Introducing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus - The First Android 4.0 Device

Today, Samsung and Google held a press conference in Hong Kong to unveil a new smartphone. This smartphone would be the first device to use Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the OS build that would combine the 2.X smartphone and 3.X tablet builds into one cohesive system. The first smartphone running Ice Cream Sandwich has been revealed as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It features a 4.65" Super AMOLED HD display running at 1280x720 that is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor. The Galaxy Nexus features a curved design, like the Nexus S, but this time on a much larger scale. It is also running Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, with no physical buttons below the screen. Instead, there are three digital buttons that can rotate with the display or even disappear altogether to not impede your view of that 4.65" screen. The phone has 1GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage, a five megapixel rear camera (with LED flash) capable of 1080p video recording, a 1.3 megapixel front camera for video calls, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Bluetooth 3.0. There is also an NFC chip for quick and easy payments, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, USB 2.0, an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, and a barometer. The battery is a 1,750mAh model, plus the Galaxy Nexus is capable of HSPA+ and LTE.

Android 4.0 really changes the game, as it brings a new look and feel to the Android experience you know and love. There is a redesigned user interface, improved multitasking and notifications, full NFC support, and a new People app to let you better browse and connect with your friends, family, or coworkers. Android 4.0 also offers Face Unlock, which will unlock the handset only when your face is detected by the front-facing camera. Android Beam makes use of the NFC chip to let you share websites, YouTube videos, contact information, games, and more simply by touching two phones together. Everything has been rethought concerning Android 4.0, which should promise an easier user experience no matter how technologically inclined you are.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be available in November for the US, European, and Asian markets. The US carrier is expected to be Verizon. More information, including price and a solid release date, will be revealed later.