The Google Nexus One
 

It has arrived- the google phone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121300336.html
Rumured to have a snapdragon under the hood and voice to text functionality.
To be honest Im not very excited- I want a hardware keyboard, and I prefer maemo to android (although being able to control the phone with voice commands is tempting), but what do you think?

Re: The google nexus one
 

I think the Droid will remain the best Android phone. But a good firmware update for the N900 could put them both to bed. In other words, if this new phone is to succeed, it will be on marketing alone, the specs aren't very hot.

Re: The google nexus one
 

Droid advantages:

1. Keyboard- Huge issue if you like the game emulators and Android is currently game emulator heaven.
2. 3430 chipset is more balanced option. Snapdragon uses clock cycles to make up for weaker DSP and GPU, so is reported to be more power hungry. Phone manufacturers are capping snap anywhere from 600 to 750mhz.

Curious if Google added more memory for apps on their device. I loaded a LOT of apps to the Droid and still had 182mb(edit) remaining.

If the Google device had a KB and the 3430, it would be the best, since I doubt HTC would block the micro sd slot with the battery like Droid;)

Re: The google nexus one
 

182... gb? :/

Re: The google nexus one
 

Personally, I'm curious to see what Android can be when it isn't constrained by the carriers. For one thing, it just might be totally open. Maybe even more open than Maemo, no?

Also, for me, I'd be happy with a really lightweight model, which means no keyboard, which is OK with me if it's well-done. I wish the sucker would have a 4" screen, but at this point, that's dreaming.

[Edit: Turns out it's not dreaming. It's expected to be physically very similar to the HTC Passion/HD2, which means a 4.3" screen, 5-1/2 ounces total weight, and still a microSD card -- exactly the form factor I want.]

I understand people are critical of the way everything is built on java, and there's been unhappiness with the Android App Store. But maybe this one will be better: heck, remember when Motorola came out with "the first iPod phone," which was garbage? Maybe that's how Google feels about what's done to their Android. As for the programming/java-based limitations, I just don't know enough.

I root for Maemo. But even for FOSS advocates, this could possibly be a real temptation.

Alternatively, it just might put a chink in the carriers' wall.

Re: The google nexus one
 

I have a rooted android phone.. thats about as open as android gets.... I still prefer my N810's Maemo 4 or Mer over the Android OS. I have tried to get into development for the Android but I have to learn Java, and a custom SDK, and while I have written a few small things I never released on the market.. it was a pain.

For the N810 I was able to get right into it because of how similar it was to the debian/*buntu base. Recompiling software for the ARM was easy enough and learning Python or C++ with GTK/QT is a more rounded option since a developer can then develop applications for both Desktop Linux and a mobile device without having to learn a whole new language or SDK.

I hope for Maemo 5 to be the future.. and I was one that didn't want to see the phone capabilities into the N900 because I didn't want it to be bastardized or locked out like the carriers want. Nokia got around this by offering a phone with no subsidization. Which is great and I understand the ideology.... unfortunately it takes it out of my price range to have =-(. So for now.. I must envy all of you with the N900 while dealing with my cramped rooted android phone *cry*.

Re: The google nexus one
 

Uh, no, as in 'no it won't be.'

After a week with a N900/Maemo, I'm not the least bit tempted to go back to anything running Android.

Re: The google nexus one
 

My understanding is that Android, in the form given to manufacturers/carriers, is open, and then they fiddle with it for their own hardware and for their own greedy monopolistic reasons, and in that fiddled-with form they release it to the consumer. Without the "middle man," why would it not be as open as it is in its pre-hardware-embodied state? And how is that not as open as Maemo?

Re: The google nexus one
 

Depending on what you mean by "Android" that's not entirely correct.

Android is a series of things, it's a linux kernel (much like Maemo), it's a virtual machine that runs on top of that kernel (like the Blackberry), and it's a bunch of applications and frameworks that run on top of the virtual machine (what applications depends on whether the phone is a "google experience phone" like the G1 and Mytouch, or branded without Google like the Hero and a bunch of others).

The only thing that differs between different Android phones (of the same OS version) is the UI (HTC uses something called "sense", Motorola uses "motoblur", Sony uses something called "Rachel") which is a replacement for how the phone looks, and what applications come installed on it and/or are available for download.

Parts of Android are open, and parts are not. By "open" I don't know if you mean "open source" or "open to being messed with".

The Android kernel is open source, the applications which ship on Google experience phones are not (see the recent Cyanogen rukus). HTC's proprietary Sense UI is not open source.

Android is not as "open" as Maemo in the sense that you do not have as low level of access to the hardware (as development is either done using the Dalvik VM, or using some of the specific low-level system calls made available by the NDK)

Different people have different requirements for how open their device is. Some people want the openness of Maemo; to some Maemo isn't even open enough (as there are non-open drivers used for hardware support) and they either talk to their friends on tin cans connected by strings, or use an OpenMoko.

There is no reason to believe that a Google released Android phone would differ greatly from either of the other first two Android phones. It would be nice to blame the carriers or the manufacturers for "crippling" Android, but that's not really true.

Re: The google nexus one
 

Yeah... I held a high regard for Google and it's "Android" OS up until that fiasco. I happen to use Cyanogen's Mod's and they have increased the usefulness of my Android phone significantly. Granted, as always, the community found ways around the Google limitations - and obviously Google has a right to defend it's intellectual property - but that entire scenario should have been handled differently IMHO.

My respect meter for Google dropped a bit. Google has been trying to get a public face with the open source community with a lot of their practices lately which would make me think a "Google" phone would be a slightly less-restricted phone than your average Android-based phone.... but I'm not so sure anymore.

Re: The google nexus one
 

Must be one of them new SSD addons :)

Re: The google nexus one
 

Oops! meant 182mb:o

Re: The google nexus one
 

No keyboard, smaller screen. Not interested.

So far, the only Android phone I've found that's worth owning is the G1. GSM, 5 row comfortable keyboard, etc.

The Samsung Moment looks interesting, but it's only on Sprint.
The LG Android with keyboard also looks good, but no idea which carrier it will end up on.
The Droid ... the keyboard doesn't feel comfortable at all (from the demo unit I used), it only has a 4 row keyboard, and it isn't available on a US GSM carrier.

The only reason to use one of the other Android phones is ... it runs Android, instead of running iPhone OS X, WinMo, Symbian, etc. I'd rather go with an N900 than a keyboardless Android phone. And I'm pretty sure I'd rather haven N900 than the Droid.

To be a worthy successor to the G1, a phone has to have (using the G1 as a starting point):
Faster CPU,
More RAM,
More internal storage,
Bigger screen,
More resolution,
More battery,
3.5mm headset,
5 way dpad on the face,
Better placement of the data port (center of one of the long edges, IMO).

Bonus if it has a tilt screen ... either styled like the Nokia N97 (only bigger) or the HTC Touch Pro 2 (again, only bigger).

The Nexus One doesn't sound at all compelling/interesting to me. Lets see what they've got when they get around to the Nexus Five :-)

Re: The google nexus one
 

I really hate the lip on the G1 as well. Offsets the keyboard and feels awkward. The CLIQ is a step up from the G1 IMHO, but the keyboard could be much better (on the CLIQ).

Re: The google nexus one
 

so this the adp2?

Re: The google nexus one
 

I'm interested...

Re: The google nexus one
 

Nexus.. uh.. 7 is what I'm waiting for.

Re: The google nexus one
 

The adp2 was already released a while back, it's the Magic (same as Mytouch 3G).

This might turn out to be the adp3.

Re: The google nexus one
 

N900 is so going to be taken over by google around the web advertising when Nexus comes out.

And guess what, it is coming out in January, maybe even faster than you can get your N900.

so sadz.

Re: The google nexus one
 

4.3" screen if it's a modified version of the HTC Passion or the HD2, as has been guessed in numerous reports, e.g.,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121301694.html

and

http://www.slashgear.com/google-nexu...phone-1265839/

Hence, say I: "Larger screen. Very interested."

For coding you might need a hardware keyboard, but voice-to-text, as is rumored, will be much faster for most users when they can use it. For those times when you can't appropriately speak aloud, a good screen-based keyboard ought to be sufficient to fill the gap.

Re: The google nexus one
 

I've been hearing "smaller screen", closer to that of an iPod Touch/iPhone

Nope. Physical qwerty is mandatory (on my phone/pocketable). 5 rows highly preferred.

Re: The google nexus one
 

This Nexus One is actually sounding like it's going to be a very interesting phone. I'm getting an N900 around Christmas, but I still can't wait to see what the Google phone has to offer. Rumor has it that it'll be unlocked or sold on contract at T-Mobile, so I figure I might sell the iPhone I currently use (I can get around $340 for it) and get the Nexus One. Having both the N900 as an internet device/media player/phone as well as the Nexus one for when I don't want or need to use the N900 sounds ideal. And both would use T-Mobile's 3G Network :)

Re: The google nexus one
 

I'm with John. Any phone without some form of physical qwerty keyboard is simply not even in the running for me. Hell even the Palm Pre would stand a better chance for my money than the Google Phone. But to each their own.

Re: The google nexus one
 

Looks like T-Mo USA did not pick up the N900 due to the el Goog phone being targeted to T-Mo's 3G spectrum.

Re: The google nexus one
 

No doubt a factor, but a minor one.. IMHO T-Mobile passed on the N900 because:

a. High cost of training CS personnel to 'officially' offer and support the N900.
b. Little need to offer sales and support of the N900. Most people who really wanted a N900 would get it on their own and switch to T-Mo for 3G whether the N900 was supported 'officially' by T-Mo or not.
c. T-Mo's new policy (Even More Plus plans) of commonly supporting unlocked phones, part of which is to lessen training and support needs.

The Google Phone is Near
 

According to this article it should be here, unlocked, in early January.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...r-than-iphone/

Man, with all these N900 delays, I am seriously tempted to just jump ship.

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

I was stoked to get an N900 (why not yet? Being-in-Canada and money issues, I'm afraid) but the Nexus One looks mighty interesting for my use cases. If I'm realistic about what I'll do on my phone -- casual surfing, ssh'ing, music playing, gps, and photos -- then the Nexus One *could* be a great device for me. Of course if the photo quality sucks then I can't seriously look at it, but the HD2 is supposed to have satisfactory camera performance, and so the Nexus One may be fine in this regard.

I really like the fact that most android phones are receiving ports of the latest OSs. This increases the life span of the hardware tremendously as its supported well beyond its introduction.

Plus I *love* the slim form factor. This is a major selling feature for me, as I dress somewhat stylish, and bulky items tend to require additional bags. With this device, I can much more easily put it into my pocket.

My laptop handles the heavy lifting tasks, and the phone would likely act as a gateway to larger devices. That said, so long as the nexus one performs well in each function, it would be a fine system for me.

Lastly, the rumor that it's unlocked and will support T-Mo and AT&T sounds really nice as, being in Canada, our services are rather limited. We're waiting on Globalive to be locally born to enjoy 3G on the N900, otherwise it's edge city.

I'm looking forward to hearing more news!

}:^)~

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

I believe when it hit the FCC, it only had support for T-Mobile-USA, not AT&T.

I think it was posted to Engadget, but I'm not sure. I didn't keep the article :-}

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

Thanks John. This certainly subtracts a point from my N1 tally. I just wish I was able to try these devices prior to making a decision. I'm going based on spec-sheets and the feverish ramblings inherent in fanboy comments..

In any event, there's time still, so it'll be nice to see new information forthcoming.

What do you think an SSHing experience using an android on-screen keypad (OSK) will be like? This is my largest concern, and probably one of the most compelling reasons to choose the N900 over the N1. All other functions, I could care less about, but currently on my N810 due to the way the OSK is set up (hijacks the entire screen), ssh almost requires the built-in keypad. My uses would be running simple commands, not hacking code or anything (that's what the BT keyboard is for... or the laptop! ;))

}:^)~

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

I found the article here: http://www.brighthand.com/default.as...S+ATT+T-Mobile

The Nexus One will support T-Mobile's 3-G but only AT&T's Edge.

Although I have the N900, I am thinking about getting the Nexus, too. I'll swap phones according to my particular need for that day.

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

I am REALLY glad this is a T-Mobile phone. Their plans blow AT&T's out of the water. The iPhone is a great device in many ways, but AT&T's costs make it unbearable.

I am waiting and waiting for my N900, but Google seems to be putting MAJOR efforts into Android and its integration. The N900 is highly customizable, but if I cant get one in my hands before the Nexus is released, I will try the Nexus first.

This will be Nokia's fault.

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

you can always ask tmob to give you a second sim card

of course if ever both devices are on at the same time you are screwed

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

I have a friend that has the MyTouch (htc magic). I'll ask him what ssh is like on it. (the Android ssh client is ConnectBot, which is quite solid).

I have a G1, so they keyboard is quite handy for that. I heard, but don't know if it was true, that the G1 did come to Canada with NAM/AT&T/Bell 3G ... is that not true?

Of all of the Android phones so far, the G1 is still the only one I'd want to own :-} The 5 row keyboard is pretty compelling. It's not hte fastest device on the planet, and with the low internal storage, you can't go buying every Android app on the planet (which doesn't bother me, but it does bother some people).

Anyway, I'd try to find a place selling the canadian G1, and see if you like that. That's my recommendation for non-Maemo devices (Maemo and Android being the only two phone platforms I'm interested in).

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

I didn't know that was an option...thanks!

Re: The Google Nexus One
 

Thanks for asking your friend. This will be very helpful in determining whether or not an OSK will be suitable for one off commands or short sessions. Thankfully I've also got a bluetooth keyboard, but as it is a second device and too large to be pocket-able, it certainly requires a bag for transport.

I've read that ConnectBot is full featured as well. I know that it has support for public-key authentication (x.509 cert), but I've also read a recent bug report that there is an issues connecting via this method if it is the only authentication method. A minor inconvenience, but still something I'd like to have working.

You're right that the G1 has been in Canada. A major carrier called Rogers carries the device. However, in all of their retail outlets, I've only been able to see a dummy phone behind a plate glass, and no sales rep actually has had the device. Sadly, while I have seen the physical device, I haven't had a chance to play around with it.

The good news is, though, that Wind Mobile has launched in Canada (or in the GTA where I live), with amazingly great rates ($15 simple voice plan, $35 unlimited 3G data) and spectrum compatibility with T-Mo. This means that for $50/mo, I can use VOIP till the cows come home and even tether my notebook. The bottom line is that whatever future phone I get, it'll be with this carrier. The other carriers prices are just so high that I can't take them seriously. Here's hoping they allow unlocked phones in short order! http://windmobile.ca

What do you tend to use on your phone that makes the 5-row keypad a must?

}:^)~