Google Phone / Nexus One makes first Twitter appearance? (update: new pics!)

Look familiar? For a story that broke on Twitter it's only fitting that the first reported picture of the mythical, magical "Google Phone" (AKA, Nexus One) would appear there as well. The tweeted image above appears courtesy of one Cory O'Brien, an account manager at a San Francisco Bay Area marketing agency that does not list Google as a client. That note of caution aside, the image above is an exact match to that leaked HTC Passion / Bravo image from October, only this time lacking the HTC logo on the top-side bezel. Besides the pic, O'Brien tweets that the "Google Phone = iPhone + a little extra screen and a scroll wheel. Great touch screen, and Android." Granted, none of this is confirmed yet, but with Google releasing so many of the devices as part of its "mobile lab" concept, well, we expect to see plenty more sightings in the run up to the rumored January launch.

Update: A quick search for "nexus one" on Google's Picasa photo service reveals several pictures taken with a camera pegged as the HTC Nexus One in the EXIF data. The very first of these geotagged 2592×1944 pixel (that's a 5 megapixel sensor folks, hardly "weirdly large" as described by TechCrunch) images were taken by user Bradley (who just happens to be a Picasa friend to Sergey... hint) in the SF Bay Area on November 27th. A few are clearly lit by an onboard flash as well. In fact, many of the pics appear to be taken from within Google's offices and at Google sponsored events. The quality is not exactly spectacular and that won't likely change in the final product because even Google's bound by the laws of physics when it comes to tiny cellphone sensors.

Update 2: The device seems to have been around earlier with an EXIF identifier of "Phone88." Fortunately, Google's own employees have uploaded pics of the device, by the device, for us to marvel at -- so meta. Check the gallery for the images or a quickie close-up posted after the break.

Nexus One first sample photographs

[Thanks, Alberto and Aaron C.]

[Kirtay Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:48PM]

@Luxury Guy
You're being reasonable. On the internet.
This is strange...
+20.

[malibumac Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:43PM]

Google better have come up with a really awesome new UI or I just want sense on this thing

[Kirtay Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:44PM]

@malibumac
Doesn't look like anything new from the screencaps, made me nearly weep.

[dnl Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:47PM]

@malibumac

It's called Android 2.0.

[Kirtay Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:49PM]

@dnl:
Android 2.0 is by no means "a really awesome new UI."

[measy831 Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:48PM]

can anyone tell me how you make a call, i dont see an answer or end key???

[Kirtay Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:51PM]

@measy831:
Hey, calling isn't important, this is a _smart_phone, not a smart_phone_.
Duh. Who uses phones to call anyways.

No, I think a physical answer key would be a blessing.

[sinkingshriek Posted Dec 13th 2009 2:50PM]

the X in the first pic kinda looks like Windows logo...is that Santa Claus I see who's using that phone!!

[gm76 Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:14PM]

As a G1 owner the pics disappoint me. Unless those people have big hands the phone looks too small to have a display size of 3.7" or 4.3". I wish a photo of a Nexus besides a G1 was available.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:26PM]

@gm76 gold is ugly and yes.. if it doesn't have a 3.7 " screen forget it. and a trackball on a touchscreen phone is still ridiculous. how many iphones are there and how many iphone users are asking for trackball?....I'll tell you.. none of them. Same with the hardware home, back, etc buttons. this is goofy taiwan logic and google should have put it to rest.

[puth0420 Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:24PM]

Ohh soo sexy please let this be for verizon and fast!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:45PM]

...and on Monday Microsoft will announce they will sell their own branded phone.. to be available.. in... well.. any year now. Sometime soon... not long after WindowsPhone8 comes out.. : )))))))

[snowrid3r Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:46PM]

i love adroid and all but im probley gonna be ranked down for this comment...why cant google make android look a liittle nicer?i wish this thing had sense

[DeviantmacG Posted Dec 13th 2009 3:49PM]

You guys are FIRED! hahah

[spaz1 Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:13PM]

That guy has a Cryptopsy shirt! \m/

[JohnWayneBrady Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:37PM]

@(Unverified) I thought i was the only one who noticed that. ;)

[XChrisX Posted Dec 13th 2009 6:55PM]

@(Unverified) Late to the party fellas but at least I'm not the only engadget reader that likes metal here.

[Dapke36 Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:21PM]

After seeing this, my feeling summarize like this: It's nice, but I don't feel disappointed that I got a Droid anymore.

[Saja Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:22PM]

ugly.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:47PM]

Just goes to show how effective free stuff is. The initial comments from Google-ers was really overhyping this device. It's basically just a faster GSM version of the Sprint HTC Hero design. It appears the display, bezel and camera (minus the Flash) are exactly the same. It's missing SenseUI though of course which is a pretty big negative IMO. I'm sure it's a good device (I like my Hero quite a lot) but it doesn't match the hype.

[ninjaskllz Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:47PM]

so what's the deal with the data only plan? anyone know if that will be possible?

[zenomatic Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:49PM]

Why won't they increase the internal storage capacity on Android phones?! iPhone has 16/32GB, recent Nokia phones have 32GB, but Android phones have only some 512MB. MicroSD cards help a bit, but internal storage is still faster :X

[zelduh Posted Dec 13th 2009 4:58PM]

I cannot wait to see it up close. But, sadly, I won't get it because I have too much trouble with on-screen, virtual keyboards. I type with my fingernails, so I guess I am still stuck with my G-1. (It's ok, but I think the G-1 nis a bit bulky... and that is my only complaint.)

[BeDetermne Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:05PM]

Is these pics about the phone or these losers?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:18PM]

Ok so whats the deal with the Bravo? Where did Engadget get the news that its coming in January to the US?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:28PM]

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/12/08/htc.android.flagship.under.two.names/

Should I believe this????? Im going crazy here

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:37PM]

*Looks at Droid Eris in hand*

For Shame

[Vitasoydrink Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:49PM]

Here's a couple links I found about the Nexus One:

Everything we know about the Nexus One so far: http://www.nexusoneblog.com/blog/2009/12/13/googles-nexus-one-phone.html

Google Double Confirms Nexus One: http://www.NexusOneBlog.com/blog/2009/12/13/google-double-confirms-nexus-one-with-its-internal-holiday-g.html

Nexus One Camera Quality: http://www.NexusOneBlog.com/blog/2009/12/13/camera-photos-taken-on-googles-nexus-one-phone.html

[dansus Posted Dec 13th 2009 5:51PM]

I like it but wheres the love for portrait keyboard devices? That HTC Trophy looks nice but you know.. its winmo an all.

[miketimoff Posted Dec 13th 2009 6:33PM]

It might become a good competition for iPhone
http://www.iphoneservicesdepot.com

[Tells Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:10PM]

@miketimoff

Possibly, i hope it does however i don't see any smartphone reaching the iphone leves till the sort out apps.

[TheJosh Posted Dec 13th 2009 8:48PM]

I was out to lunch today in SF and this guy right next to me was using one of these, taking pictures of his lunch and family, it looks like a killer phone!

[stab244 Posted Dec 13th 2009 10:45PM]

Anyone else notice the HTC logo on the phone in the 4th pic?

[kikin81 Posted Dec 14th 2009 1:01PM]

I want my Google Phone! Nexus for the win (thats what I said for the Palm Pree)

[brjoe Posted Dec 14th 2009 3:00PM]

Hi -- I'm new in the Android world. I know that this phone, which is pretty cool, haven't come out yet, so what other phone would you guys recommend right now? Besides the HD2.

[Saja Posted Dec 14th 2009 8:24PM]

@brjoe

hd2 is winmo, so you can forget that. if you need phys. keyboard get droid, otherwise, i think the most bang for buck android right now is eris from verizon.

but it all depends on what carrier you're using.

[Jables237 Posted Dec 14th 2009 3:40PM]

It is the beginning of the end. Another step closer to skynet.

[iPodAddict181 Posted Dec 14th 2009 11:33PM]

I would like to see at least a minimal amount of technical specs. Processor, resolution, anything?

[TheJason Posted Dec 15th 2009 11:43PM]

Hey look at that guy in the picture! You looking at Google newest ex-employee! Good job Sir, hope you job at Google was worth the leaked images.

Hey Google, can I have his job?

[theslacker Posted Dec 16th 2009 4:03PM]

HAH!
that guy watches Gilmore Girls!