Android 2.1 gets real on the wings of the Nexus One

We already knew the Nexus One would come baked to a crispy golden brown with a new cut of Android, and we've now heard several mentions of it on-stage at Google's official reveal: Android 2.1 is the real deal. HTC chief Peter Chou has specifically mentioned its 3D capabilities -- something we've seen in the new Gallery app -- but we're looking forward to seeing if El Goog's got any extra tricks up its sleeve here. For what it's worth, dev documentation for 2.1 isn't yet online, but we're keeping an eye out.

Update: Notably, they're saying 2.1 is an extension of Eclair -- no Flan here, as far as we can tell. They've gone through the new integrated weather and news apps, live wallpapers, a 3D framework accessible by devs (thank goodness), and speech-to-text input.

[supitsmike Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:35PM]

I love me some Eclair. The rest of us are getting it...

Right?

...Right :(?

(On the Droid here, gimmie a break!)

[GoogleCEO Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:42PM]

@supitsmike
Yes Droid will be getting it :)

[Don G Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:42PM]

@supitsmike
Nice, but i prefer a physical keyboard. Still choosing the n900 over this

[JesusFreak Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:56PM]

@supitsmike
Thanks to the awesomeness of XDAdevs I have it on my ATT Fuze. :)

[immatrickster Posted Jan 5th 2010 9:43PM]

@(Unverified) Questions if Nexus One is competitive enough to go head to head with the iPhone kind has been answered and so far, the answer is yes! It's funny coz when you hear what the nexus one developers said, if Nexus One was an iPhone killer they replied instead, "This is our superphone". Now, that's more like it.

Droid, iPhone, Palm Pixi VS Nexus One details: http://bit.ly/nexus-one-matchup-droid-iphone-palmpixi-details

[JeremyBenthem Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:46PM]

I'm surprised webOS and android didn't add the 3D framework from the get go, Apple figured it out in '08 and everyone knows how successful games have been for them

[Oflife Posted Jan 5th 2010 1:56PM]

Dear Engaget: Why in this age of broadband and mega super duper Interwebs video technology can you not stream the event to us the unwashed impatient masses so we don't have to browse thought pages of text and weblogs? Yours, an unwashed.

[gerrrg Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:07PM]

I like the speech to text; would make texting a lot faster.

[jdm28690 Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:08PM]

inb4 iphone is better

[Jimi Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:11PM]

All I want to know is if the G1 will be getting 2.1?

[Chuuchdizzle Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:13PM]

dude google dropped the ball, you can only pay with google checkout. so sorry google, I guess I won't be buying this phone

[Andir Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:16PM]

@Chuuchdizzle We all have our pointless complaints.

[Chuuchdizzle Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:23PM]

@Andir you know what, you're right, but it doesn't change my mind, i just don't feel right giving google my credit card info.

[pukerocket Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:51PM]

@Chuuchdizzle

Why do you have a credit card then? You probably use it every day in KFC, why is Google any different?

[Andir Posted Jan 5th 2010 3:40PM]

@pukerocket It's actually worse than picking one company and sticking to them solely. It's harder to track where the abuse is coming from if you frequent many local shops vs one major one (that probably has better security anyway...)

But people freak out because Google uses anonymous data to feed advertisements just like television, radio and every other free service you utilize.

[anagin Posted Jan 5th 2010 2:20PM]

We have too many iPhone Killers Now. I love Nexus One. Cant wait to Order. Here I go google.com/phone

[Serus Posted Jan 5th 2010 3:09PM]

I hope HTC moves up the 2.1 deadline from First Half of 2010 to First Quarter at the latest! I know, it's only a pipe dream...It'll be here June 30th I'm sure.

No Nexus One for Sprint? Damn, I would drop the $530 on one if it worked on Sprint..

[anagin Posted Jan 5th 2010 4:04PM]

Wow! unlocked. Probably first of its kind in the US market for an high-End Phone like this. Earlier Apple, now Google are game changers for sure.