There are numerous Android smartphones available in the market these days, but there’s only one model that can proudly lay claim to the fact that it’s the first Google phone ever. That is the HTC Google Nexus One and, even after some time has passed since its first release, it’s still an impressive unit. So let’s examine its features and specifications more closely in this review.
Good Looks and Solid Construction
The smartphone has a slim, elegant-looking body that showcases a strong build and quality materials. The muted color scheme is also pleasant on the eyes, giving the phone an attractive, business-like appearance. It has a metallic front frame and a brushed finish while the rear provides a good grip.
The AMOLED screen, meanwhile, is excellent and highly responsive with gorgeous image quality and contrast. The trackball can be found underneath the touchscreen interface while the proximity and ambient light sensors, as well as the earpiece, are located above the display. The left side of the device sports the volume rocker and the top features the power/lock key and audio jack. As for the mouthpiece and the micro USB port, you can see them at the bottom of the unit while the loudspeaker and 5MP camera with flash are at the back.
Main Features and Functions
- The homescreen has a default of five screens or panes.
- Pressing a virtual button at the bottom of the screen allows you to access the main menu or application launcher.
- Live folders are automatically filled with content such as contacts, Bluetooth messages, tweets, and RSS feeds.
- Widgets on the home screen give you instant access to your most-used apps.
- The notifications area collects all new events and you can pull it down to view details. If nothing requires your immediate attention, then you can simply roll it back and resume what you were doing.
- The phonebook can support multiple email accounts and lets you synchronize your contacts easily.
- The reception and sound quality is great so there’s no need to turn the volume up to the maximum level during phone calls.
- Messages are arranged into threads with the newest one at the bottom so you can keep track of a text conversation.
- The gallery automatically locates and collects all videos and images into different folders. It also allows you to perform mass actions such as cut, copy, delete and paste.
- The music player is pretty basic, but it does let you look up a song through Google search or find videos on YouTube.
- The camera and video recorder are decent, but nothing too impressive or fancy. However, they are sufficient for snapping pictures or recording videos on the go.
- The web browser is minimalistic, but it works great. However, there’s no Flash support out of the box.
- GPS navigation makes sure that you’ll never get lost, as long as you know how to read maps, of course.
- Customize your phone with great apps you can download from the Android Market or Google Play.
With all these techie goodies onboard the HTC Google Nexus One, it’s safe to say that this phone is a great investment for someone who’s willing to try out the Android platform for the first time. Though it’s not the newest model out there, its price and feature set should still make it attractive to those who are looking for a phone that can do more than text or call. Its integration with Google services such as email and navigation are also big plus points in its favor.
The Zippy Processor Makes the Difference
Ultimately, the secret weapon this smartphone has is its 1Ghz Snapdragon processor. It makes loading Android applications faster with no noticeable lag even when you are switching between different programs or features. The battery life is impressive, too, lasting for about ten hours of talk time and 290 hours if left on standby. Overall, it’s a highly recommended piece of gadgetry that has stood up well to the test of changing trends and times.
So, are you thinking of getting an HTC Google Nexus One now? If you are, tell us about it and let us know your opinion about this beautiful smartphone.