Mirror Image

One of the reasons why the Nexus One was so impressive was because of its sizable high resolution touch screen display. At 3.7” and with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, it remains to be one of the baddest in the business. The same holds true for the HTC Desire which has the exact same AMOLED capacitive touch screen. The dimensions of the two are almost exactly the same as is their weight – a virtual mirror image.

More of the Same

In terms of their features, it’s more of the same for the HTC Desire and the Nexus One. Voice and data connectivity options are similar and so are their built-in cameras which are both at 5-Megapixels. An expandable external memory of 32GB, a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and an A-GPS-capable GPS receiver are some of the other prominent features shared by these two Smartphones, and they’re definitely impressive features, especially considering how reasonable the HTC Desire deals are.

Sensing a Difference

While both handsets have the famed Android OS on board (both have the Eclair), what allows the HTC Desire to stand out is its Sense UI. The proprietary HTC user interface enhances the already impressive Google mobile OS as it integrates a lot of new features on the Desire. One of the shortcomings of the Nexus One was its lack of widget and application power. With the Desire, all these criticism can be thrown out of the window.

Unlike desktop computers, laptops and other hardware, the smart phone is an in-pocket tool that people carry around almost the whole day, every day. While fitting it in with plenty of apps is tempting, that would prove to be very counterproductive, what is important is determining what apps are needed and what are not. And there are plenty available, whether you choose the Bada operating system (as seen in the new Samsung Wave 2), the Google Android OS (with it’s flagship phone, the Nexus One) or the latest iPhone.

For new users, the best thing to do is to avoid “tool” apps that are meant to enhance, change or alter the current performance of your phone or mobile operating system. The reason for this is that despite the fact that many experts would recommend such tweaks, the smart phone is a personal tool, and what might be convenient and effective for one person does not necessarily apply to you. Give the handset several months of use before you learn what kind of adjustments you would like to see and get the appropriate tool apps if available.

Games a major type of apps that people go for, and this is something that one should try out. Playing games will make a user more familiar with the control and response of a handset. Just be sure to download content in moderation and avoid storing too many rarely used games that would clog up your menu.

Lastly, check your interests. Be it personal or professional, there are plenty of apps for people have different interests. From media to travelling to food to clothing, these apps can range from simple reference guides to real-time internet based apps that provide you with the latest news, updates and even location based services.

Anyway, the Nexus One is touch screen smart phone with a 3.7 inch AMOLED capacitive display. The screen response time (and refresh rates) is excellent and the touch controls are accurate. Of course, it certainly helps having a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU running inside this device. The phone also features advanced voice recognition capabilities as well as speech to text options (thanks mostly to the new voice filtering hardware on the device).

Of course, the big headline here is not the phone (most of us are already familiar with the very first Google branded handset by now), but rather, the new Froyo update. As expected, the Nexus One is first to get the update, though it is expected that other Android devices will also be updated in a matter of time.

Froyo stands for frozen yogurt –as goes Google’s naming trend for the Android OS since 1.5 Cupcake, which was followed by 1.6 Donut, then later 2.0 Éclair. The next OS update after Froyo is expected to be version 3.0 Gingerbread. The new update features plenty of new options such as the ability to view and read Flash content as well as AIR.

Version 2.2 Froyo also allows using the handset (well, some handsets anyway) as a tether for your laptop or other device. Another new function is the ability to just download content –especially media into your phone directly by going online. No need for a computer or Android software to transfer and sync the files –a major addition which iPhone users have been waiting for. Now Google has decided to sell through thirdy party retailers it is possible to pick up Nexus One deals through Vodafone without going through the Google store.

The list just goes on and on about how many times Google has tried to make you laugh out loud. As it turns out, they have been preparing a surprise for Android fans worldwide with their April Fool’s Day app with a very live download link simply called the “Translate for Animals”.

Now what it does is pretty straightforward. You record your chosen animal’s voice, record it into your Android (version 1.6 and higher only though) mobile phone, click on the button to have it processed and checked against all the pre-translated noises and voices and the app will display a translation of what your animal pal said.

The application is able to recognize common phrases that are usually said by species such as cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys, chickens, sheep, tortoises, hamsters, birds and horses. As a tip, Google says it is better to translate animals that are higher in the food chain if you want a more stimulating conversation.

“Pro Tip: As a general rule the higher up in the food chain an animal is, the better a communicator it will be. So if you are after quick witted banter it’s best to select cats and dogs rather than rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs.”

According to the official webpage, Google had some help from experts on animal cognitive linguistics and the folks at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Well, of course, with results coming from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, how can you go wrong?

Download this insanely funny app for free today at the Android Market and you will never have to guess what your dog thinks of your sweater color.

See the demo video at Engadget.

The mobile network operator will not have stocks of the handset; instead, customers who decide to get the phone on tariff will be supplied with a SIM card and instructed to go online to the Google store to order the phone. There is already a page on the Vodafone website dedicated to the Nexus One.

The Nexus One is the first Android smart phone that carries the Google brand. Taiwanese manufacturer HTC has been working closely with the Android developer in the creation of the Google smart phone. The device was officially launched last January at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California. The device was praised for its impressive specs and features, but failed miserably in terms of sales, selling only 20,000 units during its first week. Many blamed Google’s decision to limit phone sales to their Online Store.

In contrast, Vodafone’s launch of the iPhone last January earned plenty of sales, hitting 100,000 in the first week alone with continuously growing figures. With the iPhone already out for over two years, the successful launch is a testament to how great Apple’s smart phone is.

Vodafone is launching several other devices this April aside from the Nexus One. The HTC Legend, Desire and Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 are all expected to be available by early April while the Apple iPad tablet will be hitting the shelves by the end of April. This totals the Android smart phone lineup of Vodafone to four devices in a single month.

Get to know more about the Google Nexus One and Vodafone’s offering for the smart phone at Softpedia.

First off, Sony Ericsson’s CEO Bert Nordberg has said in a magazine interview that they turned down an offer to make the Google Phone –Nexus One. It is a surprising bit of news to hear and many people believe that SE has made a critical error in choosing not to take the opportunity. While many can argue that the Nexus One is not a real success in terms of sales, the mere publicity and reputation by the prestige could very well bring in more money for the company.

SE has been a financially troubled company since last year and despite their impressive 2010 lineup, many believe that there are still plenty of dark clouds in the joint venture’s horizon.

One key company to watch out for this year is Microsoft. The company has had success in the computer industry with the release of the new Windows 7 operating system which practically fixed all the problems of Vista (well, almost). They are also doing well in the mobile industry with the recent unveiling of the Windows Phone 7 series.

A recent report has shown that European Regulators have approved the Yahoo! and MS tie up. No details yet on what we can expect from the two giants, but expect them to start cracking down on competitors such as Google and Apple pretty soon.

Speaking of Windows Phone 7, the mobile operating system is expected to appear later this October with a device made by Asus for Microsoft.

Get to know more about the latest news and more at the Guardian UK.

When you get your hands on the Nexus One you will get the feeling of the iPhone more than that of other Smartphones.  While Motorola keeps the physical QWERTY keyboard with the Backflip, Google Nexus One lacks any substantial physical buttons.  In fact, there are some good functional buttons on the phone: the power button and the volume control.  The rest of the control is provided through the touch sensitive screen.

When users get it out from the box they will hold in their hands an 11.5 mm deep and 130 grams in weight phone.  The first thing they will notice is the big 3.7 inch touch screen, which is one of the biggest touch screens on the phone market.

Inside the Android phone there is a powerful Snapdragon 1 GHz processor. So, when it comes to Nexus One the 3D graphics, internet browsing and applications running at the same time they can forgot how to close applications, because they don’t need it.  The creators, were careful when they designed the Smartphone to deliver a really smart, energy saving phone, so do not be surprised if you see the Nexus One self-adjusting its brightness or turning down the processor when not used.  Still, there is a lack of long battery life there, because continuous use of the phone may shorten the battery life.  The official statement will tell us that there is about 10 days standby, 7 hours talk time and video playback and 20 hours of audio playback.

The Google Nexus One uses the Android 2.1 operating system that has some notable features.  When we say Android operating system, we have Google Voice, so an assigned Google Voice number to the phone to make all the calls and messaging.  There is an upgraded Voice keyboard also and a voice enabled text field.  The Android 2.1 makes typing easier because one can just talk to the phone and then they can edit the converted text later.  The Nexus One has an awesome background change also, with the Live Wallpaper feature.  It is fun to change the existing wallpaper to a new one; especially the best ones.

You can choose between many options so your phone can reflect your mood.  The gorgeous 480 x 800 OLED touch screen catches the eye at the exact second when the eye is seen. Another notable feature is the noise cancellation.  Of course this feature is noticeable for those who are on the other side of the line, but it is does a great job when it comes to noise.  It cancels the wind noise that substantially improves the calls quality.  This feature is automatic and the technology used for this is very simple: there is another microphone on the back that tracks inbound noise.  Now is the time, when you can relax, and lower down your voice when talking on the Nexus phone.

More information about the Nexus One can be found on the phone’s official page. There are also numerous reviews that can be found online. Many of them are very good, complete with pictures. For those interested in purchasing the phone, it is definitely worth taking a look at.

The Google Nexus One will initially be released in the United States. T-Mobile will be the phone’s carrier. Later this year, Verizon will also carry the phone. In Europe, Vodafone will have the honors. The newest Android handset is priced pretty expensively. It will cost buyers $529 (£331) if bought directly from Google. Individuals who sign a two year contract with T-Mobile will be able to purchase the phone at a discount. The price is reduced to $179 (£112).

The Nexus One comes with a 5 megapixel camera that has a LED flash and autofocus feature. Besides great pictures, Individuals will also be able to record HD videos. The phone comes standard with GPS, compass, voice recognition and 512 MB of memory. An additional amount can be added via the handset’s microSD memory slot.

The hype concerning the Google Nexus One came to a crescendo yesterday around the time Google hosted its invitation-only press event. The company finally acknowledged the existence of the Nexus One and gave the public an idea of when it will be available. From most accounts, it looks like the wait has been well worth it. Now, the only thing left is to see how the phone will actually perform.

The new release from Google, the Nexus One is a revolutionary new mobile phone featuring the most up to date technology there is around, and combining it all into one small and stylish phone. Using a 5.0megapixel camera, you are never going to be caught out again by not having a camera to document a favorite occasion or work assignment which you need to take home with you. When taken, the photos can then be transferred to a computer or uploaded directly to a website providing the website has the right capabilities.

When speaking on the Nexus One noise reduction technology will be automatically applied to help keep your conversations clear and audible. A compressor acts to take out unnecessary noise, and unwanted frequencies, particularly focusing on background noise and line interference. Weighing in at only 133g, the phone is easily carried round in your pockets, and can be used to make long telephone calls as your hand will not develop strain and pain as quickly as other phones. The phone is available on T mobile in the United States, and on the Vodafone network in the United Kingdom. At present the phone is available directly from the Google website, and plans or store releases are not yet known.

The news has been released by the Wall Street Journal, according to which Google will not be relying on any other phone carrier or operator for introducing the phone in the market, and will be managing the marketing of the phone themselves. Given the media impact of the internet giants, that is not really a surprise though. Nevertheless Google are entering previously unexplored terrain, and are preparing for it as well. As per the WSJ, Google have already introduced the phones to their employees.

The phone will be manufactured by the Taiwanese mobile phone manufacturers HTC, who themselves have launched a number of Android running handsets. But of course we are guessing that Google would have saved the best of the Android operating software for a phone under their own brand. It is being speculated to be the phone with the most customizable version of Android. The phone will not be offered with a network service and the users will have to arrange for a SIM card of the network of their choice.

Android is undoubtedly the hottest sensation among the mobile phone users and the market pundits alike and the news of the expected release of Nexus One is expected to be received enthusiastically as well. However, the road may not be all that smooth for Google, as it is posed a great threat from Apple’s iPhone and other Nokia smartphones, which are the most popular choices for smartphone users. Only time will tell how Google will come over the challenge.