Google Takes the Wraps Off Nexus 4 with Android 4.2

Despite canceling the press event scheduled for this morning, Google has officially announced the Nexus 4, the latest iteration of its flagship smartphone.

The device will be built by LG, and will offer a 4.7-inch display with a 1280 x 720 resolution. The device will also house a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB of RAM.

Additionally, the Nexus 4 will include an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and will come in two storage capacities, 8GB and 16GB.

The handset will also offer an interesting case crafted from glass sporting a thin layer that sparkles, giving the device an interesting aesthetic that sets it apart from the hordes of homogenized devices currently on the market.

Finally, the handset will run Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), the latest and fastest version of Google's operating system to date.

Additional Features  

Being a Google device, the Nexus 4 will tie into the Google Play ecosystem. While the app market may not be as robust as the Apple App store, the ecosystem offers all of the essentials, including Google Maps, Chrome, YouTube, and Gmail.

In the age where everyone is offering their own adaptations of Apple's voice-activated information-retrieval system, Siri, the Nexus 4 presents Google Now. This matches many of the functions of Siri, including the ability to check movie times and sport scores, alert users to delayed flight times, and provide traffic reports.

Everyone loves taking panorama photos with their devices, and the Nexus 4 will allow users to take panoramas like never before. The smartphone will be the first device that allows users to take full 360 degree panoramas, allowing them to fully capture the landscape in a single image.

The Nexus 4 will also take full advantage of wireless, allowing for wireless charging and Android Beam sharing. The handset will be fully compatible with wireless charging devices allowing users to complete recharge the device without the need of a chord. Users will also be able to instantly share media with one another by simply tapping their devices together via Android Beam.

Pricing and Availability

The new Google Nexus 4 will be available to consumers starting on Nov. 13 via the Google Play store without contract in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, and Canada. The 8GB one will be offered for $300, and the 16GB version will be $350.

The 16GB version of the handset will also be offered by T-Mobile starting Nov. 14 for $200 with a two-year contract.