Nexus S updates made easier for Mac owners

The Google Nexus S will get future operating system updates over-the-air rather than by using the Samsung Kies PC software, a Google developer confirmed last week.

Google's Nexus S — manufactured by Samsung — will not use the PC-based software updater known as Kies and will instead be delivered OTA according to Reto Meier, a Android developer advocate working for Google.

Previous firmware updates for some Samsung devices had necessitated use of the Kies software, which is incompatible with Mac systems.

The Nexus S will ship with version 2.3 of Android known as Gingerbread which features extended Wi-Fi hotspot options, and a refreshed UI and keyboard layout. It will also feature support for near field communications technology, among other new features.