Sneak Peek: Google Phone Picture and Features!

We mentioned last time that Google is finally entering the market with its Google Phone. although it was manufactured by HTC, we are expecting that it will fully embrace everything Google--and that usually means good. Cool thing that Engadget was able to get some photos of the now named Nexus One.

Just like we've heard before, the updated OS features new 3D elements to the app tray, as well as an extended amount of homescreens, though it looks like the lock screen / mute is the same as in Android 2.0.1. Additionally, there's now a new grid icon at the bottom of the homescreen, which when pressed brings up a webOS card-style preview of all homescreen pages -- which raises some interesting possibilities.

According to the article, it is running under T-mobile and has Wi-Fi capabilities. It lacks any buttons to push and looks thin and sleek. And oh by the way it supposedly runs on Android 2.1.

This phone has a lot of tech gadget fans salivating for it considering that there are other excellent phones out there right now (yep, don't count out the iPhone and Droid yet). Will this mean that similarly powered smartphones will have decreasing sales after this Google phone rolls out of production? In my opinion, one should never buy a version 1.0 because there's bound to be a lot of bugs (even if it was quality tested for a long time) and problems. Another to be concerned about is the security of the phone itself. Since it's going to be the first Google Phone, a lot of hackers will want to get in on the action and do some foolery on your phone (Google should learn from Apple's mistakes on this one).

Nevertheless, this phone will be in a lot of tech stories in the coming weeks. Count on it.

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The Google Phone is Out There!

Image via CrunchBase

Is it good for service providers to go into the hardware side of the business? We all know that Google's Android has been slaughtering the competition (except for the iPhone that is) and now Google seems to be branching into the smartphone market with the ominously titled, "Google Phone".

Yep, it's been confirmed and Google employees are getting it--unlocked--as the tweets from the following Google employees show:

We noticed a Twitter message from a Google Program Manager, who writes “Stuck in mass of traffic leaving work post last all hands of 2009. ZOMG we had fireworks and we all got the new Google phone. It’s beautiful.”

Another guy, Jason Howell, says he had his hands on the device, which he says is made by HTC and is running Android 2.1: “The new Google Phone runs on HTC hardware. I saw it w/ Android 2.1. Homescreen has new visual enhancements like animated desktop wallpaper.”

“Supposedly, Google employees were given tons of these phones today. unlocked,” he adds.

What does this mean for current hardware manufacturers and developers like Motorola, etc. and the Android carrying lot? Does this mean that Google will focus more on making their Operating System work better on their phones over the others or will they still support their comrade at arms in the smartphone business? Nevertheless what Google decides, I know it's going to be a game changer in the smartphone industry as the Google brand alone will attract a lot of geeks out there to at least try out.

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