we are: London

I have been living with the Nexus One for about a week now after my jump from my poor old dumbphone. So what’s it like? How has a smartphone changed my life?

Techno geek

I may have only just jumped into the world of smartphones but when it comes to technology I’m a bit of geek. I love it and look for any opportunity to embrace it. The Nexus One has made some significant changes to my life over the past week. Firstly I never get lost. A quick search for a bar or restaurant and a quick check of Google maps always sets me on the right path when meeting friends. It has also helped me to embrace the use of social media far more than before. Being able to keep in touch with friends, share interesting usablity articles on twitter and also find alsorts of useful information while on the go mean the social connections become far more integrated within my life. The last big point is learning through experience and exposure. I believe the more interfaces and the more websites I experience and use the more I develop as an information architect. The Nexus one has not only exposed me to countless apps and mobile sites it also gives me the chance to explore interfaces even when I am out and about.

Thumbs up? Thumbs down?

The leap from dumbphone to the mighty Nexus definetely gets the thumbs up from me.

Mobile Facebook, Internet, Mobile, social networking, Twitter, usability

Having just been presented with a brand spanking new Google Nexus One I am beginning a series of blogs about all things Nexus One and Andriod.

Unboxing

As a great lover of Apple products I believe the experience starts with the packaging. So what was it like with the Nexus? The whole thing felt very Apple. A clean white box with just a hint of the Google brand colours. The packing felt like it belonged with a high end product and that is exactly what it contained. The only draw back of shipping a phone across for the US is the need to buy an extra charger for the UK sockets.

The device

The Nexus One is a sexy piece of kit. The phone feels solid and screams quality. I was impressed at how thin and streamlined the phone looked. The touchscreen is crisp, sharp and responsive. The interface runs smooth and fast. This is a definite iPhone rival.

The set-up

Setting up the device was painless. As you would expect it is integrates well with your google accounts and I had my email, twitter, facebook and various other accounts running in no time. Some nice interface touches such as the “See password” function (makes passwords visible not disguised) definetely help when setting up accounts on a touchscreen.

Watch this space

So keep your eyes on this space for more Nexusness and Andriod mania.

Mobile Design, Google, Mobile

“Wake up, time to die.”

Bladerunner is possibly one of the best films ever made and all of the companies whose neon signs float in the sky during the film have gone bust, or be taken over. Not a good omen for a phone named after one of the main characters.

Is it any good?

And what’s it really like to use one in anger every day? Well I’ve handed over my iPhone to the wife after loving the Apple for 3 years. For the record I usually struggle to keep a phone for more than 6 months.

And the answer is yes, it’s good, in fact it’s really very good.

I had high hopes for other HTC phones and desperately wanted the Palm thingy to be good, but they were all pants compared to the Apple.

What’s hot!

The screen is sharp and clear and the phone is easy to navigate. Setting up email is easy, the app store is much better than I expected; forget Unix geek, think Apple chic.

Email works offline for reading and deleting, unlike the iPhone. Email, address book and social media stuff rocks. I love the widgets for news, twitter and facebook that live on the home screen.

The voice dial and dictate email is not bad either, a long way to go but it’s tempting to start everything by speaking and not navigating.

Oh and it lets you play Spotify in the background which is now the only source of music I have .

What’s not!

The only real hardware bug is the use of the back, menu, home and search  buttons printed on the bottom of the screen. Why bother? you click them by mistake and it’s a real pain.

Software bugs are wider, but with time they will get sorted and remember that Apple have had 3 years to sort out the iPhone.

1. Why does the calendar not sync with MS Exchange when mail and contacts do?

2. The screen redraw speed is slow compared to Apple, but not bad.

3. Cut & paste is not anywhere near as neat or intuitive.

Should I buy one?

Yes - not sure why but yes get one.

Time will tell.

Now that I have committed to use it for work and home life I have no choice but to get on with it, warts and all, and I guess learn to fix the issues and watch as new software updates bring all of my life, blogs, tweets, photos, music, friends, work and life together.

Or I might buy the Apple tablet, nick my iPhone back and delete this post.

Mobile, interface design, user interface Design, future, Mobile, usability