Guest Post: Features of the New Google Nexus S

By now you have probably heard that Google has a new Nexus one coming out very soon called the Nexus S. Google brags that the Nexus is Android Unfiltered. This means no 3rd party vendors have fancied it up to fit their phones. It is pure Android. And the specs on the phone do make on (yes me) want it. Don’t worry… no more new Android phones for me for a while. 🙂

Those who are fed up with the restrictions of the iPhone (largely attributed to AT&T’s substandard service) and Blackberry (limited functionality) may have found a new smartphone to champion with Google’s relatively recent explosion into the mobile device market.  And if you’re looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest, then you definitely need to check out the newest addition to the roster of Google-friendly phones: the Samsung Nexus S.  This handheld phone looks much like others in its class, with a handset that is easy to hold and a fully functional touchscreen.  But when it comes to up-to-date functionality and features, the latest phone to run Android software is at the head of the pack.

This is actually the first phone on the market to include Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, which Google is currently implementing for use in their new location-based marketing platform known as Hotspot.  This app will allow users to access information simply by being in proximity to an NFC device.  In the case of Hotspot, which has ratings and reviews for local businesses, shops will display a sticker that, when touched with an NFC-compatible mobile device, will bring up information about the location.  That is some very user-friendly technology that is likely to spread quickly to other types of applications.

But aside from the exciting new tech, this phone will also run the latest version of Android, called Gingerbread (and it will be the first phone to do so).  NFC is just one of the many new features provided by this interface.  It will beef up existing consumer faves like the Wi-Fi hotspot and multi-tasking functionality, as well as providing a new and improved virtual keypad that apparently makes typing faster and more accurate, and an easier-to-read display.  The copy-and-paste feature has also undergone improvements, and you will have access to VoIP/SIP support that allows you to communicate directly (without the need for third-party apps), saving you time and money.

Amongst other features, you will likely enjoy the inclusion of a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor (along with 16GB of memory) that will practically have you tweeting, texting, and surfing the web at the speed of light.  Pages will populate faster, you will be able to open multiple tabs with less loss of speed, and a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) will definitely be well received by those who are interested in a gaming with their mobile device.  You will also have access to Android’s many apps (including 3D maps that will ensure you find what you’re looking for) as well as rear- and front-facing cameras, a contour display (apparently clearer than standard LCDs), and a Voice Actions program that is fairly comprehensive (for those who prefer hands-free functionality).

In short, this is one fantastic phone.  Although it does have a number of features that are readily available on other smart phones, this may be the best option on the market today with a sensible integration of parts and programs as well as some truly unique and forward-thinking innovations.  So if you’re looking for a phone that will carry you over the next technological leap, you may want to pass over the iPhone and go for the Nexus S.  It’s beginning to look like tomorrow’s phone, today.

Sarah Danielson writes for All Area Codes where you can easily locate area codes for all cities and states and even perform a reverse phone search.