We live in gadget heaven and the good folks at Google have just added to our dreams with the launch of the Nexus One.

Now, okay, arguments are going to continue forever which is the more stylish and ‘sexy’ phone, the Nexus One, or the iPhone, but for many people out there, it will come down to functionality and ease of use.

And as we said in an earlier blog, it’s unlikely that the Nexus One will beat the iPhone on the catwalk, but what’s at stake here is being the chosen portal of the mobile internet world. Control the gateway and Google will add another notch on the technological bedpost.

It will of course eventually reach the phone recycling fraternity, but not before its been hammered by those geeks in the industry known as the first adopters.

And the Nexus One will no doubt turn a few heads, even though it’s come from the more robotic HTC design stable.

So what are it’s key features? In the Google PR blurb, the first feature they mention is ‘dynamic noise suppression from Audience Inc.’ Not top of my hit list, but there’s no accounting for taste. Perhaps a little more relevant is that it boasts a large 3.7 inch OLED touchscreen display (800 x 480 pixels) which, says the boys and girls, allows deep contrast and brilliant colours. Okay then.

Although most won’t care about the next bit, it is important for those worried that their phone has the legs: the beast running the machine is a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset which apparently is faster than a Olympic sprinter on banned substances. Software is Eclair (thought that was a creamed bun with a bit of chocolate on top) and it runs the Android 2.1 operating system. I tell you what, the best job at HTC and Google must be coming up with the product names.

The software is fun packed, which means that you can have fun with voice-enabled keyboard (those with a lisp might have more fun than the others) and a 3D photo gallery. So, it follows the recent trend of the phone turning into a big toy.

Given that modern-day smartphones are for those looking for something exciting to play with, the next stats might be superfluous, but you can talk for ten hours on one charge, on the 2G model, and for seven hours on the 3G model. Standby time is an impressive 290 hours of the 2G and 250 hours on the 3G. And for those habitual surfers, you have five hours of fun on the 3G.

There’s 512MB of flash and 512MB RAM (remember when that was impressive for a desktop)? A 4GB Micro SD Card boosts the capacity, which can climb to 32GB.

It not only has GPS, but AGPS (short for Assisted Global Positioning System). If that doesn’t light your fire, what about a digital compass, or an accelerometer, or a five mega pixels camera? Autofocus works from 6 cm to infinity (wow, infinity, where’s that then?).

As to it’s vital statistics, its slightly anorexic at 11.5mm depth, 59.8mm wide and 119mm high. With battery, it weighs in at 130 grams.
If you want one in Europe, better ask your friendly Vodafone.

But will it be our weapon of choice for mobile browsing? You certainly wouldn’t bet against it?

No, not CSI, but CES, the chance for the gadget industry to indulge in some collective showing off.

Called rather boringly the Consumer Electronics Show and lasting for four days (this year 7 to 10 January), it’s a massive expo where the big boys launch their favourite techno toys and desperately try to out do each other in the bragging stakes.

The trend of the mega companies is to almost turn their backs on the show and make their announcements from their own headquarters, just before the start of the show, as if to say that they are well above all that. Apple have done it and this year Google has announced their much-awaited Nexus One from their own base, although you can bet that their executives will be swarming through CES itself. Mindyou, if you are one of the big boys, you can do almost what you like and at least they know where all the techno competitors and media will be at the start of the year, Las Vegas.

The press blurb announces that this year there are a record number of new exhibitors– some 330 – who will join the 2,500 who regularly turn up and shout about their goods. The show itself is the biggest of its kind in the world and regarded as the globe’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.

In short, whatever gadget rings your bell, now, or in the near future, there will be someone showing it off at CES. And with Las Vegas as the appropriate background (a place of fantasies and dreams), there could never be a more appropriate location for an exhibition.

And zonzoo will pick out some of the best stories from CES 2010. Watch this space. We’ll try and select some of the top mobile phone stories.

In the meantime, let’s hear what the president and CEO of CEA (anyone else wondering why everyone seems obsessed with three initials beginning with C?) has to say? By the way, CEA stands for Consumer Electronics Association and CES is their trade show, so there. And CIA stands for Central Intelligence Agency (just thought I’d drop that one in for free).

Gary Shapiro says modestly:
“With a record number of new exhibitors, scores of new product introductions, several new Spotlights on the show floor and a dynamic line-up of keynotes sessions, the 2010 International CES will be our best show yet. More technology deals will be made during the four days of CES than anywhere else on earth. In fact, each CES attendee has an average of 12 meetings while at the show, reinforcing CES as the business hub for technology. Innovation is flourishing within the technology industry and the 2010 CES is the only place to see it all.”

So lets wait and see what CES 2010 brings.

Whether you think Google is the Evil Empire, or are the saviours of the Universe, they are expected to make another technological land grab this week when they go head to head with Apple.

The industry is a buzz with the launch of the Google smart phone Nexus One which will be a direct competitor to the iconic iPhone.

And although it’s easy to think that this is just about securing large revenues going forward, what’s really at stake here is both companies desire to get a lion’s share of the mobile browsing market. Once derided as a gimmick, mobile browsing has become a key digital activity and mobile internet searches are growing at a dramatic rate.

The launch of Nexus One is said to be on Tuesday and it is cannily timed to go live just before the consumer techno shindig which is held every year at Las Vegas. Called the Consumer Electronics Show, it sets the tone for the technology year in terms of what’s going to be the next big thing.

And there are companies queuing up to have a slice of the action enjoyed by Apple. But it’s not only the iPhone which is in sights of Google, the boys from Seattle don’t seem to have the success they would have hoped from Microsoft Windows Mobile and much rides on the latest version, number 7. Although Apple have seen off attacks before, this time it’s not just about cool devices, it’s about winning the hearts of minds of the mobile browsers and the portal they feel most comfortable with. Both Apple and Microsoft must be feeling the hot breath of Google on their necks.

Of course the internet is literally alight with keen anticipation about Nexus One. Google know that if they are to rip the iPhone family from its devoted fans and make a meaningful impact in the mass market, then the Nexus One has got to be the dog’s what-its-names.

So expect a bobby-dazzler, although first reports suggest that despite being slightly thinner than the iPhone, it’s not as ‘sexy.’ It’s built by the reliable HTC team who produce superb handsets, but maybe don’t quite have the flair of the Apple boys and girls. That elusive Apple ingredient which turns their products into design icons and is not easy to emulate, as many have found out to their cost.

The Nexus One is said to run the Android 2.1 operating system which is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU. As with the iPhone, the screen is where everything happens and at 3.7-inches with a 480 x 800 display, it’s up to the task in hand. The on-board camera boasts five megapixels and is supported by a LED flash.

So there we are. Will Nexus One give the iPhone a run for its money? Or to be more precise, who will stand over the gateway of internet browsing and reap the rewards? We’ll have to wait and see!

And how long before the Nexus One is laid bare before the mobile phone recycling companies? Not long.