The Nexus line is composed of equipment manufactured by the partnership of Google with two telecommunications companies, until now HTC (responsible for the first Nexus) and Samsung (who produced this model and finally, the Galaxy Nexus). These smartphones receive special attention from Google and are always updated with the latest platform.
Design
Samsung does not usually disappoint in the design. The front of the Nexus S is beautiful, all dark and without any physical button, can be seen only the speaker and front camera with the screen turned off. When they appear on the four touch buttons standard Android: back, menu, search, and home (each brand puts these buttons in a different order). The screen is curved, adapting a better fit with the face.
Since the back is not very impressive and is very similar to the Galaxy 5, a simpler model from Samsung. The back is made of glossy black plastic, slightly curved, with the words Google and Samsung taking up space with the camera, the flash and the other speaker. Overall, there is a slight feeling of bad finishing, but it solves the footprint.
On the sides, we have the volume buttons and power, while the bottom is the microUSB connection, microphone and headphone standard input (rather convenient). Its weight is 130 grams. It is very light compared to other models.
Screen
The screen is special. Besides coming with Super AMOLED technology - with remarkable brightness and contrast - it is a Contour Display, Samsung technology that makes the screen slightly curved, ideal for typing, with help from a rise in the plastic back. There is nothing much to change the ergonomics and the use of the device, but the result is a more beautiful design. Even under the sunlight it provides a great view and not lose color or read, just by placing the brightness maximum.
The display 16 million colors is 4 inches in size, and is multitouch, capacitive, and come with oleophobic protection, easy cleaning of fingerprints, though not eliminate it. The resolution is only 480 x 800 pixels (WVGA), and there is "Gorilla Glass" (which would give extra protection against accidental risk). The screen and there is no good to complain, but remember that the Motorola Atrix has 540 x 960 pixels, feel some regret. Could have a little more.
Operating System
Here is one of the best features of the Nexus S. He came from the factory with version 2.3 of Android Gingerbread - recently updated to 2.3.6, and has been listed to receive the new Ice Cream Sandwich. Most current impossible. As already said earlier, Google gives special attention to the Nexus line, then it will still receive updates faster than other devices, and for longer. The same goes for new applications and new features in apps already installed.
Internally it is already filled with applications from Google and has native support for VoIP, but has nothing very special. Some details such as the orange glow when we reached the end of a list, off the same as a tube TV and navigation bar in black leaving the system even better.
Usability
For those already dealing with the Android system, get a Nexus S for the first time will not bring any difficulty of use. Who does not know, however, it will take some getting used to, but the system is easy to operate. Google strives to make Android increasingly easy and simple, ready to compete with iOS, but without losing that "what" characteristic of geek.
Version 2.3 brings nice improvements. In addition to the subtleties that we have mentioned in the previous section, other things were added: commands, voice search and writing have improved, being able to run a series of commands and write entire posts just talking (already works well with Portuguese).
The keyboard and writing have also been enhanced. The keys are more spaced, and is a little different writing on it (compared to other versions). Instead of a letter and press release to view options and accents, now you need to keep it pressed and drag it toward the accent, like the iPhone. Text selection is also more practical and simple. Use it with the app Swype is very good.
The five windows available on the home screen let you insert shortcuts, widgets and applications of much use. The notification bar is also useful. The sensitivity of touch is soft and easy to navigate through applications, although an organization into categories - such as the LG uses - fell well.
Hardware and processing
Here we have a great time - but wonderful - set processing. The Nexus S in its interior houses a 1GHz Cortex A8 Samsung's Hummingbird. He has two nuclei as the Tegra 2 of Atrix and Galaxy S II, but does very well with the 2.3 Gingerbread.
The Samsung Nexus S also does not have much RAM, only 512MB (high end cell phones are coming with 1GB). But this also shows the amount to be sufficient. After all, he has dedicated GPU PowerVR SGX540.
Under this set, the Nexus S features a fast and effective. No choking, locking, hiccups, ... nothing! Works well with all games - Angry Birds of the NFS Shift - is movies, surf the internet and supports multiple applications simultaneously connected. But despite not being the most potent of smartphones, overall performance did not disappoint us at all.
As for connections, it is quite complete: Wi-Fi n / b / g, GPS and A-GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 and quad-band. Speaking on the network, it comes factory unlocked (a requirement of Google). In terms of sensors, also does not lack: haptic response, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity and light.
Another wireless connection that draws attention to the Nexus S is the NFC (Near Field Communication). She is still being tested around the world, but must be implemented next year. This technology is present in the public transport cards, for example, and allow the user to pay and share data with the phone - if you leave the NFC and go on a transport card next to it, the Nexus S identifies a "tag" .
Because the system is "pure" and has no modifications, and always come with the upgraded system, he did very well in benchmark tests of the Standard Application Quadrant. In tests it was first up devices like the Droid X, Galaxy S and Nexus One.
And do not forget the basics, it performs all connections. The sound is clear and loud, and the proximity sensor does not let you make a mess during calls.
Camera
Samsung usually brings good cameras in their devices, and the Nexus S was not different. The result is nothing compared to a good Nokia, but it has better quality than the cameras of the devices from Motorola or LG.
The camera with 5 megapixel sensor makes great pictures in daylight and in well lit environments. In low light, the grain appears typical of almost any cell phone camera, but the color remains until and sensitivity to light is good.
At the rear, we have an LED flash, but it is not very useful. The camera also has autofocus and touch focus, where you choose the focal point with a touch screen. The photo is also taken as well, since there is no specific physical button for this. In addition, there is no zoom, face recognition or panoramic photos. Few color effects and a few basic settings and scenes (nothing good photo applications - or the next version of Android - can not resolve).
The Nexus S also comes with a VGA front camera for video calls with Google Talk, for example. And speaking of video, one drawback: the rear camera is recording at 720 x 480 pixels, not getting to be not even HD. Although smartphones are not ideal for video, regardless of resolution, HD would be a difference.
Accessories
The box, despite being very pretty, is minimal. Just find the device, in-ear headphones, microUSB cable, charger (which works only with USB cable) and a few roles. As it is not officially sold in Brazil, no accessories available for it here. In fact, there was not much there.
Apps
It comes packed with Google applications in their latest versions: Market, Calendar, Gmail, Google Earth, Maps with Navigation application (in beta it seems an automotive GPS), Google Talk, Google Voice, Voice Actions and YouTube. In addition, it also has support for Flash 10.3 in the browser (just install the Market) owns the car mode, where only pre-selected functions are available in a menu with large buttons, and brings the HotSpot, which allows you to use your Nexus S as an internet router for up to five devices.
Music and media
For videos, is what it says on the Super AMOLED screens: watch movies on it is a wonder. With proper processing, you can watch movies without gagging. Unfortunately, however, has no dual-core processor and not output to HD TV, such as HDMI, you can not play videos in FullHD (1080p).
For music, the Nexus S behind an innovation: the Gingerbread it won the same application Honeycomb, Google Music. Performance is better than the old player of Android, although still not be there very complete. With a prettier interface, you can split your files by song, artist, and other collections. In-ear headphones, the sound is beautiful, and there is nothing to complain about. Since the external sound is average, because the speaker is small, only, and is behind the device, leaving the loud but muffled.
Battery and storage
The battery life surprised. You can get 12 hours with him in the moderate use of the Internet, without major problems. If you (accidentally) leave it in airplane mode, you can get away from the outlet for more than two days.
In storage, a good and bad news: the Nexus S comes with 16 GB of internal memory, providing a reasonable space, but unlike the other models there is no room for microSD cards. Why? We do not know, but it's weird and bad.
Information
Screen: 4 inches
Screen resolution: 480 x 800 pixels
Operating System: Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread
Network: GSM/EDGE/3G
Storage: 16GB internal
Camera: 5 megapixels
Flash: yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi n / b / g / GPS with A-GPS / Bluetooth 2.1
Sync with PC: yes
Dimensions: 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm
Weight: 130g
Battery life: Up to 428h in standby / talk time Up to 7h
