Nexus One lives on as Google's official developer phone
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 5th 2010 11:16AM
posted August 5th 2010 11:16AM
Update: We just got a look at the specs on Google's developer site and it looks like the Nexus One on offer is unfortunately T-Mobile only. Check out the tell-tale bands for yourself after the break.
Update 2: The specs mention that the device has "no root access" and that the bootloader is locked, but we're taking this to mean it's no different from any other Nexus One you'd buy. More ominously, though, it says that fastboot isn't enabled, which leads us to wonder whether this is going to cause problems with bootloader unlocks in the field. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Thanks, Carson!
Long live the Nexus One!
@Revolutionary
So wheres my Nexus two?
I just logged in and checked and it's the T-Mobile one.
@Revolutionary
just wait until Nexus Two
@Dan Jo
damn it you beat me to it. anyway it's impossible for them not make another handset in the future, they need to maintain a high standard for future android phones.
Maybe RIM should look at the N1 as a developer too.
@Dan Jo
I was caught between a nexus one or an iPhone 4 which I opted for because the nexus is a good few months old. It's a shame there's no talk of a nexus two because I was looking forward to being an Android user.
@pple is poo downrank
@treats Why didn't they just sell it unlocked? IMO all developer's phones should be unlocked.
@Revolutionary give me the Nexus One reborn with a 3.7" Super AMOLED screen on AT&T or Verizon and we'll talk.
@tobsmonster2
iPhone users aren't allowed to post on engadget anymore?
@pple is poo "might as well be 1/2 blind if it is not a retina display..." because the iPhone has the highest resolution display in the world...
@Dan Jo So where's my nexus one car dock?
@Dan Jo Meh, I'm waiting around for the Nexus-7
@Revolutionary Ha no wonder google pulled the plug...No one wanted such a crappy butt ugly device built by the company famous for ripping off other phone manufacturers hardware design/software implementation
So why do they mark it up over $355? The N1 costs $174.15 to build. And they give them away for free. But if I want to buy one, it will cost me $529? Not really making much sense here, Google.
@spawn782 It is. But to get 3G in the US it only works with T-Mobile. But it will work with Wind and Moblicity in Canada.
Great.... but they gave me one for free so no need to buy
Great Avatar.
@Son Of a Gun
Yeah, still from my Free the bootloader of the Motorola Milestone days..... I have no idea to change it on Engadget.
@pple is poo
I though the Nexus came out six month ago.
@pple is poo
I hope you realize this thing came out with an 800x480 amoled display when the iphone was still shipping with a 480x320 lcd panel..
@pple is poo
is that you Steve Jobs?
Can't any Android phone be used as a developer phone??
@Hazdaz
Some are easier to root and such. For the Nexus One it's just something like holding down the trackball when it boots up then it's in a special mode to make changes or something like that. On the Droid you have to go through a bunch of crap.
@Hazdaz
Technically yes, but this is the only one that they EXPRESSLY tell you that you can do anything to it and give you the facility to root. Plus now it serves as a reference.
I tried Tiki Tower on my Desire today and it was clear it was developed on a phone with a much lower resolution. Now at least most developers will try and cater for the bigger screens.
@Tes
But isn't that the whole point of Android's emulator? You can run the app you are developing on an emulated version of almost any type of phone out there??
I'm just starting to learn about developing for Android now, so when I see a post about the "official" developer's phone, I kind of have to wonder what the deal is all about.
@Hazdaz
An Emulator is never going to give you the full picture. That's why there are so many buggy apps out there. There are too many variables to fully realize a phone in an emulator 100% accurately. You certainly can't emulate a touch screen. You'll have to make do with a mouse and hope you made the buttons big enough.
@Hazdaz - You can unlock the Nexus One's bootloader with a simple command, and then install ANY ROM or recovery you wish. That's what makes it the "Developer" phone.
Most any Android handset can be rooted, but it takes a bit of hacking. Take the Droid X for instance - it's been rooted (I believe), but don't try putting a custom ROM on there or your phone will stop booting.
@Hazdaz
they had to get rid of the rest of the stock somehow.
@Hazdaz You'll quickly learn that the emulator is crap. I bought a Nexus One because I couldn't stand the shitty emulator anymore. Google seriously needs to update the emulator. Feels like I'm using an app that some intern put together in 2 hours.
@Hazdaz Making the Nexus One the official developers phone gives you an idea of the minimum hardware/environment you can expect for Android for the given version you are developing for. Basically Google is telling you this is the hardware to expect if you develop for Froyo. I would expect a new developer handset after Gingerbread.
The Nexus One will always have a special place in my heart
@Zylam And in my pocket. I think I might just stick with google dev phones. There is bound to be another dev phone after the Nexus one. I'm thinking maybe around the time of Gingerbread? Please?
Is it me or is google on a bad streak? Google Wave = Flop , Google Phone above = flop.
C'mon Google get it together!!
It's just you.
@Juggernaut408
I'm guessing that you haven't been looking at the Android sales figures?
Go take a look.
@Juggernaut408
It's more like you pretending.
@Juggernaut408 The phone itself wasn't really a flop, it was just the US distribution model.
It sold like hotcakes in the UK where it was sold thru the carrier. Same on KT in South Korea.
@Juggernaut408 Google Chrome = win, Android = win
Yeah, it's just you.
@Juggernaut408
Do people like you really think that if you spread enough misinformation, others may actually believe you? What the hell is happening to these Engadget commenters? Why all the hate?
@Juggernaut408
The Nexus One was not a flop. It did what it was designed to do - which was to kick everyone's ass into gear to make capable phones for Android. It basically jumpstarted the Android hardware revolution and now we have powerhouses like the EVO.
For that, we should all be grateful - or would you rather being using something like a Blackberry with it's 2008 processor and 2005 screen?
@Juggernaut408
It's just you. Google Android = Win. Their phone looks like a flop but it pushed Android to release phones to compete with it like the EVO and Droid X. It made Android get the Snapdragon. This phone did more for Android than its sales could've done. With this and the first Droid Android hit the mainstream market. People know what it is. Now it's selling more than the iPhone. It's a win.
Besides, the Chrome Browser hasn't done bad, the Google Apps are growing to the point that many schools and government agencies are paying for apps accounts, and Google Doc's new drawing features are making it basically replace OO. Maybe Chrome OS will flop, but it's just a development project to learn more about cloud systems. Also, we still are waiting to see what happens with Google TV, Tablets, and Netbooks.
@rackdude
Hey don't get me wrong Google makes good stuff I'm just a little surprised at some of the flops.
Android : I love this OS
Chrome: Is awesome I use it just as much as Firefox.
So don't take me for a Google hater lol.
@Juggernaut408 Why would you use two browsers ? I dropped FF for Chrome a few months ago, it so much faster.
@fourthletter
I dropped FF for the built in sync on chrome. It's a life saver because I'm on new machines all the time. Only thing is the extensions don't get synced.
@rackdude Since Google helped HTC make it, it gave Android's largest platform distributor a starting block to build off of with a reference design in its books. See how many awesome phones have already spawned from the platform?:
N1 --> Desire, Droid Incredible, Evo 4G,
Great now sell us accessories again, Google.
@killermojo
The official Android blog post has a link to HTC's official store:
http://www.htcaccessorystore.com/uk/p_htc_phone.aspx?i=193858
The only thing is it doesn't have the Nexus One case...
Anyone know where to buy that one?
@killermojo Technically they're for sale on the Euro HTC site, but for us chaps in the States, the insane shipping costs pushes the already insane dock prices to a whole new level of madness in pricing.