It’s official, the smartphone that sparked the great Android hardware race — the Google Nexus One — will not be getting an update to Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

Reason being? Hugo Barra, the Product Management Director for Android at Google says that the Nexus One’s hardware is simply too dated to support the latest version of Android.

Launched in January 2010, the Nexus One was the model Android smartphone and — arguably — it started a full-on arms race amongst Android device manufacturer, all eager to kit each one’s flagship device with the latest and greatest hardware. Up till today, one could say that it is this constant and rampant hardware updates that make Android devices so widely appealing, and we tend to agree.

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	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Nexus One
	Android, Android 4.0. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, google, Google Nexus One, Google Nexus One Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC Nexus One, Ice Cream Sandwich, Nexus One

Like everything else that you buy, there’s a cost involved in manufacturing a mobile phone. That’s very obvious. But what is not so obvious is how much of this cost goes to where — as in, how much does a manufacturer spend per component in the device.

Data and visualization experts at Tableau have put together a very interesting visualization of how much each component costs in some of the more popular smart phones in the market. Tableau is quick to point out that the number presented in the table are estimates and does not include marketing and other costs.

Some interesting points to ponder from the data:

• Apple spent more on the housing for the iPhone 4 than any other manufacturer spent on ANY other component
• On the same note, Apple spent a decent amount on reception components in the iPhone 4 but still there were issues with reception. If the quality is top-notch, is the installation of said components to be blames for the antennagate?
• The BlackBerry Torch is the cheapest to produce in terms of components. In fact, the processor in the BlackBerry Torch is the second cheapest component in the device with the display being the most expensive
• The 12MP camera on the Nokia N8 is the most expensive camera component in the device lineup. The camera alone costs US$31 or close to RM100. In comparison, the N8′s processor is the cheapest of the bunch

So what do you think? Are the cost of the components in the device listed justified?

Hit the link to checkout the info in detail.

[source]

	BlackBerry, iPhone, Mobile Devices, Nexus One, Nokia
	apple, blackberry, BlackBerry Torch, component cost, device component cost, google, iPhone, iPhone 4, Nexus One, nokia, nokia n8, rim, Tableau

One of the marks of a good operating system is consistency. What makes the iPhone so stupidly easy to use is the fact that where ever you are in the OS, no matter how many layers deep you’re in the settings menu, all the buttons — be it soft or hardware buttons — do the same thing and they are all at the same place.

With Android however, things get a little bit tricky, the open source nature of the OS means that manufacturers can essentially customise the platform — with layers of UI skins atop the original Android OS — to virtually any shape and form making maintaining consistency across the board a bit of a challenge to say the least.

This inconsistency, or fragmentation as it is more widely known, becomes very evident when you compare the buttons on some of the more popular Android device side by side. You’ll see the numerous permutations of the number of buttons a device has, its general location and its function.

Head on over to after the jump to see what we mean.

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	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Nexus One, Nexus S
	Android, Android fragmentation, Android fragmentation issue, google

Word has it that the next Android OS version 2.3 nicknamed Gingerbread is coming to Google’s Nexus One. This came in a form of a tweet by someone from the leadership team of Open Handset Alliance. His tweet was translated as “Prepare your Nexus One (Developer version) for Android OTA update 2.3 (Gingerbread) in the next few days”. It is believed that Gingerbread will make its debut on 11th November which is just a few days away. Of course this doesn’t come as a surprise as the Gingerbread guy has already been standing at Google campus for couple of weeks now.

Now who says having an Nexus One being backdated. This Google developer phone has always been the likely candidate to receive latest Android updates as seen previously when they rolled out Froyo updates.

[ SOURCE ]

	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Nexus One, Rumour Mill
	Android, gingerbread, google, Nexus One, Nexus One OTA

Several weeks back, the Nexus One was reported to be sold out from their online store, marking an end for Google in the device game. After that, the device was only made available on selected telcos in Europe and Korea.

If you’re an Android developer, you would be happy to know that Google is now offering the Nexus One as Google’s official developer device for US$529 which is roughly RM1700. You would need to sign in to your Android developer account and click on “Developer Phones”. You can register as a developer and it costs $25 to sign up.

According to the Android blog, the device is shipped with Android 2.1 and will be prompted to download Android 2.2 Froyo the moment you switch it on. Most likely these are the earlier batch of Nexus One that still uses AMOLED screen instead of Sony’s SLCD.

Being a developer phone, the key advantage is having the opportunity to try out latest revisions of Android as we’ve seen how Nexus One gets the latest Froyo update. So if you’re looking for one, your prayers have finally been answered.

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Nexus One
	Android, Android Developer Phone, Android Development, google, Nexus One, order nexus one

In an official statement, HTC confirmed that they will be using Super LCD developed by Sony as displays in devices like the Desire and Nexus One.

Though not officially indicated in the statement, it is a widespread understanding that Samsung’s AMOLED display are in short supply and demand for HTC devices are strong that they have to look at other display alternatives to ensure that they are able to keep supply in check.

We haven’t had any experience with SLCD but it’s going to be interesting to see how it compares against AMOLED and Apple’s Retina Display technology.

Interestingly, when it comes to displays, Samsung is the world leader with 1 in 5 panel TVs being a Samsung.

Full press release from HTC after the jump.

[via]

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	HTC, Mobile Devices, Nexus One
	AMOLED, google, HTC, HTC Desire, HTC using SLCD for display, LCD, mobile display, Nexus One, Samsung, SLCD, Sony, Super LCD

We’re shocked! Today we heard that the stocks are running out fast but now it’s official that Nexus One has been completely sold out. This came much sooner than we thought.

Things have been happening very quickly since Google announced its change of strategy and the final batch of Nexus One to be shipped out. Well, good things must come to an end but its Android legacy shall live on.

If you’re dying to get one, you can still get it from Vodafone in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and KT in Korea.

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

	Mobile Devices, Nexus One
	Android, Buy Nexus One, google, Nexus One, nexus one sold out, Nexus One Stocks, order nexus one

UPDATE: Google Nexus One has been SOLD OUT for good

Google had earlier announced that they have the last batch of Nexus One for sale online, which supposedly spells the end of the device. The announcement must have triggered a rush for the device as Google now estimates that Nexus One will be sold out in 10 days. This could be your last chance to place your order if you’re within the listed countries eligible for the Nexus One.

As mentioned before, once this is sold out, you still can get the Nexus One from Vodafone in Europe and KT in Korea. Without a doubt, the Nexus One is a game changer for Android and it has become a benchmark for all new Android smartphones we’ve seen today. Google’s CEO has said that there won’t be a Nexus Two but who knows they might change their mind in future.

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

	Android, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Nexus One
	google, Nexus One, Nexus One Stocks, order nexus one

We reported earlier that Google has changed its strategy when it comes to Nexus One. From an online only store, it now focuses more on telco tie up. The online store which previously was the sole purchase channel is coming to an end soon as they’ve just gotten the final batch of Nexus One for sale.

After this batch is completely shipped out, the only place to get Nexus One would be KT in Korea and Vodafone in Europe. This would be expected sooner or later considering that the Nexus One is getting dated with the arrival of more powerful Android devices. The Nexus One was an excellent device which has served its purpose and looks like its days are numbered.

[ SOURCE ]

	Mobile Devices, Nexus One
	google, Nexus One, Nexus One Stocks, Online Store

Who makes the coolest stuff in the world? Geeks do.

What’s even more amazing is that they do it at their spare time.

Take for example this geek here who managed to put together a system to control slot cars using a Google Nexus One.

Yeah, it’s not going to change the world anytime soon but it’s pretty funky we think.

Take a look at how he put it all together in a video after the jump.

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	Mobile Devices, Nexus One
	adobe, adobe air, google, Lego, Nexus One, slot car, WiFi, Wireless