Even though it wasn't officially introduced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Google's Nexus One phone was definitely the top technology topic at last week's convention.
Any and every journalist or industry wag who was carrying a Nexus One in his pocket in Las Vegas became an instant celebrity. Video cameras of all shapes and sizes followed those lucky enough to have a Nexus One so they could show off the device and describe their feelings.
I decided it was best to live with my "real Google Phone" test sample for a few days before telling you about it. I'm glad I did, as I found some interesting things you should know.
Thin, slim and drop-dead beautiful, the HTC-built Nexus One is the most modern Android smartphone to date. It has to be compared to Apple's iPhone 3GS to understand just how important this phone really is.
Overall, both phones are nearly the same size on the outside. The Nexus One is a drop thinner overall, but for the most part, the dimensions are pretty close.
The Nexus One's Snapdragon processor is 66% faster than the processor in the iPhone 3GS (1GHz vs. 600MHz). Google's smartphone has a 3.7-inch AMOLED screen (800 by 400 pixels). The iPhone 3GS sports a 3.5-inch display (480 by 320 pixels). Both phones handle Wi-Fi connections and Bluetooth, and both are GSM/EDGE world phones -- but the iPhone 3GS uses AT&T's 3G bands here in the U.S. while the Nexus One uses T-Mobile's AWS 3G.
The Nexus One has a 5 megapixel camera. The iPhone 3GS: 3.2 megapixels. The iPhone comes with either 16GB or 32GB of fixed storage while the Nexus One has 512MB of built-in storage plus a 4GB microSD card (expandable to 32GB).
Apple claims as much as 12 hours (2G) or 5 hours (3G) of talk time on a fully charged battery. Google says the Nexus One can provide you with up to 10 hours (2G) or 7 hours (3G) of talk on its fully charged battery. These numbers are wildly optimistic, as expected. You will almost definitely never see the quoted battery life on these or any other modern-day 3G phone. Expect to have to recharge your battery during the day if you use it a lot, and average users should get a full workday out of either phone. At least you can swap out the battery for a fully charged pack on the Nexus One.
Until now the iPhone 3GS was the yardstick for all other smartphone designs, but the Nexus One does it one better in nearly every way, shape and form. This is not to say that the new Google phone is perfect -- far from it. But it is the first device to be able to compete and in many cases surpass the iPhone 3GS at its own game.
Part of Google's secret is the software. The Nexus One runs on Google's latest version of its mobile operating system, which is officially known as Android Mobile Technology Platform 2.1 (Eclair). At the moment this is the only Android phone to run this version of the OS, although there are rumors that Verizon's DROID and possibly even T-Mobile's G1 and myTouch 3G will be upgradable in the near future.
Android 2.1 allows the Nexus One to look great. "Eye candy" perhaps best-describes 2.1's updated UI. The graphics are crisp and clean, and the almost-3D, colorful moving backgrounds look pretty amazing. Google has also changed the "pull-up" applications menu into a single-on screen button, which then dissolves into a palette of icons.
Google's latest OS build also adds speech-to-text everywhere there's a text field. I can't believe how accurate it is when translating my "Brooklynese" into English. Well done, Google.
The hardware is pretty special, too. That larger screen in a super-thin shell makes the Nexus One one of the most pocket-able smartphone designs ever.
Setup of the Nexus One was unbelievably easy. Maybe that's because I use Gmail and all the calendar and contact features that go with it. Either way, I typed in my address and ALL of my information was loaded onto the Nexus One within 30 seconds. That's very, very cool. Those who don't use Google for email, contacts and calendar may not have the same experience, however. Especially those using Microsoft Exchange, as the Nexus One currently does not support Exchange calendar sync.
Like I said at the beginning, the Nexus One is not a 100% perfect device. There seems to be some sort of problem with the phone having trouble maintaining a 3G connection (not to be confused with an iPhone not being able to maintain ANY connection at times). Google and T-Mobile have both publicly stated that the issue is being investigated and they should have a resolution soon.
Many Nexus One users (I actually didn't think there were that many at this point) are complaining that their new phones constantly bounce back and forth between 2G and 3G without warning. The blogs are all abuzz with complaints.
The best non-explanation I saw was a video showing a Nexus One handling 3G perfectly when it was sitting on a desk but connected to just the 2G network when the user picks up the phone. Know what that means? When the phone is picked-up the guy's hand is blocking the receiving antenna inside the phone.
There may be an actual problem with these phones, but you have to remember that when GSM/EDGE frequencies, 3G frequencies (WCDMA), GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are all jammed inside such a tiny handset (with teeny antennas), you're likely to have big problems. Nokia had the same problem with the E72 when it was first released in North America. We can only hope that Google can work out these issues without needing to call on HTC to rework the hardware.
There are two other main annoyances I found with the Google Nexus One. The first is that the application screen is difficult to navigate at times (it freezes unless you move it from the top). The second, and perhaps more odd issue, is the fact that the Nexus One has trouble displaying the color red -- I don't think the phone does a perfect job of reproducing that color, at least compared to other smartphones. Quite bizarre, especially for what is an otherwise brilliant display panel.
As for price, the Nexus One is available through Google as an unlocked device for $529.99, or for only $179.99 with a new two-year T-Mobile service contract. Existing T-Mobile customers may qualify for this lower price as well.
Google is also promising a Nexus One for Verizon and Vodafone customers sooner-rather-than-later this year, though pricing information has not been made available.
Overall, the Nexus One is the best Android-OS smartphone to date, at least until the next high-end Android handset finds its way to market. At the very least, the Nexus One is going to put a lot of pressure on Apple to come up with something spectacular with its next iPhone refresh.
Any and every journalist or industry wag who was carrying a Nexus One in his pocket in Las Vegas became an instant celebrity. Video cameras of all shapes and sizes followed those lucky enough to have a Nexus One so they could show off the device and describe their feelings.
I decided it was best to live with my "real Google Phone" test sample for a few days before telling you about it. I'm glad I did, as I found some interesting things you should know.
Thin, slim and drop-dead beautiful, the HTC-built Nexus One is the most modern Android smartphone to date. It has to be compared to Apple's iPhone 3GS to understand just how important this phone really is.
Overall, both phones are nearly the same size on the outside. The Nexus One is a drop thinner overall, but for the most part, the dimensions are pretty close.
The Nexus One's Snapdragon processor is 66% faster than the processor in the iPhone 3GS (1GHz vs. 600MHz). Google's smartphone has a 3.7-inch AMOLED screen (800 by 400 pixels). The iPhone 3GS sports a 3.5-inch display (480 by 320 pixels). Both phones handle Wi-Fi connections and Bluetooth, and both are GSM/EDGE world phones -- but the iPhone 3GS uses AT&T's 3G bands here in the U.S. while the Nexus One uses T-Mobile's AWS 3G.
The Nexus One has a 5 megapixel camera. The iPhone 3GS: 3.2 megapixels. The iPhone comes with either 16GB or 32GB of fixed storage while the Nexus One has 512MB of built-in storage plus a 4GB microSD card (expandable to 32GB).
Apple claims as much as 12 hours (2G) or 5 hours (3G) of talk time on a fully charged battery. Google says the Nexus One can provide you with up to 10 hours (2G) or 7 hours (3G) of talk on its fully charged battery. These numbers are wildly optimistic, as expected. You will almost definitely never see the quoted battery life on these or any other modern-day 3G phone. Expect to have to recharge your battery during the day if you use it a lot, and average users should get a full workday out of either phone. At least you can swap out the battery for a fully charged pack on the Nexus One.
Until now the iPhone 3GS was the yardstick for all other smartphone designs, but the Nexus One does it one better in nearly every way, shape and form. This is not to say that the new Google phone is perfect -- far from it. But it is the first device to be able to compete and in many cases surpass the iPhone 3GS at its own game.
Part of Google's secret is the software. The Nexus One runs on Google's latest version of its mobile operating system, which is officially known as Android Mobile Technology Platform 2.1 (Eclair). At the moment this is the only Android phone to run this version of the OS, although there are rumors that Verizon's DROID and possibly even T-Mobile's G1 and myTouch 3G will be upgradable in the near future.
Android 2.1 allows the Nexus One to look great. "Eye candy" perhaps best-describes 2.1's updated UI. The graphics are crisp and clean, and the almost-3D, colorful moving backgrounds look pretty amazing. Google has also changed the "pull-up" applications menu into a single-on screen button, which then dissolves into a palette of icons.
Google's latest OS build also adds speech-to-text everywhere there's a text field. I can't believe how accurate it is when translating my "Brooklynese" into English. Well done, Google.
The hardware is pretty special, too. That larger screen in a super-thin shell makes the Nexus One one of the most pocket-able smartphone designs ever.
Setup of the Nexus One was unbelievably easy. Maybe that's because I use Gmail and all the calendar and contact features that go with it. Either way, I typed in my address and ALL of my information was loaded onto the Nexus One within 30 seconds. That's very, very cool. Those who don't use Google for email, contacts and calendar may not have the same experience, however. Especially those using Microsoft Exchange, as the Nexus One currently does not support Exchange calendar sync.
Like I said at the beginning, the Nexus One is not a 100% perfect device. There seems to be some sort of problem with the phone having trouble maintaining a 3G connection (not to be confused with an iPhone not being able to maintain ANY connection at times). Google and T-Mobile have both publicly stated that the issue is being investigated and they should have a resolution soon.
Many Nexus One users (I actually didn't think there were that many at this point) are complaining that their new phones constantly bounce back and forth between 2G and 3G without warning. The blogs are all abuzz with complaints.
The best non-explanation I saw was a video showing a Nexus One handling 3G perfectly when it was sitting on a desk but connected to just the 2G network when the user picks up the phone. Know what that means? When the phone is picked-up the guy's hand is blocking the receiving antenna inside the phone.
There may be an actual problem with these phones, but you have to remember that when GSM/EDGE frequencies, 3G frequencies (WCDMA), GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are all jammed inside such a tiny handset (with teeny antennas), you're likely to have big problems. Nokia had the same problem with the E72 when it was first released in North America. We can only hope that Google can work out these issues without needing to call on HTC to rework the hardware.
There are two other main annoyances I found with the Google Nexus One. The first is that the application screen is difficult to navigate at times (it freezes unless you move it from the top). The second, and perhaps more odd issue, is the fact that the Nexus One has trouble displaying the color red -- I don't think the phone does a perfect job of reproducing that color, at least compared to other smartphones. Quite bizarre, especially for what is an otherwise brilliant display panel.
As for price, the Nexus One is available through Google as an unlocked device for $529.99, or for only $179.99 with a new two-year T-Mobile service contract. Existing T-Mobile customers may qualify for this lower price as well.
Google is also promising a Nexus One for Verizon and Vodafone customers sooner-rather-than-later this year, though pricing information has not been made available.
Overall, the Nexus One is the best Android-OS smartphone to date, at least until the next high-end Android handset finds its way to market. At the very least, the Nexus One is going to put a lot of pressure on Apple to come up with something spectacular with its next iPhone refresh.
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