It’s become apparent today that the teams working with Google for the last couple of Nexus devices – the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 – may very well have wanted the device(s) to be called something else entirely. While back before the Nexus 4 was revealed – all the way back in 2012 – when […]
With the Galaxy Nexus not receiving the official Android 4.4 KitKat update, we guess it’s safe to say that the Nexus S will not be receiving it either. However it looks like the hardworking Android developer community has figured how to not only give the Galaxy Nexus an Android 4.4 KitKat ROM, but it seems that the Nexus S will also be receiving a custom Android 4.4 KitKat ROM which according to reports, is “running pretty fast”, but unfortunately we do not own a Nexus S so we are unable to prove those claims.
The ROM is developed by XDA member, cn.fyodor and as it stands, the ROM is an alpha build meaning that there is still a lot of the ROM that has yet to gain functionality or is still buggy. Some of the issues include how some Google apps aren’t working, but for those who aren’t too fussed, the ROM will still allow for calls to go through and web browsing amongst other features. For those who still own the Nexus S and are using it, if you’re interested you can hit up the XDA forums for the download. As always when installing custom ROMs and whatnot, make sure you know what you are doing before proceeding, and always make sure to back up your device before doing so.
Nexus S Gets A Custom Android 4.4 KitKat ROM Of Its Own original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Good news Nexus S owners, if you’re looking for a rather interesting port for your handset, it seems that thanks to XDA Senior Member, GalaxyUser, the Kindle Fire 8.9 port has made its way onto your device! This is a pretty interesting reversal as for the most port, Kindle Fire owners have turned to alternative ports, so having a tablet ROM ported onto a smartphone, well we expect that the experience should be an interesting one. We don’t have a Nexus S so we don’t know what the experience will be like, although it seems that at the moment, the port appears to be in its early stages which means that it probably isn’t a good idea for you to use it as a daily driver.
There are many features which aren’t working yet, such as the camera, Bluetooth, sound, SD card, calling and etc. However if you have an old Nexus S lying around and wouldn’t mind giving this port a spin, perhaps to help provide some feedback to the developer, you can check it out on the XDA forums, but keep in mind that you should probably proceed with caution and like its developer has stated, use it at your own risk!
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Ericsson seeks a US import ban on Samsung products, Gmail For Android Brings Swiping & Resizing Capabilities,
After its untimely demise, WebOS showed some resilience by coming back in open source form and popping up in various devices hither and yon. On the vanguard of that resurrection is Phoenix International Communications, a team of volunteers who’ve managed to port the orphaned OS to a Samsung Nexus S device, running as an app inside Android. So far, the reborn OS app is displaying decidedly zombie-like slowness, but it’s still an early pre-alpha build. If all goes well, you might one day be able to seamlessly switch between WebOS and Android without rebooting, letting you run apps from both systems. So, if you’ve been carrying a torch for the fallen system, check the video after the break.
Continue reading Phoenix project reincarnates WebOS as Nexus S app
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Via: Liliputing
Source: Phoenix (YouTube)
While we know that the Google Nexus S will stop at Android 4.1.2, here we are, marveling at the resilience of the human spirit as independent developers have begun work to port over Android 4.2 Jelly Bean to the Nexus S, never mind what official sources say or think. This happened shortly after Google made available the source code of Android 4.2 to the masses, and the Nexus S is not the only beneficiary from such an effort as the Acer Iconia Tab A500, an aging tablet, will also be on the receiving end of such generosity and passion by the developer community.
According to developer RandomBlame, the open source version of Android 4.2 has been ported over to run on the Iconia Tab A500. Just in case RandomBlame sounds familiar to you, that is because he is the very same developer who ported Android 4.1 to the Iconia Tab A500 tablet earlier this year as well. Right now, the port is not fully functional, as audio, Bluetooth, the camera, and the internal SD memory card remains as dead as a doornail.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean factory image for Nexus S and Nexus S 4G released,
One of the highlights of owning an official Google Nexus device is the fact that you will be on the receiving end of Android updates a lot faster than Android owners who might be locked to a carrier, or Android owners of non-Nexus devices. That being said, it looks like it might be time for the Nexus S to retire as according to Google, it looks like both the Nexus S handset and the Motorola Xoom tablet will not be receiving Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Instead owners of either device will be updated to Android 4.1.2 at most. We’re not sure if this will change in the future but for now, it looks like that is the case. However given the rather active Android community with tons of tutorials out there, we’re sure that Nexus S owners and Motorola Xoom owners will be able to find some custom ROM based on Android 4.2 for their devices. Even if they don’t, Android 4.1.2 is still pretty decent.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: OLPCs hacked by Ethiopian kids on their own in 5 months , Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S,
How was your week? We got to spend a couple of days trekking around the Carnegie Mellon campus in Pittsburgh, PA to check out some of the latest projects from the school’s world renowned Robotics Institute — a trip that culminated with the bi-annual induction ceremony from the CMU-sponsored Robot Hall of Fame. Given all the craziness of the past seven days, you might have missed some of the awesomeness, but fear not, we’ve got it all for you here in one handy place — plus a couple of videos from the trip that we haven’t shown you yet. Join us after the break to catch up.
Butlers, lunar rovers, snakes and airboats: the best of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The back and forth continues. US International Trade Commission Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender has made an initial ruling that some Samsung’s devices violate four Apple patents, including one iPhone design patent (the one you see above) and three software patents. Apple didn’t manage a clean sweep, as Samsung was cleared of treading on two more patents, but the verdict still carries the all-too-familiar potential for a trade ban if the ITC maintains the findings in its final review. It’s bleak news for the Korean company, which faced an initial loss to Apple at the ITC just last month — even though large swaths of the mostly Android-based Galaxy phones and tablets in the dispute have long since left the market, an upheld verdict gives Samsung one less bargaining chip in a protracted legal war.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Samsung
ITC rules that Samsung violates four Apple patents covering design, touch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Here’s another extremely cool offshoot of the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute. Platypus LLC build autonomous robotic airboats that can be deployed for a wide range of usages including environmental data and monitoring hard-to-reach spots after natural disasters like flooding. The hull of the boat looks a good deal like a boogie board, built from polyurethane. On top, you’ll find a propulsion fan assembly, just behind a hard plastic electronics compartment that houses internals like the Arduino board. That microcontroller communicates via Bluetooth with a smartphone that sits in the front of of the boat, safely cocooned inside an Otterbox case.
The models we saw this week were carrying Nexus S handsets — relatively cheap solutions bought second-hand off of eBay. Just about any Android phone should do the trick, but in the case of this project, where phones can get wrenched loose or just outright pilfered, cheaper is certainly better. Platypus’ proprietary app helps control the boat autonomously, using the handset’s camera to provide situational awareness. Sensors mounted on the boat, meanwhile, offer up information on oxygen and PH levels, temperature and more.
Continue reading Platypus airboats have a Nexus S for a brain, we go eyes-on (video)
Filed under: Cellphones, Robots, Science
Platypus airboats have a Nexus S for a brain, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google has not forgotten about all you Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S owners, as the Internet search giant has started to introduce the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for both devices. This particular update can be retrieved over the air, where it is said to deliver an improvement in terms of performance alongside added stability, not to mention the customary slew of bug fixes. Do take note, however, that the landscape home screen orientation which was introduced on the Nexus tablet has not been thrown into the mix for both Nexus smartphones.
At time of publishing, the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update is only available for GSM-based smartphones, so those who are rocking to a CDMA-based network will just have to exercise the virtue known as patience for a little while longer. The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update is done via OTA (Over The Air), so we would suggest you take the Wi-Fi route to get it all sorted out. Come on you non-Nexus devices, it should be your time soon!
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean factory image for Nexus S and Nexus S 4G released, Jelly Bean for Verizon Galaxy Nexus available (pre-release),
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