Google Nexus S Phone with 'Gingerbread' Hits Best Buy Stores

Google's Nexus S, the first smartphone to feature Android 2.3 "Gingerbread," hit stores Thursday.

The Nexus S, produced by Samsung, is Google's new flagship Android phone; it's available now at all Best Buy stores and on the retailer's Web site. It's selling for $199.99 with a two-year T-Mobile contract or unlocked for $529.99.

As part of the release, Best Buy is offering free overnight shipping on Nexus S purchases through December 22.

The device, which Google unveiled earlier this month, is a slab-style, 1-GHz smartphone similar to Samsung's popular Galaxy S line. Google, however, promised subtle hardware and software features that make it a "pure Google" experience. As a result, the phone does not include Samsung's TouchWiz UI overlay.

The Nexus S features a Hummingbird processor, 5-megapixel rear-facing and VGA front-facing cameras, 16GB of storage, HD video playback and 720-by-480 video capture. There's a gyroscope sensor, Wi-Fi 802.11n, and supports Wi-Fi hotspot mode.

The Nexus S spotlights key features in Google's Gingerbread OS, including support for near-field communications (NFC), built-in voice-over-IP calling, faster speed, better power management, more sensors and front-facing cameras.

For more details, see PCMag's full review of the Nexus S and the slideshow below.

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Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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