People are underestimating Googles part in this phone, yes its made by Samsung but something Google mentioned off the cusp was that they pick one manufacturers for whatever they are building so they have one solid product for their developers and they invest a huge amount of their skills into that product. Google would have had a big say in the design and everything. Of course its not perfect either but not as bas as people are making out.

On the tablet front i think Google will be key players with Honeycomb coming out in 2011. They held a preview yesterday of it and the video is floating around, very impressive. The manufacturer they chose for that tablet was Motorola.

I guess people wanted a product that Google saw as 100% their dream and idilic phone. A 100% Google phone that put everything Google imagined their handset and platform to be in software and hardware perfectly blended with no 3rd parties.

Instead out came Samsungs 800th handset of the year with "Google" etched into the back case.

This doesn't look very inspiring for a Nexus One successor. I was expecting something spectacular which would make me regret getting a Desire HD. I'm glad I didn't wait now!

Interestingly, there's no real explanation why Google abandoned HTC to hitch up with Samsung this time. Although it looks like a standard smartphone, I'm sure it'll sell well given the Google branding.

The one bizarre drawback though is a lack of an SD card slot. Even very basic mobiles have one of these so the lack of one on the Google S seems quite an omission.

There are a couple of reviews below:
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-pho...view-50001900/
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-...-review-913961

£550 for 16Gb's?

It is basically a Galaxy S with a different (but still plasticky case, a couple of new features (NFC reader, "curved" screen) and stock Android ROM. It remains to be seen whether its bootloader is unlockable/open.

It also remains to be seen whether or not the Nexus S has the same traits and issues that the Galaxy S has, such as in the GPS department (hard/impossible to get a lock).

It's not really an upgrade if you already own a Nexus One. I'd still be tempted to get the former had I not already got one.

You all forget that the Google phone is as much 'concept phone'.

Its just as likely that its only there to create headlines and ideas as a limited edition device.
Is it really in Google's interests to compete with the manufacturers?