Google Launches Nexus One "Super Smartphone."

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Seems like Google decided to steal some thunder from the upcoming CES (Consumer Electronics Show) by unveiling its Nexus One smartphone which it hopes to sell directly to the public for US$529 as an unlocked phone or US$179.00  through T-Mobile with corresponding voice and data plans. the Nexus One is not currently available outside the US, although unlocked  phone bought stateside should work with any 3G SIM card.

There are quite a number of Android enabled handsets and smartphones in the market today being sold under different global carriers. What makes the Nexus One different is that it provides the most "perfect" implementation of what a Google Android Smartphone should be. Google controls the software and updates it directly without limitations from mobile carriers.

This means the most updated version of the Android OS (2.1), the mot powerful hardware (1GHz Snapdragon processor, compass, light and proximity sensors, GPS and accelerometers). There's also a 5 Megapixel camera with an LED flash, a stunning and incredibly clear 3.7 AMOLED display, dual microphones for better noise cancellation and audio. The Nexus one can take microSD cards for a total storage capacity of 32GB.

Built by HTC for Google, the Nexus One has already started stirring up interest. In terms of performance and features, it isn't too different from the Motorola Droid.  Google is clearly aiming at Apple's iPhone in both the form-factor and as well as feature-for-feature comparison. It will be interesting to see how the Nexus One is adopted and what role it will play in the development of the Android Mobile market.

Display

3.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen WVGA AMOLED touchscreen

800 x 480 pixels

100,000:1 typical contrast ratio

1ms typical response rate

Camera & Flash

5 megapixels

Autofocus from 6cm to infinity

2X digital zoom

LED flash

User can include location of photos from phone’s AGPS receiver

Video captured at 720x480 pixels at 20 frames per second or higher, depending on lighting conditions

Cellular & Wireless

UMTS Band 1/4/8 (2100/AWS/900)

HSDPA 7.2Mbps

HSUPA 2Mbps

GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

A2DP stereo Bluetooth

Power and battery

Removable 1400 mAH battery

Charges at 480mA from USB, at 980mA from supplied charger

Talk time

Up to 10 hours on 2G
Up to 7 hours on 3G

Standby time

Up to 290 hours on 2G Up to 250 hours on 3G

Internet use

Up to 5 hours on 3G
Up to 6.5 hours on Wi-Fi

Video playback

Up to 7 hours

Audio playback

Up to 20 hours

Processor

Qualcomm QSD 8250 1 GHz

Operating system

Android Mobile Technology Platform 2.1 (Eclair)

Capacity

512MB Flash

512MB RAM

4GB Micro SD Card (Expandable to 32 GB)

Location

Assisted global positioning system (AGPS) receiver

Cell tower and Wi-Fi positioning

Digital compass

Accelerometer