terms might have PC makers celebrating, the old cliché of freedom not being free applies. Google offers less support -- technologically and financially -- to most hardware developers than Microsoft offers to giant customers such as HP and Dell. Of course, one alternative is to build or acquire an alternative operating system. The former option, though, is extremely expensive and risky. And the latter didn't pan out well for HP.

Will the fortunes ever change for PC makers in the smartphone market? While Windows Phone may not be the same thing as Windows, Microsoft would be all too eager to see HP and Dell become high-volume shippers of these devices. As Windows 8 bears more in common with the Windows Phone user interface and creates other ties, PC makers gain more of an advantage than they've had in the past. Microsoft may need the likes of Nokia and Samsung to get the bandwagon rolling for Windows Phone, but it's the easiest one for PC makers to hop aboard if it can get rolling.

Refresh Roundup: week of April 2nd, 2012

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Official Android updates

• LG Optimus S: Sprint finally released its re-worked build of Gingerbread for the Optimus S this week. Along with the new version of Android, the update brings a handful of bug fixes that relate to charging the device, unmounting the microSD card and establishing a proper volume during phone calls. Hey, it's better late than never. [Android Central]
• Samsung Galaxy S II: Optus subscribers in Australia received the Ice Cream Sandwich update for their Galaxy S II handsets this week, which was made available via Samsung's Kies service. One proud user went so far as to make a video of the latest goodies. [Thanks, Nick] [YouTube]
• Samsung Nexus S: We understand the thrills of custom ROMs, but if you ever want to return your Nexus S to a stock build, a new round of updates from Google will help you do just that. The most noteworthy release is Android 4.0.4 (Build IMM76D) for the Nexus S GT-I9020A -- in other words, the model that supports AT&T's 3G bands. Likewise, it's released the recovery ROM of Android 2.3.7 (Build GWK74) for Nexus S 4G owners, along with Android 2.3.6 (Build GRK39F) for the Korean SHW-M200 variant. [Android Police]
• Samsung Galaxy M Style: Samsung delivered a firmware update via Kies this week that adds support for Face Unlock and brings a new photo editor. [Samsung Tomorrow (translated)]
• Samsung Conquer 4G: Want to remove Carrier IQ from your phone? Thanks to the latest "security fix" from Sprint, you can blast it to bits with a few easy clicks. This update will also remove several bundled live wallpapers. [Android Police]
• Samsung Galaxy Note: Last week, we reported that Bell Mobility would deliver the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy Note this month. Unfortunately, the Android 4.0 release has since been bumped to May. [MobileSyrup]
• Pantech Crossover: Gingerbread has finally arrived for this QWERTY slider. Unfortunately, the update isn't available over-the-air, and even worse, Mac users will need to seek out a friend with a PC to help with the install. The update is also said to resolve two known power management bugs. [Unwired View, Pantech]
• Samsung Infuse 4G: AT&T is giving another go at delivering Gingerbread for the Infuse 4G. While the update was first made available in January, it was subsequently pulled in February. Once again available via Samsung Kies, the refresh brings Android 2.3.6 to the table, adds an option for airplane mode to the notification window and delivers a new traffic widget. Also, Google Books has been added to the mix, and likewise, the bundled version of Angry Birds has been removed. [Android Central]
• Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket: AT&T resumed its delivery of Android 2.3.6 for the Skyrocket this week, after its previous attempt in February met with failure. [Thanks, Andrew] [Android Community]

Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery

• Android 4.0: Motorola's ICS launcher has leaked into the wild, and so long as you've got a rooted handset with Ice Cream Sandwich, you should be able to take it for a spin. [Android Community]
• HTC Rezound: A custom ROM has been released for the Rezound, complete with Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense 4.0. The only significant bug is its lack of Bluetooth support. So, if Sense 3.6 has left you less than satisfied, this could be a worthwhile project to follow. [Droid Life]

Philips' new ErgoSensor desktop display demands that you sit up straight

Remember those halcyon days when your mother would chide you to sit up straight should you ever start to slouch? Good news, desk jockeys, because Philips' ErgoSensor desktop monitor is here to stop your stooping now that mom's no longer around -- and it doesn't require you to wear some silly plastic pendant or occupy any of your USB real estate. The 24-inch, 250-nit, 1920 x 1080 display has a sensor in its bezel that watches you while you work, and warns you when your posture becomes poor or if you've been staring at the screen too long. It also informs users how to set up the monitor for optimal viewing distance and ergonomic position. Plus, it can tell when you're not around and shut the screen off to conserve power. We don't know how much money the monitor will cost or even when it'll be available to fix your poor sitting form, but we do know you can learn everything else about it at the source below.

Discuss testing for Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.8: Confluence and e-lists

Confluence spaces have been set up to support discussion among the Cornell IT community about testing, implementation,  and support status for Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion). In addition, an e-list has been created for Windows 8 and an existing list can be used for Mac OS X 10.8.
As a starting point, each Confluence space contains a list of services that were checked before the launch of previous versions of the operating systems, as well as some that should be tested this time. Please update these spaces with your test results.
The spaces can be accessed and edited by all Cornell Confluence users (NetID and password required).
Windows 8
The Windows 8 Confluence space is located at:
http://confluence.cornell.edu/display/win8/
The Windows 8 list is:
CU-Windows8-L
To join the list, email CU-Windows8-L-request@cornell.edu with this word in the Subject: Join
(leave the body of the message blank)
Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
The Mountain Lion Confluence space is located at:
https://confluence.cornell.edu/display/osxml/
The existing CU-Mac-L list will be used for discussions about Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion).
To join the list, email CU-Mac-L-request@cornell.edu with this word in the Subject: Join
(leave the body of the message blank)