Nexus One
Latest
Philip K. Dick's estate lawyers up, says Nexus One name is 'clear infringement'
We'd been hearing that Philip K. Dick's estate wasn't too pleased about Google's riff on the Nexus-6 name from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Blade Runner for the Nexus One, and now it looks like they're doing something about it -- Phil's daughter Isa told the Wall Street Journal that the name is a "clear infringement of our intellectual-property rights" and that their lawyers are "dealing head-to-head" with the situation. We're not exactly sure what that means: unlike George Lucas and the Droid trademark, Dick's estate doesn't have a trademark on the Nexus name -- and even if it did, we're not sure consumers would somehow be confused into thinking there was some association between Dick and Google. That said, we're pretty sure the smart move for Google is to just cut a check and earn some feel-good PR here, but we'll see what happens.
Nexus One teardown reveals 802.11n WiFi and FM transmitter
We've already told you everything you need to know about the Nexus One. Still, you might be curious to see Google's self-proclaimed "superphone" splayed wide to reveal a Samsung-branded OLED display, Qualcomm QSD8250 "Snapdragon" 1 GHz ARM processor, and Synaptics touchscreen controller. Of interest is a Broadcom chip labeled Broadcom BCM4329EKUBG. Why? Well, the BCM4329 (albeit, without the "EKUBG" qualifier) is capable of 802.11n (HTC only lists 802.11b/g) WiFi in addition to FM transmitter and receiver. Bet you didn't know that? Picture of the Broadcom chip after the break. Update: Just noticed that Google does list 802.11n on the specs page although HTC does not.
Vodafone promises Nexus One 'in a few short weeks'
Nexus One's vague Europe-bound release window has tightened up quite a bit. A Vodafone spokesperson said the Google Phone is coming first in the UK and -- here's the kicker -- within "a few short weeks." France, Germany, and a few other unnamed companies are following after later in the year. Enjoy your new Android device across the pond, ladies and gents.
Subsidized Nexus One pricing not available to existing T-Mobile customers
Remember when you ran out to buy a T-Mobile G1 right away when it was launched 14 months ago? Google apparently doesn't -- it's only extending the $179 subsidized price for the Nexus One to new T-Mobile customers, meaning existing customers are being told they have to pay the full sticker of $529 for the Snapdragon device. As you can imagine, that's got quite a few T-Mobile customers pretty angry -- especially since Google's systems aren't even allowing upgrade-eligible T-Mo subscribers to purchase at a discount, and there's no customer service line to call and complain. We're hoping this is just a glitch while Google takes its first steps into direct phone sales, but we'll keep an eye on the situation. [Thanks, Mike]
Nexus One previewed with Flash 10.1 beta: careful what you wish for (video)
You've heard of the Flash 10.1 beta right? And you've definitely heard of the Nexus One. So it's no surprise to see Adobe riding Google's coattails by demoing its Flash beta preview on this so-called superphone. Be sure to check out the animated ad for dog food to fully realize what a future of Flash-capable devices will really look like. See it after the break.
Motorola Droid likely getting Android 2.1, so says Sanjay Jha
One dude we didn't really expect to see at an event touting the HTC-sourced Nexus One was Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, but sure enough, he showed up at the tail end of the show to take a few questions. The big news there might be his statement that he "thinks" his company will update the Droid to use the Nexus One's build -- Android 2.1 -- meaning that there's a fighting chance we'll see first-party 3D accelerated apps, live wallpapers, and a replacement for that infernal app drawer on Verizon's flagship device. Interestingly, Jha and Andy Rubin have defended Android's fragmentation with different devices getting updated to new versions at vastly different paces by pointing out that 2.1's 3G support wouldn't have been possible if backward compatibility was a priority (in other words, first-gen devices without 3G chipsets don't stand much of a chance here). And hey, how are they going to get you to spill a few hundred bucks every year or two if the phones don't run significantly more awesome software?
Google's Nexus One is official
We know, you're so surprised. Google's finally confirmed the Nexus One. We've naturally heard all about the phone already from dubious sources, and even reviewed the purported device, but now that they've got one in hand up on a stage, we suppose we'll have to set aside all of our doubts. So, the nitty gritty: 3.7-inch AMOLED display, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, compass, GPS, accelerometer, light and proximity sensor, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a multicolored LED under the trackball. There are also two mics onboard, one on the bottom and one on the back, for the purpose of noise cancellation à la Motorola's CrystalTalk, and the phone is naturally running the brand new Android 2.1. The phone is actually HTC branded, unlike the pre-release versions we've seen, and can be custom engraved with two lines of text at the time of order, for that extra personal touch (there's a picture of the phone's back after the break). The phone is available today off contract with a T-Mobile compatible radio for $529 unlocked, shipping to the US, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, or with a two year T-Mobile US contract for $179 (both with free overnight shipping in the US). Most surprisingly, the phone is also headed to Verizon this Spring, and Vodafone will score the device eventually as well. Update: Tony couldn't resist, and he managed to capture each step of the checkout process while ordering an unlocked Nexus One today. Hit up the gallery below if you're into that whole "living vicariously" thing. Thanks, Tony! Update 2: Check out the detailed T-Mobile USA pricing options here. Thanks, Kamran! %Gallery-81540%
Live from Google's Android press conference
We're live at Mountain View for Google's super-secret Android press conference. Sure, we've got a pretty good idea what'll be announced here (note: it's probably not multitouch capabilities on Maps), but you never know, there might be a few surprises in store. The whole shebang is supposed to go down in just a little bit, so stay tuned!
Rubin on adding multitouch to the Nexus One: 'we'll consider it'
Google and its partners have a track record of being clear as mud about their intentions regarding multitouch -- they're obviously all dancing around the issue, but there's definitely some logic (probably legal logic, but logic nonetheless) behind which devices are getting it in which markets. Notably lacking multitouch, though is the flagship Nexus One -- an odd device for Google to fail to pimp out in every conceivable way, we'd argue. Our man on the ground in Mountain View today pressed Android chief Andy Rubin on the matter today, asking whether we might see multitouch in a future Nexus One software update: "we'll consider it." That's all we could get out of him, suggesting this is still very much a sensitive subject -- but at least we have some confirmation that it's a software limitation alone, so if nothing else, this'll get hacked every which way within a few days of release.
Verizon getting Google's Nexus One in Spring 2010
Oh boy, you heard that right. Google's slinging its Nexus One to Verizon in the Spring for an undisclosed amount. At a purchase page that went live during the company's product launch event in Mountain View, users are notified that the phone will soon be available on America's largest carrier. Two things are immediately interesting here -- for starters, it's not coming (right away, at least) to bump heads with the iPhone on AT&T, and secondly, Google is openly suggesting that you buy Motorola's (as in, not HTC's) Droid now if you just can't wait a day longer for some of that Android goodness. If AT&T wasn't scared, it should be now. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nexus One hitting France at €450 contract-free?
Maybe you, like us, are a little disappointed at how the Nexus One fared in our review. It may not be the ground-breaker we'd all hoped for, but it's still a mighty important handset, and while we're expecting to know the full details for its American release later today it seems someone may have tipped their hat on European availability details a little early. According to Le Point, the phone will be available in France and elsewhere in Europe within the next "several weeks," with prices at €450 for a contract-free device. However, if you don't mind signing two years of your wireless independence away to Vodafone that price is said to drop to €200. Again, we're still waiting to learn about pricing here in the States, but we'd expect a similar ratio here. [Thanks, Lopez]
Nexus One review
The Nexus One. In the modern climate of hyped (and over-hyped) smartphone launches, Google's official entry into the phone-sales game has excelled in a department where many find difficulty: generating legitimate excitement. Of course, long before the name Nexus One or the recent bounty of pictures and details existed, the very concept of a "Google Phone" had been ingrained in the public conscience, predating even the Open Handset Alliance and Android itself; the company dabbled in the concept of direct sales through its offering of the Android Dev Phones 1 and 2 (alias Ion), but this time, it's a public retail ordeal, not a couple of one-off developer specials. The genuine-article Google Phone is finally here -- for better or worse. The device, a Snapdragon-powered, HTC-built phone looks -- on paper, at least -- like the ultimate Android handset, combining a newly tweaked and tightened user interface with killer industrial design. A sleek, streamlined phone that can easily go toe-to-toe with the iPhone 3GSs, Pres, and Droids of the world, powered by the latest version of Android (2.1 "Flan," if you're counting), and hand-retooled by Google. But is it all it's cracked up to be? Can the Nexus One possibly live up to the hype ascribed to it? And more importantly, is the appearance of the phone the death knell for the OHA and a sign of the coming Android autocracy? In our exclusive review of the Nexus One, we'll answer all those pressing questions and more... so read on for the full scoop! %Gallery-81309% Note: The unit we have in hand is -- by all appearances -- a production model, save for the QR code imprint on the back, which is likely an employee-only Easter egg. However, Google is making its official announcement tomorrow, and there could always be differences. If anything changes with the device, or there are revelations about the marketing or sale of the phone, we'll be sure to update the review with new info.
Google Nexus One support page goes live, quickly dies again
Wondering how to activate your shiny new Nexus One? Curious how to get started with the thing, or how to use the 3D gallery? Oh, wait, you don't have yours yet? Oops. Google seems to have posted its support page for the phone a little early, a little site that went live for just a few minutes -- just long enough for us to click through a little, read that Terms of Service that was leaked to us last week, and watch a few videos. The first one that came up is actually the walkthrough for Android 2.0, curiously, but the other videos showed 3D photo gallery and some other goodies. Now they show nothing, though, having been set private and the pages removed. Surely they'll be up again soon, with the device getting announced tomorrow, and while we're still not sure exactly when you'll be able to get your own, you're always welcome to enjoy our hands-on impressions. Update: Jakob wrote in to let us know that there's another support page still alive -- but barely. It just shows some funky characters, a nearly empty dropbox, and a very nice Nexus One logo. [Thanks, Joe]
Exclusive: Google Nexus One hands-on, video, and first impressions
That's right, humans -- Engadget has its very own Nexus One. You've seen leaked pics and videos from all over, but we're the first publication to get our very own unit, and we plan on giving you guys the full story on every nook and cranny of this device. In case you've been living under a rock, here's the breakdown of the phone. The HTC-built and (soon to be) Google-sold device runs Android 2.1 atop a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 3.7-inch, 480 x 800 display, has 512MB of ROM, 512MB of RAM, and a 4GB microSD card (expandable to 32GB). The phone is a T-Mobile device (meaning no 3G if you want to take it to AT&T), and includes the standard modern additions of a light sensor, proximity sensor, and accelerometer. The Nexus One has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, and we have to say so far the pictures it snaps look pretty decent (and the camera software is much faster than the same component on the Droid). The phone is incredibly thin and sleek -- a little thinner than the iPhone -- but it has pretty familiar HTC-style industrial design. It's very handsome, but not blow-you-away good looking. It's a very slim, very pocketable phone, and feels pretty good in your hand. Thought you'd have to wait for that Google event for more on the Nexus One? Hell no -- so read on for an in-depth look. C'mon, you know you want to. %Gallery-81309%
Nexus One trounces 3D benchmark, gets caught in high-res photoshoot
Just when you thought you'd seen it all with Nexus One, along comes an old friend with some higher resolution shots of the handset (hooray!) and a pretty impressive 3D benchmark test using Qualcomm's Neocore. Video's after the break --that Snapdragon chip outputs a mean framerate, no? Update: Also on hand after the break is a high-quality video of the UI -- ten minutes of it, to be exact. Just a warning, there's a brief NSFW clip from Californication at around the two minute mark. With that said, grab some popcorn and enjoy! Update 2: The original YouTube video was pulled. We've uploaded a new copy and embedded below. %Gallery-81227%
Nexus One rooted already?
No, you still can't have one (not yet, at least), but we've received a number of tips directing us Modaco forums, where admin Paul claims to have rooted Google's not-so-mysterious Nexus One. We can't validate the "superboot" file works, but the adjacent picture has popped up from another forum member as apparent anecdotal confirmation. Instructions for Windows, Linux, and OS X users can be found along with the necessary materials. What do you say, hacker community, any chance we can get multitouch loaded into the device before it ever becomes official to the world at large? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Allegedly leaked Nexus One purchase page answers, raises questions (update: we've got the terms of sale)
So apparently the cats over at Gizmodo have gotten their hands on leaked pics of the Nexus One's landing and purchase page. First, the meat. According to the pages, the phone will be available in two ways: as a $529.99 unsubsidized and unlocked device, and as a $179.99 T-Mobile device locked to a two year contract. Sound familiar? It should, because it's exactly the same story as every other phone available on the market right now. Additionally, the pics seem to suggest that there will only be one plan available should you get the device on contract -- 500 minutes of talk time, unlimited text, data, and mobile to mobile for $79.99 -- which happens to exactly equal what you'd pay for a T-Mobile Even More 500 plan with unlimited smartphone data and unlimited messaging, so that means there's no bogus premium here. Furthermore, Giz claims that if you cancel your contract within 120 days you have to pay a $350 fee (a la Verizon) or return the phone to Google, and any existing customer that wishes to buy the phone has to switch to the Nexus One plan. One thing that caught our eye is a mention of personalization -- you'll be able to get the phone engraved, something that we've been able to independently confirm through another tipster of ours. It looks like you can do two lines of text on a metallic bar on the back of the device... just don't expect to return it if you do (seriously, it says right in the terms of service that you're married to that thing if you get it etched). To be perfectly honest, it's hard to say if this is the real deal or not. We don't get why Google would want to lock you into a single plan, nor do we fully understand why you would need to activate your phone via the website (as shown in the grab). Of course, the big G sometimes works in mysterious ways -- perhaps they're going for a little Apple magic here with restrictive plans and draconian ideas about how you can use the phone. It wouldn't be surprising given the timing of the company's little event next week. Don't worry, all will be revealed soon enough. Update: Well what do you know. We've just been hit with a few photos of our own, apparently straight from HTC training materials, according to a tipster. And what else? Oh yes -- a PDF of the terms of sale, which you can download and view right here. %Gallery-81160%
Google announces Android press conference for January 5th
Well well. Look at this. Taking a page from the CES-challenging Apple / Macworld playbook, Google has announced a press event on January 5th (just like we told you) in Mountain View, stating: With the launch of the first Android-powered device just over a year ago, we've seen how a powerful, open platform can spur mobile product innovation. And this is just the beginning of what's possible. Please join us in Mountain View on January 5, for an Android press gathering. If this lines up with the news we've seen recently, it's likely a Nexus One announcement will be the order of the day, and most (if not all) of your nagging questions will get answered. You know we'll be there live... so hang on to your hats, and mark down the date!
T-Mobile makes internal mention of Nexus One (sort of) for 'early January' release
It manages to never actually call out the device by name, but T-Mobile's thrown up some internal verbiage mentioning that "Google... is scheduled to launch a new Android device in early January." That would line up with information we'd previously received reporting to some sort of January 5 launch, and we can only assume they're talking about the Nexus One here -- though the name could still change by the time this hits retail channels. Interestingly, T-Mobile calls out that Google and HTC will be directly responsible for support on the handset, bypassing T-Mobile for everything other than wireless service -- the great "dumb pipe" dream, realized. Stay tuned, because it looks like this is all about to get real.
HTC Nexus One Bluetooth car dock hits the FCC; Nexus One trade name listed as 'Google Phone'
The slow drip of Nexus One info continues at the FCC -- just a day after we saw the Bluetooth desktop dock hit the database, the Bluetooth car dock we'd also seen floating around has turned up for inspection. And what's this? The list of ancillary testing equipment used says the phone's "trade name" is "Google Phone," which is the first time we've seen that name used in a semi-official fashion. It's particularly notable since this form was prepared by HTC employees and the phone is called the Nexus One elsewhere in the document, so you'd think they'd just put either HTC or Nexus One in that space. Of course, it's also entirely possible that whoever filled out this form just got a little carried away, but c'mon -- you wouldn't lie to the government, now would you? Titillating wireframe pic of the car dock after the break.
