5 January 2010 is going to be one of those dates which history will make a note of especially in light of technology. It is one of those dates which might make a big impact on mankind. Why? It was the day that Search Engine giant Google unveiled its Nexus One mobile phone. The multi billion dollar company’s first piece of hardware that will be sold to the public, this might sound dramatic but the implications to the other mobile phone manufacturers are massive. I am sure that BlackBerry, Nokia, Apple and Motorola‘s management will be following the Nexus One future with anticipation and some concern.
Google has become a major part of our lives through its various free products but the stakes have just gone up. With the partnership between HTC and Google, the Nexus One became a reality and is now available in the US and three other markets.
Google lists the features of the Nexus One from a hardware and software point of view as follows:
Nexus One Hardware Features
- Display: 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display
- Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g
- Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz
- Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging
- Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
- Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)
- Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
- Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control
- Battery: Removable 1400 mAh
- Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone
- Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive
Nexus One Software Innovation
The Nexus One runs on Android 2.1, a version of the platform’s Eclair software, which offers advanced applications and features including:
- Google Maps Navigation: offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output.
- Email: multiple Gmail accounts; universal inbox and Exchange support.
- Phone book: aggregate contacts from multiple sources, including Facebook.
- Quick Contacts: easily switch between communication and social applications
- Android Market: access to more than 18,000 applications.
In addition, the Nexus One introduces new functionality and software enhancements:Â Â Enter text without typing.
- Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an email.
- Tell your phone what you want it to do.
- Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.
- Take personalization to the next level.
- Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger.
- More widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.
- Capture camera-quality pictures and video with your device.
- 5 MP camera includes LED flash, auto focus, zoom, white balance and color effects.
- View pictures and Picasa Web Albums in the new 3D Gallery.
- Record Hi-Res MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube with one click.
- Read your voicemail messages.
- Get transcribed voicemail with Google Voice integration, without changing your number.
The challenger has entered the race and I cannot wait until this phone becomes available in South Africa.
