Hasta La Gadget!

The Nexus 4G purportedly features a dual-core 1.2 GHZ or 1.5GHz processor. The Nexus S, pictured, has a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor. Photo: Gizmodo

The details on Google’s next Nexus smartphone may have been revealed, and tipsters are saying the phone is an “absolute beast.”

Well-sourced mobile blog Boy Genius Report claims that the Nexus 4G, as it is currently being referred to, will house a faster dual-core CPU and run the next-generation Android operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Tipsters also told BGR that the handset would include a 1.2-GHz or 1.5-GHz Snapdragon processor and sport a ”monster-sized” 720p high-definition touchscreen display with no buttons. A button-free display would be a major change, because most current Android handsets, including the Nexus S, have four menu buttons (menu, home, back and search) located below the screen.

If BGR’s sources are correct, the Nexus 4G would be a significant step up from Google’s current flagship phone, the Samsung-built 3G Nexus S, which sports a 1-Ghz Hummingbird processor and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. A 4G Sprint version of the Nexus S with very similar hardware specs (1-GHz Hummingbird processor, 16 GB of internal storage and NFC capabilities) began shipping in April.

The Nexus 4G sounds right on trend: At CES this year, we saw a smorgasbord of dual-core smartphones hit the stage, and many of the devices, like Samsung’s Galaxy S II have started dropping with 1.2-GHz processor speeds. Like most Android-powered phones, the Nexus 4G appears to make a big push on the newest, muscular hardware features to compete with Apple’s iPhone, which gets upgraded only once a year.

Other purportedly leaked specs on the Nexus 4G include a 1-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 1080p HD video capture. The rear camera will utilize an advanced sensor for “class-leading image quality” and good performance in low-light scenarios, according to BGR.

The Nexus 4G looks like it could be the first smartphone to run Google’s newest OS, dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich meshes a number of features from Android 2.3 Gingerbread with ones that were previously exclusive to the tablet-only Honeycomb, such as a holographic user interface, multitasking, and the ability to connect with USB devices like an Xbox controller. It’ll debut in the fourth quarter of 2011, so that’s probably the earliest we would see the Nexus 4G potentially being released.

Perhaps, as with Android 2.3 Gingerbread’s debut, both the OS and the smartphone will be officially unveiled at the same event. Reports peg the release around Thanksgiving.

No carrier information was leaked, leading to speculation that the Nexus 4G could be one of the first AT&T 4G LTE smartphones. Or maybe Google just hasn’t hammered out an exact carrier deal yet.

See Also:

• Google’s Nexus S Goes on Sale With ‘Half-Assed’ Strategy
• Here’s the Google Phone Apple Wants You to Have

Oh, we’ve been fairly certain for a while now that we’d see the sexy Samsung Galaxy S II saunter on over to AT&T, but now we’ve attained what appears to be the first official photo of the handset. Samsung’s Singapore division has a series of professional shots of planned accessories, including this “Samsung Galaxy S II Desktop Dock,” a handsome pyramid stand sporting HDMI and 3.5mm stereo-out jacks — and of course, an AT&T logo on its comfortably cradled smartphone. We’re still not quite sure when Samsung’s flagship will hit the US, but it had better get a move on — we’re slated to see a Galaxy S III by this time next year, after all.

Update: We should probably note it looks like the Galaxy S II’s seen a bit of a makeover for AT&T, gaining the four familiar capacitive touch buttons and generally appearing more like the Infuse 4G.

[Thanks, Solomon T.]

Samsung Galaxy S II for AT&T ratted out by its own HDMI dock originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile might launch Samsung Exhibit 4G and Gravity Smart June 22nd? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here in the states, Sony’s 13-inch VAIO Z series has been missing from the company’s online store for months, but in Europe, at least, it lives on — a quartet of Z21 series laptops have surfaced on various e-tailers as the possible successor to last year’s Z11. So far, we’re seeing a pair of configurations with a Core i5-2410M processor and 128GB of solid-state storage and two more with a Core i7-2620M CPU and 256GB in storage. Judging by this sample, at least, 1600 x 900 resolution is standard, as is a backlit keyboard, 3G SIM card slot, fingerprint reader, 3D output, and an HD webcam with Sony’s Exmor imaging technology. Alas, the available specs suggest Thunderbolt’s a no-show, though rumor has it Sony’s implementation of Intel’s Light Peak technology will use USB connectors, of which this has three. Here’s to wishful thinking, right?

The peculiar thing is, you can’t actually buy it yet. F2F lists staggering prices ranging from €1,809 ($2,642) to €2,839 ($4,146), though it’s not, in fact, available. Meanwhile, search results turn up mentions on staticICE UK and Belgium’s Execute, but they’ve been scrubbed from the actual pages. So, it looks like it’s up to Sony to announce this already — and dish up some pictures while it’s at it.

[Thanks, Ihor]

Sony VAIO Z21 Series mentioned on various European sites, isn’t actually for sale yet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We didn’t know it was possible, but Mr. Blurrycam just got out-Blurrycam’d. After getting some quality hands-on time with the FCC this week, the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide had a brief photo shoot showing off a few of its assets. The images, provided by one of BGR’s sources, give us a brief look at the device’s keyboard and some of its software specs. The myTouch 4G Slide appears to be running Android 2.3.4 — the same version of Gingerbread found on the Nexus S — and the latest iteration of HTC Sense UI. This source also confirmed an 8 megapixel camera and teased that the phone runs “as smoothly as the HTC Sensation” and the screen “isn’t much to write home about.” We hear that the myTouch 4G Slide is penciled in for the first half of July, and looks to be a mighty fine QWERTY-slide option within T-Mobile’s Android stable. Or, as good as one can look given the circumstances.

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide gets pictured with Gingerbread, may debut next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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