google nexus 4

Google: Nexus 4 on sale, but high traffic causing purchase errors

Google's newest flagship smartphone went back on sale this afternoon, but heavy traffic to the Google Play store caused errors for many shoppers attempting to purchase the Nexus 4.

The Nexus 4, which starts at $199 with a two-year contract, went on sale November 13 and sold out within the hour. Google did not say how many units it had made available. The phone can be purchased directly through T-Mobile or without a contract from Google Play starting at $299. The unlocked phone can also run on AT&T's network.

Shoppers who had signed up for notification … Read more

Smartphones with unusual features (roundup)

These days, almost every smartphone contains the same bag of tricks, with little to differentiate handsets, apart from the hardware and maybe some software extras.

Sure, one might have a better camera, more external or internal storage, and other specs that help us tell one phone from another. But on the whole, you can access e-mail, text messages, and social networks from them all, share photos and videos, surf the Internet, and install any number of apps.

This kind of uniformity is actually good news, since it means that even midrange smartphones can be just as capable as high-end products, even if they have a smaller screen or shorter battery life, for instance. Of course, there are some smartphones that stand out from the crowd for a certain physical or software feature. In no particular order, here's the current crop of unique handsets that have me looking twice.… Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 54: Stealing stuff with Jaymar Cabebe! (Podcast)

Download.com Associate Editor Jaymar Cabebe stops by to help Antuan Goodwin host today's show. We take a look at CNET's wishlist for the rumored next Nexus phone and, boy, are our expectations great. Leaked photos show that LG is taking aim with a dual-screen gimmick phone at an entry level price. If rumors are to be believed, Antuan will have something to look forward to on his HTC Thunderbolt and so do you Motorola Atrix 4G users. Jaymar helps us figure out what Yahoo is up to with its new Play music app for Android and Antuan … Read more

What we'd like from the Google Nexus 4G

One of Android's most notable franchises got new life last week after rumors predicted the launch of a new Nexus smartphone. Pegged (for now) as the Google Nexus 4G, the "absolute beast" device would continue the stock Android tradition of the original HTC Nexus One and the more recent Samsung Nexus S. Carrier and manufacturer details are still a mystery (though AT&T is a likely contender), but Thanksgiving has surfaced as a likely release date.

Rumored features on the Google Nexus 4G include a dual-core 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz CPU, a 720-pixel high-definition screen, … Read more