The itch needs to be scratched!

[trick202]

OK, so I'm thinking I might like to spend some time with the Nexus one. I have some questions that I hope you'll be able to quickly answer for me:

1: Where are UK users buying them from, and how much?
2: Are UK users suffering the documented 3g issues?
3: It's been a while since I got rid of my Hero, are there more/better games now?
4: I wordpress from my current phone quite a bit - does anyone get this done on the Nexus?
5: How is battery compared to iPhone 3gs under similar usage (real experience, not on paper)
6: How is the keyboard? I know I'm a bit spoiled right now - but I also know it's a learning curve to some degree.
7: If I buy one simfree from Vodafone, are they easy to unlock?
8: If I was to buy a desire instead, could I "turn it into" a Nexus by tinkering?
9: I listen to a lot of music with the iPod app - how is the playback on the Nexus?
10: I'm big into podcasts too. What are you using to find, subscribe and dl them?

Many thanks all.
I really appreciate your time and experience.

 

[trick202]

One hundred and five views - no response.

I had a quick play with a Desire today. Left me a little cold. Felt just like a slightly larger version of my old Hero.

Can anyone answer point 8 for me if the others are too banal?

 

[MartinS]

OK, so I'm thinking I might like to spend some time with the Nexus one. I have some questions that I hope you'll be able to quickly answer for me:

1: Where are UK users buying them from, and how much?

Google.com/phone $530

2: Are UK users suffering the documented 3g issues?

They exist if you are in a weak signal area. It's caused by the hand holding the phone lowering the radio power a bit.

3: It's been a while since I got rid of my Hero, are there more/better games now?

A few. The best thing to do for games is to get one of the emulators like SNES, NES, GBA etc. There's a new app to tether a Wiimote to the N1 and use this for games. It's excellent.

4: I wordpress from my current phone quite a bit - does anyone get this done on the Nexus?

I've never used.

5: How is battery compared to iPhone 3gs under similar usage (real experience, not on paper)

Similar. I came from an iPhone 3G. Both just about get me through the day with heavy usage.

6: How is the keyboard? I know I'm a bit spoiled right now - but I also know it's a learning curve to some degree.

It's not quite as good as the iPhone if I'm honest. I make some more mistakes. There are options in the market like Better Keyboard and you can port the HTC Keyboard to the N1 if you want. I haven't bothered as it's not much worse.

7: If I buy one simfree from Vodafone, are they easy to unlock?

I don't know if Vodaphone have locked there's? It may take a while as it's a new phone to the UK. I would get the phone SIM Free from Google if you make the decision to go without contract.

8: If I was to buy a desire instead, could I "turn it into" a Nexus by tinkering?

You can switch of HTC Sense which leaves you with native/vanilla Android OS.

9: I listen to a lot of music with the iPod app - how is the playback on the Nexus?

It's fine - and just like an iPod Touch/iPhone with the BTunes app.

10: I'm big into podcasts too. What are you using to find, subscribe and dl them?

Not used them sorry.

Many thanks all.
I really appreciate your time and experience.

Hope that's a start for you.

 

[bitxboi]

OK, so I'm thinking I might like to spend some time with the Nexus one. I have some questions that I hope you'll be able to quickly answer for me:

1: Where are UK users buying them from, and how much?
2: Are UK users suffering the documented 3g issues?
3: It's been a while since I got rid of my Hero, are there more/better games now?
4: I wordpress from my current phone quite a bit - does anyone get this done on the Nexus?
5: How is battery compared to iPhone 3gs under similar usage (real experience, not on paper)
6: How is the keyboard? I know I'm a bit spoiled right now - but I also know it's a learning curve to some degree.
7: If I buy one simfree from Vodafone, are they easy to unlock?
8: If I was to buy a desire instead, could I "turn it into" a Nexus by tinkering?
9: I listen to a lot of music with the iPod app - how is the playback on the Nexus?
10: I'm big into podcasts too. What are you using to find, subscribe and dl them?

Many thanks all.
I really appreciate your time and experience.

1. From Google's online store. Now available in Vodafone stores if you want to be engaged with them.
2. No 3g issues so far
3. Not a gamer myself. I've got Doodle Jump only.
4. Cannot help you on that one.
5. No iPhone experience as an everyday user
6. No complaints about the keyboard, works like a charm (although I could understand might some people disagree)
7. No idea about unlocking, mine is free out of the box
8. I think you can just 'switch off' HTC Sense, so a Nexus One basically
9. I like the playback quality, not much experience trying different players
10. Not a podcast vulture...

 

[trick202]

Thanks to you both.

I'll give Btunes a look. I switched off sense on the Hero and preferred it. What I was meaning though, is can I REALLY make it into a Nexus i.e. getting the latest official updates.

I am still VERY bitter about the Hero. Remember, when I invested in that little puppy, it was touted as an iPhone killer - now, almost a year on it's still on 1.5

I don't want to be stuck in that situation again. I have high hopes for froyo, and I'll probably wait to see how much of the frag is addressed.

Again - I REALLY appreciate your answers. Thanks both!

 

[Roze]

6: How is the keyboard? I know I'm a bit spoiled right now - but I also know it's a learning curve to some degree.

It's not quite as good as the iPhone if I'm honest. I make some more mistakes. There are options in the market like Better Keyboard and you can port the HTC Keyboard to the N1 if you want. I haven't bothered as it's not much worse.

I prefer the Sense Keyboard. With Android, there are alot of choices that if you don't like the stock app, you can find something similar/better on the market. There's swype and shapewriter if you like one hand 'typing'. Very cool experience

The thing with Android is that it gives you alot of options and choices! I was playing with my friend's 3GS and it annoyed the crap out of me...all I saw were apps :/ no widgets >_>...I've come to appreciate all of the widgets I use. They make life easier to use your phone. I just like the ability to customize my phone and it being an extension of my lifestyle.

I'd say go with Nexus as the phone will be getting 2.2 soon (it's going to be announced at the Google I/O conference tomorrow).

 

[trick202]

Looking forward to hearing about the updates. I wasn't wanting this to be about the iPhone really, just about the desire/nexus.

 

[Roze]

Looking forward to hearing about the updates. I wasn't wanting this to be about the iPhone really, just about the desire/nexus.

Well the Desire and Nexus came from the same cookie cutter except one has Sense UI and the other doesnt. Sense UI seems pretty cool, it gives you more of a social networking experience than the vanilla OS.

Something I found from reading the GSMAreana review is that the Desire does better something than the Nexus...it has really good speakers.

We ran our traditional loudspeaker test and here is how the Desire stacks among some other handsets we’ve tested.

Speakerphone testVoice, dBPink noise/ Music, dBRinging phone, dBOverall scoreApple iPhone 3G66.162.171.7Below AverageMotorola MILESTONE69.778.066.2GoodGoogle Nexus One69.966.679.1GoodHTC Hero76.771.977.7Very GoodHTC HD275.772.878.0Very GoodHTC Legend78.074.379.7ExcellentHTC Desire76.675.784.6Excellent

Source: HTC Desire review: A desire come true - GSMArena.com

Great audio output

The HTC Desire pulls off the same remarkable audio quality as the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, but is louder in terms of earphones volume.
In fact the two frequency response graphs are so similar that we suspect a similar (or maybe identical) hardware has been used inside the two Android flagships. We suspect that HTC have found a way to pump up the volume a bit higher, which has naturally led to the minimal differences you see in the table below.
At any rate the Desire readings are excellent all over, the HTC handset pulling one of the best all-round performances that we have ever seen. Check it out for yourselves.
TestFrequency responseNoise levelDynamic rangeTHDIMD + NoiseStereo crosstalkHTC Desire+0.07 -0.39-87.687.70.0360.080-84.8Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10+0.07 -0.37-85.485.30.0180.068-83.6Google Nexus One+0.19, -0.55-86.185.80.0230.088-85.2HTC HD2+0.39, -2.99-89.089.10.0570.960-87.5HTC Legend+0.13 -0.56-83.486.50.0240.191-83.5Samsung i8910 Omnia HD+1.29 -2.74-87.686.60.00230.255-85.2Apple iPhone 3GS+0.01, -0.05-92.192.10.00350.011-95.0

Edit: ARGH! >_> the damn indents are gone : < well check out the review for the stats :/

 

[Schizzy]

7: If I buy one simfree from Vodafone, are they easy to unlock?

Vodafone dont bother locking there phones anymore, they still have some branding on them but no issues using other sims in them

 

[Rusty]

Nexus One is unlocked & unbranded no matter where it comes from.

 

[trick202]

Wow. This is big news. I would prefer to go buy in cold cash, so this is great!

Can anyone confirm? I spoke a voda bloke in Trafford centre who said it would be locked to voda network.

 

[MartinS]

About the Desire. I don't think it will receive updates like the Nexus even if you remove Sense etc. You could root it and manually keep it up to date.

 

[Rusty]

Wow. This is big news. I would prefer to go buy in cold cash, so this is great!

Can anyone confirm? I spoke a voda bloke in Trafford centre who said it would be locked to voda network.

Vodafone reps are idiots Heh

Nexus One - is it locked or branded? - Vodafone eForum

 

[trick202]

Great link! Thanks mate.

 

[bigfod]

1: Where are UK users buying them from, and how much?

Bought mine from Google back in January. Only took a few days to arrive, cost about

 

[Schwin97]

10. Started using Stitcher, but then moved over to Google Listen and loving it.

 

[trick202]

Cheers BigFod

I had the Hero at launch, so I'm familiar with the customisation options. I must say though, I only needed to 'customise' it once!
Widgets are brilliant though - love 'em!

 

[trick202]

Just called Vodafone. They won't sell me a Nexus one on PAYG or sim free.

Bums.

 

[Rusty]

Takes 3 days to import one, get to it!

 

[trick202]

As I said - I'm a readies guy.

 

[Rusty]

Phones4U sell them, nothing PAYG/SIM free on their site though, worth a call I suspect?

 

[trick202]

Calling now, cheers Rusty.

Oh, and I'm not a pikey. I just prefer cash.

 

[Rusty]

I hate the stuff (unless it's being given to me), hardly ever carry any

Might be your downfall this time though

 

[trick202]

Well, just called the 0800 number for phones4U.

He tried to get me onto a contract, but then (kindly) told me that the stores are separate and may well sell me one outright.

Lets try that then.........

 

[Rusty]

Sounds like a bit of a merry go round!