Motorola Droid stands in for glamorous photo shoot
What a difference two months make. It was late July when we first saw a render and spy shot of Motorola's "other" Android devices, the Verizon-bound Droid, a.k.a. the Artist Formerly Known as Sholes. Boy Genius Report has been teasing the handset for the better part of the week, and now it's giving us the full monty of the hardware, including its 5 megapixel autofocus camera on the back, and various Eclair-powered screens. Boy Genius himself notes that it's the fastest Android device he's used -- thank goodness for an authentic OMAP3 -- is "slightly" thicker than an iPhone 3GS, runs that Android 2.0 we've been hearing so much about, and includes a desktop cradle that turns the Droid into a glanceable display with weather and the like (sounds like a miniature Hub in a way, doesn't it?). Anyhow, you want all to see the whole show? You know just where to click.























well hello hello.
Indeed. Almost enough to tempt me back into Verizon's cellular arms...
that Verizon logo makes it UGLY!!! :P
This does not look like hail mary material for motorola to me...
@ lalondegeoffrey
I'll take functionality over aesthetics.
Hello... MOTO?
That thing looks like a calculator!
Good lord, you guys have got to be kidding! Anyone who thinks this isn't a dog is a freaking liar. I don't care what it has inside, no one is going to buy that piece of junk.
I'm scratching my head on this one as well. Between the phone itself and the screen shots of 2.0 people are going nuts over this? Please. Leo with Sense UI walks all over this.
@ Detox: besides the fact it's rectangular in shape, and has buttons (like most phones).... why exactly is this a "piece of junk"?
And yes I have to agree with the others. I'll take functionality over aesthetics any day. :) (and the phone looks fine to me)
iCan Multitask
iCan remove my battery
iCan customize
iCan run widgets
iCan type with a real keyboard.
iCan take night shots.
iCan allow open development.
Everything iCan...iPhone Doesn't, Droid does
It looks like a razor with a keyboard running android.
@rinum009
That'll buff right out.
Looks like the long lost son of the Microtac.
Is it just me, or does the keyboard look like a cheap rubbery thing that'll come out whole in a few months?
Other than that, best thing out of motorola for years.
It is hilarious when people say things like "no one would buy this"..... Get real, you and your iPhone are not the center of the world....
Am I the only one who thinks the screen doesn't look very bright?
Same deal with the hero, the iphone screen has way more intensity.
They should switch to red accents/buttons.
The Motorola logo is huge, it should be just an M or people will just scratch it off.
@Matt... those things are nice, not going to kill the iPhone anytime soon. Here is what Verizon SHOULD be advertising:
iCan keeps calls connected
iCan have high-speed Internet
iCan have reliable service
Verizon could have gotten the iPhone once the exclusivity with AT&T went away, but they sure as hell don't have a chance now.
Target your competitors, not potential partners.
@bondsbw:
You're right, you don't target your potential partners. But if you have no interest in having a device on your network, then there's little chance of them being potential partners, not anytime soon. Verizon turned down the iPhone the first time around, and they're making it clear they'd much rather say Hello Moto.
Just saw my first "Droid Does" ad last night (hadn't had time to watch them online when they were posted here; think I was at work or something). I really like the ad! I'm assuming they'll have more different ones coming out over the next few days/weeks. For some reason I really like ads that have the balls to attack the competition, it's interesting and informative. As opposed to political attack ads which are just vicious and annoying.
@10minutehobo:
Moto's already said the design's not finalized yet, so there may be changes here and there.
@Visualplastik:
Not sure I agree with the red accents, as the Sholes mockups/renders make it look closer to a Sidekick or a handheld game.
butterface.
this phone was sexy to be until I paid enough attention to see it was a slider.....
You're only cool if you type "be" when you mean me.
It is official...my G1 is hitting my graveyard of phones and T-mobile can kiss my ass when this phone comes out!
indeed,
we as nerds understand that functionality is far superior to aesthetics, but phones are for the general public, more than they are for us geeks, yes it promises to have exeptional wireless offerings, but if it is unappealing, the general public will not buy it. if they build a phone based soley on functionality and not aesthetics it will flop, the big M should not drop the ball on that point if they wanna sell this to the sheep of society, and more commercials, you cant turn on your tv without seeing an a(ss)pple ad. secondly, as multi functional as it is, they cannot boast that it is completely mulit functional until they say that you can read an e-mail, or web-browse during a call, it may seem moot, but to a business idividual (which im sure is the target market) i wanna be able to view an email he just sent me, without having to hang up wait for it to hit my box then call back. correct me if im wrong but i believe evdo doesnt support this function. other wise the pro's proprtionatley outweigh the cons!
lmfao @ all these people trying to convince themselves this phone is amazing. this thing looks like the most ugly thing ive ever seen in my life, i swear its worse then the G1.
google should seriously get someone who can make a good looking phone. this is gonna set moto back a couple years *shakes my head*
in fact, google should make there own hardware, i hate this Microsoft approach.
but nick, then you'd bitch that they were copying apple's approach! please hang your head in shame.
All of these factors together make this announcement a huge deal. It's the big new reveal for the Android platform.
I think much of the buzz about this phone is not so much about the phone itself...but about the Android platform in general. Android has been out now for quite some time and this fall it's coming to every major carrier via a bunch of new phones.
This announcement is kind of the coming out party that introduces this whole idea of Android to the general public and not just to tech enthusiast like those that read Engadget.
The platform has matured with each update and now 2.0 is coming on a slider phone with a full keypad that is only a little more thicker than an iPhone. Also on Verizon and with a killer resolution on the screen which is also bigger than iPhones.
This all shows the Android platform has allot to offer and it's not going to be a one size fits all approach but many options to choose from. Having a flagship device to kick that all off to the wider general public is great PR for the Android platform in general and not just the Verizon droid.
YEAH! SO SMEXY
Glad to know I'm not the only one who uses the word smexy, lol
The only people I hear use the word "smexy" are sixteen-year-old girls who think Sephiroth is their "bishie" and write lengthy, poorly written fanfiction to somehow prove it.
I can never dissociate the word from this connotation, so for the sake of your manhood, please just use the normal word "sexy."
Jasmin you're so smean.
Want!
Glad I'm not alone. I'm jumping on this phone as soon as I get the chance.
Yo what kind of flash is that? This phone looks amazing, let's see that 3.5mm jack, and make everyone's dream come true, sorry X2, 3, had you're chance, Time to save up for an unlock version.
Oh, yeah. Mine!
drool....A nice android smartphone on verizon? Pinch me, I must be dreaming
relax guys....boy genius clearly mentioned that this design is not final. I am pretty sure moto will change the keyboard design. but the placement of D-pad is perfect IMO
oh sry...i hit the wrong reply button...hehe
a nice phone on verizon makes it seem like a dream
but its running android and looks like its not plastic and flimsy so its prolly a wet dream
Actually, people who have played with it report it as feeling VERY solid.
put the dpad on the other side!! just like the cliq, i want to use that nice processor for snes emulation and that would make a great controller setup.
UGLY
now you guys can go ahead and uprank me
I see this backfiring somehow.
naw, its foolproof
world record? :(
but that keyboard is sure as hell ugly, you cannot deny it! oh well, as long as it runs smoothly then im good :)
I agree with the ugly commit... well in comparison to the iPhone. I think big v should emphasize how well this phone is going to run rather than its looks. And why is the dpad on the right side?
... is that even a dpad?
The keyboard looks bad and I'm sure it's not a pleasant experience.
no worries dude i think it's really ugly too.
iDon't look like a donkey's ass, Droid does.
I'm all for functionality over form but geez, where are these "designers" coming from? It's not difficult to see that this is yet another less-than-attractive Android phone. You would think that as Verizon's first Android phone and possibly Motorola's last phone, they would have their best talent working on this.
I really want Android to do well but the hardware isn't helping so far. Even the Rachael design needs a facelift.