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View Full Version : Gadget geeks, do I wait for the Nexus One (Google Phone)?



wersdaluv
December 27th, 2009, 03:27 PM
Hello there. If you've been following the gadget news, I would like your opinion on whether I should wait for the Google Phone aka Nexus One or not. Motorola Milestone (the GSM version of Motorola Droid) is out. I can find a way to buy one in Hong Kong, which is very near to my country, or ship one from the US. My P990i just broke and I'm using a simple phone so getting an Android device soon would help.

What do you think? Should I wait for the Nexus One? Buy the Motorola Milestone? Buy something else? Wait for a few months to have more options?

EDIT:
The reasons why I very much dig the Milestone is the physical keyboard. Even if it's a must have for me, I'm torn because it's very likely that Nexus One will get more attention and support (thus more roms and other benefits).

pwnst*r
December 27th, 2009, 03:29 PM
wait till sometime first quarter twenty ten. i'd certainly wait for nexxus if i were you just to see how it is considering you live outside of the US where mostly GSM is very good.

amitabhishek
December 27th, 2009, 05:32 PM
At this moment only Eric, Larry, Sergi & God know about their plans. Buy a phone with bigger RAM so that you can flash it any Android version that you fancy for e.g. a HTC Hero.

TheNessus
December 27th, 2009, 05:34 PM
Personally I wait for Nexus 6, I'd have my very own replicant that can breath and talk, and also dial the phone for me.

gnomeuser
December 27th, 2009, 06:20 PM
I just bought an HTC Hero since that was the best Android phone I could get here with subsidies from the cellco. I really wanted to go for the Droid but it was to expensive, now having seen the Nexus One's specifications I am kicking myself that I didn't save up and buy one of those instead.

Especially given this (http://davidnielsen.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/why-i-will-be-returning-my-htc-hero/)

xorg112
December 27th, 2009, 06:57 PM
My brother works at google and he got a nexus one from them.
It's pretty neat, and likely to become the ultimate iphone-killer.
I would recommend you to wait for the nexus.

pwnst*r
December 27th, 2009, 07:00 PM
your brother works at google, yet "it's pretty neat" is all you can give us?

/fake

LeifAndersen
December 27th, 2009, 07:10 PM
@xorg112: Drool, I wish I was your brother (I want to work for google). Anyway, I am waiting to get a look at the nexus one, as I want it. Either that, or I will buy a droid in about 4 months. Still, the largest deturent for me is those data plans: http://leifandersen.net/2009/11/30/droid-and-the-evils-of-telecommunications/

xorg112
December 27th, 2009, 10:08 PM
your brother works at google, yet "it's pretty neat" is all you can give us?

/fake

I see him tomorrow, maybe I can upload a picture.
As for features, just ask.
I never used a different Android-phone, but I guess the most apps are the same, so I wouldn't know what's so extraordinary special about it.
As I wrote above, just ask whatever you want to know.

pwnst*r
December 27th, 2009, 10:21 PM
I see him tomorrow, maybe I can upload a picture.
As for features, just ask.
I never used a different Android-phone, but I guess the most apps are the same, so I wouldn't know what's so extraordinary special about it.
As I wrote above, just ask whatever you want to know.

good, i love to be proved wrong when it's something this hot. i'm curious as to the voip capabilities, exchange support, and how it is as a media player.

PhoenixMaster00
December 28th, 2009, 01:45 AM
I just bought an HTC Hero since that was the best Android phone I could get here with subsidies from the cellco. I really wanted to go for the Droid but it was to expensive, now having seen the Nexus One's specifications I am kicking myself that I didn't save up and buy one of those instead.

Especially given this (http://davidnielsen.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/why-i-will-be-returning-my-htc-hero/)

Got to say i pretty much agree with the link from my own experiences with the Hero. So looking forward to either swapping it with a Nexus One or Xperia x10.

bashveank
December 28th, 2009, 02:08 AM
Eh, the Nexus One isn't even official yet, and it looks really similar to the Milestone (even more once the Milestone gets 2.1). So I say, go for the Milestone.

wersdaluv
December 28th, 2009, 02:10 AM
At this moment only Eric, Larry, Sergi & God know about their plans. Buy a phone with bigger RAM so that you can flash it any Android version that you fancy for e.g. a HTC Hero.
Oh. So installing any version of android is possible provided that it would fit in the ram?

bashveank
December 28th, 2009, 02:21 AM
Oh. So installing any version of android is possible provided that it would fit in the ram?

Your phone has to have a cracked ROM available for it, but generally, yeah.

wersdaluv
December 28th, 2009, 02:28 AM
Your phone has to have a cracked ROM available for it, but generally, yeah.
Cool. As a Linux guy, that wouldn't be scary to me. Thanks! Great info! I was kinda inclined to the Nexus One because of the ROMs it's gonna get (because of popularity and stuff).

the yawner
December 28th, 2009, 02:36 AM
I was really looking forward to SE's X10. But after finding out that they'll be using 1.6 AND seeing Nexus One in action, I am now having second thoughts. I am usually a fan of SE's hardware design and I wish I could get a hands-on comparison of these 2 devices come in the next coming months.

pwnst*r
December 28th, 2009, 02:37 AM
Eh, the Nexus One isn't even official yet,

not by google's mouths yet, but in every other aspect, yes.

gnomeuser
December 28th, 2009, 02:49 AM
[QUOTE=bashveank;8568263]Your phone has to have a cracked ROM available for it, but generally, yeah.[/QU

Would you happen to have a link to some development page for the HTC Hero.

Also I understand that installing such a ROM would remove the market and a few other things.. any downsides outside of this I should know about and are there ways to get that functionality back?

bashveank
December 28th, 2009, 05:26 AM
[QUOTE=bashveank;8568263]Your phone has to have a cracked ROM available for it, but generally, yeah.[/QU

Would you happen to have a link to some development page for the HTC Hero.

Also I understand that installing such a ROM would remove the market and a few other things.. any downsides outside of this I should know about and are there ways to get that functionality back?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=508

I'm fairly sure a cracked ROM shouldn't remove the market. It may kill some secondary features like the GPS, but that'll depend on the phone and the ROM. Read the documentation, it should be pretty clear what you'll be giving up (if anything) by installing a given version of Android.

amitabhishek
December 28th, 2009, 07:01 AM
Oh. So installing any version of android is possible provided that it would fit in the ram?

Yes...to be precise some ROMs also give an option of making a /swap on SD card just in case you are low on RAM :).




Also I understand that installing such a ROM would remove the market and a few other things.. any downsides outside of this I should know about and are there ways to get that functionality back?

Yes there was an issue when Google issued a "cease and desist (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php/What_is_CyanogenMod)" letter to CyanogenMod - the dude who cooks up these special ROMs. However they have resolved their issues amicably and all the close sourced apps such as market, GPS, gmail etc are now available even on hacked ROMs.

I am not sure if Nexus One ROM will ever be available for hacking and cracking. Because to what I have heard is Google doesn't want to sit on the sidelines and see hardware vendors modding its OS beyond recognition. They want to be in more control just like that fruit logo company.

wersdaluv
December 28th, 2009, 10:05 AM
Yes...to be precise some ROMs also give an option of making a /swap on SD card just in case you are low on RAM :)..
cool. I was actually wondering if it supports swap partitions.




Yes there was an issue when Google issued a "cease and desist (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php/What_is_CyanogenMod)" letter to CyanogenMod - the dude who cooks up these special ROMs. However they have resolved their issues amicably and all the close sourced apps such as market, GPS, gmail etc are now available even on hacked ROMs.

I am not sure if Nexus One ROM will ever be available for hacking and cracking. Because to what I have heard is Google doesn't want to sit on the sidelines and see hardware vendors modding its OS beyond recognition. They want to be in more control just like that fruit logo company.
I have to read more about Android. I don't know what we can rip from Nexus One's firmware. This affirms Matt Asay's claim that google is open only when it's beneficial to them

amitabhishek
December 28th, 2009, 10:40 AM
This affirms Matt Asay's claim that google is open only when it's beneficial to them

There are shades of grey in them. But that's the best we've got at this moment. BTW check this piece of news (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/intel-new-version-of-moblin/); lots of action is coming up in 2010 :D!!!!

wersdaluv
December 28th, 2009, 02:26 PM
There are shades of grey in them. But that's the best we've got at this moment. BTW check this piece of news (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/intel-new-version-of-moblin/); lots of action is coming up in 2010 :D!!!!
Wow. Now Intel is doing it. I think, there are too many mobile operating systems already. Palm's WebOS isn't successful and I don't think it will ever be. I'm not so optimistic about Nokia's Moblin on the N900 too.

With too many operating systems, dev attention should be split. However, only the best operating systems get the attention. Let's see if small(er) players pull this off.

HappinessNow
December 28th, 2009, 02:35 PM
Never buy the first generation anything; with all these new Android Phones coming out it may be wise to wait until about March of 2010 for more refined options.

wersdaluv
December 28th, 2009, 02:39 PM
Never buy the first generation anything; with all these new Android Phones coming out it may be wise to wait until about March of 2010 for more refined options.
If that's the case, the Nexus One sounds safer because this isn't HTC's first Android phone. According to reviews, though, the Motorola Droid is the best Android hardware available today (Engadget, Gizmodo, etc).

HappinessNow
December 28th, 2009, 03:03 PM
If that's the case, the Nexus One sounds safer because this isn't HTC's first Android phone. According to reviews, though, the Motorola Droid is the best Android hardware available today (Engadget, Gizmodo, etc).Ahh...Good Point. :P

The Motorola Droid is very, very nice...I hear Walmart has them for $150?

wersdaluv
December 28th, 2009, 03:15 PM
Ahh...Good Point. :P

The Motorola Droid is very, very nice...I hear Walmart has them for $150?
I just don't know about the price. Since I'm in a GSM country, I'm looking at the Milestone. On Amazon, you can get it for 695USD. If not in Amazon, I'll buy in Hong Kong where it costs 4680HKD or 603USD

Btw, I just found out that it's the gadget of the year on Time, T3, and Stuff. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/6779673/Time-names-Motorola-Droid-gadget-of-the-year.html

Mmmmmm

pwnst*r
December 28th, 2009, 03:20 PM
then again, Time named the Nook the 2nd best gadget of 09. what a failure that was during the holidays.

HappinessNow
December 28th, 2009, 03:26 PM
I just don't know about the price. Since I'm in a GSM country, I'm looking at the Milestone. On Amazon, you can get it for 695USD. If not in Amazon, I'll buy in Hong Kong where it costs 4680HKD or 603USD

Btw, I just found out that it's the gadget of the year on Time, T3, and Stuff. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/6779673/Time-names-Motorola-Droid-gadget-of-the-year.html

MmmmmmVery interesting, this makes the Droid much more interesting...

I confirmed that I can get the Motorola Droid with a 2 year contract for $159.99; free shipping and free activation fee included only online at Walmart.
http://walmart.letstalk.com/product/product.htm?prId=35921

geoken
December 28th, 2009, 04:01 PM
Yes there was an issue when Google issued a "cease and desist (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php/What_is_CyanogenMod)" letter to CyanogenMod - the dude who cooks up these special ROMs. However they have resolved their issues amicably and all the close sourced apps such as market, GPS, gmail etc are now available even on hacked ROMs.


Depends how you define 'available'. Those apps aren't actually available on hacked ROMS (at least not legal ones like cyanogen). The 'resolution' basically involved cyanogen building a ROM updater which first finds those apps on your phone, then backs them up and re-inserts them into the new ROM. If you didn't have those apps to begin with you wouldn't have them after installing cyanogen since they aren't present in his ROM.




I am not sure if Nexus One ROM will ever be available for hacking and cracking. Because to what I have heard is Google doesn't want to sit on the sidelines and see hardware vendors modding its OS beyond recognition. They want to be in more control just like that fruit logo company.

a) The Nexus One ROM aka Android 2.1 is already available http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/stable-android-2-1-hacked-onto-droid-speeds-through-those-extra/

b) Unless Android stops being open source, every build will eventually be available to anyone who is capable of using it.

wersdaluv
December 29th, 2009, 02:49 AM
a) The Nexus One ROM aka Android 2.1 is already available http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/19/stable-android-2-1-hacked-onto-droid-speeds-through-those-extra/

b) Unless Android stops being open source, every build will eventually be available to anyone who is capable of using it.

Is the Nexus One ROM simply a stock Android 2.1? Won't it have unique features (like HTC's sense UI)?

LeifAndersen
December 29th, 2009, 03:42 AM
Doubt it. I think it will be just 'stalk Android' however, it will have Google's proprietary apps (gmail, marketplace, etc)

bashveank
December 29th, 2009, 04:10 AM
Is the Nexus One ROM simply a stock Android 2.1? Won't it have unique features (like HTC's sense UI)?

Its stock 2.1. Just like all the other "Google Experience" phones.

amitabhishek
December 29th, 2009, 05:47 AM
The 'resolution' basically involved cyanogen building a ROM updater which first finds those apps on your phone, then backs them up and re-inserts them into the new ROM. If you didn't have those apps to begin with you wouldn't have them after installing cyanogen since they aren't present in his ROM.


I was aware of some workaround but thanks for explaining the Nitty-gritty.

IMHO Nexus firmware will have a lot of closed sourced applications from Google and any modded ROM will obviously be devoid of it. As mentioned earlier this time they closely want to control user experience. This is an interesting piece of info (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/technology/companies/14gphone.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1). btw

wersdaluv
December 29th, 2009, 08:41 AM
Its stock 2.1. Just like all the other "Google Experience" phones.
Ah yes. Of course, they make the stock Android so there's no reason to deviate from it

pwnst*r
December 29th, 2009, 10:07 PM
http://i47.tinypic.com/2jacghj.jpg

hmm..

pwnst*r
December 29th, 2009, 10:09 PM
http://i47.tinypic.com/wwknlc.jpg

HMMMMM

LeifAndersen
December 29th, 2009, 10:16 PM
You can read a bit more about the supposed release here: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/12/29/google-announces-press-gathering-on-january-5th-hello-nexus-one/

What makes me curious is why would it be invite only?

pwnst*r
December 29th, 2009, 10:18 PM
You can read a bit more about the supposed release here: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/12/29/google-announces-press-gathering-on-january-5th-hello-nexus-one/

What makes me curious is why would it be invite only?

because it's for the industry with a possible announcement forthcoming for the public (if we're to believe this will be a Nexxus One announcement).

bashveank
December 30th, 2009, 02:07 AM
You can read a bit more about the supposed release here: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/12/29/google-announces-press-gathering-on-january-5th-hello-nexus-one/

What makes me curious is why would it be invite only?

Most big Google things are.

pwnst*r
December 30th, 2009, 03:28 AM
disheartening if true:

http://i47.tinypic.com/1zgqazq.jpg

Sunflower1970
December 30th, 2009, 03:41 AM
:( I'm going to have to rethink this. I was planning on buying an unlocked version, but that price is a bit steeper than I wanted to pay.

pwnst*r
December 30th, 2009, 03:42 AM
:( I'm going to have to rethink this. I was planning on buying an unlocked version, but that price is a bit steeper than I wanted to pay.

it may be fake, so let's hope it is.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/allegedly-leaked-nexus-one-purchase-page-answers-raises-questio/

Sunflower1970
December 30th, 2009, 03:56 AM
it may be fake, so let's hope it is.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/allegedly-leaked-nexus-one-purchase-page-answers-raises-questio/

ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease let it be fake...

wersdaluv
December 30th, 2009, 04:06 AM
It's not so bad right? For that kind of hardware (and software), 530usd isn't too much

Edit:
Well, yeah. That's if we look at it relatively. I think, at cost, it's just for about $200. Let's see if Google becomes Apple-like

Sunflower1970
December 30th, 2009, 04:15 AM
It's not so bad right? For that kind of hardware (and software), 530usd isn't too much

Edit:
Well, yeah. That's if we look at it relatively. I think, at cost, it's just for about $200. Let's see if Google becomes Apple-like

When I can buy a netbook, or even a desktop for under $500, the Nexus One or any smartphone just isn't worth it.

I'd be willing to pay up to ~$350-$400 for an unsubsidized phone.

(I hope Google isn't going the way of Apple. I was really hoping this would be a game changer--still trying to be optimistic though...These could be fake...)

aktiwers
December 30th, 2009, 05:00 AM
I lost my G1 when I was drunk the other day, and now I am stuck with some old crappy phone.
I was going to buy the Hero, but after reading this thread I think I'll wait for Nexus one..

I will gladly throw $529 at Googles face for this.. the Hero costs about the same here.

amitabhishek
December 30th, 2009, 05:12 AM
Welcome to the world of unlocked, unsubsidized, carrier independent phones. An iPhone 3G costs as much as $659 here!!!

HappinessNow
December 30th, 2009, 12:53 PM
disheartening if true:

http://i47.tinypic.com/1zgqazq.jpgSupposedly a leaked
pdf of the terms of sale (http://podcasts.aolcdn.com/engadget/files/Passion_Terms_of_Sale.pdf)http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/allegedly-leaked-nexus-one-purchase-page-answers-raises-questio/

EDIT: this could be fake, this URL on the supposed terms of sale doesn't work:
http: // www.google.com/phone/static/en_US-terms_of_sale.html (http://www.google.com/phone/static/en_US-terms_of_sale.html)(spaces added to make it readable)
I lost my G1 when I was drunk the other day, and now I am stuck with some old crappy phone.
I was going to buy the Hero, but after reading this thread I think I'll wait for Nexus one..

I will gladly throw $529 at Googles face for this.. the Hero costs about the same here.Agreed, $529 is actually quite affordable for an unlocked phone and a lot cheaper then the total cost of a 2 year contract.

hanzomon4
December 30th, 2009, 01:36 PM
529 is actually right in the ball park for unlocked phones, try buying an unlocked Droid from VZ or Motorola.. it's about the same. Why do you folks want an unlocked phone so bad? I understand if it's not on your carrier of choice, but if it is?

steev182
December 30th, 2009, 01:58 PM
The point isn't for it to cost about the same as a phone already out. The point of it (we were all dreaming about, I guess) is for it to be a device to help revolutionize the way we communicate whilst mobile.

Part of this experience is related to the initial (or hidden) costs and the amount of money you have to spend throughout the time you have the phone.

$180 with a contract is, in my eyes, abhorrent. When you have to pay $79.99 for their service, such a high charge just doesn't make sense to me.

I feel Google should really be pushing harder to change things. We all know how much it costs phone companies to make their handsets, and let's just look at one thing - the iPod Touch/iPhone. We'll compare the 32GB touch and 8GB iPhone 3G. The 3G costs £342.50 on Pay as You Go. The iPod Touch costs £229.

I know that it doesn't cost Apple much more to manufacture the iPhone than the iPod Touch, so where does this extra £110 come from for something with so much less memory?!

I'm using apple as an example purely because these are nearly identical devices, running the same OS, yet have such disparity in prices. Heck, the iPod touch hardware even has support for GPS, Bluetooth and a camera, but these are disabled to prevent cannibalization of sales!

$500 is never a fair price to pay for a phone. Apple has probably recouped their operating costs exponentially on the iPhone/iPod Touch, so I just can't buy that explanation. Google needs to show HTC the way on this because the NexusOne looks to be a good phone, but it's not the revolution we were looking for if these latest rumours are true.

wersdaluv
December 30th, 2009, 04:09 PM
529 is actually right in the ball park for unlocked phones, try buying an unlocked Droid from VZ or Motorola.. it's about the same. Why do you folks want an unlocked phone so bad? I understand if it's not on your carrier of choice, but if it is?
'Cause none of the carriers in my area offers the phone

Sunflower1970
December 30th, 2009, 04:23 PM
The point isn't for it to cost about the same as a phone already out. The point of it (we were all dreaming about, I guess) is for it to be a device to help revolutionize the way we communicate whilst mobile.

Part of this experience is related to the initial (or hidden) costs and the amount of money you have to spend throughout the time you have the phone.

$180 with a contract is, in my eyes, abhorrent. When you have to pay $79.99 for their service, such a high charge just doesn't make sense to me. (snipped)

^^This.

You explained my feelings on this whole deal dead on.


Why do you folks want an unlocked phone so bad? I understand if it's not on your carrier of choice, but if it is?
I don't want to be locked in to any contract by any one. I want to be free to move to a different carrier if I see a better deal somewhere. I just hate that the carriers don't all use the same network technology. It'd make it easier to make a choice. (Right now I'm using a very basic phone with T-Mobile's pre-paid service, and have been quite happy. Just biding my time till I see something unlocked I like. Nexus One has been the first smartphone I've been interested in.)

I'm willing to pay more for an unlocked phone, but not not something too outrageous.

LeifAndersen
December 30th, 2009, 04:29 PM
I'm sorry to burst on your rantings like this, but I think that this is a fake:
http://leifandersen.net/2009/12/30/nexus-one-price-leak-or-scam/

pwnst*r
December 30th, 2009, 04:40 PM
I'm sorry to burst on your rantings like this, but I think that this is a fake:
http://leifandersen.net/2009/12/30/nexus-one-price-leak-or-scam/

i thought you were linking to a reliable source. oh well. nice way to get some extra hits though, right?

aktiwers
December 30th, 2009, 04:44 PM
Agreed, $529 is actually quite affordable for an unlocked phone and a lot cheaper then the total cost of a 2 year contract.

Actually the Hero is about $620 here in Denmark, without contract.
Im gonna wait for Nexus One :)

pwnst*r
December 30th, 2009, 04:46 PM
Actually the Hero is about $620 here in Denmark, without contract.
Im gonna wait for Nexus One :)

are you guys talking US or Euros?

LeifAndersen
December 30th, 2009, 05:13 PM
i thought you were linking to a reliable source. oh well. nice way to get some extra hits though, right?

He, he. No, I have yet to find a 'reliable source' on much of anything. I was just pointing out several problems with the sources that are known.

pwnst*r
December 30th, 2009, 05:20 PM
He, he. No, I have yet to find a 'reliable source' on much of anything. I was just pointing out several problems with the sources that are known.

and lol @ "engagnet"

aktiwers
December 30th, 2009, 05:26 PM
are you guys talking US or Euros?
Dollars.. last time i checked Hero costed 3200dkr

the yawner
December 31st, 2009, 06:12 AM
'Cause none of the carriers in my area offers the phone
We're on the same boat. And I'm not really a fan of buying stuff online. I'd rather hold the phone in my hands first before deciding if I'd make the purchase.

@Leif Andersen
Just take it with a grain of salt. The links specified by the pdf does not exist because the phone is not officially released, is all.