Today at the Web 2.0 Summit, Google CEO Eric Schmidt whipped out something the world has been waiting to see--the Nexus S. Loaded with Android 2.3 (aka Gingerbread) and running on the T-Mobile network, the device wasn"t given a name, but happened to look identical to every leaked photo on the Internet. Not only does the device completely resemble the Samsung mystery device, but it might also be packing some hardware features that we never anticipated.
When questioned about the fact that Schmidt said there wouldn"t be a Nexus 2, the jovial CEO said that he didn"t lie; there won"t be a Nexus TWO. His tone clearly left the tech world certain that the mystery device will be the Nexus S. Schmidt also said that Gingerbread would be released "in the next few weeks." Unfortunately, it doesn"t look like an SDK is going to be launched today.
One of the new hardware/software functionalities of the Nexus S is its ability to read NFC chips. Soon, with the swipe of your phone, it will be possible to pay for your merchandise with the payment method of your choice. This technology opens up a whole new world of possibilities. It"s also worth noting that based on what Schmidt showed off, the leaked Gingerbread UI shots seem to be dead on. The next few weeks are sure to be interesting as the tech-world patiently awaits the Gingerbread Man. No other details surrounding the phone or the OS were unveiled.