Nothing is more sad than the death of an illusion - Arthur Koestler
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Google puts back its Nexus One launch in the UK
BUMBLING SMARTPHONE ENTHUSIAST Google has delayed the UK launch of its flagship Android device, the Nexus One, which could kill any chance of success it might have had in Blighty.
The Nexus One was due to appear on these shores in the second half of March but it has now been put back to mid-April. The smartphone is available to British punters direct from Google in California but you'll have to shell out on import duties on top of the handset's cost.
For Google, the Nexus One seems to be a Jonah in its portfolio, getting the device's maker, HTC, into hot water with Apple. First came reports of poor 3G performance which, depending on who you speak to, might or might not be fixed. After posting lacklustre sales figures in its first month, Google enraged Jobs' Mob further by issuing an update that brought fixes for its aforementioned connectivity problems and more pertinently, multi-touch capabilities to the Nexus One.
Apple's Steve Jobs laid down the law, first by ranting that Google's 'Don't Be Evil' policy was "BS" and then by going after the firm by proxy of HTC. The bad news continued for Google as bailed out money peddlers Goldman Sachs cut its sales estimates for the Nexus One by 43 per cent to 1 million units worldwide. For Google it must seem a lot longer than 10 weeks since the firm's new device garnered almost universal praise.
Over here Vodafone has been eager to get the Nexus One on its books and one wonders what has taken the firm so long to do so. Reports abound that Vodafone's US arm, Verizon, has finally taken Nexus One units into stock however that can be attributed to the fact that the US operation uses a CDMA network. This only compounds the frustration for us Brits as the original Nexus One was released with a GSM radio, the same wireless network standard used by all networks, apart from 3, in the UK.
These delays will result in the Nexus One going down in the annals of history as a technology showcase. Vodafone is set to offer the HTC Legend in April, which for all intents and purposes offers a similarly high specification in a more impressive suit. Vodafone won't be alone in ditching interest in the Nexus One, with other operators looking to the HTC Desire to fill the void left by the absence of Google's once promising device.
Google is unlikely to lose much sleep if the Nexus One fails to meet sales expectations. The devices that are likely to take its place on operators' shelves are all powered by the firm's Android system. Far more worrying is the lawsuit faced by the chief Android OEM, HTC. There's little doubt that Android's adoption among handset manufacturers is picking up pace but should Apple's allegations stand up in court, it would be a serious blow, not only for Android but the mobile market.
Apple has, perhaps unsurprisingly given the unjustified hype surrounding it, seen moderate pre-orders sales of its latest toy, the Ipad. That device is set to hit British shelves at the same time as Google's Nexus One. The problem for both Google and HTC is that potential smartphone customers may be won over by Apple's latest shiny creation and keep their current mobile phones. For mobile operators, the Ipad should give them another way of flogging overpriced data services that they spent ridiculous amounts of money to acquire back in the late 90s.
Eric Schmidt might have touted the Nexus One as a "new way of buying a phone" but thanks to his firm's actions most of those in the UK who once yearned for a capable and open device have been left frustrated. Google's first foray into the retail space has, at best, been a hit and miss affair. The firm may want to stick with its day job of flogging advertising for now. µ
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I have to agree with the previous comments that this is quite a biased report, although contains some helpful infomation. I think if people tried the nexus one and iphone side to side, they would pick the google everytime for slick UI and resposive, bright multi-touch, touch screen. Although the desire trumps the google on paper in almost every field, I am not that fond of the HTC software running on it and miss having the super massive screen.
Apple's products are on paper and in reality, quite poor and low end. But they are the best in the respect of marketing and "look, its something shiny with an apple on it" effect. Now everyone on some level, always considers buying into apple for that awesome appeal and the fact it does have 4 times as many apps as its closest rival, but they need to up their game in terms of device power and UI if they want to stay with the big players like maemo, droid, blackberry and winmo 7. They cannot afford to pull of another massively over hyped launch of a "new" iphone, which is just a software upgrade or adding hardware which it should already have (hsdpa etc.) They need a bran, spanking new iphone on roids to stay with the other players this year.
This is just my opinion, and having tried the current gen. phones as off this month, I would go with the nexus one, then the iphone, then the htc legend or desire.
The first 5 words of this report should scream out "stop reading". If you have an iota of intelligence you will read articles that let you make your own mind up, not this kind of sensationalist spouting.
The Nexus One has been on sale in the UK since release (I have one... and I am in the UK). Very few people (if any) have had to pay any import charges and the HTC Legend has only JUST been announced, pushing back the Nexus One for one month really won't have too much effect - contrary to this reporters unfounded ramblings.
The Ipad will attract people who want it - but if they also really want the Nexus One, they'll buy one too. But honestly - if they are willing to buy what has been widely considered a sub-par e-reader based on the fact that it's Apple - they are likley to be devoted to the Iphone, which is their decision - and that, I can respect.
I read "BUMBLING SMARTPHONE ENTHUSIAST Google has delayed..." and immediately switched off. Not exactly an unbiased editorial now is it? Have an iPhone per chance?
if I'M not mistaken the nexus one is available in the uk from the beginning (unlike the rest of Europe ) however the only thing missing is a bundle with a contract. The 3g problems seem to be limited to the us T-Mobile network, I've not seen complaints on other carriers and at the very least mine works much better than my previous iPhone and Motorola Milestone. Touch screen calibration issues only affect a small number of owners. A delay are probably caused by the fact that it's Google's first phone and contracts with uk carriers and logistics may require a bit more time than anticipated. the HTC desire ( basically a nexus one with sense ui ) may even hit uk carriers sooner as HTC does have existing arrangements within the uk market.
The delayed launch may also have something to do with the other touchscreen calibration issues a host of users have been experiencing for some time now.
Google have reportedly been investigating but have yet to provide any update on these issues for over a month. See the Nexus One forums for more information about touchscreen issues and posts by frustrated Nexus One owners: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=04134c63c784258e&hl=en&fid=04134c63c784258e000481d78dc42373