First Impressions: Nexus One

Google’s latest attempt to take over the world is the Nexus One ‘Superphone’ – a Touch Screen smartphone made by HTC. It’s probably the worst kept secret of 2010 so far (with the rumoured Apple Tablet not far behind), but with so much hype surrounding the Nexus One, I was first in the queue to have a play with one when it arrived in our offices on launch day.

I only got to use the phone for a relatively short period of time, but I was quite impressed. I’ve been an iPhone fan since they launched back in 2007, and if I wasn’t tied into contract on my current phone I’d certainly be tempted. The Nexus One looks great and actually makes the iPhone look quite dated now. It’s a similar size and weight, but has a larger, brighter screen and the latest version of the Android operating system makes using it a pleasant experience.

In terms of size, the Nexus One is about the same size as the Samsung Omnia 2 and weighs about the same as an iPhone. The menu is quick and intuitive, but considering it’s a ‘superphone’ it has a disappointing amount of storage onboard – just 512MB so you’ll need a memory card. The Nexus One uses the now standard Micro USB connection, so finding chargers or data cables will be easy enough.

Another interesting addition to the Nexus One is the inclusion of the Amazon MP3 Store. Previously only available in America, the Amazon MP3 store is a quick and easy way to download music directly onto your phone.

Feature-wise, it’s not as fully loaded as the HTC HD2, but if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, it’s a great phone. It’s certainly going to give Apple a run for their money, but with a new iPhone rumoured to be on it’s way, its going to be interesting to see what changes Apple make in response to the competition.

The Nexus One is available primarily in the USA at the moment – if you live in the UK you’ll need to wait for the Nexus One to make itsway to Vodafone later this year or buy one sim free and have it shipped over from the States.

If you are taking the plunge and opting for the sim free version you’ll probably be on the look out for some accessories to keep it safe and to make the most of it. As with all new handsets that are released, the range of Nexus One accessories available at the moment is quite small, but we’ve been working hard with our suppliers to make sure that there are accessories available for it from day 1.

To get started though, here are 5 of our must have Nexus One accessories:

1. Sena Ultra Slim Pouch For Nexus One

The Nexus One is a neat, slim phone. If you want to keep it protected against knocks and scrapes but don’t want the phone to become too bulky, then a Sena case could be just what you need. It’s a slim pocket case made from Soft Napa Leather. It has a soft velvet lining that cleans your phone every time you insert it or remove it from the case.

2. InvisibleSHIELD Full Body Protector – Nexus One

If you don’t like the idea of a case on your phone then you should consider an InvisibleSHIELD. These are one of our most popular styles of protective skin for touchscreen phones. InvisibleSHIELD Full Body Protectors are a thin, tough adhesive film that covers just about all of your Nexus One. The film is incredibly tough and can withstand even the toughest of scrapes. They can be removed quickly and easily and leave no mess behind.

3. Nexus One 16GB Micro SD HC Memory Card

As I mentioned earlier, the amount of storage space in the Nexus One is poor. 512MB won’t hold much. This 16 GB Memory card will let you store up to store up to 14000 high quality photos, 3000 songs and 18 hours of video. Memory Cards are currently available in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB sizes, with a 32GB card expected in a few months time. The Nexus One supports up to 32GB Micro SDHC Cards.

4. Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones for Nexus One

My favourite set of Bluetooth Headphones. The Jabra Halo allows you to enjoy your music without the tangled mess of cables. Just pair them to your Nexus One and enjoy high quailty music over a bluetooth connection. The Halo has touch sensitive controls on the earpiece that allow you to play/pause, skip/rewind and adjust the volume of your music without having to touch your phone. You can read more about the Jabra Halo in my Jabra Halo Hands on Review.

5. Nexus One Car Charger

I’ve yet to find a smart phone that has really good battery life, and with the Nexus One being so much more than just a phone, you’re going to find yourself running out of power quite often. If you’re using it in the car for Navigation or Music, then a Car Charger is the best way to make sure you arrive at your destination with a fully charged battery. The HTC CC200 Car Charger includes a charging cable and a USB charger adapter that can also be used with other USB charging devices such as Bluetooth Headsets and Car Kits.

These should be enough to get you started with the phone, but over the next few weeks we’re expecting loads of great new accessories to become available, including the Nexus One Car Dock and Nexus One Desktop Dock.

As soon as more Nexus One Accessories become available we’ll post them on the blog, so subscribe to the RSS feed to make sure that you don’t miss out on any updates.