Droid 2 and Android 2.2 fated to be together from the start, according to latest leaks
You know, some people get married with less information about their partner than we already have about the Droid 2. Today, we have a pair of independent leaks seemingly confirming that the second coming of Moto's QWERTY-sportin' Doer will be running Android 2.2 right out of the gate. Droid Life has a tipster that's apparently spent some quality time with the device, describing its keyboard as "phenomenal" and pointing out that it feels notably snappier than the original. The Froyo connection is reiterated by Phandroid's sources, which provide images of Verizon's device database indicating once again that Android 2.2 and Droid 2 will be an appropriately matched pair when the launch codes get entered (last mooted for August 12) and this thing finally hits retail.























beautiful!
@Billy
It seems like this is the year of the gorgeous cellphone...
iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S, Dell Streak, HTC EVO 4g, and the Droid 2
@sumsimpleracer
I agree. Looks awesome!
Why can't manufacturers just be satisfied with stock Android?
@Billy It's definitely very nice, if not a bit safe.
I honestly found the revised Droid 1's keyboard (dome keyboard vs original flat) to be phenomenal, from the key's shape to the width of the keyboard to the clicking action, so I wonder how different it's become.
@WilliamH thank you! That's what I'm saying!
@Billy This is pretty great news, Froyo for the Droid X and Droid 2 quick... Its usually phones that have skins are the phones that take the longest to get the newer updates hopefully for Gingerbread it has a option to fully disable skins and stick with stock android....
@WilliamH
Because manufacturers need to differentiate themselves from the Android crowd.
Everybody is talking about Android vs iPhone, but each manufacturer must in fact compete with all others.
Being different is a must if you want to be successful in this business.
@WilliamH Im sure if OEMs didnt have a choice, they would be happy. But its those "skins" that makes those phones what they are.
@majipoor It would be much better if they differentiated with hardware:
screen, battery life, keyboard, reception, ruggedness, wireless charging, better GPS, etc. There's plenty of work to do in those areas without being different for some misguided idea of uniqueness.
@Billy
I'll wait for GSM version
@Billy
android phones have too many buttons. 2 buttons for the homescreen? wow how redundant.
@appsman
It would be much better for you, but not for manufacturer: any manufacturer can match any HW specs, but the UI is really what make 2 Android phones different.
@WilliamH because we want costume widgets like Sense Widgets/TouchWiz widgets they are far superior to anything on the market and really make a phone experience an EXPERIENCE!!!!
@WilliamH
How would you choose between HTC's Snapdragon running 4.3" slab of glass and plastic and Motorola's Snapdragon running 4.3" slab of glass and plastic?
You'd end up with several identical phones only different because of the logo on the front.
@appsman ahhhhh they do...... Anyways unlike the Iphone where you have no option to even change the wallpaper Android fans want choice or they would stick with Apple
@Tes
Uhm, the same way we choose between an Asus dual-core 2.0ghz 13.3" laptop and a Toshiba dual-core 2.0ghz 13.3" laptop.
Or a Toyota with 4 wheels and 150hp engine vs a Mazda with 4 wheels and 150hp engine.
And so on.
@Tes
The Droid X doesn't have a snapdragon and it uses more metal in its design than plastic like the Droid before it. It also has a different 4.3" screen.
These phones are not the same, I don't know what you people are smoking but they all have a huge variety of designs and styles and while they may have similar hardware because there's only so much to choose from there are many differences there as well. That doesn't mean that they should all be using the exact same UI in android. The beauty of android is its customization, this isn't Apple, almost everything in android can be changed from the keyboard to the entire homescreen. I believe the Incredible is the only of the high end phones that has sense integrated to the point where you can't disable it and go to stock and even then there are these apps on the market called alternate launchers that allow you to get stock and much more.
Stop complaining for gods sake.
@Shooter McGavin
Can you read? I'm not complaining. People who want stock Android on every handset are the ones complaining. If you take two Android phones and all you have to choose between them is one has perfectly straight angles and the other is more rounded someone is going to lose out for sill reasons.
Motorola has their approach to phones, HTC has theirs, LG and Samsung also. So say they should, out of the box, not provide anything to compel a user to go with their product over the competition apart from advertising and the case that's wrapped around similar internals then people really don't understand business.
The comparison to notebooks and even cars is also foolish. In reality where two netbooks are exactly the same except one is a re-badged version of the other, then other things come into consideration, like price, aftercare service and additional services. With these phones, they're all pretty much at the same price point.
@MicrosoftOwns
What the fuck are you smoking?
@Billy This is news!?
Hey spoiler alert... The bottom left button... Yeah those squares! They are designed just like the button that brings up the application menu on Froyo! HOLY SHIT! Cats out of the bag now!
Seriously though, I really thought this was apparent. Especially with the redesigned buttons on the bottom. *facepalm*
@sumsimpleracer
The Droid 2 doesn't belong in the same line with the word "gorgeous". I don't go "wow, WANT" when I see it.
The Epic 4G on the other hand.... that's truly epic. I can't wait for the Gingerbread lineup. Now those Tegra 2s and Scorpions will be the true next-gen phones.
@JONNNathannn I have the GSM variant called the Milestone and I completely agree with you about the keyboard.
@Tes
Only the first part of my reply was to you, the second paragraph was to everyone complaining.
@jackjumper85 But to be fair HTC are te only ones doing it right. All others fail in comparison. If I'm going Android it better be stock. That's like saying "Android in it's current form isn't good enough on it's own so we had to skin it. We're motorola I think we know a thing or two about good mobile software". That last bit was pure sarcasm.
@Tes But with different specs, different design/looks, and different build quality! Ppl can still choose what they prefer.
@XChrisX Guess what HTC build quality is doo doo. They come with all sorts of problems, sometimes big so sometimes small. Ppl like motorola because of there hardware quality. I do agree that HTC has way better looking phones.
@ZLiberator I love my new droid X. But I also have an iPhone 3G and I had the iPhone 4 doe a couple of weeks before returning it and I could change the wallpaper all the time.
@WilliamH the moto Droid had stock android... is the Droid 2 gonna have something different?
@MicrosoftOwns
Will you STFU! No one likes current win mo phones. Win mo 7 may kick ass but until then stop flaming in android related articles. Stop flaming period.
@MicrosoftOwns
These days you are on rampage ! I haven't seen a single comment of yours that wasn't downranked. lol
@ZLiberator iOS 4. Heard of it?
@Billy
Brings a tear to my eye. Wheres my FROYO..YO?!?!
@Tes You still don't get it. The internals are different enough to become part of the decision.Galaxy S, HTC EVO, and Droid x all have different processors and GPUs. The features of the phones also very. It isnt just the phones case that is the only deciding factor.
@sumsimpleracer
you forgot one, the father of the Evo, the HTC Leo
@Tes Thats not true. The phones are all totally different in design, have their own customer service via the maker or carrier and none of them share the exact same hardware. These phones are just as comparable to netbooks that have the same specs...if not more so.
That said, I don't care if you want to make some custom theme for your phones and have people use it....my problem is that many people go to Android for the choices, not the limitations. If you gave me to choice to go stock for everything (not including removing all your fancy apps) then I would be more than happy since I have the choice.
What these people are doing is akin to the bloatware we used to find destroying PCs 10 years ago that they finally realized was a negative, not a positive.
That said, it is so easy to root these things (literally 1-2 command lines in most cases) that personally I don't care...just think it stinks since not 1 of the new "EXPERIENCE" themes imo has been even close to as good as stock
@Tes Plus Windows laptops come with different bloatware and Antivirus trial.
@WilliamH
Tell me about it. I don't care what anyone says, I hate Sense and wish I could do away with it and have stock Android on my Incredible. I can use a launcher app, but I still miss out on the camera, gallery, and other beautiful stock 2.1 and 2.2 goodies. Guess I'll have to root and use a (hopefully not) buggy rom, and miss out on OTA updates.
They can differentiate themselves with Sense and their Sense apps all they want but at least give us a choice to use them or not.
@Shooter McGavin exactly!
@Megazine All of the bigger hardware manufactuers have bad build quality. They use plastic and cheap metals.
They would all be using plastic screens if people weren't demanding higher quality.
Handset manufacturers have gotten away with making phones for a two year contract, but they die one year in forcing you into repair costs or unsubsidized replacement.
@MicrosoftOwns You know what is "redundant?" Your trolling.
@Dirtball Rotten I am willing to bet that it is going to be locked down just like the X and running MotoBlur or NinjaBlur or according to some no Blur at all. Whatever the skin they used on the X is most likely what they will use on this phone.
@WilliamH
because stock android is the ugliest OS out of all of them?
@Billy
This phone is amazing but I still feel the future of phones will look more like this unbreakable LCD phone. http://thechive.com/2010/03/01/new-unbreakable-lcd-screen-is-game-changer-video/
Mmmm, this sounds like an even better replacement for my Droid 1 which recently took a dive in some very deep water. Pocketability of the Droid 1 with the snappiness of Froyo and the newer chips.
Now, just give me Swype and I'm set :)
@NaterGator
Yours took an untimely swim too huh? Like 3 months ago, my Droid took a dip in the tub and has never been the same since. Just put Froyo on it tonight, but if it keeps acting up, I will replace it with the Droid 2.
@kjones555
How does alot of people get a new phone so fast?... im kinda new to all this but i thought u had to wait so long for u to get an upgrade and stuff, plz inform me, do u have to pay full price for the phone or something without breakin ur contract?
@kjones555 Yup, today in a mucky pond. As an optimistic senior electrical engineering student I'm nearly positive I can revive it, but anything is an excuse for the latest and greatest, eh?
@NaterGator My Droid 1 is running Froyo quite nicely. I really see no need to upgrade it. (especially with a overclocked kernel) I actually find myself using my Droid 1 over my iPhone 4 sometimes. lol XD
@NaterGator
Don't upgrade your Droid now. The Droid 2 is barely worth it. Wait for the Gingerbread lineup this October/November with the next-gen inner works, both software and hardware-wise.