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Android 2.3 arrives on Google Nexus S

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By Nicole Kobie

Posted on 6 Dec 2010 at 16:48

The latest version of Google's Android mobile operating system has arrived, on the web giant's own handset.

Android 2.3, also known as Gingerbread, is running on the Nexus S handset. The SDK for the mobile OS has been made available for other developers too.

Gingerbread brings a new black-themed user interface, which Google promises is easier to use and more power efficient. The keyboard has been tweaked, with keys reshaped and repositioned to make typing easier, and copy and paste has arrived.

Android 2.3 also offers a Running tab, showing which applications are open, and will automatically shut down apps that aren't being used but are still guzzling battery power.

The new version also features built-in support for VoIP, near field communication and front-facing cameras, letting developers come up with apps using those technologies.

Nexus S

The Samsung-manufactured Nexus S features a Super AMOLED, 480 x 800, 4in screen - which of course is a capacitive touchscreen. Weighing in at 129g, it features 16GB of built-in memory and runs a 1Ghz Hummingbird processor.

"As part of the Nexus brand, Nexus S delivers what we call a 'pure Google' experience: unlocked, unfiltered access to the best Google mobile services and the latest and greatest Android releases and updates," vice-president of engineering Andy Rubin said in a post on the Google blog.

The Nexus S will be available in the UK on 20 December, unlocked from Carphone Warehouse or Best Buy for £549, or free on a £35 per month contract from an as yet unnamed operator.

Google's first phone, the Nexus One, was manufactured by HTC and went on sale earlier this year with lukewarm sales. Unlike the new version, it was sold directly from Google.

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User comments

MS Exchange Encryption support

Sad to see that 2.3 has been released without proper on-device encryption. This is a MAJOR problem for many potential corporate implementations.

See http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=
8686 for a flavour of how many companies are deciding not to support Google because of this - it's a shame that they haven't bothered even replying to the issues. Maybe PC Pro can get them to actually take a look? :-P

Alan

By alanjrobertson on 7 Dec 2010

Sounds like a market for an Android encription app then.

By Jaberwocky on 7 Dec 2010

No MicroSD??

Don't know what Google/Samsung are playing at here but there goes any chance of me getting this. Also, anyone else think stock Android it just fugly??

By EddyOS_2K9 on 7 Dec 2010

They seem to have changed the look of the UI quite a bit for 2.3, and I use Launcher Pro anyway. I am temped by this, mainly because you should be able to keep it up to date with new features as they're released. No micro SD is a shame though, but 16GB should be enough.

By jcraxton on 7 Dec 2010

Is the music player fixed?

This basic requirement (using music file tags for albums etc) for any phone yet alone a smart phone was broken with a 2.2 update, so is it now fixed. So far, comments have fallen on death ears!

see: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=
10957

Very poor.

By aks100 on 19 Dec 2010