I was looking to buy the Acer liquid as a Christmas present for myself - but it only launched mid December and I wasn't prepared to fork out £350 on a new model without any proper reviews.
T Mobile came to the rescue when they knocked 33% of all payg phones for a day in mid December.
Bought myself one of these for £100 to try out an Android phone.

T-Mobile Pulse review, buy link + in-box DVD download - Android @ MoDaCo

Two weeks in and I've unlocked it, installed a custom ROM and now got all the widgets and tools I'll ever need.

See some of the screenshots in this thread

Home Screenshots! - Android @ MoDaCo

Very impressed for a phone that cost £100. Camera is apparently poor indoors but that's a small price to play for a toy like this.

Looking forward to Android V2.0 and the free Google satnav.

 

google sat nav is already possible in the UK with out a hacked rom, i will post the link when I find it

 

I thought it had been locked down again?

I remember reading something about google taking action on one of the blogs.
I think official droid 2.1 is due on the Hero any day now, and is supposed to include the new google nav setup.

 

...because (1) I hate iTunes.... and (2) I won't be paying for a replacement MP3 player.... so it has to be an MP3 player

 

working again but with reduced functions [Think Tank #2 - SOLVED] Modifying Maps to enable Navigation outside USA - xda-developers

 

Finally made a decision and ordered it. Watch this space for a hands-on review....

 

 

Read reports this morning that its suffering from 3G selection issues and Google support is far from brilliant. For those who have bought the handset unlocked, email support only

T-Mobile quoted as saying Google havent issued them with any support docs.

Is this Googles first direct sales attempt?

 

Yes and to a certain extent I think that Google are expecting people who are relatively technically aware to buy the phone and not need much support in the initial stages.

It may get a shock as some as the (okay, older) people who I know that have bought the iPhone I have to get going. One couldn't even get past the 'plug it in to the PC' and download iTunes stages.

Welcome to a world of dealing with the challenged Google...

Steve

 

Not really the peoples fault to be fair. If Google have assumed that then they really have made a massive error.

 

I said on another forum about this - Google are going to have a STEEP learning curve.

1. they've bought out software (and as a first attempt, very good - I really like Android, but it's not there yet imho)
2. They bring out hardware - you could argue that it's just HTC stuff, but we'll side-step that issue
3. They are trying to bring the two together..... hmmm not quite yet, me thinks.

It could be very good, but not yet. OK, a good camera, but no multi-touch?

Then the customer service issue - I really hope this works for Google, and as an iphone user, I really mean that.

DAn

 

They actuallty released it without multi-touch?

 

Apparently, rumour has it - that like the Motorola Droid - multitouch DOESNT feature on the US versions, but DOES feature on the European version...

If anyone (Luther999?) has ordered a Nexus now, they'll get a US version - best to wait for the Vodafone / EU version as, chances are, it'll include multitouch.

Quite why Android phones don't appear to support multitouch for the US market is unknown - and Google wouldn't be drawn on it during the Nexus launch...

Wait and see what the EU version brings, when it's officially available "Spring 2010"

DN

 

So no edge compatability for the google phone.... nice move considering 4g is going to be based on that

Looks to be a competetor but I doubt it will be, has a better screen and quicker processor, thats about it, everything else you can Apps for Apple.

Tony

 

Had a few lookseyz aboutz on the net and most people seam to be saying save your cash and get a Hero if you want android, or get an iphone if you dont.

Simples.

 

They statistically have much fatter fingers
So maybe its a wasted feature in the US

 

Multitouch as I understand is a software issue. The capacitive screen on the N1 IS capable, its just that native google products do not 'yet' support it.

Also, from my understanding (and a little research) I believe the situation with Motorola's Droid/Milestone is a little different in that the hardware is physically different.

Droid is CDMA while Milestone is GSM.

"Droid is a trademark licensed by Verizon so it will not be used anywhere else. Milestone is the generic name for the same phone everywhere else.Even if Motorola launches droid equivalent on CDMA network somewhere else, there is very little chance it would be called droid since the name is licensed by Verizon."

The original Droid was released on the US CDMA network which physically does not work with our GSM structure, hence the universal Milestone was effectively a different phone.

Also, I'm of the understanding that there will only be one version of the Nexus One.... which is the one that's already been released. This is why you can't currently buy it in the US for the Verizon network (CDMA) which has caused issues as it's one of the big players.

Vodafone UK have said that they plan to sell the phone on their network but this will still be sold via the google.com website directly and supported by Google/HTC.

If Voda are anything like they've previously been then it will be an iPhone-like package so 18/24 month contract paying at least £30/40 a month. To me... it just seems cheaper in the long run to buy it sim-free and throw in an O2 simplicity chip at £18 a month.

Of course I could be completely wrong but the limited information being leaked by the networks and google made me take this route.

Incidentally, as new as the Android system is... I've never had to seek support for my old T-Mobile G1 as any issues are usually posted up on numerous forums. I only hope I'm as lucky with my N1.

 

The only other point to note is that google plan to open up a google.co.uk/phone portal which seems to suggest that stock would eventually be sold from a UK site (saving on import costs). Not known when at this stage so that might effectively be the European launch as suggested above.

 

Asked a UK user on another forum for his hands-on experience. I'm assured that the 3G 'issue' doesn't seem apparent in the UK.

Link if interested...

Google Nexus One - Talk3G Mobile Phone Forums - Help, discussion, news and reviews

 

Its an interesting issue the fact that there are several markets that are not all GSM, Japan for instance isnt, its a mixture in the states, europe is ok so there should be several different versions (well if they want a market that is ) though CDMA is actually incorporated into GSM (along with TDM, WCDMA etc), it will be interesting to see this phone develope.

Tony

 

People always moan about Apple being too restrictive, well I'll take the restrictions over the chance of this happening.

Rogue phishing app smuggled onto Android Marketplace ? The Register

 

I have to say, i have been a bit warey of some apps so far, i was looking at some x360 ones that are supposed to let you see when your friends are online and such, just add your details here sir, no problems at all.

Also saw some others that i would not touch with a barge pole.

 

Nice to see it was removed quite quickly, the apple Iphone has suffered a lot over the last few years with security problems?

This one sounded quite bad Apple Patches iPhone SMS Security Hole With Software Update | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

I don't think I would be putting my banking details in to a third party app, hopefully common sense will prevail!

 

I'm pretty sure that SMS attack affected Android as well and took a bit more effort than writing a silly app and uploading it. Other than that everything is good in the iPhone hood.

I use the Natwest iPhone application and very handy it is too.

 

The only attack to the iPhone i had any knowledge of was only handsets that had been Jailbroken. But good to know they fixed the fault swiftly.