Best of Android at CES

Google and HTC stole everyone's thunder at CES 2010 with the debut of the Nexus One. The much-hyped Google phone, made in partnership with Taiwan's HTC, will apparently 'revolutionise' the way Americans buy a handset. Revolutionary because Google is selling the phone directly online and SIM-free.

However, at the moment, the GSM phone only works on two US networks - AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon Wireless plans to carry the phone sometime in the Spring. But Google is heavily investing in the mobile industry, not only to broaden the reach of its mobile operating systems but to profit off mobile search and services. In fact, the Head of Android Partnerships at Google, Tom Moss even admits to TelecomTV - its all about ad-spend. Watch the interview here.

The Nexus One features a 3.7" touchscreen and runs on Eclair OS version 2.1 - the latest Android software. Similar to the Acer Liquid and Sony Ericsson X10, the phone is powered by Qualcomm's super-fast Snapdragon 1 GHz core processor. There's also a new dictation-to text-feature - although it didn't work well when I tried it (they seldom do... Ed). But, I was in a crowded and noisy conference room.

Ailing handset vendor Sony Ericsson also showed off its first Android phone, the Xperia X10 at CES. The new flagship device boasts a large 4.1 inch touchscreen and runs on Android Donut, version 1.6. The X10 features a new user experience platform built on top of the open OS called Timescape and Mediascape, which essentially organises everything in the phone in an intuitive way.

The phone (finally) comes equipped with a 3.5 mm audio jack and a mini USB charger - a nice change from its propriety connectors that ship with all of its other devices. There was also rumours that Sony Ericsson has an X10 mini coming out soon, allegedly called "Robyn," but the joint venture wouldn't comment on that speculation.

Also making its debut at the show was Motorola's third and latest Android phone - the BackFlip. The phone features a 3.1-inch touchscreen and comes with MotoBlur, Motorola's new software that integrates all your social networking sites. The phone is called BackFlip because the keyboard can be folded back behind the screen.

 

Another interesting form factor is is a rear touch-pad called, 'Backtrack' that lets you navigate the screen from the back. Not to mention that reverse flip design also puts the phone into tabletop mode making it a hands free video player. The phone is available globally from Q1.