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In Death, Nexus One Does What It Couldn’t Do In Life: Sell
- gcb 16y agoThey announced the death of the nexus one? If i remember they announced the death of the web store and said that they will bend over to sell in the operator's stores.
- stanleydrew 16y agoYes, death is a bit of a mischaracterization. The original post about shutting down the web store does indeed mention that Google would try to get the N1 into actual retail stores: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/nexus-one-changes-in-availability.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/nexus-one-changes-in-...
- ZeroGravitas 16y agoGoogle didn't, but all the tech blogs did for some reason. Either they can't read or they have some kind of business motive for making things up. And now they have a reason to generate another story from nothing.
- ergo98 16y agoGoogle has TERRIBLE PR when it comes to stuff like that. They just seem to manage releases so horrendously that it is simply shocking. The whole net neutrality thing being the most recent example. Not only did the Nexus One "die" without dying, it died multiple times because at each step Google would make some sort of vague release, and again every tech (and mainstream) site would scream that the Nexus One was a failure, it's now dead for super sure, and so on. Seriously, if someone in the Google executive is reading this: You guys are clownishly amateur at dealing with this stuff.
- mkramlich 16y ago> Seriously, if someone in the Google executive is reading this: You guys are clownishly amateur at dealing with this stuff. They may not care.
- Marticus 16y agoThat is basically what happened, but most people considered that a "death" of sorts since you could no longer get it direct from Google. I broke down and bought one w/o a contract literally about a day before they announced it - it's the best phone I've ever had the chance to really mess with, hands-down. Plus Goggles is a great party trick.
- wmf 16y agoThere's nowhere that a non-developer can buy a Nexus One in the US. They aren't for sale. They aren't coming soon. People know a dead phone when they see one.
- davidw 16y agoI think they were very stupid to not push the thing more in Europe, where people are quite used to buying unlocked phones for their full price.
- ecoffey 16y agoI was going to buy one after my t-mobile contract ran out. They just didn't give me enough time :-/
- tshtf 16y agoAnyone can register as a developer and purchase one today (or when the stock is replenished).
- barake 16y agoBut you can no longer buy one subsidized via a T-Mobile contract for something like $189. Unsubsidized phones are a tough sell in the US and really don't make sense on most carriers. Only T-Mobile gives you a discount on service for skipping out on subsidies.
- ecoffey 16y agoI didn't want a subsidized one, since part of the attraction was that it would work with any GSM carrier.
- bconway 16y agoI believe it. We have a couple kicking around the office and they're fantastic tools. You won't get my HTC Incredible away from me (Vz > AT&T, optical sensor > trackball), but the extra effort required to root and NAND-unlock it is a downside over the Nexus One. Part of me does wish I waited for the Droid 2, as I like the form factor much better, but with Motorola's anti-hacking efforts lately, I probably wouldn't be as happy with it.
- jsolson 16y agoDoes anyone actually use that trackball for anything other than text selection, though? Going from an iPhone to a Nexus One for about six months, I mostly wished that it wasn't there (except when I wanted to select and copy text, at which point I wished I was back on my iPhone).
- ben1040 16y agoDoes anyone actually use that trackball for anything other than text selection, though? I find it to be very helpful for scrolling when reading web pages in landscape mode.
- v21 16y agoI use it to tell when I have text messages - it flashes green.
- orangecat 16y agoIt's useful in many games.
- ZeroGravitas 16y agoYou can use it as a physical camera buuton.
- car 16y agoCool! Thx. Edit: It also freezes the focus when kept pressed down, nice!
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- varjag 16y agoSo, aside from possible DeLorean effect, any idea why?
- starnix17 16y agoThe Nexus One is the only modern Android phone (besides the original Motorola Droid) that runs pure Android- it doesn't have any of the additional software like HTC Sense or Motorola Blur. It's also usually the first to receive updates, it got Froyo way before any other device.
- StavrosK 16y agoPardon my ignorance, but is it possible for someone with a Sense phone, say, to install pure android on it and get all the advantages of the Nexus One, with the updates and all? Or do you need drivers or something?
- moobot 16y agoIt requires rooting/jailbreaking your phone and unlocking the bootloader, if you consider that an option. Otherwise, American carriers (except for T-Mobile) will freak out if you even mention running something other than what they put on the phone.
- StavrosK 16y agoAh, sure, that's fine (I ran Android on my iPhone once). Does it work perfectly otherwise, or are there any incompatibilities?
- starnix17 16y agoYou can, but it's not easy and it's definitely not something a normal consumer would do. Although I imagine the people buying the Nexus Ones from the developer site aren't normal consumers.
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- car 16y agoToo bad most folks prefer subsidized phones, and Google's experiment with the N1 didn't work out. After initially falling in love with the iPhone, I bought an N1 since it supports T-Mobile's US 3G frequency. The N1 is a great phone, and I'm sending this comment over it's mobile hotspot through my ancient $6/month T-Mobile unlimited data plan. Where there is coverage, T-Mobile's 3G network rocks. The latency and download speeds are comparable to a good DSL connection. I've made Skype video calls with a MBP via the N1 that were absolutely perfect. But then I might have been the only user in that cell ;) A little known advantage of T-Mob's 3G network is that it's purely for data, while voice is carried over other frequencies. They have fiber to their towers, with HSPA+ already deployed in many metro areas. Another advantage of the N1 are the unbridled access to the latest and greatest firmware and app updates. Downsides are the plastic touch screen that scratches easily, and the OLED display which is almost impossible to read in sunlight.
- whalesalad 16y agoPlastic touch screen? Did they change them half-way thru production? Mine is made of glass (it feels like glass, at least) and doesn't have a single scratch on it. It still looks new, and I ordered it on launch day.
- car 16y agoHah, also ordered on launch day :) And I'm glad I got the desk and car docks, as they seem to be sold out as well. Initially I also thought that the N1 touch screen was glass, but then I managed to put a couple of ugly scratches into it when the N1 was in the same pocket as my keys for a minute. When I complained about this to someone who works for the maker of the worlds most popular phone (cough), I was told that the N1 screen is made from a very hard resin, but plastic nonetheless. They had done some competitive analysis.
- jrockway 16y agoI was surprised to hear him say that the N1 was better than the EVO, until I remembered that I replaced the stock software with what is essentially the N1 build. HTC Sense is absolutely awful compared to AOSP, and it's nice to know that I'm not the only one that thinks so. It's amazing how random tweaks to the software can make it so unusable. (Also, the default build on my EVO ate battery like crazy, the number one complaint by reviewers. Install CM, the battery lasts all day, even with heavy Kindle and Browser use.) It's a shame that "normal users" don't get to decide whether or not they want Sense.
- Qz 16y agoI don't know about the EVO, but Sense on my Incredible is pretty slick and I haven't had any battery problems (although I just got it Tuesday).
- wwortiz 16y agoComparing sense on a friends' incredible to my rooted droid with froyo, froyo is much better I think. The only advantage to sense is some nicer widgets and fixing some things on android before 2.2
- jrockway 16y agoHave you ever used stock Android? The thing that nails Sense for me is that the calendar app requires you to spin digits around (11:01, 11:02, 11:03, ... for your 11:45 appointment), whereas the stock Android app lets you just type them in or press a button. Not as OMG AWESOME, but much easier to actually use. Anyway, Sense only lasted a few days on my phone, so I am not experienced. I just know that the stock AOSP lock screen, dialer, calendar, and browser all work better.
- nooneelse 16y agoEven easier would be something that recognized that 00, 15, 30, 45 are going to cover most uses and thus made it a single tap to select which one of those you want (with the "more general please" option if you need it).
- superk 16y agoI think they were little too focused on the US market. Here (in Costa Rica) almost everyone I know with a smartphone has a N1. There is a monopoly carrier here and no phone+service package, so N1 makes perfect sense - just plug the chip in and go - no unlocking or rooting required. I bet there are a lot of other international markets where the N1 would do just as well.
- albemuth 16y agoSadly the new dev phones won't work with ICE's 3g network,now a tico's Nexus is literally irreplaceable.
- paul9290 16y agoHas anyone tried using a Nexus One with a TMobile data plan only ($40 unlimited) as their sole communication device? Id love to save $40 money off cost of iPhone; been eagerly awaiting the day to use data plans only. Maybe we are almost there with Tmobile unlimited and NExus One?
- Derferman 16y agoThe problem is voice. What are you using for VOIP calls?
- sahaj 16y agowhere are you seeing the $30 unlimited data plan?
- mgcross 16y agoI was under the impression that the "Even More Plus Smartphone" plan was $39.99, but when I brought my new N1 into the store, I was quoted $30/month unlimited, no contract. I've been a customer since 2002 and have a family plan (voice and text) that expires in November. Maybe it's for existing customers?
- hdx 16y agoSounds like Michael Jackson lol
- da5e 16y agoA failed Google product is a lot like a cancelled TV show. Only a few million people liked it.
- izend 16y agoI have played with the Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S (Vibrant) and I have to say the Galaxy S is a much smoother experience. The tactile feel of the Galaxy S is just awesome.
- contol-m 16y agoI got my Nexus One just after they stopped selling it. (bought a new one off eBay) and couldn't be happier with it.
- mgcross 16y agoI was torn between an iPhone 4 and N1. In the end I chose Android because I wanted an experience more akin to a minuscule laptop than an appliance. Unsubsidized $30/month unlimited data and free tethering/wifi hotspot doesn't hurt. My daughter has a current-gen (3GS hardware) iPod Touch that I love to borrow for gaming and exploring apps, so I'm familiar with iOS4. I've also spent plenty of time with co-workers' iPhone 4s. I'm happy with the N1 so far, but the screen isn't as pretty as the iPhone 4. Better than the 3GS and more neutral than the Vibrant's SAMOLED, but still a close second to the iPhone 4. But the biggest issue I have is the app marketplace. I have serious iPhone game envy. And to a lesser extent, app envy. I've seen many cross-platform apps (Gowalla included) that feel aesthetically half-baked compared to their iPhone counterparts. I'm happy to see Unity 3D, PopCap and Angry Birds on board, but I really wish developers/designers/publishers could put a little more effort into their Android ports. On the other hand, I suppose well-designed Android apps and games are somewhat of an untapped market.
- zmmmmm 16y agoI still hold to the theory that Google didn't cancel the N1 because it wasn't selling well enough - rather they cancelled it because they worried it would sell too well. In other words, they only wanted to sell it as a flagship device and as insurance in case they couldn't get wide adoption of Android. It was a backup plan. Once they had a whole array of carriers on side they no longer saw it as in their interest to have a huge market of N1s out there (which they have to support). With so many carriers embracing Android, the danger for Google now is doing anything that interferes with that.
- extension 16y agoIndeed, how would low sales have been a reason to cancel the phone? How much overhead can there be selling one item through a website, with virtually no marketing or customer service? And now they're going to keep selling them anyway, so they have to keep the whole pipeline running, but they still won't sell them to consumers. Either they are not making a profit on the phone or there are hidden motives at work here.
- Towle_ 16y agoI understand. In death, a member of Project Mayhem has a name. His name is Robert Paulson.