A couple of hours ago, as 4.2 hit AOSP, Google’s Jean-Baptiste Queru (JBQ) took to the Android Builders group and announced that there would be no official Android 4.2 support for either the Nexus S or Motorola XOOM. When asked to clarify on if that means it is officially over for the devices, he declined comment. So, we can take that as a, “Yes, that’s a wrap” or “Maybe in the future when we aren’t so busy.”

It may seem like a bummer, but both devices are starting to show their age and I think it’s best for Google to start focusing their efforts on newer devices. The XOOM has had one helluva ride and we salute you for it.

Via: Google

Cheers NAM!

Google: No 4.2 Support For Nexus S and XOOM, Keep Using Android 4.1.2 is a post from: Droid Life

This afternoon, Google posted Android 4.1.2 factory image files for the “yakju” Galaxy Nexus and the “soju” Nexus S. They previously released the same files for the “takju” Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 7, so that about wraps up their world unlocked GSM lineup. All that’s left are a couple of Nexus S models and the device expected to receive the update months after everyone else, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus (“toro”).

On a side note, the first factory image for the Nexus Q (“tungsten”) has also been posted. It’s an Android 4.0.4 build IAN67K.

Via:  Google

Android 4.1.2 Factory Images for “yakju” Galaxy Nexus and “soju” Nexus S is a post from: Droid Life

With the hope of restoring low-cost space exploration, NASA is planning to launch mini satellites into space powered by Nexus One and Nexus S smartphones. The program, called “PhoneSat” aims to launch the “lowest-cost satellites ever flown into space,” which I’m guessing just wasn’t possible if they used an iPhone instead. Zing? Two prototype satellites exist as of now, one being version 1.0, powered by the Nexus One and other is version 2.0 powered by the Nexus S. 

If version 1.0 has a successful launch, the team’s hopes is to launch version 2.0 with more equipment attached so they can get some useful data from the probe. Launch is expected later this year for the Nexus One powered satellite and who knows, maybe if all goes well we can land an Android on Mars. Wishful thinking.

Via: PC World

Cheers David and Jacob!

NASA’s PhoneSat Program to Launch Android-Powered Mini Satellites into Space is a post from: Droid Life

Jelly Bean factory images are now available from Google for a good portion of the Nexus lineup of devices. If you happen to own a Nexus 7, Nexus S (sojua or soju versions), or the Galaxy Nexus (yakju and takju versions), then we suggest downloading these files and keeping them in a safe place in case of future software troubles. Down the road, these could save you from a horrible custom ROM flashing fiasco and bring your device back from the dead. No love yet of course for the Verizon toro version, but hopefully we’ll be shown some love too in the future. 

Download: Nexus Factory Images

Via: Android Police

Jelly Bean Factory Images Released for Nexus 7, Nexus S, and GSM Galaxy Nexus Variants is a post from: Droid Life

When your Nexus 7 arrives, you should be able to unlock its bootloader, root it, and have a custom recovery up in a matter of minutes. After all, it is a Nexus. But if doing things the manual way isn’t for you or you simply don’t have enough time to type “fastboot oem unlock,” then a root toolkit should be right up your alley. WugFresh built one a while back that continues to be updated with support for new Nexus devices, including the Nexus 7. Without having to worry about drivers and the Android SDK, you can use a root toolkit like this, press a couple of buttons, and be on your way.

Via:  Download | WugFresh

Cheers John, Shannon, and Mike!

WugFresh’s Root Tookit 1.5 Supports All Nexus Devices Including the Nexus 7 is a post from: Droid Life

Think back to January 5th, 2010. That was the date that the Nexus One was first announced and made available for purchase. I can vividly remember the announcement. I impatiently waited for someone to review the device, but the images I saw already confirmed my suspicions: this was going to be an incredible device. Even though it wasn’t on Verizon yet, I had plans to upgrade to it as soon as possible.

This vision of the Nexus One was a phone sold directly by Google to consumers. There was no store to try the device out. You went to google.com/phone to purchase the phone. If you had T-Mobile you could buy the phone unlocked for $529 or $179 on a new two year contract. Eventually a version of the Nexus One with AT&T bands was released in March. By April it was announced that the Nexus One would never be released on Verizon and that customers should buy the Droid Incredible instead. I was crushed, but I moved on (and eventually did get a Droid Incredible, which now sits on my desk running CM7). 

Now think back to December 16th, 2010 when the Nexus S was released. There were no announcements of additional carriers until March 21st, when Google announced that the Nexus S would be available on Sprint with WiMax. On July 21st it was announced that the Nexus S would be available on AT&T for $99 on contract. With a Sprint version I was especially hopeful that Verizon would finally have a Nexus device, but alas, Verizon never released the Nexus S.

In the time between the Nexus One and the Nexus S Google learned a lot about selling phones. First, they learned that having email support is not enough. The Nexus One was plagued with radio issues early on and customers were upset that their only option was to email Google or post on a message board for help. With the Nexus S, Google worked closely with the carriers to ensure that they would help support the devices. While AT&T and T-Mobile didn’t carry the device in stores, Best Buy had both versions in stores as well as the Sprint version when it was released.

This year the Galaxy Nexus was released a day earlier than the Nexus S. As you know, the phone was released exclusively on Verizon Wireless after much delay. All evidence points to the fact that the Galaxy Nexus was ready to launch by the end of November, but Verizon waited to give the Rezoud and the RAZR more time to sell. To make matters worse, the Galaxy Nexus is the first Nexus device to have a carrier’s software preinstalled. Speaking of software, the Galaxy Nexus doesn’t have Google Wallet installed on it. Sure, it can be side-loaded, but it’s just more evidence that Google is not in control of this device. Unlike every other Nexus, the Galaxy Nexus does not have Google branding on the back; instead Verizon’s logo rests above their 4G LTE logo. If there was any doubt about whether or not this was Google’s phone, that should put the debate to rest.

Google’s original vision of the Nexus program has changed dramatically over the last two years, and I don’t think it has been for the better. Google has slowly gotten in bed with the carriers, which has led to the worst Nexus we’ve seen yet. Sure, it has the latest version of Android (which is fantastic) and it’s on my carrier of choice (finally!), but at what cost?

The original vision entailed releasing a device free from the carriers that people could buy subsidized or unsubsidized with the latest version of Android and the first crack at new updates. Instead of using their power to push carriers like Verizon to do no evil, Google has gotten into bed with Verizon, allowing them to further distort their original Nexus vision. It may be said that it’s impossible to get on a carrier’s network without making concessions, but apparently Apple was able to pull it off. If Apple can do it, Google definitely can. Google has tons of money – why not spend it to ensure the largest carrier in the U.S. has a real Nexus device, not some Verizon branded step-child of a Nexus?

Google needs the carriers for support right now, I get that, but when their acquisition of Motorola is complete they’ll have a staff that is trained to support users with their devices. By then they’ll also have a few billion more dollars in search revenue that they can use to throw at the carriers to ensure that their device isn’t touched. Verizon has way too much control right now. A Nexus should never be controlled by a carrier. A Nexus is supposed to be the best from Google, not the best that Verizon will allow on their network.

Google has challenged the music industry with Google Music. They challenged Microsoft Office with Google Docs and Gmail. They challenged Apple’s iPhone with Android. They challenged netbook manufacturers with Chromebooks. They challenged the movie industry with YouTube. Why isn’t Google challenging the carriers? They have the power to do so, but they’re holding back. They should have the Nexus in 5 colors on every carrier right now, but instead they have a tainted Nexus on the greediest carrier in the world. Something is wrong with this picture. We obviously don’t have all the details, but something needs to change. Google needs to step up to the carriers and take control of their device. If Verizon doesn’t want to play nice, Google can start rejecting any Android device with Google Apps that wants to run on Verizon’s network. Verizon needs Android to be relevant, not the other way around.

Verizon Needs Google [Opinion] is a post from: Droid Life

One of the first fully working Ice Cream Sandwich ports has been produced and made public to anyone with a Nexus S. Kellex and I just spent the last hour drooling, ooohing and awing over this thing on our very own devices – it’s super impressive. It’s not the Android 4.0 that you saw at the Hong Kong event and is instead the version we saw a few weeks prior running on none other than a Nexus S. It works, has almost all of the goodies you have been teased with, and will likely make the Nexus S our weekly driver for the next week or so until the Galaxy Nexus is released.

So what we have for you below then, is a massive gallery of how almost all of the new features in ICS will look. You will see the new launcher, widgets, Gmail, camera app, dialer, People app, gallery, keyboard, browser, swiping notifications, Google Talk account switching, etc. If you need a rehashing of all things Android 4.0, we hope this helps.  

Launcher and App Drawer

Gmail

Browser

Settings

Google Talk

Dialer and People App

Camera

Gallery

SMS

YouTube

Movie Studio

Google Music

Keyboard and Search

Random:  Widget Grid, Notification Bar and Widget Resizing

If you own a Nexus S and feel like jumping on this, you can find all of the info at this XDA thread.

Anything else you would like to see?

Mega-Gallery: Ice Cream Sandwich Walk-through from Nexus S Port is a post from: Droid Life

We are doing our best to forget about the fact that Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus will not be unveiled next week at CTIA, and have instead found ourselves analyzing the hell out of the two ICS videos that have popped up in the last week. There are so many differences in them that we just had to point them out to everyone to get community opinions.

The first video we attached is from the Nexus S running ICS that was reportedly purchased on eBay.  It looks almost exactly as we had all pictured in our minds – Honeycomb turned tiny.  The second video is from this morning’s mega-leak featuring the G-Nex. It’s almost like the grown up or more polished version of ICS that we had actually hoped for.  One looks minimal yet sophisticated and buttery – the other looks like stock tablet Honeycomb, which is not necessarily a compliment.

So let’s dive into the differences that we easily spotted and then talk about them afterwards.  

Nexus S video from last week:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Galaxy Nexus video from today:

Click here to view the embedded video.

First, let’s take a look at the picture taken from earlier in the week that clearly shows a different set of home/back/menu icons than what was leaked today.

Lock screens (notice the camera icons and clock fonts):

Camera apps (menu and icon differences):

Home icons and launcher (completely new look in the G-Nex):

Notification bars (smaller and darker on the G-Nex):

Quick task menus (simpler, classier on the G-Nex):

Settings menu (again simpler and classier on the G-Nex):

And it’s impossible to grab this in a picture, but the screen transitions are different on both phones in both the app drawer and widgets menu.

So as you can see, the Android team has been working overtime on making ICS the next great mobile operating system.  Our sources confirmed to us that while they have had the Galaxy Nexus, that it has received a firmware update almost daily. They also mentioned that it received an icon overhaul at some point. Through these two videos, we have essentially seen the transformation of ICS from being Honeycomb for phones to a polished and grown-up smartphone operating system.  And then there is the suggestion by our friends at AndroidGuys that the Galaxy Nexus is actually running a skinned TouchWiz version…please don’t let that be true.

Your thoughts? Which version do you prefer?

Cheers Steven and everyone else who chipped in!

Galaxy Nexus ICS vs. Nexus S ICS – So Many Differences is a post from: Droid Life

It was only a matter of time before someone jumped on eBay to buy a phone only to find that it came pre-loaded with the latest and for-the-most part unseen version of Android aka Ice Cream Sandwich.  The Nexus S pictured above and on video below was just released over at Engadget, giving us a fabulous look at Android 4.0 and all of its cyan-greenish tints, Honeycomb lock screen, recently used app scroller, and more.  

Some things we noticed right off the bat:

• Lock screen lets you jump into the phone or straight to the camera – Apple kang, hah.
• What is that Google Apps icon?  A shortcut to all things Google.
• Dock has 4 standard apps – will assume they are interchangeable.
• Notification bar has a quick settings button – hoping for easy wifi/bluetooth toggles.
• App drawer is horizontal just like Honeycomb.
• Widget previews in there as well.
• Long press on Home gives you recently used app menu from HC. Looks great on a phone.
• Settings menu has been broken up into sections.
• Pressing Menu at home only had 3 options, one being wallpaper.
• Seriously, Cyanogen needs to be paid for this color scheme.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  Engadget

Nexus S Purchased on eBay Gives Us a 2-Minute Ice Cream Sandwich Preview (Video) is a post from: Droid Life

Today in other Android news…

• Sprint could launch their own LTE network as early as 2012.
• HTC is holding a Beats-inspired event in the UK October 6 – probably for the Bass.
• Speaking of Beats by Dre, the EVO 3D has a ROM with Beats software included.
• Nexus S has a new update to Android 2.3.6 that we are hoping fixes tethering issues.
• Product pages for the T-Mo Galaxy SII and HTC Amaze 4G are up with lots of goodies.

To stay up-to-date on the latest non-Verizon Android news, be sure to subscribe to Android Life.

Sprint Going LTE, HTC Beats Event, Nexus S Android 2.3.6 Update [from AL] is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

With all of this Google Wallet and Nexus S talk this week, we wanted to point out that NFC can do more than just make and receive payments.  In fact, after watching the video above that demonstrates how Near Field Communication can also be used to do things like unlock your house, we are more excited than ever for companies to start widely adopting it.  Now, the phone in the video is clearly an iPhone, but just imagine it as your Galaxy Nexus on Verizon.

What other uses can we get out of NFC?  I’m thinking cars, right?  We already have keyless entry and start-ups, why not NFC too?  Can you imagine how lovely life would be if you didn’t have to carry around 3 different sets of keys all of the time?

Via:  Engadget

Who Says NFC Was Only Built for Making Payments? How About Unlocking Doors Too. is a post from: Droid Life

• Samsung plans to file suit against Apple the minute the iPhone 5 is announced.
• Certainly did not take long for the Samsung Epic 4G Touch on Sprint to get rooted.
• AT&T will attempt to sell off assets in order to get their T-Mobile acquisition approved.
• The Galaxy Tab 8.9 will be $469 (16GB) and $569 (32GB) at Best Buy.
• Samsung shows off their fancy resizable Galaxy SII widgets. No 3rd party launcher required.
• Nexus S 4G on Sprint received its Google Wallet update today.

To stay up-to-date on the latest non-Verizon Android news, be sure to subscribe to Android Life.

Samsung Plans to Block iPhone 5 in Korea, Nexus S 4G Updated, Epic 4G Touch Rooted [from AL] is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

To break up talk from that other phone that seems to be popping up so often, we wanted to share this latest video from the Android team that features the Nexus S back in space.  Pretty cool to see some of the smartest people on the face of the Earth talk about how they chose Android because it’s easy to program for and easier to customize to their liking.  Anyone ever envision that an Android-powered device would be helping control spheres and robots from space so that humans can sit back home in safety from the evil things that are surely to be seen in Apollo 18?  Wait…I just wait fictional on fact.  Apologies.

Via:  Google Mobile

Android Back in Space – Nexus S Gets Down With Some Spheres is a post from: Droid Life

If all you Swypers have been waiting for an update to your keyboards, then start checking your Swype Installer this week. Word from Swype HQ is that updates will begin rolling out soon (hopefully tomorrow), and it will bring your Swype version to the same that runs on Sprint’s Nexus S 4G. Unfortunately, it is said to lack the black sexy skin that Sprint’s version rocks so well.

Thankfully, we have an unofficial word from an official member of Swype’s team that everything in these updates will soon be leaning towards custom skinning ability. Why this has been such a hard thing for them to implement beats us, but later is better than never. No word on official changelog yet, but once we get the press release, we will be sure to post it.

Everyone still rocking Swype, or have you moved on to bigger and better things? Let us know.

Via: Android Police

Swype Beta To Receive Updated Version This Week, Lacks New Skin is a post from: Droid Life

When we received a tip earlier in the week that Best Buy was planning something major for August 17 and 22, we were hoping for the world, but were pretty sure they were going to be running free phone promos instead.  Free phones were confirmed today through a small press release.  So for one day only (tomorrow), you can cruise into a Best Buy and pick up an Atrix 4G, Nexus S 4G or Samsung Fascinate for free with a new 2-year contract.  And yes, I said Fascinate – the same phone that Verizon no longer carries.

Hopefully they pick a better Verizon option on the 22nd.

Cheers ___!

Best Buy’s “Free Phone Wednesday” Kicks Off Tomorrow: Atrix, Nexus S 4G and Fascinate Available at No Cost is a post from: Droid Life