The Droid You’re Looking For: Live From The Nexus One Event

 

While it’s technically called the “Android Press Gathering,” we all know what’s coming. Today, Google is expected to formally unveil the Nexus One (the device which some have been referring to as the “Google Phone“). The long event taking place today is expected to have both a presentation as well as demonstrations. Follow our coverage below, live.

Here’s our full Nexus One review.

Right now Google execs are filtering into the room. Rock music playing. Here we go.

• Mario Queiroz, Vice President, Product Management
• Today we’ll unveil the next stage in android.
• 2 years ago, Google will 33 industry leaders made the open handset alliance.
• 52 OHA members – 13 new members today including China telecom
• One year after OHA, we launched with T-Mobile the G1. But that was just the beginning.

• Now 20 devices 59 carriers 48 countries, 19 languages
• We wanted a thinner device. So we put out the myTouch 3G.
• Then we wanted faster, so the Verizon Droid launch.
• A year ago, 1 device, 1 carrier, 1 language
• Now: 20 devices, 59 carriers 48 countries, 19 languages
• 4 major software releases in 2009 for Android.
• To prevent fragmentation we launched a compatibility test suite
• Increase 5x in mobile search during this past year
• Android is available on one of the most progressive open source licensing schemes around.
• Enables lower manufacturing costs – fast to market
• “True always on application to be running in the background” – a jab at Apple’s iPhone
• Next step in Android evolution - we’re in the early stages of a longer journey. And we’re really proud of the devices our partners have brought to market.
• Bring devices to market to help us showcase what we’re working on at Google. Today we’re announcing Nexus One

• Dictionary definition of Nexus is that it’s a point of convergence. It’s where web meets phone. It’s an exemplar of what’s possible with mobile phones on Android. It belongs in an emerging category of devices that we call “super phones”
• Designed in very close partnership with HTC. They’ve bet on the Android platform from the beginning
• Peter Chou – CEO of HTC
• 2 years ago we were here announcing the Android platform. 1 year ago, the G1. So far we have shipped 7 Android products with the Nexus One.
• Nexus One: 1 Ghz processor, 3.7″ OLED beautiful screen, Android 2.1
• “Pushes the limits of what’s possible on an Android phone today.”

• Erick Tseng – Senior Product Manger
• paired with all the great tech, we have the trackball that also functions as a notification system. It can pulse different colors.
• Light and proximity sensor now.
• No thicker than a #2 pencil. No heavier then a small Swiss Army knife.
• 5 megapixel camera with an LED flash – great photos and videos
• Stereo bluetooth and active noise cancellation. The latter we can do because we have two microphones on the Nexus One. When I make a call, background noise is cancelled out.
• You can also get custom engraving when you order the Nexus One
• With the hardware, we think we have half the story, but it’s the software too
• Android 2.1, the latest and greatest version of Eclair – which first shipped on the Droid.

• We have Google Maps Navigation for turn-by-turn. Facebook built-in. And Quick Contacts.
• But we have something new for the software: Customization.
• We added more home screen panels for more customization – there are 5 now. One new one is the news and weather widget.
• We expect lots more great widgets since Android is open.
• And now we have live wallpaper.
• 

• New 3D framework for the Android platform. The Nexus One is really a mini computer. We wanted to push the 3D capabilities of Snapdragon. Live wallpaper is one thing, but the App Launcher is all new now too. As is the gallery for photos and videos. We worked with Cooliris on this. Very cool effects.
• Cluster photos by time, date, or location. A better way to manage when you have tons of photos.
• The other big innovation is voice. Earlier this year we launched “Search by voice” so you could speak your search query. Then we launched “voice commands” which is on the Verizon Droid. But what if I could use voice for every text field? What about speaking tweets? So that’s what we’ve done with Android 2.1.
• Does an example by composing a Gmail by talking to the phone. Works well. And every time you talk to it, it gets better.
• Sneak preview of a new app coming soon: Google Earth for Android. Sneak Peek.

• Works just like the desktop app (no pinch to zoom multi-touch, sad)
• google earth on desktop has birds eye view so you can fly around. goog earth for android now has that too.
• This shows off the power of 3D on Android.
• And voice search works too. “Mount Fuji” test. Nice.
• Back to Mario
• A series of devices like this are coming.
• But this is the first with a new way to buy a device: Our web store.
• You can buy a device without service, or with it from one of our operating partners.
• If you get it with the partner, it will be discounted, like
• www.google.com/phone – you can buy a Nexus One with service from T-Mob
• ile USA (it’s still unlocked), today. Or you can buy it from us with no service plan, unlocked.
• We expect to add more operators and more devices, like from Motorola. And more countries.
• Announce today that Verizon in U.S. and Vodafone have joined the program – HUGE
• Showing off the store now. You get a lot of pictures, and a 3D tour.
• T-Mobile Nexus One is $179.99. Unlocked $529.99.
• This coming Spring the Nexus One will be coming from Verizon
• Check out process is through Google Checkout.
• Real time view of customizations on the site.
• We are launching the web store in the U.S. but shipping also to UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. In the future we’ll add more countries, carriers, and devices.
• Those people in the audience will be able to pick up a device today – with a trial T-Mobile SIM card so you can check it out. Another Oprah moment!

 

http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/05/nexus-one-event/