[hugh]

Starting Monday, March 21, 2011, Future Shop is accepting pre-orders for the Nexus S from Google smartphone. Available at all Future Shop locations in early April, the device offers the Canadian debut of the Pure Google Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" operating system, 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, the world's first 4" brilliant contour display, and much more.

The Nexus S from Google will be available at Future Shop on the Bell, Rogers and Telus networks at launch.

Pricing will be available early April.

 

[TechieFreak]

I bought mine from Best Buy in the US. The ones in the US work on T-Mobile, which is the same frequency band as Wind and Mobilicity here. I paid a bit more for the one that's not attached to a T-Mobile account ($529.00) but it's still worth it. I've had my Nexus S for about 2 weeks now (on Wind), and I love it!

 

[james99]

I was also looking at the unlocked AWS version for Wind Mobile. Still debating though very tempting.

 

[Veee]

I was also looking at the unlocked AWS version for Wind Mobile. Still debating though very tempting.

WIND will be selling the Nexus S soon as well. I'd wait to see what they will sell it for as they tend to have good handset pricing.

Personally, I still like my Nexus One and don't see the S as a big enough upgrade.

 

[DavidT]

WIND will be selling the Nexus S soon as well. I'd wait to see what they will sell it for as they tend to have good handset pricing.

Personally, I still like my Nexus One and don't see the S as a big enough upgrade.

I have a Nexus One as well and the only reason I'm considering upgrading to the Nexus S is because I am fed up with the touchscreen problems on the N1.

I was hoping they would be fixed with the Gingerbread update, but, nope...

 

[taxtwit]

...the device offers the Canadian debut of the Pure Google Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" operating system...

- would that be the same Gingerbread 2.3 Canadian N1 owners have had for a few weeks already?

 

[hugh]

the debut line was from FS but I believe it refers to the first new device shipped with the OS.

 

[redzone]

i dont understand this phone. its basically a Galaxy S + a flash and - a micro sd slot.

why spend 170+3yr contract when the S is 49 right now?

 

[Veee]

The Galaxy S is still running Android 2.2. And with the S you are always going to have the latest Android version.

 

[redzone]

I guess if your not willing to root thats an issue?

 

[BGY11]

There isn't a good working Gingerbread ROM for the Galaxy S yet - not to mention you will be stuck with the Touchwiz UI unless you install a custom rom.

Google will release updated Android builds for the Nexus S, then it will get ported to other devices.

 

[Nicko68]

So if we buy a Nexus S from, say, Rogers, will it be unlocked? Will it have any customized Rogers stuff or will it be pure Android? Will the updates come from Google, meaning the phone can always be updated? (I think this last one was already alluded to above).

 

[hugh]

So if we buy a Nexus S from, say, Rogers, will it be unlocked?

I assume it depends on what you pay.

I can`t see how Rogers could sell a locked device for $529 when you can get one an unlocked one in the U.S. or presumably FS for $529. Different story if they are selling for $199 or $299.

 

[eimaj]

The Galaxy S is still running Android 2.2. And with the S you are always going to have the latest Android version.

Galaxy S line is getting a 2.3 update in pretty soon, maybe even this month. When is this phone released in Canada?

Any nexus phone should be as far ahead of other phones as the N1 was when it was released. Having a dual core with expandable memory would have kept it ahead of the curve, and then it would have been a more enticing option, for me for sure anyway. Google dropped the ball on this one and will probably lose sales because all the techies who might have bought this phone will most likely wait for the dual cores, which are arriving now.

Hopefully there will be a Nexus 2 with all the necessary specs to make it an advanced phone, not just a run of the mill smartie who's only advantage is a month or two lead on getting an update.

 

[TechieFreak]

NCIX is selling the Nexus S now, to work with Mobilicity (or Wind). Although it IS more expensive than in the States.

Also, another feature on the Nexus S, that won't be used much until it becomes more ubiquitous, is NFC. I've heard that the next iPhone will also have NFC. Once they come out with it, I'm sure that everyone will jump on board.

It was easy for me to consider the Nexus S, as it's my first smartphone. As I stated previously, no regrets so far.

 

[TorontoColin]

Galaxy S line is getting a 2.3 update in pretty soon, maybe even this month. When is this phone released in Canada?

Any nexus phone should be as far ahead of other phones as the N1 was when it was released. Having a dual core with expandable memory would have kept it ahead of the curve, and then it would have been a more enticing option, for me for sure anyway. Google dropped the ball on this one and will probably lose sales because all the techies who might have bought this phone will most likely wait for the dual cores, which are arriving now.

Hopefully there will be a Nexus 2 with all the necessary specs to make it an advanced phone, not just a run of the mill smartie who's only advantage is a month or two lead on getting an update.

The European Galaxy S might see Gingerbread soon. Don't expect to see it for the Canadian variants for months yet, if ever. Even then it will have TouchWiz UI.

I would always prefer to have the latest software over the latest hardware. Firstly, no matter how good the hardware is, it will still be outdated in a few months, unlike the Nexus line's software. Secondly, having high powered hardware won't help you if you're running an outdated version of Android that can't run the latest apps.

 

[eimaj]

True for official updates on the nexus line, but if you are tech savvy enough, rooting and custom roms will make updates come to your phone faster anyway. Some developers have already rooted/custom rom'd the Atrix.

 

[normancw]

Is the pre-order in-store only? Unlocked version also?

Does anyone know if the pre-order is in-store only? I could not find it on the site.

Also, is Futureshop also selling the unlocked version? I'm only going to use the phone for app development and don't need a contract.

Thanks,
Norm

 

[normancw]

In-store only and locked to carrier.

FYI, just got back from Futureshop, they are only taking pre-orders in-store and only for phones locked to a carrier. They don't have a SKU for the unlocked version.

 

[TorontoColin]

Apparently only Rogers, Fido, Telus, and Koodo. Not Bell or Virgin, or any of the AWS carriers.