September 3, 2007
Google Phone seen by privileged few
The Internet is buzzing about it, but only a privileged few know what it looks like, what it will do, or when it will hit the streets, reports the Boston Globe.
"Google Research Lab Executive Rich Miner has shown the prototype of Google's new mobile phone to a handful of Boston entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, some of whom have signed nondisclosure agreements and some of whom haven't.
"One entrepreneur who has seen the Google phone prototype, but asked not to be named, described it as "simpler" and not as flashy as Apple's iPhone.
He praised the phone's ability to scroll through icons horizontally, making a number of different features easily accessible despite the limited screen space.
Another entrepreneur, who saw a prototype earlier this year, described three-dimensional, animated buttons on the screen. That prototype had a small QWERTY keyboard, like a Treo or a BlackBerry, rather than relying on a touch-screen, as the iPhone does.
"Rich had a prototype with a clear case, so you could see the innards," said the second entrepreneur, who also asked not to be identified. "He was really excited about it."
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