Google Launches Nexus One: T-Mobile Plan Available Now, Verizon and Vodafone Coming Soon

[G58]

Lab coats

I've read a number of the 649 messages on this subject here and I can't seem to find anyone who's mentioned the fact that those involved in the launch were wearing lab coats!

Maybe its significance isn't registering with people. Maybe the subliminal message conveyed by their wearing lab coats has had its effect, without ever registering in anyone's consciousness. But lab coats were worn, not by accident, by design, and the decision to do so must presumably have been made at a very high level.

The desired effect, and the implication, appears to be that this Nexus One is so special, so advanced, it's been born in a lab. If not that, then the somewhat less desirable, and less likely version is that it's so volatile it has to be handled by specialists in protective wear. Both place the device a long way from what has to be Google's declared message - that it's a desirable, hip, cool phone capable of beating Apple's iPhone.

But if this Nexus One is a desirable, hip, cool phone capable of even taking on Apple's iPhone, I suspect someone overrode anyone who was attempting to apply common sense to the planning of the launch. Otherwise lab coats would never have happened.

Lab coats are of course a ludicrous choice, worthy of the losing team on The Apprentice in week one.

Lab coats only appeal to nerds. And even then I'm willing to bet we'd struggle to find more than half a dozen who thought it was cool.

Lab coats are absurd, fetishistic, reminiscent of 1950s doctor scenes in daytime TV shows. We think of Dick Van Dyke - and we cringe.

Lab coats at a smart phone launch are just plain silly, as silly as making your product a hostage to fortune by saddling it with the term 'Superphone' - when it actually has very little to distinguish it from all the other smartphones out there.

They may understand algorithms at Google, and do them better than anyone else. And they may make a lot of money from the way data can be exploited to sell advertising, really quite a simple process when you've cracked the detail and crunched the numbers. But they sure as hell don't understand marketing hardware yet.

 

[cmaier]

If they wore RED lab coats, it would be a different story.

 

[DMann]

I've read a number of the 649 messages on this subject here and I can't seem to find anyone who's mentioned the fact that those involved in the launch were wearing lab coats!

Maybe its significance isn't registering with people. Maybe the subliminal message conveyed by their wearing lab coats has had its effect, without ever registering in anyone's consciousness. But lab coats were worn, not by accident, by design, and the decision to do so must presumably have been made at a very high level.

The desired effect, and the implication, appears to be that this Nexus One is so special, so advanced, it's been born in a lab. If not that, then the somewhat less desirable, and less likely version is that it's so volatile it has to be handled by specialists in protective wear. Both place the device a long way from what has to be Google's declared message - that it's a desirable, hip, cool phone capable of beating Apple's iPhone.

But if this Nexus One is a desirable, hip, cool phone capable of even taking on Apple's iPhone, I suspect someone overrode anyone who was attempting to apply common sense to the planning of the launch. Otherwise lab coats would never have happened.

Lab coats are of course a ludicrous choice, worthy of the losing team on The Apprentice in week one.

Lab coats only appeal to nerds. And even then I'm willing to bet we'd struggle to find more than half a dozen who thought it was cool.

Lab coats are absurd, fetishistic, reminiscent of 1950s doctor scenes in daytime TV shows. We think of Dick Van Dyke - and we cringe.

Lab coats at a smart phone launch are just plain silly, as silly as making your product a hostage to fortune by saddling it with the term 'Superphone' - when it actually has very little to distinguish it from all the other smartphones out there.

They may understand algorithms at Google, and do them better than anyone else. And they may make a lot of money from the way data can be exploited to sell advertising, really quite a simple process when you've cracked the detail and crunched the numbers. But they sure as hell don't understand marketing hardware yet.

Quite perceptive you are, G!

Their sterile approach would seem to allow Google to 'smear the bulls-eye,' cover all bases - play it sci-fi, futuristic, serious, and, at the same time, hip, stylish, and trend-setting.

'Superphone' - complete with SIRIUS XM, built-in TASER, HD Media Projector, and Satellite Chips for Globalstar and Iridium Services. Must be impressive.

Anything for attention and hype is the name-of-the-game here, whether it be congruous, or not.

It seems that the art of advertising has been compromised, in this respect, as the DROID ads are even less to be desired.

 

[tzeshan]

Google CEO was in the 2007 iPhone Launch

I was surprised that Google CEO did not appear in the inauguration of the Google Nexus One phone. On the other hand, HTC CEO and Motorola CEO joined a second level Google executive.

 

[gilgamesh]

Since apple is locked to crappy AT&T, looks like my next phone will be this one. Definately going to give the iPhone a run for the money. Guess apple shouldn't have had google on there board as it looks kind of similar to the iPhone.

If I were you, I would think twice before switching. I do have to agree though that it is a mighty sexy phone, with very nice hardware. But is that really the real reason for the success of the iPhone? A post on http://accessoriesforiphone.com/blog/nexus-one-why-android-is-failing-to-the-iphone.html makes the same points I make. Basically it says this:
iPhone is a success not because of App Store alone, but because each consumer is treated with ease of use for downloads of new apps, no confusion, unlike the hurdles Android phones are seeing now. E.g. Droid runs Android 2.01 (upgraded recently) Nexus One runs Android 2.1, HTC Eris runs Android 1.5! For all iPhone owners (unless jailbroken), we all run the same OS version. The engineers only have to adhere to one screen size, etc. The same is not true for Android, hence why they will not succeed in quality. But, if iPhone was non-existent, I would get the Nexus One, but then again, would Nexus One ever be here without the iPhone?

 

[MecPro]

Wow, I've done a full 360!

I had my iPhone, lost it and was hesistant to buy a new one as the new one might be coming out in the Summer, then I saw the Nexus and was in <3 with it!

Now I've seen all the videos, read all the reviews and what not..and have come to the conclusion that the iPhone is the Rocky of the phone market; Nexus 1 is Ivan Drago.

Google have concentrated too much on the basics at the minute and there is still a lot lacking in the OS to get it to the iPhone OS standard and further. It's a shame as being a former owner of an iPhone, I can't go back to inferior/different ways of doing things. Even the way the smooth actions of the keyboard popping up is choppy in comparison to the Nexus. If I hadn't used an iPhone before, the Nexus would look so much more attractive

But I still am going to wait till Jan 27th, I'll be more excited for a complete hardware and software iPhone overhaul than an iSlate

 

[distortedloop]

E.g. Droid runs Android 2.01 (upgraded recently) Nexus One runs Android 2.1, HTC Eris runs Android 1.5! For all iPhone owners (unless jailbroken), we all run the same OS version. The engineers only have to adhere to one screen size, etc. The same is not true for Android, hence why they will not succeed in quality. But, if iPhone was non-existent, I would get the Nexus One, but then again, would Nexus One ever be here without the iPhone?

Hardware (and even OS) fragmentation hasn't hurt the PC/Windows/Linux world very much over the years. Some would say it even is an advantage over the one machine, one OS fits all approach of Apple.

Re: your last comment, it doesn't matter if the Nexus One would be here without the iPhone. The point is that IT IS HERE, and that is a good thing. Choice is good, competition is good. Apple can't rest on it's laurels and give us a small bump on the next iPhone if they want to maintain their market lead in future sales.

I was surprised that Google CEO did not appear in the inauguration of the Google Nexus One phone. On the other hand, HTC CEO and Motorola CEO joined a second level Google executive.

The CEO unveiling the product has been overplayed, and a bit too much Apple/Jobs-like, especially in terms of Google introducing a phone that they don't even manufacture.

I've read a number of the 649 messages on this subject here and I can't seem to find anyone who's mentioned the fact that those involved in the launch were wearing lab coats!

Maybe its significance isn't registering with people. Maybe the subliminal message conveyed by their wearing lab coats has had its effect, without ever registering in anyone's consciousness.....

Or maybe most of just didn't actually WATCH the introduction....?

C'mon, most who post in these forums don't even read the whole article before they fire off their comments! You don't need to read the whole article if your just a blind Apple Fanboi, or a Fandroid/GooBoi, because if you are, it's your religion, and like most religions, you already have your dogma to preach and why waste time reading the story or the opinions of others? Just spout out your vitriol and hope to make some converts. ;-)

 

[LagunaSol]

Hardware (and even OS) fragmentation hasn't hurt the PC/Windows/Linux world very much over the years. Some would say it even is an advantage over the one machine, one OS fits all approach of Apple.

I think things will work out very differently in the consumer mobile space - just as it did in the consumer DAP space - where fragmentation will be far more damaging.

How'd that Plays For Sure thing go?

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 1.5; en-us; Archos5 Build/CUPCAKE) AppleWebKit/528.5+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.2 Mobile Safari/525.20.1)

Hardware (and even OS) fragmentation hasn't hurt the PC/Windows/Linux world very much over the years. Some would say it even is an advantage over the one machine, one OS fits all approach of Apple.

I think things will work out very differently in the consumer mobile space - just as it did in the consumer DAP space - where fragmentation will be far more damaging.

How'd that Plays For Sure thing go?

Plays for sure...

Is that that thing that has nothing to do with: Android, Google, HTC, mobile phones, open source software and the Nexus One?

 

[LagunaSol]

Plays for sure...

Is that that thing that has nothing to do with: Android, Google, HTC, mobile phones, open source software and the Nexus One?

Actually, it has everything to do with trying to develop a dominant (or even significant) consumer-oriented mobile device platform using a unified (at least on paper) software approach and a whatever-from-whoever hardware approach.

Why did the iPod continue to dominate even though Plays For Sure offered consumers a wider range of prices, brands, models, colors, shapes, sizes, retailers, online media stores, etc.?

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 1.5; en-us; Archos5 Build/CUPCAKE) AppleWebKit/528.5+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.2 Mobile Safari/525.20.1)

Plays for sure...

Is that that thing that has nothing to do with: Android, Google, HTC, mobile phones, open source software and the Nexus One?

Actually, it has everything to do with trying to develop a dominant (or even significant) consumer-oriented mobile device platform using a unified (at least on paper) software approach and a whatever-from-whoever hardware approach.

Why did the iPod continue to dominate even though Plays For Sure offered consumers a wider range of prices, brands, models, colors, shapes, sizes, retailers, online media stores, etc.?

I gotcha.

A closed source, draconian, drm infested certification system controlled by Microsoft is EXACTLY like an open source, open marketed community driven and open to everyone ecosystem.

/Sells Android devices in fear that they will be a failure.

Where can I get me one of thems iPhones?

 

[LagunaSol]

A closed source, draconian, drm infested certification system controlled by Microsoft is EXACTLY like an open source, open marketed community driven and open to everyone ecosystem.

Here's the part that you (and Microsoft, and many hardware manufacturers) don't seem to understand: the only thing the consumer cares about is the product. They don't care about if something is open or if something is closed or who controls it or why. They want something they can take out of their pocket and use without any hassles. And personally I think the integrated approach of Apple, Palm and RIM will continue to provide the superior end user experience over the hardware/software jambalaya approach of Android, WinMo, Symbian, and the rest.

That's where Apple seems to "get it" right now - and that's why they're on such a tear - because the product is king. Everything else is irrelevant to the person making the purchase. You hear these Droid ads and they're using terms that Joe Q. Public doesn't understand and doesn't care about. Massive processor? Open development? Runs multiple apps? What does all of this mean??? Apple runs a TV ad and shows you how to find a restaurant on a map and send the address to your buddy. The gap between the two approaches is astounding - and even more astounding is that Google doesn't seem to know how to "sell" this Android thing to the people who are the future customer base of the mobile computing platform.

I have every hope that Android will do well, because if Android does well, Windows Mobile is doomed. And shutting Microsoft out of a market can only be a good thing.

But I don't think Android is going to be the #1 choice for consumers, no matter how many colors the devices come in and no matter how many different skins are applied to the OS.

Only time will tell, of course.

 

[distortedloop]

But I don't think Android is going to be the #1 choice for consumers, no matter how many colors the devices come in and no matter how many different skins are applied to the OS.

Only time will tell, of course.

If that open letter to Google employees Rosenberg posted on the official Google blog the other day is to be believed, then Google isn't after being the #1. (Yeah, right!) But, seriously, his attitude seems to be even if we only maintain a 10% market share, if we can grow the entire market through our efforts, our 10% will be bigger. Makes sense, on some levels.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised to see all the various flavors of Android one day have the largest share of the smart-phone market. The fact that there's no licensing fees is just one more cost the hardware makers can cut to increase their profits.

 

[ChazUK]

Here's the part that you (and Microsoft, and many hardware manufacturers) don't seem to understand: the only thing the consumer cares about is the product. They don't care about if something is open or if something is closed or who controls it or why. They want something they can take out of their pocket and use without any hassles. And personally I think the integrated approach of Apple, Palm and RIM will continue to provide the superior end user experience over the hardware/software jambalaya approach of Android, WinMo, Symbian, and the rest.

What does this have to do with your comparison with plays for sure? I've seen you pull the "how did that work out with plays for sure" card in a few threads but still don't understand what it means. Microsoft shut down plays for sure but as Android is open source software, no single entity has full control of it. (Google services are a different matter entirely). I know you have issues with fragmentation but any fragmentation still doesn't relate to "Plays for sure".

That's where Apple seems to "get it" right now - and that's why they're on such a tear - because the product is king. Everything else is irrelevant to the person making the purchase. You hear these Droid ads and they're using terms that Joe Q. Public doesn't understand and doesn't care about. Massive processor? Open development? Runs multiple apps? What does all of this mean??? Apple runs a TV ad and shows you how to find a restaurant on a map and send the address to your buddy. The gap between the two approaches is astounding - and even more astounding is that Google doesn't seem to know how to "sell" this Android thing to the people who are the future customer base of the mobile computing platform.

Honestly, I think Apple have a rock solid business model with the iTunes/iPod/Appstore ecosystem (hopefully this will be strengthened by the roumored slate) and a profitable one too but that doesn't mean there can be success elsewhere too. (In case you're mistaken, I have never thought or said that Android and what the Open Handset Alliance are trying to achieve would beat Apple, I just don't know what will happen).

When the Google Phone roumors were rife we had people proclaiming that Google had pulled a Microsoft and turned thier backs on the OHA but look what has happened. Another handset by HTC, The OHA still exist and CES full of upcoming Android based phones/tablets and Laptops and no one pissed at the Nexus One.

The Droid adds mean bugger all to me as I won't ever see them being in the UK but you must remember, they are a product of Verzion, not Google or HTC. Your beef needs to be with Verizon unless HTC goes for the same approach with their media campaign. (Their ads for the hero were really consumer friendly ads, no swiping at the competition at all) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-QhxjJFl7E

Does anything of what I say make sense?

EDIT: Keep the discussion going as I've just realised I'm only 19 posts away from being able to use an avatar!

 

[LagunaSol]

Personally I wouldn't be surprised to see all the various flavors of Android one day have the largest share of the smart-phone market. The fact that there's no licensing fees is just one more cost the hardware makers can cut to increase their profits.

And that's where Microsoft is screwed. Watch Microsoft offer WinMo 7 to handset makers for free. At least temporarily.

There's no coherent brand, no coherent message for Android. Verizon/Moto is peddling the Droid as the badarse phone for sci-fi nerds and Navy SEALs and wrestlers. HTC is putting a happy face approach on its print ads with a more iPhone-esque style. Dell will be Dell - they won't know who to target at all. All these device names, form factors, shapes and sizes - there's nothing that brings them all together except the Android name.

And of course there is no iTunes for any of these - good luck to Suzy Homemaker getting her songs and videos to her device by dragging files and folders. Yay!

Again, only time will solve this debate, but the Android message seems to be getting more distorted over time, not more coherent. Too many voices and too many players with too many self-interests.

Microsoft shut down plays for sure but as Android is open source software, no single entity has full control of it. (Google services are a different matter entirely).

Oh come on, let's not be naive enough to believe that Google won't be the ones with their hands firmly on the steering wheel.

I know you have issues with fragmentation but any fragmentation still doesn't relate to "Plays for sure".

Of course it does. It was a fractured platform. Sure, it was too little too late anyway, but it was a doomed concept anyway vs. a single coherent brand (like iPod in this generation or Walkman in the generation that preceded it).

that doesn't mean there can be success elsewhere too.

Of course. I believe Android will be successful, mainly at the expense of Windows Mobile and Nokia.

(In case you're mistaken, I have never thought or said that Android and what the Open Handset Alliance are trying to achieve would beat Apple, I just don't know what will happen).

I don't know either, but I have my guess. I think Apple will be hard to stop with the momentum that began all the way back in 2001 with the iPod. Apple is in a Microsoft-like position in the mobile device space. *shudder*

The OHA still exist and CES full of upcoming Android based phones/tablets and Laptops and no one pissed at the Nexus One.

No one pissed at the Nexus One? I seriously doubt that is true. I bet Motorola isn't thrilled.

The Droid adds mean bugger all to me as I won't ever see them being in the UK but you must remember, they are a product of Verzion, not Google or HTC.

Exactly. Too many messengers with too many messages.

Your beef needs to be with Verizon unless HTC goes for the same approach with their media campaign.

I don't have a beef. If they want to wreck their product with inane ads, that's their business.

Hold on, I have a call coming in on my SCUD missile...er, I mean my phone.

EDIT: Keep the discussion going as I've just realised I'm only 19 posts away from being able to use an avatar!

Pick a good one. Might I suggest Steve Ballmer in a Speedo?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

And that's where Microsoft is screwed. Watch Microsoft offer WinMo 7 to handset makers for free. At least temporarily.

There's no coherent brand, no coherent message for Android. Verizon/Moto is peddling the Droid as the badarse phone for sci-fi nerds and Navy SEALs and wrestlers. HTC is putting a happy face approach on its print ads with a more iPhone-esque style. Dell will be Dell - they won't know who to target at all. All these device names, form factors, shapes and sizes - there's nothing that brings them all together except the Android name.

And of course there is no iTunes for any of these - good luck to Suzy Homemaker getting her songs and videos to her device by dragging files and folders. Yay!

Again, only time will solve this debate, but the Android message seems to be getting more distorted over time, not more coherent. Too many voices and too many players with too many self-interests.

And something you keep missing is the one size fits all approach apple does with the iPhone does not work with everyone.

HTC is advertising the fact that the phone can be customized for what you want it to do and be.
Droid is targeting another part of the the market. The differnt form factors helps because I know a lot of people who hate touch screen only keyboards. They want a slider design.

I honestly like physical keyboards over a touchscreen only type. On sliders one advantage they have is in when they keyboard is in uses none of the screen is eaten up. Also you get the tactile fleet of the keys.

Android advatages comes into play in that way. There are choices.

As for your music argument multiple peice of software are coming out that is reading the iTunes library and playlist and just coping them over to the phone. If Apple closes that door they are risking lawsuits and being force to allow everyone to connect directly to iTunes. I do not think apple wants that.

Apple is a one size fits all approach to everything.

 

[ChazUK]

There's no coherent brand, no coherent message for Android. Verizon/Moto is peddling the Droid as the badarse phone for sci-fi nerds and Navy SEALs and wrestlers. HTC is putting a happy face approach on its print ads with a more iPhone-esque style. Dell will be Dell - they won't know who to target at all. All these device names, form factors, shapes and sizes - there's nothing that brings them all together except the Android name.

I guess in a way Google are trying to fix that by selling "google experience" phones on http://www.google.com/phone Erick Tseng goes into detail on that in a recent interview with Joshua Topolsky from Engadget. Their plan is to sell the handsets that Google help design alongside its partners in the OHA and their input is open to all.

And of course there is no iTunes for any of these - good luck to Suzy Homemaker getting her songs and videos to her device by dragging files and folders. Yay!

On the topic of that, I used Windows Media Player 11 to rip/sync my music to my Archos. BIG ERROR ON MY PART.

That was until it decided to change album art on my songs, completely mix albums up into each other and (I hadn't realised what a state the library was in and synced that absolute mess to my Archos and didn't notice until the end of the sync that it had "Updated media info" on my files.)

I quickly re ripped my music in iTunes then used drag and drop to put my stuff on. I know Windows users frown upon iTunes but I love the way it copies music and organises it within its library.

 

[distortedloop]

And that's where Microsoft is screwed. Watch Microsoft offer WinMo 7 to handset makers for free. At least temporarily.

There's no coherent brand, no coherent message for Android. Verizon/Moto is peddling the Droid as the badarse phone for sci-fi nerds and Navy SEALs and wrestlers. HTC is putting a happy face approach on its print ads with a more iPhone-esque style. Dell will be Dell - they won't know who to target at all. All these device names, form factors, shapes and sizes - there's nothing that brings them all together except the Android name.

And of course there is no iTunes for any of these - good luck to Suzy Homemaker getting her songs and videos to her device by dragging files and folders. Yay!

Again, only time will solve this debate, but the Android message seems to be getting more distorted over time, not more coherent. Too many voices and too many players with too many self-interests.

I've posted at least once that I agree, for Susie Homemaker, and even for many old tech-head/geeks like me, iTunes integration is the killer feature for the iPhone.

Yes, yes, I can figure out how to drag and drop playlists onto my phone on the desktop, but when your life revolves around more than just you servicing your technology, you really want ease of use, plug and play solutions for things as mundane as getting the latest episodes of your favorite podcasts, or videos, or purchased music onto your phone and home theater as possible. That means dock your phone and let it all happen, no user intervention required. Killer for all, definitely not, killer for many, probably.

Where I disagree with you is your apparent insistence that for Android (Google/HTC/Verizon/Whoever) to be a success it must have the largest percentage of deployment of any handset or OS. That's just not the case.

 

[KnightWRX]

Where I disagree with you is your apparent insistence that for Android (Google/HTC/Verizon/Whoever) to be a success it must have the largest percentage of deployment of any handset or OS. That's just not the case.

I hope it's not the case, because that would mean the iPhone is not a success, since it doesn't have the largest percentage of deployment either.

Not to mention last I checked, iTunes was not the only software that supported syncing it's media library to some devices.

 

[LagunaSol]

HTC is advertising the fact that the phone can be customized for what you want it to do and be.

99% of the consumer population probably couldn't care less about customizing their phones aside from the ringtones and cases they put on them.

Droid is targeting another part of the the market. The differnt form factors helps because I know a lot of people who hate touch screen only keyboards. They want a slider design.

They're not going to like the crap keyboard on the Droid.

Apple is a one size fits all approach to everything.

There are 100,000 third-party apps that disagree with your assessment.

I guess in a way Google are trying to fix that by selling "google experience" phones on http://www.google.com/phone

I don't think a single storefront solves the problem that dozens of disparate devices brings.

On the topic of that, I used Windows Media Player 11 to rip/sync my music to my Archos. BIG ERROR ON MY PART.

Windows Media Player. *snicker*

Where I disagree with you is your apparent insistence that for Android (Google/HTC/Verizon/Whoever) to be a success it must have the largest percentage of deployment of any handset or OS. That's just not the case.

I've never argued that Android won't be successful. I think it will be. But I don't think it will be the iPhone destroyer the Death To Apple! crowd hopes it will be.

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 1.5; en-us; Archos5 Build/CUPCAKE) AppleWebKit/528.5+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.2 Mobile Safari/525.20.1)

@LagunaSol: Ballmer wearing speedo's? Does such a thing exist?

(I may regret that question)

 

[LagunaSol]

@LagunaSol: Ballmer wearing speedo's? Does such a thing exist?

I think it's AidenShaw's desktop wallpaper.

Back to Google, is the day coming where people start to question the value of free? I've always loved Google, but I have to say their stranglehold on the Web is really starting to worry me.

Perhaps the backlash is already beginning? (NSFW for language and animated crudity)

Oh, and it looks like the hardware v. software customer runaround has already begun:

Google faces deluge of Nexus One complaints

"Many people are also turning to T-Mobile and HTC, but getting little help there. T-Mobile is often referring people back to either Google or HTC for answers to questions. HTC is often referring people back to T-Mobile, according to complaints online."

http://www.macworld.com/article/145590/2010/01/nexusone_complaints.html?lsrc=rss_main

 

[distortedloop]

I've never argued that Android won't be successful. I think it will be. But I don't think it will be the iPhone destroyer the Death To Apple! crowd hopes it will be.

Well, okay, I agree with that!

I think it's AidenShaw's desktop wallpaper.

Back to Google, is the day coming where people start to question the value of free? I've always loved Google, but I have to say their stranglehold on the Web is really starting to worry me.

Perhaps the backlash is already beginning? (NSFW for language and animated crudity)

AMEN TO THAT! I've posted more than a few times just in this thread that I don't trust Google, I think they're far too intwined into our personal & private data, and that using a "Google phone" just increases the number of tendrils they already have into our privacy. It's absolutely terrifying on some levels (of my paranoia). This is the number one, and largest reason I keep canceling my cart on the checkout page of ordering a Nexus One for a 30 day test drive.

That said, a lot of smart people don't seem to think that it's an issue - and the best argument I've heard for why it isn't is from Eric Schmidt himself on CNBC's Inside the Mind of Google program (I'm paraphrasing): "if Google ever betrays the trust people are placing in them, word will get out, and all their customers will leave them."

That's an excellent point, but it doesn't mean that they won't ever betray that trust, or worse, that they won't get hacked by some untrustworthy party, or that they won't be subject to subpoena of information about you. Personally, I am really conflicted about the company and all it's products.

Not to mention that most of Google's products, aside from search, really aren't all that great - most are buggy or beta-ish feeling. I wonder how much of the Android OS feels the same.

 

[distortedloop]

I

Perhaps the backlash is already beginning? (NSFW for language and animated crudity)
/QUOTE]

OMG! That is too funny, and too true! Thanks so much for sharing that link.

 

[LagunaSol]

That's an excellent point, but it doesn't mean that they won't ever betray that trust, or worse, that they won't get hacked by some untrustworthy party, or that they won't be subject to subpoena of information about you. Personally, I am really conflicted about the company and all it's products.

I'm not as worried about a blatant betrayal as I am about them being able to leverage this information to wrest control of any information or media-related product they want. They'll smile and pat you on the back and tell you it's all part of "free and open information," but at some point they're going to start acting like Microsoft and start bulldozing anyone who obstructs their business.

Not to mention that most of Google's products, aside from search, really aren't all that great - most are buggy or beta-ish feeling. I wonder how much of the Android OS feels the same.

Indeed. I find their software in general to be extremely amateurish and raw. They aren't great consumer software designers by any means. Even Microsoft makes better "feeling" software than Google.