Samsung Nexus Prime Specs (Galaxy Nexus?) Leaked?

You’ve seen the teaser video for the phone that will allegedly be called the Nexus Prime or Galaxy Nexus. Now here are the rumored specs! The geniuses at Boy Genius Report claim that the phone will be packing:

[Updated 6:20PM] You’ve seen the teaser video for the phone that will allegedly be called the Nexus Prime or Galaxy Nexus. Now here are the rumored specs! The geniuses at Boy Genius Report claim that the phone will be packing:

  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 9mm thin
  • 4.65-inch 1280 x 720-pixel Super AMOLED HD with curved glass
  • TI OMAP 4460 dual-core Cortex A9 processor clocked at 1.2GHz
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 32GB of built-in storage
  • 5-megapixel camera on the back, 1.3-megapixel in the front
  • 1080p HD video capture support
  • LTE/HSPA depending on carrier
  • Wi-Fi a/b/g/n
  • NFC
  • 1,750 mAh battery

What do you think? Are you hot for those specs? If the Nexus Prime is a Verizon exclusive in America, as the rumor goes, would you be willing to switch for some LTE awesomeness? I can’t wait to go to the Sammy press conference next week!!!

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[Updated 6:20PM] GSMArena has a source within Google that has given it a very different story than the one BGR posted. Check it out:

According to our source, the device codenamed Nexus Prime is going to ship with Samsung’s own chipset, with a blazingly fast dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz. But wait, there’s more.

On that chipset will also reside a powerful dual-core GPU from Imagination. We suspect it’s going to be the PowerVR SGX543MP2, or in other words, the same GPU found in the iPad 2 (and quite probably on the iPhone 4S as well).

On the back, instead of the 5-megapixel snapper, our source claims, there’s an 8-megapixel, full 1080p HD video-shooting camera with some sort of an improved sensor. As for the battery, expect a 2050mAh one (do we hear a whoa?), which should be good for a couple of days use without charging.

The Nexus Prime will also be LTE-enabled, but the most interesting part is that it would probably boast a dual-mode GSM/CDMA radio, just like the Apple iPhone 4S.

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Coffee Talk #407: How Will You Remember Steve Jobs?

Apple has asked that you share your thoughts and memories by sending an email to rememberingsteve @ apple.com. I’m going to be sending this story to that email address, so feel free to leave your thoughts here. I’d love to know what you’ll remember about Steve Jobs.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Ivan Nova sticking it to the Detroit Tigers, awesome songs by The Carpenters, or the German sausage craze in LA, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

As most of you know, Apple’s Steve Jobs passed away yesterday. Apple has asked that you share your thoughts and memories by sending an email to rememberingsteve@apple.com. I’m going to be sending this story to that email address, so feel free to leave your thoughts here. I’d love to know what you’ll remember about Steve Jobs.

As for me, he’s definitely one of my heroes. I’m actually much more of a Steve Jobs fan than an Apple fan. I’ve always been amazed by how passionate he was about his products and how much he cared about the little details. This story posted by Google’s Vic Gundotra is a great example of Steve being Steve. His passion translated to consumer passion. In the history of consumer electronics, I’ve never seen anyone get people more excited about pieces of silicon the way that Steve Jobs did.

I’ll never forget Jobs’ Stanford commencement address from 2005. It was honest and inspiring. He talked about his successes, his failures, and how knowing that he was going to die soon liberated him. As complex as Apple’s products are and as clever as its marketing is, Jobs always made sure that the company was rooted in simple philosophies. As a whole, he wanted Apple to always try to make the best products it could make. As an individual, he wanted people to be the best at what they wanted to do.

Jobs was one of the most fascinating and influential people of my lifetime. I’ll always appreciate what brought to the world and my world.

Look in the mirror everyday and ask, “if today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am doing today?” If the answer is no for many days in a row, you need to change something. Remembering you are going to die is the most important tool to make big decisions in life, everything falls away in the face of death. External expectations, pride, fear of embarrassment or failure are all things that don’t matter in the big picture. Remembering you are going to die is the best way to remember you have nothing to lose. “You are already naked, you have nothing to lose by following you heart.”

Unreal Engine for Flash Has Enormous Implications

At Adobe’s MAX 2011 conference, Epic Games showed off Unreal Engine 3 running in real time inside Flash Player 11. Here are two videos of the live demonstration. The graphics look detailed and everything appears to be running at a smooth frame rate. Unreal Engine on Flash has tremendous potential and could drastically change the gaming landscape. Before I get into that, here’s a clip from Epic’s community site:

Flash Player is a key technology for gaming on social networks and the Web, and with UE3 will usher in the leap from 2D game experiences to world-class 3D gaming on the Web. Developers can now animate millions of objects with smooth 60 frames per second rendering and deliver console-quality games on Mac OS, Windows and connected televisions.

I’ve been working with people from Epic for more than a decade. It’s been interesting watching the company start out in the PC space, move into consoles, and enter mobile gaming. I’ve always been impressed with the company and several of its executives. With that in mind, this bit of news floored me. I wasn’t expecting it…and I certainly wasn’t expecting anything this good-looking.

Most of you know that Flash games are tremendously popular. Most of you also know that Flash games typically look like caveman sketches compared to the top PC and console games. Unreal Engine 3 on Flash can change all that. Can you imagine playing a Flash game that looks as good as what’s currently in your Xbox 360? In the immortal words of Brian Fellow, “That’s crazy!!!”

In addition to improving the visual quality of Flash games, Unreal Engine support for Flash gives smaller developers another avenue. Due to the huge budgets and teams required to make a big console or PC title, a lot of independent developers have been taking their talents to South Beach iOS, Android, Facebook, etc. I can see a lot of indie devs using Epic’s tools and taking Flash games to new heights. Bejeweled is great and all, but I love the idea of a full-featured action-RPG running on Flash. Half of me wants to get an office job just so I can goof off on Unreal Engine Flash games instead of working!

When you have a chance, check out the videos and let me know what you think of Unreal Engine 3 support for Adobe Flash. Do you think it’s as huge a deal as I think it is?

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Check Out Russell Crowe as Jor-El (Superman’s Dad)

The Daily Mail has posted several pictures of Russell Crowe in his Jor-El costume from the upcoming Superman: Man of Steel movie. The outfit is definitely interesting, but what’s really funny is that Crowe was caught smoking. Jor-El is a scientist! He knows that cigarettes are harmful to Kryptonians!

The Daily Mail has posted several pictures of Russell Crowe in his Jor-El costume from the upcoming Superman: Man of Steel movie. The outfit is definitely interesting, but what’s really funny is that Crowe was caught smoking. Jor-El is a scientist! He knows that cigarettes are harmful to Kryptonians!

Anyway, head on over to The Daily Mail if you have a chance, check out the photos, and let me know what you think.

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Coffee Talk #406: Gaming During Unexpected Delays

Last Monday I went out for a quick errand that turned into a long outing. I had to deposit a check into my business account. Under optimal conditions it’s five minutes there on the LA Metro Purple line, two minutes…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Yankees jubilant celebration of AJ Burnett not sucking for 5 2/3 innings, Chris Christie not running for president, or your favorite sandwich cheese, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last Monday I went out for a quick errand that turned into a long outing. I had to deposit a check into my business account. Under optimal conditions it’s five minutes there on the LA Metro Purple line, two minutes in the bank, and five minutes back. Due to track issues, I was stuck in the subway car on the way back for well over an hour. Most of my fellow passengers were irritated, but thanks to videogames on my T-Mobile G2x, I wasn’t bothered.

As people were bitching and getting stressed out, I was serenely playing Meteor, Real Blackjack, and Angry Birds Rio. Videogames turned an annoying situation into a fairly entertaining (but certainly wasteful) hour. Part of me felt guilty that the other passengers were getting amped up while I was gaming. Most of me was grateful that my phone was loaded with games to pass the time. It was the latest of many situations in my life where I had to smile and say, “Thank God I’m a gamer!” (I didn’t actually say that out loud, btw.)

Do any of you guys and gals have stories like that? Have games ever helped you wait out an unusually long line? Perhaps a delay at the airport? Kindly share your tales in the comments section!

Is the iPhone 4S Disappointing?

Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S at a press conference earlier today. Physically, it resembles the CDMA iPhone 4, but there are many changes under the hood. Additions include a faster processor, an improved camera, and Siri voice controls. While some of these new features are undeniably fantastic, there are some iPhone fans that wanted more. Some fans wanted a bigger screen, a new industrial design, and a 4G radio. What do you think? Was the iPhone 4S a disappointing announcement? Or did Apple do enough to stand out from the crowd?

As for me, I’m excited about the new camera and I always welcome a better processor…but I’m definitely disappointed in the product. I was positive that an LTE radio wasn’t in the works this year, so no worries there. Staying with a 3.5-inch screen is the big turn-off to me. Don’t get me wrong, in terms of image and (especially) text quality, Apple’s vaunted “Retina Display” is outstanding. That said, 3.5 inches is not enough (that’s what she said!). I would have loved an iPhone with a bigger display and a higher resolution. Before the end of the year, there will be Google Android phones that sport 720p resolutions on screens 4.3-inches and larger. I’ve gotten used to the size and usability of larger screens ever since I used the HTC Evo 4G. It’s tough going back.

Now it’s your turn! What do you think of the iPhone 4S? Are down to buy one? Or are you disappointed?

Can Sony’s “Only on PSN” Program Tackle the iOS App Store?

Sony recently announced an aggressive new program called “Only on PSN” that serves up downloadable games that are exclusive to the PlayStation online service. A lot of the games in the initial lineup are creative titles made by independent developers. With its focus on small games, creativity, and indie devs, “Only on PSN” will be competing hot and heavy with Apple’s iOS App Store.

IndustryGamers also believes that these two services are competing and asked Sony Computer Entertainment America senior director Susan Panico about taking on Apple. Here’s some of what she had to say.

On that platform [iOS] it is survival of the fittest and you really only get great success if you break into that top 20, but on our platform because it is managed and we do want to ensure we’re giving visibility to our community and marketing support behind this content, it’s a really great way for developers to not only have to invest little up front but they’re also getting the marketing machine of a large organization like PlayStation.

I agree with Panico to a point. Sony can definitely do a better job than Apple when it comes to adding community elements and catering content for its audience, which is more specific than Apple’s. Those are complexities and nuances that Sony can certainly leverage, but first it has to overcome a much more basic issue with PSN — the user experience.

The App Store’s user experience is flat-out better than PSN’s. Part of it is simply because of how you interface with each service; it’s much easier to navigate menus using your finger than it is with a d-pad and several buttons. Part of it is due to design; PSN is awfully stylish, but it’s not nearly as friendly or functional as the App Store. Before Sony worries about community engagement and casting Kevin Butler in side-splitting “Only on PSN” commercials, it needs to improve PSN’s user experience.

As for attracting independent developers for sweet exclusives, Panico said:

We have dedicated resources within our organization to go after indie developers and to work with these teams where we see great talent, and then of course we like to make sure people know we have an open platform and an open door, so they’ll want to come to us and bring their content.

Sony can definitely do a better job than Apple when it comes to reaching out to indie devs. I know people at both companies that are tasked with developer outreach and relations. Objectively, Sony has more people interacting with independent developers. Subjectively, Sony has better better people reaching out to game developers.

While a PSN vs. iOS App Store fight sounds ridiculous and lopsided in favor of Apple, there are several areas where Sony can win. Will it? I’m not sure about that. The allure of having a best-seller on iOS is tough to compete with. Will developers gamble and go for broke with Apple? Or will they prefer to go with Sony, which will (arguably) treat them better and do a superior job at helping them reach gamers?

What do you think of the “Only on PSN” initiative? Will Sony be able to attract the top indie developers? Will it be able to steal some talent away from Apple’s iOS walled garden?

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Coffee Talk #405: Most Recognizable Videogame Sound Ever?

Today’s Coffee Talk is brought to you by RPadholic N8R. During a Google+ messenger chat he asked, “What is the most recognizable videogame sound ever?” What a fantastic question! Gameplay, graphics, music, and story are…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Yankees’ fate resting in the mentally deficient brain of AJ Burnett, Hank Williams, Jr. comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler, or the awesome nerd buzz before Apple press conference, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today’s Coffee Talk is brought to you by RPadholic N8R. During a Google+ messenger chat he asked, “What is the most recognizable videogame sound ever?” What a fantastic question! Gameplay, graphics, music, and story are definitely a huge part of games, but its often short sound effects that stay with us forever. Decades after I first heard them, sound effects from Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda are still stuck in my head.

If I mention the sound of Mario getting a coin or getting a power-up or getting an extra life, I’m positive that the vast majority of you know what I’m talking about. The same goes for Zelda sounds. I’m certain that most of you know the sound of Link getting a new item or unlocking a secret. At Nintendo’s E3 2011 presser, the audience totally marked out when the orchestra played Zelda sounds. Hell, the liberal use of Zelda sounds is part of why Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is so charming.

So what say you? Answer N8R’s question and name the most recognizable videogame sounds ever (please)!

What Are Your iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S Predictions?!?

Tomorrow is Apple’s big presser for the next iPhone! Rumors include the company announcing a new iPhone 5 and a cheaper iPhone 4S, the iPhone being available on Sprint in addition to AT&T and Verizon, and Apple finally releasing a phone with a screen larger than 3.5-inches. The image used for the invite hints that voice control, powered by Apple’s purchase of Nuance, will be a big part of the press conference.

What do you think will happen? What are you hoping for? Will there be unicorns, rainbows, and sorcery?!? Please leave your predictions, thoughts, and wishes on the iPhone 5 presser in the comments section!