By Joe Wilcox, Betanews
Last week, Betanews founder Nate Mook and I both purchased Google Nexus One phones. Nate is coming from iPhone, and I have been using the Nokia N900. We haven't yet coordinated our reviews, or how we'll write them (separately or together), but they're coming sometime this week. Why should Nate and I have all the fun when you could join in, too? So this is a call for Betanews readers with Nexus Ones to share your experiences, either in comments below or by sending me e-mail.
To start the discussion, I'll offer a few first impressions. I ordered the Nexus One during Google's event last week, before the invited attendees got their free review units. Google shipped the phone by free FedEx overnight, so I began using the so-called "superphone" on Wednesday (January 6). Google impressed with the simple ordering process and prompt delivery.
I would recommend the Nexus One over iPhone to most anyone. While I'm no fan of Nexus One's industrial design, the phone satisfies in most of the important ways: Call quality, user interface responsiveness, overall speed of the device, 3G telephony and data reception, ease of typing on touchscreen and applications availability. Google and HTC have put together a simply satisfying smartphone.
However, as a journalist, I have unique needs. I plan on doing much more with digital content over the coming months. Having a phone that takes adequate photos, shoots quality videos and captures Web-quality audio (if not better) is important to me. For those functions, the Nokia N97 satisfied, but the broader phone experience frustrated. I replaced the N97 with the N900, which is fun and fast to use, but I'm not as satisfied with photo or video-capture capabilities compared to other Nokia devices.
By the specs, both the Nexus One and N900 offer more digital content capture capabilities than iPhone 3G or 3GS: 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and HD-quality video. Google's Android 2.1 and Nokia's Maemo 5 operating systems both allow background applications and provide multiple widgetized desktops, features not available on iPhone 3G or 3GS. Both devices support T-Mobile's 3G network, which real speed is faster than AT&T's 3G network. I'll either return the Nexus One for refund or sell the N900.
Betanews has posted plenty of commentaries and stories about Nexus One over the last week. Here are links for posts offering additional information; newest first:
- Google lacks Humanity, Jan. 10, 2010
- The flip side of Nexus One: Low early marks for Google, the retailer, Jan. 9, 2010
- Apple and Microsoft beware: Google will be an unstoppable force in mobility, Jan. 6, 2010
- CES 2010: How soon will Nexus One be eclipsed?, Jan. 6, 2010
- Nexus One: More than a phone, less than a game-changer, Jan. 5, 2010
- Google soars past Apple and Microsoft with Nexus One superphone, Jan. 5, 2010
- Would anyone care for a 'superphone?' Google's platform play with Nexus One, Jan. 5, 2010
- Can the Nexus One turn Google users into Android phone users?, Jan. 5, 2010
- CES 2010 Flashpoints: The platforms for the next decade in electronics, Jan. 5, 2010
- Google pulls and Apple with its own pre-CES event, Dec. 29, 2009
- The Hang-up with the Google Phone, Dec. 18, 2009
- The umpteenth Google Phone: What we can learn from what we don't know, Dec. 14, 2009
Again, Nexus One users, please share your user stories. I encourage other Android phone users to share their stories, too. If you've switched from another platform to Android, tell us all way. Comments section awaits your responses.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
