After going from hot rumor to official announcement, it’s time we take a look at what the Nexus One is and isn’t. We’ll do our best to get to the point and answer any questions you might have about the phone. Below are the top 10 questions we’ve been receiving from readers and interested parties. Feel free to add your own questions at the end for others!
Here we go! The details are going from a trickle to a downright deluge these last few hours. As we near the January 5th press event, chances are pretty good that we’ll know all the ins and outs before their officially announced. Here’s what Gizmodo is reporting this evening…
The full cost of the handset will be $530 unsubsidized. Google won’t deliver us from the evil that is the US system (yet). Don’t feel like dropping a mortgage payment? Sign a 2-year agreement and get it for $180.00 instead. As of right now, there’s only one rate plan to choose from: $39.99 Even More + Text + Web for $79.99 a month.
There should be little doubt that this phone is a Google branded experience. Look at that box – there’s literally nothing on there save for the Google logo and Nexus One name. Reminiscent of you-know-what.  The chaps at TechCrunch were passed 4 pictures of the Nexus One as well as quick bootup video. Naturally, we felt obligated to share!
Reuters is reporting that a source of theirs indicates a January 5th date for the Nexus One to go on sale. They’ve been advised that it will be at a “reduced price to consumers who agree to a service contract from Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile USA“. Are we skeptical? Sure. It’s only a couple weeks away but whatever. We thought it would be months before Google Goggles was ready and here it was rolled out days after we learned of it.ÂÂ
The big Android news this weekend is piecing together whether or not Google employees were given handsets which will end up being “The Google Phone” that’s often been rumored. We posted an article earlier today about the subject and it seems Google has something official to say about the matter.
T-Mobile USA has officially announced their 4th Android handset as the Samsung Behold II. A touch-only device, the Behold II is both Android-based and TouchWiz interface. Starting November 18th, the phone goes on sale online and at T-Mobile stores nationwide, the phone will drop at $229 beginning Nov. 18, 2009. We previously reported the phone for $199 so we feel compelled to clear that up.
Google announced the next evolution of their Google Maps for mobile today and it’s a game-changer. It’s called Google Maps Navigation it’s an internet-connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. And it comes standard with Android 2.0. Sounds fancy huh? It is. The key is in the internet connection. Oh and being free never hurts.
The Official Google Blog has posted seven key reasons as to why their Maps Navigation is better than other GPS alternatives. We’ve taken the liberty of pulling out and paraphrasing the stuff you’ll enjoy the most.
Verizon Wireless officially announced today that the Motorola Droid will be launching on November 6th with a $200 price tag. We have to admit, the cost does come as a surprise considering the specs. It’s considerably beefier than anything else we’ve seen so far from T-Mobile or Sprint but in the same ballpark in terms of cost.ÂÂ
An “exclusive” article over on TheStreet claims that Google is actually in the hardware business after all. Yep – according to them, Google has plans to develop their own handset and release it to the masses.
My Background
Being that this is my first piece for AndroidGuy.com, I want to give you, the readers, some insight into my background so that you may interpret this review accordingly. I’m 23 years old and I’m currently in my second year of law school. I love all kinds of gadgets, and I am, like everyone, biased. I use Apple computers, I think plasma televisions are unquestionably superior to LCDs, I prefer Canon cameras, and I recently have decided that I loathe BlackBerry phones. Oh, and I think that Jay Cutler has been blessed with a golden arm of the Gods. That being said, I am more than willing to admit when a product is, in fact, a good product.