Google's new phone: Murderous?

Google's new Nexus One phone — which finally hit stores this week — has generated intense media speculation, much of it focused on whether the device will inflict fatal metaphorical violence upon Apple's iconic iPhone. Here, a brief sampling of the media's obsessive use of the "iPhone killer" meme.

• The basic question: "Is Google unveiling an 'iPhone Killer?'" (CNN)

• Or to put it another way: "Google's Nexus One an iPhone Killer?" (CBS News)

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• Apparently, yes: "Google unleashes an 'iPhone killer.'" (Palmetto Scoop)

• Apparently, no: "Nexus One is no iPhone Killer." (USA Today)

• Especially not as far as "folks" are concerned: "This ain't no iPhone killer, folks." (Motley Fool)

• Or people who enjoy awkward sentence structure: "What this is isn't the iPhone Killer." (Inquisitr)

• But Nexus One does come very close: "If there was ever something that could be labeled 'an iPhone killer,' this is probably the closest we've seen of it." (ZDNet)

• And, in some ways, merely announcing that your phone will slaughter the competition is flattering: "Google, who announced their Nexus One iPhone killer yesterday, is sitting pretty." (IT World)

• Still, whatever consumers think, some insiders will never be convinced: "Many industry watchers do not think the Nexus One is an iPhone killer." (BBC News)

• Especially since the idea of an "iPhone killer" is, conclusively, unthinkable: "There is no iPhone killer." (Apple Gazette)

• And, arguably, creepy: "I don't want the Nexus One to be an iPhone killer...or any kind of killer." (Discovery News)

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SEE MORE OF THE WEEK'S GOOGLE PHONE COVERAGE:

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• Will the Google phone 'change everything'?

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• iPhone vs. Droid: Apple fights back

• Will the Droid be an iPhone killer? (a.k.a. "Droid vs. iPhone")