Coverage of Google's phone unveiling

Google today is holding an Android-related event at which it's expected to unveil the Nexus One. Electronista is providing updated coverage of the event as it progresses. Event updates follow in reverse chronological order below in Pacific time.

11:42AM: The event is all over.

11:40AM: All phones will be upgraded to the latest versions of Android possible, but hardware may eventually create limits. Verizon Nexus One will be CDMA.

11:30AM: Some later models will be world phones, possibly supporting both GSM and CDMA.

11:20AM: US limitation on multi-touch a "software thing," may be added later on.

11:18AM: Nexus One lacks a keyboard, but one or more future phones (from Google?) may have one.

11:15AM: Device has Wi-Fi, but tethering has not been locked down. A URL for the Nexus One: google.com/phone

11:08AM: Android 2.1 to be publicly available within a couple of days.

11:05AM: Q&A time. Apps installs limited to ROM at present as an anti-piracy measure, but will eventually be allowed on SD cards. App Marketplace advertising will initially be online-only.

10:55AM: On sale today through Google web store. Only carrier option at present is T-Mobile USA, but phones can also be bought unlocked, and Verizon and Vodafone should become options in the spring. T-Mobile price: $180. Unlocked: $530. Phones from Motorola, et al. will reach the store later on, and more countries should eventually be supported. Shipping to test markets in UK, Singapore and Hong Kong.

10:45AM: Gallery uses 3D planes for photos, clustering images by time, date and location. Background sync to Picasa Web Albums possible. Search by Voice included by default on the Nexus; allows voice commands, and speech dictation for every text field. Google Earth for Android includes desktop-like Flyaround mode.

10:35AM: Uses Android 2.1, and includes all Droid apps such as Facebook and Google Maps Navigation. Five screens for homescreen panels in order to add more shortcuts and widgets. News and weather widget, live (animated/interactive) wallpapers. App launcher has switched from drag-and-pull to zoom-in icons.

10:30AM: Thinner than a No. 2 pencil (like an iPod nano), but lighter than a Swiss Army Knife. You'll be able to get custom engraving on the back bottom to personalize it. Phone is a marriage of hardware and software.

10:27AM: 480x800 resolution and very fast. 1GHz chip (again, the Snapdragon). Trackball is unique: lights up different colors for different notifications (most HTC phones just light up white).



10:23AM: 7th Android phone from HTC. Strongest yet with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen.

10:20AM: Introducing the Nexus One. Considered a "superphone," an "exemplar of what's possible with Android. HTC's Peter Chou takes the stage. [Images via Gizmodo]



10:17AM: Next step in Android's evolution.

10:16AM: Android's advantages: open, friendly to developers, cheaper for phone manufacturers and free.

10:12AM: Talking about the advancement of smartphones and how Android users access the Internet 30X more often than those using conventional phones.

By Electronista Staff