Google Nexus One stands with iPhone and Hero, interface gets a 5-minute walkthrough
By Ross Miller 
posted December 22nd 2009 11:27PM
posted December 22nd 2009 11:27PM
The Google Nexus One trickle continues. Today's two menu items include a 5-minute demonstration of the Android 2.1 interface -- shaky, sure, but it's a pretty thorough rundown of all the menus. We're also serving up some low-resolution picture comparisons of the Nexus One laying side-by-side with the iPhone and HTC Hero. It
still eludes us how all these leaking parties don't seem to have in their possession a decent DSLR or camcorder (feel free to give us a buzz, we'll gladly help out). Video after the break.
its like google is concerting an "amateur" marketing strategy - more real and rustic.. lol wtf. go get some new gear before posting videos.
I know it's like it google 3 years to get a somewhat smooth looking and functioning device yet still no multi-touch
@Xega: I dunno...this phone is looking pretty nice so far, and we really don't even know anything about it. I'm ready to dump my iPhone in the lake as soon as my contract is up so as long as these kick ass phones (droid, nexus) keep coming out I'm gonna be happy in a few months.
@Xega
It'll take Google all of 2 mins to add multi touch in ALL the missing places on Android if Apple eases their patent stronghold.
It's not they can't, they just won't.
@Saja
Gee all the animations and transitions in the UI look awfully familiar. Not saying any names :)
@Xega do you idiots not know what multi touch is? multi touch is absolutely capable on Android 2.0.1 and 2.1, it's the pinch-zoom that is absent in the default browser and other Google applications.
goddamn, it's like Apple brainwashed y'all to thinking that any product lacking pinch-zoom is inherently bad.
multi touch does NOT equal pinch-zoom. multi touch encompasses much more, e.g. keyboard, basic UI interactions
@yyandrew
What you're saying is true, but that is a semantic argument. Yes Android and any decent phone supports multitouch and there are third party apps like Dolphin Browser which proves it.
But I don't care about semantics. All I know is the default Android keyboard doesn't register multiple presses at the same time which can hurt typing speed and accuracy and the default Android browser and Maps doesn't have multitouch gestures (ie pinch to zoom)
Until that gets fixed, to me, and to people who actually buy phones and use them, it doesn't have multitouch.
Is there any official reason stated by Google or these phone manufacturers why these stock programs don't have multitouch enabled, but overseas or on overlays like Sense it is? Because I really don't understand why, and this is an issue. It isn't the end of the world, and there are third party apps but I don't want to use third party apps. Every third party Android browser I've used is at least a little slower and always more unstable than stock. Multitouch is really the only thing separating these stock Android apps from greatness
@(Unverified) Like the Original iPod to Creative media players back in the day? Or the Apple Lisa to the Xerox Alto? Don't be so upitty about who copies who in regards to UIs. Why people tend to forget where they came from is beyond me...
@IamDefiler iPod copying the old school Creative MP3 players? The only similarity was the fact that they both played MP3s. Thats it. Thats hardly "copying."
Xerox and Lisa as well. Key thing is that Apple didn't COPY Xerox, Apple was given the rights as well as the employees that created the GUI by Xerox. Xerox didn't choose to keep the GUI concept, and instead sold it to Apple. Its not like Apple took an already established product in the market and copied it.
Also, Xerox had only the very basic concept of a GUI, Lisa ended up nowhere near what Xerox originally had. People don't understand that some very basic GUI fundamentals that they take for granted today were all designed by Apple. Things like the whole idea of a "desktop," file folders, and drop down file menus. It seems like common sense today because you've become so accustomed to it, but those were absolutely brilliant design concepts for its time, obviously given that these fundamentals are still the blueprint for a modern OS. To not give Lisa credit for design the fundamental concepts for what a GUI should look like would be extremely ignorant and flat out wrong.
Regardless, this wasn't even about Apple and Xerox, that has nothing to do with Android trying to mimic the slick transitions and animations in OSX and iPhone. People always love to bring up irrelevant things like that whenever anybody recognizes Apples influence on the industry.
Just a question, will this interface be standard to all 'with google' phones in the future?
@Jordan oh it's #1 Apple-hater as-of-late Jordan claiming he has an iPhone hahaha. Nice try troll.
Btw, don't forget iPhone 4th gen is just 6 months away :)
@Maddy
Apple doesn't have patents on multi touch "hardware" only gestures, fyi the multi touch concept is about 30 years old and it was only recently that CPU and polymer technology has caught up the the idea.
@IamDefiler iPods copying Creative players of the day? That's silly. Your punishment will be that you change your iPod for a Creative Nomad for a week. You'll be tearing your hair out by day two...
I bought a Creative Nomad when it came out. It was the only reasonably priced HD-based MP3 player at the time. But it was completely ridiculous. The PC software to transfer music crashed. The thing was huge. The batteries lasted 3 hours on a good day, but more likely 2. The buttons were randomly strewn on top of the device. The menus were created by blind monkeys. The whole thing didn't make any sense from top to bottom. I had it hooked up to the car's cigarette lighter to get around the battery limitations, but it was just plain unusable. I eventually gave up and went back to my 12 CD changer.
Then came the iPod. Bought it as soon as it came out, and it was pretty much perfect from day one. The product was so good, I couldn't think of any improvements. I still have my 2001 iPod, BTW, and it still works.
@camroncake
It will be standard to all non-skinned phones that get upgraded to Android 2.1. It remains to be seen whether or not these newer versions of Android ever get pushed out to existing non-skinned handsets like the G1 and MyTouch, but it looks less and less likely with every day that goes by.
@Jordan hey man..dont give up on ur iphone yet,dont forget that apple started all this touch screen crap, and all these companys all had to make a copy, wait until this comming year when apple shows their newest iphone and i garantee you that everybody once again will be amazed and will go back to the drawing board..i dont give a crap about nexus because as far as im concerned its another crappy iphone wannabe11if it goes to verizon all you silly ass fools will throw away youre androids and buy iphones!
@yyandrew Pinch zoom on my HTC Hero, doesn't that constitute multitouch. Just find a SenseUI clone out there, it's pretty amazing.
@Jordan You always love Google when it speak something really big and keep the hopes of people up, well in fact the only thing that makes the N1 phone phenomenal is it will be the 1st droid phone to be released as GSM unlock.
Although, we are still crossing our fingers that added sauce will arrive as the days to Nexus One countdown reaches its peak. I must say the Android Swype on the walkthrough vid is pretty cool. The Nexus One reactions: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-reactions-to-walkthrough
@DJ
I hope you realize there IS a free Better Keyboard out that allows multi-touch.
@jerrybills: What are you talking about? I NEVER talk Google up. To me, Google is starting to infiltrate areas where it shouldn't be (ie: Chrome OS). But, I'm tired of my shitty shitty iPhone and ready for something new.
If the iPhone 4th gen is anything to look at, I'll consider it, but if it's still on AT&Ts network, Apple would have to do a lot to entice me, and it's not really Apple's style to make major changes at a time.
@(Unverified) Right on the money! (I actually had a Lisa. Loved the 5 mb external drive!) Moved to a Mac when MS Word was intro'd.
fast though.
I don't have a decent DSLR or camcorder, and I've often been described as a "leaking party"...where does the line form?
FIIIIINALLY!!... About time..
Where is the pics?
@boggit click "Comparison" after SOURCE (it's directly under the video on the left) :D
Hell. Yes.
I really do want this phone. The problem is that i have att and live in new york city, so that means shitty coverage... ugh
@Yankees Win according to rumors, this phone is slated for T-Mobile, not AT&T
@Engadget Atleast you've got some leaks!
@Leaks Please stop moving the cameras when you take photos.. we cant decode this special blurr you like so much.
Bigger Screen Than iPhone ans about same thickness ... I just wonder about the battery life.
did i notice correctly it's multi-touch-enabled?
@FreshLeo
Well, you noticed it wrong i guess...the guy in the vid tried multi-touch and it did not work. Basically he was showing us that it does not have multi-touch(as-is)
@njsrikar The Hardware itself IS Multi-Touch ready and capable but the programs need to be written to support as most android programs dont yet but once they are written, the tech is there.
Notice the UI language in French? Hmm... Was this released to North American employees, European employees or both?
@baudoin
According to the many leaks and then google's mobile blog, it was given to its employees worldwide, not only in NA or Europe
Since it's more than a video of the boot up, I forgive the shaky/blurry cam.
Nexus or Lexus?
@pankomputerek
It's Nexus, that's why the title says Nexus. Besides, Lexus is not even a real word, it's a Japanese car, and I'm sure there'd be a lawsuit if Google stole their name.
Holy crap that interface is fast compared to my G1.
@MarcusMaximus yeah...it is significantly faster than any android device i hv seen so far. no lagging, especially in the browser while scrolling.
@njsrikar Ya, even going back to the home screen from the browser(from my experience that always takes freaking forever) is just instantaneous.
@MarcusMaximus also....i tried the settings screen and a few others in a friend's hero, the lag was disappointing and i was expecting something better from the google team.
thats y am gonna jump on this phone the moment its launched...my att contract will end in feb :D ...am gonna take this phone irrespective of which network its gonna work.its got all i need...cant wait.
@MarcusMaximus The droid is just as fast..
@Machinedog And the Droid running Android 2.1...well, you get the drift.
Ooohh @5:12 theres clearly some update to the definitely lacking Music player!
@UndeadOverlord
Hopefully they update the calendar as well.
@geoken Oh god yes. I've been debating on buying a new calendar app for awhile I just havent found a good one that will work with both my gmail (personal) and Exchange (work) calendars. I like to keep my personal and work appointments side by side on one of the home screens.
Yes this looks fast, am I excited? Not really. Is the Nexus One really anything different from what we have seen already?
Looks Cool If only it would Have More MegaPixels.
Still ghey compared to the iphone