It's not often that we know this freaking much about a major smartphone prior to its announcement -- not to say that we're complaining. Latest in the never-ending string of
Droid 2 leaks is this handy little flyer, seemingly part of internal training for sales reps, pimping a variety of features like
Android 2.2 out-of-the-box (something the
original Droid is just now getting), the 8GB of on-board storage with another 8GB on an included microSD card, the
Droid X-like UI skin,
Swype, and -- this is interesting -- a claimed 40 percent gain in website loading time over its predecessor thanks to the 1GHz core. Of course, Froyo's quite a bit faster than Eclair, so if they're benchmarking a Froyo Droid 2 against an Eclair Droid, that could account for part of the performance improvement, too -- not to say that we're complaining. Hit the gallery below for a larger version of the page.
[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
posted August 4th 2010 6:46PM
@KeegdnaB
Yea, that's a good time line and it makes sense. I think the impatient buyer is going to falter here. If Gingerbread is the deviation from the current Android set-up that we hear it is going to be and is going to have hardware regulations to hinder fragmentation, we may find out that Froyo with JIT and everything else going on with 2.2 are "under the hood," enhancements and "beta-ish," if you will, to prepare for an enhanced UI and new beastly hardware to compete Sherman on Atlanta style with the iPhone. That will put Apple in an interesting hot seat because user's will start to become bored with the UI that never really changes and Apple may to revamp that...remembering that it's simplicity is what sells phones "your grandmas shawl" could use. So it will be a risk to alter something for a demographic that largely fears having to learn new technology, thus flip flopping the rolls of Apple and Android...hopefully causing Apple to actually "change everything again," in order to compete and continue moving this beast forward.
However, I digress...and will probably succumb to my lack of will power and get a Fascinate.
Wireless Wi-Fi seems redundant... Wi-Wi-Fi?
@deedeedee
2.2 Browser IS faster then the iPhone 4 browser. Look it up if you don't believe me. Not to mention ATT's crappy network.
Give me a Dell Streak with Froyo, and I'm sold.
So many good news in one day! This morning we learned that Android was #1, and now this. Keep e'm coming. Cant wait what apple is going to do next... maybe a phone that ends a call just by a gesture, oh wait....
@rstoplabe14 old insult is old.
@MatthewCurr
It may be old, but true, so true!
@deedeedee
As I sit here looking at my DROID I (Opera 5/2.2), DROID X (Android Browser/2.1), and iPhone 4 (Safari), the speed rankings place (with the help of my spouse) as follows:
1st - DROID I - Opera 5/Android 2.2
2nd - DROID X - Android Browser/Android 2.1
3rd - Apple iPhone 4 - Safari/iOS 4.0.1
I have never craved a frozen yogurt or Gingerbread men so badly !
@afrovballpride
No one should ever see Carlos Mencia.
The heck with Froyo, bring on Banana Split!!!!
@leefox Yeah, that's not coming for another 21 updates. But by then we're going to have phones installed directly into our minds, so phones would be useless.
Haha I have a iPhone 3GS and even I get excited about all these announcements, go android
yeah ryt, wait till v chk it out fo ourself.
...my rooted Droid 1 is overclocked to 1.1ghz and I've got Froyo onboard. I can do wifi hotspot already without buying a new phone. What's the deal?
Okay, I know the camera isn't as good. Considering I never use it, I could care less, but that's my opinion.
Also, LauncherPro = win.
@SuiXide
Launcher Pro Plus on Froyo completely transforms the (already speedy) DROID I.
It's truly mind-blowing what great coding can do... AnDROID!
So where is my froyo, I paid full price for my droid x......
@DaHarder
Opera has a browser in the App Store. If your going to do a test with a browser that renders everything on the server and spit it back out at least make it fair.
Compare stock browsers if you want another fair comparison. Seeing as how Opera look like ass on the Droid, I'm surprised anyone even uses that browser. I'm also surprised not one person even corrected you on this.
A 1GHz OMAP has me all hot and bothered... This thing is going to fly...
It said the original droid had froyo, wheres my froyo????
@SomeGuyAtSomePlace
It's available... either wait a bit, or search the 'interwebs'.
The entire process takes about 5 - 10 minutes, and it's so worth it!
@DaHarder
Thanks, ive been waiting all week, cant wait
@SC40095
I guess you missed the part about my DROID X with the standard Android browser on Android 2.1 was still quicker than the iPhone 4 with (standard issue) Safari on iOS 4.0.1
Suggestion: Buy all three smartphones yourself and do your own test.
Holy f#$ing SH#)$*(... how many Droid phones does the universe need... it took Android 20+ to finally outsell the iPhone, now what is the goal - become boring or worse, like Microsoft? I love new tech news but if I have to sift through a new Android phone every day I'm going to have to start unsubscribing from some of these blogs.
To make matters worse now Fandroids are fighting among themselves which phone is the best. Why even buy one when the next one due out in 2 weeks will probably be an improvement.
I'm so glad the iPhone 4 still rocks them all and am more than happy its not an every day boring commodity.
@gnomehole
DROID is the branding given to a line of smartphones built upon Google's Android OS sold exclusively through Verizon Wireless.
Verizon's DROID line currently consist of 5 smartphones: DROID, DROID Eris, DROID Incredible, DROID X, and (now) DROID II, which really isn't that many.
Conversely, Android is merely the operating system on which a number of smartphones, from various carriers, run. The obvious benefit of having so many Android OS-based smartphones is two-fold in that that it affords the consumer a variety of screen sizes, keyboard options, form-factors, and (yes) aesthetics, while also giving developers a much larger customer-base to which to sells their apps, (ideally) much more than a manufacturer who adopts a one size fits all approach.
Choice Is Good
@gnomehole I don't know but I bet if MS release a ZunePhone verizon would call it a verizune.
Here's what's gonna happen. The Droid 2 will come out and get some good reviews and You will want to upgrade (myself included) as the reviews come out for the droid 2 so will leaks for even sweeter phones which will then make you want to hold off. Cycle repeats. Damn it
@Metacognition
The Droid 2 will not be as good as the Droid 1 because, unfortunately, the Droid 2 will have MotoBlur instead of stock Android.
@deedeedee Take away flash and i think it is faster than the iphone
When will verizon stop over promising their customers? How long have we waited for the other mobile android devices to update over the air to 2.2? All marketing for 2.2 which both verizon and motorola have announced has pushed me away. I'm almost planning on going to att where they and apple are on the same page and never provide dates which they cannot deliver in a timely manner!
@matt172001
Bye!
@matt172001
... and have fun with your 'oft promised yet still unavailable' White iPhone4.
@DaHarder
Ouch is that the only come back?
@matt172001
What would be the point of trying to convince anyone who'd post a statement as resoundingly FLASE' as they "never provide dates which they cannot deliver in a timely manner", of anything?
How short some memories are e.g the still obtainable White iPhone 4.
Conclusion: There Would be No Point
@matt172001
@DaHarder
As much as I can't stand the iPhone matt172001 does make a good point. When Apple announces an iOS update they give a date. On that date all iPhone owners get that update if their device is current enough. The same cannot be said about Android updates. I, however, don't really care. I still love my Nexus One and would never downgrade to an iPhone.
Good riddance. In my experiences it was only good for people who didn't get enough attention from posting the same stupid "update" on Facebook and Twitter and MySpace and their crappy blog.
@ohnoes
I am obviously an idiot. I meant to post this in response to the Google Wave article. My sincere apologies.
This or HTC Vision..? I cant decide.
whats craziest about this is how an internal employee leaked a clear cut confidential training document to engadget, things never cease to amaze me. And for what? I know no payment was involved, crazy.
i wouldnt agree with this statement at all, 2.2 was released for the DROID by VZW as quick as it was released by other carriers, it cant OTA push 1 million software upgrades at one time or you will have ATT network in its congested area, unable to use it. Be patient and allow the OTA upgrade to push to your device
@techandfit1 Froyo was pushed out to Nexus Ones several weeks ago.
I have been told my several people that the Droid 2 would be stock android. This picture and all the others I have seen all clearly show Blur running on the phone. So much for the Droid 2 being better than the Droid 1. Stock Android FTW!
@DaHarder
As much as I can't stand the iPhone matt172001 does make a good point. When Apple announces an iOS update they give a date. On that date all iPhone owners get that update if their device is current enough. The same cannot be said about Android updates. I, however, don't really care. I still love my Nexus One and would never downgrade to an iPhone.
I'm coppin
Motoblur is the ONLY thing holding bk the Droid II. I've seen it on my friends' android phones and it just takes up screen space. Hopefully devs will start churning out custom ROMs as fast as they can.
I hate haters cause their phones are always better than the other company's phone. I'm talking about apple. Ok . You buy an iphone if you like games, apps, and general system smoothness, and an android phone if you like customizing your phone and shit(faster browser..). I guess this comment will be fucking downranked as YOU fandroids still think i should say the droids are the best phones... Personally i've seen lost of reviewers having iphones(jo4lakers, soldierknowsbest, chillafrilla, somebody from phonedog, jon quachi wil have one(you should check this out). So te iphone isn't a bad phone. Just it isn't customizable enough for you fandroids. Good luck choosing your phone;) Cheers!
That's why I now hate Motorola : they won't give the first Droid what they use for the marketing of the second.
And eFuse makes me even boycott them ...
Since WiFi tethering is built into Froyo, I wonder if and how Verizon will charge their customers for tethering?
@Crypto64
Probably the same way sprint did with the Evo I would assume.
@deedeedee
The EVO 4G with 2.1 was already faster than the iphone 4, why would devices with android 2.2 (which is faster than 2.1) be any different?