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With all the talk, the leaking, the excitement, the hands-on reviews and being kept in the dark for so long, the long awaited and most anticipated android has finally arrived. Today Google has officially launch the Nexus One Android 2.1 and the guys at Engadget has the Press Conference mapped out minute by minute. The Google Nexus One “Super Phone” is available on T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone.

The Nexus One has a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, compass, GPS, accelerometer, light and proximity sensor, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a multicolored LED under the trackball. There are also two mics onboard, one on the bottom and one on the back, for the purpose of noise cancellation à la Motorola’s CrystalTalk, and the phone is naturally running the brand new Android 2.1. The phone is available today off contract with a T-Mobile compatible radio for $529 unlocked, shipping to the US, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, or with a two year T-Mobile US contract for $179. The phone is also headed to Verizon this Spring, and Vodafone will score the device eventually as well.

Here are some key elements from the event:

• At the event, HTC CEO Peter Chou provided a rundown on the new phone; he notes that HTC has shipped seven Android phones so far. He says Nexus One features a strong industrial design, its uses a 1 GHz Qualcomm (QCOM) Snapdragon processor.
• The phone has 3.75 OLED display, with what another Google product engineer Erick Tseng says offers a rich display. The processor allows a really fast experience. There’s a trackball for navigation, but also serves as notification tool, with LED light under the trackball.
• Includes compass, GPS, accelerometer, also light and proximity sensors. Proximity sensor prevents accidental touches of the keyboard when held up to your ear.
• Takes high res 5 MP images and videos. One click upload to YouTube.
• Stereo Bluetooth support. A new feature for Android on this phone is active noise cancellation.
• You can have custom engraving on the back of the device when you order it.
• The phone runs on Android 2.1, which first shipped on the Droid.
• Some new software innovations. Customization, with many new widgets. Any app developer can build own widgets.
• “Live wallpaper,” with moving images. The wallpaper is not only moving, but interactive. (Tap image of water, and make it rain.) Another example is a waveform image that turns into equalizer when you play music.
• Media: the platform has new 3D capability. Pushing 3D capabilities. Can scroll lists of apps up and down, like the opening screen of Star Wars. Another use of 3D is with Gallery application for viewing photos and videos. Worked with Cool Iris on photo visualization. If you tip the phone, the accelerometer creates a “tipping” effect for the images. Also application automatically clusters photos based on time, date and location. Can also do background sync with Picsasa web browser.
• Voice recognition. Demo was “get me directions to Ikea,” and using GPS brings back turn-by-turn directions to the nearest location. Even better, every text field is voice enabled. So can create emails with voice recognition, say, or tweets. Or blog posts.
• Special surprise: sneak preview of app coming soon, but not available yet. Google Earth for Android. Can zoom in, pan around. Can do “bird’s eye view” and fly through a location. The demo involved flying through the mountains in the North Bay.) Taking 3D platform to the next level. Voice in Google Earth mode: say “Mount Fuji,” and flies you to Mount Fuji.
  * New way to purchase the phone: through Google-hosted web store. Efficient way to connect online users to select Android devices. Objective is simplicity. Simple purchasing process, and simple offering of plans from operators. Through store, can buy phone with or without service. With service, the price is discounted, and comparable to other high end smart phones. At launch, www.google.com/phone, can purchase Nexus One with service from T-Mobile. They expect to add more operators, and more devices, including from Motorola and others, as well as more countries.
• The store should be live right about now.
• Another surprise: Verizon in U.S. and Vodafone are joining the program.
• $529 with no carrier. $179 with TMobile. Verizon and Vodaone plans coming in the spring. You need Google.com account; check out of the store is through Google Checkout. (Natch.) On check out, can provide two lines of engraving.
• Shipping in 3 test markets: U.K., Singapore, Hong Kong, in addition to U.S.