We'd broken the news of the
Droid 2's August 12 street date a couple weeks ago, and we're now getting confirmation of that -- at Best Buy, anyhow -- thanks to a couple tips we've received today, including the screen shot above. An actual launch is going to feel like sweet release after what has become the most thoroughly-leaked phone in recent memory, but if you need yet more fodder for your overactive imagination, we'd recommend you follow the break for Best Buy's competitive analysis of the phone, which does a commendable job breaking down all the differences between it and its direct predecessor -- notably the significantly speedier core, the mobile hotspot support, 802.11n, and the onboard storage (though you get a smaller microSD card in the box). Question is, where can we get that
R2-D2 edition?
[Thanks, anonymous tipsters]
posted August 6th 2010 2:29PM
Big screen? LOL.
Sent from my Motorola DROID (Released in December, 2009 with the same size screen.)
@s2m0 besides android phones it really is a big screen
@s2m0
replying from my Motorola DROID, released November 2009 (not December)
@gwhat88 Shit, I knew I'd get it wrong!
@s2m0
No one said bigger -- it was big then and it's big now.
@s2m0
Fail for lack of front facing camera.
Why? They are a gimmick.
@JS
No one cares. It's just a useless spec to tout on paper.
@s2m0 lmao!
@s2m0
I wish you could just upgrade it like a computer. Put in a 1GHz CPU and you'd have the same phone!
@JS
Says iPhone Fanboy's only comeback about this phone
@iPhooey Why the hell do you think iPhone users give a fuck about trying to "stick it to the android fans?" It's just a damn phone. Get over it. I swear to god people on this site and all over the web are acting like this is WWIII. it's really fucking sad.
@bravokiloromeo
You can. It's called rooting and overclocking. My Droid runs @ 1.1Ghz. I have no desire for the Droid 2.
Medium screen
Now can I have Epic 4G release date please :-)
@iLikezGadgets
The Epic was rumored to release the same day... maybe this is why they changed it?
@edoles
I've heard the 11th but I read this post earlier http://mobile.engadget.com/2010/08/06/epic-4g-pre-orders-starting-today/
No concrete evidence and no official announcement from Sprint. Smh
Is it me, or does the LG Ally look a little lonely next to the Droid family.
@Firewave LG Ally is the adopted brother who you know exist but you really dont notice
@Firewave
More like the brother from Everybody Loves Raymond.
Doesn't the Droid X have 512mb RAM?
Yes.
@ai3rocks57
That sheet sucks. It says the Droid Incredible only has 512mb internal storage when it actually has 8gb
@OMJ Nevermind its just in a different spot
@OMJ yeah, I caught that too.
@ai3rocks57
The sheet in wrong on multiple specifications.
I would still take this phone if I was on verizon because I like a slider with a real keypad
Well at least the QWERTY keyboard actually looks useable unlike the original Droid keyboard. God that keyboard is useless next to a G1. Was hoping to see a 4" screen for this, but I guess 3.7 will have to do.
What is DVD video capture?
720 × 576
or
720 × 480
I think it's 720x480. The Droid Incredible does 800x480 so it could be that, too.
@(Unverified) It's both, technically :) NTSC (which we use in the US) is 720x480, PAL is 720x576.
Oh Bestbuy its Froyo that is making the web browser faster, I instantly noticed this after updating to Froyo on my Nexus One. The browser became as fast as being on WiFi but on T-mobile's 3G at 500kbps.
My DROID 1 has been nothing but a pleasure, and Froyo + Launcher Pro Plus has made it so good/stable/quick that it'd be difficult justifying replacing it with such a similar handset.
Either way, Android/DROID is Unstoppable Lately!
@DaHarder
Expect this phone to have a locked bootloader, much like the Milestone and Droid X, making custom ROMs close to impossible with this new Droid version. I personally don't understand what motorola is thinking here but it makes their phones so much less appealing than their competition. Imagine buying a new computer with really great hardware but locked into an almost out dated version of Windows that the manufacturer won't update after six months, a year if your lucky. That's what buying one of Motorola's locked phones is like. Had I known that before I'd never had bought a Milestone....
Just my two cents,
Vic
@wileyvic
Personally, I believe that you're being a bit dramatic here, as the vast majority of Verizon/DROID/smartphone customers don't know or care about such things, and as long as the phone functions properly and they can install/use their favorite apps... All's Right In The World.
For us 'techies', yes... it's a bit off-putting, but Motorola has been pretty supportive with the Android updates thus far, and I don't see that changing.
@DaHarder i have that exact same setup...and it's awesome
@DaHarder
You are very correct, most people would be content, and that's what Motorola wants us to believe is enough for everyone. And yes, up to this point the software support has been adequate but the phone, at least for me, is still quite new and there is talk of no further software updates after (or if even, in the case of the Milestone) it recieves 2.2. Again, I'm ok even with the short life support span, because of course at the pace Android advances its costly for device manufacturers to keep pace. But why lock the bootlader? It makes no sense really. Take for example the G1, which still get ports of froyo complements of the boys at XDA. And again I understand these are buggy imperfect upgrades, but upgrades none the less, and well past the devices intended life span. Which is where my main problem with Motorola is. Am I being a little dramatic? I don't think so. Especially when unlocking the bootloader and letting users handle their own upgrades would cost the company essentially nothing.
Vic
Verizon/Motorola really shouldn't go there. The Droid 2 is nice and the QWERTY looks like it could be better than the Droid's but there's nothing else in it (other than 2.2) that makes it far and away a better phone than the DroidX. Even the Incredible matches up well with the Droid 2 with the exception of the keyboard.
The Droid2 is a great upgrade for Droid owners that want the standard Android spec for 2010 but don't want to give up their QWERTY. For those that don't want the QWERTY then go with the DroidX.
@EliteMonsterHunter
As the owner/user of both the DROID I and the DROID X, I can honestly say that 'ergonomically' they're two completely different beast, and there will be those for whom the larger physical size of the DROID X will prove somewhat unappealing, leaving the DROID II a viable, and functionally very similar option.
Choice is Good.
So why did anyone buy the DroidX when this was always right around the corner?
@aforty /s?
Because of the screen size and other reasons
@aforty
You do realize that not everyone wants a 4.3 screen. Some people want a keyboard as well.
This gives people a choice.
@aforty
I have big hands and the 4.3" screen is perfect for me for typing. A smaller screen more bulk for the slideout (something more to break) and lack of HDMI out.. no thanks.
@cryptic Sorry guys, I didn't realize the specs were actually that much different. I thought the Droid2 would just be a beefed up version (if that's even possible) of the DroidX.
@aforty That's just it. The specs aren't all that different. They both have a 1ghz cpu, 512MBs of RAM and ROM (the sheet is wrong. DroidX has 512mbs) 8GBs of internal storage and 854x480 screen.
The Droid X has a bigger screen (4.3in vs 3.7) but the Droid 2 has a slide out QWERTY and ships with Android 2.2. The question is do you need a slide out QWERTY or not? Do you want 2.2 now or do you want to wait for it?
@NKTizzle Personally, I want both.
@NKTizzle I want EVERYTHING the Droid X has, plus Super AMOLED screen (or whatever in the world will look visible in direct sunlight) and a physical keyboard like the Droid 2 has, and the bigger bottom navigation buttons the Droid and Droid 2 have (not the thin slivery buttons on the Droid X now). Combine all that and you got the best smartphone for me!
R2D2 version or bust!
Cool phone! The Droid X is too big for me...
Hopefully Google will get the horrible streaming audio quality in Android 2.2 sorted by then, else a lot of new customers will notice the issue and not be happy, and the embarrassment for Google will increase significantly.
So basically Motorola's running a 9-month (November 2009 - August 2010) update cycle for the Droid. Not too sure whether to get this or wait for Android 3.0 or the 2GHz smartphone Motorola alluded to earlier this year.