Platform Development, Hacking, and Modifications


The Nexus One ships with an unlockable bootloader[44] allowing developers to participate in the Android Open Source Project in addition to developing applications. The Nexus One operating system can be unlocked and flashed with the fastboot utility which is part of the Android Open Source Project. Fastboot runs on Windows, Mac OS, or Linux and accesses the Nexus One through the USB port.

The bootloader of the Nexus One is accessed by holding the trackball while powering up the device.[45]

Users are able to gain root privileges on the device by unlocking its bootloader using the fastboot command "fastboot oem unlock."[46] Unlocking the bootloader allows the user to install other firmware images that give the user root access. Obtaining root privileges enables a user to override protected operating system features, install arbitrary software, and enable internet tethering to share the phone's 3G network connection via a wireless LAN, among other things.[47][48] Upon running the fastboot command, the user is presented with a Google-created screen stating that unlocking the bootloader will void the warranty.[49] The popular CyanogenMod build of Android has already been released for the device.[50]
[edit] Comparison with other phones


The multi-touch experience of the Nexus One is similar to that of other multi-touch enabled smartphones (iPhone, Palm Pre, etc). Nexus One has hardware and software multi-touch capability and as of an update released February 2, 2010[41] it has pinch-to-zoom functionality in the phone's Browser, Gallery and Maps applications. In addition to these official applications, 3rd party apps that support multi-touch gestures are readily available.
[edit] HTC Desire

Main article: HTC Desire

HTC later released the HTC Desire which has very similar specifications to the Nexus One. The Desire features an optical trackpad rather than a trackball, physical buttons rather than the touch sensitive buttons and an FM radio but lacks the noise cancelling dual microphones present in the Nexus One. The Desire is solely branded as HTC and runs HTC Sense rather than the stock version of Android. Sense can be switched off to get the stock Android experience.[51]
[edit] iPhone

Main article: iPhone

If use of the Nexus One is limited to free wireless LAN networks, the cost would be $529 for the lifetime of the phone.[52] Adding phone service without data is available economically in the US via T-Mobile prepaid minute plans.[53]

With a Nexus One on the US T-Mobile network, an unlimited usage plan is $2,448.76 for the first two years, whereas an unlimited use plan for two years with an iPhone and AT&T is $3,799. (Both prices include phone purchase costs but exclude taxes and fees.)[54][55][56]

The Nexus One is thinner than the iPhone and can be synchronized with all Google applications,[57] such as G****, Google Contacts, Google Calendar, Listen and Picasa. It also supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and Facebook as accounts. iPhone can be synced with Google services, *****! services, those of Apple's MobileMe and has extensive support for Microsoft Exchange.

iPhone can be synced with iTunes which provides the interface to transfer media such as music, video, podcasts and audiobooks to the device. The Nexus One can be synced with the third party application Doubletwist, which is a media-syncing program open to many devices.[58] The Nexus One allows the user to mount the phone as a USB drive to allow storage of arbitrary files, which are accessible on the device itself should appropriate apps that support the formats be installed.

The iPhone has access to the iTunes Store directly from the device allowing users to purchase and download content such as music, video, podcasts and audiobooks. The Nexus One supports purchasing from the Amazon MP3 store. iPhone users have access to apps from the Apple App Store that, as of March 20, 2010, has at least 150,000 third-party applications available for download[59]. The Nexus One has access to the Android Market that, as of March 2010, has 34,000 applications available for download.[60] Around 23% or 34,500 iPhone Apps are free while around 62% or 21,080 Android apps are free.[61]

The Nexus One is the only smartphone to beat the iPhone 3GS in CNET's comparison show, Prizefight.[62]
[edit] Criticism


  • Full support for push e****, calendar, and contact sync when working with a variety of Microsoft Exchange Servers is not included in the currently shipped Android operating system.[63] Third party applications with some exchange sync support, such as TouchDown,[64] K-9 **** (free)[65] and Moxier ****,[66] are available from the Android Market though users will be charged additionally for commercial applications, and these applications do not integrate with the phone's built-in calendar and contact applications. Full exchange synch is not available, unlike on the iPhone, Windows Mobile, Blackberry or other smartphone operating systems, making the platform unattractive for those business users who use Microsoft Exchange.


  • The Nexus One reportedly had problems with 3G connectivity and touchscreen at launch.[67] Updates have since been issued for the operating system, including the addition of multi-touch capabilities in the Android *** browser and Google Maps functions. While the updates have reportedly also somewhat improved 3G connectivity for the T-Mobile version of the device, similar issues with the AT&T compatible version have not yet been addressed.


  • At launch, Google only provided support through its online Android forum.[68] On February 8, 2010, Google launched a Nexus One support line in the US.[69][70] [71]


  • The Nexus One is currently shipped to the US, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, although the phone has not been fully localized for non-US markets - the lack of satnav outside the US[72] and the US English "voice keyboard"[73] being the most obvious shortcomings.


  • The E**** and G**** applications on the Nexus One have only limited copy and paste functionality - for example, it is not possible to copy text from received e****s.


  • Goldman Sachs slashed their estimates for sales of the phone in 2010 by 70% due to the half-hearted marketing efforts by carriers.[74]

[edit] Future


According to Andy Rubin the next Nexus series phone will be targeted for business users and may have a hardware keyboard.[75]
[edit] History


A trademark application for the name "Nexus One" was filed by Google, Inc. on December 10, 2009.[76] The Nexus One trademark was filed in International Trademark Class 9 for "Computer & Software Products & Electrical & Scientific Products" with de******ion of "Mobile phones".[77] On 15 March 2010 it was announced that the application had been declined due to the mark already being granted on December 30, 2008 to Integra Telecom.[78]

On December 12, 2009, Google confirmed in a blog post that they had begun internal testing of the device.[79] Google stated that a "mobile lab device" had been given to its employees, at this time Google had not yet confirmed that a device would be sold to consumers. Wireless phone and data services for the device were not activated nor billed to Google; it was up to the employees to activate and pay for wireless service on their own.[80]