Motorola DROID review
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted October 30th 2009 1:10PM
posted October 30th 2009 1:10PM
With the DROID, the company has perhaps created its most attractive and intriguing piece of technology yet. Forging an alliance with both Verizon and Google, Motorola has come up with a second compelling reason to count the phonemaker down, but certainly not out, while the other two giants have finally found a seemingly worthy device to position against the iPhone. So we must pose these questions: is this the phone which will catapult Android into the mainstream? Is it the device that will pull Motorola back from the brink? And -- most importantly -- is it the lynchpin Google and Verizon have needed to challenge the leader in mindshare in the smartphone market? After putting the device through its paces, we think we can give you the answers you seek -- so read on to find out!
Hardware
The DROID is an odd and beautiful device. Looking at the hardware from a purely philosophical standpoint, the ID of the phone seems staunchly defiant. Instead of taking its cues (and lines) from current contenders in the smartphone space, the DROID is all hard edges and angular slopes. The construction is a mix of plastic and metal, and the phone has a solid, expensive heft to it. Couple that weight with soft touch materials and gold highlights, and the effect is somewhere halfway between a Vertu device and the European version of the Hero -- and it's a good mix.
The basic structure of the phone is made up of two main pieces, the large, glass display up top, and the slightly longer keyboard / mainboard lower half. Above, the 3.7-inch screen dominates, almost filling the space edge-to-edge, though there are four capacitive buttons at the bottom of the display: back, menu, home, and search (which might be tricky for folks coming from other Android devices, since they've thrown the order of the buttons in the blender). The top section slides smoothly upwards to reveal the aforementioned QWERTY keyboard, though unlike other models of this ilk, it doesn't snap automatically into place; rather, it requires a bit of force to move up, then clicks firmly once settled. The keyboard is a wide (though mostly flush) affair, with minimal amount of spacing between the keys. To the right of the four row QWERTY is a 5-way rocker -- a bizarre deviation from the CLIQ's left-sided controls -- and the bottom piece has a strip which juts out from the device with a small mic hole (closed or open). It's almost like Motorola's version of the HTC chin... though tempered somewhat. Atop the phone is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a power / sleep button; along the right edge is a volume rocker, and camera button on opposite ends; the left side houses a MicroUSB port; around back the 5 megapixel camera (and flash) are revealed, along with a thin, gold, crosshatch strip that hides the DROID's speaker.
The thickness of the DROID is striking, coming in at just a hair (13.7mm vs 12.33mm) thicker than the iPhone 3GS. The body itself is actually narrower than the iPhone. While thinness is important (though typically not a deal breaker for us), the fact that the phone packs a larger, higher resolution screen and a physical keyboard in such a small frame is notable.
In all, Motorola has pulled off what seemed unimaginable for them just 12 months ago; they've made a device which is truly lustworthy, even next to the best efforts of Apple, HTC, and Palm.
Internals
Inside the DROID beats an Arm Cortex A8 CPU (a 600MHz, OMAP3430 chip downclocked to 550MHz), 256MB of RAM, and 512MB of ROM. If that CPU sounds familiar, it should -- it's similar to the chip inside the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre. If you're wondering about performance, you can breathe a sigh of relief... kind of. Yes, there is a noticeable bump in speed when switching applications on the phone, scrolling through lists, and generally getting any basic tasks done. We did notice, however, that paging through homescreens on the DROID actually seemed somewhat stuttery; odd, considering this phone is certainly better equipped than most Android devices to handle pixel pushing. Pulling down the window shade notification area also seemed less than optimal. We don't know if this was due to the screen resolution being jacked up, or just a software quirk, but it was mildly disheartening -- especially considering that the rest of the phone's performance seemed extra snappy to us. As an aside, in a totally unscientific test of playing a 3D game (Mystique, in case you're wondering) the rendering seemed considerably smoother on the DROID than with other, older Android-based phones we've used.
Throughout our tests, we were consistently impressed with the tightness and speed of navigation on the phone. The DROID makes Android feel modern the way the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre are -- like machines designed for a pace of life that's increasingly more Twitter and less USPS.
Display
As we mentioned, the screen on the DROID is a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen -- a full glass display with a WVGA resolution clocking in at a handsome 480 x 854. We found the responsiveness on the DROID to be on par (if not better) than most of its Android contemporaries; gestures and flicks registered with little to no lag. Whether that can be attributed to Moto's screen technology, Android 2.0 improvements, or just the speedy CPU inside the DROID is anyone's guess, but we certainly won't knock the phone for it. Another perk to having that big screen is seeing webpages how they're meant to be viewed (or at least closer), and browsing on the DROID is a solid experience. Those additional pixels definitely come in handy when you're looking at something graphically intensive or wordy... such as Engadget.
As you have probably heard (or guessed), there's no multitouch on this device. That's clearly an issue with Android 2.0 and choices that Google is making about user interface -- we're fairly certain there's nothing technically holding back the DROID from utilizing multitouch input, and we wouldn't be surprised to see some tweaked ROMs hit the information superhighway with the functionality onboard. Regardless, the resolution, materials, and clarity of the DROID display make it an absolute pleasure to keep your eyes on. Motorola gets a +1 for the bump in resolution, and we can only hope everyone else follows suit.
Note: Android 2.0 does support multitouch events, but the functionality isn't implemented here.
Keyboard
A physical keyboard can be a blessing or a curse, depending on just how well (or poorly) it performs. In the case of Android devices, QWERTYs have definitely been hit or miss. We think the closest case for comparison with the DROID's version would be the G1; both have shallow, clicky keys, and both force your right hand into a bit of an awkward position. On the G1, it's due to the placement of the "chin," and with the DROID, it's all down to the five-way rocker living next to the 'board itself. We're happy to report, however, that after a short adjustment period, typing on the DROID is a reasonable experience. It's not as slick or comfortable as a nice, portrait-oriented Tour or (better yet) Bold layout, though it bests the CLIQ, and holds its own against other landscape contenders like the Moment.
Visually, the keyboard is an easier read (and more aesthetically pleasing) than those other QWERTY phones too, though sometimes the keys can feel a bit cramped. Additionally, we had major issues with the auto-dimming on the DROID. If we left the screen in auto brightness mode, the constant on / off dimming of the keyboard was intolerable; eventually we had to just switch the auto dim off altogether. We also had issues with the keyboard not lighting up at all in some instances, requiring us to close and open the pad again. Not a huge deal, but annoying when you're trying to quickly tap out a message. Admittedly, we missed the CLIQ's two-stage keyboard backlighting that only enabled the second light when ALT was pressed, but it's a luxury we can do without.
As you would expect, Android 2.0 includes the onscreen keyboard as well, but there don't seem to be many improvements in this area. As a backup keyboard for quick SMSs and the like, it works, though we eventually had to replace it with the Better Keyboard application -- which we think is more usable and snappier. In comparison to the iPhone keyboard (really the high bar for virtual keys) Android continues to feel like a distant second. Still, you won't go to it that much -- the DROID's physical keyboard is solid, but it's going to take some getting used to for most people.
Camera
Google has made some pretty major changes to the camera application in Android 2.0 (including more control over white balance, focal length, flash settings, and effects), and Motorola has smartly outfitted the DROID with a 5 megapixel camera coupled with an LED flash. It sounds like a match made in heaven, right? Well, not quite.
No, no, no. Yes! Our attempts to photograph a watch in broad daylight.
While the camera certainly seems capable of taking great looking photos, getting everything to play nice isn't as easy as it should be. First off, the camera is painfully slow to focus and snap pictures -- and when it does, the results can be unpredictable. Strangely, the lens seems to be able to take pretty sharp macro photos (it's even a setting in the camera app), but it struggled with getting adjusted to close subjects, even in broad daylight. Sometimes we got lucky and cranked out a decent pic, but the process was frustrating. Furthermore, the new settings Google has added to 2.0 are contained in a hard to get to and counterintuitive menu which sits to the left of your viewing area. Trying to make changes on the fly was a hassle. If this is the best the engineers at Google can do, they need to outsource this work.
Video, on the other hand, was somewhat of a pleasant surprise. The DROID is capable of shooting at a 720 x 480 resolution, and in our tests, produced watchable -- if not totally shake-free -- video. The phone definitely fares better in this department than with stills, and we could easily see using the DROID as a stand-in for a flip cam. You can check out a little of the action in the video below (with a surprise cameo from !!!'s Nic Offer).
Speaker / earpiece
The sound on the DROID is second to none -- really. In fact, this is simply one of the best sounding devices we've ever used. Whether it's audio through the loud (but undistorted) earpiece, or a speakerphone call -- even music -- the sound which Motorola's device outputs is crystal clear. Now, obviously Verizon's reception has something to do with our in-call sound, but it's likely Moto put some thought into the aural aspect of the phone. There's not really much to say except that we were more than pleased with the audio fidelity of the DROID, and we can only hope that future phone makers (ahem, Apple) look to this device as a high water mark in this department.
Software
Besides the introduction of the phone itself, obviously 2.0 is a major update for Android. Based on the launch and hype surrounding Moto's device, we'd say it's fair to assume that Google wanted as many eyes on the achievement as possible. They definitely got it with the DROID -- but was it worth all the fuss?
The first thing you should know is that Android 2.0 isn't drastically different than 1.5 or 1.6, save for a few notable features and tweaks that have significant impact. True to form, Google hasn't gone for visual flair or wild embellishments for the sake of a few dropped jaws; most of these changes are about functionality and usability.
One of the first major changes Google has made is support for multiple Gmail or Exchange accounts, and a new universal inbox which allows you to get a look at your electronic correspondences in a single view. For BlackBerry users, this concept is old hat, but for most people with multiple accounts, it should feel like manna from heaven. We would have been slightly more stoked about the feature if it allowed you to look at both Gmail and POP / IMAP / Exchange accounts in one field. Instead, you can view your Gmail accounts separately (not in a single stream, but in one place), and your other accounts can be blended in the "Combined Inbox" view. Not exactly a perfect implementation for those of us with both Exchange and Google accounts, but certainly a solution light years beyond what previous versions of Android were offering. Another minor niggle: deleting an email now takes you to the next email in your inbox rather than bumping you back out to the list of emails, as it did in 1.5 and 1.6. We preferred the old functionality, though we imagine some will prefer the new as well.
We loved being able to keep a few of our accounts in the phone, but we ran into a weird and annoying issue when attempting to remove one of them. We were using the DROID with two Gmail accounts active, but when we tried to remove the second one we'd added (note: not the account we used for our contacts or calendars) the device informed us that we would need to factory reset the phone because that account was "required" for certain applications. Try as we might, we couldn't find a way around the problem, and we eventually did reset the device. The behavior was strange to say the least, especially since it was a barely-used, secondary account -- not a daily use address which tied into services.
As you may have heard, Facebook account integration is now built into 2.0, and there should be more of that coming, as Google has created "sync adapters" which allow third parties to plug into the contact and calendars of your phone. Mercifully, Google has figure out that you might not want your Facebook contacts in your address book, and gives you the option to turn off contact syncing (as it does with Exchange and Gmail accounts). You're also given the option to sync contacts, but keep certain sets from displaying in your contacts list; this variation is best demonstrated with Facebook integration, because it merges duplicate names and pulls the accompanying images, but doesn't clutter up your Gmail contacts with additional names. Beyond that, the pairing doesn't go tremendously deep, even though we're told Facebook had a hand in this version of the OS as well. Really, you get a widget for your homescreen which auto-updates, and that contact integration if you really want it. This is obviously just the tip of the iceberg for this kind of... er, synergy, and we expect to see lots of people taking advantage of the feature (hello, Twitter). Regardless, it's a forward thinking move that will clearly obviate the need for some of the functionality built into BLUR, and makes the DROID (and other 2.0 phones) competitive against the Pre and Pixi when it comes to social networking integration.
Speaking of contacts, Google has made some big and thoughtful changes to how contacts are handled (and used) in Android 2.0, most notably adding a "Quick Contact" menu to your contact list. The quick contact function allows you to tap on someone's name and get a context menu with jumps to the various ways you can reach out; if you're friends with someone on Facebook, you'll be given an option to message them there, along with SMS, phone, and email choices. It's a brilliant little touch that makes quickly pinging someone a cinch. Android 2.0 also improves the SMS and MMS experience by giving you the option to search your messages, and also allowing you to set a limit on how many SMSs to store before beginning to delete old threads. It's not groundbreaking stuff, but nice choices to have (finally).
You'll notice some major changes within the browser, most notably the fact that when you load up pages now, you're presented with a fully zoomed-out "overview" (much like the iPhone and Pre). If you've been griping about that weird, half-zoom that Android has relied on for so long (as we have), this is a breath of fresh air. Coupled with the DROID's massive display, it makes navigating pages roughly a million times more pleasant. The updated browser also now supports double-taps to zoom (as does Google Maps) -- making navigation a bit more natural -- though we noticed some weird column display issues on our site and others. As we mentioned before, there's still no multitouch, but this does stand in quite well for pinch zooming. While the overall browser speed still isn't as snappy as the iPhone 3GS (or even the Pre), it's a step up from previous efforts, and when you factor in little touches like auto-prediction on URL entry, it's eminently usable.
As we said, most of the alterations are under the hood -- not stuff that immediately jumps out at you, though there are some notable visual tweaks which bear mentioning. Google has added some new fades and cross-application animations into 2.0 which makes Android seem a bit more contemporary. Of course, older iterations of Android contained animations, but 2.0 seems far more polished to our eyes. Additionally, icons and elements have been updated across the board to give the OS a more modern look, sadly there is much of this UI and its applications that remain unchanged -- and not for the better.
A few of the obvious spots include the music player, which is quite frankly a mess; not only is the navigation poorly thought out, but the application is just straight-up ugly. It's not easy on the eyes, and not much fun to use either. The same goes for the phone app -- the remnants of a hastily thrown together interface are plain here, and the functionality of the phone itself gave us some issues. Often the screen was confused or unresponsive during calls, as if the hardware and software weren't communicating with each other properly. It seems obvious to us that some portions of Android need a serious, ground-up reworking... but they don't get them here. Another annoyance was the home screen -- unlike with HTC's tweaks (or even Motorola's BLUR), you only get three screens for icons and widgets. Furthermore, the DROID doesn't come equipped with even the most basic widgets you see in most new builds, like weather. The weird thing is that there is a weather app in the dock display, but no way to access the application in standard phone mode.
Additionally, some third-party (and even some first-party) software seems unable to deal with the DROID's new resolution. There are bitmaps that look upscaled and jagged, such as the attachment icon in Gmail. The game Robo Defense seemed to play slower than it did on the Hero, which was a bit of a surprise, though it has been updated to support the new resolution. None of these problems are show stoppers, but it points to a disconnect between where Google is at versus its developers. There is catch-up to be played.
Also notable (and perhaps a selling point for some) is that the DROID is a Google Experience device, which should theoretically mean that it's more likely to receive fast and frequent software updates than its skinned cousins like the CLIQ. The Google Experience is sort of the "gold standard" Android showcase for the company, so to speak, and it's in Google's best interest to keep it rock solid at all times -- and since there's no third-party skin to revalidate after every Android version is released, the update process should go a heck of a lot smoother.
One thing to keep in mind: when it comes to media syncing, you're in the same boat you were for previous versions of Android -- which means sideloading or additional desktop apps. doubleTwist has just introduced DROID compatibility, though the experience leaves much to be desired. In fact, after our tests, we'd say you're better off just mounting that SD card and dragging your content over.
Navigation
One of the biggest pieces of news (perhaps the biggest) to come out of the DROID launch was the introduction of dedicated, fully realized turn-by-turn navigation which integrates with Google Maps. The DROID makes further use of this functionality by switching into a nav mode when snapped into a dock (you can also enter the application normally, sans dock). Google has gone all out on this, providing a rich mixture of its satellite, map, traffic, and location info with text-to-speech directions. Of course, the big G takes it one step further and adds layers like parking info, ATM spots, restaurants, and gas station locations (amongst others) to the stew, making the navigation more robust than many dedicated PNDs -- which would explain that nasty drop in Garmin and TomTom stock we saw yesterday.
In our tests, the nav worked excellently for the most part, though as you can see in the video above, we did run into some minor issues on our hunt for cannoli. It's not uncommon for a GPS unit to send you the wrong way down a one way street, and maybe it was just unlucky coincidence that it happened on our first outing, but being told to turn left where you can't -- then being sent in a loop -- doesn't fill us with warm, fuzzy sensations. Still, the navigation is super intuitive and cleanly laid out, and even if there were major issues (which there really aren't), it's hard to knock a service that is completely free. We think a little more time and some longer trips will help put it in better perspective, but we like what we've seen so far.
Accessories
The DROID will get a few nifty extras when it launches, most notably a dock for setting your phone on a nightstand (or appropriate flat surface), and a car mount for using the device as a proper GPS unit. Both are notable because they use sensors to alter the DROID's functionality. The dock turns the DROID into something that looks not entirely dissimilar from Verizon's now defunct Hub, while the car mount just boots the phone into nav mode. Both are nice touches, and you'll want the car mount if you plan on taking Google up on that offer of free satnav.
Battery life
We haven't had a lot of time to put the DROID through its paces when it comes to battery life, but at a glance it seems to be holding its own against the current crop of 3G devices -- impressive considering it's only packing a 1400mAh battery behind that extremely sexy door. Paul Miller, who has been concurrently testing the phone, claims he had 24 hours of on and off usage before requiring a recharge (syncing, but no major phone calls or lots of screen time). In general, you won't be blown away by the DROID's staying power, but it doesn't deviate in any wild ways which should make you take pause. It's solid, not breathtaking, and it seems better than the CLIQ, which -- despite using the same battery -- typically manages to just barely eke through a day's worth of typical use.
Wrap-up
It will be difficult for casual observers not to see the DROID as a kind of anti-iPhone in Verizon's arsenal. Certainly the company has played up the comparison with its "DROID does" ad campaign, and it's no secret that Verizon and Apple have previously had some friction -- the V famously passed on the first-generation iPhone, after all. Of course, it's easy to draw parallels between the two devices; as with most current smartphones, they share a tremendous number of similarities, though there is plenty that set the two apart as well. And that's really kind of the point -- it's useless to look at devices like this in black and white, or to try and figure out if an Android device on Verizon is better than an Apple device on AT&T (or any other device on any other carrier, for that matter). What it ultimately comes down to when judging this kind of device is more complicated than a "yes" or "no" answer.
If you must compare the DROID to the iPhone, then know that the Android platform still has a ways to go before the experience of using the phone is as seamless as the one Apple has created -- but also know that Apple has a long way to go before its messaging, email, and customization can match what Google is offering. Both products have very distinct strengths and weaknesses.
So, is the DROID a good smartphone? Yes, the DROID is an excellent smartphone with many (if not all) of the features that a modern user would expect, and if you're a Verizon customer, there probably isn't a more action packed device on the network. That's not to say the device doesn't have its faults; the camera was unpleasant to use, the application selection feels thin in both quantity and quality (despite the claim of 10,000 options), and the phone has bits of basic, non-intuitive functionality that might chafe on some users after a while. But even still, it's hard not to recommend the DROID to potential buyers eager to do more with their devices. It's easily the best Android phone to date, and when you couple the revamped OS, Verizon's killer network, and an industrial design straight from a gadget enthusiast's fever-dream, it makes for a powerful concoction. Ultimately, the DROID won't usurp the iPhone from the public's collective mindshare or convince casual users that they must switch to Android, but it will make a lot of serious geeks seriously happy -- and that's good enough for us.
@recharged95 want some over 1gb apps? Look these up. Tiger woods golf. Madden football. Need for speed. Sandstorm. Gangstar. I'll go all night. Brothers in arms, Ferrari gt. You haven't a clue to make a statement like that.
Big game houses will not load there files on sd cards because then idiots erase the files, rate the game as garbage,, and kill sales. When google gets there head out of their butt then big development houses will take interest.
So how are you going to know what size sd card is in every android device out there. What I'd some idiot takes out the card? What if they erase app specific files. You think they're going to take time to figure that out? Wrong. The customer labels it as a crap app and if there are enough of those it destroys sales. Google openly admitted this as a major adoption problem this week.
I own a mytouch and an iPhone. I develop for ahouse that does both platforms. I'm not ripping android but I am ripping the stale fart of adroid that was supposed to compete with apple. It doesn't even come close.
Good review. I was surprised to hear that you think some physical portrait keyboards are better than a physical landscape keyboard, though the flush buttons on this phone might make it slightly harder to type than on a raised key portrait setup.
I definitely like the look of the new contacts setup on Android 2.0.
I'm finished with Verizon so the DROID does nothing for me. I won't use AT&T so no iPhone for me. Sprint has good plans now, but I don't like the Pre. Pretty much everything communication based in the US is terrible compared to the rest of the world.
I wish I could just buy a phone and use it with any carrier I choose. Instead I have to pick from crappy phones or paying through the nose. Does Verizon lower your bill after your two year contract is done subsidizing your phone? Nope.
I'm tired of $75 calling plans costing over $90 after fees and hidden charges. I'm sick of being forced into a two year contract extension if I need to drop my wife and change my family plan.
Now if I could use the DROID with Walmart's new prepaid calling plan, then that would be a deal. $45 a month for unlimited everything and a phone that can use it all, there's a combo I'd get behind.
First, here's your tissue. Take a second and dry your eyes. Boy, that was quite a little tantrum.
So no Verizon, no AT&T, no Sprint, eh? Yep, the whole of American cellular communications is pretty much in the crapper.
Someone needs a reality check. You wanna buy a phone and use it with anyone you want? Well, you can do that, with the only real limitation being GSM v. CDMA. You don't want to "pay through the nose?" Let's consider that for a minute. Consider an iPhone. It is a phone. It has a camera. It is an iPod. It does all the app stuff. It's a navigational device. And unlocked it costs around $500. Now, go to the store and buy individual devices - a phone, a camera, an iTouch, a Garman - and add up the cost of all those items. $500 or more? You bet. Plus consider that you only have to carry around 1 device instead of 4 or 5. "Paying through the nose?" I don't think so.
As far as the carrier lowering your bill after two years, so what? The vast majority of people want a new phone when their contract is up, if not sooner. How many people do you know that are walking around with phones more than 2 years old? The way technology changes, a phone that is 2 yrs. old is dated.
Hidden charges? You have had a cell phone before, right? The charges are not hidden. You might not like that they are there, but they are explained (at least in my bill from Verizon), and a significant portion are out of the control of the carrier.
You sound like a whiney little pup who wants everything he wants without having to pay for it. Good luck with your tin cans and string.
a phone: $19.95 AT&T GO! Phone : phone sound quality just as good.
150 min recharge: $10
a camera: $90 Samsung SL102 10.2 Megapixel (video & flash) -- way better pictures!
an iTouch: $90 Sony Walkman 16GB -- better sound!
Garman: $113 nüvi 205W -- turn by turn, voice, bigger screen, better usability.
Pros: No 2 yr contract. No iTunes/DRM, Can easily upgrade. You carry what you need.
Cons: Need a backpack and universal-multiplug charger.
Cost: $323. Or about the cost of an iPhone 3GS + sign up fees.
Just like all in one printers, I am still waiting for that all in one phone and not just ''smart'' phone. I want live TV experience, excellent GPS Navigator, full flash support like a Nokia N900 like phone, I want the Blackberry messaging experience and the Iphone user friendly and killer app ALL IN ONE...lol
I think at this point in time the Nokia N900 is the one phone that impresses me the most at this time after the iphone.
But good for ''hello moto''
P.S.: Josh will you be reviewing the N900 and the maemo platform anytime soon?
Karl
From what I am seeing, it seems the device has all the functionality anyone would want (well most) and it seems to make the best of the CPU even if its not the best, but I am noticing some lag and this is on devices that has not been loading down with software.
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Other than that, I must say the UI sucks, its falling into the iPhone relm of UI, which gets boring after a while. HTC's UI for WinMo seems to be the best out there and if they were to port that onto an Android phone it could sell more than motorola' droid.
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The dock is a pritty cool idea, I like, HTC take note.
THERE IS ONLY 256MB OF SPACE FOR APPS!! ANDROID DOES NOT ALLOW APPS TO BE LOADED TO SD CARD!!! Why didn't Motorola put enough onboard storage in this thing??? It's already obsolete!!!
Can anyone confirm if the connecting to gmail actually supports connecting to google domains mail? I find that many say they support gmail, but really all they support is @gmail.com not custom domains managed by google which use gmail.
I hope so. I would need that for my business.
My hosted accounts worked perfectly.
I hope they also make one with a black touch, just simple black and white like the very first picture was. Gold has something very oldschool feeling about it and pretty cool actually just not my thing
Another motorola but now with rather good os and marketing campaign... Oh, you americans love that kind of things. Motorola workers cant even make a good ui for their flagship device... And lags on video reviews... You are so excited with wvga resolution... Arent there many devices with such a resolution? It looks like a group of people "anything but iphone" and they have just seen droid ad-the choice is clear+plus android fanboys+people bored with their old phones. Advertisement is so powerful...
Another motorola but now with rather good os and marketing campaign... Oh, you americans love that kind of things. Motorola workers cant even make a good ui for their flagship device... And lags on video reviews... You are so excited with wvga resolution... Arent there many devices with such a resolution? It looks like a group of people "anything but iphone" and they have just seen droid ad-the choice is clear+plus android fanboys+people bored with their old phones. Advertisement is so powerful...The hype was not true...
Hey Engadget, why didn't you mention that you are limited to 256mb of onboard memory for App storage?? Android does not allow you to install apps to the SD card!! It's Googles half-backed attempt at avoiding app piracy and hurts developers and consumers alike. It assures that Android WILL NOT compete with iPhone!
After watching the left turn failure by Google Nav, I'm wondering if it will report back to the mother ship and after they realize that no one makes a left turn there?
Heck given enough users reporting back and updating the predicted traffic may mean that over time they will have a more up to date data than the GPS vendors.
No multitouch, crappy virtual keyboard, crappy camera- no thanks. I had no idea that Android devices were all still non-multitouch..
They're not!
Coming from a guy who just upgraded from an original RAZR to an iphone 3GS....wow you break up with the ex for a supermodel and all of a sudden they hit up the doctor's office and look like a million bucks. Phones are just like women, yeah I knew phones always bugged you when you just wanted to be alone but this is getting ridiculous!
Excellent write-up – insight specific to the exact questions I would be asking of myself if I was considering the purchase of Droid.
A couple of points:
1. As an AT&T subscriber, the network issues are most prominent in NYC & SF, and although I'm sure there are other locations which don't scale up as well in comparison to VZW. I live just North of NYC, and the coverage is excellent. While we can spin it as a brand issue between providers, AT&T vs. Verizon, the bottom line is that we as a nation have spectrum issues that need to be addressed given the public's new appetite for big-time bandwidth.
2. Yes, I've owned an iPhone since day 1, but that said, I was also once the proud owner of the StarTac. Honestly, based on what I've seen and read I'm surprised Moto did not release a better-looking phone. And yes, its important from a marketing standpoint. There's alot to like about the Droid looking at the spec sheet, but as noted in the review, there is also a long list of things that represents a big missed opportunity.
3. Android continues to leave me wondering why it's not better, but then again, I'm not a fan of the UI or gestalt for any of their products. Yes, it's free, but then again, it's not. Honestly, when the next paradigm shift occurs in search, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find Google in an epic free fall. Other than their 'ad sales' monopoly, they really don't have anything concrete going for them. Sure, Chrome and everything else represents great concepts, but I get feeling someone else will execute better. And if someone else gets mobile search better by resolving the privacy issues, say Apple, MS or more likely a company no one has heard of, Google is finished.
4. Verizon is in for some big time backlash with the Droid ad campaign. When people start taking back their Droids to brick & mortar VZW retail locations for support, prepare for a whole new perspective on what it's going to take to compete with Apple.
Agree totally. I think geeks (and I'm a geek) are more excited about this Droid than any other consumer. The iPhone-wanting Verizon customer that gets this device will be returning it due to usability issues. Android is powerful but it is not the most intuitive from a user interface standpoint. When compared to iPhone usability, Android is plain clunky. I dare say, Android is the new Windows Mobile. It's too much like a computer for mass adoption.
Most Non-techie folks will face technical or learning curve problems with the device.
Also, Google IS STOPPING developers from installing ANY app to the SD card - unless you're rooted or running a custom ROM. Read it here - http://androidandme.com/2009/10/news/google-fails-to-address-app-storage-issue-with-droid-and-android-2-0/
seems like the best thing about the telly is the hardware. Bad music interface but great sound... 5MP camera that can't focus... Not many apps....no multi touch. Personaly, I'd rather have WinMo on it. Esp the upcoming 7
Best part of the review was Nic Offer. You should have made him cut a rug to show the true capabilities of the video camera. Now if it could capture his fresh moves then i'd be sold
There used to issues with Motorola phones not accepting third party chargers. I wonder if this will have the same problem.
In my experience, that seems to be a Verizon issue. I know a number of verizon motorola phones that reject a standard MOTOROLA charger. Verizon made it such that they would only accept Verizon chargers, despite both being MiniUSB.
However, Verizon seems to be changing their particularly evil ways lately, so hopefully that era is gone.
Great Review, thanks Joshua!
The only problem is that it's as thick as two iPhones stacked on top of each other. And that super high-rez screen looks positively dreadful in the photos!
Where can I get this 2nd 1.37mm IPhone you speak of?
Great review, engadget but the best part has got to be Joshua's Roy Orbison sunglasses in the navigation video. The sun never sets on a badass, Josh! Don't forget that.
Still waiting on the unbiased review of the Verizon Touch Pro 2, Droid and 3GS.
I still say Nic should have busted out his 50's surf rock dancing
yeah, it has its faults... kinda disappointed about he camera... that was the most anticipated part for me. BUT i have a G1, so the desire to jump ship to verizon for this phone is still rather high.
I was worried that DROID would depress me since I got the Palm Pre just 2 months ago, but the things I like (really fast camera & keyboard) don't seem comparible.
Not sad yet.
Moto may be back but I think this device is too male oriented (I think Palm straddles the line much better). Most tech reviewers are male, so I wonder how much we'll hear about this.
i still think nic should have slapped some dance moves together for the camera....you know..to show the true capabilites together
Can you use satnav & play music at the same time?
Motorola isnt down or out and never will be. They make plenty of money making landmines.
How funny. I was thinking the same thing. In fact, I spent more time watching his outdoor shots (because of the beardless face & aviators) than I did reading the review (especially since I saw no multitouch & crappy camera).
Can anybody that has messed with the Droid and an N95 tell me if the sliding mechanism is the same as the slider on the N95?
@(Unverified) The keyboard is a waste of space. The trackpad(or whatever its called) just takes up space. Plus I have a 9 month old around the house, and the keypad just didn't seem durable. I took it back and got the Eris. Neither can compare to the iPhone though. I def. have regrets about switching.
Anyone know if the Droid gets recharged while its in either dock?
What happen when there is a phone call while navigating?
It drops the data connection. This isn't a handset issue though. It's a CDMA issue - which is what Verizon and Sprint run on. AT&T and T-Mobile can do data and voice at the same time because they use GSM technology - which is used in the rest of the world.
Wow, Motorola did a great job, in my opinion!
Have you been living under a rock for the past few weeks...or have you not realized there is no type of Verizon mess in this phone?
I'd just like to know the answer to that.
You can't even OPT to have VZ Navigator on there.
lol it does left turns!!! hahaha
Hearing about the camera quality is disappointing. Hopefully that can be fixed... But im more concerned about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz0PyAY4tCc - Which I feel will be the biggest problem.
why arent they using kodak for the camera?
Yes it does charge in the home cradle. Not sure about the car.
Josh, bring back the beard!
Also, the phone looks nice.
Ignore him. He likes calling others trolls in order to hide the fact that he's just another one of them himself.