A bit of info on the Nexus One

[Pliablemoose]

I got frustrated with the info leaking out on the Nexus One, here's someone that's a bit more tech savvy that got to use one for a few minutes:

I just played with the Google Nexus One for a few minutes, Here’s my report:
- It’s extremely thin
- It’s much nicer looking in person than in pictures
- There’s a 4 GB micro-SD card installed
- The battery capacity is 1400 mAh
- The screen appears to be OLED (same size/resolution as the Motorola Droid)
- 3G works on T-Mobile USA
- I can confirm that there’s no 3G on AT&T (EGDE only)
- It’s definitely unlocked
- It’s super snappy! Faster than the Droid…
- There’s no multitouch support in the browser or in Google Maps
- There’s no dedicated camera key, but it’s the same camera interface as the Droid
- The trackball can be used to focus (like on other HTC devices)
- Low-light performance is decent, but the flash is weak
- Calls are routed the normal way, not using data (VoIP), and sound fine
- The home screen is divided into 5 panes (like the custom interface on the HTC Hero Motorola CLIQ)
- It’s using a micro-USB connector for data/power
- There are some gold contacts at the bottom edge, for a dock perhaps?
- Did I mention it’s fast?

Also confirmed is a 3.5mm headphone jack.

I'm looking forward to it, and will likely buy one when it's available, although I may wait till they offer a good price, or snag one from eBay.

 

[secretanchitman]

no att 3g? dammit...and no multitouch out of the box? i seriously dont get why that isnt possible on usa android phones.

still, might be a nice phone to pick up and use overseas

 

[Demo24]

lol, looks like thenexusone.com got taken down.

 

[destrekor]

more and more this completely confirms this is 99.9% most likely NOT a "Google Phone" any more than T-Mobile's G1 and MyTouch are "Google Phones". On the same note, pretty similar to the Verizon Droid.

It's unlocked because it's a developer model, just like the HTC Dream (G1) and HTC Magic (MyTouch), of which were the ADP1 and ADP2, respectively.

Both were T-Mobile 3G devices, and unlocked had access to EDGE (iirc), but not AT&T's 3G because it's a different frequency, but the standard GSM (and thus EDGE) were able to be picked up by the unlocked phone's cell radios.

No multi-touch directly implemented because, again, gasp, it's simply how the Android OS is here in the USA - it supports it, but no included apps actually have it enabled. Something strange in the legal department I reckon.
5 panes is simply part of the 2.1 upgrade, that will be available on all v2.1 phones. I so hope the Droid gets 2.1 the same month it is released.

This is T-Mobile's next phone, and thus far is shaping up to be how Google does business - all ADP models are T-Mobile exclusive releases.

 

[Pliablemoose]

more and more this completely confirms this is 99.9% most likely NOT a "Google Phone" any more than T-Mobile's G1 and MyTouch are "Google Phones". On the same note, pretty similar to the Verizon Droid.

It's unlocked because it's a developer model, just like the HTC Dream (G1) and HTC Magic (MyTouch), of which were the ADP1 and ADP2, respectively.

Both were T-Mobile 3G devices, and unlocked had access to EDGE (iirc), but not AT&T's 3G because it's a different frequency, but the standard GSM (and thus EDGE) were able to be picked up by the unlocked phone's cell radios.

No multi-touch directly implemented because, again, gasp, it's simply how the Android OS is here in the USA - it supports it, but no included apps actually have it enabled. Something strange in the legal department I reckon.
5 panes is simply part of the 2.1 upgrade, that will be available on all v2.1 phones. I so hope the Droid gets 2.1 the same month it is released.

This is T-Mobile's next phone, and thus far is shaping up to be how Google does business - all ADP models are T-Mobile exclusive releases.

Yep, what I suspected all along, killer for those of us geeks on TMobile (like me)

I know the term "iPhone killer" is thrown around a lot, but honestly, Everyone is a lot closer to iPhone type interfaces and experience, the whole industry is chasing them, and getting a hell of a lot better.

I just hope I get a Nexus One (damn, that's a stupid name) before the aftermarket battery cover for my G1 completely shatters

 

[Demo24]

Pretty sure this is going to be a retail version of that phone.

http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/12/...coming-to-verizon-better-live-up-to-its-name/

Also, with those homescreen mods you can give yourself more home screens.

Pliable, looks like you might have to wait for the 'Bravo' to hit Tmobile.

 

[Yzzim]

Any word on how big the screen is? It looks larger than the Droid...?

 

[Bateluer]

Any word on how big the screen is? It looks larger than the Droid...?

OP says its 3.7in OLED based with the same resolution as the Droid.

 

[Yzzim]

OP says its 3.7in OLED based with the same resolution as the Droid.

Oops, missed that

Too bad though, I thought the Passion was going to have a larger 4.3" screen with the same resolution as the Droid. Guess the bigger screen along with the snapdragon processor would have annihilated the battery life.

 

[Bateluer]

Oops, missed that

Too bad though, I thought the Passion was going to have a larger 4.3" screen with the same resolution as the Droid. Guess the bigger screen along with the snapdragon processor would have annihilated the battery life.

How big do we realistically want our mobile phones to be? When we start talking about 4.3in or 5in screens, the devices are getting quite massive.

 

[zerocool84]

In the beginning I really wanted this phone but T-mobile just kills it for me. I live in LA and while they are fine here I travel a lot and aren't great in places that aren't big cities.

 

[secretanchitman]

In the beginning I really wanted this phone but T-mobile just kills it for me. I live in LA and while they are fine here I travel a lot and aren't great in places that aren't big cities.

its a nice phone, but i hate how there are no 3G bands for att...i refuse to go to t-mobile - they have the worst coverage out of the carriers here in chicago.

 

[Yzzim]

How big do we realistically want our mobile phones to be? When we start talking about 4.3in or 5in screens, the devices are getting quite massive.

As big as possible without being too bulky. The HD2 looks just about right.

 

[Bateluer]

As big as possible without being too bulky. The HD2 looks just about right.

I haven't held an HD2, how big is it compared to the Moto Droid, the G1, or the Eris/Hero?

 

[ciproxr]

even without the multitouch , its an impresive device, but what i want to know is will it be at the rumored $199.00 unlocked ? price is the factor here, even t 299.00 i would most likely buy it, anything over that its just another android phone, slightly faster.

 

[TheWart]

even without the multitouch , its an impresive device, but what i want to know is will it be at the rumored $199.00 unlocked ? price is the factor here, even t 299.00 i would most likely buy it, anything over that its just another android phone, slightly faster.

Excuse my ignorance, but if it cannot do 3G on ATT, and cannot do Verizon (cause this phone is gsm), then I wonder how popular this phone will be unlocked, even at a low price. Essentially, isn't it limiting itself to Tmobil, so you might as well get it on contract at a subsidized price.

 

[Yzzim]

I haven't held an HD2, how big is it compared to the Moto Droid, the G1, or the Eris/Hero?

http://www.engadget.com/photos/htc-hd2-hands-on/2339461

Not sure that I like the buttons on the bottom (I'd rather have softkeys)

Otherwise it looks delicious

 

[ciproxr]

Excuse my ignorance, but if it cannot do 3G on ATT, and cannot do Verizon (cause this phone is gsm), then I wonder how popular this phone will be unlocked, even at a low price. Essentially, isn't it limiting itself to Tmobil, so you might as well get it on contract at a subsidized price.

they are saying that they will have a version for verizon and sprint later on, just not on jan 5th. of course this is all speculation.

 

[TheWart]

they are saying that they will have a version for verizon and sprint later on, just not on jan 5th. of course this is all speculation.

ahh ok. That would make more sense then...

 

[destrekor]

Excuse my ignorance, but if it cannot do 3G on ATT, and cannot do Verizon (cause this phone is gsm), then I wonder how popular this phone will be unlocked, even at a low price. Essentially, isn't it limiting itself to Tmobil, so you might as well get it on contract at a subsidized price.

"unlocked" is a term getting thrown around loosely it seems, because people aren't exactly coming to terms with what this phone is.
Everyone is still expecting it to be some phone marketed and sold directly by Google, sold unlocked and able to be used on multiple carriers. That will just not be the case with this phone.
If it does indeed become the ADP3 like I think it will, it will be sold unlocked, and rooted, by Google directly, but at a price that will likely be around the same MSRP as an unsubsidized (no contract) purchase through T-Mobile. It will probably retail for $199 with 2-year contract, probably around $450-550 without contract. Unlocked directly from Google is useful for the purpose of it being a developer model, so that people all over can buy the phone to develop on it, with an officially-sponsored hardware configuration on Android so that apps have a better chance at running stable on multiple devices in the future. More specifically, the unlocked model then allows the developer to activate it on other carriers near them that use the same radio tech as in the phone (I think this would be the case, never played with unlocked phones before), so in this case, other GSM providers with the same radio frequencies as in the phone.

 

[Pliablemoose]

"unlocked" is a term getting thrown around loosely it seems, because people aren't exactly coming to terms with what this phone is.
Everyone is still expecting it to be some phone marketed and sold directly by Google, sold unlocked and able to be used on multiple carriers. That will just not be the case with this phone.
If it does indeed become the ADP3 like I think it will, it will be sold unlocked, and rooted, by Google directly, but at a price that will likely be around the same MSRP as an unsubsidized (no contract) purchase through T-Mobile. It will probably retail for $199 with 2-year contract, probably around $450-550 without contract. Unlocked directly from Google is useful for the purpose of it being a developer model, so that people all over can buy the phone to develop on it, with an officially-sponsored hardware configuration on Android so that apps have a better chance at running stable on multiple devices in the future. More specifically, the unlocked model then allows the developer to activate it on other carriers near them that use the same radio tech as in the phone (I think this would be the case, never played with unlocked phones before), so in this case, other GSM providers with the same radio frequencies as in the phone.

How dare you apply logic to the marketing of this phone?

It'll be free, and Google will pay me every month to use it...

(I was getting seriously pissed at the rumors around this phone, I mean how goddamn ignorant are some people?)

It'll cost an arm & a leg unsubsidized, and I honestly think the whole "direct from Google" is BS, and the Google employees got confused over the whole unsubsidized phone purchase info through TMobile's Project Dark pricing plans and made the connection that Google was/is going to market it directly.

Honestly Google isn't a hardware company, and from everything I've read about/by them gives no indication they're interested in becoming one.

It's douchbags like Michael Arrington that's spreading this FUD, and just because some tool blogger at the WSJ falls for it give the rumor more credibility.

Arrington recently swears that Google will be making netbooks next year. It's a hell of a lot more likely that Google is helping someone develop a reference design netbook that has a Chrome OS.

Google is far from stupid, if they give away software that helps them collect marketing data it's a hell of a lot more profitable than selling netbooks with a razor thin profit margin, same with smart phones.

 

[destrekor]

How dare you apply logic to the marketing of this phone?

It'll be free, and Google will pay me every month to use it...

(I was getting seriously pissed at the rumors around this phone, I mean how goddamn ignorant are some people?)

It'll cost an arm & a leg unsubsidized, and I honestly think the whole "direct from Google" is BS, and the Google employees got confused over the whole unsubsidized phone purchase info through TMobile's Project Dark pricing plans and made the connection that Google was/is going to market it directly.

Honestly Google isn't a hardware company, and from everything I've read about/by them gives no indication they're interested in becoming one.

It's douchbags like Michael Arrington that's spreading this FUD, and just because some tool blogger at the WSJ falls for it give the rumor more credibility.

Arrington recently swears that Google will be making netbooks next year. It's a hell of a lot more likely that Google is helping someone develop a reference design netbook that has a Chrome OS.

Google is far from stupid, if they give away software that helps them collect marketing data it's a hell of a lot more profitable than selling netbooks with a razor thin profit margin, same with smart phones.

Precisely, Google realizes the profits are in ad revenue. That is what Google is, and shall forever shall be. Everything else is simply to make the target audience for ads far larger. Gmail? What, decide to make something awesome just because they like us? Well, partly, they do adhere strongly to the "do no evil" business ethic, BUT, there is always something in it for them. I mean, that's business - they just go about it with a way that'll have us begging for SkyNet, I mean Google LifeCloud, in 20 or so years.
I love Google, they are genius. And as genius, they realize hardware isn't where the money is. Let everyone do the hardware (and why step into an arena chock full of competitors already, as the hardware world is), and instead, they'll just provide the software, with the hope that they'll be providing software for the majority of hardware vendors. They're doing a pretty damn good job with that right now, why throw a wrench into that method of business?

I mean hell, it even looks like Microsoft is going to end up ditching the Zune as a Microsoft hardware platform, and open it up as a service. They'll probably have a reference device, probably keep a Zune model out there as their version, but eventually it looks like it will open up to any other device sporting Microsoft software, like Windows Mobile 7 (I'm hoping this ends up being true, many internal hints are suggesting it is). Microsoft, with the exception of the 360, is entirely in the software world, with some odd peripherals but nothing that is the main system.

People just run with rumors and expect common ideas out of companies, but you just have to look at their business model to really find predictability.

And hell, this Google Phone rumor crops up with each ADP. This time it just happened to catch the right ignorant eyes and it went skyrocketing.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Honestly, I think the Google employees have more than a little "Apple Envy" and they (and the tech bloggers) automatically made the assumption that Google was going to somehow morph into another Apple.

 

[zerocool84]

Honestly, I think the Google employees have more than a little "Apple Envy" and they (and the tech bloggers) automatically made the assumption that Google was going to somehow morph into another Apple.

Why would anyone compare the two? Both do two totally different things and even though they both do cellphones they do them completely differently.

 

[destrekor]

Why would anyone compare the two? Both do two totally different things and even though they both do cellphones they do them completely differently.

Welcome to journalism. If no link exists, and you need a story, you invent said link.