Here's what I think the Nexus One is all about. The last thing Google wants to do at this point in time is discourage anyone from coming to Android which is what I think would happen if Google entered the market with their own phone like the Nexus One. Obviously it's made by HTC, but like it was said Google dictated every last thing that would make its way to this phone.
A while ago they also said it would be the "true" version of Android. It was be utterly stupid to keep this for themselves and not provide it to other manufacturers like some people have said they plan on doing. What would be the point? They'd lose all the Android partners they've gained so far.
It's much easier to create hype about a phone than it is to create hype about a new OS upgrade, which is why Google has been doing this. It's obviously worked, not only are blogs going nuts about it but mainstream news has picked up on the story as well. I think that the whole point of the Nexus One is to bring attention to the new, improved Android experience of 2.1. It doesn't seem to have many functionality differences between 2.0, but it looks to have been visually upped and now possibly has the GUI to compete with Apple's UI face-to-face. Personally, I've never had a problem with the Android UI but new eye-candy can't hurt to bring new consumers aboard the Android train
Once the phone is released, I think Google will beging upgrading all the old Android phones out there to 2.1. We already heard rumors of the Droid and Eris getting it in January which I hope is true. Rumors are also flying around that the Nexus One will be out on the 15th of January which would fall just a week before the updates for the Verizon Droids, as I hope would happen.
tl;dr: Google has no intentions to make this phone to compete with other OEMS, they're just creating hype for the masses to be exposed to the new visually improved Android. Older handsets will be updated to 2.1 soon after Nexus One.
Obviously, I know none of this for sure I just wanted to share my opinion on what I think/hope will happen and see what others think about it.
A while ago they also said it would be the "true" version of Android. It was be utterly stupid to keep this for themselves and not provide it to other manufacturers like some people have said they plan on doing. What would be the point? They'd lose all the Android partners they've gained so far.
It's much easier to create hype about a phone than it is to create hype about a new OS upgrade, which is why Google has been doing this. It's obviously worked, not only are blogs going nuts about it but mainstream news has picked up on the story as well. I think that the whole point of the Nexus One is to bring attention to the new, improved Android experience of 2.1. It doesn't seem to have many functionality differences between 2.0, but it looks to have been visually upped and now possibly has the GUI to compete with Apple's UI face-to-face. Personally, I've never had a problem with the Android UI but new eye-candy can't hurt to bring new consumers aboard the Android train
Once the phone is released, I think Google will beging upgrading all the old Android phones out there to 2.1. We already heard rumors of the Droid and Eris getting it in January which I hope is true. Rumors are also flying around that the Nexus One will be out on the 15th of January which would fall just a week before the updates for the Verizon Droids, as I hope would happen.
tl;dr: Google has no intentions to make this phone to compete with other OEMS, they're just creating hype for the masses to be exposed to the new visually improved Android. Older handsets will be updated to 2.1 soon after Nexus One.
Obviously, I know none of this for sure I just wanted to share my opinion on what I think/hope will happen and see what others think about it.