We know you're itching to get your hands on a
Nexus One -- Google's managed to build buzz here the way only a couple companies in the world know how. Unfortunately, it sounds like you're going to need to cross your fingers (or pull out that eBay emergency stash) to get one out of the gate, because we've got some intel here suggesting that it'll be available only by "invitation" at first. Our tipster doesn't have information on how those invites are going to be determined, other than the fact that it's Google doing the inviting -- if we had to guess, current registered developers are a strong possibility -- but the good news, we suppose, is that T-Mobile will apparently sell the phone directly at some to-be-determined point in the future. Oh, but that's not all -- we've got specs, too. Lots of them. Here are the highlights, but follow the break for the whole shebang:
- Android 2.1
- 11.5mm thick
- 512MB RAM, 512MB ROM, 4GB microSD in-box expandable to 32GB
- 5 megapixel camera with mechanical AF and LED flash
- HSPA 900 / 1700 / 2100, 7.2Mbps down and 2Mbps up -- in other words, yes to T-Mobile 3G and no to AT&T 3G, though you'll still be fine on EDGE
- 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display
posted December 23rd 2009 10:32AM
Nexus One or HTC HD2...? That is the question
@AA Alex
I'm in the same boat, but I'm still waiting for my ETF to end before I have to make a concrete decision. Would love to pick up either of them though.
@AA Alex
The HD2 will never be better than it's delivery on day 1. It isn't going to get Windows 7 upgrade and reviews are mediocre due to it's Windows Mobile 6.5 OS.
All Google phones have received updates that greatly improve features and performance. So buying an HD2 is like buying into the past.
Android Release Schedule
1.5 (Cupcake) - Released in April 2009
1.6 (Donut) - Released in September 2009
2.0 (Eclair) - Released in October 2009
2.1 (Is this Flan?) - Rumored to be released in January 2010
The HD2 won't have Google Turn by Turn Navigation, Google Goggles and on and on and on.
@AA Alex more like or X10, only thing is SE are to stupid to realize when to release a new phone
@AA Alex
Android or WinMo? You retract that question right now!
@AA Alex I had a play about with the HTC HD2 yesterday in a local store, the screen (visually) is the best ive seen on any device, almost looked fake because it was so clear. However, and this is a big however, the screen can be very unresponsive at times. I urge you to give would a long test in a shop before buying.
@AA Alex
Or is it also worth it to hold off for another 6 months to see if Apple can ink a deal with Verizon AND come out with a "revolutionary" new platform that allows multitasking.
Tough decision for me..... Anybody got any input on T-mobile's NYC 3G service vs. AT&T's NYC 3G service? (It can't possibly be any worse, right???)
@crawdad689
The iPhone has way to many things to accomplish besides multitasking and knowing Apple, they will be holding off on those updates for future generations of the iPhone so they can string you along and get you to keep buying the latest and greatest when you're actually 3 generations behind current phones.
@AA Alex
If you're gonna get a touchscreen only phone (and cash in not a problem) then the X10 owns this phone.
As said above, SE has no idea how to release a phone, so it's completely plausible to see the X10 hitting shelves by fall 2010... why not.
@crawdad689 T-Mo service in NYC is excellent all around...
@AA Alex
Paris Hilton or Angelina Jolie?
Get an HD2 or an iPhone, this new Google phone is all about hype/buzz but in fact it has nothing better than either of the two handsets i mentioned above.
there have been updates for the HD2 either official one from HTC or from xda...
Yes there is a roadmap for Android but let's bet honest none are really bringing anything amazing, it's all about fixing bugs or catching up with other mobile os imo.
@Hobbo
The HD2 still better than the the Nexus One in terms of hardware so far. It has a bigger screen and is thinner etc..is available all over the world right now (well, besides the US/Canada..) and is strongly rumored to be upgradeble to WM7...
Not so shitty/mediocre review:
http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2009/12/18/htc-hd2-review-the-best-smartphone-ever/
@crawdad689 I was in NYC sometime around summer time. Tmobiles NYC is rock solid, 3G was faster than it's ever been for me in South Florida, calls were clear, I was just extremely happy with it.
@AA Alex
actually I'm deciding between the HD2 and X10...
@Bobbo
What exactly are the changes between 1.5 to 2.1 that made 2.1 so much better and I cant live without... Exactly...
@AA Alex Personally, I'd go with the HD2. Even if there isn't an official update to WM7, it has meets all the specs...
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=815
which means that XDA Devs will figure something out. That, and the fact that it comes with the Sense UI, which is the best mobile interface ever. Barring that, the Nexus One (if it ever sees full retail - it's all been speculation so far with nothing concrete), should be easily patchable to run the Android version of Sense via XDA, which will make it a much better device.
@crawdad689
Tmobile 3G > ATT 3G in NYC
@Yaoooo84
Sprint 3G > T-Mobile 3G > AT&T 3G in NYC
@AA Alex I like it when engadget highlights the juicy details in red. All the predictions of endgeeks was really close - Anyway, it won't be an iPhone killer that's for sure, but a sweet droid smartphone? oh yes, something tells me if this N1 phone be release under 300 USD, moto-droid buyers will be envious (a bit) Reactions to the Goog Phone: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-reactions-to-walkthrough
** Qualcom 1GHZ snapdragon, 32GB expandable Mem, 5MP cam (2x zoom enable) .. Just what you expected from BIG G :D
nexus one specs = win
tmobile = fail (3g coverage)
when they put it on verizon, i'll buy one.
Although Android fanboys would say anything with Android is better than any WinMo phone, I say the HD2 puts one heck of a fight and it's at least on par with this phone.
I for one am believe the SE X10 is the one with the pack to grab. Seems shinier than both of these.
@AA Alex
0.6in bigger screen + Multi-touch + expectation of WM7
versus
More RAM + trackball + godlike google features
Hard choice... I think it wud be the WM7 expectation and the price of both phones that would determine the decision
@Dhoomz WN7 Expectation? After seeing the minimal changes from WM2003 to WM5/6/6.1/6.5/6.599999999, Microsoft would need to fire their entire WM department and get all new people for WM7 to be drastically different.
@Alan Strangis
i was thinking the same thing in regards to Bobbo's post about the HD2 never getting any better. it's an HTC phone so regardless of what is officially released, XDA will support it forever with the latest and greatest stuff. plus it's specs all seem to fit into the WM7 "Chasis" required specs, so to say it will never get WM7 is probably false. it might not officially get it from HTC, sure, but i can pretty much guarantee XDA will get WM7 running on it once it's out. sure it won't be as clean a process as an Android OTA update, but it won't be rocket science to install the ROM either.
@crawdad689 looks like AT&T won in New York and most of 12 other cities in this 3g test.
http://bit.ly/8xZ4ys
@crawdad689 T-Mobile has the best service in NY. My 3G never drops but ATT has lots of dropped 3G.
@crawdad689 Been with AT&T for a few years now in NYC. And so far, haven't had issues with coverage.
@AA Alex I know Alex, I'm trying to figure that out myself as well. I'm thinking Nexus One though since Android is Amazing.
@AA Alex
Don't forget HD2 is still a capacitive tft screen and not an amoled. The Nexus seems like a nice phone but I would like a third phone to compare to with a snapdragon i.e e.g a samsung bada phone which I believe will have all the bells and whistles of the Nexus and more.
I know some of you are going to say to look at the omnia II and lag, but I think that's because you have a phone which is really skinned to the brim on top of windows where as droid has no skin but it's the actual OS, so don't write off samsung yet. Also they already have the best multimedia implementation onto a smartphone. I think I will wait to see what happens in the first half of 2010, because it is going to be a battle between devices from iphone4, droid/Nexus, and Bada( the new comer and champion)
@Bobbo
do you also work for engadget? maybe gizmodo? its funny because the sites that always slam the hd2 (like mr unbiased joshua did on his hd2 review) complained that many of the feature of winmo are old and tired, even if they are the same as some other platforms (ie the honeycomb menu, how is that any different from the iphones grid launch menus?!?!). its clear that a lot of fansites have a lot of anti windows phone/mobile sentiment. and its clear that you have it as well. i'm not totally defending windowsmobile because i know it has its share of faults, but it also has its share of strengths that the iphone and android simply dont even come close to. and on a tech blog, i would assume that you know of one of the, if not THE LARGEST, phone development website in the world...XDA. if you think that this phone is going to be as good as its going to get on day 1 and thats it, i got some premium land to sell you. Also, if you think that this flagship phone, which was closely developed w/ microsoft, and also supports EVERY SINGLE windows mobile 7 chassis spec (and there are a quite a few of them, not to mention the ''hidden'' partitioned memory the hd2 has) actually WONT be able to be upgraded to winmo 7. Well, i'm gonna have to figure out a whole 'nother scheme for you, because you are easily the king of fools.
**my editorial note**
if there's one thing that has pissed me off over the years, its that iphone users always insisted the iphone was the jesus phone. its a great phone, but by no means perfect...and by no means perfect for EVERYONE. and one thing i'm starting to see a lot of, is people (droidboyz) who swear that android is the second coming. Even though its been shown that android as a platform has its fair share of quirks. There are people like myself who have used the iphone, used the many android units, used symbian, used winmo and have made up their mind. i'll can live w/ the fact that i'm not ''one of you'' but to relegate the phone that i, and millions of others around the world use because of preference, into the big steaming pile of horseshiet pile is really small minded.
This thing strikes me as just another HTC device running Android.
And only on T-Mobile? No thanks.
@Bobbo
Question, since you seem to know your stuff. Let's pretend the HD2 is out in the States, and people have it already and have gotten tired of WinMo. How difficult would it be to flash the ROM and put some Android in there? Seems like the hardware's mostly the same, right?
P.S. I'm a NOOB!
@Elranzer
Good for me, less demand on the phone when it's released. I've gone through Sprint, AT&T, and now T-Mobile and by far it's the best coverage in SoCal.
@AA Alex
I'm very happy with T-Mobile; I would love to see a phone that competes with the iPhone so I do not have to live in the precarious land of the unlocked/jailbroken but this phone is a looser. It will be hyped by the Android fanboys and may be enough of a satisficer for the wanabees but responsive multi-touch is baseline functionality for this new market -- you don't have it, you're not in the game.
@AA Alex
So... no one is going to mention the 802.11n capabilities of this cellular device? That's kinda big.
@MegaJapan too bad Sprint doesn't have a decent freakin phone to offer
@AA Alex
The HD2 is nice mainly due to the HTC's customizations. Without those customizations, it'd still be nice hardware wise but software wise wouldn't be in the same category. That being said, I'm in love with the specs of the N1 and would certainly sell my Pre, pay the ETF, and switch back to T-mobile to procure such a phone.
@AA Alex nexus one ftw!
@simbadogg ........clap.....clap....clap...clap..clap.clap
Damn. That, was an amazing rant. Bravo sir, bravo.
im not a big fan of winmo (mostly because I'm stuck with 6.0 on a duo) but the expo and hd2 have kinda made me want to believe there is still hope
@Dhoomz Yes!
That's what people are not realizing. The RAM is what excites me. The HD2 only has 400+ something. This has 512MB RAM. Add that to the 1Ghz processor. That is why this thing is blazing against all the others in the tests so far.
I need this phone in my life. I don't see how any phone can actually top these specs so far.
@AA Alex HD2 has 6.5 winmo right now. if u wait, theyll announce winmo 7 by Spring 2010, and possibly HD3 or better.
@AA Alex I've got a HD2 right next to me which I'm in the process of selling to get the Nexus One. The HD2 is an amazing device, but if you've become used to android (as I have with my G1) you'll want to go for the N1.
@simbadogg Well said. I feel exactly the same way. A lot of the fanboys/bashers are also new to this smartphone thing and haven't ever used the other OS that they bash.
@AA Alex - I'd love to see Nexus kill HD - not because of the phone itself but because of Windows Mobile OS :)
Hopefully we get the best of it - HD2 with smaller screen and then Android with all bells and whistles...
@AA Alex
You can find the answer in the Nexus One Forum http://www.handy-faq.de/forum/nexus_one_forum/113521-nexus_one_vs_htc_hd2.html
@Bobbo
Google android is still just hype right now. You will be left out in a world with so and so applications waiting for developers to come on board and how long will you wait and you just say much phone is cool because it uses android while the guy who uses HD2 can do whatever he wants because it's a windows phone! Garmin and tom tom can be installed on a windows phone and also coreplayer and skyfire browser. Windows media player can play internet radio streams which other smartphones can't even do.
Hmmm... Quite Impressive Specs.
But really, the name "Nexus One" has an sophisticated, high standard aggressive vibe to it... Much like the "Air Force One".
@vvnraman
correction "...a sophisticated..."
@vvnraman
VERY IMPRESSIVE MORE POWERFULL THAN THE FIRST EEEPCs netbooks
Eeepc 701 - 512ram, 4GB, 800x480, 900GHz processor, wifi
Nexus one - 512ram, 512mb+4GB SD, 800x480, 1GHz processor, wifi, bluetooth etc
@OCEAN CLAK 900GHZ? ohhh thats pretty fast for a netbook.