Introducing the Galaxy Nexus!

Posted on 24/11/2011 by Mark

After months of hype, rumours and industry talk, Samsung’s latest Smartphone, the Galaxy Nexus, was released this week. You could be forgiven if this news had passed you by, as despite the huge build up, the actual launch was a very low key affair.

The phone, which had been labelled the “iPhone Killer”, was finally launched in the UK and is the flagship device for Google’s foray into the world of mobile. The device is very sleek and21st century but it is also huge! The Nexus is over 12cm in length making it one of the largest Smartphones currently available in the UK. The justification for this states that the Nexus’ large viewing screen makes it ideal for media on the move. The phone is packed with a pretty impressive spec, which includes a 1.2Ghz dual core processor, but I was quite surprised by the inclusion of a measly 5 Megapixel camera.

The real news is that this is the first device to run the new “Ice Cream Sandwich” software (ICS) which has been even more eagerly anticipated than the handset itself. So what do we get with this new Google operating system?

Look and Feel
There is no denying that ICS is visually stunning. It is far more elegant and grown up than any of it’s rivals and seems to be pitched (despite it’s rather child like name) at the adult/business market. Google’s core aim with ICS is to unify both Smartphone and tablet device with a single, identical operating system. The intuitive nature of the platform, and excellent on screen help options, mean that jumping straight into the world of Nexus is incredibly easy.

Bespoke
There is a big drive to make your ICS-utilising device your own. The ability to resize and customise icons, design your homepage and choose what opens on start up means you have far more control over how you use this device to your own specific needs.

Apps
Another big win is the clear use and ease of adding the huge array of Android applications. These are quick to load and many offer a range of ways to integrate themselves with other key software components. There is even a voice search function, which may not be quite as good as SIRI, but does add a level of fun to proceedings.

The other big news is the inclusion of “face recognition” technology. This was rumoured to be taking a number of forms but it would seem at the moment it’s only use is in the form of “Face Lock”. This clever little app allows you to open your device simply by looking at it. We also see the inclusion of “Android Beam” which uses NFC technology to instantly transfer large chunks of data between ICS devices.

The integration between the Nexus and standard Google services, such as Google +, adwords, trend and analytics means this phone could be the marketing manager’s dream device.

We have only had a brief play with the Nexus and whilst what we saw was impressive, it is clearly no “iPhone Killer”. The issue Google must face is that this device may get lost in the noise being generated by the 4S and Nokia’s Lumia range. Don’t forget, Silver Lining are business mobile specialists. Call us today to see how we can help your business with your mobile requirements.

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