Nexus S Phone: A Comprehensive Guide

The Nexus S is a smartphone that was first released in 2010. It was the first Android smartphone to feature a curved design.

The Nexus S has a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, which is a high-quality screen that provides excellent color accuracy and a wide viewing angle. This display is perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.

One of the key features of the Nexus S is its 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, which provides fast performance and efficient battery life. This processor is a significant improvement over earlier Android smartphones.

The Nexus S has 16 GB of internal storage, which is more than enough for most users. However, it's worth noting that the phone does not have a microSD card slot, so you can't expand the storage capacity.

The Nexus S was first demonstrated by Google CEO Eric Schmidt on November 15, 2010, at the Web 2.0 Summit.

Google officially announced the phone on their blog on December 6, 2010.

The phone became available for purchase on December 16 in the United States and on December 22 in the United Kingdom.

Sprint introduced its Nexus S in the US in May 2011, running on its WiMax network and using CDMA instead of GSM.

In France, the Nexus S is available through SFR and Bouygues Telecom.

In India, Samsung officially announced sale of the unlocked version with Super AMOLED screen i9023, which will support all GSM-based carriers throughout the country.

The Nexus S became available in Canada at most carriers in April 2011 in two versions, one for Telus, Bell, and Rogers, and the other for Wind/Mobilicity/Vidéotron.

Vodafone released a white version of the phone on its web store in the UK in March 2011.

In Australia, the Nexus S became available in both black and white on Vodafone and its virtual provider Crazy John's.

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The Nexus S is a well-designed phone, with a sturdy yet light build. It's made of plastic, but it holds together nicely.

The phone's processor is a Samsung Exynos 3110, which combines a 1 GHz CPU core with a PowerVR SGX 540 GPU. This powerful combination makes it perfect for gaming.

The Nexus S has 512 MB of RAM, with 128 MB assigned to the GPU, leaving 384 MB free for the OS. This is paired with 16 GB of NAND memory, partitioned as 1 GB internal storage and 15 GB "USB storage". The phone does not support additional storage capacity such as microSD.

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The Nexus S is incredibly light, yet it doesn't feel hollow like some other Android phones.

You can tell Google and Samsung spent their time designing this thing, as it's sturdy despite its plastic covering.

The phone is also surprisingly thin, making it easy to hold and carry around.

It's a design choice that pays off in terms of portability and convenience, allowing you to slip it into a pocket or purse without noticing it's there.

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The Nexus S has a processor that's a powerhouse in its own right. It's called the Samsung Exynos 3110, and it's a combination of a 45 nm 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 based CPU core and a PowerVR SGX 540 GPU.

This CPU core, code-named "Hummingbird", was co-developed by Samsung and Intrinsity. It's a 1 GHz processor, which is fast enough to handle all your phone's tasks with ease.

The GPU, designed by Imagination Technologies, is capable of up to 20 million triangles per second. That's a lot of graphics processing power, and it's what makes the Nexus S a great choice for gaming.

The Nexus S also has a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, which is the same one used in the Galaxy S. This processor is so fast that it can handle demanding tasks like gaming with ease.

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The Nexus S has 512 MB of RAM, specifically Mobile DDR, which is a type of memory optimized for mobile devices.

This amount of RAM is quite decent, and the phone's operating system has a significant chunk of it available, with 384 MB free for general use.

A notable portion of the RAM, 128 MB, is assigned to the phone's GPU, which is responsible for graphics rendering.

The Nexus S also has 16 GB of NAND memory, which is a type of non-volatile memory used in mobile devices.

This NAND memory is partitioned into two sections: 1 GB of internal storage and 15 GB of "USB storage".

The phone does not support additional storage capacity, such as microSD cards, which might be a limitation for some users.

Here's a quick summary of the Nexus S' memory specs:

The Nexus S has a 4.0-inch slightly curved glass touchscreen, described by Google as a "Contour Display".

This display is a Super AMOLED 800 x 480 WVGAPenTile matrix display manufactured by Samsung.

In some markets, a Super LCD is supplied instead of the Super AMOLED display.

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The screen resolution is 800x480 pixels, which amounts to 233 pixels per inch.

The curved screen is meant to feel comfortable against your face, and while it's not very noticeable, it does make the Nexus S more comfortable to chat on.

The call quality is also good, according to the article's tests.

The Nexus S is a device that offers users a high degree of freedom. It cannot be sim locked.

This means you can use the device with any carrier you choose. The bootloader on the Nexus S is also unlockable, allowing users to install custom ROMs.

Installing custom ROMs can be a great way to breathe new life into an old device, or to try out new features and functionality.

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The Nexus S shipped with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and was the first device to ship with the updated OS. This was a big deal at the time, and it marked a significant improvement over previous Android versions.

The Nexus S received Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on December 19, 2011, but the automatic update was suspended due to poor battery performance. This was a setback for users who were eagerly waiting for the update.

The UMTS/GSM variants were among the first to receive Android 4.0.4 in March 2012, and the Nexus S 4G (aka Samsung SPH-D720), I9020A, and M200 received the update a bit later. However, several devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S II, received updates before these variants.

The Nexus S was one of the first devices to receive an upgrade to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) on July 26, 2012, along with the Motorola Xoom and Galaxy Nexus. This update brought several new features and improvements to the device.

The last official OS released for the Nexus S was Android 4.1.2, which was released in October 2012. Unfortunately, the Nexus S was not updated to Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), but users can still install alternative software, such as Android 4.2.2-based ROMs.

Here's a list of some of the alternative software that can be installed on the Nexus S:

It's worth noting that the Nexus S is still supported by independent developers, and users can find various ROMs and software options online.

The Nexus S is unlocked right out of the box, so you can use it with any GSM carrier like T-Mobile or AT&T. This is especially great for travelers who can buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card and use it internationally.

The Nexus S supports NFC, which lets you do things like prompt a browser session by waving your phone near NFC-enabled stickers.

You can also make voice calls over the Internet using the SIP protocol, which is built into the phone. This means you can make VoIP calls without installing a separate app.

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The Nexus S is a great choice for travelers because it's unlocked right out of the box, allowing you to use any GSM carrier. This means you can easily switch between different carriers or use a pay-as-you-go SIM card when abroad.

You can use the Nexus S with GSM carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T, and it's also compatible with most international carriers that use GSM. This is a huge advantage for travelers who don't want to pay their home carrier's high international rates.

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The Nexus S has some really cool features, like NFC, which lets you do things like prompt a browser session by waving your phone near NFC-enabled stickers.

NFC is a wireless technology that's mostly big in Japan, but it's not likely to be used for things like paying for things on the London Tube anytime soon.

The Nexus S also has SIP, a protocol that lets you make voice calls over the Internet, also known as VoIP calls.

You can make calls over the Internet without installing a VoIP app from the Android Market, thanks to SIP being built into the Nexus S.

Setting up SIP can be a bit of a challenge, but it's free if you use a provider like Sipgate.

The call quality with SIP can be a bit poor, with plenty of delay, but it might not be a big deal if you don't pay for your data.

The Nexus S has a pleasingly black, monolithic appearance, which is a nice change from the chrome trim on the Galaxy S.

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The Nexus S received widespread critical acclaim from tech reviewers. Joshua Topolsky, writing for Engadget, praised the device's hardware and software, calling it the "best Android device available right now".

The Register gave the Nexus S an impressive 85% rating, describing it as a "cool, innovative device with an eye to snatch Apple's smartphone crown." This suggests that the device was seen as a strong competitor to Apple's products.

AnandTech praised the display, NFC tag reader, and Android Gingerbread operating system, but noted some limitations. The review mentioned the lack of 720p video recording, HSPA+ baseband, and external storage support.

TechRadar, on the other hand, praised the Nexus S for fixing the GPS problems experienced with the Samsung Galaxy S. This is a significant improvement, as users can now get a signal without any issues.

CNET's review was also enthusiastic, highlighting the display, operating system, and performance. However, they noted some drawbacks, including the lack of 720p video recording, HDMI output, and external (SD card) memory support.

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The Nexus S will be available from 20 December. It's great timing if you've been waiting for a new phone.

You can get it for free on a £35-a-month contract, which is a pretty sweet deal. I've seen some contracts that are way pricier than that.

Alternatively, you can buy it outright for £550 without a contract. This option might be better if you're on a tight budget or want more flexibility.

Either way, the phone will come unlocked, so you can use it on any network you prefer. This is a big advantage over some other phones on the market.

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