Nexus 5 debuted – for a hot minute – on Google Play (GOOG) store (+video)

The long-rumored Google (GOOG) smart phone Nexus 5 had a brief moment in the spotlight when it was accidentally shown on the Google Play store website Thursday, further fueling rumors about the release of the new phone.

If Google is trying to keep the Nexus 5 a secret, perhaps putting an image of the phone on its website isn’t the best move.

For a brief moment Thursday, the Google Play store showed an image of the rumored Nexus 5, replacing the current Google smart phone, the Nexus 4. It was only available as a thumbnail image, did not link to any further details, and was quickly taken down. Still, the gaffe has only fueled rumors about the release of the new Google phone.

Google Play store visitors took screenshots of the thumbnail with the tagline: “Capture the everyday and the epic in fresh new ways.” The image showed that the device would start at $349 for a 16 GB non-contract model and would have a five-inch screen. From this shot, the display looks more translucent and some apps have new icons. Aside from these cosmetic details, people have speculated that the new phone likely will be made by LG (just like the Nexus 4), will run on Android 4.4 KitKat, and have an improved rear-facing camera.

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This isn’t the first leak the Nexus 5 has faced. Earlier

 
this month in a video advertising the release of the new Android operating system, a Google employee was shown with a never before seen smart phone with a horizontal logo and big camera lens. After the mysterious phone began attracting attention, Google took down the video. The Federal Communications Commission also recently approved and posted images of a device called the D820, which matches many of the rumors swirling around a Nexus 5. And Nestle’s KitKat, which partnered with Android to name the next evolution of the operating system, has been tweeting cryptic messages via @KitKat featuring the Android robot made out of the chocolate treat and references to Oct. 28, which is when many believe the device and operating system will officially launch.

Last month, someone reportedly left a prototype of the phone unsupervised in a bar, creating an iPhone 4-esque leak. Google has not made any official announcements as to when the phone will be released or what it may feature, so these small teases are all that the tech world has to go with as of now.

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