Samsung Nexus S: first impressions
by Volker Weber
I am very late to the Nexus S. The primary reason is that there is no need to upgrade from a Nexus One. However, my Nexus One seems to have a digitizer defect, that's driving me crazy. You touch something on the screen, and the touch gets registered at the very bottom of the screen. That goes away when you briefly sleep the phone, but it was enough hassle that I wanted to swap the phone.
So I asked 1&1 to send me a test sample. It arrived today. Plain Nexus S packaging, no 1&1 branding. I switched off the Nexus One, swapped the SIM out and into the Nexus S. Insert battery, close back cover, connect tiny USB charger. There is also a cable and a headset in the box that I am not going to use.
I switch on the Nexus S. Battery reports 60% and charging. Enter Google ID and password and the phone does its thing. Downloads my settings, mail, contacts, calendars, my apps from Android market. All over Wi-Fi since it knew about it from the intitial settings download. Half an hour later it's al there. From the cloud, over the air. As easy as that.
1&1 did not mess with the software on the phone at all. It downloaded its 2.3.4 update after the intitial setup. Samsung also did not mess with the Google Experience. This is just like the Nexus One I initially got in the US of A. It's the real thing. Thank you, Samsung, thank you, 1&1. Recommended.
Since I already know everything about the software, how's the hardware? Well. Samsung. Thin, shiny pastic, that attracts fingerprints. Excellent display. Just the right size. And it's fast. If you never had an iPhone 4, you are going to love it. I prefer the design over the Nexus One, but not the materials. I will see how the display works out in the sun. While the Nexus One display is pants in direct sunlight, I expect better from the Nexus S.
Comments
A first impression on the quality of the camera would also be nice.
Using it since last thursday. As you said, Volker, if I wouldn't have used an iPhone 4 before I would love it. Camera tends to blue without flash light.
Having used different iOS devices before, iPhone and iPad seem to be more "mature" then the Nexus S with Android (Ok, I am new to it). I had some problems with web pages (www.sueddeutsche.de, for example) and some apps crashed (animated backgrounds, for example. Even those, that came with the device).
EKKI
I wonder how long the battery lasts.
I am wondering myself. Today was not a good day. Too much play to survive the day.
Volker, I've really enjoyed mine over the last week or so. Martin and Thomas, I wrote a review here, which includes a link to photos taken with the Nexus S and my unfortunate experiences with the battery life so far.
"If you never had an iPhone 4, you are going to love it."
Could that be a generic statement for latest Andriod phones?
Yes, it could. Nobody is making hardware as refined as the iPhone 4.
"Nobody is making hardware as refined as the iPhone 4."
Well i think we'll discuss that, when Nokia arrives with WP7 :)
Till that, the HTC-Devices are just doing fine enough to never even think about an iPhone 4
I *will* see how the display works out in the sun
I know exactly what you mean.
"Enter Google ID and password and the phone does its thing. Downloads my settings, mail, contacts, calendars, my apps from Android market. All over Wi-Fi since it knew about it from the intitial settings download."
I agree this is incredibly convenient. However, it's also a security risk for companies. GMail accounts are personal and not able to be controlled by the business. So, when someone brings in their Android, and connects it to the Wi-Fi, that info gets uploaded to the GMail account. Let's say the person gets let go and the Android they were using taken away or remote wiped. If the person gets a new Android, all of this info will get downloaded to their new Android, and if you don't have other measures in place, they will be able to take the new Android to the old company complete with all the old Wi-Fi access info. THe alternative is to change all the encryption keys on the access points when someone leaves but who does that?
I love Androids, and own one myself. Not sure I have an answer for this one but I definitely have to put special measures in place to deal with this issue
