May 17th, 2013

This Week On The TechCrunch Gadgets Podcast: All Google I/O, All The Time

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Google’s major developer conference, Google I/O, went down this week. Was it a bit of a letdown? Probably. Did cool stuff still come out of the event? Eh? Maybe? We discuss these topics and more this week on the TC Gadgets podcast. In fact, we even had Frederic Lardinois join as a guest, along with John Biggs, Matt Burns, Jordan Crook (that’s me!), Romain Dillet, and Darrell Etherington as Bob… → Read More

May 13th, 2013

Google I/O 2013: What’s On Tap For Nexus Smartphone And Tablet Hardware

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Google’s big annual developer conference kicks off on Wednesday, and while Android lead Sundar Pichai has downplayed big new announcements at Google I/O this year, we’ve also seen reports that suggest the Nexus line of Google-branded hardware won’t go completely untouched. → Read More

May 10th, 2013

Google Working On High-Resolution Nexus 7 For I/O Reveal, Android Notebooks Later This Year, Analyst Says

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Google’s I/O developer conference is happening next week in San Francisco, and one of the big questions around what we’ll see there includes hardware. Now KGI securities analyst Mingchi Kuo (via 9to5Google), who unlike other analysts actually has a good track record of predicting things accurately, has let slip that one big reveal will be an updated Nexus 7 tablet, with a 1920 x 1200 7-inch… → Read More

May 3rd, 2013

LG Working On A Nexus 5, Wants Deeper Partnerships On TVs And Glass, Report Claims

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LG is an Android smartphone OEM that, like many others, finds itself in the shadow of Samsung. But it scored an impressive hit with the Nexus 4, the $300 unlocked Google-branded Android reference phone it released last year, and according to the Korea Times, it’s already working on a follow-up with the search giant. → Read More

April 17th, 2013

Nexus Tablet Sales Estimate Shows The Nexus 10 Is Probably Not A Popular Option

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Nexus tablet device sales remain a bit nebulous, since Google doesn’t give out specific numbers around them. But industry watchers, and Benedict Evans in particular, often try to pierce the veil to find out where the Nexus brand stands compared to the rest of the industry when it comes to sales. The Nexus 10, it seems, probably pales in comparison to most. → Read More

April 8th, 2013

Facebook Home Android APK Leaks Ahead Of Official Release This Friday

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Android users will get the chance to try out the official public release of Facebook Home later this week, but if anyone is really impatient a beta version has leaked and is available to try now. MoDaCo has published the beta (which is actually made up of three separate APKs covering the Facebook app itself, a new Messenger app and the Home/launcher app. → Read More

March 18th, 2013

Google’s New Nexus 10 Tablet Commercial Focuses On Its Multiple Account Feature, And That’s An Advantage

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Google has been on a bit of a roll with its commercials lately, especially for its gadgets. Today, the company unleashed its latest commercial for the Nexus 10, its iPad killer competitor. The video tells the story of a couple who has just found out that they’re having a baby. Google has woven the Nexus 10 Wi-Fi-only device into the story quaintly. The feature that Google decided to focus… → Read More

March 18th, 2013

Google Nexus 5 Could Have Nikon Camera Tech On Board, Report Claims

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Google’s next reference smartphone is the subject of many rumors over the past few days, but only one stands out as not too outlandish. Phonearena reports that according to a source, the next Nexus could have Nikon camera technology on board, with a “triple sensor” array. The camera is being referred to as the “selling point” of the Nexus 5, the source claims. → Read More

March 8th, 2013

An iPhone Lover’s Take On The Nexus 4

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This is the first Android device I would feel comfortable using on a regular basis.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to, but I would be just fine with it.

If I had to boil down my thoughts about the Nexus 4 into two sentences, those would be them. → Read More

February 19th, 2013

Analyst Estimates Peg Total Nexus 7 Sales In 2012 At Around 4.6M, Compared To Roughly 10M iPad Minis

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Mobile industry analyst Benedict Evans has crunched the numbers on newly-released tablet sales figures from Asus and arrived at an approximate estimate of total Nexus 7 tablet sales for 2012, which clock in at between 4.5 and 4.8 million units per his math. Google doesn’t release sales figures for its Nexus devices, so this is likely the closest we’ll get to a solid number on the 2012 totals, and… → Read More

February 17th, 2013

Nexus Tablet Success And Why There’s No Time Like The Present For A Google Retail Store

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Rumors from an “extremely reliable source” speaking to 9t05Google have suggested Google will soon start to operate its own physical retail stores starting as soon as the 2013 holiday season in the U.S. Brick-and-mortar shops from an Internet search company? Sounds like a stretch, but the Goog is breaking out of its search box big time, and recent additions to the Nexus line are proving it has a… → Read More

February 11th, 2013

Google Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb Now On Sale For $59.99 From Google Play, Ships In Less Than One Week

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Google’s Nexus 4 wireless charger has been a creature only of legend up until today, even though the phone itself shipped months ago, late in 2012. Now, though, American buyers can get their orb orders in for $59.99 for the Qi-based inductive charger for Google’s latest Android reference smartphone. → Read More

February 8th, 2013

Nexus 4 Owners Estimate One Million Handsets Have Shipped Since November 2012 Launch

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Nexus 4 production run estimates — crowdsourced by Android enthusiasts on the XDA Developer forum using each device’s IMEI number — suggest the millionth handset has now shipped in a little over two months since Google’s flagship was launched. → Read More

February 1st, 2013

Google Gets Its Act Together: New Nexus 4 Orders Reaching Customers In As Little As 48 Hours

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Google is apparently doing a good job of improving its supply stream issues and making good on promised delivery times for customers for new Nexus 4 orders – better than good, in fact. UK customers are reporting this morning that the Nexus 4 devices they ordered when Google released its latest crop of phones this past Wednesday are already arriving at their doorsteps, less than 48 hours later. → Read More

January 30th, 2013

Google Puts The Nexus 4 Back On Sale In UK, France And Spain [Update: Now Also In Australia, Sold Out In France And Spain]

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Google yesterday started to offer the Nexus 4 once again in the Google Play stores in the U.S., Canada and Germany, and today it’s started to roll it out to the rest of the markets where it quickly went out of stock last year. Users can now order the devices in the UK, FranceSpain and  Australia, with shipping times of around 1-2 weeks, although more exact times might be given at checkout. → Read More

January 29th, 2013

LG’s Nexus 4 Finally Returns To The U.S. Google Play Store

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There are whole host of new smartphones waiting for their time to shine at Mobile World Congress (not to mention an event or two before the big show), but you’re in luck if you’re a domestic Android fan smitten with LG and Google’s Nexus 4. The hard-to-obtain handset first reappeared in the German Google Play Store earlier today, and now those of you in the U.S. can finally purchase one again too. → Read More

January 23rd, 2013

T-Mobile Has The Nexus 4 In Stock! You Guys! Hurry!

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If you’re quick, you can snag a Nexus 4 from T-Mobile right now for $199 on contract. Ever since its launch, the phone has been rather hard to purchase. Blame Google. Blame LG. But it doesn’t matter now, ’cause you can buy one right this very second. → Read More

January 22nd, 2013

Google’s Larry Page Talks Improving Nexus Hardware Supply, Motorola’s Opportunities For Device Innovation

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Google’s conference call regarding its quarterly earnings mostly rehashed themes we’ve heard before – cross-platform remains a priority. But Google CEO Larry Page had a few words to share about hardware in his own kick-off spiel. Page reiterated what we’ve heard recently about hardware supply levels from the Google Play store, and dropped (it’s a pun, you’ll see why later) a hint around what… → Read More

January 3rd, 2013

Still Anxiously Refreshing Google Play For A Nexus 4? T-Mobile Stores Will Carry It In January

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According to TmoNews, the Google Nexus 4 should become available in all T-Mobile stores starting in January. It could indicate that Google is slowly resolving inventory issues as the device has been hard to buy from Google Play. The device will remain available in the online store. → Read More

December 17th, 2012

Nexus 4 Shortage Problems Due To “Scarce And Erratic” Supply From LG, Google Exec Claims

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The Google Nexus 4 has been a very popular device – maybe too popular, with supplies of the handset scarce since its initial launch, and Google having to push back anticipated delivery windows for even those few customers who managed to buy one before Google stopped accepting new orders. Google’s UK and Ireland managing director Dan Cobley finally ascribed some blame in the situation, taking to… → Read More

December 10th, 2012

Gift Guide: The Google Nexus 4

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Google’s latest (and LG’s first) Nexus smartphone probably tops many a geek’s holiday wishlist, and with good reason. The combination of some impressive hardware and Google’s latest version of Android is a very compelling one, but know this before shelling out your hard-earned cash: it’s not ideal for everyone. → Read More

November 27th, 2012

Google’s Speedy-Seller Nexus 4 Smartphone Back In Stock In U.S. Play Store — From Noon PST Today

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The latest ‘Google phone’, the LG-made Nexus 4, sold out within minutes of going on sale around the world but Android fans in the U.S. who missed out in the initial sales run are being offered a second bite at the cherry. In an email sent out today, Google says the device will be back in stock on the U.S. version of the Google Play Store from 12:00 noon PST today. → Read More

November 26th, 2012

After A Few Days Of Use, The Google Nexus 4 Proves A Very Strong LTE Smartphone

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Last Friday, I told you how to get your Nexus 4 working on LTE networks in Canada. All through this past weekend and today, I’ve been using that device as my primary phone on the LTE band the entire time. And despite some definite reduction in battery life, I couldn’t be happier with the Nexus 4 now that it’s playing nice with Rogers’ LTE network. → Read More

November 23rd, 2012

Google’s Nexus 4 Coming To Three In The UK December 13 On Contract And Pre-Paid Plans

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Google is bringing the Nexus 4 to another carrier in the UK, expanding availability to Three after debuting the device with O2 as its initial partner in that country. The Android 4.2-powered smartphone will be available starting December 13 on Three, either on a £35 per month contract with an upfront cost of just £29 on the One Plan, or pre-paid for £399.99. → Read More

November 23rd, 2012

How To Enable 4G LTE On The Google Nexus 4

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Reports surfaced this morning that the Nexus 4, Google’s latest flagship Android smartphone, supports LTE via a relatively easy software hack. After testing, it turns out that’s definitely true, so I’ll show you exactly how to enable it on your device. Fair warning: the Nexus 4 only supports LTE on the AWS band (1700 or 2100MHz), which is currently used for LTE networks in Canada and on T-Mobile. → Read More

November 23rd, 2012

Report: LTE Lives In Google and LG’s Nexus 4! (At Least In Canada)

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Google’s Nexus 4 smartphones have been selling like hotcakes, despite one big criticism being that the device does not support super-fast wireless broadband on LTE networks. But a video has emerged that apparently refutes that fact: You can turn on LTE on the device, by way of a simple shortcode that you enter on the dial pad. → Read More

November 22nd, 2012

Hours After Google Begins Referring Nexus 4 Shoppers To T-Mobile, T-Mobile Is Sold Out

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Google began directing customers looking for the Nexus 4 in the U.S. to T-Mobile, since Google itself hasn’t had stock for quite a while now. T-Mobile charges $199 on a 2-year contract, after a $50 mail-in rebate. That’s not nearly as good a deal as the $300 Google was charging off-contract, but T-Mobile is now sold out only hours after Google started pointing shoppers in T-Mobile’s direction. → Read More

November 17th, 2012

Gillmor Gang: Sinofsky Falls

Gillmor Gang: Sinofsky Falls

The Gillmor Gang — Robert Scoble, John Taschek, Kevin Marks, Keith Teare, and Steve Gillmor — served up the Sinofsky firing as the main course of a dissection of the Microsoft playbook or lack of it. Who knew that it would be Steve Ballmer to announce just how screwed Microsoft is. Windows 8 solves the wrong problem, while Android keeps several steps ahead with its Nexus platform. And the iPad… → Read More

November 16th, 2012

Dear Google And Nokia: To Build An Accessory Ecosystem, You Have To Ship

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Apple devices benefit from a huge, rich accessory ecosystem that means device owners can get stuff for their gear anywhere. A similar ecosystem is beginning to build up around the top devices from Android OEMs, but it still has nowhere near the reach and depth of Apple’s, and the market for Windows Phone 8 accessories is just getting started. And neither Google nor Nokia are helping things much. → Read More

November 13th, 2012

Google Wages War With Apple And The Rest Of The Tablet Industry, Unleashes Impressive Nexus 7 +Mobile

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In July, after the Google I/O developer event, I reviewed the newly unveiled Nexus 7 tablet after using it for a bit. Most people fired off snap reactions about their thoughts, but I decided to put it through its paces, and I’m glad that I did. Another guy who took some time to sort out his thoughts was our very own MG Siegler.

I also wrote a review about the Nexus 10 recently, the larger model… → Read More