I have been using the Nexus One as my primary device for the past week. I have been doing all emails and phone calls through this device (when mobile) and trying to dig into every feature.
First; this is a better phone than the Motorola Droid. The keyboard on the Droid was not usable for me and the added weight makes it seem a lot worse. The Nexus One is sleek, well built, and fits well in your hand. Using the on screen keyboard has taken some getting used to but I am improving every day.
Perhaps this is a side affect of a full touch screen device, but I find myself holding back from certain quick email responses which allow deeper thought about a message or a more meaningful reply. I have not decided if this is a good or bad thing yet.
Phone
So far I am underwhelmed. Comparing the phone to the Blackberry, I just can’t get over the ease of typing someones name and having their info immediately come up to dial. The Nexus One requires a global search and added extra step that sometimes does not work. Having to go into “contacts” just seems a waste of time.
An interesting side note is that the phone search seems to get smarter over time. Searches that I do more often show results now, which did not come up the first time. The entire contact manager system for the Nexus One leaves a lot to be desired.
Clarity and sound on the phone is great, remarkable how crystal clear voices are and how many people have commented they can hear me better on this phone.
Calendar
So far there are a few things I miss on my Blackberry. Mainly the ability to edit appointments advanced features such as reoccurring items. Also, the menu options to select daysdatestimes are not optimal. I like seeing a full calendar and times.
Browser
This is the game changer #1 for the phone. The browser problems I began seeing with my Blackberry are now gone. You can view any site in full without having to worry about text, mobile compatibility, or anything else. It has been great having a “real” browser and a big reason to stick with the phone.
Speed
I can’t really credit the Nexus One with this but having 3G speeds with TMobile has been game changer #2. I will not be able to go back to sub 3G speeds if I decide to go back to Blackberry.
Apps
The Android Marketplace is phenomenal – has everything I have needed and is fast. Installing apps is a breeze and search is snappy. It is on par with the iTunes app store to say the least, and the ability for developers to update apps without an approval process makes it better in my book. The Blackberry App World is an inferior product and I barely used it. I use the Marketplace app often, and better yet, find myself using the apps I download.
Integration
There has been a lot of talk recently about integrating accounts, identity, and the power of the Nexus One. Integration with Google and Gmail is seamless.
I did not realize how perfect the integration was until I went to the gallery photo app and saw all my albums loaded and wondered where they came from – turns out it was Picasa. Other Google apps were up and running from the first authentication including Gtalk (which loads by default and signs you on by default) and obviously Gmail.
This phone is all about seamlessly integrating with Gmail. I have referred to Google being a social network on this blog before and this is true today more than ever.
Conclusion
I am going to stick with this phone awhile longer and see if I can get over the initial issues of not having a keyboard, being away from BBM, and overall emailsearch functionality. The speed, browser, and integration with Google may make this possible.
