As a frequent opinionator on all things mobile, in this blog and the pages of The National, it is my duty to the reading public to declare my long, beautiful relationship with the iPhone has come to an end. You taught me about the mobile internet, iPhone, and for that I will never forget you. But we've both changed, and it is time to go our separate ways.
The custom engraving, one of the coolest things about Google's online store for the Nexus One, comes from a line originally said by a Welsh coal miner to his brother, in explaining why he was giving up the simple life in Wales to travel to Spain and join the fight against fascism. It was popularised by the wonderful Manic Street Preachers reflection on resisting tyranny - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next.
First reflections on 24 hours of Nexus One use? The screen is easily the best I have ever seen, and makes the iPhone look awful when placed side-by-side. Ridiculously quick browser and generally just quick all over. Some funky - and quite geeky - software touches (Google Goggles is the coolest mobile app since Shazam).
On the downside, the keyboard isn't a scratch on the iPhone, and the hardware has some weird kinks. The little row of virtual buttons along the bottom just doesn't work properly, and it's hard to imagine how Google could not have noticed this during testing. And the weird trackball at the bottom is completely useless - as in, there is no conceivable reason for ever using it. It has one possible use - to wake the phone up when the screen is sleeping, as the iPhone's one button does - and for some unfathomable reason, it doesn't do that.
Regardless, sometimes in the great fight against evil, men must make unfortunate alliances. The anti-fascist resistance in Spain was allied with Soviet communism, and the Nexus One is firmly allied with a Google-centric worldview that could become every bit as bad as Apple. But for now, it feels good to be here.
Hi Khaled - it's not actually available in the Middle East yet. I bought it unlocked from the online Nexus One store in the US and had it shipped here with Aramex shop and ship. Altogether, including the taxes, shop and ship fees, etc, it cost Dh2500. You can get them with next day delivery in the UAE on Nahel.com - last I saw, they were charging about Dh3200.
I just put my regular SIM card on it - it has a 1 gig data plan, which I hope will be enough. Could be a bit sketchy though - with a few apps installed, it seems to be going through about a megabyte an hour just sitting there doing nothing. We'll see.
The Droid, or Milestone might actually make a better business phone and these are already available (at e.g. Carrefour) for around Dhs 2700.
To reiterate Tom's point, open standards are definitely the way of the future, especially countries such as the UAE which have ambitious plans for the education of their citizens. Mobile-based learning is no longer in its infancy and the threshold for establishing a sustainable, bi-lingual program can be very low, both in terms of cost and technical expertise.
Let's hope we see lots more of these around the UAE before too long.
Google’s inability to provide appropriate Customer Service and resolve significant Nexus One issues are the real culprits here: 3G connection, screen calibration, inability to view screen in sunlight, dropped calls, etc.. Can’t help but wonder if Google is preparing to offload all the Nexus One inventory to the carriers who will be stuck trying to service phones with fatal flaws. Don’t waste your money!
A journey into technology in the Middle East. If it beeps, buzzes, shines or glows, you'll read about it here on Beep Beep. Read more
Send your tips to beepbeep@thenational.ae
Tom, can you tell us which operator/ package you've gone for? just curious. Want to get rid of my trusted bberry, but need a viable alternative.
thanks.
Hi Khaled - it's not actually available in the Middle East yet. I bought it unlocked from the online Nexus One store in the US and had it shipped here with Aramex shop and ship. Altogether, including the taxes, shop and ship fees, etc, it cost Dh2500. You can get them with next day delivery in the UAE on Nahel.com - last I saw, they were charging about Dh3200.
I just put my regular SIM card on it - it has a 1 gig data plan, which I hope will be enough. Could be a bit sketchy though - with a few apps installed, it seems to be going through about a megabyte an hour just sitting there doing nothing. We'll see.
The Droid, or Milestone might actually make a better business phone and these are already available (at e.g. Carrefour) for around Dhs 2700.
To reiterate Tom's point, open standards are definitely the way of the future, especially countries such as the UAE which have ambitious plans for the education of their citizens. Mobile-based learning is no longer in its infancy and the threshold for establishing a sustainable, bi-lingual program can be very low, both in terms of cost and technical expertise.
Let's hope we see lots more of these around the UAE before too long.
I'm a big fan of Google products. Love the custom engraving, too funny!
Google’s inability to provide appropriate Customer Service and resolve significant Nexus One issues are the real culprits here: 3G connection, screen calibration, inability to view screen in sunlight, dropped calls, etc.. Can’t help but wonder if Google is preparing to offload all the Nexus One inventory to the carriers who will be stuck trying to service phones with fatal flaws. Don’t waste your money!