Motorola DROID user guide unearthed in its entirety
By Ross Miller 
posted Oct 29th 2009 11:11PM
posted Oct 29th 2009 11:11PM
[Thanks, BBLeaks]
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i wanna be a user..
Me too, when do you think is this thing gonna be available unlocked for overseas users???
Something to read during the sleepless nights waiting for the droid...
so does this have 16gb internal storage or not? I read here that it's shipping with a 16gb microSD and that's it, meaning that it probably has a 512MB-2GB internal storage max, but on a couple of other sites, I'm reading that it has 16gb internal. If that's not the case, I'll wait for the SE X3, which is probably coming with 16/32GB internal and has a slightly bigger screen.
It has internal 16GB with expansion to 32GB.
wrong
Flash memory: 512MB onboard.
Expandable through MicroSDHC slot, 16 GB card included.
hopefully 32gb microSDHCs will be released some time soon..
Thank you fux04. All sorts of official documentation has been released, and yet people are still passing on misinformation. Some people still think the Droid has "a separate GPU."
OP, the X3 has a larger but lower resolution screen, if that matters to you.
and from that 512mb flash memory only half will be dedicated for installation of apps.
Additionally, from what I have been reading, Android Apps will only install to the internal memory and not the MicroSDHC card. I sure hope they come up with a solution for that as I want this puppy,,, pre-ordered through Best Buy :-)
People keep repeating the misinformation on this subject like a religious mantra. Here are the facts:
- Yes, the Droid has 256MB of internal flash memory designated for app storage JUST LIKE ALL OTHER ANDROID DEVICES.
- Yes, the Droid comes with a removable 16GB SD card which can be replaced with a 32GB card.
- Only the CORE functionality of an Android app has to be installed in the 256MB internal flash memory. This is done in order to prevent piracy. The rest of the application's data can be stored on the 16GB SD card.
- Most Android apps are less than 1MB.
- You can easily fit many DOZENS if not HUNDREDS of apps on the Droid. This includes complex apps like games which can store their large textures, graphics, and whatever else on the SD card.
- Storing parts of apps in different places on a device is not an unusual thing to do. Windows does it all the time.
STOP SPREADING LIES AND MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE DROID'S MEMORY.
@ n_shakuras
It does have a GPU, but it is part of the OMAP3's SoC, so it really cannot be called "separate". The 550Mhz Cortex A8, PowerVR SGX 530, and c64x+ DSP should outperform the 1GHz snapdragon chipsets in applications heavy on drawing and multimedia.
Droid does what iDon't
Already getting old.
The only thing that's getting old is the iDon't.
And yet the iDon't will outsell this pos 1000 to 1. Yawn.
POS?
What more do you want this phone to do? Seriously. What realistic criteria does it miss? I mean, I hate Verizon, but I have to give Motorola props here. They did everything possible to make the best phone they could.
For the record I wasn't referring to the phone just that phrase. I can see that getting played out really quickly.
Droid or wait for Passion?
Passion - links??
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/26/htc-dragon-coming-to-verizon-as-the-passion/
Oh, and Google HTC Dragon.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/26/htc-dragon-coming-to-verizon-as-the-passion/
Does the Passion have a keyboard?
As far as I know, no, Passion/Dragon does not have a keyboard.
The problem with android's on screen keyboard thus far has been the size of the screen. Now that there is a good sized option bigger than the iPhone, that is an issue of the past.
I wouldn't gamble though. I'm very jealous of Verizon subscribers right now.
I waterboarded my buddy who works at VZW for all of the information he had. He said the Passion will be released in Feb 2010.
He also said that the Droid feels and runs much better than the Eris.
My god this thing is sexy
I guess this will hold me over while I wait for you guys to come out with a full review.
Why didn't they make the spacebar wider instead of leaving two key spots unused?
i'm pretty sure the iphone has a built in keyboard and no moving parts.... so how much is verizon paying you guys to give a damn about this phone??
One, VZW has the strongest US network. Thats a big deal.
Two, android is open source, with a lot of possibilities.
Three, we already have seen some killer apps (see new google navigation app).
Four, iPhone does not not have a real keyboard. It has virtual. Droid has both.
Moving parts... Eh But the Droid does have a better camera, and will be the first phone on VZW to run Android. And its going to do it well.
Sorry Zune HD, sorry LG Dare. YOU TWO ARE GETTIN' SOLD!!
Hello Droid!!!
We're going to have so much fun together!
how did you manage to exactly copy my purchases
same here...i have the LG Dare AND zuneHD 16gb...ughhhh i have to wait until this July to upgrade to this beast. I'm never getting rid of my zuneHD, but i will get rid of my shitty Dare.
lol
shitty dare? lg dare is the one of the best non smart phones of all time.
The only thing I'm selling my Zune HD for is the second generation Zune HD (assuming one is made, of course...).
However, I will gladly sell my outdated LG Dare for this thing. I refuse to switch to any other network (there's no competition for Verizon in the middle of Phoenix), and the only other phone that competes with the Droid is the iPhone. No thanks.
So I know that Droid has a better processor than G1 especially when it comes to graphics, but is it a much better processor when just doing normal stuff like installing a new app or switching from one app to another or faster when running several apps in the background?
yes.
Some of those screenshots (poor quality i know) makes me feel some of the UI is going to be ugly and confusing to use - or is it just me?
Yea I agree. I know allot of people on this site are gonna say who cares as long as its functional but would you rather watch a TV in 480i or 1080p. I just wish scrolling and switching pages was smoother like the iPhone. I don't understand how no company can compete if the iPhone on scrolling u cant blame the processor cause its the same one in the iPhone.. Its just scrolling nothing extraordinary here.
I'm scared too...
=(
You're right, it is just scrolling, as the iPhone does almost nothing else in the background. Your desktop computer would be super fast if all you ever ran was a Twitter widget or a browser window. If you're so obsessed with speed that you don't care if your phone can only do one thing at a time, stick with your iPhone. Android has too much functionality for you.
BOOM *shoots superman in chest*
Guess not
@ Superman : Depends on what iPhone you're talking about. The 3G has an ARM11. The 3GS has a Cortex A8.
Agree. Not as elegant as other stuff out there.
This is the first time I've ever felt I truly needed a particular phone. Also, that is how you write a guide. Other phone makers, take note.
I read the manual, and although it mentioned importing music and the file formats supported, it didn't mention anything about video import capabilities or supported codecs/formats. Did I miss a page?
Check the Motorola site, it supports mpeg-4, mp3, and tons more! More than necessary really.
May I politely beg that someone does my homework for me by telling me whether the manual mentions tethering? Will VZ charge extra?
I'd switch to Verizon, but I don't want to pay 10 dollars more a month over my current plan just for GPS service.
That said, this phone looks awesome.
GPS is free on this with google turn by turn directions...
huh? gps doesn't cost anything extra with the droid, you don't use the gay ass VZW Navigator, it's google maps navigation, which is part of the data package O_o
Way to actually read the hype, Google Maps won't cost anything extra. VZ Navigator isn't even an option here.
How reliable is the Google GPS service?
This piques my interest now.
Considering that the Google GPS is debuting with the Droid, not many people know. Although it is labeled as a beta... then again, this is Google we're talking about, who only recently took GMail out of beta...
other then the lagging cuz its pretty heavy with features, i think Gmail is the shit!
iDon't like the gold D pad on the right side, but not a big deal
Wow. Another droid article. I hope they give it this much attention after it bombs in sales. Can't wait till nOv 6. So far droid has sold zero units. Let's see if motorola will kill iPhone 3gs speed. Remember every single failed iphonekiller haS had better specs than the iPhone.
An yet its a moot point since the iTard phone is only on ATT and Android phones are on what are we up to now? 3 carriers? Your cute toy phone will loose out in the end to the rest of the market that will use an OS that is free. Fuck you and your closed pile of crap OS and its draconian rights on what can and can't be loaded on YOUR phone.
@John Doe..
How about less hostility. If this is a good phone for you, well by all means use it.
Even if you hate iPhone, no one can deny that though it has faults, it has pushed the industry to work on a new level. It has set a new standard. Yes, Android is more open but iPhone is more compelling, at least today. Both have value. A consumer can have a perfectly enjoyable experience on the iPhone, though closed, it does not matter to many people. Android is more open but, so far at least, it has not been as usable and compelling a product, at least in my experience. This goes beyond hardware specs but its also the case that Android can improve over time and leverage the work of many hardware makers. That is an advantage. And maybe people will like choosing their hardware.
And remember the industry has tried at times to collect around a standard OS with little success. Its also the case that open phone OSs have not had traction before now. If not for the iPhone and the disruptive threat it showed, all of these hardware makers would not have been interested in Android. They would still be making crap Windows Mobile devices.
These products take different paths, challenge each other and push innovation. No reason to hate.
@ Shmoopy
I probably would have had the same reaction that John Doe had. iTrolls are the worst, and you know it.
I heard that android can only store apps on the internal memory and that the droid has only 512 ROM and 256 ram. Even though it has a 16 gb card, it can only store 750 mb of apps? This isnt true is it?
I certainly hope not. That would def change my purchasing plan for next friday lol
A hacked Android phone can store it on an micro SD card. However unless Moto tweaked the OS it will probably only be in RAM. That said. I've got something like 40 apps on my G1 right now on internal storage. Apps generally are no bigger then 1MB in size. Only a handful end up being more then 3-4MB.
seriously there is plenty of space.
Apps are small, and any large resource files they need can be left on the SD card, provided the developer isn't lazy.
App storage really isn't a big problem. The G1 had ~70MB of storage for apps and it does fine. Some people can get ~100 apps on it. As others mentioned, 1-3MB is the larger app size. If I am not mistaken, most are in the lower below 500k range. Those apps that require more resources tend to store it separately on the SD card (they fetch it from the internet when you run the app the first time). The actual program usually tends to be small, it's the pictures, sounds, data that tend to be big and developers can put that on the SD card.
If I remember correctly, the Droid will have 256mb of app space. So you can have 85-256 for the largest sized apps, or more if the apps you get are more general sized. App to SD might be an option (via rooting) but not necessarily. If you intend to have more than 100 apps at the same time (judging from your existing use) then this phone isn't for you. Google is aware of the desire to have official apps to SD but they're still working on an alternative (main concern with apps to SD being piracy).
It's true. Just like pre. Fail.
Does the Droid have a pressure sensitive touch screen or a capacitive(or whatever it is) screen?
capacitive touch tech.
Thank God.
*sighs* Its a moot point anyways since its only on V. Fuck these damn carrier lock-ins. I want droid.
Droid wants you.
Droid can have me. Just not on V. I, generally, have a good thing going on T Mobile.
I got an LG Voyager. It was an awesome phone...2 years ago. Now I need to upgrade to the big leagues. I'm really having a hard time deciding though. Will the new HTC Eris have wifi? Any chance that the HTC HD2 comes to Big Red? Damn that phone is sexy! I don't buy or switch phones as much as some of you guys n gals on here so I want to know, what should I do? I'll be stuck with it for 2 years unless i hit the lotto or something =P The UI on this Droid here doesn't look as sexy as I thought it would. Especially the music. But....this phone does have it all. HELP!
BTW, I know there was another post about this stuff (Ask Engadget) but that one is too crowded already. lol
Been looking at HD2 vids on Youtube. Damnit I think Im gonna wait to see where that goes! Anybody know?
the HTC Eris has wifi, I've been using it for a couple of weeks.
I probably won't get this phone right away, but when/if I do, the best part will be when I send an email/message to someone, the sig will say, "Sent from my Droid." Ok that's far from the best thing, but I thought it was Klever.
I've asked this question on multiple posts on different sites, and have never gotten it answered. Can someone tell me how this phone will interact with Bluetooth headsets? There have been rumor's and somewhat confirmations that there isn't any voice dialing with this phone. From my understanding, you have to place the call using the phone, and the once it's placed tap a button that says "Bluetooth" and go handsfree from there.
But doesn't that kind of destroy the whole point of having a headset? I mean, if your driving down the road and the phone is mounted on your dashboard and you need to make a call, should you be able to just do it all with your headset?
I'm not ragging on the device, because honestly i'm extremely excited for it, it's just that if this is the case it's almost a deal breaker for me. Can someone shed some light on this? Someone that can back it up with a source? I just need the facts before i pay full retail for this phone as handsfree calling is something important to me. Thanks.
It does a2dp moto blue tooth enabled. As long as the bt headset offers voice dial feature. It will work. U need to buy 2nd gen bt headset though. It has 2 be high end.
Also, sorry for the long comment.
How much is this gonna cost retail? I have heard $599 and $749. If its $749, thats almost a deal breaker. ill have to open up another line on my plan probably to get it and just pay for the unused line, maybe cancel it.
I've been looking for a new phone for a while now, and I'm curious about something. Am I the only one not really interested in this phone? I don't have anything against it or any real complaints, but when I look at it, it just evokes a "meh" reaction. I know I'm the minority here, so I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there not going crazy for the Droid.
I will say, though, I really like some of the design elements of the UI.
Cell phone radiation, page 43
"The highest SAR value for this mobile device when tested for use at the ear is 1.49 W/kg, and when worn on the
body, as described in this guide, is 1.5W/kg."
That would place the Droid in the Top 20 for highest SAR rating, based on CNET's list.
Oh Noes! Does that mean we are all going to mutate and get super powers??
Can't wait!
quick question, and I'm aware its a total noob question, but could i use the droid in other countries when I travel? (The mobile market isn't my strong point obviously)
I understand it to be a CDMA only device, though there is a GSM one in the works http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-spotted-in-fine-gsm-form-video/
There's up to 40 countries that offer CDMA service so check out VZW to see where else you can use this phone.
http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Roaming/index.html
Yes good question I am trying to figure that too
Assuming it is only CDMA then I'm totally screwed, I have to go to Spain in three weeks and Argentina in January, niether one is covered according to Verizon's CDMA list on the link. :/
. . .
I'm still getting a Droid, phone calls be damned!
Does it have a sim card? Is there and answer for that yet?
other then the lagging cuz its pretty heavy with features, i think Gmail is the shit!
I think it's good news for Apple that it actually needs a manual. Never a good sign for a phone.
I've never owned an iPhone, but I'd imagine it comes with a manual for basic use, just like every other phone or product ever? If not, that's kinda fucked up.
Are iPhone users illiterate?
Yes - they also can't do more than one thing at once....
@Jonathan
I see what you did there
is this phone better than the iphone?
There are a lot of phones better than the iPhone for certain purposes, it depends on your specific needs.
Yes. Apple announced yesterday that they will be going out of business on November 7th.
Yeah...I initially thought nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngreen on white....sigh....but...other than the battery life, (I listen to 2-4 hours of podcasts a day)...and some fritzy stuff with the A-data 4G micro SDHC...a Palm...ANY Palm can run circles around a WM machine when it comes time to do what a pda is REALLY meant to do...Search ...er...Find TEXT. As per Peter Rojas's comments...
Dear Palm,
Man, what a crazy year, right? We know things haven't really been going your way lately, but we want you to know that we haven't given up on you, even though it might seem like the only smartphone anyone wants to talk about these days is the iPhone. It can be hard to remember right now, but you used to be a company we looked to for innovation. You guys got handhelds right when everyone else, including Apple, was struggling to figure it out. And it was the little things that made those early Palm Pilots great -- you could tell that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to think about what made for a great mobile experience, like how many (or rather, few) steps it took to perform common tasks.
The problem is that lately we haven't seen anything too impressive out of you guys....you don't think the Centro is impressive??? Sure, over the past few years the Treo has emerged as a cornerstone of the smartphone market, but you've let the platform stagnate while nearly everyone (especially Microsoft and HTC, Symbian and Nokia, RIM, and Apple) has steadily improved their offerings. So we've thrown together a few ideas for how Palm can get back in the game and (hopefully) come out with a phone that people can care about. (And we're not talking about the Centro / Gandolf.) Read on.
So yeah, it was probably a smart move to recognize that you needed to offer a Windows Mobile version of the Treo to appeal to enterprise users, but there are literally millions and millions of consumers who want a high-end, powerful mobile computer that isn't built around Exchange server support. What they're looking for is a great user experience. Apple has done a good job tapping into that market, but there's still a huge opportunity out there for Palm to offer a smartphone that's just as engaging as the iPhone, but that's also open, rather than closed, and more geared towards productivity.
Frankly, you've taken a turn from being the respected underdog and innovator to repeat offender in stale gear. Every press release you issue or "leaked" photo we see these days is another dent in your already banged up armor, and really, we're not sure how much more we can take -- our loyalty has practically become an embarrassment among peers. The New York Times totally nailed it when they said "Palm is about to release a new model in its Treo line and photos leak out to silence." That said, we humbly submit a few (mainly practical) suggestions for how you can turn things around, organized by hardware, software, and other.
Hardware
Get thin - Three words: FIGURE IT OUT. If HTC, Apple, and Motorola can offer thin (and we mean friggin' thin) smartphones, you can too. We know you think the Treo is perfectly proportioned, but it's not. It's chubby. No excuses any more, ok? It doesn't have to be as thin as the iPhone, but you've gotta trim some of the fat.
Bigger, higher resolution displays - Make the screen bigger and up the resolution and you'll go a long way towards winning us back. There's no reason the 750 shouldn't have 320 x 320 (or higher) -- Windows Mobile 6 supports that, or didn't you hear? But for new devices you might want to have the keyboard slide out, like with the HTC Hermes or the Samsung i730. It's a really smart move. The long and short of it is this: if you can find some way to marry the expanse of something like the iPhone's or G900's massive, high res screens and still retain the spirit of the Palm keyboard, people will be very interested.
Speaking of the keyboard, don't mess too much with it - Apple may or not add a physical keyboard to the iPhone (our money says it won't happen), but the one the Treo has now is pretty good and it's pretty much the one thing that's keeping a lot of Treo owners from jumping ship. And from what we hear, the Centro is going to have a keyboard that's "impossible to type on" -- not a good sign. Then again, HTC's signature sliding QWERTY form factor is really compelling too, so you might do good to whip up a really messaging-heavy device built around that kind of design. But again, don't be tempted to mess too much with what's good about the Treo's input.
Make it look nice - We know Jeff Hawkins thinks Palm (well, technically Handspring) nailed it with the Treo form-factor, but it's been almost FOUR YEARS since you introduced the Treo 600, and apart from a few long-overdue improvements here and there (losing the antenna stub, making the casing a few millimeters thinner, tweaking the keyboard), it's essentially the same phone. The Treo used to win design awards, but now it looks really clunky compared to devices like the Dash, the Curve, and the iPhone.
YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PHONE LOOK NICE. Phones are a big part of people's lives now, and if they're going to spend $400 and up for one, they're going to want something they won't be embarrassed to use in public. C'mon, even RIM has figured this one out. How have you failed to see that innovative and engaging design is necessary to win (or even compete) in the mass-market consumer cellphone world? We know that's where the Centro is aimed, and we're not so sure it's going to hit the mark.
Add WiFi - Is it really almost 2008 and the Treo STILL doesn't have WiFi? No excuses any more, sort it out.
Think about adding some storage - There was a time when just having expandable storage via a memory card slot was enough, but that time's passed. People won't mind sideloading via USB if you make the Treo appear as a mass storage device, meaning you can add embedded flash memory (a few gigs would be nice). 8GB in a cellphone is now the new bar. Meet or exceed it, but don't ignore the fact.
Finally, put the kibosh on the Centro / Gandolf / Treo 800p - You're going down the wrong path with these devices...and everyone knows it but you. We don't want to harp on this, but if what we've heard in the initial reports, and seen in blurry photos is what you're really going to offer, and believe it or not, you'll actually be able to expect a reception from your community roughly twice as lukewarm as it was for the Foleo. Palm, put your ear to the ground and listen. We hate to be jerks, but now appears to be the time for some tough love. But jerks you are on this one Peter...I refer you to
Software suggestions
Completely overhaul the OS - [COLOR="Red"][B]but don't loose the 15 second search time for over 1800 phone notes...or 1000 Memos...remember...it takes 12 minutes to search for a word on a WM5 or 6 platform...after all...what is a PDA FOR?...besides phone calls...storage...and more importantly SWIFT RETRIEVAL of stored text...something at which Windows Mobile sadly fails...I don't blame HTC, I truely believe that if a 8125 was loaded with the Palm OS, the search time would be under 10 seconds...but right now 12, or 10 of 5 or 1.1 minutes for a text search is completely unacceptable...and THAT is why I went back to the Palm OS!!![/B][/COLOR]
...so...yeah...Wifi would be nice but we ALL KNOW how fast that kills the batteries on WM 5-6 machines...read HTC...dunno about any other WM machine like RIM's latest Blackberry offerings, but I 'd be willing to bet this is a physical/physics/chemistry situation....todays technology sucks at making small, long lasting batteries....but...I understand innovations are on the way...so that may not be the issue any more.
The ISSUE...is you want a playpretty?...get an Iphone...you want to LOOK productive...get a Windows Mobile phone or pocket pc....
You want productivity?.....Get a Palm...
finis
Chas