Google Play store already running out of Nexus 5 stock

After what seemed like an interminable wait, Google's new Android KitKat reference phone is here -- but some models might already be gone.

Forget Justin, meet the new Nexus 5!

(Credit: Google)

Less than an hour after the Nexus 5 -- the first phone to run Android KitKat -- officially hit theGoogle Play store around 11 a.m. PT, the online store is already showing certain models of the smartphone as "out of inventory."

At the moment, both white and black 16GB models appear to be sold out. Black 32GB models now show a week delay in shipping, while white 32GB phones still promise to ship within 1 to 2 business days.

Within only minutes of the launch, shipping times began to slip to a week or more.

I've reached out to Google for clarification on Nexus 5 availability. It's happened with past Play Store launches that an "out of inventory" message appeared prematurely due to heavy inbound traffic, so keep checking back and refreshing that Play Store link as well as checking back here for updates. I'll update this post when I hear back from Google.

Meanwhile, check out CNET's Nexus 5 hands-on and the rest of our coverage. Also, let us know in the comments if you've been able to order your own new Nexus phone, or if you even plan to.

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Google Nexus 5 with LTE available now, starts at $349 unlocked

Google takes the wraps off its Nexus 5.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

It's finally here.

After months of leaks and rumors, Google officially announced its latest flagship phone, the Nexus 5, during a press event today in San Francisco. The device will run the latest Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, and like its predecessor, it will be manufactured by LG.

However, the handset features several key changes, like a bigger 4.95-inch screen, a faster Snapdragon 800 processor, and most notably LTE support. It will be available unlocked at the Google Play Store for $349 (16GB) and $399 (32GB) starting today.

Design
Once again, minimalism is key. Decorated with a simple vertically lined Nexus logo and an even subtler LG logo, the Nexus 5 sports a more subdued and restrained aesthetic that is still sleek. Instead of the lustrous, tile-patterned back that we saw on the Nexus 4, the black version of the 5 features a soft-touch matte backing that, during our brief time with it, we found makes it easier to grip.

Personally, we prefer this new simple look for the durability. As chic as the Nexus 4 was, many reported that its glass back cracked too easily; in fact, two of our own review units fractured as well.

The handset measures 5.43 inches tall, 2.72 inches wide, and 0.34 inch thick, but weighs even less than the previous generation, at 4.59 ounces. Sporting the biggest screen yet in relation to past Nexuses, it has a 4.95-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display. Keeping up with its competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, the Nexus 5's touch screen has a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution and 445ppi. In contrast, the previous Nexus had a 1,280x768-pixel resolution with just 320 ppi.

Although it looks similar to LG's current flagship, the LG G2, the Nexus 5 does not house its key control buttons on the rear. Both its sleep/power button and volume rockers are made from ceramic. As expected, it will come in two color variations: black and white. (The white model has a black bezel and black edges.) Google will also sell a bumper for $34.99 in different colors including orange and gray.

During our briefing, the Nexus 5 felt great in the hand. The slight curve in the back makes it easier to pick it up off the table, and it really does feel light and sturdy.

A first look at the Google Nexus 5 (pictures)

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Core components
Powering the device is a 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, the same blazingly fast CPU seen in the G2. With this processor, the Nexus 5 is a powerful beast of a phone when you consider that both the Galaxy GS4 and HTC One are speed demons themselves, and run on Snapdragon 600 processors.

The handset features an 8-megapixel camera and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera. Google says that it made many key improvements to the handset's camera as well. To compensate for unwanted hand movement, the Nexus 5 now features a small precise gyroscope in its lens for optical image stabilization. However, when we briefly tested it out, it wasn't perfect; there was still some blur in the photos we took despite being inside a well-lit room.

The camera also has HDR+, which fuses together several exposures, as well as burst shots, to make one ideal image. As is common with HDR, it definitely took some time to process a photo when we used the feature.

The handset now features image stabilization and HDR+ processing.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Google also mentioned that the Gallery has a wireless printing framework built into the app, so developers can easily add printing support, making it that much easier to turn your digital images into tangible photos.

The handset is powered by a 2,300mAh battery and has 2GB of RAM. Additional features include wireless charging and NFC.

During our hands-on, the handset's internal speeds felt fast and very responsive, and swiping left to Google Now (which you can do with KitKat) was swift.

Network compatibility
Google has made two versions of the handset, one specifically for North America/Asia, and another for other regions like Europe. For US consumers, Verizon customers will unfortunately be left out -- this unlocked phone will not support the carrier's bands. It will be compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

The biggest update about the Nexus 5, however, is the fact that it will support LTE. For many US customers, the fact that the Nexus 4 was only compatible with HSPA+ was a huge letdown (and a bit odd since the Galaxy Nexus later had LTE). As the Nexus 5 is natively LTE-enabled, however, it is on par with today's competition in terms of data speed capabilities, and that's a big (albeit, a bit overdue) plus for the Nexus family.

What's new with Android 4.4 KitKat
Citing that the biggest challenge with KitKat was limiting its size, Google reported that the new mobile OS has just a 512MB memory profile. That's 16 percent less memory than Jelly Bean takes up, and frees up a significant amount of internal storage space.

Some new features include a more intuitive dialer. Instead of searching for a business through the browser, users can begin typing the name of the business into the dialer (even if it's not in the contact book), and Google will use its back-end servers, powered by Google Maps, to draw up the number.

Improvements have also been made to Google Voice Search and Google Now. Several new cards have been added to Now; the software feature has news cards, including one that keeps you updated on your favorite TV shows. It can also tailor search results to bring you summaries of your preferred topics.

For more on KitKat, check out CNET's first take here.

Once again, the Nexus 5 comes in black and white versions.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Outlook
Once again, the Nexus 5 brings to the fore some of the best of smartphone technology. Not only does it now have LTE (the absence of which from the last model was seen as a major oversight), it also has a powerful Snapdragon 800 processor, a 1080p screen, and the latest OS software.

But the biggest draw of all is that it's so incredibly affordable. Starting at $349 unlocked, it's a huge value. To compare, an unlocked Galaxy GS4 (16GB) goes for $649, and an unlocked HTC One (32GB) is $599. At under $400, the Nexus 5 will surely be a hit with not just Android purists, but anyone looking for a great handset.

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Automatic roti maker Rotimatic joins the bread-maker family

Roti is a classic unleavened bread will soon be given the automatic treatment. The Rotimatic is a countertop appliance that can produce one roti per minute.

The Rotimatic automatic roti maker will offer freshly baked roti on demand.

(Credit: Rotimatic)

A bread maker in the kitchen is more than just a time-saver, it is encouragement. If not for the bread machine, chances are loaves would come straight from the store shelves. Although the offerings from the store are rich and varied, nothing can compare to the delicious comfort of freshly baked bread. But why should Western-style loaves have all the fun?

The universe of bread is big, wide, and delicious. But one thing all bread holds in common, no matter what it is designed to hold, is that freshly baked is better. The Rotimatic, from the firm Zimplistic in Singapore, is a countertop appliance that churns out fresh flatbread. Designed to produce "one round and puffed roti a minute," the automatic roti maker offers deliciousness no matter what you call it.

Roti is unleavened bread and only requires oil, flour and water to make. Ingredients are added to the machine one at a time and are kept separated before making. Thickness, softness, and oil are user-defined settings, and when set in motion, the machine dispenses the correct ratio of ingredients, mixes them up and produces piping hot roti one at a time.

With the machine so simple to use, and with the reward being fresh bread, it should take little encouragement to see this up and running in kitchens everywhere -- it will however, take time; there is a waiting list

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Moto X low-cost successor, 'Moto G,' revealed by accident?

Motorola's Web site flashed a new navigation menu titled "Moto G" that was up for a short while and then simply vanished.

Could Motorola be working on a low-cost successor to the Moto X?

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

It appears a new way to leak upcoming devices may be through Web site snafus.

A new navigation menu popped up on Motorola's Web site earlier Tuesday that was titled "Moto G," according to Droidlife. But, when clicked on, the menu led to a dead link; and, shortly after the menu appeared, it disappeared again.

Earlier this month, Google had a similar Web slip-up when it appeared to accidentallydisplay the rumored Nexus 5 smartphone on the Google Play store. As with the Moto G menu, the link to the Nexus 5 was dead and soon vanished.It's been rumored that Motorola is working on a low-cost successor to its Moto Xsmartphone. The Moto X is the company's flagship smartphone that is supposed to rival other high-end devices, like Samsung Galaxy smartphones, HTC One, and Apple's iPhone. The "Moto G" could be Motorola's answer to high-end devices that cost a bit less, like Apple's iPhone 5C.

CNET contacted Motorola for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.

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Tizen makes stealth pitch to Samsung's Android acolytes

The operating system popped up in various places during Samsung's developer conference, including with cash incentives for app makers.

Samsung's developer conference featured one panel on Tizen. Attendees received free t-shirts.

(Credit: Shara Tibken/CNET)

SAN FRANCISCO -- Android may have dominated Samsung's developer conference, but that sure didn't stop Tizen from making its quiet pitch.

Samsung hosted it first conference for app makers on Monday and Tuesday in San Francisco. The vast majority of sessions and talks focused on Android-based devices, but Tizen, the open-source operating system being developed by Samsung and Intel, made its own low-key appearance.

That presence wasn't through a high number of presentations or speeches by Samsung -- or really any public mention by the Korean electronics giant at all. Rather, Tizen popped up in discussions between developers, in pitches by Samsung partners, and in incentives offered to app makers. The operating system crept into many aspects of Samsung's show even as the company pushed developers to make Android apps unique to its devices.

Samsung is the world's biggest Android device maker by a wide margin, but it has been developing Tizen as an alternative to Google's operating system for quite some time. Tizen gives Samsung more control over its own future, allowing it to rely less on Google and more on its homegrown software. That becomes increasingly important as Google puts more emphasis on its Motorola business and as Samsung tries to set itself apart from all the other handset makers in the market."The whole conference has got to be seen in the context of Tizen," Ovum analyst Jan Dawson said. "Samsung is proving it's good at working with developers so they'll transition to Tizen when the time comes."

Development for Tizen hasn't been particularly smooth. CNET learned in July that Samsung delayed its Tizen phone release by several months to the fourth quarter of this year. Now, it appears that delay could be even longer, with one of Samsung's partners telling CNET that the latest plans are for a launch in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. However, that date could change again. Samsung, meanwhile, hasn't publicly provided any recent updates about its first Tizen phone release. It declined to comment about timing for this report.

Tizen's delay has partially been due to app store issues. The group behind the OS has been working feverishly to garner developer support, holding hackathons and other events in recent months. The next such event will be the Tizen Developer Summit in Seoul, South Korea, in mid-November. But even then, the upstart OS is sure to be well behind other new operating systems competing for developer attention.

Even though Samsung's developer conference predominantly focused on Android, it gave Samsung and its partners a platform to tout Tizen's benefits and convince developers to jump on board.

Meet the Tizen operating system, running on a prototype Samsung phone.

(Credit: Luke Westaway/CNET)

Most app makers that CNET met at the conference said that Samsung or Intel has talked to them about Tizen at some point and that they were interested in learning more about the operating system. However, most of them appear to be taking a "wait and see" approach, preferring instead to devote their limited resources to iOS, Android, or even Samsung's special flavor of Android. That's true even for huge companies that have more developers.

"We're not looking at [Tizen] right now," said Adam Stein, senior director of mobile marketing for enterprise software giant SAP. SAP makes its own apps but also builds apps for various business customers. "The major enterprises are only interested in three or four operating systems at most."

That's something Samsung and Intel realize and will have to overcome. If there's one thing they've learned from BlackBerry and Microsoft, it's that apps matter. A lot. If popular titles don't work on a particular operating system, it's tough for that OS to gain much traction with users. One way Samsung and Intel are trying to attract developers to Tizen is by shifting the focus to HTML5 and away from native apps, partners say.

HTML5 first
HTML5, unlike other codes used for the development of apps, is a Web-based standard, so sophisticated programs can be run using a browser, rather than as a native program on the phone. The major advantage is that, in theory, a developer can build one HTML5 app and have it run on any phone with a good browser. That also means the app isn't stuck in just one platform such as iOS or Android.

"What Samsung is announcing with Tizen is 'HTML5 first' as the means of developing an application," said Abraham Elias, chief technical officer of Sencha, a company that provides tools for building Web applications. "That allows them to get the reach of developers who are already building on HTML5."

Sencha is working with developers and Samsung to ensure HTML5 apps work the best they can on Tizen, and Sencha also is helping Samsung develop a "world class and second-to-none" browser for the new operating system, Elias said.

Meanwhile, Alexis Menard and Kenneth Christiansen, two software engineers at Intel, noted during their presentation at the conference's only panel on Tizen, held Tuesday, that the operating system has various benefits for developers. That includes a "responsive design" that allows the OS to span various screen sizes and APIs for features like the battery.

The panel started out with a sparse crowd, but the room filled up by the end of the session, with about 40 people in attendance. Still, that number lags the attendance at panels for smart TVs and Samsung's Knox security software where it was standing room only.

Samsung's high-end phones may one day run Tizen, not Android like on the Galaxy S4, pictured here.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Money money money
As many OS makers have come to realize, just touting the benefits of their software isn't enough. For developers, what can really make a difference is funding.

Marmalade, a company that provides tools to port games and apps from one platform to others, announced during the conference that it will offer any developers who agree to make a Tizen app with its technology a free Tizen phone, a free Marmalade license, and up to $1,000 in "additional prizes." It's launching the program as part of a partnership with Samsung.

Nick Lambert, a marketing associate at Marmalade, said he signed up about 10 developers to Tizen on Monday and about 20 on Tuesday. In comparison, Samsung said about 1,300 developers attended its conference. Of course, many others could be working directly with Samsung or Intel or collaborating with another partner. But it sure doesn't indicate that interest is widespread.

AppBackr is doing something similar, paying developers with funds from Intel. It works with companies like Marmalade and Appgyver to attract app makers, and its cash incentives range from about $10 to more than $10,000, depending on the importance and AppBackr ranking of the app.

"We pay out [the funds] when an app gets verified on the Tizen store," said Sarah Cornwell, director of marketing at AppBackr. "It happens pretty fast now, within about 24 hours."

But not even cash is enough in some situations. A big drawback for developers is that Tizen won't be offered in the US, at least not at first. And there's also a lot of confusion about the platform. Samsung has said it will release Tizen as the operating system for a high-end phone, but many developers believe the software will be geared at cheap, mass-market smartphones. That disconnect doesn't help the Tizen group's efforts.

Han-Shen Yuan, senior director of engineering for new ventures and innovation at eBay, said his company is "currently evaluating" making a Tizen app because it believes the operating system could be popular in emerging markets. He added that even if Samsung first pushes the software for high-end devices, eBay still is interested as the focus likely will change over time.

"Tizen is interesting to us because if it's going to reach a large penetration from a mobile perspective, we want to be on a 'everyman phone,'" Yuan told CNET. "Part of our discussions is really looking at how this expansion is going to occur."

For Samsung's first Tizen phone to succeed, it better hope many more developers get interested pretty quick.

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