Google's Nexus S, A Look At Gingerbread

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Google's Nexus S, A Look At Gingerbread

Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday March 1, 2011 @07:29AM from the center-of-the-candy-house dept.

MojoKid writes "Google's Nexus S smartphone has a lot of interesting features, but the one that attracts the most attention is the fact that it ships with the latest version of the Android smartphone operating system, version 2.3. Otherwise known as Gingerbread, this OS is said to be the fastest version of Android yet. In addition to Gingerbread, the Nexus S touts a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, and 16GB of internal memory. Its network performance numbers turned out to be relatively impressive as well."

129 comments

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Really? by Drathus · 2011-03-01 07:35 · Score: 5, Informative

The phone has been out for almost three months now.
Way to be current.
1. Re:Really? by Drathus · 2011-03-01 07:38 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Oh, and I've had Gingerbread (2.3.2 currently) on my first gen Droid for about a month now thanks to the folks at CyanogenMod. So even if this were a piece about the OS alone it's still horribly old news.
2. Re:Really? by larry+bagina · 2011-03-01 07:38 · Score: 2
  
  in all fairness, they're more up-to-date than HTC, Samsung, LG, Motorola, and everyone else still shipping older OS versions. Hell, many will never release an OS update.
  
  --
  Do you even lift?
  These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
3. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 07:40 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Nice Slashvertisement - note the user's profile link, and the site both in-article links point to.
4. Re:Really? by Nadaka · 2011-03-01 07:40 · Score: 1
  
  Absolutely, I just got froyo on my samsung phone last week, after it was promised to arrive before thanksgiving last year.
5. Re:Really? by SnoopJeDi · 2011-03-01 07:41 · Score: 0
  
  Gingerbread has only been out for the Nexus for about a week though. It's a first look at what might be coming to other devices still running Froyo. To be fair though, TFA is a device review, NOT an article strictly about Gingerbread on the Nexus.
6. Re:Really? by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2011-03-01 07:42 · Score: 1
  
  Nice Slashvertisement - note the user's profile link, and the site both in-article links point to.
  We like blinkie things that cost money. When isn't there a Slashvertisement?
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
7. Re:Really? by mlts · 2011-03-01 07:43 · Score: 1
  
  The Nexus S isn't really new, although for any modders, it is the only game in town for making ROMs that don't require kexec() tricks to get around signed kernels and other crap.
  What I'm looking forward is Google's next reference model with the hardware to support the 3.x Android versions. Hopefully this model will have a SDXC card slot, a decent amount of RAM, multiple cores. Maybe even a model with a sliding keyboard, which makes a life a lot easier when doing some serious UNIX commands.
8. Re:Really? by Drathus · 2011-03-01 07:46 · Score: 1
  
  However a Gingerbread leak for the i9000 Galaxy S phones has shown up, so hopefully they're working faster on that than they did getting you guys FroYo.
9. Re:Really? by Drathus · 2011-03-01 07:48 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  No, it hasn't.
  It's been out for the Nexus One for about a week. The summary clearly says the Nexus S. Which has had Gingerbread since it launched in December.
  And as I noted in my reply to my own post up there, I've been running Gingerbread on my first-gen Droid thanks to 3rd party ROM makers for about a month. So even if it's Gingerbread only, it's still not news.
10. Re:Really? by TrancePhreak · 2011-03-01 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  The Nexus S shipped with Gingerbread. The Nexus One got Gingerbread this past week.
  
  --
  
  -]Phreak Out[-
11. Re:Really? by thegarbz · 2011-03-01 07:58 · Score: 1
  
  Really? Sounds like you have a problem with your carrier blocking the updates then. Galaxy S phones have been available here for many months with froyo. My upgrade went smoothly last year too, and I don't live in a country like the USA or europe which ever gets shiny new things in a reasonable time frame.
12. Re:Really? by rwa2 · 2011-03-01 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  Ha, that doesn't sound so bad...
  On T-Mobile, I'd been waiting for an update from Android 1.6 to 2.2 (for an HTC myTouch 3G). They'd been saying it'd be out "just next month" since I bought it in 3/2010. The OTA update finally hit on 12/2010. Still no sign of 2.3 Froyo.
  Sounds like you haven't been waiting very long in comparison ^_^
  Yes, on my other phone (HTC myTouch 3G Slide) I simply CM6'd it.
13. Re:Really? by C_Kode · 2011-03-01 08:08 · Score: 1
  
  I can't confirm that Google has released OTA updates for the Nexus One anywhere.
14. Re:Really? by Drathus · 2011-03-01 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  They have. In fact, they both got 2.3.3 at the same time:
  http://twitter.com/#!/googlenexus/status/40221838743179264
15. Re:Really? by mauriceh · 2011-03-01 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  I can.
  I got the OTA on my N1 last week on Thursday.
  Thousands of others did.
  Read some of the Android and Nexus One forums!
  
  --
  Maurice W. Hilarius Voice: (778) 347-9907
16. Re:Really? by Totenglocke · 2011-03-01 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  On T-Mobile, I'd been waiting for an update from Android 1.6 to 2.2 (for an HTC myTouch 3G). They'd been saying it'd be out "just next month" since I bought it in 3/2010. The OTA update finally hit on 12/2010. Still no sign of 2.3 Froyo.
  FYI, 2.2 IS Froyo.
  
  --
  "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
17. Re:Really? by AvitarX · 2011-03-01 09:08 · Score: 1
  
  Cliq XT had a similar issue, but it was 1.5
  Fortunately TMO hooked people up with G2's or MyTouch 4Gs if they called.
  
  --
  Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
18. Re:Really? by rwa2 · 2011-03-01 09:15 · Score: 1
  
  Ooh, yeah... then I meant we have 2.1 now ... and still waiting on 2.2 OTA (my CM6 device is already running 2.2.1 or something)
  I can never keep all my desserts straight in my head :P
19. Re:Really? by JAlexoi · 2011-03-01 09:33 · Score: 1
  
  Never mind the fact that Gingerbread is on Nexus One already...
20. Re:Really? by roc97007 · 2011-03-01 09:56 · Score: 1
  
  How is Gingerbread working on your Droid? Performance ok? I have a Droid X currently running Froyo. Is there an overriding reason to upgrade? What are the new features?
  (We might as well talk about this, the original article was pointless.)
  
  --
  Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
21. Re:Really? by DRMShill · 2011-03-01 10:01 · Score: 1
  
  I have it on my Droid 1 via Project Elite v5. I just had better luck with it than Cyanogen. It's definitely faster than 2.2. Feature wise about the only thing that really stands out to me is that voip is built into the settings.
22. Re:Really? by Drathus · 2011-03-01 10:02 · Score: 2
  
  It runs wonderfully.
  Gingerbread is mostly FroYo with a few UI tweaks and some general performance tuning. Battery life on a nightly test build of CM7 is better than stable FroYo was.
  The new additions to the Android codebase that came in with it (NFC, etc) aren't of use to most devices, but the rest of the changes are worth it.
  Ice Cream Sandwich will be a fun one to see when that comes out.
23. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 10:35 · Score: 0
  
  its a mod tho...
24. Re:Really? by Facegarden · 2011-03-01 10:46 · Score: 1
  
  I can't confirm that Google has released OTA updates for the Nexus One anywhere.
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/nexus-one-android-2-3-3-update-arrives-ota-breaks-google-voice/
  Confirmed.
  
  --
  Worldwide Military budgets: $2100 billion. Worldwide Space Exploration budgets: $38 billion. Really, world? Really?
25. Re:Really? by TooMuchToDo · 2011-03-01 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed they have. My Nexus One updated itself last night to Gingerbread (and it is *sweet*).
26. Re:Really? by Threni · 2011-03-01 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe even a working touch-screen..you know, with multitouch? And a fix for some of the other shit like floods of events when you touch the screen. Oh, and fix that slow float directbuffer put. Put some effort into making Android gaming platform. That way you might get some games which don't completely suck. Angry Birds is ok, but jesus fucking christ - is an public domain quality Amiga game the best we can do on a 1ghz+ platform 20 years on?
27. Re:Really? by Nadaka · 2011-03-01 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  possibly, sprint had to cripple tethering so they can charge extra on top of the huge delay samsung had for delivering froyo for the epic.
28. Re:Really? by medv4380 · 2011-03-01 11:05 · Score: 1
  
  I got my update this morning.
29. Re:Really? by Movi · 2011-03-01 11:50 · Score: 1
  
  No you're not. 2.1 was Eclair, and MT3G never had that one (oficially anyway). It went straight 1.6 (Donut) -> 2.2 (Froyo) (and then consequently 2.2.1)
  2.3 is Gingerbread.
30. Re:Really? by Funnnny · 2011-03-01 14:29 · Score: 1
  
  I got increase from around 3.2 -> 5.2 Mflops with CyanogenMod 7 (from CM6->CM7, the stock rom only got ~1Mflops).
  Performance is super, but there's a few little bug left.
  And btw, my phone is HTC WIldfire
31. Re:Really? by Billly+Gates · 2011-03-01 19:45 · Score: 1
  
  Oh it is out.
  Just buy the newer version of the phone at the local store with the latest upgrade and sign another 2 year contract.
  Thanks again
  
  --
  http://saveie6.com/
32. Re:Really? by Billly+Gates · 2011-03-01 19:46 · Score: 1
  
  If I were the CEO of a carrier or handset maker why would I invest R&D that would enable you *not* to buy the latest phone or another contract? That would cost money and would not return anything of value. Infact I would lose money as you probably just buy another more up to date phone and I could make more money by another contract.
  
  --
  http://saveie6.com/
33. Re:Really? by thegarbz · 2011-03-01 20:23 · Score: 1
  
  It's strange that things work out like this in America. A very VERY typical way of dealing with contracts here is Australia is that we're locked into a device for 2 years. New phones be dammed. At the end of a 2 year contract most people will typically signup again for another contract and another device as they don't see it as any additional cost to them.
  
  Following this model the carriers shouldn't care what updates they push out since their major customers are effectively barred from upgrading.
34. Re:Really? by markhb · 2011-03-02 01:21 · Score: 1
  
  I have an original-recipe Cliq, and it took Moto until October of last year to finally go public with the 2.1 upgrade. Really, the Cliq hardware is stressed trying to run 2.1; I'm surprised (if only slightly) that it apparently was worse on the XT since you would think that the next-gen would be Bigger! Stronger! Faster! Glad Magenta hooked up the XT users that actually complained, though.
  
  --
  Save Maine's economy: write stuff down. All comments are exclusively my own, not my employer.
35. Re:Really? by rwa2 · 2011-03-02 02:33 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, you're right, just confirmed it on my wife's phone last night.
  I just remember thinking at some point about how she finally got the upgrade after months of waiting, and it was still missing something I had under CM6 (I thought it was "Move Apps to SD", which was a Froyo feature). But I admit I don't pay all that much attention to her phone. She was actually quite happy with 1.6 and doesn't even bother upgrading any of her installed apps.
36. Re:Really? by sglow · 2011-03-02 02:36 · Score: 1
  
  I received my update on the Nexus-one this morning also.
37. Re:Really? by mldi · 2011-03-02 03:10 · Score: 1
  
  Well, Samsung is horribly slow with their updates. HTC is actually pretty good with theirs, I can't comment on LG, and Motorola is "meh" with their timing. Still waiting for an official OTA update for my EVO.
  
  --
  If you aren't suspicious of your government's actions, you aren't doing your job as a responsible citizen.
38. Re:Really? by AvitarX · 2011-03-02 10:56 · Score: 1
  
  yeah, it was quite nice of them.
  Especially since the it was stuck on 1.5, which meant no navigation.
  If it even hit 1.6 it probably wouldn't have been an issue (though 2.1 was becoming a requirement more and more), but stuck needing to pay for a navigation app was a real pain. The thread about it at Motorola's forums had over 1,000,000 views.
  
  --
  Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
39. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-10 07:41 · Score: 0
  
  Of course not. This is Slashdot, you don't expect people here to click on links, do you?
  Meh, even looking at where they link to is too much for me.
Doesn't look fastest to me... by Desler · 2011-03-01 07:38 · Score: 2

Otherwise known as Gingerbread, this OS is said to be the fastest version of Android yet.
Based on what? If 2.3 is the fastest android yet, why does the Nexus S fare as the 2nd worst in Javascript performance, fare worse than 2 Android 2.2 phones on Linpack and only narrowly edges out Android 2.1 phones in FPS on An3dBench. So unless the Nexus S is causing all these performance issues, these numbers don't anywhere at all show 2.3 to be faster in any sort of definitive way.
1. Re:Doesn't look fastest to me... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  Nexus S scored 2nd BEST in Javascript performance. In that chart smaller numbers are better.
2. Re:Doesn't look fastest to me... by Desler · 2011-03-01 08:06 · Score: 1
  
  Okay, my bad on that. Still, it's only narrowing edging out 2.1 phones in An3dBench, and is behind in every other metric in the article behind a 2.2 phone.
3. Re:Doesn't look fastest to me... by GooberToo · 2011-03-01 09:14 · Score: 1
  
  You do understand that applications can play a far, far bigger role in application performance than the underlying OS...right? Well, for most applications anyways.
  Your question appears to be rather loaded with the intent to troll. Even if it did get slower, the article is about OS,not web browsers. Furthermore, regressions are hardly unheard of. But, as someone already pointed out, the browser is pretty fast despite what appears to be a trolling effort to misdirect people.
  Measuring application performance is not measuring OS performance. Though admittedly, OS performance is frequently a subset of application performance. Just the same, unless they are specifically breaking down the performance metric into application and system, any guess as to the break down is meaningless.
4. Re:Doesn't look fastest to me... by Desler · 2011-03-01 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  Your question appears to be rather loaded with the intent to troll. Even if it did get slower, the article is about OS,not web browsers. Furthermore, regressions are hardly unheard of. But, as someone already pointed out, the browser is pretty fast despite what appears to be a trolling effort to misdirect people.
  How am I trolling? Saying something you don't like or disagree with is not trolling. The article was saying that Gingerbread "is said to be the fastest version of Android yet" yet all their benchmarks with Android 2.1 and 2.2 phone show them to be faster in almost every case. The only case the Nexus S was faster was by a fraction of a percent in one benchmark. Their data can't substantiate the initial claim.
5. Re:Doesn't look fastest to me... by GooberToo · 2011-03-02 01:46 · Score: 1
  
  No, its not a question or liking or disliking what you said. Its how you said it. They way you said it came across as a loaded question with the intent to misdirect and derail the thread. That is trolling if true. But you'll also note my verbiage was soft and I wasn't (still am not) if that was truly your intent despite how it appeared.
  
  Their data can't substantiate the initial claim.
  Many times, "fastest", when used in a laymen context, means many different things. Faster at what is the real question. While JIT improvements were made, latency improvements were some of the biggest improvements. Generally speaking, lower latency means lower throughput. Which means faster could mean faster and slower, concurrently. Not to mention, JIT improvements does not mean all applications benefit. Likewise, as my original post pointed out, OS performance need not translate to application performance. It really depends on how the application leverages the OS. And that's why I was trying to stress OS/application. Performance is a complex subject. Its typically far more complex than most are willing to accept. Technically, the OS can be faster and the browser can be slower. Not to mention, the browser application isn't the same application between OS versions so its really an apples to oranges comparison.
  All of the reasons above are why benchmark suites are almost universally meaningless and all too often completely misleading.
Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by jmd · 2011-03-01 07:39 · Score: 3, Interesting

I got the update last night on the nexus one. I was p*issed when it rebooted and the theme was totally different. I am not fond of a bright green LED colors on a black background. give me back my silver and gray. These colors do not work well with natural scenes in wallpaper like the golden gate bridge shot.
1. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by amRadioHed · 2011-03-01 08:00 · Score: 2
  
  I don't have an opinion on the green icons, I can give or take them, but the black notification bar is great. When using my phone at night I didn't like being blinded by the unnecessary white.
  
  --
  We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
2. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by geekoid · 2011-03-01 08:16 · Score: 2
  
  Yeah, someone changing the back ground is worth getting pissed about. Sheesh, spoiled much?
  Sure it's frustrating, maybe inconvenient, but pissed? please.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
3. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:17 · Score: 0
  
  The theme wasn't designed to be sexy, it was designed to save battery life on OLED screens.
  Though compared to the fugly 2.2 theme I'd say it does look sexy.
4. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by GweeDo · 2011-03-01 09:35 · Score: 2
  
  They didn't change the background, they changed the color temperatures of the AMOLED display.
  
  --
  Unstable Apps: Our Android Apps Don't Suck
5. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 11:22 · Score: 0
  
  On the Nexus S, yes (most people seem to hate it, which is just odd that they did it then). But the OP said Nexus One, which I never heard of them doing that with....
6. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by mjwx · 2011-03-01 15:19 · Score: 1
  
  I don't have an opinion on the green icons, I can give or take them, but the black notification bar is great. When using my phone at night I didn't like being blinded by the unnecessary white.
  One of my biggest problem with phones (and UI's in general) is that the wonderfully bright pastel colour scheme some coloured crayon dreamed up whilst sipping his low fat-decaf mochachinno is that I will be viewing this in low light conditions. Iphones are the biggest offenders, the SMS system (because if I'm waking up to answer anything at 2 AM it's an SMS on the work phone) is far too brightly coloured and the light sensor seems to think "it's dark, set screen to BLIND".
  
  My Android phone, even on older OS's ether used off white or dark coloured backgrounds, but I rarely would need to go past the notification pull down box, which was a translucent gray (and I always use a dark background, another thing I cant do on the Iphone) which was very readable even when the light sensor wanted to blind me (only the Moto MIlestone did this, my two HTC phones were fine).
  
  Another thing, who decided I needed to open the SMS application to see an SMS, in Android I can see who sent the SMS and the first line of text scroll through the status bar on top, it's 2010 already, all smartphones should do this.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
7. Re:Crappy Colors in Gingerbread by DMUTPeregrine · 2011-03-03 16:09 · Score: 1
  
  Green on black is the one true terminal colour scheme. Well, maybe amber on black too.
  
  --
  Not a sentence!
How do I deprogram myself? by Sovetskysoyuz · 2011-03-01 07:40 · Score: 2

I'm appalled at myself. The first thing I noticed in the summary was 'That should be "its", not "it's".
1. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by ScentCone · 2011-03-01 07:51 · Score: 2
  
  Why be appalled? Attention to detail and the desire to parse a writer's actual meaning aren't bad things. It means you actually understand the distinction, and that you give a damn about clear thinking and clear communication. You don't want to get rid of that.
  
  --
  Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
2. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by NatasRevol · 2011-03-01 07:57 · Score: 1
  
  6 months on crack & meth aught to do it...
  
  --
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
3. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:02 · Score: 0
  
  It's 'ought' that you're looking for.
  ARGH! I CAN'T STOP!
4. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:10 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, but also say goodbye to your job, your reputation, your teeth, probably your home. Possibly your life. Not worth it.
5. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by Clay1985 · 2011-03-01 08:43 · Score: 1
  
  First thing I noticed as well. Is there a support group for us?
  
  --
  You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. -Plato
6. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by NatasRevol · 2011-03-01 09:53 · Score: 1
  
  See the three little dashes at the end of my comment?
  
  --
  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
7. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by jareth-0205 · 2011-03-02 01:29 · Score: 1
  
  and that you give a damn about clear thinking and clear communication.
  However, the very fact that he could see so quickly that there was an error and deduce what it should say does tend to indicate that the apostrophe has very little value. There are things that affect communication clarity far more than apostrophe use (like good sentence construction) which I wish people would focus on instead. The apostrophe will be gone in 50 years.
8. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by ScentCone · 2011-03-02 02:34 · Score: 1
  
  The apostrophe will be gone in 50 years.
  Like the comma? I don't think either will.
  
  --
  Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
9. Re:How do I deprogram myself? by jareth-0205 · 2011-03-02 02:48 · Score: 1
  
  Nah, the comma has a use for breaking up sentences into parsable chunks. There are very *very* few occasions where a misplaced apostrophe genuinely causes confusion (ie, not people who are deliberately flexing their smug-muscles).
speed test numbers are worthless by sdavid · 2011-03-01 07:44 · Score: 1

The speed test numbers in the article are worthless. I tried the first test (ba.net) on my iphone GS from home where I'm on a pretty middle-of-the road DSL line, and got about twice the download speed reported in the article. Using the speed test app on the same phone, the results I generally see represent the limit of my DSL line. The point isn't to defend the iphone, I'm sure there are faster/better phones out there. The point is that the testing methodology is poor and the results in the article are poo. (You can also see that the wifi tests are limited by the tester's network connection: the upload/download rates are different. That is a characteristic of a DSL line, not wifi itself which should show similar speeds in both directions.)
Progress by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 07:52 · Score: 2

A machine with twice the firepower of my first computer but which can't do even half of what the computer did.
yay.

--
Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
1. Re:Progress by Drathus · 2011-03-01 07:57 · Score: 2
  
  I'm pretty sure a USB controller has more firepower than my first computer did.
  Even if you limit me to my first IBM compatible my Droid still blows that out of the water, both in terms of firepower /and/ functionality.
2. Re:Progress by amRadioHed · 2011-03-01 08:02 · Score: 1
  
  You are comparing a phone to a general purpose computer? Why not compare it to your first phone and see how it fares? A phone isn't supposed to do everything your desktop does, but the stuff it can do is pretty amazing.
  
  --
  We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
3. Re:Progress by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 08:06 · Score: 2
  
  I could transcode video, compile a kernel, had an office suite, write code, etcetcet on 433MHz celeron with 128MB.
  the functionality-to-specifications ratio is abysmal.
  and don't get me started on what people pay for, today. A tea timer is an "app" ? I *pay* for that? For what i can do with my calculator and two lines of code? Or what my featurephone does on its own?
  It's a fucking joke.
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
4. Re:Progress by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 08:11 · Score: 2
  
  And how can you differentiate between a "general purpose computer" that has an intel architecture, ram, a screen and a keyboard and a "phone" that has a more powerful cpu, more ram, a screen and a keyboard? It certainly has the horsepower, what does it do with it? ... nothing.
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
5. Re:Progress by bberens · 2011-03-01 08:14 · Score: 1
  
  Okay, you know those charts that show the evolution of man from the ape-like figure to the modern human? This sub-thread made me want to make a chart like that but for adult material. From ascii art on BBSes up to high-def on a large screen in 3-d, and then back down to 4" android screen. :(
  
  --
  Check out my lame java blog at www.javachopshop.com
6. Re:Progress by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:17 · Score: 0
  
  I can transcode video, complile a kernel, have an office suit (yes openoffice is a bit awful to use), etcetcetc on 650 MHz ARMv7 with 256MB.
  And all this while still maintaining a more than 2 hours of use (not bad for a 4.8Wh battery)
  Not to mention what i can make with PySide and QtQuick, Nokia had something with the N900.
  Well, I am hopeful for the Qt on Android effort.
7. Re:Progress by geekoid · 2011-03-01 08:20 · Score: 0
  
  Phones can do everything your first computer could.
  The same thing could be said by anyone in theior field.
  A carpenter could say:
  "and don't get me started on what people pay for, today. A spice rack is an "wood work" ? I *pay* for that? For what i can do with my tool in two minutes?"
  I wouldn't pay for one, but yes, some people would. I can't comment on the app you mention because I am not familiar with it. I assume it doesn't have any graphic, or notification, or animations feature. Otherwise you couldn't do that in two lines of code, could you?
  You're a fucking joke.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
8. Re:Progress by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:26 · Score: 0, Troll
  
  Nothing? I regularly wish just half the apps that exist on Android existed for the PC. Desktop development has come to a complete halt.
9. Re:Progress by MozeeToby · 2011-03-01 08:37 · Score: 2
  
  No one pays for simple apps. At least no one with any intelligence levels to speak of. Searching the marketplace for 'egg timer' returns dozens of free timer applications. I'm perfectly willing to admit that not having a simple timer as one of the basic apps that come with the phone seems like an oversight, but it's one that, thanks to the ability to download and instal new (and generally free) software, is easily remedied.
  I'm confused why you would want to write code, edit office documents, or compile a kernel on your phone but if you insist on being able to do those things there are all kinds of apps available. DocumentsToGo lets you view, edit, and create documents right on your phone for $15, appears to have good reviews, and was found with 10s of searching the marketplace. Touchqode similarly lets you view, edit, and compile code (Java, c++, Ruby, PHP, etc) and is even free or if you want a full experience you can unlock root and simply use VI or Emacs. Why on earth you'd want to do those things with a tiny screen and touch keyboard is beyond me but they are there. I'd be shocked if there aren't apps to transcode video as well, but I think I've made my point.
10. Re:Progress by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 08:45 · Score: 2
  
  Phones can do everything your first computer could.
  Can they, now? i mentioned 4 things i could do on my first computer that i couldn't do on my milestone. I could make a bigger list, but it would be all for naught since you're not even reading.
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
11. Re:Progress by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 08:47 · Score: 1
  
  > Why on earth you'd want to do those things with a tiny screen
  i can compile, assemble, debug dissassemble and decompile on my fucking calculator.
  a device with three orders of magnitude more powerful should do these without even a question.
  it's waste of hardware, at the very least.
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
12. Re:Progress by MozeeToby · 2011-03-01 08:54 · Score: 1
  
  Did you miss the part where I pointed you to software that allowed you to do these things on your phone?
13. Re:Progress by geekoid · 2011-03-01 09:21 · Score: 0
  
  What a cop-out. You know what? The shuttle was built in the 70s, but my new modern phones can't even take me to the Space Station. Maybe they ahve different purposes?
  The real point is that you're a whiny bitch that gets his dick hard from being a myopic non thinker.
  Enjoy your irrelevancy.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
14. Re:Progress by geekoid · 2011-03-01 09:22 · Score: 1
  
  Nothing?
  Ah, the real problem here is that you don't know what the fuck you are talking about.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
15. Re:Progress by gotpoetry · 2011-03-01 09:30 · Score: 2
  
  They play hi definition movies, take high def movies, stream live tv, give you real time driving directions beamed with coordinates down from outer fucking space, allow you to talk to people from across the world or in outer space, receive messages in text from anywhere (even outer space) when you are almost anywhere (even space), transcribe the voice messages people leave you into text you can sort of read if they speak clearly, translate spoken words and phrases into and from languages you don't speak, store 32 GB of data on a swappable chip the size of your pinky nail, identify any constellation in the heavens just by pointing the fricking thing at the star up in the sky, identify any song you are currently hearing just by letting your phone listen too... or in other words, nothing.
  
  FFS, you read like a Neo Luddite and you need to stop.
  
  Just. Stop.
16. Re:Progress by fran6gagne · 2011-03-01 09:48 · Score: 1
  
  Could you phone or text-message from anywhere with your first computer? Could you use GPS localisation? Could you put it in your pocket? Sure you can compare the hardware between a computer and a smartphone, but comparing the functionality is like comparing oranges and apples, it is two completly differents things.
17. Re:Progress by AvitarX · 2011-03-01 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  I can name 4 things I can do on my phone that your computer couldn't do.
  Most of those things can't be done because no one wants to write the software for it.
  Though, if I wanted those things, I'd install Debian on the phone.
  
  --
  Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
18. Re:Progress by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 10:31 · Score: 0
  
  I suspect the part that's missing is the brain.
19. Re:Progress by CharlyFoxtrot · 2011-03-01 10:56 · Score: 1
  
  I could transcode video, compile a kernel, had an office suite, write code, etcetcet on 433MHz celeron with 128MB.
  the functionality-to-specifications ratio is abysmal.
  and don't get me started on what people pay for, today. A tea timer is an "app" ? I *pay* for that? For what i can do with my calculator and two lines of code? Or what my featurephone does on its own?
  It's a fucking joke.
  Install gcc toolchain on the iPhone
  DocumentsToGo office suite for iPhone.
  Nimbus source code editor for iOS.
  ffmpeg for iPhone
  You can do whatever you want on these phones. It's just that people haven't bothered writing polished applications to do most of the stuff you're suggesting can be done better, faster and easier on other platforms, for now at least.
  
  --
  If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
20. Re:Progress by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 11:00 · Score: 1
  
  yet it manages to not implement fucking SMS delivery notification properly, which is what a normal phone 10 years old could do. Set aside i don't trust it to send an sms to the proper receipient.
  plus, no coordinates are transmitted. The GPS sats don't send coordinates... how could they know your location anyway? So no.
  > identify any song you are currently hearing just by letting your phone listen too
  was (and is) a standard feature of $100 featurephones.
  Things you consider so amazing, i consider pointless gimmicks when the most basic things the PHONE should do, it doesn't do.
  quit licking google's bumhole. I could run a fullblown linux distro on this kind of hardware, yet on the milestone i was scrambling to find the 'record call' button... which doesn't exist. So i went to find a way to enter a text note? there is no builtin text editing option (there's a 'facebook app' though!). So something i could do with *three* different ways when i had the 5 year old windoze 5 htc wizard (keep the list of groceries that was coming through the phone) was nigh impossible on the top-of-the-line milestone.
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
21. Re:Progress by h4rr4r · 2011-03-01 11:42 · Score: 1
  
  I can do all that on my phone. What is the problem?
  Heck, I had a full ubuntu running at one point on it.
22. Re:Progress by Funnnny · 2011-03-01 14:34 · Score: 1
  
  Can you carry your computer, check mail and play 3D games when you're taking a bus ?
23. Re:Progress by Namarrgon · 2011-03-01 17:47 · Score: 1
  
  Stop complaining, download SL4A, and build your own tea-timer in 2 lines of the scripting language of your choice. One of the examples is a two-line script that scans a barcode and looks it up on Amazon - did your 433MHz Celeron do that?
  Seriously, there will of course be many things your phone cannot do relative to your PC (lack of keyboard, small screen blah blah) and conversely many things your phone can that your PC hasn't a hope of (mobility, GPS, camera blah blah). People write phone apps based on what they think people will use the platform for, and there are thousands of apps that do stuff that is totally impractical on PCs.
  Yes, you can install ffmpeg to recode video with if you want, or busybox and go further. The kernel is Linux, so you can get the NDK, cross-compile gcc for it, and start writing or porting whatever you like. If you don't mind using vi on a 3.7" touchscreen.
  
  --
  Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
24. Re:Progress by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 18:02 · Score: 0
  
  My droid 2 has a full qwerty keyboard, and the droid x has hdmi out. Get the droid x and some vuzix/myvus. If you must have a keyboard(I must) buy an bluetooth one and use the android sdk to write a driver for it.
  The droid x + vuzix combo is 3 years ahead of its time. The future of wearable computers is here, and it has better battery life than a 4" screen.
25. Re:Progress by thegarbz · 2011-03-01 20:53 · Score: 1
  
  My phone came with an office suite and a code editor out of the box. As for the other two these are not the problem of the phone but a problem of the application. You phone is fast, congratulations, now stop whining and go out and write a compiler for it if you want to. There is absolutely NOTHING stopping you from doing whatever you want with your phone. It's nothing but a ARM microcontroller. The operating system of Android phones is a gutted version of Linux. The N900 actually has Linux on it.
  
  Frankly if there's something you can't do on your phone, you're not trying hard enough.
26. Re:Progress by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 23:56 · Score: 0
  
  I could transcode video, compile a kernel, had an office suite, write code, etcetcet on 433MHz celeron with 128MB.
  That's lovely, and I'm sure you found it really handy too, pushing round that trolley holding your rig, weighing three times your weight in batteries. Really useful comparison you're drawing there.
Unique by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:04 · Score: 1

The most unique things about the Nexus S aren't even mentioned in the summary, how pathetic.
1) The display is curved (to match the contours of your face).
2) It has an NFC chip...hence, the need for Gingerbread.
I believe that for both, it is a first.
1. Re:Unique by FTWinston · 2011-03-01 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  Having owned a Nexus S since December, I can safely say:
  1) Curved display is a non-feature. Seriously, I don't notice it at all.
  2) There's nowhere I can use the NFC chip yet. Apparently soon I'll be able to interact with billboards or some crap. Until its ubiquitous, NFC likely won't be much use.
  
  Still a great phone though.
2. Re:Unique by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 15:16 · Score: 0
  
  2) There's nowhere I can use the NFC chip yet. Apparently soon I'll be able to interact with billboards or some crap. Until its ubiquitous, NFC likely won't be much use.
  just like Thunderbolt ports on the new macbooks eh?
N1a better deal by steveblue · 2011-03-01 08:18 · Score: 2

While a good phone, I would suggest bang for buck - a better "best android experience" option is to buy a used Nexus One on ebay. I did so, great price; HTC honors the warranty if still time applicable ( I dropped my phone one week after getting it and they immediately sent me a new one). There is not a big spec difference with the Nexus1 and the NexusS - and if anything HTC is know for better build quality and customer service. This "cheap" solution gives you the latest and best android experience ( I have 2.3.3) that you own and can use anywhere ( no carrier crapware, wait for updates) for a good price -- you might even save money if you sell your current phone.
haven't seen a bigger advertising campaign by korkakak · 2011-03-01 08:40 · Score: 1, Informative

my n8 from which i am currently posting can do hands down 9mbps in wifi networking @ speednet.net let alone gprs. So please spare us with the google's white knight there is *better hardware*
whatever happened to gingerbread on the n1? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:50 · Score: 0

whatever happened to gingerbread on the n1? oh that's right google shafted the n1 users to gift @samsung sales on the Samsung s with gingerbread...
1. Re:whatever happened to gingerbread on the n1? by AndrewNeo · 2011-03-01 09:02 · Score: 1
  
  That's really weird.. what is this then?
2. Re:whatever happened to gingerbread on the n1? by Daetrin · 2011-03-01 13:14 · Score: 1
  
  Uh, i got the Gingerbread OTA update on my Nexus One last night. They announced it sometime last week. Everyone with an N1 should have the update within another week or two.
  
  --
  This Space Intentionally Left Blank
Why installing Android 2.3? Has anyone rooted it? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 08:55 · Score: 0

I heard that rooting Android is possible with Froyo phones but not with Gingerbread phones. Does anyone know if this still holds true ?
Gapless MP3s by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 09:01 · Score: 0

So does it FINALLY have gapless playback for MP3 files?
Still horrid for audio by sunking2 · 2011-03-01 09:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

45ms "low latency" audio compared to the iWhichever's 10ms. Decent guitar apps are impossible with any Android. Say what you want, Apple seems to do a better job from the get go.
1. Re:Still horrid for audio by treeves · 2011-03-01 09:15 · Score: 1
  
  What do you mean by "guitar app"?
  A tuner, an app to show chord charts and demonstrate their sounds should work fine regardless of latency. Do you mean you want to simulate playing a guitar with your phone? what the heck for?
  
  --
  ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
2. Re:Still horrid for audio by sunking2 · 2011-03-01 09:22 · Score: 1
  
  Something similar to amplitube for the iphone which mixes and models amps and effects similar to a korg pandora. Can't even come close to being able to do it on an Android
3. Re:Still horrid for audio by geekoid · 2011-03-01 09:31 · Score: 1
  
  What are you talking about? in order to be low latency it must be 45ms or less. Not, all low latency apps are 45ms.
  It's a spec issue, not a device issue.
  and for a global broad definition, 45ms is fine.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
4. Re:Still horrid for audio by GooberToo · 2011-03-01 09:41 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  According to this thread, the new hardware specifications provides 10ms "low latency." The "45ms" number is the number bring thrown around to get people upset without actually knowing what that number means.
  Basically, 45ms allows for the audio pipeline to already be filled, and remains filled, and perhaps (likely even) by other applications. That's hardly unreasonable. The 10ms number, AS PROVIDED BY LATEST HARDWARE SPECS, means the pipeline is available for immediate use. For dedicated applications, which largely covers the low latency audio demands of current developers, the 10ms number is what everyone actually wants, and seemingly is provided.
  Meaning, existing hardware may or may not be able to satisfy real "low latency" demands, but, new hardware will.
  It appears Gingerbread really does address low latency demands, however, it also appears existing hardware (drivers) are not capable of doing better. Looks like things are looking up for next gen hardware and low latency audio requirements.
  To summarize, android hardware requirements define two audio latency numbers which pertain to your complaint. One is continuous audio. The second is warm audio. The first is for a continuously filled audio pipeline; seemingly from any source. The second is for an empty pipeline. The former requires 45ms. The later requires 10ms.
5. Re:Still horrid for audio by turbclnt · 2011-03-01 11:25 · Score: 1
  
  Wait, wait...lemme get this straight...are you complaining that you can't play a pseudo-video guitar from your *phone*? Really? Are you planning to serenade someone in the park on your phone (pls post vids if you do!) Are you going to complain next that the strings on said video guitar don't feel like actual strings on actual guitars?
  
  As a sidenote, I'm irritated that my doghouse isn't designed to fit a wolly mammoth.
6. Re:Still horrid for audio by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 15:08 · Score: 0
  
  The list of things that android can do that iphone can't (by design; the technical limitations are a whole other list) vastly, soundly, and invariably trumps your niche usage. And my guitar simulator on droid works flawlessly (and quite impressively if you're willing to preprogram necessary chords into buttons to play songs)
Re:Why installing Android 2.3? Has anyone rooted i by AndrewNeo · 2011-03-01 09:05 · Score: 2

If you have a custom bootloader it's always possible to root (because it can take modified upgrade packages)
Re:relative to what? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 09:54 · Score: 0

I like it when you post because it reminds me that the people I work with aren't actually the dumbest people in the world.
Nexus One was pretty good by mathimus1863 · 2011-03-01 09:59 · Score: 1

I have had a Nexus One for almost a year now, and I absolutely adore it. I was quite disappointed to see that it got mediocre reviews. At worst, internet access can be a little slow (and a bit more latency than I'd like). But it has every sensor in the world, and a decent [enough] battery life. I'm also quite fond of having vanilla Android, because it means upgrade immediately (I got a gingerbread upgrade notification today, actually), and the OS doesn't risk being bastardized by some provider company with less-capable software people than Google.

If my Nexus One broke today, I'd buy a Nexus S in a heartbeat.
1. Re:Nexus One was pretty good by shutdown+-p+now · 2011-03-01 11:51 · Score: 1
  
  One thing I hate about N1 (and all phones with OLED displays) is that crappy PenTile matrix, where the actual resolution is, on average, 1/3 less than what the specs claim. Looks like this is finally getting fixed in Galaxy S II, but I wonder if there will be a corresponding Nexus S II. I'd buy that.
2. Re:Nexus One was pretty good by Timmmm · 2011-03-01 13:20 · Score: 1
  
  > But it has every sensor in the world
  Bah I have one too and I wish it had gyros. And there are other things missing, like proper multi-touch, HDMI, a front-facing camera, and a camera button.
  > I'm also quite fond of having vanilla Android, because it means upgrade immediately (I got a gingerbread upgrade notification today, actually)
  If by 'immediately' you mean 'in three months', then yes! (Yeah I know... Cyanogen, etc.)
  The Nexus One is great (helps that it was free!), but let's not distort the facts.
3. Re:Nexus One was pretty good by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 15:46 · Score: 0
  
  It took about 3 months for the Nexus One to get Gingerbread compared to when the first Nexus S phones shipped. Until Google can get those update times much closer, I have a hard time trusting the longevity of any of the Google promoted phones. The G1 sits abandoned with 1.6 officially, and it's just a bit over two years old now. 3rd party android phones seem to be much worse.
  Wouldn't be such a big deal normally, but when you sign a 2 year contract for one of these devices, I expect first class treatment during that time. When it comes to a device that I depend on for work, I refuse to search out custom roms to stay up to date.
"Memory" is not Flash by markdavis · 2011-03-01 10:44 · Score: 2

>"...16GB of internal memory."
No, it has 16GB of internal flash storage, not "memory". I believe it has 512MB of memory, like most high-end Android phones (Evo, DroidX, etc).
Re:Why installing Android 2.3? Has anyone rooted i by crazycheetah · 2011-03-01 11:39 · Score: 1

The Nexus S, which came with Gingerbread, has been rooted... I've also rooted my Droid and am running Gingerbread on it as root, running root apps--admittedly, the former is the better proof that you can root Gingerbread. I don't know where you heard that, but I don't see logic behind it other than someone bullshitting people for whatever reason. Now, if you get certain phones with Gingerbread when they come out (Motorola is probably the biggest name here, unless they decide to take their Xoom strategy to their future phones as well, which I doubt for some reason), then it'll be a little bit tougher and more restricted. Those are still likely to at least get root, though (Milestone, Droid 2, Droid X, etc. have been rooted, but the bootloaders are locked, causing a whole 'nother mess of problems restricting some of the fun you can have with rooting).
Re:relative to what? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 13:02 · Score: 0

You always say the same thing. You have stagnated.
Most apps are racing stripes by SmallFurryCreature · 2011-03-01 15:39 · Score: 0

When I look at Android Market I see Tucows, you know the ancient shareware site? I see a car store filled with go-faster stripes and furry dice. When people are young or a tech is new they tend to go wild and add all sorts of crap that is useless for the wow of it. Remember when marguee and the blink tag were the hot new thing? When every pixel of a webpage had to have an animated gif?
It is like "xeyes" on linux. Useless but who when they first got a desktop running didn't run this app?
And you are forgetting one important difference. Tell me what you could do on your early wonder PC, while carrying it around in your pocket.
Oh and since when do guys whose first PC was a celeron have any right to speak? You barely got the right to breath. Now go stand in the corner and feel ashamed for having this modern cheapo PC ever in your presence. UNCLEAN!

--

MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
1. Re:Most apps are racing stripes by gTsiros · 2011-03-01 20:05 · Score: 1
  
  my *own* first PC was a celeron. the first computer i used was a grundy newbrain.
  > When I look at Android Market I see Tucows, you know the ancient shareware site? I see a car store filled with go-faster stripes and furry dice. When people are young or a tech is new they tend to go wild and add all sorts of crap that is useless for the wow of it. Remember when marguee and the blink tag were the hot new thing? When every pixel of a webpage had to have an animated gif?
  set aside most apps have spam in them.
  that's why i have only one market program installed: acrobat reader.
  wait, sorry: *had*. I swapped my sorry excuse for a cellphone motorola failstone for a $100 "featurephone".
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
2. Re:Most apps are racing stripes by gTsiros · 2011-03-05 07:35 · Score: 1
  
  android is a bloody mess. just take a stroll at http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/list and look at the list of *defects* only. SMSs getting deleted en masse, delivery reports wrong, SD card corruption...
  compared with my 10+ year old hp48gx which has a single digit number of bugs (all of which you are able to circumvent with one liners, say instead of XRECV use > ).
  shoddy engineering. ... who the hell places the speakerphone on the REAR of the device? do i really want to project the sound *away* from me?
  
  --
  Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
Still no keyboard by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 17:00 · Score: 0

Google: please stop making reference/developer devices without keyboards.
Others: stop crippling your keyboard'ed phones.
yawn by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 19:00 · Score: 0

what a ho hum samsung advertisement. for a poor selling phone. already out of date
Best-Buy adds == truth by Anonymous Coward · 2011-03-01 20:05 · Score: 0

Those Best-Buy adds really aren't lying are they. I feel like i just got my Galaxy S yesterday, and it's already old news :(
Android BREAKS audio AGAIN with 2.2-2.3 by bshensky · 2011-03-02 02:06 · Score: 1

Sure, 2.3 really is faster and more responsive than 2.2, with better battery life and a sexier interface to boot.
But WHY does the dev team INSIST on BREAKING streaming and AAC+ audio on EVERY release?
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=13715
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=9308

--
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