Boy Genius Report has thrown up a full preview of the
Motorola Droid -- or some prototype of it, anyhow -- and any way you slice it, it looks like Android fans, Verizon fans, phone fans, and red-blooded Americans alike should all be feeling pretty good that this thing is gonna kick some ass. As if feeling and looking like a rock-solid, metallic beast wasn't enough, Big Red's first Android outing is said to have killer battery life -- surprising, considering how mediocre the
CLIQ's is -- and the seemingly flat keyboard apparently performs admirably, all things considered. Android 2.0 clips along at a nice pace thanks to an OMAP3 core, and obviously, there's not much to complain about visually when you're staring at a 3.7-inch capacitive display sporting roughly WVGA resolution. The icing on the cake, though, might be a magnetic sensor that detects an accessory dock that'll be sold at launch, turning the Droid into a desktop clock and weather station -- perfect for those rare moments when you're not out and about scaring little kids with the phone's
robotic red eye. Needless to say, we're looking forward to the
28th.
posted Oct 23rd 2009 7:04PM
Android Lovers, and those that should be...
Your Handset Has Finally Arrived.
Is there a downside to this phone at all? feeling a bit of regret, having only bought my pre last week...
Well you could argue that Verizon's ridiculous prices are the main downside to this phone.
Let's See...
GPS = Check, WiFi = Check, PUSH = Check, All Google Android 2.0 Goodness = Check, 'Rumored' US $599.99 w/2 Year Contract = Whoaaa!
(Don't Panic... That price hasn't been confirmed yet)
where are you getting that price from?
im praying they make this the next dev phone with a gsm radio... WHOS WITH ME??!!
I'd wait for Storm 2 reviews before jumping to conclusions.
I have been following this phone very closely on BGR and a few other sites from time to time and i have not seen that pricetag anywhere.
The $599 price is from a Best Buy terminal screenshot. The same rumor said that the Droid would come out tomorrow. Yeah, you can totally ignore it.
This is one f***ing nice phone though.
Actually, this has been a clamored release from followers of boygeniusreport. I guess, BGR got the upper-hand this time :D . Kudos to all who wait :D
Here's our little preview for newbies who still don't know how droid phone works and Android OS 101: http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/droid-preview-summarize-a-boygeniusreport/
I like the phone so far but is anyone else worried it may have a crazy price tag?? In my opinion they have to release it at $199 if they really want to continue with their iDoesn't Droid Does campaign. If this phone is 300, 400, 500 I'll be really disappointed.
Must.....have.....this......phone.......
@Jean P.
You have 30 days....better get a moving...
@Jean P. you should still be covered under buyers remorse send that bit@h back
I have my touch pro 2, and I love it. But I secretly want this phone at the same time. Maybe I can convince work to swap out my Blackberry for the Droid. Please, I want so much!
The only potential drawback is lack of support for a "3.5G" technology (EVDO Rev B) I'm not sure any Verizon handsets support it yet so it's not unexpected. The bigger issue is how well Verizon can scale EVDO Rev A under a heavier traffic demands and how quickly they will move to LTE. AT&T has 7.2Mbit HSDPA (supported on the iPhone 3GS) and HSDPA 14.4 in the future as intermediate steps between 3G and 4G networks. Different strategies -- it could go either way. Verizon's 4G LTE is a bit like FIOS in the sense it's obviously the better technology but it's expensive to deploy on a large scale. Is Verizon going to cherry pick cities to deploy LTE while the rest of the country suffers with a congested EVDO Rev A network? Will they jump to Rev B in the next 2 years? If so EVDO Rev B support could be an issue. In my opinion AT&Ts approach is more realistic but it will almost certainly take them longer to move to 4G technologies if they're dumping a lot of money into upgrading to HSDPA 7.2 and eventually 14.4 over the next few years.
The lack of data (over air) and voice at the same time is also a bit of a drag. Will EVDO rev B fix this I hope?
I'd leave AT&T and my iPhone for Verizon and this in an instant, but I'm afraid I'd miss simultaneous voice and data.
But why do all Android phones, even the most expensive ones, lack a videocall camera?
It's not that I use that a lot, but for that money I'd expect to have it.
Verizon isn't going rev B. They are going straight to LTE (4G). I thought about simultaneous voice/data, but I think I prefer HAVING 3G coverage as opposed to wishing I had 3G coverage (current iPhone 3G user)
Didn't Motorola go out of the cellphone business last year? Or was it this year?
Verizon, you have a chance. Don't ruin a perfectly good phone with your silly restrictions...
BGR, google, and verizon have all said that this phone is 100% google and Verizon has nothing to do with the OS.
If it says "with Google" on the back (it does) it means noone fucked it up. :)
Word. I was on Verizon for one year because they were the *only* carrier with reception where I lived. It was so nice to kick them to the curb when the iPhone came out, I hated the lousy phone options and horrible bastardization of a formerly-good Samsung UI.
It's exciting to see more and more competition in the smartphone market. I'm not looking to ditch the iPhone anytime soon, but it takes a real idiot (or large shareholder in one company) to not be excited about innovation and competition.
I hope! I might switch then!
was the battery life increase due to android 2.0 or something moto did? B/c the 1400 mAh is smaller than the Hero's.. but Hero is on 1.5
Different microchips inside means different amounts of power consumed
It probably helps that the Cortex A8 is underclocked to 550 instead of running at 600+.
thanks!
i'm super uncomfortable with that :|
but its so... ugly. Why would they wrap such a pretty system in such a dull package?
I agree....it may have great features but it looks aesthetically displeasing
Personally...
I say save 'pretty' for those more inclined to carry their phone as a fashion accessory as they sip their 13 shot venti soy hazelnut vanilla cinnamon white mocha with extra white mocha and caramel, while posing beside their new MacBook Pro at the local Starbucks, and keep strong industrial/functional design for those less worried about their 'image', and more serious about the Droid's technological capabilities. ;-)
Maybe some of us don't give a shit how our *smartphone* looks. If its solidly built (it is), and inoffensively designed (save the gold accents, +1 one there) and has good features, I'm interested. There are other options on the market if all you care about is how you look holding it.
huh? i actually really like the look, much more than the CLIQ.
@McPow, Is that what you tell your girlfriend, "Its whats inside that counts"? Am I to assume you don't get (fairly) regular haircuts or iron either? Why don't you tell Apple, Dell and Alienware your story and see if they agree. Yes I'm sure your desire to speak didn't outweigh any actual thought process here. Surely form has no place in our life, after all who cares what the word looks like, we only have to see it every day and all.
@myself, "world" rather.
Ugly? I think it looks kid of rugged and manly with the square metal lines. Not all foo foo like the Hero. In fact, the only reason why I didn't get the Hero is because it looked to "soft."
I agree with McPOW. I'm not a terribly big fan of how the Droid looks, but everything else is so awesome about it I don't care. I don't think the iPhone looks good, but I love my iPhone. The truth is, when you're staring mostly at a screen that takes up nearly the entire front of the phone, it doesn't matter what the phone looks like.
So I can't say it's pretty, but it's not ugly and I'm jealous that I'm only 4 months into a 2-year contract on my iPhone.
i know this is irrelevant but daharder's comment made me laugh like a silly person. white mocha with extra white mocha. xD
@dcoaster
I've read that Verizon is not going to dip their grubby paws into the Droid. We're talking full blown Android 2.0 with unrestricted GPS, app store etc. I pray that this phone is my ticket away from AT&T and the iPhone in the near future...
Android 2.0 with != unrestricted GPS. I got my Droid on November 6th and it worked great back in the states. I took a little business trip to the Middle East and ran into a FAIL. I know I wasn't going to get cell service where I am at (way too remote of a location to even hope for a signal). But was hoping to use the built in GPS to mark waypoints and such but was quickly disappointed to discover that the GPS receiver will not pick up ANY GPS signals. I have a larger industrial dGPS system that works just fine, but sadly not my Droid.
I will be talking to Vz after my trip to inquire why ... but for now I am lost in a desert :P
Is this going to be available at all outside US and Verizon?
As i live in canada, and am really interested
Maybe, this article says that a recent FCC filing shows that it will come in GSM and WCDMA flavors for use on AT&T and Rodgers.
http://gizmodo.com/5388918/att-compatible-motorola-droid-sneaks-into-fcc-documents
Part of the reason I say never again to smartphones is the fact that I'm with Verizon... If Verizon indeed refrains from screwing this up, I may have to reconsider all that I held to be true.
It is all google phone. its not Verizon at all. just the service, not software.
Oh, man I wish T-Mobile was getting a phone like that. Instead we got the CLIQ.
I really want something with a little more under the hood, a physical keyboard, and I like stock Android - no BLUR, or Sense.
I love my G1, but lets face it, it isn't nearly powerful enough to really show just what Android is capable of.
I agree, the Droid is better than anything we have and T-Mo should match it with a similar spec-rich qwerty phone. Until then, we have the Samsung Behold 2 coming out on Nov. 18. Similar specs, no qwerty.
So effin jealous of that 3.7" screen.
I gotta believe HTC will answer Moto's challenge at some point in the near future.
@Wii60: Why do you think this? Everything I've seen has indicated the behold II will have identical specs to the Galaxy: 528mhz ARM11.
They only screwed it up by making it CDMA.
Making it CDMA on Verizon was the best thing they could have done. The market for a competitive modern smartphone on Verizon is more massive than we can even predict. I have been a Windows Mobile user since WindowsCE on my Compaq Aero through to my TouchPro on Verizon today. It is a joke. Basically everyone I meet who does not have an iPhone is in that position because they are on Verizon and don't want to leave. This may be because of family plans, etc or it may be because they want to actually get signal on their phone. Either way, all these people want a worthwhile smartphone and have been tapping their foot, waiting for Verizon to introduce one. Here it is. Finally. If they had gone GSM on ATT with this, it would have been completely overshadowed by the iPhone and would not have even made a splash. On Verizon, it is top of the line and the obvious choice for any non-Blackberry-fanboy VZW subscriber.
Possibly not....
http://gizmodo.com/5388918/att-compatible-motorola-droid-sneaks-into-fcc-documents
This is definitely the new hotness. I just hope it comes to Canada sooner rather than later, like before December!
Can we just get the HD2 with Android, please? And no, I dont want the Dragon. I want the HD2 with Android. Come on, look at the Dragon: its ugly as hell. Why cant HTC build a beautyfull Android-Phone? One, with a huge display, with a nice form-factor and with NO trackball!
And the worst thing: from what I've heard, the Dragon will not have Sense UI. Just stock-Android!
XDA will take care of that. Though they still can't seem to make BT work.
"Must have"? Do you morons really buy into that marketing speak?
Apparently you do.
(Steve) Jobs... Is That You?
Dude, Don't Hate... You Still Have About a Year Before The Next iPhone Appears (right on schedule).
Better Get The Crew To Work Modifying Those 85k Apps To Run On A Display With Some Real Pixel-Power, Because The iPhone's Current (archaic) 320 x 480 Just Doesn't Cut It Any Longer - LOL!
I want... I just hope the update their data plans finally, especially for family plans. Verizon is soooo expensive.
seriously, verizon is a rip-off. if they come out with a reasonable individual or family plan i would consider getting this phone.
Methinks steve is missing the boat on what "must-have" means.
I think you're confused about what "miss the boat" means; it means to be late, not to misunderstand.
I have a feeling that iphone will have seen or contemplated nothing like a fast moving open-source powered rampaging droid.
What's wrong with it? I think it looks clean, it's the same basic size as an iPhone with a full keyboard, and I think I read somewhere it's a metal frame.
I hope Moto gets it right, i am very disappointed with my Hero.
Everyone except engadget raved about it, i should have listened to thier review. I did not experience the lag they spoke of, but my battery dies by noon, i did the work around with the 3rd party SMS(which kind of works) now it almost lasts a day with light use, but that is not acceptable. Android is nice the apps are nice, now i just hope someone gives us a phone that lasts as long as my Pearl did, which was about a day with every heavy usage. My Hero goes back to sprint next week and i will be reactivating my 2 year old BB. Go Moto, i hope you tested his more than HTC did before they released theirs!
idk i jus dont like the gold part...the metal frame is kickass if thats true i wish it had the touch pro 2 keyboard..this one is to square and looks like prototype or something this is my ideal phone...
touch pro 2 keyboard
HD2 (leo) screen!!!
android of course!!
kickass huh? haha
Can someone please explain why this is better than a Touch Pro 2 (if it is)?
If I were to move away from WinMo, Android would be the only OS I'd consider. By the way, the TP2 is fast, has great call quality and speakerphone, great battery life, and even a good interface (TF3D). It also has all the connectivity stuff w/GPS, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc. so please don't go giving me the same basic specs as reasons to get an Android device/Droid. I haven't had to reset mine for anything more than a CAB install that requires reset, so please don't say WinMo is buggy and you have to hard/soft reset all the time. I'm talking real functionality, here. I'm fine with resistive touch screens, too. Sometimes the ability to use a stylus is a good thing (GoToMyPC mobile version).
i wish my touch pro 2 was on android...windows is so boring... :(
cant wait for the N900
Three Possible Reasons...
1. The Droid will be available in less than a week.
2. The Droid will be on the largest/(arguably) most reliable American network
3. The Droid runs Android 2.0.
That's enough for me, and (probably) many, many others.
Great. Thanks guys! Glad you read my question and responded so thoroughly and intelligently!
1) The TP2 is already available (but often out of stock).
2) My TP2 is on Verizon.
3) The whole purpose of my question was to find out WHY (or if) Droid/Android 2.0 is better than WinMo.
And joe, HOW is WinMo boring? I'm not bored with it myself but I'd be open to you stating WHY you think that. Just because it's now new? You've used it a lot?
Actually, I have no issue with WinMo, as we have a very nice HTC Imagio running SPB Shell 3.5 in the house right now.
WinMo 6.5 is far more solid than many seem to understand, but Adroid offers a viable option that seems to have real momentum, and that alone makes it quite appealing to many... including me.
Windows Mobile is a liability. I know you said you like it, and that's great, but a lot of people really don't. Here's why:
-The touch UI elements are not consistent across all applications.
-Mobile IE is pretty bad. (yes you can install other browsers but people want something they can just use out of the box)
-Syncing is pretty much non-existant on non-Windows platforms unless you buy extra software
-There's basically no advertising for it in the mainstream media. People naturally go with options they are familiar with
-Third party apps lack any consistent UI design. Goes back to the stylus/touch problem but it's even worse because many apps just don't look or act the same way as others
-It's integration with other, non-Microsoft services, is harder than many of its competitors. Not impossible. Just harder. People want stuff to work out of the box.
-The built in media player is pretty bad. (again, work. out. of. box.)
-People have had bad experiences with Windows Mobile upgrades -- ie getting stuck with a phone that's not easily upgradable.
-The GUI itself is a bit clunky and slow compared to its competitors
-Microsoft, by their own admittance, fell behind in mobile. Consumers want what is popular and on the rise. They don't want something that they feel is falling behind its competition.
-Windows Mobile 7, if you can upgrade the device to it, is a mystery. We know there will be a new iPhone OS in July and Android is OSS so it's always advancing. If you want you can frequently upgrade to new releases. In the MS world you have to find a pirated leaked modified ROM for your device.
-The whole stylus thing is just lame. Most people don't like it. SmartPhones didn't take off with consumers until they became fully touch based
-Other devices now support Exchange so some portion of the Windows Mobile market that never really liked the platform are free to explore their options.
Many more reasons out there I'm sure. Microsoft admits they're behind so it doesn't require a lot of justification.
Well... that's a slightly better reply than the others, but still. You said one thing about Android. My question wasn't "Why does Windows Mobile suck, especially in its stock form without any additional programs?" My question was, "How is this (Droid/Android in general) better than a Touch Pro 2?" All this "out of the box" junk doesn't hold up usually, either, since "out of the box" there are generally enhancements from the manufacturer (say HTC or Samsung). IE Mobile isn't great but "out of the box," Opera Mobile or Mini is often installed.
I suppose I can infer that every negative point you listed is "fixed" with Android, but since I've never used it... this isn't very helpful.
1. Its not a thick BRICK like the Touch Pro2
2. It has a capacitive screen
3. I has processor that actually compares to the Iphone and Pre inside it
4. It has a GPU
5. The Touch Pro2 is last years tech...look at the X1... they are essentially the same phone, but that was released last year.
Well, we're getting closer to someone actually answering the question asked rather than a question somewhat related to what is asked.
"1. Its not a thick BRICK like the Touch Pro2"
That's nice, and I'm all for a thinner phone with a keyboard, but this has nothing to do with what was asked.
"2. It has a capacitive screen"
Like I said, I'm fine with resistive and there are times when a stylus is really helpful (like I said, GoToMyPC mobile).
"3. I has processor that actually compares to the Iphone and Pre inside it"
We're getting somewhere with this one. But does that mean it will actually be faster than a TP2 when using the OS? I haven't heard great things about Android devices based on the same processor, or similar, that is in the TP2, so this might just bring up the performance to the same level as the TP2 in a way.
"4. It has a GPU"
Best answer yet. The TP2 does, too, but apparently HTC didn't pay for proper drivers. So it's there but underutilized.
"5. The Touch Pro2 is last years tech...look at the X1... they are essentially the same phone, but that was released last year."
Totally irrelevant. I'm asking about FUNCTIONALITY. I don't care if the technology is last decade's as long as it does what I want. And by the way, the original TP is practically the same as the TP2, tech-wise. But somehow it's still faster.
Come on people, there's gotta be someone that can answer with something substantial...
Donnie... there is nothing substantial. All these new mobileOS fawning boils down to excitement over something new and "purty".
Android still can't do bluetooth file transfers or PAM over bluetooth
The video player is weak with no support for multiple codecs (no coreplayer/tcpmp for you)
Browser is on par with Opera Mobile which I am sure you are already using
You are going to have to install ROMs just like WinMo for any deep level of customization
No matter which new OS you choose you will come across things your old ass WinMo phone has been doing for years thats yet to be added. The details tend to be left out when people start hoping for an iPhone killer. The main reason to switch is the performance issues due to HTC and Qualcomm's driver mess and the fact that MS has proven to be very SLOW with their updates. The way Apple, Palm and Android are setup they can push out updates and improvements much easier. Plus with WinMo 7 coming there no point going 6.5 and committing to a 2 yr contract now.
Wow, you read the question and it seems you know what you're talking about. Thank you!
It really does seem to come down to aesthetics with people deciding how good a phone is, it seems. I've searched on Google for some good Android vs WinMo comparisons, and found that even on an Android fan forum there were people saying WinMo is at least as good as Android. There's even people asking how to install WinMo on their G1s.
For now, I have my TP2. I know WinMo 7 is coming out next year, but unless they're really accelerating things, the phone won't be out for a while anyways. By then I'll at least have my 1 year discount. If Android merely does the same things as WinMo 6 does presently, with the exception of little icons and widgets (which can be added to WinMo), multiple homescreens (I'm pretty sure I've seen this running on a Touch Pro somewhere on YouTube), and GPU drivers (something that could be fixed instantly if HTC forked over some money), I'm guessing WinMo 7 will be better than Android 2 or whatever version they're on at the time. But we'll see, I guess.
The TP2 is running a 528mhz arm11 processor and doesn't even have a gpu. This alone is enough to consider it a dumbphone. But apparently you didn't ask that question with an open mind, so I don't expect you to change.
Will I be able to tether or bluetooth files to the computer from the phone?
Do. Want. Now.
Still fugly as butt, but looks VERY promising.
Price this at 199 or less and I'm sold.
Yeah, the price should be a shocker - lower than low. REALLY pull in the buyers (who, of course, WILL subsidize the phone over the length of the contract).
We need a carrier to jump OUT of the outrageous-price phone and into free.
I don't think I'll hold my breath, though.
I'll be ditching my iPhone 3G for this.
Things I still need to know:
1) Phone pricing - Hopefully in the $199-299 range
2) Plan pricing - I get 450 min anytime/5000 min night & weekend/200 texts for about $76 after 10% discount with AT&T. I'm hoping Verizon has something similar
3) Quality of the Verizon network in my neck of the woods (Houston, TX) - There's a really annoying dead zone in the Texas Medical Center.
4) Can I test drive the phone/network for a month before porting over my number?
Yep. I've had an iPhone for 2 years. It's time for something new. :)
If your company has a corp discount with Verizon as well as AT&T you probably won't be hit too bad. When I got the EDGE iPhone my data plan dropped from $40/mo (Verizon) to $20/mo. But of course the ATT 3G plans are $30, so Verizon's not that much more than what you're paying now.
IIRC, the calling plans were fairly comparable at the time as well, but this was 2 years ago.
Wow that's a horrible plan, even if you did mean 2000 texts...
@Nathan
It comes with "unlimited" data.
I want more Android PMPs like the soon to come Zii. (Don't get me wrong. The Archos is... Nice. But its just way too big. I want something the size of the Zune HD or iPod touch or, as mentioned, Zii).
Phones are great and all. But I want something without a tether.
Dell Streak: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/21/dell-streak-is-a-5-inch-android-2-0-mid-packs-3g-and-wifi-vide/
Yes, because they hired 'fake' people to design this.
I hope us AT&T / T-Mobile iPhone users aren't left out for long. Also, I hope that the ridiculously high retail price quoted by others is wrong by about $250. I'll never understand how a phone can retail for as much as a fully equipped 13" notebook, or more if it's not subsidized.
Won't happen, they'll just go inside a cocoon or Starbucks and repeat to themselves "apple has a better app store". All while swearing they have a smartphone.
Does this phone work in Europe, e.g., fly from NYC to Barcelona, London, Paris, etc., and automatically work with the local networks?
Not on Verizon, it won't. CDMA is virtually nonexistent in Europe. It's all GSM over there.
yep this is killing me as well (i travel to australia a lot) gsm compatibility is a must.
I meant...
"...won't change the facts."
"Verizon hasn’t and won’t touch or control any functionality on the Droid. GPS is 100% open, there’s Wi-Fi, Android Market, etc."
Wow that is awesome! Am I dreaming? If I am, PLEASE don't wake me.
Wait so there making another model of this phone keyboard less. Sweeet!!! I only have one problem with the screen. I wish it was a little wider so I could have a portrait mode qwerty. It looks like it will be a lil cramp on it
Where does it say that? Keyboard-less would fit into my pocket better...big bulges in your pants aren't always a good thing.