When the Motorola
DROID debuts in Verizon Wireless stores
bright and early this Friday, one nice little feature that won't be making an appearance yet is tethering, for computing with your laptop on-the-go when that Android 2.0 interface just won't cut it. We're pretty sure that missing functionality won't be lessening the early adopter crowds too much, but if you are so inclined,
Gearlog's confirmed with VZW that its "Broadband Access Connect" tethering plan is indeed coming to the device, but not until sometime early 2010. Now, how about muscling Motorola and / or Google for some of that
double-finger pointing our fine European friends get to indulge in?
posted Nov 4th 2009 2:57AM
Three people is a crowd now?
I was stoked at the moment I saw this baby, but after things settled down and more I looked at this closely, the more I think this product is somewhat rushed to the market.
i.e. Keyboard could be better, screen (and lack of multitouch) could be improved, and overall design isn't really top-notch.
Only reason that I have left is that DROID has android 2.0 and that's still good enough for me to get in line this friday to get it.. but it's barely good enogh..
droid does multitouch
android doesnt
It does have multi-touch including pinch and zoom, just not in the default browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM1JSFXnQpg
@TheGM
Thank you! Phandroid shows some actual investigative work with that video.
I don't see why Engadget keeps perpetuating this false information. Did we start defining multi-touch as pinch to zoom in the default browser? The way I heard the Engadget writers talk in the last podcast, using phrases like "I tried to pinch, I tried the keyboard..." as if that is a full test really makes me question the journalist rigor of this site.
Whats wrong with the screen? It has 267 pixels per inch compared to the iPhone's 163 dpi. That's some delicious resolution.
Man that's an ugly phone.
I'm all for Android and open-source, but they really need to get it on better-looking hardware if they want to compete with Apple on an industrial-design level.
Not only poor quality made phone but notice how dim the screen is.
I have done side by side screen brightness comparison with so
called OLED screens against iPhone and I got say iPhone tops
them all. Go see for yourself!
I just dont get it.
Engadget are trying SO hard to build up hype with articles upon articles and comments such as this "We're pretty sure that missing functionality won't be lessening the early adopter crowds too much". Its almost funny how hard they are trying to get people interested.
Perhaps im just a negative nancy but although the DROID looks like a nice device its just not worth all the attention Engadget are giving it. Other manufacturers are releasing devices just as good if not better and they arent getting half the attention.
I just dont get it...
The Droid is launching in just a couple of days, and it was used to show Android 2.0. Of course, it's going to get huge coverage. What other phones are launching that "just as good if not better and aren't getting half the attention"
I read somewhere that on December 1 and forward, blogging news sites need to disclose to readers something related to their source of money and advertising. Maybe someone with more understanding of laws can clarify this. And maybe engadget isn't even considered part of this.
I agree with Adderz , for Example , there is Not even a Hands-on post for N900. what a shame.
Now they are trying developing much hype for SE X10/Rachael , lets see whether they do the same for
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/11/sony_ericsson_kurara_-_a_closer_look.html
I bet they wont , coz its running Symbian S60 v5
Well...the thing is, EVERY OTHER MEDIA OUTLET is covering/hyping this phone. This is more keeping up than anything else. Not everyone can be Pitchfork/BrooklynVegan and ignore/bash stupid stuff (and even those guys are guilty of following stupid trends).
The guys who run the site live in North America. Nokia has snubbed North America for the better part of a decade. The N900 is not coming subsidized to North America which has meant failure for every other device which has tried. Why would they spend as much time covering a devices that will sell in the thousands versus devices that will sell in the millions here? I realize that the site covers international news, but there is going to be a natural slant towards more local stuff.
This would only be interesting if they lift the 5gb cap.
Yawn.
5 GB cap remains I'm guessing.... I think I'd rather go the unofficial route free and unlimited!
So you can't do tethering, now? Is this another "fair use" policy?
Why can't these companies let the users use the internet however they want, since they are PAYING FOR IT, anyway?
I mean, if your network can't handle the traffic either:
1. limit the speed (so that you get max 2Mb instead of 7Mb, for example)
2. put more restricting data caps (like 2GB instead of 5GB)
3. make the exceeding data more expensive
4. make the connection slower after a certain amount of data and/or just block the internet use
And also the p2p use can be limited if you just limit the number of connections or whatever...
But stop annoying people with these "fair use" policies. You have all the tools to make it "fair", the users shouldn't have to worry about it.
Can I just say how much of a spoiled brat you sound right there?
Not only does it say that tethering IS coming, but in no way is this a matter of "fair use" (how the hell are you defining "fair use" here? because clearly it doesn't make sense to the fair use I've come to understand, nor does it seem relevant) like you claim, but looks more like a matter of getting it to work properly on official level. I must say, at least they responded reasonably: Announcing, before launch, a timeframe of when to expect it after launch. You couldn't get that from Apple/AT&T, could you?
You've rushed to judgement, and you lack any sense of patience. Verizon has lots of problems, but you sound more like a brat who will kvetch at the slightest error. Go back to mama.
@???: So it's not one of those "fair use" policies? My bad, then, I assumed wrongly, since usually it comes labeled like that. My rant was more towards those policies in general.
But I'm still curious as to why tethering won't be available immediately. I didn't see an explanation either in the summary or in the linked article.
I'm not in the US (you might be used to different practices there), but I never had any restrictions about internet usage, tethering or whatever, as long as I stayed in the limits of the download data. So it seems normal to expect that.
Oh, and: I _DON'T GIVE A FUCK_ about Apple or AT&T. Why do you even feel the need to bring this up?
So what, if AT&T are worse? Does that mean you can't criticize another company because they are less bad?
Let me show you that your country is not a good place for internet.
FINLAND
Sonera OY, only iPhone retailer in Finland.
There was an offer for mobile internet when you bought a contract and a 3G device, that you'd get 3,6Mbits (in theory) max. download speed 3G connection widely around Finland, or at least EDGE (and GPRS in poor places).
All for 9 euros 90 cents a month.
..not capped. I used 19 gigabytes of data in the first month of use.
Did I mention tethering? Right now? I mean, it has been in here for a while. In fact, as soon as 3GS came out.
It's so funny to read about phones and OS's not offering tethering. I never thought it was a big deal until these smart phones came around. In 2005 (i think) I was playing EVE online through my Moto SLVR on EDGE through a usb connection. I'm not sure if my 8525 tethered. I'm pretty sure it did. Now my nokia 6700 does 3G on a bluetooth network.
Is this a software issue or the carrier?
Also, its funny how data is charged on ATT. I remember paying... $20 a month for data on the slvr, $40 a month for data on the 8525, and now $15/mo on the 6700. No caps on data, just different rates for different phones I guess.
About time. Maybe add Bluetooth file transfer and the ability to rearrange browser bookmarks too?
Test Drive Google Android on your PC. http://www.zjtechlive.com/test-drive-google-android-os-on-microsoft-windows/
Raise your hands if:
1. You really think the Droid is a good phone, but you don't need a real keyboard or at least they could remove that ugly trackpad.
2. You was really excited abot the Xperia 10, but got pissed about the Q1/2010 release and the fact, that it will ship with Android 1.6
3. The only hope you now have is that HTC will release soon the Phone of your dreams, which is basicly a HD2 with Android (2.0 !!!!) and Sense UI
Tethering is coming to the Droid as soon as it's rootable. There are already free wifi tethering apps for root users.
Not only can you tether with Droid through a program called PDAnet, you can also throw out an ad-hoc wireless network using android-wifi-tether. I don't get the article. Droid does.
iPhone.......
PdaNet supports Android without the need to root/hack the phone. Works very well for me...
No big deal here Verizon just wants to make some dollars off of making tethering slighty easier for those who don't know how to modify their phone. I am sure they would love to lock the phone down and charge everyone, but that just isn't in the cards.
$350 ETF no thanks.
No Multitouch 100,000 apps n games droid doesn't.
I love how everyone's lapped up Verizon's marketing. What sheep you all are.
Why are these service providers so hell bent on charging twice for the same data connection? "Unlimited" data connection is already paid in your monthly smart phone plan, so why pay for it again if you want to use that connection on the computer?
Isn't that what net neutrality is about? Not discriminating among applications of a data connection! I thought Verizon supported net neutrality.
Why pay Verizon an additional $10 per month for tethering when on Android.....wait for it......
There's an app for that.
I thought Android had USB tethering built-in. Have they removed it from 2.0? It's on my HTC hero. (Running 1.5)
So, the question is will Verizon block Android apps/hacks that will actually enable tethering? Or will Verizon lock down the OS?
pika, this is Verizon and Android OS we're talking about here...
Not AT&T and iPhone. Block apps? Lock down the OS?
You don't really think we'd pay more for worse coverage and a closed phone did you?
@Brad: Yeah, Verizon, a carrier that has history of disabling features on their phones, and the same carrier that wanted to push their own app store on all their handsets. We will see if Verizon will allow Android runs free. So far, they're the more draconian carrier, even when compared with AT&T.
I was told by the Verizon Rep that sold me my phone that tethering (When it exists) Will be free. He said that in the Deal that Verizon worked with Google, the phone was to be 100% Open source. Meaning they can't charge for Navigation, VCAST videos and Tethering.