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Google’s Nexus One to be available in stores

Savan Thongvanh — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:02:30 +0000

On May 14th Google announced that the Nexus One will soon not be available for purchase via Google.

In a post on the Google blog they basically said oops, although Android has done better than we thought, we realize now that people like to play with phones when they’re buying them.

But, as with every innovation, some parts worked better than others. While the global adoption of the Android platform has exceeded our expectations, the web store has not. It’s remained a niche channel for early adopters, but it’s clear that many customers like a hands-on experience before buying a phone, and they also want a wide range of service plans to chose from.

So, in the US as they did in Europe Google is going to “work with partners” to offer the Nexus One “through retail channels”. I read that as they’ll soon be selling them in Verizon stores. Once all the retail distribution has been set Google will take the Nexus One off the web store and you’ll only be able to window shop there.

Not only will they be showcasing their wares but they’ll also be showing off other handsets that run Android.

No timing for this great plan was given.

See the original post from the Google blog

Google removes censorship from searches in China

Savan Thongvanh — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:17:53 +0000

Yesterday Google announced that they’d be removing any form of censorship from searches in China. Since Google has been in the China they’ve always bowed to the will of the Chinese government and filtered search results. Censor no more. Chinese Googlers will now be redirected from Google.cn to Google.hk

After an attack on January 12 of this year on Google and others, Google got furious because the attacks seemed like they were executed by the Chinese government. Google then started to flame the Chinese government’s interpretations of free speech, or lack thereof. It’s common knowledge that China blocks sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others.

Amazingly Google acknowledge in a blog post that opening up the Red Filter was so popular among the Chinese that it may affect the performance of Google for other users.

Here’s what Google said about their rationale:

Figuring out how to make good on our promise to stop censoring search on Google.cn has been hard. We want as many people in the world as possible to have access to our services, including users in mainland China, yet the Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement. We believe this new approach of providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese from Google.com.hk is a sensible solution to the challenges we’ve faced—it’s entirely legal and will meaningfully increase access to information for people in China. We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services. We will therefore be carefully monitoring access issues, and have created this new web page, which we will update regularly each day, so that everyone can see which Google services are available in China.

Way to go Google and way to go Chinese Googlers

Google’s Nexus One gets Sprint friendly

Savan Thongvanh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:38:06 +0000

Nexus One(TM) is planned for the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network with twice the network coverage of AT&T and ten times the network coverage of T-Mobile, both by square miles; Expands Sprint’s Android(TM) portfolio

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Mar 17, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Nexus One, the first wireless phone sold through Google(TM)’s web store, is planned for Sprint’s 3G Mobile Broadband Network. Sprint (NYSE:S) will announce pricing and an exact availability date soon. Nexus One will benefit from Sprint’s 3G network with twice the coverage of AT&T and 10 times the coverage of T-Mobile, both based on square miles.(1)

Sprint currently has America’s largest voice calling area of any carrier reaching more than 307 million people in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands with a Sprint phone and plan that includes roaming. PC World recently said no one has a more reliable network than Sprint in a 13 city 3G performance test.(2) Customers can check the quality of network coverage with street level mapping at sprint.com/coverage.

“Nexus One is a powerful device that belongs on a powerful network. This is another step in our continued partnership of innovation with Google,” said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president of product development. “Sprint customers already have the option of two amazing Android devices with Samsung Moment(TM) and HTC Hero(TM). It is a natural fit for us to add Nexus One to the list of choices available for Sprint customers who want the best value in wireless with the best in Android.”

Google’s online consumer channel was created to provide an efficient way to connect online users with selected Android phones. Nexus One will not be available in any Sprint retail channels. It will be available directly from Google at google.com/phone. The online experience of Google’s web store is designed with a focus on simplicity allowing consumers to match a phone with the service plan that best meets their needs.

“While a pricing plan has not yet been determined for Nexus One, we are confident that it will be consistent with Sprint’s commitment to deliver more value than our competitors and keep pricing simple,” Adib said. “Right now, our Sprint Everything Data 450 plan with Any Mobile, Anytime(SM) gives customers unlimited calling with any mobile phone in America, unlimited text and unlimited Web for just $69.99 per month – the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for just unlimited talk. Our Everything Data plans include unlimited GPS Navigation at no extra charge and annual phone upgrades with Sprint Premier.”

Nexus One runs on Android 2.1, a version of the platform’s Eclair software, which offers advanced applications and features including:

* Google Maps(TM) Navigation: offering turn-by-turn driving directions with voice output.
* Email: multiple Gmail(TM) accounts; universal inbox and Exchange support.
* Phone book: aggregate contacts from multiple sources, including Facebook(R).
* Quick Contacts: easily switch between communication and social applications.
* Android Market(TM): access to more than 30,000 applications.

Hardware features of Nexus One include:

* Display: 3.7″ AMOLED 480×800 WVGA display
* Thinness: 11.5mm; Weight: 130g
* Processor/Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon(TM) 3G QSD8250 chipset, delivering speeds up to 1GHz
* Camera: 5 megapixel auto focus with flash and geo tagging
* Onboard memory: 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
* Expandable memory: 4GB removable SD Card (expandable to 32GB)
* Noise Suppression: Dynamic noise suppression from Audience, Inc.
* Ports: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with four contacts for inline voice and remote control
* Battery: Removable 1400 mAh
* Personalized laser engraving: Up to 50 characters on the back of the phone
* Trackball: Tri-color notification LED, alerts when new emails, chats, text messages arrive

In addition, Nexus One offers new functionality and software enhancements including:

* Enter text without typing.
* Use a voice-enabled keyboard for all text fields: speak a text message, instant message, tweet, Facebook update, or complete an email.
* Tell your phone what you want it to do.
* Search Google, call contacts, or get driving directions by just speaking into your phone.
* Take personalization to the next level.
* Dynamic, interactive, live wallpapers react to the touch of a finger.
* More widgets and five home screen panels allow for further device customization.
* Capture camera-quality pictures and video with your device.
* 5 megapixel camera includes LED flash, auto focus, zoom, white balance and color effects.
* View pictures and Picasa Web Albums(TM) in the new 3D Gallery.
* Record Hi-Res MPEG4 video, and then upload to YouTube(TM) with one click.
* Read your voicemail messages.
* Get transcribed voicemail with Google Voice(TM) integration, without changing your number.

For more information on Nexus One, please visit www.Google.com/phone. Follow Sprint on Twitter @sprint to keep up with news on Nexus One for Sprint’s 3G Mobile Broadband Network.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving more than 48 million customers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first and only 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company’s customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

Google, Nexus One, Android, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Voice, Picasa Web Albums, YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.

Facebook(R) is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

(1)Coverage comparisons based on publicly available information as of 1/01/10 inclusive of Sprint roaming partners.

(2)PC World’s test included Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in 13 major cities in all regions of the country during December 2009 and January 2010. In all, roughly 9,000 individual tests of Sprint’s 3G service were conducted from 280 testing locations. Testing sessions were one minute in duration per location, and network performance can be highly variable from neighborhood to neighborhood. In laptop-based tests, Sprint tied with another carrier for first in 3G network reliability.

SOURCE: Sprint

Media Contacts:
Sprint
Michelle Leff Mermelstein, 703-592-8357
Michelle.Leff@Sprint.com

Google buzz for iPhone, a screen by screen tour

Savan Thongvanh — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:23:44 +0000

Today Google announced buzz and the internet is abuzz. The jury will be out on Google’s new all encompasing approach to social media but we’ll take you through screen by screen through a tour of the buzz iPhone app.

Hit the jump and start the tour!

There are actually more screens, modes of screens, and ways to search. There are almost too may to show in one article, in fact yes…there are too many. The way the screens loop around back and forth to each other will make it seem to new users like they’re in a big Google puzzle.

Give it an honest shot and let us know what’s got you buzzin’. Now here we go!

The first thing you’ll notice is the the app fits right into the rest of Google’s tools look and feel. Right away you’ll notice the twitter like following and a bar to share your thoughts. Share with who? Other buzzers of course! From this screen you can post a status, jump to search for other buzzers or jump to the map to find nearby buzzers.

In the iPhone version of buzz a dialog box will pop up shortly after you open the app to remind you how to add buzz to your home screen.

Follow the usual steps and you’re ready to start buzzing.

Let’s hop back to the first screen. As you can see I’ve clicked the “Nearby” button and buzz has given me a quick list of people that are listed near me. Of course Apple make’s Google confirm the use of your location. Not accepting will kill about half the fun in buzz so take that into account.

Once you activate the GPS you’ll see people near you. How Google decides who to show on your list I don’t know. I didn’t know anyone on the initial list that Google gave me. The idea is to click on any one of the names on the list and start a conversation thread with them. Since they’re mostly strangers I’m not sure why I would.

If you dont’ see anyone you know don’t worry, you can search for seemingly anyone.

Hit the “Nearby” button and you’ll get a list of nearby locations where people have started a buzz, or an address near you so you can start one. If you haven’t gotten the picture yet the idea is to start a buzz about things or people. Here you can pick a location and make recommendation or buzz about something that’s happening there so other people nearby can get the scoop.

Hit the menu button and you’ll get a new way to interact with a Google map. But, for the most part what you see is what you get; search, directions, overlays, a way to clear the overlays, online help and terms of service stuff, and a way to bail out.

I’ll end for now with the buzz overlay. It shows you where other people are buzzing from.

There are so many more features it’s mind boggling and you probably won’t find them all for a while. It’s a lot of information to take in. For now hopefully this will help you move around.

We’ll have a look later in part 2 at how and why buzz hooks into other social networking platforms. Take your time and have fun!