Product: Google Nexus One phone, built by HTC

Features: Runs on Android 2.1. Touch screen phone with clickable trackball and softkeys for Back, Home, Menu and Search. Has 5-megapixel camera with flash and 2X digital zoom, video captured at 720x480 pixels. Comes with 4-GB micro SD card (but expandable to 32 GB).

Price: $529 without service, $179 with T-Mobile plan

Ups: Has a great interface and smooth touch response. Cool built-in features, like the ability to show scrolling local headlines and weather on the main page. You can integrate all sorts of Google applications, even Google Chat and Google Voice. Camera is great and has several settings options (like turning the flash on or off). Unlike the iPhone, it has a removable battery.

Downs: The touch-screen keyboard is average. It flips horizontally, but only when tilted to the left side, which can get tiresome fast.

Bottom line: If you're looking for something very similar to the iPhone, but you don't care about iTunes or being on AT&T, then you'll really like the Nexus One. It currently offers a plan for T-Mobile, but it will be available with Verizon service in the spring.