The hugely anticipated HTC Edge is reportedly set for release on 26 February, the day before the start of MWC…

It’s a big day for Google as not only have they given us our first proper look at Android 2.3, but they’ve officially unveiled their second Nexus mobile phone, the Nexus S too. We’ve been waiting for this one, so let’s dive in and take a look at the specification:

• A 4″, 480 x 800 Super AMOLED Contour touchscreen.
• 1GHz Hummingbird processor.
• 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA.
• 16GB internal memory.
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash.
• VGA video-call camera.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1.
• Assisted GPS.

The Nexus S has been manufactured by Samsung and also wears the familiar Google branding on its rear panel, while inside driving the phone is an untouched version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

But that’s not all, as the Nexus S has several other surprises too! The first is the ‘Contour’ touchscreen, so called because the capacitive glass screen is curved ever-so slightly, allowing it to sit comfortably in your hand as well as matching the lines of your face. The spec also mentions a pixel-per-inch measurement of 235 and an anti-fingerprint coating too.

Secondly, the Nexus S will be equipped with NFC, a technology for reading NFC chips and tags or for potentially using your phone as a digital wallet. Near Field Communication has been around for a while, but has yet to become mainstream in Europe or the USA.

Other Nexus S features include a 3.5mm headphone socket, a digital compass, a dedicated graphics processing unit for great games plus all the usual Android and Google apps. Amazingly, the Nexus S only weighs 129 grams too — surprising for a phone with a 4″ screen!

Like the Nexus One, the Nexus S will be available to buy unlocked, but instead of this being through Google, various retailers will carry the device. It’s out in the US on the 16th December and the UK on the 20th December.

You can watch a pair of videos on the Nexus S below, one with an overview of the birth of the S and the other a rather strange promo video for the new phone.

When it’s finally made official — December the 9th perhaps — the Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone is sure to not only grace the top story slot on every tech blog out there, but the pages of various tabloid newspapers too; as they’re always keen to point out when someone’s a little larger than a size zero.

You see, following on from last week’s disappointing video leak of the PlayStation Phone/Zeus/Z1, the phone has overcome any previous shyness and showed itself properly in a new video. This time there’s no doubt what we’re seeing is the real deal, as the control pad is revealed, however we weren’t quite prepared for the profile view…

Now, inside the Zeus is sure to be all sorts of technical trickery working to get those directional keys to function properly, which accounts for the Z1’s curvy waistband. It may not do the design many favours, but we’ve got a feeling the convex shape will feel great when held like a games controller.

The video also highlights the fact the phone is running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and has a rear mounted camera — believed to be a 5 megapixel item — alongside an LED flash.

A second video shows the PlayStation icon, which explains how the gaming system will function on top of Android, and it’s certainly reminiscent of Sony’s PS3 main screen; however it would have been good to see the XMB implemented, as it lends itself to finger control rather nicely.

What do you think of the PlayStation phone’s shape?

Eldar Murtazin has a pretty decent track record when it comes to smartphone whispers, but his Android 3.0 Gingerbread morsels yesterday are now at odds with someone a bit closer to the dough — namely, Dan Morrill, Android’s Open Source and Compatibility Tech Lead (yeah, that’s a bit of a mouth full). Here are a few highlights from his Twitter feed tonight: “I love it when people just make stuff up” (sarcasm, obviously), “rumors are not official announcements,” and so on. Sure, he could just be playing coy here, but for now, this is more or less the final word on the matter — until either Google or the rumor mill heat up again, of course. Guess that’s how the, erm, cookie crumbles.

Android team’s Morrill discounts Gingerbread rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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