The End of the Nexus One

[RozzaC]

Google Gives Up on Nexus One - Mobile Phone News - TrustedReviews

According to this article, Google are planning to stop manufacturing Nexus Ones after seeing it as a failure in the US.

Your thoughts and opinions?

 

[Megs]

As someone who blindly bought an Android phone without thinking about doing research beforehand and only knew about it through a friend who'd bought an Android phone ages ago, I hadn't heard of the Nexus One at all.

A friend of mine bought one of the early Android phones, showed it to me and I thought it was pretty cool. Being stuck on a three year contract and a phone that did what I needed it to, I ended up forgetting about it.

Fast forward six months and my phone is dying (randomly shutting off) and that was unacceptable. I figured my contract time was almost up so I could cash in on that "loyalty" bonus by getting another phone. Then Bell decided to extend how long you had to have your phone before getting that bonus. Peeved, annoyed, and needing a phone that was always on without randomly shutting off (family reasons mostly...sick father and I might need to be contacted at any time) I jumped ship.

I hit up Wireless Wave (those of you outside Canada, its a store that sells all the phones from all four of the major cell providers up here: Bell, Telus, Fido, and Rogers) and they offered me a Blackberry. Having had a bad experience with a BB (and completely unhelpful staff on the issue) in the family, I opted to not go for one. The iPhone was too expensive and completely unnecessary for me (already have a media player and don't have unlimited pockets to buy the apps) so that left me with Android. Having remembered at that point how cool it looked, it certainly wasn't a hardship to be "stuck" with the third OS. I'm always game to find something new and different and sometimes even cutting edge. In March, the only one Rogers was offering that was half decent was the Samsung Spica.

THEN I searched the net. Then I found out that better phones were coming out. That there was (had I been able to afford it) an actual Google Phone. Only to read that it was unavailable for those of us in Canada because of the frequencies and that it was "coming soon." It was definitely more expensive than I could have afforded at the time (just about anything not on a contract was) but it would have been nice to know about it just the same. While my needs were definitely serious, I could have handled another month or two with my old Rumour.

I'd asked the Wireless Wave guy later if he knew about it and he didn't either. If the Wireless Wave guy hasn't even heard of it, how's the regular consumer supposed to know about it?

Moral of the story: Not everyone who gets a phone necessarily does research first. If you don't have a product marketed then of course no one will buy it.

I'm happy to know that Android is picking up in Canada - especially since I don't think I've seen a SINGLE commercial for ANY Android phone on TV (and I watch a fair amount of it too, sadly). I'm also thankful to the guys on here who're pushing Rogers to keep up with the OS upgrades. There's definitely more headway now.

NOW I'm seeing more advertisement for the Android powered phones in store. That was missing months ago. If I hadn't been tech savvy at all, I wouldn't have understood the difference between the Blackberry and iPhone OS versus Android either.

 

[ari-free]

I was very worried that Nexus One would turn off OEM's from using Android just as Verizon/Droid was getting started. Nexus One would be the only android phone out there and that would've been a total disaster.
I am glad that n1 users are happy with it but I don't know what google was thinking at the time...

 

[NowVoyager]

I've got to hand it to GOOGLE for having the Chutzpah to shake up the industry. Even though the N1 only lasted a short time, it was the game changer. All phones are stacked against it whether they beat it out or not. I'm glad that they took the plunge. Now others will know that it can be done and will find a way to circumvent the obstacles.

I compare this to the four minute mile. It was once thought unbreakable.
What I have never understood is the mindset that says, "No one has ever done this. How *dare* you try!" I'm glad that GOOGLE didn't listen to the naysayers. One day there will be a contender to demolish the choke-hold that the big guys have on the industry. We will simply bide our time.

And I'm all the way sold on Android OS. It is in a class by itself.

 

[ArrowSmith]

I understand that the N-1 also has the "death grip" problem.

 

[Drhyde]

I understand that the N-1 also has the "death grip" problem.

Not that I've ever experienced.

 

[ArrowSmith]

It just seems pretty unacceptable that any phone should have a death-grip problem. It's the problem with running the antenna around the edge of the phone.

 

[Drhyde]

It just seems pretty unacceptable that any phone should have a death-grip problem. It's the problem with running the antenna around the edge of the phone.

Seems that with Apple saying the signal wasn't being displayed properly and that you were at two bars less than you should means that AT&T's network just plain sucks. Any phone that goes to 1 bar is going to drop a call. In spite of the nearly full metal casing on my N1, I have never had a death grip issue. I just tested it and the only way that I found I could drop two bars would be to cover it with both hands. Any normal holding doesn't cause this.

As for the end of the Nexus One, I am a bit saddened by the finality of it all. The N1 did its job though and motivated cell phone companies to create better phones. There are some really nice cell phones out there now, some even better than my N1, but the stock Android experience, easy rooting, and fast updates will keep me with this phone for a long time.

 

[ArrowSmith]

Is there any point to buying the full-price N-1? How well does it work on AT&T?

 

[Drhyde]

I bought the full price N1 because I had to, being on a family plan and all. I did like the custom engraving for free though. Nice touch. As far as AT&T goes, don't know. I would assume that the phone is gimped by not allowing third party applications like AT&T has done to the other Android phones. I would be interested to see how Froyo works on USB Tethering since AT&T wants you to pay for that. As for me, I run on T-Mobile with a $10 data plan. T-Mobile's pretty friendly about you doing whatever the hell you want with their phones.

 

[ArrowSmith]

How is the data part of T-Mobile? Can you stream video well? Can you do voice & data at the same time?

 

[Drhyde]

My data rates typically range from 500-800 kbps or 80-100 kilobytes. I don't live in a HSDPA+ zone where speeds can be nearly 10 times my rates, but it gets the job done. As for voice & data, they can be both used at the same time due to the GSM specification that uses voice and data on different spectrums if I'm not mistaken. For streaming video, I assume YouTube, yes it's pretty decent. At the mentioned speeds, I'm capable of watching videos (with good reception) on HQ with no studdering to buffer.

 

[grainysand]

I understand that the N-1 also has the "death grip" problem.

No. It can lose signal if you cup the bottom (not the corners, like the iFail 4), which nobody does when holding the phone naturally, and even then it doesn't lose enough to drop calls.

 

[ArrowSmith]

My data rates typically range from 500-800 kbps or 80-100 kilobytes. I don't live in a HSDPA+ zone where speeds can be nearly 10 times my rates, but it gets the job done. As for voice & data, they can be both used at the same time due to the GSM specification that uses voice and data on different spectrums if I'm not mistaken. For streaming video, I assume YouTube, yes it's pretty decent. At the mentioned speeds, I'm capable of watching videos (with good reception) on HQ with no studdering to buffer.

So basically there is no way holding the N-1 the normal way would cause the drop in bars?

Also you say you get good Youtube streaming at the 500-800kpbs? I assume on HSDPA+ zone that would be even better.

Would you recommend it then? I'm thinking I'd like to stay on T-Mobile because their voice network is outstanding.

 

[ArrowSmith]

Also regarding the Nexus One accessories - can you only buy them when you buy the phone on Google's web page or is there a way to get the car dock later?

 

[Hyperchild]

I don't think the big G is giving up the N1 anytime soon. Even if they do its had as good a run as any phone. Usually every phone will get at least 1 firmware upgrade in its lifetime and then it stops being marketed. I'd say the Nexus will get 3.0 or whatever its called when it officially comes out so I think N1 users are lucky!

 

[ArrowSmith]

Should I buy the Nexus One with the car dock now?

 

[chicago_cws]

Here is the official statement from Google. Please note that it does not say that this phone will not longer be manufactured. It is just saying that Google is getting out of the business of being a phone store. Others have rumored that T-Mobile will begin to sell it once Google stops. That is my take on it anyway. For me, this is the perfect footprint for a phone. The others (Droid X, Samsung S) are just to big. I just got mine (I bought off eBay for $420) and I really like it so far.
Friday, July 16, 2010

Update: Nexus One changes in availability



Earlier this year, we announced that we will be closing the Nexus One web store. This week we received our last shipment of Nexus One phones. Once we sell these devices, the Nexus One will no longer be available online from Google. Customer support will still be available for current Nexus One customers. And Nexus One will continue to be sold by partners including Vodafone in Europe, KT in Korea, and possibly others based on local market conditions.

To ensure our developers have access to a phone with the latest Android OS, Google will be offering the Nexus One through a partner for sale to registered developers. Visit the Android Market Publisher site and log into your developer account to purchase a Nexus One.

 

[ArrowSmith]

I'm really torn as to whether buy it now or wait until T-Mobile offers it directly. If they never do , I'm SOL.

 

[Isthmus]

IMHO at this point the nexus 1 is no longer the top of the heap in the android pile, so it makes no sense to continue selling it through google's experimental set up. Google had a decent idea, but poor advertising, crappy customer support and a really odd set up with the carriers pretty much doomed the phone. the fact that you couldn't see or test the phone at any store finished the job.

Now the market is filled with higher end android phones that you can feel, touch and test at just about any carrier's store. Google is right to allow this one to fade and instead should be concentrating on developing a worthy replacement.

How about something with gobs of onboard memory, dual core processors, long battery life, one of those new unbreakable amoled screens, and the latest and greatest version of vanilla android. Build that and I'll go stand in that line.

 

[RozzaC]

How about something with gobs of onboard memory, dual core processors, long battery life, one of those new unbreakable amoled screens, and the latest and greatest version of vanilla android. Build that and I'll go stand in that line.

Don't forget a hardware keyboard.. =)

 

[ArrowSmith]

Also I want a more durable smartphone. Something that you don't have to treat like a piece of porcelain.

 

[Drhyde]

I'm really torn as to whether buy it now or wait until T-Mobile offers it directly. If they never do , I'm SOL.

Even though there are better versions of Android phones now, the N1 still has a few things going for it. Namely: priority updates, stock android, and no carrier foolery. There are a lot of neat phones out there, but as I learned with the Behold II, putting a bunch of crap on top of Android just ruins the phone. I'll take stock Android anyday.

 

[ArrowSmith]

Even though there are better versions of Android phones now, the N1 still has a few things going for it. Namely: priority updates, stock android, and no carrier foolery. There are a lot of neat phones out there, but as I learned with the Behold II, putting a bunch of crap on top of Android just ruins the phone. I'll take stock Android anyday.

T-Mobile overcharges for the data plan($30/month) and charges $10/month for SMS when I don't even want it. That's why I'm balking at getting the Nexus One.

 

[Drhyde]

T-Mobile overcharges for the data plan($30/month) and charges $10/month for SMS when I don't even want it. That's why I'm balking at getting the Nexus One.

I use Google Voice for text messages making them free and I only pay $10 a month for internet access. The N1 plays by different rules on T-Mobile.