Hasta La Gadget!

Google’s next reference smartphone is the subject of many rumors over the past few days, but only one stands out as not too outlandish. Phonearena reports that according to a source, the next Nexus could have Nikon camera technology on board, with a “triple sensor” array. The camera is being referred to as the “selling point” of the Nexus 5, the source claims.

The tipster in this case also cites more reasonable specs for the Nexus 5, including a 5-inch display capable of 1080p output, a Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM and 8/16GB storage options. There’s also a beefy 3140 mAh battery on board, which should outlast the current device depending on the power requirements of the display. These refute an earlier claim from AndroidandMe about a super-powered 5.2-inch LG device being next in line for the Nexus name, with a bizarre 3GB of RAM supposedly on board.

By contrast, the more recent Nexus 5 spec report makes much more sense in the context of how Google has iterated its flagship Android device in the past. And the Nikon camera tech also echoes an earlier statement from Google’s Vic Gundotra, who said on Google+ last month that Google is specifically “committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras,” teasing that consumers need only “wait and see” to realize the truth of that statement.

The one sour note on the otherwise impressive Nexus 4 from Google released last fall is the camera; reviewers mostly seem to rate it either adequate or sub-par compared to cameras in devices like the iPhone or Android handsets from other OEMs. Accordingly, it makes sense that Google would focus attention on improving the camera in the next Nexus, since that would provide good upgrade incentive for those following the brand, and also help Google better show off Android’s built-in camera features, which is one of the primary purposes of its line of Nexus reference hardware.

Google and Nikon have worked together in the past, including on the Nikon Coolpix S800c, which features an Android-based firmware. Google also acquired Nik software last year, makers of Snapseed, and a company Nikon had previously made a sizable investment in.

The sensor of the new camera will reportedly be a three-sensor affair, which sounds like it could resemble the tech used in HTC’s Ultrapixel or Sigma’s Foveon X3 sensors, by combining three sensor layers, each with a smaller megapixel count, to create a single higher resolution image with better color rendering and light capture. This is still very much a rumor, but it’s an interesting one and definitely seems to be in line with Google’s apparent goals for the Nexus line.

Google I/O registration begins tomorrow at exactly 7:00 AM PDT, so I hope you all have your alarms set, Google+ accounts registered, and Google Wallet information prepped to shell out $900 for a ticket ($300 for academic students and faculty). Yes, Google is requiring registrants to have a Google+ and Google Wallet account this time around, but I’m guessing most of the people attending already have both accounts set up (or at least one).

This years event is taking place one month earlier than last year, from May 15th to May 17th. If it’s anything like last year, tickets will sell out within the first 20-30 minutes, so this is one of those times where you have no time to contemplate spending $900, you just go ahead and do it. Rest assured that you will be more than compensated by the free Google swag that Google offers every year. I believe at last year’s event, all attendees received a Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, and a Nexus Q.

This year’s event will most likely be just as eventful as last years. Google should be announcing its latest update to the Android operating system, Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie and all of the new features it will bring. It will most likely show off its Project Glass again, and there may be a chance that the Motorola X-Phone will be unveiled. The company will most likely have several secrets that they will be revealing during the event as well.

The event will be held at the Moscone Center (West building) on 800 Howard St. San Francisco, CA 94103. Google I/O is always a highly anticipated event, and it’s one that you don’t want to miss. If you aren’t able to attend, either due to the location or because 6000 other people bought out all the tickets, you can get coverage from the event straight from us. SlashGear, like last year, will be covering the event live. Head to this link tomorrow to purchase your ticket.

[via Android Community]

PSA: Google I/O 2013 registration begins at 7AM is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

On Tuesday, we reported that the Ubuntu for tablets OS would be released for the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10, as well as the smartphone version for Nexus handsets, as a developer preview today. Canonical has officially announced its availability, saying that enthusiasts and developers alike can grab the source code now and get busy. The company stresses, however, that this is not something you’ll want to run on your daily device.

It stresses this point with bold text, stating that the Touch Developer Preview is meant for those who want to contribute to the platform and for those who want to test it out. Installing the Touch preview on the tablet you use on a daily basis will likely result in a lot of frustration and little else. If you’re sure you want to proceed, you can find everything you need here.

Public images are available for the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and the Nexus 10. After flashing the device, Canonical says to expect that you’ll have access to core and shell apps, wifi, functional cameras, connectivity via Android Developer Bridge, as well as GSM network connectivity and text/talk access for the two Nexus handsets.

Along with this is the release of the SDK, which now allows users to execute and deploy apps directly from the IDE. A shortcut (Ctrl+F12) has been added to make the transfer and execution of an app from Qt Creator easier, while all the complex aspects off the process is “hidden” from the dev. Those who want to grab the latest SDK can get it now from here.

[via Ubuntu]

Ubuntu Touch SDK Alpha and Developer Preview now available for Nexus devices is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Early last month, Canonical announced the Ubuntu OS for smartphones, which will be coming later this year in October as opposed to the initial timeline of a 2014 release. However, we still haven’t heard a word about a tablet OS until now. Canonical unveiled the tablet version of Ubuntu today during the same time as HTC’s event, and while the news might have gotten drowned out by the new HTC One smartphone, open-source fanatics are no doubt excited for a tablet version of Ubuntu.

We knew a Ubuntu tablet version would be coming, but it’s nice to finally see it in its official form, ready to be consumed by various tablets. In fact, the new OS will be available in a developer preview form for the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 this Thursday. This is the same day that Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 users will be able to grab the smartphone preview as well.

Just like the smartphone version, Ubuntu for tablets is optimized completely for touch, and it relies on screen-edge gestures for navigation rather than physical buttons. For the most part, everything looks to be the same, except for the obvious change in screen size when using the tablet version — the interface itself is pretty similar to the phone version.

Canonical moving towards smartphones and tablets is a big and bold move for the company, but it’s nothing too surprising, and frankly it was expected at some point, with more and more users switching over to tablets and smartphones for computing needs. While Ubuntu for mobile devices may not gain a ton of market share, we sure that open-source enthusiasts and computer geeks of all kinds will take advantage of the new OS on their smartphones and tablets soon.

Ubuntu for tablets unveiled, coming to Nexus devices this Thursday is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Right now, you can more or less say that Sony Mobile has the best working cameras on smartphones with the sensor that they use, although the folks over at Nokia also would want to put in their 2 cents’ worth. Well, it seems that future generations of Nexus smartphones and tablets from Google (under the pretense of the Internet search giant’s name, of course, where manufacturing will still take place at established hardware players’ factories) will arrive with “insanely great cameras”, according to Vic Gundotra, Google’s senior vice president of engineering.

Gundotra continued to say that they are “committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras. Just you wait and see.” Well, we are definitely waiting in patience, Gundotra, and would love to see it – so will you hurry up and make sure that we can get a closer look at these insanely great cameras sooner rather than later? One thing’s for sure, Google I/O would be a more likely platform for such cameras in Nexus devices to be unveiled rather than at MWC 2013 that is happening real soon. We’ll be at both events on the ground with our eyes peeled, so stay tuned!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Bill Gates Not Happy With Microsoft’s Mobile Phone Strategy, Samsung Galaxy S4 Launching With 5G Wifi [Rumor],