GalaxyNexus
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Galaxy Nexus coming to Sprint's LTE network? This ad says so.
See that? That's a Galaxy Nexus... for Sprint. The Android 4.0 handset -- only available in an unlocked HSPA+ form and on Verizon Wireless' airwaves today -- is currently being pimped in an official Sprint ad over on CNET, and it's probably no coincidence that it's live just moments after CEO Dan Hesse talked up the carrier's first LTE markets. Crazily enough, we had a similar situation a few years back at CES, where the Palm Pre actually emerged here on our own ads prior to the handset being properly revealed. We've reached out to Sprint and will be updating this post as we learn more, but here's what's true should the ad prove legitimate: We're looking at a familiar 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, Android 4.0, a 1080p movie mode, front and rear cameras, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. For those keeping count, that's 300MHz more powerful than the 1.2GHz chip in the HSPA+ and VZW models. If you're going to launch an LTE network, might as well snag a phone like this, right? Maybe. What's strange is that the first LTE markets for Sprint won't light up until the middle of the year, at which point the device beaming above will likely be old news. Beyond that, there's the question of Sprint's unlimited stance -- the operator's been holding firm to date, but it'll surely become harder to justify a "truly unlimited" option when its smartphone base starts flocking to handsets like these. Update: Not surprisingly, the ad has been yanked. The cat, as they say, remains "out of the bag." [Thanks, James]
CyanogenMod 9 may feature a 4G LTE toggle switch for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus
We were slightly disappointed when we discovered the Verizon-branded Samsung Galaxy Nexus didn't come with an easily-accessible LTE toggle switch, but we had a feeling it wouldn't be long before the development community came in with an acceptable solution. Thanks to Gregory Sarrica, we may be seeing a fast toggle button for the next-gen internet connectivity included in a future build of CyanogenMod 9. According to Gregory, it's getting tested right now and still needs to be reviewed before it gets accepted into the build, but he hopes it'll show up in builds as early as next week. There's no guarantees yet, of course, but he's provided us with video evidence of the new functionality to whet our appetites for now.[Thanks, @gsarrica]
Switched On: The 2011 Switchies
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. It's that special time of year between the post-holiday sales and the pre-CES hype that presents an opportunity to consider some of the most innovative devices of the year. Switched On is proud to present the Saluting Wares Improving Technology's Contribution to Humanity awards, also known as The Switchies. This year marks the sixth annual Switchies, which are decided based on a rigorous examination of the opinion of me, and do not reflect the opinion of Engadget or its editors. For that latter honor, nominees will need to win an Engadget Award. Let's roll out the red carpet then.
GTA III goes on sale for the holidays, brings violence and cheer to Galaxy Nexus owners
A classic title like Grand Theft Auto III isn't exactly at hard sell at $5 on your smartphone or tablet -- at $3 you're almost a fool not to snatch it up. Perhaps more importantly though, Rockstar has expanded support for the crime adventure to a trio of Android handsets -- the Droid Bionic, Galaxy S II and, the phone of the moment, the Galaxy Nexus. While the white list only gains three new devices right now, there's potential to add more handsets down the line. The game is finally optimized for use with PowerVR GPUs, which are found in any phone running an OMAP or Exynos processor. So, what are you waiting for? Hit up the market now to get your dose of violence, mayhem and hall of fame gaming.
Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, courtesy of Appitalism!
Get drooling, gadget fans, because Day Four of our weeklong Holiday Blues-buster giveaway is upon us -- and if none of the other items get your heart pumping this week, this one will. At stake here is a freshly-minted Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE, thanks to the folks at Appitalism (the mobile app superstore)! We hear these little pocket calculators are pretty hard to come by right now, and we imagine you won't hesitate to jump at the chance to win one, so jump past the break to see all the rules and leave a comment! Oh, and as a nice little bonus, Appitalism is also adding a pair of Beats over-the-ear headphones (a $300 value) to sweeten the deal even more, just in case the Galaxy Nexus doesn't have enough sugar for you. Good luck!
Verizon sidesteps Galaxy Nexus antennagate, claims signal indicator is to blame
This is just hilarious. Remember when Verizon Wireless stated rather unequivocally that its Galaxy Nexus suffered from a "signal strength issue" and that a fix was coming? Worry not, dear readers, because the company now claims that it's identified the issue: apparently, there's really no problem at all. According to Big Red, the Galaxy Nexus doesn't suffer from poor reception, but simply reports its reception poorly. To resolve these 'perception' issues, the carrier states that it will deliver a software update that "will adjust the signal strength indicator to more closely match other Verizon Wireless devices." So, whether or not there really is a problem with the Galaxy Nexus (LTE), one thing is for certain -- very soon, its owners will have more bars to look at. Huzzah, indeed?
Nexus ninjas return in retro game, give you the skills to perform your own epic unboxing
Tiny box destroying shinobi? Old hat. Fourth wall obliterating martial masters? Passe. The future of ninjitsu based phone unboxings will be found in the past: Google's gone 8-bit. Continuing in its tradition of out doing every possible Nexus unboxing the internet could ever hope to bear, El Goog has crafted a retro beat-'em-up game that puts you in the Nexus ninja's mask. Your mission? Secure and unbox the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The game is playable directly on YouTube, but is also available in the Android Market under the title Clash of The Nexus Ninjas -- in case you've already performed your own unboxing. If you haven't? Hit the source link below to begin your training.
Thoughts on an LTE iPhone
A lot of Apple fans are sure that the next iPhone will support the true 4G LTE networks now being deployed by major cellular carriers. Apple has repeatedly said that the iPhone will get LTE when battery life is not an issue, but the Houston Chronicle's Dwight Silverman notes that if the 4G Android devices hitting the market are any indication, that could be a while. How bad is that battery life? Bad enough that in Engadget's testing of the device, they noted "Using Google Navigation with LTE enabled? The battery drained so fast our in-car charger couldn't keep up, leaving us unsure of which exit to take off the 101." Other LTE devices also seem to have similar issues, so it's not just the Galaxy Nexus to blame. Sure, the speeds that LTE networks provide are tempting. Silverman's own testing in the Houston, Texas area shows broadband-like download speeds in the range of 30 - 45 Mbps (Megabits per second), while uploads are commonly in the 15-16 Mbps range. But when streaming a Netflix movie draws down the battery by 50 percent in 30 minutes, it's obvious that those speeds come at a price. Silverman notes that he's "not optimistic" that Apple could get iPhone 4 / 4S-like battery life, even with newer-generation chipsets and an operating system tuned for battery longevity. He also hopes "that any LTE phone Apple offers will come with a setting that turns it off and allows users to drop back to 3G when battery life is more important than raw speed." What do you think? Would you be willing to trade battery life for raw speed? Leave your comments below.
Verizon Galaxy Nexus car dock lacks three-pin connection of its HSPA twin, requires manual micro-USB connection
While Verizon customers are happily lording it over their HSPA-bound counterparts with those LTE speeds, they may be less happy to hear about the lower-grade car dock they've been saddled with. Setting you back $40, the dock is a protective bracket for your phone that attaches to your windscreen with a suction cup. However, the GSM version includes the Galaxy Nexus' three-pin contacts, with micro-USB and mic ports built into the dock, meaning there's no need to constantly plug and unplug -- unlike the US model. Take a judicious look at the two images above; on the right is the predominantly hollow Verizon-branded car dock, while the similarly-shaped (but internally different) dock on the left is the UK's official Galaxy Nexus version. Why the difference? It's a transatlantic mystery to us. [Thanks Brian]
Verizon confirms Galaxy Nexus 'signal strength issue,' says a fix is in the works
Well, there's good news and bad. Per usual, we'll kick it off with the latter. The LTEified version of the Galaxy Nexus has signal problems. Or, more specifically, a "signal strength issue." According to Verizon Wireless' Support account on Twitter, the issue is currently being investigated, and while there's no ETA at the moment, a software update is "being developed" to remedy it. We haven't seen a flood of gripes regarding the call quality (or lack thereof) with this particular handset, but it's not exactly uncommon for carriers to work on these types of things soon after a hero device hits the masses. Naturally, we'll keep you abreast of any release details.
Galaxy Nexus gets unofficial Google Wallet, leaves rooters feeling flush (update: now root-free)
While it may have arrived with the Nexus name, Google's latest flagship has appeared without Wallet functionality, despite the inclusion of NFC hardware. Fortunately, it hasn't taken long for a few eager Android tinkerers to get it working on the LTE model. There's still a few hiccups and bugs and the phone needs to be rooted and unlocked, so consider yourself forewarned: you're on your own if it bricks. Still, it works -- user Mike Beauchamp was able to add extra funds to his account and make his first NFC McDonalds purchase. His video demonstration awaits after the break, Nexus-toting risk-takers can find a full step-by-step guide at the Google Plus link below. Update: We talked too soon. Those that fear the uncertain future of a rooted handset now have a workaround. An APK is now up for grabs at XDA-Developers that will furnish your new favorite smartphone with Google Wallet goodness, hack-free. Non-US residents, however, still appear to be locked out from adding funds to their account. Let us know how it goes in the comments below. [Thanks all]
Galaxy Nexus users reporting touchscreen trouble, lower scores in multitouch games (video)
Looks like the honeymoon is ending a little early for some Galaxy Nexus users -- a pair of RootzWiki threads say that the device is struggling to maintain multitouch in some situations. Apparently the bug is repeatable, booting up a multitouch game like Gun Brothers or Shadow Gun will put the lower right hand portion of the smartphone's touchscreen in a finicky mood. We gave the glitch a go on a couple of different handsets, and were indeed thwarted by the touchscreen's tantrum. Turning the Nexus' screen on and off seems to fix the problem -- at least until you jump into your next game -- and the bug only seems to appear when the device is in landscape mode. This is likely a software bug, but until it's fixed, we'll just have to take it one touch at a time. Don't have a Nexus? See the glitch in action after the break. [Thanks, Jim]
GSM Galaxy Nexus 4.0.2 update rolls out, matches its cousin on Verizon
After the Verizon LTE Galaxy Nexus finally appeared and was (almost) immediately updated yesterday, it enjoyed the briefest of possible periods as the highest official Android version available. Now, owners of GSM-equipped Galaxy Nexus phones are getting the same bundle of tweaks shoved their way in a quick 8.7MB download. Of course, even these pure(r) Nexus phones are still slightly behind the bleeding edge represented by v4.0.3, which was unveiled earlier today and almost simultaneously made available on the Nexus S -- isn't Android great?
Swype won't initially be available on Ice Cream Sandwich, but it's in the works
Swipers won't be swiping on Ice Cream Sandwich... at least, not for a while. Swype tweeted the above message, indicating that the third-party keyboard company has its work cut out for it. It appears that Android changed things up this time around, including the way it reports screen resolution -- a crucial element to a keyboard, which naturally would cause a company like Swype a little bit of grief. No timeframe for availability has been set, but don't panic if you have to stick with the stock 'board on your brand new Galaxy Nexus for a spell.
Verizon Galaxy Nexus review
It's the Galaxy Nexus. It has LTE. It's the phone we've been waiting (and waiting) for. Sure, some of our more globe-trotting members of the staff were suitably sated by the HSPA+ version that shipped a few weeks ago, but the rest of us domestic types simply need more bandwidth. Or, at least, we like to think that we do, and this $300 (on-contract) Verizon release certainly has that in spades.However, there's something missing: Google Wallet. That company's attempt at reinventing commerce isn't here and, while nobody's saying for sure, it surely has something to do with Verizon not wanting to kneecap the Isis payment service it has invested in. That leaves us wondering: with restrictions on what apps can be installed, and some rather prominent carrier branding on the back, is this really a Nexus device at all? And, more importantly, is it a good phone? Those answers and more wait for you below.%Gallery-142006%
Verizon Galaxy Nexus factory images released, modders can start modding (updated)
Eager to start tinkering with your brand new Verizon Galaxy Nexus but worried you'll be stuck with a brick if something goes wrong? Then you can now rest a bit easier, as Google Software Engineer Jean-Baptiste Queru has kindly released the official factory images for the phone so you can fall back to something stable. That's specifically the original ITL41D images, not the newer ICL53F version that was released earlier today, although we doubt that little fact will hold up anyone from diving right in. Those ready to do so can find the download at the source link below.Update: And just like that, Google's released the ICL53F factory images. You can go ahead and grab them at the source now.
Galaxy Nexus for Verizon LTE unboxing and speed test (video)
After weeks of waiting, rumoured launches and even a few accidental sales, the elusive Verizon Wireless Galaxy Nexus is finally here. We dropped by a New York City retail store to try out Google's first Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone in the flesh, before bringing one home for a proper unboxing and LTE performance test. As expected, the production version that we finally got our hands on today is virtually identical to the sample that popped up at the Samsung Experience earlier this month, but with one major exception: there's a Micro SIM installed, letting us try out core functionality, such as placing phone calls and accessing data without a WiFi network in range.The Verizon Nexus arrived with Android 4.0.1 pre-installed, but prompted us to update to 4.0.2 just a few minutes after we added a Google account. It is noticeably thicker and heavier than its HSPA+ counterpart, but this thing is fast when it comes to transfer speeds -- not quite as speedy as we've seen with some LTE devices on AT&T's budding 4G network, but it's definitely in line with competing handsets from Verizon, and the MiFi we used for a comparison speed test. Our salesperson wasn't willing to let us leave without first confirming that the phone was in fact working, so he had the honor of first peeling back the phone's plastic cover. Ready to check it out? Roll up your sleeves and join us after the break for our unboxing and speed test.%Gallery-141918%%Gallery-141932%
PSA: Verizon's Galaxy Nexus getting Android 4.0.2 update today
Big Red confirmed as much in yesterday's under-the-radar announcement, but we're now receiving reports that some users are being prompted to update their LTE-enabled Galaxy Nexus to Android 4.0.2. It's taking around two to three hours after activation for the update to hit, with ICL53F bringing an optimized mobile hotspot when used with VPN, a few notification fixes and visual improvements to the lock screen. It'll also now automatically reconnect to known WiFi access points, and those wonky email attachment issues that a few folks were having are gone. Oddly, DivX support has actually been yanked, though the company promises to support it "in a future upgrade" -- we're guessing the support that was baked in simply had too many issues to go to market with. It weighs in at 10.7MB; let us know how your installation goes in comments below.
Poll: Are you getting a Verizon Galaxy Nexus?
A Nexus phone on Verizon? We've heard that one before and it didn't end too well. Yet somehow, after all these years, Google's pure Android juggernaut has finally managed to broach the Big Red velvet rope, landing its LTE innards online and in-stores for over-eager mobile diehards today. But this much-anticipated Ice Cream Sandwich flagship launch hasn't been without its hiccups, delays and disappointments (backplate branding and bloatware, anyone?). So, the burning question we have to ask is: Will you or won't you? Hop on past the break to toss in your two cents. Sound off. 1, 2...
Google outs two new Galaxy Nexus commercials, touts Face Unlock and Hangouts (video)
Go figure -- it's Galaxy Nexus day. Again. And as such, Google has just pushed out two new commercials in its "Calling all..." series. The new spots tout the new smartphone's Face Unlock feature as well as Google+ Hangouts, where Ice Cream Sandwich is proudly showcased. We'd bother explaining more, but we're pretty sure the two play buttons after the break are more than sufficient.
