Mobile Computing | News
Google To Launch Nexus 4, Nexus 10 with Android 4.2
Google will release the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and an updated version of the Nexus 7 November 13. All three devices will run on Android 4.2, the release of which was also announced today.
Designed in collaboration with LG, the Nexus 4 features a 4.7-inch 1,280 x 768 touch screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, and 2 GB of RAM.
The newest Google smartphone also sports wireless charging, an 8-megapixel main camera and a 1.3-MP front facing camera, GSM/HSPA+ compatibility, and near field communication connectivity (NFC or Android Beam), which allows users to share media and information by touching the backs of their devices together.
The unlocked phone, which will be available through the Google Play store, will come in 8-GB and 16-GB versions for $299 and $349, respectively. T-Mobile will also be selling the 16 GB phones for $199 with a 2-year contract.
With a 10.055"-screen and a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600, the "Nexus 10 is the highest resolution tablet on the planet," according to information released by Google. Designed in partnership with Samsung, the Nexus 10 features a 9000 mAh Lithium polymer capable of up to nine hours of video playback and more than 500 hours of standby time.
Other features of the 603-gram tablet include:
- A dual-core Exynos 5250 processor;
- A 5-MP rear camera and a 1.9-MP front camera;
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, and NFC wireless connectivity; and
- 2 GB of RAM.
Sixteen-GB versions of the Nexus 10 will cost $399 through Google Play and 32-GB versions will sell for $499 through Google play and Walmart.
The 7-inch Nexus 7, originally released in July, is now available in 16- and 32-GB versions, as well as a third option, which combines 32 GB of storage and cell phone capability.
The 16- and 32-GB Nexus 7s, available through Google Play, Gamestop, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, and Walmart, will cost $199 and $249. The 32-GB HSPA+ enabled tablets will be available, unlocked, through Google Play for $299.
All the new devices will run on Android 4.2, a new version of Jelly Bean announced in conjunction with the phones and tablets.
The newest version of the operating system adds support for multiple users (for tablets only), with individual homescreens, backgrounds, widgets, and apps. Devices running 4.2 will also be able to share their screens wirelessly with any HDMI-enabled television with a wireless adapter.
Other features of the upgraded OS include:
- The ability to create "photo spheres," which are similar to panorama pictures;
- An improved keyboard that allows users to slide their fingers across the keyboard rather than pecking at each letter;
- Improved dictionaries and text-to-speech capabilities; and
- Google Now, a service designed to anticipate useful information and deliver it to your device automatically.
More information about all three devices and the updated OS is available at googleblog.blogspot.com.
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at jbolkan@gmail.com.