Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless)
Manufacturer: Motorola Part number: DROID
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- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Despite some design issues and a couple of missing features, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device to date. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smartphone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market.
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CNET editors' review
Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless) price range: $199.99 - $599.99
- Reviewed by: Kent German and Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 10/28/2009
- Updated on:10/30/2009
- Released on: 10/28/2009
The good: The Motorola Droid boasts a gorgeous display and the benefits of Android 2.0, including a faster Web browser, Google Maps Navigation app, and better messaging and contact management. It also offers excellent call quality, long talk time, and improved speed over previous Android devices.
The bad: The QWERTY keyboard feels flat and the dialpad control is restricted to the home screen. Music and video capabilities still trail behind the competition. Dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities would have been a nice addition. The Droid does not support Bluetooth voice dialing.
The bottom line: Despite some design issues and a couple of missing features, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device to date. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smartphone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market.
Editors' note: On November 19, 2009, we updated this review to reflect further testing results.
You have to hand it to Verizon Wireless: though the Google Android operating system now extends to a handful of devices, the carrier was able to get the tech world "excited" about its first Android phone. First known as the Sholes, the Motorola Droid swirled into the gadget rumor mill this summer. And even as Verizon unveiled its television commercial attacking the iPhone, firm details on the Droid remained few and far between. That is, until now.
Officially announced on October 28 and set for a November 6 release, the Droid delivers on much of the hype. The display is gorgeous, the Android 2.0 updates are excellent, and the handset is lightning fast, particularly for an Android phone. We'll refrain from using the dreaded "iPhone killer" expression, but comparisons between the two devices are obvious, and we see the Droid as a real competitor to Apple's device. On the downside, we weren't crazy about the keyboard and dialpad accessibility, the calendars aren't fully integrated, and we'd prefer to see dual-mode (GSM/CDMA) capability. But for Verizon's first pass at Android, the Droid more than delivers. And even better, it's a clear departure from Verizon's locked-down past. At $199, the Droid is on par with T-Mobile's Android device, but it's slightly more expensive than Sprint's devices.
Design and display
At first glance, you might not think the Motorola Droid's design amounts to much. Its build is rather dull and the sharp angles result in a boxy look. But this is a smartphone with a lot of surprises, the biggest being the positively gorgeous WVGA display. At 3.7 inches, it surpasses even the iPhone and is firmly in the bounds of what we consider to be an acceptable size for a touch-screen display. Color support is generous (16 million hues) and the resolution (440x854 pixels) is some of the richest we've seen. We aren't kidding when we say that this display is bright and brilliant with vibrant colors and sharp graphics. It also lends itself well to the welcome Android 2.0 interface updates (more on that later).
Of course, with such a large display, the Droid is rather big (4.56 inches tall by 2.36 inches wide by 0.54 inch thick), but that's a small price to pay for the top-notch display. You'll notice that the Droid is heavy (5.96 ounces) compared with other smartphones, but the trim design keeps it portable. We also welcome the solid feel in the hand, even if the slider mechanism is a bit quirky. The actual sliding motion is quite stiff, but the front face doesn't really lock into place on either end. Indeed, we noticed that even a gentle nudge can start to close the Droid. No, it's not a big deal, but it's something to consider.
The capacitive display's touch interface is quick and responsive and we love the added multitouch capability. As with previous Android phones, there's vibrating feedback only for certain functions (like a "long press"), though you can turn off the haptic feedback completely if you desire. When we selected items and scrolled through long lists, there was no lag time in performing the command (more on that later, as well). You also can customize the display's brightness, backlighting time, and animations. The accelerometer will adjust the display's orientation as you rotate the Droid in your hands, but you can turn this feature off.
Outside of the upgrades from Android 2.0 and the Droid-specific tweaks, the basic interface will be familiar to Android users. You get only three home screens--we prefer the five we got on the Motorola Cliq--but you can customize each pane with widgets. And, of course, the central pane has the Google search bar. The main menu is accessible via the pull tab at the bottom of the display. The menu's design is mostly unchanged. You can move icons around and add shortcuts and folders.
Keypad and controls
Below the Droid's display are four touch controls: Back, Home, Search, and Menu. They perform the same functions as on other Android phones, with the search and menu keys being the most useful. The former activates Google search with just one press, and the latter opens relevant menu commands for various handset modes and features. Though the touch controls are responsive, they're not very big. And at the end of the day, we'd prefer actual physical buttons. We know this all comes down to a personal preference, but that is ours.
In a baffling change from previous devices, the Droid does not have a physical Talk control. Instead, you'll have to access the calling functions through a widget on the display. We're not in love with this change, mostly because we prefer to be able to call up the phone dialer without having to go through the home screen. For example, you have to close the browser if you want to make a call while viewing a Web page. The phone dialer interface is mostly the same. The buttons are square rather than round, but you get access to your call log, voice mail, contacts list, and favorites.
When you open the Droid to display the physical keyboard, the screen orientation will change automatically. Though many users will welcome a physical keyboard, we weren't particularly impressed. The keys are flush and squashed next to each other, which makes it difficult to text quickly or by feel. Also, though the buttons do give a slight downward "push," they're a bit slick and we were thrown off by the "dummy keys" on either end of the bottom row. On the whole it is a better experience than the T-Mobile G1, but typing is not nearly as comfortable as with the Cliq or even with the Samsung Moment. Sure, you'd probably get used to it eventually, but on the first pass we have our reservations.
The letters on the keys are large and backlit for dialing in the dark. Four rows of keys do mean that numbers and common punctuation and symbols double up with letters. That's common on smartphones, so we won't make a big deal and we like that the top row of keys isn't too close to the slider. Fortunately, there are a fair number of additional controls. We welcome the two Shift keys and the two Alt keys (they sit in pairs on either side of the keyboard), the large and convenient space bar, and the menu and search keys. You'll also find the usual back and delete buttons. Additional symbols, however, require a separate virtual keyboard.
Speaking of which, the Android virtual keyboard is largely the same, but Google says it revamped the keyboard layout for faster, more-accurate typing. We haven't noticed specific design changes just yet, but we'll explore a bit more. Also, as Google puts it, "the multitouch support ensures that key presses aren't missed while typing rapidly with two fingers." When using either keyboard, Android 2.0 offers a better dictionary that includes contacts names.
The toggle and central OK button next to the display is easy to use. It can help you browse through the menus and select items, but with the exception of games, we barely used it given the fantastic display. It's flush as well, but it's quite large and accessible. On the downside, however, it does shrink the width of the keyboard. Some users may not mind, but we noticed its impact.
The remaining physical controls consist of a volume rocker and a camera shutter on the left spine. Both are almost flat, but we could find the rocker when on a call. The Micro-USB port is used for a USB cable and (thankfully) the charger. You also use it to connect the Droid with the multimedia dock. We're pleased with the 3.5 millimeter headset jack on the phone's top end. Not only can you use your own headset, but it's also in a convenient place. A stiff power control sits next to the port, while the camera lens, flash, and stereo speakers rest on the rear face. Unfortunately, you have to remove the battery to access the microSD card slot.
Features
The Motorola Droid offers a number of the same core features as previous Android devices, such as the HTC Hero and the Samsung Moment. However, it's distinct in that the Droid is the first smartphone to run Android 2.0, which brings a crop of new features and interface enhancements. For this review, we'll concentrate more on the new rather than the old, but to learn more about some of Android's main functionalities, please check out reviews of other Android smartphones.
Android 2.0 updates
As we mentioned earlier, the home screen and main menu on Motorola Droid don't look terribly different from, say, the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G's at a glance. However, as you use the device, you'll notice subtle changes and enhancements that make the user interface a bit more refined and streamlined; the gorgeous display doesn't hurt, either.
Also, although it's a Motorola phone, the Droid does not use the MotoBlur software that we saw on the Motorola Cliq. Part of the reason is that the Droid is targeted for a bit of a different audience than the Cliq (read: older, more business-oriented) so it didn't really jibe with the experience that Moto and Verizon want to offer to its customers, and we think that was a good decision. In MotoBlur's place, there is a Facebook widget on the Droid that you can use to update your own status and scroll through your friends' updates. Other preloaded widgets and shortcuts include YouTube, a corporate calendar, and something called "Power Control" where you can turn on/off your wireless connections, adjust brightness, and so forth--quite handy.
Some other minor changes include the slightly revamped onscreen dialer mentioned in the Design section, as well a new lock screen that features a sliding curve that allows you to unlock the phone as well as adjust the its volume simply by dragging your finger from one side of the screen to the other.
E-mail, calendar, and contacts
Perhaps one of the top highlights of Android 2.0 is the expanded capabilities of the personal information management tools, including e-mail, calendar, and contacts.
The Droid now offers native Microsoft Exchange synchronization out of the box for e-mail, calendar, and contacts, in addition to support for Gmail and POP3 and IMAP accounts. Note that only Exchange and Gmail offer push delivery, while POP3 and IMAP messages are retrieved at user-specified time intervals, starting at every 5 minutes up to every hour. With Android 2.0, you can have messages from various accounts displayed in one unified in-box; messages are color-coded by account so you can visually differentiate them at a glance. Of course, you can also choose to separate them if you like to keep your personal and work lives separate.
Unfortunately (well, depending on your preference), it doesn't appear that you can combine work and personal calendars as you can on the Palm Pre. Instead, you'll find separate apps for your corporate calendar and your personal one. The corporate calendar is full featured in that you can send messages to meeting attendees, see who has RSVP'd to an event, and/or create your own invites and have it all synced back to your PC.
With the support for various accounts, contact management could get a bit dodgy, but the Droid offers a pretty smart contact management system. Similar to the Palm WebOS Synergy feature, the Droid merges contact information from various accounts, Exchange, Gmail, and Facebook, and combines them on a single contact card for an individual. When you pull up a contact, you'll then be able to see the contact's Facebook status, photos, various e-mail addresses, IM handles, and so forth.
There's also a handy Quick Contact feature: you simply tap on a contact's photo and a toolbar offers you the various ways to get in touch with that person. It's also smart in that you can choose to sync all your Facebook contacts or just those who are already in your contacts database.
Browser
Android 2.0 also brings some improvements to the Web browser, which now supports HTML5. You can add visual bookmarks and toggle between multiple windows through a simple list view. What's more, thanks to the aforementioned multitap support, you can now double-tap on the screen to zoom in and out of Web pages. It's certainly easier than tapping the magnifying glass numerous times, but we still like the simplicity and ease of use of the pinching gesture used on the iPhone or the Palm Pre.
Most importantly, though, the browser feels faster. With a cortex A8 processor and support for Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A network, CNET's full site loaded in 14 seconds while CNN's and ESPN's mobile sites came up in 8 seconds and 5 seconds, respectively. For comparison, we checked out the same sites on the Samsung Moment for Sprint and the Moment's browser results were 40 seconds, 9 seconds, and 8 seconds in the order listed above.
Finally, while the Droid's browser doesn't have Flash Lite support, it does have a plug-in that will support Adobe's Flash 10 player when it's available. We also like the refurbished browser interface that includes bookmark thumbnails.
Universal search
With all this information stored on the Droid and the World Wide Web in the palm of your hand, search is key and the Droid certainly delivers on that front. From the home screen, you can easily enter terms into the Google search box either by typing or using Google Voice search and the Droid will search the Web, your text and multimedia messages, your contacts, and your multimedia library for any relevant results. It can search through messages, but you must be in your in-box to do so.
Google Maps Navigation
The Motorola Droid is equipped with GPS/A-GPS, but what's different is the new Google Maps Navigation app. While still in beta, you can now get voice-guided, text-to-speech directions, instead of just text-based instructions, on Google Maps. And the best part? It's free. You don't have to sign up for a monthly subscription or pay a day-use fee for a location-based service, such as VZ Navigator, and in fact, VZ Navigator isn't even offered as an option.
Google Maps also offers layered maps with traffic data, satellite view, and Google Latitude. You can perform searches simply by typing a term, or you can use Google Voice search and speak a business name or general category right into the phone. Once done, Google Maps displays your search results; you can tap on a result, which will bring up numerous options, including navigation, call, or street view. While all of this is wonderful, there are some limitations. For example, you can't plan multidestination trips.
Even with its restrictions, we were very impressed with Google Maps Navigation. We used the Droid for several trips, including one from the Marina District of San Francisco to Oakland International Airport. The phone's GPS found our position in less than a minute and created a route just as quickly, and results were similar in subsequent tests. The maps were bright and clear on the Droid's gorgeous screen, and as you drive along the route, upcoming turns are displayed on top of the display while your current street is located on the bottom right. There's also an option to switch to satellite map view, which is very cool.
The voice-guided directions are loud and clear, but the voice sounds a bit more robotic than most and the text-to-speech pronunciation wasn't quite as good. That said, these minor issues didn't hinder us from understanding the instructions or getting to our destination. En route to the airport, we did briefly lose our GPS fix when we first got on the Bay Bridge, but the Droid was able to quickly get its lock back. It was just as fast with route recalculations. One note about the Google Maps Navigation: it requires a data connection to work so if you happen to wander out of a coverage zone, the maps won't update even though the GPS will continue to track your position. Also, should you happen to get a phone call while driving, the Droid will display a call screen as usual, and you can choose to accept or ignore the call. If you choose to take it, Google Maps Navigation will continue to run in the background but won't give you turn-by-turn instructions until you're off the phone.
Our biggest complaints with Google Maps Navigation right now is that it doesn't always come up with the most efficient routes. For example, after exiting the freeway for the Oakland airport, it told us to take a small side street to get to the main entrance. While this route certainly takes you to the airport, we could have just stayed on the road we were on for a more direct path to the airport. Also, on our way back from the airport to San Francisco, it randomly told us to make a U-turn while on the Bay Bridge. The capability to create multidestination trips would also be nice to see in a future update.
That said, Google Maps Navigation is an awesome application, especially since it's free. The voice search capabilities are especially cool and useful for finding points of interest and yielded fairly accurate results in our tests. We also like that the app shows a street view of your final destination, so you get a better visual of the building. With a few added features and enhancements to the interface, Google could certainly change the business of location-based services and navigation in general.
We should note that a separate car mount will be available for $30. Once docked to the car cradle, the Droid will automatically display a navigation menu from where you can plan a trip, view maps and directions, and search businesses. Undocked, there's an app called Car Home that shows the same options.
Multimedia
One area that remains relatively untouched by Android 2.0 is the built-in media player. There aren't any major enhancements to the player in terms of interface or functionality, which is too bad. You still get support for MP3, AAC, AMR-NB, WAV, MIDI (to name a few), and Windows Media Audio 9 formats and the player includes shuffle, repeat, and playlist creation. You can advance and revisit previous tracks by tapping the forward and back buttons or you can swipe the album covers using the touch screen. Unfortunately, there is no syncing software to help you manage and transfer your music. As it is right now, you have to use the old drag-and-drop method using the USB cable or sideload them using a microSD card.
Of course, you can also download songs via the Amazon MP3 store. The store allows you to browse by album, song, artist, or genre. You can download the DRM-free songs over Wi-Fi as well as Verizon's 3G network, though the Droid advises you switch to Wi-Fi when possible since it's faster. We downloaded several tracks from Amazon using the carrier's 3G network and it took an average of around 1 minute and 15 seconds from purchase to download.
Music quality was quite good. Thanks to the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, we plugged in our Bose On-ear Headphones and enjoyed rich-sounding songs. We listened to a variety of music, from punk rock to pop to classical, and found a nice balance between treble and bass. Songs even sounded decent coming from the phone's speakers. There was plenty of volume and while slightly harsh, the audio wasn't as tinny as it is on some other smartphones we've tested.
Motorola offers a multimedia dock accessory, which also is sold separately for $30. When you slip in the Droid you get a nifty digital clock interface with instant access to local weather, the media player, the photo gallery, and the alarm clock. You can even change the backlighting color for a softer look. The dock is very handy as a stand for watching videos and you can connect the charger to power the phone while it's inserted. Unfortunately, a wired headset is not included in the Droid's box.
As with other Android devices, there's a dedicated YouTube app. You can comment on clips, favorite them, or share videos via e-mail and Facebook, as well as view them in high quality if available. Obviously, load times and quality depend on the video, but in general, we found that video playback was smoother and didn't require much rebuffering. One of the features that Motorola and Verizon highlighted when giving us a demo of the Droid was its multimedia capabilities, but we think that Google really has to step it up and make more moves, like expanding the video capabilities (for example, the capability to purchase videos from other services), in the near future to make the statement really ring true.
Camera
The 5-megapixel camera takes pictures in three resolutions and boasts a slick user interface. For example, it's now easier to switch to video mode. With previous Android phones, we've complained about the lack of camera editing options. Fortunately, Android fixes that problem by adding four white balance settings, several "scene" modes (night, landscape, sunset, and so on), three image quality choices, an autofocus, a macro setting, and seven color effects. The Droid also has a dual-LED flash.
Camcorder settings are fewer, but you can edit the video quality and the length allowed for each clip. You can film for 30 seconds if you're adding the video to a multimedia message, but you can go for up to 30 minutes in normal mode. When finished with your clips and shots, you can store them on the phone or transfer them off using e-mail, a multimedia message, Bluetooth, the memory card, or a USB cable. You even can upload shots directly to Facebook and Picasa with geotags.
Photo quality was decent, but not spectacular. Though colors were bright, our images were a tad fuzzy and had a pinkish tone. The flash adds a decent amount of light, but still is a bit dim in completely dark situations. Video quality is actually fairly good--it could handle action better than its Android counterparts and there was little pixelation. Indeed, a closer look at the specs told us why. Not only do videos record at a 720x480 resolution, the Droid films at 24 frames per second (fps) (video playback can go up to 30fps). You can access the media gallery directly from the camera interface. Once there, the normal Android slideshow interface lets you view your work.
Android Market
You can download free and paid apps and games from the Android Market. The Market's interface received a much-needed upgrade with 1.6--we like the white background and the more intuitive search. Android 2.0 doesn't appear to offer any additional changes, which is fine in the short term. On the other hand, the quantity and quality of apps continues to grow every day. For updates and reviews of available Android apps, visit our Android Atlas blog. Of course, you must store apps on the handset's integrated memory, which is limited to 512MB ROM and 256MB RAM. The Droid's memory card slot is only for saving photos, music, and other attachment files. You get a 16GB card in the box, but the slot is compatible with cards up to 32GB.
Basic features
Essentials include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a calculator, and an alarm clock. And though we've said it before, we want Android to offer additional organizer options like a world clock, a notepad, a file manager, and a to-do list. Beyond the basics, you'll have 802.11b Wi-Fi, USB mass storage, Google voice search, Google Talk, instant messaging, visual voice mail, PC syncing, and speaker-independent voice dialing. Stereo Bluetooth is also onboard, but Android 2.0 adds object push and phone book access profiles.
Internal performance
The Droid makes a big leap in internal performance. Compared with its rather sluggish Android predecessors, the Droid is lighting fast when opening applications and menus, scrolling through lists and switching display screens. The integrated 600Mhz processor no doubt helps, but we came away impressed and almost amazed with the Droid's internal performance and its capability to run multiple applications at once.
Call quality and performance
We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO Rev. A) Motorola Droid in San Francisco using Verizon service and call quality was excellent. We enjoyed crisp-sounding audio on our end, with little-to-no background noise, so we had no problems hearing our callers or using an airline's voice-automated response system. The signal was strong and consistent in most locations.
Our friends also had good things to say about call quality, though they could hear a slight echo at the end of sentences when we activated the speakerphone. On our side, we had no problems with the speakerphone; volume was plenty loud, with no disruptions. The Droid has a Hearing Aid Compatibility rating of M3 and T3.
We didn't have any dropped calls during our testing period and had no problems pairing the smartphone with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset or the Motorola S9 Active Bluetooth Headphones. Bluetooth headset call quality was satisfactory
Unfortunately, the Droid does not support Bluetooth voice dialing or commands. In order to use the Voice Dialer feature, you first must select the icon from the main menu (you can move on a shortcut to the home screen). After speaking your command, you then must confirm it via a prompt on the touch screen. Though we found the voice dialing feature to be quite accurate--it successfully picked up a command when we were a few feet away--it is not an ideal scenario for people who need to be completely hands-free. We hope this omission is corrected in a future software update.
We admit we're disappointed the Droid doesn't have dual-mode capability for domestic CDMA networks and GSM networks abroad. The Droid is a nice device and we would hate to leave it at home when we left the country. Such capability would also be of great benefit to business users, who are among the Droid's main target market.
The Droid has a rated battery life of 6.4 hours talk time and 11.25 days standby time. We beat the promised talk time in our tests for a total of 7 hours and 35 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the Motorola Droid has a digital SAR rating of 1.49 watts per kilogram.
User reviews
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Motorola Droid: Refreshingly Customizable
by Hanoveur on November 9, 2009
Pros: Almost every part of the Droid is customizable. The screen is gorgeous. Creates a nice uninterrupted workflow.
Cons: The amount of freedom this phone gives you is very overwhelming at first. I'd rather have the trackball than the directional pad. Some of the current apps don't scale to the size of the screen. Facebook app needs some work.
Summary: I was an Apple iPhone user for about six months. Then the day I decided I wanted to use Google Voice came the same day Apple yanked that app out ...
Summary: I was an Apple iPhone user for about six months. Then the day I decided I wanted to use Google Voice came the same day Apple yanked that app out of their store. I was furious and decided I was a 38 year old man who should be able to make decisions as to which Apps I want to purchase. Then Apple lied, and AT&T lied to the FCC... add those things with the dropped calls I kept getting from AT&T. I was ready to return to Verizon...and then the Droid appeared and I had a great reason to go back. I didn't care about the $135 I had to pay to break my contract...in the long run, my sanity and my freedom was much more important.
I started a bit torrent on my PC at home remotely using an app I found in the Market. It texted me to let me know the torrent was finished.
After using the Droid for about four days, I'm happy to say...farewell APPLE!
I'm going to go into some features a lot of people haven't talked about...and this is from the perspective of a former iPhone user.
The fact that I can go to any of the songs on my phone, open a menu and select, "Make into Ringtone" says it all. There are no walls. There is no big-brother telling you what you can or cannot do on your smart phone. I have different notification tones for my two email accounts, my voice mail and have my favorite Stereolab song as my main ring tone. I didn't have to buy anything from the iTunes store in order to have a song as my ringtone.
The Market has this great feature where you can try any app you want for a limited time...if you don't like it, you can just uninstall it and get a refund. No hassles, no risk...no reason to wait for a lite version. The Market also contains applications such as emulators and other things I know that Apple would lose sleep over having in their app store.
The phone dialer has some nice features such as being able to have the phone not ring for certain numbers, or sending certain contacts directly to voice mail.
I am using Winamp to synchronize my music to my Droid and it works flawlessly. Goodbye iTunes! Hello being able to listen to music at work without having to synchonize my device to my work computer, accidentally losing all the music on my device in the process.
FOLDERS! The droid lets you create folders! Freedom to organize your apps! What a concept! No more page after page of square icons that you needed a special application in iTunes to organize.
With the Better Keyboard application, I was allowed to choose from a variety of on-screen keyboards and I didn't need a permission slip from Verizon to do it!
Voice search! It works extremely well and is great for those quick look-ups while you're out and about.
When someone messages you and you're watching the latest TED talk, it doesn't suddenly stop your video to throw a huge message up and stop your video. It will politely notify you via the tone you've assigned and place the notification at the top of the notifications bar. This bar can then be pulled down from almost any app so you can then do a quick email/voicemail/IM check before going back to whatever you were doing. You wont realize how great this is until you start using it.
Then there is the built in GPS, multi-tasking, Google Voice with transcribed voice mails, a voice dialer, a decent physical keyboard, and eventual Flash 10 support.
...all this freedom and you don't have to worry about someone taking it away with their next software update...and then waiting for some hackers to release the next jailbreak to get your freedom back.
As I said, I don't need some authoritarian telling me what I can or cannot have or do on my smart phone. Verizon has definitely taken the right approach when it comes to marketing the Droid against the iPhone. Add this with the gorgeous screen and a very fast and snappy Android 2.0 operating system...and you definitely have a winner.
Updated on Nov 19, 2009
I also edited a song I downloaded from Amazon.com into a ringtone via RingDroid...another app in the Android Market.
Does Apple have an app for either of these things? I didn't think so. (unless you Jailbreak)
Two weeks with the Droid and I'm not missing my iPhone one bit. In fact, the Droid is much more useful to me than the iPhone ever was because the developers for the Android are allowed to make useful apps without them being rejected because they provide too much functionality.79 out of 82 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very good phone (iPhone comparison)
by Kevin8se7en on November 7, 2009
Pros: Call Quality
Speakerphone
Touch Screen
Internet Speed
There are too many pros to list honestlyCons: None so far
Summary: 1st off I want to say that i'm not some anti-apple idiot. I like the iPhone, I always have but i've never wanted one because I use to ...
Summary: 1st off I want to say that i'm not some anti-apple idiot. I like the iPhone, I always have but i've never wanted one because I use to have ATT and know how bad it can be. I have never OWNED an iPhone but I have used an iPhone 3GS when my buddy went to England for 4 days. as far as I know, it was NOT jailbroken and seemed to work fine.
That being said, it's a lot better than the iPhone I used. Both screens are great, both phones are nice and thin and feel like they are quality devices. Battery life is about the same from my experience as well. A lot of people are trying to bash the Droid's keyboard but honestly, it's not that bad. It's a pretty good keyboard. You do have to get use to it but once you do, it's fine. It's not a GREAT keyboard like the Samsung Rogue's for example, but it gets the job done. The camera is fantastic. The flash works well but it's not meant for pictures in pitch black. The screen is very responsive and the customizable screens are great. The battery charges from 0% to 100% in about 2 full hours which is reasonable.
Now for the Apps.
The Apps store looks great and is easy to use just like the iPhone. There isn't as many apps as the iPhone but honestly, I found every app I could think of wanting and they were all free. Weather, Sports, News, Calculators, games, fart noises, soundboards, magic 8 balls, dice.. basically anything you can imagine seems to be available for free. All the Apps seem to work great too. I'd like to know what kind of Apps the iPhone has that Android doesn't because like I said... I found everything I wanted.
My favorite part of the phone is the multitasking. I like surfing the web, which is VERY fast by the way, while listening to Pandora radio and checking my e-mail and text messages all the same time. It's a nice feature.
The iPhone is great and all but there are a few key features this phone has that make this better. The Camera and flash, multitasking, keyboard and the network make it better. I don't care wether the battery is removable or stupid things like that. Verizon is a lot better than ATT and that's a huge factor.
If I had an iPhone, would I sell it and move over to Verizon and the Droid? maybe... it depends. If your in a great ATT 3G area like San Francisco for example, then your iPhone wont drop calls and the internet will be fast so it depends how much you value a better camera, a real keyboard and multitasking. Overall, i'd still switch but it's debatable. On the other hand, if you have "spotty" ATT coverage and drop calls sometimes and have little to no 3G coverage.. yes it's definitely worth switching. You dont have to worry about calls dropping or slow internet with Verizon. That and you get a few key features that are important.. to me anyways.
EDIT: The free Google GPS is great too... im glad verizon isnt charging extra for that.49 out of 50 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I love this phone and it works great for me!
by ManoDestra777 on November 7, 2009
Pros: Droid has a quick, well-polished, clear web browser. The screen is absolutely brilliant. Despite other reviews that I had heard, I have no problems typing with either the physical/virtual keyboard. The Google Maps application is astoundingly good.
Cons: The music/media syncing and loading is not great. It would be nice if there was a way to not just drag and drop music onto the phone. The camera is ok, but not great, although the problems could be solved with a firmware update.
Summary: I presently live in Southwestern Minnesota. I am a dedicated Mac user (I was turned in the days of the Intel Chipset switch) and have always wanted an iPhone. Of ...
Summary: I presently live in Southwestern Minnesota. I am a dedicated Mac user (I was turned in the days of the Intel Chipset switch) and have always wanted an iPhone. Of course, AT&T's network doesn't extend all the way here and into South Dakota, where I primarily work. I had always hoped that Verizon would eventually get something like the iPhone, or that AT&T would extend it's service.
I tried out the BB Storm and Storm2, but I did not have a good experience typing, using the browser, or even using the general e-mail functions on either of these devices. Of course, then I saw the iDon't commercials, and started hearing about the Droid on CNET.
After checking things out online, watching unboxings, previews, and getting all the other information, I finally decided that I would give the Droid a chance, and hope that it might be a smartphone that I would enjoy as much as my toying of the iPhone in the Apple Stores.
It was worth it.
I have had this phone for two days so far, and so far, I have had nothing but fantastic things to say about it. The screen looks fantastic, clear, and well-polished. The browser is quick and snappy. The whole operating system is easy to use.
While many people did not like the flush angle of the keys of the physical keyboard, I had no problems using it, or typing some quick e-mails. The virtual keyboard was just as responsive as the iPhone 3GS, and to me seemed to be as accurate when typing.
My favorite part was the App Store and the Google Maps Navigation in the phone. I finally have access to a decent App store, and downloaded about 6 apps in just a few minutes. On my way home, I tried out the GPS/Google Maps system while streaming music from Pandora. Even in the low reception area of Southwest Minnesota that I live, I was able to stream music, while getting turn-by-turn directions from my phone. Fantastic.
There are a few things that keep it from getting the full five stars in my opinion. First, the camera is pretty good, but doesn't seem like it is 5.0MP or as fast as I had seen. All of that could be fixed in a update however, so I won't judge harshly on that. The other thing I wish could be a little bit better is the syncing of my music to the phone. Right now, I have to drag and drop the music that I want onto the phone, and it gets a little annoying at times, given the ease of my syncing with my iPod. Maybe that is something they can fix, but right now, it's lacking just a little behind.
All-in-all, both the iPhone and the Droid have their strong suits. I really like having an actual physical keyboard on my phone. And the turn-by-turn Google maps is stellar. The Android Marketplace offers a great number of apps, and I look forward to using my phone all the time.
The iPhone strengths lie in it's media syncing and huge App store. It really will just depend on your personal experience with the phones and the networks that they are on.
I already have friends who are giving me a hard time, saying "The iPhone is still way better," or that the Droid is just a "copy" of the iPhone. However, for a guy who gets no AT&T coverage, this is a great, if not better option than the iPhone. I love this phone and would recommend it to anyone looking for an iPhone replacement/alternative.
And besides, how can you hate a green little robot?33 out of 33 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best Smartphone available on Verizon...
by LMacNeill on November 8, 2009
Pros: Google Navigation, unbelievably incredible touch-screen with fantastic responsiveness, super-fast CPU, multitasking, physical and virtual keyboards, the Verizon network, 5MP camera with LED flash, Android 2.0.
Cons: Physical keyboard is small so it's something you have to get used to (if you can), no physical talk button, no voice-dialing thru Bluetooth. On my particular unit, the USB cable will be "disconnected" if you twist the phone at a certain angle.
Summary: One other thing I disliked about this phone is the fact that I couldn't figure out a way to automatically transfer my contacts from my old phone (Motorola KRZR ...
Summary: One other thing I disliked about this phone is the fact that I couldn't figure out a way to automatically transfer my contacts from my old phone (Motorola KRZR K1m) to the Droid. The Verizon Backup Assistant wouldn't work on the Droid to assist me in the transfer... So I had to manually type in all my contacts yesterday -- perhaps a full instruction manual (not included in the box) would've given me some hints on how to transfer my contacts...
UPDATE: My comment about the USB cable becomming "disconnected" when I turned the phone to a particular angle -- well, it turns out the cable itself was defective, not the phone. So if you're having that problem -- get a new cable first!
All that manual typing did have one advantage (if you want to see it that way) -- it got me used to that keyboard very quickly. I must say the keyboard is not THAT bad. I have fairly large thumbs, and I had no problems typing on it after a few minutes of getting used to it. The Virtual Keyboard in Landscape mode is better, however. But, if you absolutely must have a physical keyboard (like me) then you'll be satisfied with this one (not super-happy with it, but satisfied.)
One thing that CNet noted, that I didn't have a problem with on my phone, is the slider. It's not as stiff as they made it out to be, and it DOES lock in place in both the open and closed positions. Perhaps their review-unit had a faulty slider.
The call quality has been fantastic so far. When I used the speakerphone, people could tell I was talking to them on a speakerphone, but they could hear me just fine, and I could hear them. My Jawbone-II Bluetooth headset paired up with the phone easily, and works very well with the phone. My only real complaint is the lack of Bluetooth-activated voice dialing. You have to press a "Voice Dial" button on the home screen (after you create a shortcut to it from the Apps Menu) in order to activate Voice Dialing. To get to the home screen when the phone is idle requires pressing the Power/Unlock button on the top of the phone, then unlocking it by sliding the "unlocker" on the touch-screen in just the right manner -- then you're finally at the home screen and you can press the Voice Dial button. That's NOT a good thing when you're driving. Having said all that -- I'm quite certain that it's a relatively easy software fix to correct that problem, and hopefully Verizon/Google/Motorola will listen.
The music and video quality are excellent. Having no software on your PC that will automatically sync your music to the phone is a bit of a drawback -- and is the main reason that this phone is not an "iPhone killer." iTunes (despite their godawful DRM) is still the best music store-and-software combo out there, and this phone doesn't change that. But once you've gotten your music onto the Droid, playing it is quite easy, creating playlists is no problem at all, the sound-quality is great, and it will play in the background while you browse the web, or update your Facebook page, or whatever you want to do. Video playback is also extremely good -- I was able to browse YouTube with absolutely no problems whatsoever, and had no issues with the quality of the video streamed to my Droid in either 3G mode or WiFi mode.
The built-in camera is excellent (for a phone). You can't compare the built-in camera to a "real" camera, but when comparing it to other smartphone cameras, it's the equal of any of them, and better than many of them. The video-recording is also very good for a smartphone -- definitely not DVD-quality; but very good for a phone. Since you'll probably always have the phone with you, and not necessarily a separate camera with you, it will perform nicely when you need to record video or snap a quick picture. The still-photo function is slower than a "real" camera as well -- but I think that's probably just a matter of a couple of software tweaks to make it better. Overall, for a smartphone-camera, I'm quite happy with it.
Attaching it to my WiFi wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done, either, because there was no way (that I could figure out) to cut-and-copy my WPA2-PSK key from my Laptop to my Droid, so I had to type it in manually. Got it wrong the first time, and there was no way to edit the key after I'd tried to connect, so I had to re-type the whole key again (being MUCH more careful this time to get it right.) But once the key-issues were worked out, WiFi worked perfectly.
Battery life is not better and not worse than other smartphones. I played with it for MANY hours yesterday, and it was just fine. If you're constantly pushing it to the max, keep a charger handy. If you use it like a normal person (not pushing it to its maximum potential all the time) you'll easily get a full day's use out of the battery without needing a recharge. Plus, you can always buy a spare battery...
Overall, I'm very happy with this phone. It's about time Verizon customers got a good smartphone, and they gave us a great one! If you could finally use an iPhone on Verizon's network, then I would probably still pick the iPhone. But with iPhones being stuck on AT&T's network, there's no contest -- Droid is the best choice, hands-down.
Updated on Nov 11, 2009
Updated on Nov 16, 2009The lack of Bluetooth-activated Voice-Dialing is an issue listed on Google's site. Please go to http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=1181 and click on the star to the left of the issue title. The more people who do this, the more likely it is that Google will bump it up to a High Priority issue -- it's currently listed as a Medium Priority issue. This is truly something that needs to be fixed, and soon. But it's not a deal-breaker for me -- I still love my Droid, I just wish it had the Bluetooth-activated Voice-Dialing.
Updated on Nov 16, 2009I've purchased the Multimedia Dock since I wrote this review, and I must say that it really adds a new dimension to this phone, that I don't think is available on any other smartphone anywhere. My Droid has replaced the clock-radio on my bedside table. Plus the Dock charges the phone, so when I wake up in the morning, the phone is ready to go for the whole day. It was $30, and was worth every penny. Very cool device!
One more note -- if you have a Mini-USB charger for an old phone (like, say, a car-charger) you do NOT need to buy a new car-charger for your new Droid. Just purchase a MiniUSB-to-MicroUSB adapter plug (available for about $5) and your old Mini-USB charger should work perfectly well to charge your new Droid.
Updated on Nov 18, 2009User Manual: The full user-manual can be downloaded online from Motorola's website. Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/yh759yc
Updated on Nov 23, 2009Still lovin' my Droid! A new comment on the Battery Life: I've noticed that the battery life when you're using it as a phone only -- not browing the web or playing games, etc. -- is actually VERY good! Even better than my old Motorola KRZR K1m. When you add web-browsing and game-playing to the mix, however, the battery life becomes about average, like I said in my review.22 out of 22 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Droid Changes the Game
by jexner325 on November 7, 2009
Pros: Screen is Unreal, Wi-Fi, 3G, Operating System is Cutting Edge, Customizeable, Virtual Keyboard is fantastic, Surprising size for capabilities, Apps are solid
Cons: Physical keyboard is medicore, Styling may not please everyone, no multitouch yet
Summary: I am new to the Android OS, and so far, I am very surprised and happy with it. I owned an Apple 3GS, and jumped AT&T's ship ...
Summary: I am new to the Android OS, and so far, I am very surprised and happy with it. I owned an Apple 3GS, and jumped AT&T's ship after numerous dropped calls and customer service issues for Verizon. Before the Droid, the phone selection for Verizon was slim at best. I had the Storm (horrible), Tour (not much better) and the Storm2 which was an improvement, but still far from great. The DROID reminded me of what I missed about my iPhone and it corrected a lot of issues that I remember about the iPhone as well as other smartphones on the market.
1) Droid truly allows for customization. Yes, i know you can jailbreak your iPhone and go nuts. But you also void your warranty in doing so and risk bricking your phone. Android "allows" people to do what they want and that is truly refreshing.
2) Widgets are fantastic and could become a game changer. To be able to view weather conditions, Facebook status', and scores without having to open an application or leave the home screen is awesome.
3) Phone is fast. Faster than an iPhone 3GS, maybe not. But then again, maybe so. The iPhone purposely does not allow for multitasking so it can appear to be moving at lightening speed. How would it do if it truly supported multitasking with 3rd party apps? Who knows. I have seen some web browser rendering comparisons, but I am not sure if they are comparable as Java may or may not be enabled and can slow down performance. In my experience, the phone is fast.
The biggest issue I see out there is the physical keyboard. Yes, it is average, but atleast it is a physical keyboard for those that need and want it. For me, I use the virtual keyboard as it works perfectly fine for me. The second dislike is the lack of multitouch capability (yet). The Euro version has it, so my hope is that a software update corrects the issue.
Overall, I think the Droid truly is a game changer and could possibly cut into Apple's marketshare and possibly make Apple change its strategy. If you are on Verizon, and are thinking about a smartphone, you would be crazy not to look at this phone. If you are trying to decide between the iPhone and Droid, the decision is very difficult. For me, I don't like dropped calls so I am with Verizon and I like to customize and tweek things, so the Andorid platform makes a lot of sense.20 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a really good smartphone, just not for me.
by jmikereal on November 12, 2009
Pros: fast processor; big, beautiful screen; nicely integrated services; customizable home pages; great reception and call quality
Cons: poor DRM/multimedia support; many app providers don't support the OS yet; cramped keyboard; uneven touch UI
Summary: A good smartphone supports your lifestyle; a great smartphone supports anyone?s. Sadly, the Droid isn?t ready for my world (or vice versa), but that doesn?t mean it ...
Summary: A good smartphone supports your lifestyle; a great smartphone supports anyone?s. Sadly, the Droid isn?t ready for my world (or vice versa), but that doesn?t mean it isn?t ready for yours.
As many reviews have already stated, there are a lot of things to like about this phone. The screen is big, beautiful and highly responsive, and the overall design is fairly compact considering it has a slide-out keyboard. Text and pictures look great in almost all applications and the processor was very responsive with virtually no lag. While the device is a little heavy, the heft feels solid in your hand and isn?t too cumbersome in a pants pocket. The integrated features (search, GPS, Facebook, etc.) are really slick and there are plenty of useful (and useless) apps at the Android Market to support most people's needs, with more being added every day. I also had no trouble setting up synch with both POP3 and Exchange mail accounts, and that latter easily populated my calendar and contacts too. The home page is quite customizable (ala SPB Mobile Shell) putting all your most frequently used apps, contacts, and widgets right where you need them without a lot of tapping and sliding. The notification bar is a slick improvement with better functionality over a similar feature on WinMo devices. The call quality was excellent and the reception is the best of any smartphone I?ve owned. As a communication device with a lot of nice bonus features, this is a great choice.
Despite all these great features, the Droid has both minor and major flaws that will earn it a return trip to Big Red from me. That big, beautiful screen shows finger smudges easily and I felt like I needed to clean it constantly. The boxy design is solid but not as comfortable or sleek in your hand and pocket as other phones with more rounded edges. I found Droid?s physical keyboard a bit too cramped and off-center because of the location of the D-pad, but adequate for those that require it. I?ll still take a good virtual keyboard and the Droid?s is only passable compared to good third-party apps like TouchPal. The UI has a decent, finger friendly interface, but it?s inconsistent in its applications. For instance, you can swipe from one day to the next on the calendar but you can?t swipe from one e-mail to the next or from one photo to the next. ***? There were even times when I was wishing for a stylus or a D-pad (without sliding out the keyboard) to help navigate. Some of the applications also have limitations on their functionality, e.g., you can accept appointment request via Exchange synch.
I could live with all of those minor inconveniences if it did everything else I wanted, but it can?t. There are key applications and features that I use almost every day that the Droid doesn?t support; specifically Rhapsody To-Go, Audible Air, Worldmate Live, Slingplayer Mobile, and tethered/Bluetooth Modem. My biggest concern was the Rhapsody issue which I'm guessing is because of poor or no DRM management, but I couldn?t play any subscription music. I also had great difficulty with playback of any videos. I?m convinced that support for all these features and apps will be available in the near future because of the open source code of Android but I?m not willing to change my lifestyle and go without highly used features while I wait. But if none of these issues are relevant for you, this could be a great phone for you.15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fun and easy to use! Verizon FINALLY got it right!!!
by DAWN1174 on November 7, 2009
Pros: Physical Keyboard - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the keyboard! I think any woman with fingernails will truly appreciate the design!
Multi-app functionality
Google maps GPS function
Easy to sync with other accountsCons: No complete user manual included in the box
Summary: I've owned this phone for less than 24 hours and I LOVE IT! I am by no means a tech-gadget expert, so the features I love are probably minimal ...
Summary: I've owned this phone for less than 24 hours and I LOVE IT! I am by no means a tech-gadget expert, so the features I love are probably minimal compared to much powerful features that I have yet to learn how to use. What's even better is the price I paid. I've been a Verizon customer for quite a few years and my "New Every Two" anniversary had arrived. I actually got the phone for $150 due to the additional discount.
I have been looking at smartphones for quite some time & was extremely frustrated by the fact that I found it difficult to type on ALL of them (iPhone, Blackberry, etc.). However, as soon as I opened up the physical keyboard on the Droid at the Verizon store, I was typing like a pro!!!!
It was extremely easy to figure out how to use the basic functionalities and start downloading apps. While the number of apps currently available for the Droid are not nearly as expansive as that of the iPhone, I think the 10,000 plus currently available will keep anyone more than satisfied for a while.
Verizon is also offering Droid workshops for those of us that are not so tech-savvy and they also give you a 30-day trial period. I opted for the $30 data plan and was told that I would need the $45 package in order to check my work's web-based Microsoft Exchange e-mail server. However, I was able to log in to my work e-mail this morning without any issues. Let's just hope I didn't get charged some stupid fee for my curiosity.
And, by the way, after my Facebook account synced with the phone, the profile pics of friends on Facebook were automatically imported to my Droid's contact list. I thought that was kind of neat.
I am more than pleased with my purchase and it is more than worth it for the price! I am totally hooked & wouldn't switch to the iPhone, even if I had the chance.12 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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IF YOU HAVE VERIZON, YOU NEED THIS PHONE!!!
by zac_huff on November 8, 2009
Pros: The touch screen keyboard
The toggle button on the physical keyboard
Thousands of apps
Big Crystal Clear Display (can watch youtube in HD)
Sound is crystal clear (can clearly stream pandora radio)
Clear Camera
WiFi
Google Navigator
Sound RecognitionCons: The physical Keyboard takes some getting used to
The camera LED flashSummary: This is the best phone out. My friend has an iPhone 3Gs and we've been comparing the two phones a lot. Each has it's own strengths and weaknesses. ...
Summary: This is the best phone out. My friend has an iPhone 3Gs and we've been comparing the two phones a lot. Each has it's own strengths and weaknesses. He seems to point out that he likes the touch keyboard better than the physical keyboard, but then he realized that the Droid keyboard has an auto spellcheck and auto finish feature that makes the touch screen on the droid easier to use than the iPhone. The greatest strength of the Iphone is the abundance of apps. Droid has thousands of apps, but not as many as apple. With time, droid will have just as many apps.
The camera is great! I noticed that the people who are rating this product low don't own one. Several of the Cnet members that rated it low mentioned the camera being bad, but then later said, they aren't satisfied and won't buy one. So my next question is how many videos and photos have they taken if they don't own one? If ambient light is present, the 5 mega-pixel camera is amazing. Like any camera, the LED flash is better than no flash. This is the BEST CAMERA available for a phone. You won't find a phone with a better camera.
The voice recognition is great too. I can find any place I need just by talking to my phone. You get google navigator which includes street view, very cool.
The display is phenomenal. I watch youtube in HD just because I can and it's crystal clear. The sound is great too. If you are getting bad sound, it's because of the quality of the video or audio you are listening to. I plug my phone into the wall every night and go to sleep listening to pandora radio.
The phone is extremely fast and I haven't had any problems with losing my 3G network. There is a power control function where you can reduce the contrast of the phone, shut off the bluetooth, GPS, etc. with the touching of the screen. This greatly improves battery life and so far soo good. I only used about 40% of the battery life yesterday and I showed off the phone a lot.
I hope this review helps. I've had an LG Voyager and a Blackberry Storm. If you have Verizon, this is the phone you want!9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice phone - poor basic functions though
by sheelyc on November 7, 2009
Pros: It's got a great web browser. GPS app is nice. Fast processor. Phone quality is good. Solid feel. I don't have a problem with slide-out keyboard like others have had.
Cons: My biggest complaint about this phone is the comically poor contact manager and calendar. I had a more complex calendar app on my bag phone in the 90's.
Summary: I'm coming from a Treo and the basic calendar and contact functions were so much better. With Agendus on the Palm there is no comparison. Apparently Agendus won't ...
Summary: I'm coming from a Treo and the basic calendar and contact functions were so much better. With Agendus on the Palm there is no comparison. Apparently Agendus won't be available for the Android because of Android technical issues. There is no way to categorize contacts and the calendar is nothing more than a glorified alarm clock. Additionally, there is no way to sync contacts with a desktop version of Outlook without 3rd party software.
I may end up taking this phone back if I can't get a decent calendar and contact app. It's got a lot of nice frills otherwise but I use my phone to make calls and keep track of appointments and this one may not do the trick.10 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Unbiased, fair review. I REALLY wanted to like it...
by Jondoyle24 on November 10, 2009
Pros: Ability to do whatever, whenever. however you want
Physical keyboard (both a pro and con)
Bright colorful screen
The sturdy feel of the phone was nice, and i LOVED the hard CLICK when sliding the keyboard in or out
Standard mini USB charger portCons: Physical keyboard (both a pro and con) - flat, flimsy buttons
WEIGHT - it feels like a brick in my pocket
HOME button on top is in awkward position
GPS software malfunctioned
Camera controlsSummary: Im not an iphone junkie.. nor will be. I have an ipod touch (which i will be comparing the 'touch' parts of too but didnt even like the ipod touch ...
Summary: Im not an iphone junkie.. nor will be. I have an ipod touch (which i will be comparing the 'touch' parts of too but didnt even like the ipod touch AS much as my friends.. so i jailbroke it to make it 'my own'.
The speed of the phone was great when zipping thru loaded webpages or on the home page.
With that said - I have tried several touch screen phones and want SOOOO much to like one but just cant get one im in love with. (Venus, Voyager, Chocolate 3.. of these phones - i either owned and returned or have used a friends phone for an extensive amount of time)
I was excited about the Droid release.. i went opening day 1 hour after the store opened.
The customer service rep was a moron. He didnt sell me the phone, he just told me "well i like the heavy weight because this and that.. its black. i like the touch screen because its a cool feature" and didnt know how to operate a single thing about it.
With that said i went on my own to work it.. and i did for the next 35 minutes. I ended up buying it and have been using it for a while but afraid i will be returning it.
Design: The phone is a bit thicker than i thought it would be. MUCH MUCH heavier.
Screen: big and bright, but tall and skinnier. the home page almost feels a bit squished together. the display is still very nice. i have my doubts regarding the front glass. My neighbor sold me on my ipod touch when he took his out and took his car keys and began trying to scrape and scratch it. NADA.. I asked my sales rep and he said "we were told that this isnt nearly as durable as other touch screens"
Buttons: i am a big guy.. 6'2 and 230 lbs.. the equivilant 'home' button to turn the phone on is a little tiny button at the top of the phone. it was very awkward to turn it on. i didnt like at all. there are also no physical buttons on the face of the phone. the buttons u see are "pressure sensors". so if u push it, unless u have it set with the annoying little vibrate sensor feedback u dont know u pushed something. i am NOT a fan of not having physical call and end buttons.
Keyboard: wonky and uninviting. it wasnt AS bad as some of the other reviews online, but VERY very very flat. the buttons feel and look cheap and flimsy. I didnt like that if i wanted to delete an entire row of something i typed id have to click and hold and hold and hold to delete. My thumbs were getting used to the typing on the smaller buttons on the keyboard, but still - my big thumbs def. had to adjust to it.
Features/Apps:
Media player: not as good as some of the other ones out there. prob would download a patch or update if available. I did like the fact it came with a huge SD card
GPS: I live in the Wash D.C. area, so a well populated highly traveled area. But the gps had me upside down. I was looking at it, and driving south bound but the map was reversed somehow and had me going south bound - but the map was upside down. I know Google maps is a beta but that wasnt even functional.
Camera controls: wonky, and not user friendly. While using the camera it would stall or the software would crash randomly. I could do the click/half click to focus/take pic but it wouldnt "re-auto focus". To take a macro pic of something up close, i would have to get as close as possible to the object and if i moved it would be come blurry.Camera speed and taking pictures was VERY VERY slow as well. I know its "only a camera phone" but if thats supposed to be a big selling point, its not all its cracked up to be.
Just looking at it, i would almost say that the Eris LOOKS nicer, and the desktop of the phone and layout was more attractive.
Im a techy. I love new technology.. and cant wait for the future.
I want so much to like touch screen phones. Some of them are 'ok'.. but the Droid is just not for me.
It is super heavy for a phone, the camera was malfunctioning, desktop didnt blow me away, keyboard really is flat and would take a bit to get used to..
Updated on Nov 10, 2009
The 3g in my area was a little slow and annoying.
The other reveiws said call quality was amazing.. i disagree. it wasnt as good as i had hoped for. Service indoors wasnt that great either.
$200 of the phone and $30 for the data plan and $8 for the insurance.. (so an extra $38 a month ) just isnt worth it.11 out of 16 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Motorola
- Part number: DROID
- Description: Introducing DROID by Motorola, a Smartphone powered by Android 2.0 developed in partnership with Google and Verizon wireless, the nation's 3G network. DROID delivers high-speed web, voice-activated search, a super large touch screen and thousands of customizable apps and widgets from Android Market. With the thinnest full QWERTY slider available on the market, it's a no-compromise super genius in your pocket, multitasking at break-neck pace to get things done.
General
- Product Type Smartphone With digital camera / digital player
- Service Provider Verizon Wireless
- Width 2.4 in
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 4.6 in
- Weight 6 oz
Cellular
- Technology CDMA2000 1X
- Band CDMA2000 1X 1900/800
- Phone Design Slider
- Antenna Internal
- Polyphonic Ringer Yes
- Voice Dialing Yes
- Call Timer Yes
- Conference Call Capability Yes
- Voice Recorder Yes
- Speakerphone Yes
- Wireless Interface IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- Additional Features aGPS, Accelerometer
Communicator Features
- Operating System Google Android 2.0
Messaging & Data Services
- Mobile Email Yes
- Supported Email Protocols POP3, IMAP4
- Internet Browser Yes
- Included Services Android Market
- EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) Yes
Multimedia Features
- Playback Digital Video Formats H.264, MPEG-4, H.263 video and AMR audio, WMV (Windows Media Video)
Digital Camera
- Camera highlights With a resolution of 5 megapixels, this camera phone will give you higher quality pictures than other phones.
- Sensor Resolution 5 megapixels
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Camera Light Source LED light
- Video Recorder Resolutions 720 x 480
- Digital Video Formats H.264, MPEG-4, H.263 video and AMR audio
- Features Picture stabilizer
GPS System
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
Organizer
- Alarm Clock Yes
- Calendar Yes
- Reminder Yes
- Calculator Basic
Display
- Type LCD display
- Display Resolution 800 x 480 pixels
- Diagonal Size 3.7 in
- Color Support Color
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Supported Digital Audio Standards AAC, AMR, MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC +, eAAC+
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Headset jack - Mini-phone 3.5 mm
- Slot Provided 1
Power
- Type Power adapter
Battery
- Technology - Lithium ion
- Capacity 1400 mAh
- Talk Time 385 min
- Standby Time 270 h
Manufacturer info
- Motorola
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Motorola products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer
- Address:
600 N. Highway 45, Suite AS342, Libertyville, IL 60048 - Phone: 847/576-5000
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