Nexus One Apps

Watch Blu-rays and DVD movies on Nexus One like iPhone

2010-01-20T08:59:00.000-06:00

Now, as the much awaited Nexus One is into the palm of many of us, debate on the superiority of Google branded phone Nexus One over iPhone and prior to its launch becomes more and more consolidated. I don’t mean to join the discussion. Here I just want to share my way viewing Blu-ray and DVD movies on Nexus One according to my own experience.

First of all, let’s view graphics, audio and video of Google Nexus One:

Image: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP

Audio encoders: AMR-NB

Audio decoders: AAC LC/LTP, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+), AMR-NB, AMR-WB9, MP3, MIDI SMF, OGG Vorbis, WAVE (8-bit and 16bit PCM)

Video: H.263, MPEG-4 SP, H.264 AVC

From the above info, you will see that Nexus One can not directly play Blu-ray and DVD. As a result, I have to turn to a third party – Blu-ray ripper for help. There are many Blu-ray ripper tools which can do the job but not all of them can decrypt and convert Blu-ray or protected DVD to any other popular video/audio format with ease like Moyea Blu-ray Ripper after trying several Blu-ray rippers one by one. Additionally, it supports decrypting and converting Blu-ray maintaining its original audio stream like TrueHD or DTS-HD so that you can easily enjoy your Blu-ray with your master language.

After launching Moyea Blu-ray Ripper, you can follow the steps to decrypt and convert Blu-ray/DVD to Nexus One.

Step 1: Add your Blu-ray files into this program

Step 2: Select output format and set destination folder

After all Blu-ray files are loaded, you could easily select output format workable to Nexus One from the drop-down list “Format” as well as set save path from the “Output”. Otherwise, the output files will be saved in the default folder automatically.

If your Blu-ray files have many subtitle languages, you can choose your master language from the “Subtitle” as well as select audio track from the “Audio”.

Step 3: Click the “Convert” button to start Blu-ray conversion

Once all the Blu-ray conversion is done, you can get the output files from its destination folder and then you can put the converted Blu-ray files to your Nexus One for viewing.

See, only three clicks, all the process will be finished in a short time. As for those Mac users, there is another alternative tool – Mac Blu-ray Ripper which works perfectly as well as Moyea Blu-ray Ripper on Windows.

Hope it helps!

This Why You Should Buy A Nexus

2010-01-13T13:41:00.000-06:00

Nexus One Hack Tutorial

2010-01-13T12:22:00.002-06:00

Unlock Nexus One Bootloader Google Phone - Nexus One Hack Tutorial

Follow the step by step guide on how to root nexus one using custom ROM superbot. The root was made possible because of the engineering bootloader shipped on the Nexus One devices distributed by Google and retail devices would likely have locked bootloaders. Follow steps liste below to unlock bootloader on Nexus One. If you unlock the nexus one bootloader you will be able to install custom operating system software on this phone..
You can follow the step by step guide posted below (on your own risk) to unlock the bootloader on the Google Nexus One phone. We are not to be held responsible if you ended up bricking your phone. The steps are as follows.

Steps for unlock bootloader on Google Nexus One

Download and extract fastboot from here (Windows, Linux and Mac included)
Run a command prompt / terminal at the directory you just extracted
Type ‘fastboot-windows oem unlock’ or ‘./fastboot-mac oem unlock’ or ‘./fastboot-linux oem unlock’ (as appropriate)

That’s it! You have now unlocked bootloader on your Google Nexus One device.

How to Root Google Nexus One Running on Android 2.1

Google Nexus One phone has been rooted running on the latest Android 2.1 version using a custom ROM “Superboot”. Rooting your phone provides you with full access to the file system on Nexus One.

Once you get the full root access to the file system, you can modify the phone’s firmware and install third party apps, themes and custom ROMs. Once Google Nexus One is rooted, you can also tether your Android device to your computer to gain internet access. Before rooting, follow our guide on how to unlock bootloader on Nexus one, if it is locked. To root or jailbreak Google Nexus One follow step by step guide below.

Steps for rooting Nexus One on Android

Step 1: Download the Superboot.zip file and extract to a directory.

Step 2: Put your device in bootloader mode – Turn off the phone then press and hold the trackball to enter the bootloader.

Step 3:

On Windows – double click ‘install-superboot-windows.bat’.
On Mac OS X – Open a terminal window to the directory containing the files, and type ‘chmod +x install-superboot-mac.sh’ followed by ‘./install-superboot-mac.sh’.
On Linux – Open a terminal window to the directory containing the files, and type ‘chmod +x install-superboot-linux.sh’ followed by ‘./install-superboot-linux.sh’

Google Nexus One's First Week of Sales Were Weak

2010-01-13T10:39:00.002-06:00

Big hype didn't equal big sales for Google's Nexus One. According to reports only 20,000 Google Nexus One phones were sold in its first week of sales, according to sales estimates from market research firm Flurry. In comparison to its Android sibling the numbers are 12 times lower than for the Motorola Droid and 80 times lower than for the iPhone 3GS.

The Nexus One didn't benefit from such a strong marketing push like the Motorola Droid (estimated $100 million), despite Google's phone featuring so-far unique Android features. This has reflected in poor first week sales for the Nexus One,

Browsing the Google Nexus One or the HTC HD2?

2010-01-12T13:35:00.000-06:00

Both smartphones use the Qualcomm 1GHz Snapdragon processor, but different operating systems — the Nexus One has Google Android, the HD2 has Windows Mobile. The smartphone use different web browsers, too, although PocketNow cheats a bit by using Opera Mobile on the HD2.

The tests are carried out over Wi-Fi and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Nexus One is quicker at opening pages. The HD2 does seem to be quicker at zooming web pages though, but the Nexus One’s lack of multi-touch might account for the slow, fixed zoom that the on-screen button triggers.

There a few more interesting comparisons in the test and the video is well worth a watch if you fancy a new smartphone, but want to steer clear of Apple

CoPilot Live on Google Nexus One gets the green light

2010-01-12T11:35:00.000-06:00

CoPilot Live for Android has been one of the biggest hits of 2009 on the Android Market, with more than 200,00 downloads, but ALK hasn’t just slapped it on the shelf and left it to gather dust. The navigation company’s updating all the time, and now, the mapping app will support theGoogle Nexus One too.

Although many Android apps runs across a range of different Google blowers, the different specs and screen resolutions often mean new phones break support for third party apps, especially complex satnav apps. But ALK, which only just updated CoPilove Live for full support on the Motorola Milestone and HTC Tattoo, has now confirmed that it works on the Google Nexus One’s lavish 3.7-inch display too.

Android Banking Scam App Shoots Phish In Google's Barrel

2010-01-11T16:30:00.002-06:00

The crime: identity theft.

The location: the Android Market.

The weapon: a free "banking" app.

The lesson: you should be terrified at all times, of all things, even if Google says you shouldn't be.

Downloading your bank's mobile app seemed like a surefire way to avoid stumbling into a phishing scam. It was the prudent thing to do! Until this week, when malicious software masquerading as an official First Tech Credit Union banking app wormed its way into the Android Market. Of course, when I say "wormed" I really mean "strode more or less undisturbed," because that's what you do in the Android Market—approvals take hours, not days, and the inspection process seems to be cursory, at best.

This doesn't highlight a problem so much as a tradeoff: do you want your primary app resource to be mostly unfiltered and non-exclusive, so no company can tell you what you can or can't download, but where you're possibly exposed to scam apps like this? Or do you need to be held in the warm, protective breast of a multination corporation, guarded by its app approval minions, who go over every app with a fine-tooth comb?

Either way, its worth noting that this is only somewhat indicative of a weakness in the Android Market concept, because it shouldn't have happened—they theoretically screen for malicious apps. But it did, so at the very least be more scared careful.

T-Mobile's Nexus One comes unlock!! New Vid

2010-01-11T07:16:00.000-06:00

Google 'Nexus Two' will rival BlackBerry

2010-01-11T05:29:00.002-06:00

Less than a week into the release of its Nexus One superphone, Google is already outlining plans for the 'Nexus Two,' which it states will be aimed at enterprise customers.

Google executive Andy Rubin discussed the company's plans for the next version of its smartphone at an event hosted by the Wall Street Journal. According to PC Pro, the successor to the Nexus One will be aimed at enterprise users and may even feature a physical keyboard rather than the virtual keyboard of the current version.

Whereas the Nexus One is commonly viewed as a direct challenge to Apple's iPhone, it seems that the Nexus Two is set to enter the enterprise smartphone market, providing competition to BlackBerry maker RIM. However, the company has not yet revealed any further details on the phone's functionality, hardware or operating system.

It seems likely that any successors to Google's Nexus One will be exclusively available from Google's dedicated web store, at least initially. The company has generated much discussion over this unusual selling strategy, which currently restricts sales of the Nexus One to Google's newly set up mobile store. Customers can choose between versions with Android installed and unlocked phones.

The Nexus One is a new step for Google into the smartphone market, however the Mountain View giant could already be facing a legal battle over use of the Nexus One name, after the family of the late sci-fi author Philip K Dick claimed that the name was taken from Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, later filmed as Blade Runner.

Free Nexus One Phones for YouTube Partners? [VIDEO]

2010-01-10T16:18:00.000-06:00

Want a free Google Nexus One? You might be outta luck, but YouTube Partners seem to be receiving exactly that gift from their Googley masters.

These YouTube super-users say they’re receiving the “superphone” along with this note:

Dear YouTube Partners,
We’re pleased to present you with this gift of a Nexus One phone, the new Google-branded mobile device sold only online at google.com/phone. There are no strings attached, it’s just our gift to you for being such an important part of the YouTube Partner Program.

It’s not clear whether everyone in the partner program is receiving a phone, or just a select few (the note implies everyone, we think). That strategy makes sense: YouTube partners have huge influence on the site and may use their phones to film video clips, spreading the message further.

Below, Val from the popular YouTube channel Val’s Art Diary shows off her new Nexus One, courtesy of Google.

Big plans for Google Nexus smartphone!!!

2010-01-10T16:03:00.000-06:00

The results so far for the Google Android Nexus One are preliminary in nature, but they are good enough for Google to plan very big things for their new smartphone in the very near future.

Andy Rubin, Google vice president of engineering and the fellow in charge of both Android and the Nexus, talked futures in an interview at CES and it is plain he sees the future as chock full of Android phones. Rubin’s biggest hot button is changing the way consumers purchase phones. He says “This is the next phase of Android–taking the newest versions of the product, placing them online, and allowing consumers to purchase them directly. What we’ve learned is that there are more efficient ways of connecting consumers with the phones they’d like to purchase…easier ways.”

Google aimed the Nexus One at the iPhone and consumers, but that the next Nexus will be aimed at RIM and the Blackberry. That is really an excellent strategy, although Rubin was not willing to go into detail about Google’s plans for the enterprise. Still, the Nexus One has presented the best challenge yet to the iPhone, and there is nothing to say that Google could not mount a formidable challenge to the Blackberry by starting from scratch with a business-oriented Nexus.

Rubin did admit that Google had to get better at customer service. So far the only support for the new Google phone is via email. There is no number that you can call, which is strikingly odd for a cell phone company. With wait times for the email support running as much as three days, customer service is one place where Google needs to improve. Rubin agrees. It’s hard to question their chutzpah, though. They are a cell phone company without a customer support telephone number and yet they are aiming themselves at business customers.

Google's Nexus One: Winners and Losers

2010-01-10T13:13:00.001-06:00

Now that the world knows Google's big announcement -- a new "Nexus One" phone and an online store to sell it directly to consumers -- see "Google's Nexus One Revolution"-- it's possible to determine who will benefit and who won't from the web giant's latest move. Here's a list of Nexus One winners and losers.

Winners

Google

The web giant can't seem to lose. Though selling its own phone appeared destined to alienate its manufacturing and carrier partners, the company's Android-centric consortium, the Open Handset Alliance, continues to grow. Thirteen new companies recently joined the OHA, including China Telecom, NEC and Freescale.

According to Google, there are now more than 20 Android devices on 59 carriers in 48 countries, with more to be announced at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show. Plus, Google has the satisfaction of having built a phone to its exact specifications. As Google's Android chief, Andy Rubin, said at the company's Tuesday press conference, "This the best possible Google experience."

Motorola

Call the handset maker a surprise winner. While sales of the Nexus One are likely to cannibalize those of the Droid, the Android phone Motorola released with Verizon in November, Google has moved quickly to keep Moto a close ally.

Google not only invited Motorola's mobile devices CEO, Sanjay Jha, to speak at its press conference, it also agreed to promote the Droid in its online store for the next few months until Verizon begins carrying the Nexus One. Motorola appears to approve of Google's new plan. Judging from comments made at the event, Motorola will be the next manufacturer to make an Android phone especially for Google.

Cooliris

The four-year-old start-up is far from a household name, but its work on the Nexus One should bring it a lot more recognition. Google tapped the Palo Alto, Calif.-based firm to make 3-D browsing technology for organizing and viewing photos on the phone. The result is as dazzling as it gets on a mobile screen.

Qualcomm

There are nearly a dozen chip makers in the OHA, but Qualcomm seems to have a lock on the Android phone market. The Nexus One is no different. It too runs on a Qualcomm chip; this time, the fast, one-gigahertz Snapdragon.

Losers

Amazon Mobile, Best Buy Mobile

If the idea of buying a cellphone online attached to any carrier sounds familiar, it's because Amazon and Best Buy have been doing it for months. Google isn't going to steal their business right away; both sell dozens of phones on all the major U.S. carriers. But Google's move into online phone retail will likely affect their Android phone business and could become a greater threat in the future.

Navigation service providers: The November debut of Google's free navigation service, Maps Navigation, was a clear threat to any company selling navigation information or programs. At the time, Maps Navigation was only on one Android device, the Droid. Now, it's on the Nexus One and looks cooler than ever, particularly if it gets mashed up with the Android-compatible Google Earth application that's also in the works.

Bluetooth Headset Manufacturers

There are two main reasons a market exists for Bluetooth headsets: so people can easily talk on their phones without holding them in their hands, and to reduce noise during phone calls. The Nexus One, with its innovative hardware and software, may obviate both those needs. The phone allows users to speak virtually all commands, including text for e-mails. It also sports two built-in microphones designed to cancel out background noise.

Koi Pond Apps

This application, which essentially turns the iPhone's screen into a facsimile of a pond filled with koi fish, sold enough copies that it was named the iPhone's top paid app of 2008 and spawned dozens of copycats. Now HTC has figured out a way to build a similar feature on the Nexus One. Called "live wallpaper," the themes are attractive and functional, enabling users to access their widgets while also enjoying pretty pictures. If more handset makers do the same, will anyone buy koi pond apps?

The Korean company was the only major OHA handset maker not to merit a mention during Google's press conference, despite the fact that it released an Android phone in September and is rumored to be launching a new Android handset with Sprint Nextel in the coming weeks. LG's strong alliance with Microsoft--to make Windows Mobile phones--probably doesn't help.

Nexus One Costs $174.15 In Materials

2010-01-09T16:17:00.000-06:00

Google Nexus Phone to Focus on Business

2010-01-09T13:20:00.000-06:00

The Nexus One smartphone might be a fun phone for consumers, but Google is aiming for the business-minded customer with its handset, says Google's Andy Rubin, quoted by Reuters.

Manufactured by HTC, maker of other Android phones (G1,MyTouch 3G, Hero), the Nexus One is a nice addition to the consumer line-up of Android smartphones, but doesn't have the business users at heart due to the lack of a physical keyboard.
But Google is planning to address this issue with the next version of the Nexus One (Nexus Two?), which will feature a hardware keyboard. The Google exec, who was behind the creation of the Android OS, didn't give any other details in his interview with Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg.

Vodafone UK Google Nexus One in the early Spring of 2010.

2010-01-09T09:25:00.000-06:00

Europe : The Google Nexus One was launched this week at the CES show in Las Vegas. In the UK, Vodafone was confirmed as the first and possibly only UK Operator to be able to sell the Google Nexus One. Vodafone UK have now released some specific details about the Google Nexus One on Vodafone UK.

The most startling thing is that Vodafone UK says that their shops and online store will not directly sell the Google Nexus One. Customers can only order via the Google Phone store and then Vodafone will connect you.

The other points confirmed are below :

Vodafone UK customers will be able to get their mitts on the Google Nexus One in the early Spring of 2010.
Vodafone UK claim that their UK network is purpose built for smartphone usage and is their therefore very well suited to the Google Nexus One.
Vodafone UK confirmed that the Google Nexus One is classed, by Google, as a “superphone” which they say is the next evolution of handsets.
Vodafone UK tempted us to think that pricing could well be 179 Euros via a 2 year contract or 529 Euros on Pay As You Go. It was confirmed that price plans will be the same as currently offered smartphone price plans / tariffs.
Customers will be able to buy the Google Nexus One unlocked and SIM free and use the Vodafone Super SIM plan which you can cancel with 30 days notice.
Vodafone UK confirmed that customers in the UK can buy the Google Nexus One NOW from the Google Phone shop the www.google.com/phone which would come unlocked and needs a GSM SIM card.
Pre-ordering is not currently possible via Vodafone UK.
Vodafone UK say that their shops and online store will not directly sell the Google Nexus Onebut you must order via the Google Phone store and then Vodafone will connect you.

AT&T Wants Nexus One Users' Cash

2010-01-09T07:22:00.000-06:00

LAS VEGAS -- 2010 International CES -- If you want to use your unlocked Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Nexus One phone on AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)'s GSM network, go right ahead... Ma Bell will allow it, as the carrier plots its own fleet of Android phones for 2010. (See Open & Unlocked. So What?)
"We have always allowed customers to bring their unlocked, compatible GSM devices, and we will sell them a plan," an AT&T spokesperson tells Unstrung in an email reply to questions. "We can't, of course, guarantee how the device will perform since it hasn't been certified for use on the AT&T network."
Well, we do know for sure that the Nexus One on AT&T's network won't achieve the maximum 3G data download speeds that it could on rival T-Mobile USA 's network. Google has already said that the phone, which was designed and made by High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498), doesn't support the radio frequencies needed to get on AT&T's High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), leaving users on the older, slower technology of EDGE. (See Nexus One Won't Support AT&T's Fastest 3G Data Services.)
Nonetheless, users who decide to try the Nexus One on AT&T will be among the vanguard of Android users on that network. Yesterday evening in Vegas, AT&T executives finally confirmed long-standing rumors that it will offer Android phones this year. (See AT&T: Five Androids in 2010.)
The carrier says it will offer five Android phones in 2010. This is part of a push to offer consumers the "most robust choices" of major mobile operating systems, the carrier said.

Report: European Nexus One Has Multitouch

2010-01-08T12:09:00.002-06:00

One German publication has gotten its hands on a Nexus One with multitouch.

Zoom

Google's Nexus One phone launched last week and one of the questions asked was, "Will it ever have multitouch?" Google said it wouldn't rule it out but offered nothing further on the subject. However, it appears Europeans eagerly awaiting the release of the Nexus One can look forward to a multitouch version of the device.

Engadget reports a Nexus One being passed around German website, Heise has pinch zooming enabled. In response to a query on the Google Mobile Help forum, a Google employee said that the company is shipping the same Nexus One to the UK as it is in US and that phone does not include multitouch.

Hmm, so what phone does Heise have? Interesting stuff, indeed!

What The Nexus One Means For Android Gaming

2010-01-08T12:04:00.002-06:00

Fast: The Nexus One sports a 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, and has on-chip graphical capabilities. This device is capable of some promising 3D potential. Future Android phones are likely to match or upgrade the speed to compete with HTC's newest phone.
Pretty: OLED screens are quite pretty, and have incredible contrast ratios. The Nexus One is equipped with such a screen, running at a 480x800 resolution and 3.7 inches. That's about 25% greater pixel density than Sony's beautiful 11-inch 1080p OLED screen.
Fractured: The big problem facing Android is consistency. The Nexus One doesn't have a keyboard. The Droid does. Upcoming Android phones will have keypads. Screen sizes vary. Internal speeds vary. This is a developer's nightmare, and is particularly painful for game development.
Third partied: On the other hand, one of Android's advantages, namely backgrounding apps, could come to the rescue. We're starting to see hardware accessories for the iPhone go hand-in-hand with a software package on the device, but this only works when that app is open. On Android, we might see third-party accessories that hook into games via a backgrounding "connector" app. If a company like MadCatz made a slick controller that went along with an API to control games, and that became an industry standard, it could give Android gaming a major edge.
Ultimately, I think the direction Android is going will attract some great games. It's a powerful platform, and the upcoming devices are, as Google coined, "superphones." There's a problem with the fractured versions of hardware and Android revisions, but if the market is fertile enough, developers will bite the bullet.

GOOGLE NEXUS ONE ARRIVES “IN A FEW WEEKS” TO VODAFONE UK

2010-01-08T04:14:00.000-06:00

I can confirm that Vodafone is the first operator to partner with Google to offer the Nexus One in Europe, starting soon in the UK, in a few short weeks. No detail on pricing and precise timing has yet been made, but that will come in a few weeks.
Our agreement with Google stretches beyond Europe — all Vodafone’s geographies — and over time we will be working to provide offers in other Vodafone operating countries.

Is Google's Nexus One phone any good?

2010-01-07T18:28:00.000-06:00

At first glance, the Nexus One doesn't look like a revolution waiting to happen. In fact, Google's much heralded rival to the Apple iPhone looks remarkably similar to almost every high-end mobile phone released in the last two years: big black screen with small button at the bottom. But as soon as you switch on the handset and swipe your finger across the screen to unlock it, it is clear this is more than just another also-ran.

The first thing that strikes you is how incredibly bright and clear the screen is. It's a 3.7in, low-power, "organic LED" screen that doesn't need backlighting and allows deep, clear blacks and vivid colours. In terms of visibility, it's streets ahead of the competition: a gang of Nexus One users waving their prized gadgets in the air could probably send a signal into space.

The second thing that leaps at your eyeballs is the animated background. Whether you've got rippling pools of water or computerised lights zipping around the screen, the constant movement whenever you're using the phone breathes a strange sort of life into this static object.

Above all, though, you are stepping through a portal into Google's world. On first use, the phone prompts you to log into your Google account – within seconds it has synchronised your email, web searches, contacts book and any other information you happen to keep with the company. Convenient for you, but also – thanks to the constant stream of data being fed back to California – handy for Google. You're now a satellite-tracked, walking, talking, web-surfing recruit into Google's informationalised army.

Despite this nagging feeling that you've stepped into the pages of Nineteen Eighty-Four, becoming one of Google's disciples boasts some impressive benefits. Browsing the web is fast, the powerful five-megapixel camera-phone with built-in flash should make the all-important business of taking good photos a doddle. The really futuristic extra, though, is "voice search". On other handsets, including the iPhone, this addition seems like a gimmick – hey, what kind of dimwit talks to their phone? – but the accuracy and speed of the Nexus One makes it feels like something from Star Trek. I asked for "toy shops in San Francisco" and it found me a (Google) map of local toy shops in a couple of seconds. Combine this with the phone's simplified "in-car mode" display and ability to speak turn-by-turn directions, and it spells goodbye to satnav.

The downsides are its appearance – sleek but bland, made from a dull, metallic-looking plastic – and the small, rubber trackball that sits under your thumb, which feels like an awkward afterthought (although it does glow in different colours to let you know when the phone is charging or connected via Bluetooth).

But a big "miss" is the feature that makes the iPhone so simple to use: multi-touch. While the Nexus One's single-finger prodding works well enough, there's none of the pinching action to zoom into maps and photographs that makes the iPhone feel so advanced, nor its realistic-feel friction. Google's on-screen keyboard feels cramped, too, and won't completely satisfy text freaks and heavy emailers.

Also missing is the depth of downloadable applications that have turned the iPhone into something much more like a mini-computer. There are plenty of programs available through the Android Market (and Google is, of course, encouraging armies of coders to feverishly build more), but there is still nowhere near the volume you can get for Apple's gizmo.

Then, of course, there's the price. Salivating British gadget fans can buy one now from Google's US shop – without a sim card or contract – for £330, and Vodafone is scrambling to make it available on a contract here for significantly less. But even then, it's unlikely to come cheap.

What ultimately justifies the price, Google argues, is the phone's sheer power. And the thing certainly is fast, with the memory and processing guts equivalent to a top-of-the-range laptop from eight or nine years ago.

But will it beat the iPhone? This debut model falls short of the smooth and totally intuitive design that Apple came up with. Google prides itself on being a company of engineers, and – despite all its bells and whistles – the Nexus One still leaves behind an aftertaste of nerdiness.

CES: Google Nexus One features

2010-01-07T18:23:00.000-06:00

Google shows off its new Nexus One mobile phone at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Google Nexus One Support Page

2010-01-07T12:25:00.000-06:00

The above snapshot is the Google Nexus One Support Page up live officially.

https://www.google.com/phone/support

Nexus One Pricing for Existing T-Mobile Customers

2010-01-07T12:21:00.000-06:00

So here's the deal, the Nexus One sells for $529 unlocked, $179 for eligible new customers signing a 2-year contract with T-Mobile. And as for existing subscribers upgrading to the Nexus One (Google/T-Mobile says no to Family Plan), they will be able to get it at a discounted price:
$279 - Nexus One with new, 2-year T-Mobile US service plan for qualifying existing T-Mobile customers who are adding data plan.
$379 - Nexus One with new, 2-year T-Mobile US service plan for qualifying existing T-Mobile customers who are upgrading their data plans.

The Google Phone Store will automatically check if you're eligible for the discounted price.

Here's some math for you.

$279 + $80/month x 24 months = $2199
$379 + $80/month x 24 months = $2299
Unlocked - $529 + $60/month x 24 months = $1969

Google Earth available soon for Nexus

2010-01-07T11:51:00.000-06:00

With the announcement yesterday of the Nexus One, Google also showed off some new apps for Android. Google Earth for Nexus was one of them.

The app gives you a similar experience like you are used to on your desktop PC. For instance you can ‘fly’ to destinations or you can use the integrated voice search. Too bad there isn’t a video available yet that shows Google Earth in action (I couldn’t find one at least). It was shown yesterday during the Google Android Press Event Livestream and it worked really smoothly. Question is if it will work as smoothly on older Android phones that only have half the processing power of the Nexus One (1Ghz).

Google Earth has been available for the iPhone for a while now but was remarkably absent from the Android Market. That should change in the next few days/weeks.

Google Nexus One: The Review

2010-01-07T11:19:00.000-06:00

Nexus One: The Big Picture

The phone looks more like the iPhone than any other phone on the market. There is no physical keyboard like the Android-powered Motorola Droid, and the tradeoff is a much slimmer design. The phone is 11.5 mm deep, slightly thinner than the iPhone 3GS at 12.3 mm. It is also slightly lighter than the iPhone 130 grams v. 135 grams). The package comes with the phone, a removable battery, 4 GB Micro SD storage card (expandable to 32 GB), USB charger and microphone headset.

The Nexus one has four functional touch buttons at the bottom of the screen (back, menu, home, search) and a navigation trackball pointing device. It also has physical power and volume controls. But most of your interaction with the phone will be through the gorgeous 3.7 inch 480 x 800 OLED capacitive touchscreen. This is the best mobile phone display on the market today, blowing away the iPhone’s 480 x 320 display. The screen is bright and alive, and an absolute pleasure to use.

This phone is also powered by the Snapdragon 1 GHz core processor, which is more than able to handle the Nexus One’s 3D graphics, multiple applications running in the background and heavy browser use simultaneously. Unlike previous Android phones, there is no slowdown or lag when you push the phone’s performance, and less of a need to kill applications to keep the device humming.

On the downside: all this hardware bling is an energy hog. The screen will self adjust brightness and Google is smart about turning down the processor when it’s not being used. But I’ve found battery life to be woefully brief, even by iPhone standards. Officially the phone has up to 7 hours talk time, 250 hours standby, 5 hours of 3G Internet use, 7 hours of video playback and 20 hours of audio playback. Unofficially, I was able to kill the fully charged battery with 1.5 hours of continuous gameplay (Robo Defense) on the full-brightness screen. Be prepared to keep this phone near a charger at all times. You can easily view what’s using the battery, though (the screen is 71% of my current usage), and then adjust the hardware or software usage to maximize battery life.

Overall the Android is a superior mobile device, particularly when paired with Google Voice. Google is calling this the first of the Super Phones. And they may not be exaggerating all that much.

Notable Hardware Features

The most obvious hardware feature of the phone is the 480 x 800 OLED capacitive touch screen. Combined with the Snapdragon chipset the phone is a real workhorse. But Google has also included other more-than-nice touches.

The noise cancellation feature is particularly useful. The device has a second microphone on the back that monitors inbound noise and automatically cancels it out (anyone who’s used Bose noise cancellation headphones on a long flight will appreciate this). It does a great job of canceling out machinery and wind noise on the other end of the call. In my testing, call recipients noticed a substantial increase in call quality on this phone v. either the Droid of the iPhone. Look for other phones to quickly add this feature, it’s a must have.

On the downside, the phone’s primary microphone is located on the bottom of the device, to the left. I noticed that on calls, when I cradle the phone between my neck and shoulder without using my hand, my voice is often muted and can’t be heard. This is a design error that should be changed in future versions.

The phone’s camera really shines. It has a large footprint on the back of the device, larger than on most phones. It’s a 5 megapixel camera with a flash, but that description doesn’t do it justice. The macro and low light features are top notch for a mobile phone.

The phone has two available docks. Both charge the device via frictionless touch points. The normal charger turns on the phone’s clock feature, as described above. The car charger turns on Google Navigation, a killer Android application that turns the phone into a connected navigation device.
Google, Purveyor Of The Nexus One Smartphone

The Nexus One is an important milestone in the smartphone market. This is a software company, frustrated with making compromises with hardware manufacturers, that has taken the product bull by the horns. HTC makes the phone, but the branding is mostly Google and it’s clear that they directed every aspect of the development of this phone. It’s Google’s vision of the perfect Android device, from the huge and beautiful screen and massively fast Snapdragon processor to the software elegance of Google Navigation, Live Wallpaper and the Voice Keyboard. When combined with Google Voice there is no phone on the market today that can touch the Nexus One.

Unlike previous Android phones, and I’ve used most of them, the Nexus One has no obvious flaws or compromises. The phone is the state of the art in mobile, and I will use it happily. Until, as I always say, something better comes along.