Tech and Gizmo dot Com

As per the latest report by Flurry, a software company that makes application tracking software, Google has just managed to sell 20000 Nexus One phones, a far cry from the sales registered by other smartphones in the market.

The Motorola Droid, launched November last year had sold 250,000 units and T-Mobile My Touch, released in August, recorded 60,000 units sold in the first week.

Further, iPhone 3GS launched in June in eight countries had registered staggering 1.6 million as sales.

have not seen or heard any projections for how many Nexus One handsets Google planned on selling, but I imagine that it expected higher than the reported 20,000. Apple set the bar pretty high, selling 1.6 million iPhone’s in the week following its launch, but the Droid sold more than 12 times the Nexus One, and even the MyTouch 3G pushed out 60,000 in the first week.

Granted, while Verizon invested millions marketing the Droid and generating buzz prior to its launch, Google actually did the exact opposite–trying to work in stealth and keep the existence of the Nexus One and specific details of the device secret. Still, I think Google would be lying if it didn’t admit that 20,000 is a disappointing start.

Network Issues

As soon as users began to receive their Nexus One handsets, complaints of flaky or non-existent 3G connectivity began to mount. There is room for finger-pointing, and it can be debated whether those issues are a function of the handset–which is made by HTC, or the network–which is managed by T-Mobile.

The bottom line, though, is that it is Google’s phone. Google chose to develop a branded Android smartphone, and regardless of whether issues lie with the hardware or the network, the buck ultimately stops at Google.

Marketing aside, part of the reason that the Droid is more successful is the choice of provider. Motorola partnered with Verizon–the largest wireless provider in the United States, while Google chose to hitch its wagon to T-Mobile.

If you want to revolutionize smartphones–or even rebrand them as “superphones”–the obvious choice is to go with the last place wireless provider. Verizon has the largest 3G network. AT&T claims the fastest 3G network. Sprint markets its 3G network as the most dependable. What is T-Mobile’s network claim to fame? Smallest?

Google’s decision to launch its revolution by partnering with T-Mobile shows shockingly poor judgment. Perhaps T-Mobile is easier to push around and more willing to give Google the types of concessions it was seeking?

Motorola-A555

As for what the Motorola Calgary might deliver to users when launched, the previously leaked specs showed a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 3.5mm headset jack, built-in GPS receiver, 3-megapixel photo snapper, Wi-Fi connectivity, microSD memory card slot for additional storage space, touch-sensitive Android keys on the screen and an optical joystick for navigation. Since it will sport Android, Calgary might also come with the MOTOBLUR UI, though no details on it surfaced.

Intel's Atom N450 and 1.86GHz N470

The new Atom N450 is due out on January 3, 2010, just days away from the debut of the upcoming CES 2010 consumer electronics show, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The new solution packs the CPU core, memory controller and graphics on the same chip, enabling PC vendors to create new netbooks with lower power requirements. The processor will be clocked at 1.66GHz, the same as the current N280 model, but will provide a slight boost in performance, compared to the original Atom N270 available on the majority of today’s netbooks. The N470, featuring a core speed of 1.86GHz and said to be scheduled for release sometime in March. Also designed for netbook systems, the new Atom N470 will sport the same 512KB cache size and will fit the same FCBGA8 socket. Intel also aims to provide its customers with an updated line of nettop or desktop Atom processors, including a new dual-core and single-core model, due out in the first days of January, the report claims. the new N450 is expected to become available for US$64 at launch, a US$20 increase over the current N270. The N470 will be available for a slightly increased price tag of US$75 when it will come out in March.

HP-Envy-15

One of HP’s latest products, a laptop that has been designed to provide users with the performance specifications of HP’s latest Envy 15 notebook, but with the audio quality associated with the latest Beats products, users will be able to choose an HP Envy 15 Beats limited edition notebook that will come with the integrated Beats Audio. “When Dre and I got together on Beats, it was about an idea which was to improve the transmission of sound between the record makers and the consumers,” said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records and Beats co-founder. “We realized that with the digital revolution, what went terribly wrong was the degradation of sound, which is the heartbeat of music. We found that most PCs downgrade sound to unacceptable levels and when you reduce it further to a limited platform, like an mp3, the music doesn’t stand a chance. If music is an emotion, if it sounds better, then the emotion is better. With HP, we found a partner willing to take the steps to improve the overall sound in the PC and to bring it up to the level that musicians hear in the studio.” Rated at US$2,299, and is due out following October 22, after the launch of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system.

UL-Series-UL30-UL50AG-and-UL50VG-Laptops

The Asus company has announced the launch of its UnLimited Series (UL) of notebooks in the UK. The ultraportable 13.3-inch UL30 model, users will be able to take advantage of Intel’s CULV platform inside a lightweight design that offers a range of features, including the much-anticipated Windows 7 operating system. In addition, all three notebooks, including the 15.6-inch UL50AG and UL50VG, have been featured with a brushed aluminum chassis and Altec Lansing speakers. The three include a multitouch trackpad, webcam and up to 500GB of storage space. In addition, according to ASUS, with the company’s own Power4Gear technology, which is designed to provide users with a longer battery life by going through four power profiles, including high-performance, entertainment, “quiet office” and battery saving, the systems will enable users to take advantage of up to 12 hours of battery life. It will available in October 22 and costs for £599 inc. VAT, £699 inc. VAT and £799 for the UL30, UL50AG and the UL50VG, respectively.

Billionair-7-Smartphone

Kempler & Strauss announced the launch of its Billionair 7. The Billionair 7 features the best user interfaces of the most popular business and consumer smartphone platforms to deliver to the market the first (or so they say) GSM quad-band 3.5G phone based on the Microsoft Windows Mobile Platform. The gadget offers users both a frameless touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard, making a unique combination that allows them to quickly and easily access applications via the touchscreen, while also enabling them to rapidly compose and reply to e-mail and text via the hard QWERTY keyboard. the Billionair 7 runs on a 624Mhz CPU as to support advanced applications and multi-tasking, boasting two cameras, as for connectivity coming fully packed, from integrated HSDPA, 802.11g Wi-Fi support to the EDGE support. The 2.5-inch TFT touchscreen displays QVGA resolution of 240 x 320 and reveals 65,000 colors. With a 3-megapixel camera and multimedia capabilities, the Billionair 7 stores files on a micro SD memory card, supporting up to 8GB.

HTC HD2

HTC Corporation officially announced on Tuesday the launch on the market of HTC HD2, a high-end device that comes powered by Microsoft’s newly released Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. The 4.3-inch capacitive touch display and the ultra thin design are there, and the same applies to Qualcomm’s new 1Ghz Snapdragon mobile processor, which should deliver enough power for a great experience. The phone comes with a virtual QWERTY keyboard, which should work great on its large touchscreen display, and also offers fast viewing, zooming and resizing when it comes to websites, Microsoft Office files, PDF documents and pictures. The HTC Sense, based on three principles, Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected, is meant to enable phones to work in a simpler, more natural and personal way. At HTC we believe that the best things in life should be experienced, not explained. HTC Sense is based on this principle by making the phone more simple and natural to use and by enabling people to personalize their mobile experience in their own unique way,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “With HTC Sense, the HTC HD2 melds the power and flexibility of the Windows platform with the most advanced phone we’ve ever created.”