Moto Droid (Verizon's Android Phone)

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

The Droid (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-finally-official-coming-november-6th-for-199/)was officially announced today. Based on dozens of reports I've read, it sounds like a pretty sweet phone. I'm planning to go out next Friday (11/6) to try to snag one based on the Google Navigation alone.

Despite being a tech-loving geek, I've thus far stayed away from the iPhone. I'm excited to finally having the Internet on the go.

[YourLandlord]

The Droid (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/10/28/motorola-droid-finally-official-coming-november-6th-for-199/)was officially announced today. Based on dozens of reports I've read, it sounds like a pretty sweet phone. I'm planning to go out next Friday (11/6) to try to snag one based on the Google Navigation alone.

Despite being a tech-loving geek, I've thus far stayed away from the iPhone. I'm excited to finally having the Internet on the go.

Wow, that does sound nice.

You do know that iPhone does have google maps as it's default map service, right? It doesn't speak to you, but it gives you directions -- for car, walking, or public transport.

Also, i'm confused about the bold part -- is this a reference to ATT poor 3G coverage? Because the iPhone has the internet...

[hc5duke]

Motorola? No thank you. I'll wait for an HTC or Samsung phone with Android 2.0.

(I still have a G1 and love it thus far)

[FireOgilvie]

Motorola? No thank you. I'll wait for an HTC or Samsung phone with Android 2.0.

(I still have a G1 and love it thus far)

What's wrong with Motorola? I don't know much about this subject, but was thinking about getting the Droid.

[DevilAlumna]

Despite being a tech-loving geek, I've thus far stayed away from the iPhone. I'm excited to finally having the Internet on the go.

You do know that there were other "smartphones" long before the iPhone, right? Blackberry, Windows Mobile - all were around pre-2004.

What are your geek credentials again? ;) :D

[DevilAlumna]

Motorola? No thank you. I'll wait for an HTC or Samsung phone with Android 2.0.

(I still have a G1 and love it thus far)

No mention of your new app?

HTC makes a good phone, as does Samsung. But Samsung uses too many proprietary connectors - special charger, special headphone jack, etc. Trez annoying for interop. HTC ftw on that one.

[hc5duke]

What's wrong with Motorola? I don't know much about this subject, but was thinking about getting the Droid.

just being a phone snob ;) I used to write software for phones, and Motorola phones were absolutely the worst in terms of compatibility and overall quality. every phone they've produced since the razr (inclusive) has been absolutely awful (anyone remember the rokr? part of that was steve jobs sabotaging it but that's another story)

to be fair, the droid is getting a lot of good reviews.


No mention of your new app?
Well, if you insist (http://choibean.com/hangeulider/screenshots.html) :p it's pretty much useless for 99% of people. Phonetic keyboard for writing Korean.


HTC makes a good phone, as does Samsung. But Samsung uses too many proprietary connectors - special charger, special headphone jack, etc. Trez annoying for interop. HTC ftw on that one.

pshh, my HTC doesn't even have a headphone jack, you need to connect it via usb!

[Indoor66]

No mention of your new app?

HTC makes a good phone, as does Samsung. But Samsung uses too many proprietary connectors - special charger, special headphone jack, etc. Trez annoying for interop. HTC ftw on that one.

Like I said before, DA, just another good excuse for you geeks to spend more time charging your batts.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

You do know that there were other "smartphones" long before the iPhone, right? Blackberry, Windows Mobile - all were around pre-2004.

What are your geek credentials again? ;) :D

Windows Mobile, hahahahahahah

I think I just proved them.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Wow, that does sound nice.

You do know that iPhone does have google maps as it's default map service, right? It doesn't speak to you, but it gives you directions -- for car, walking, or public transport.

Also, i'm confused about the bold part -- is this a reference to ATT poor 3G coverage? Because the iPhone has the internet...

Google Navigation is a new product for Android 2.0 only at this point. It differes from basic Google Maps in that it does turn by turn directions spoken directions and can search by voice command. It also switches to StreetView when you get close to your destination.

Check out TomTom (http://www.google.com/finance?q=tom2)and Garmin (http://www.google.com/finance?client=ob&q=NASDAQ:GRMN)'s stock prices. Both tanked yesterday after Google announced they'd be eating their lunches.

[YourLandlord]

Google Navigation is a new product for Android 2.0 only at this point. It differes from basic Google Maps in that it does turn by turn directions spoken directions and can search by voice command. It also switches to StreetView when you get close to your destination.


Right, but the fact is -- the iPhone has google maps. And it can give you directions between two places. The only GPS feature it does not have is a voice talking to you (which, on my GPS device, I never use anyway -- far too annoying)

The marginal upgrade of a voice is not worth the celebration that OMG GOOGLE NAVIGATION HAS ARRIVEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SoCalDukeFan]

As I understand it the Android is open source while the iphone is closed and all new iphone apps need Apple's approval.

Will the open source not encourage or make it easier for hackers to send out Android worms etc to sabotage the phone.

SoCal

[juise]

One of my Facebook friends posted this link (http://www.billshrink.com/blog/total-cost-of-ownership-motorola-droid-versus-iphone-3gs-versus-palm-pre/) yesterday, which outlines the total cost of owning the iPhone vs. the Palm Pre vs. the Droid. It also compares a basic feature list. (I'm sure DevilAlumna will join one of the blogs comments in pointing out that the comparison does not include a Windows Mobile phone ;).) I thought it was interesting, though I'm too cheap to spend $1500/year on my cell phone.



Will the open source not encourage or make it easier for hackers to send out Android worms etc to sabotage the phone.

This is an interesting question. I am definitely not an expert when it comes to programming or cell phones. My only long-term experience with a open-source vs. closed source programs is when I switched from IE to Firefox in 2004. In that case, the open source program was much more secure. Maybe with more eyes looking at the code, the "good guys" are more likely to discover the security holes before the hackers do? (Again, I am by no means an expert here.)

[hc5duke]

Will the open source not encourage or make it easier for hackers to send out Android worms etc to sabotage the phone.

SoCal

Not really, but it does make the market full of crap. Well, more full of crap than the iPhone market. Anyone with $25 can post an app on the market and it becomes available within minutes - this might be a good thing for developers, but it's a nightmare for consumers. Actually it's not that great for developers either as it dilutes the market and when monetization becomes an issue, quality of apps drops.

I think what they still should have made the marketplace a very closed place like the iPhone AppStore. Then if you want to add a 3rd party app outside the marketplace, you can still do it, you just have to be careful about it.


One of my Facebook friends posted this link (http://www.billshrink.com/blog/total-cost-of-ownership-motorola-droid-versus-iphone-3gs-versus-palm-pre/) yesterday, which outlines the total cost of owning the iPhone vs. the Palm Pre vs. the Droid. It also compares a basic feature list. (I'm sure DevilAlumna will join one of the blogs comments in pointing out that the comparison does not include a Windows Mobile phone ;).) I thought it was interesting, though I'm too cheap to spend $1500/year on my cell phone.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4054335260_5978f6730f_o.png

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Right, but the fact is -- the iPhone has google maps. And it can give you directions between two places. The only GPS feature it does not have is a voice talking to you (which, on my GPS device, I never use anyway -- far too annoying)

The marginal upgrade of a voice is not worth the celebration that OMG GOOGLE NAVIGATION HAS ARRIVEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know, it looks pretty good to me. Wall St seems impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXK4jKN_jY&feature=related

[YourLandlord]

I don't know, it looks pretty good to me. Wall St seems impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXK4jKN_jY&feature=related

I don't understand why people are impressed.

What's the point of a GPS? To a) see where you are now, b) determine where you want to go, and c) give you directions on how to get there.

The iPhone, using google maps, already does this.

What's the big deal? That it talks to you? Is that really some world-altering event?

The tech world, amplified by billions of blogs, has really started talking up things that aren't, in reality, that big of a deal. Yes, it's always been this way, but it's getting much worse.

[moonpie23]

avg cost of plan? to the penny for 2 yrs?


what's the definition of "price fixing?" again




let's see if MILLIONS of people around the freaking GLOBE line up at midnight before it's available........

[YourLandlord]

avg cost of plan? to the penny for 2 yrs?


what's the definition of "price fixing?" again




let's see if MILLIONS of people around the freaking GLOBE line up at midnight before it's available........

uhhh dude, i know you're all into conspiracy theories and all, but that's why it's called an AVERAGE.

[hc5duke]

uhhh dude, i know you're all into conspiracy theories and all, but that's why it's called an AVERAGE.

it's not "average" in that it's the average price people pay, but the price of what an "average user" would pay. not sure about price fixing, but it does make sense to set your price at or slightly lower than what a successful competitor is charging.

[YourLandlord]

it's not "average" in that it's the average price people pay, but the price of what an "average user" would pay. not sure about price fixing, but it does make sense to set your price at or slightly lower than what a successful competitor is charging.

I know. Or were you responding to moondog's fright that the exact cost (to the penny!) could somehow be known.

[moonpie23]

uhhh dude, i know you're all into conspiracy theories and all, but that's why it's called an AVERAGE.


no, i'm saying that what's odd is, the AVERAGE price is TO THE PENNY.....that's just .....i dunno....something's wrong there.....

[YourLandlord]

no, i'm saying that what's odd is, the AVERAGE price is TO THE PENNY.....that's just .....i dunno....something's wrong there.....

...uh, that's how averages work.

Person A pays $43.25/month
Person B pays $36.51/month

Average: $39.88/month

Does anyone actually pay $39.88 a month? Maybe, maybe not. It's just an average, designed to give you a ballpark figure of what you might also expect to pay.

[DevilAlumna]

Windows Mobile, hahahahahahah

I think I just proved them.

Touche! :D

[moonpie23]

...uh, that's how averages work.

Person A pays $43.25/month
Person B pays $36.51/month

Average: $39.88/month

Does anyone actually pay $39.88 a month? Maybe, maybe not. It's just an average, designed to give you a ballpark figure of what you might also expect to pay.

dood...i know how averges work...

you're missing my point.....i just thought it was odd that THEIR average price (to the penny) was EXACTLY (to the penny) the same as the Iphone's "average price"......

you'd think they would somehow make it seem a better bargin...

[hc5duke]

dood...i know how averges work...

you're missing my point.....i just thought it was odd that THEIR average price (to the penny) was EXACTLY (to the penny) the same as the Iphone's "average price"......

you'd think they would somehow make it seem a better bargin...

I think both of you are misunderstanding the term "average" in this case. What they mean is not the average of what person A..Z pay, they mean that:
Plan A: some basic features $70/mo
Plan B: most of what you would want included $90/mo
Plan C: everything and the kitchen sink $120/mo

Then the "average" plan refers to Plan B, which costs $90. It has nothing to do with the mathematical average or how much each person is paying at all.

Read it as "Average Plan Total Costs" as "total cost of 'average plan'" not "average total cost of a plan"

[YourLandlord]

I don't know, it looks pretty good to me. Wall St seems impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXK4jKN_jY&feature=related

Holy smokes, that guy's right nostril is enormously larger than his left one.

[ivduke]

The biggest deal is that it is available to Verizon users and the Iphone isn't In this area AT+T service is less than desireable..... Verizon is much better and now they have a comparable phone
I don't understand why people are impressed.

What's the point of a GPS? To a) see where you are now,) determine where you want to go, and c) give you directions on how to get there.

The iPhone, using google maps, already does this.

What's the big deal? That it talks to you? Is that really some world-altering event?

The tech world, amplified by billions of blogs, has really started talking up things that aren't, in reality, that big of a deal. Yes, it's always been this way, but it's getting much worse.

[juise]

The biggest deal is that it is available to Verizon users and the Iphone isn't In this area AT+T service is less than desireable..... Verizon is much better and now they have a comparable phone

I was going to bring up that point earlier.

In every area I've lived (and most that I've visited), Verizon's service has been exceptional and preferable to any other. Five years ago I was really concerned with having the latest phone with the the coolest features. Then I realized that all I really needed was reliable coverage. I have not even thought about changing carriers since. I've been with Verizon for ~9 years now and if I were upgrading to a smart phone, changing carriers would be a dealbreaker for me.

[FireOgilvie]

I don't understand why people are impressed.

What's the point of a GPS? To a) see where you are now, b) determine where you want to go, and c) give you directions on how to get there.

The iPhone, using google maps, already does this.

What's the big deal? That it talks to you? Is that really some world-altering event?

The tech world, amplified by billions of blogs, has really started talking up things that aren't, in reality, that big of a deal. Yes, it's always been this way, but it's getting much worse.

The voice directions actually ARE a world-altering event (for me at least). When I'm driving, especially alone and in traffic, I want to be notified when my turn is coming up. It's hard to keep checking on the display, especially if it's not particularly clear on the display what your next move is. Also, when I am on long road trips, it is easy to forget to look at the GPS, but when it tells me that my turn is coming up in 1 mile, it's very helpful. I have a Garmin and it's a total lifesaver. I haven't lived in my current city very long and several times a week I have to drive to areas I have never been (10-30 miles away). Also, when I change my route on the fly for whatever reason (missed turn, traffic, etc) it recalculates and lets me know another way to get where I am going and I don't have to try to figure out what the screen says. I love it that I can just enter my destination and go, and with Google's search options, that would make it even easier than my current method that involves knowing the exact address and city (which is confusing when there are tiny suburbs and townships). Also, street view and satellite view would definitely be an added bonus in that I'd know exactly what my turns look like if I am totally lost.

[alteran]

Right, but the fact is -- the iPhone has google maps. And it can give you directions between two places. The only GPS feature it does not have is a voice talking to you (which, on my GPS device, I never use anyway -- far too annoying)

The marginal upgrade of a voice is not worth the celebration that OMG GOOGLE NAVIGATION HAS ARRIVEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you're missing the fact that the new Android gmaps app does turn-by-turn navigation as well, which is much more useful in a car -- particularly when you make a wrong turn.

[The Gordog]

I don't understand why people are impressed.

What's the point of a GPS? To a) see where you are now, b) determine where you want to go, and c) give you directions on how to get there.

The iPhone, using google maps, already does this.

What's the big deal? That it talks to you? Is that really some world-altering event?

The tech world, amplified by billions of blogs, has really started talking up things that aren't, in reality, that big of a deal. Yes, it's always been this way, but it's getting much worse.

In a lot of places (and more to come) it's illeagal to be on the phone while driving, so if you are alone in the car having a phone that you can put down and let it talk to you is a huge deal.

[2535Miles]

Not really, but it does make the market full of crap. Well, more full of crap than the iPhone market. Anyone with $25 can post an app on the market and it becomes available within minutes - this might be a good thing for developers, but it's a nightmare for consumers. Actually it's not that great for developers either as it dilutes the market and when monetization becomes an issue, quality of apps drops.

I think what they still should have made the marketplace a very closed place like the iPhone AppStore. Then if you want to add a 3rd party app outside the marketplace, you can still do it, you just have to be careful about it.

Great post, I share your sentiments. A marketplace with no quality assurance is a scary marketplace.

[alteran]

Great post, I share your sentiments. A marketplace with no quality assurance is a scary marketplace.

Don't fall for the hype. The Apple QA process is a complete joke. The average application and/or update receives a 6-minute QA review (http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/08/21/40-staffers-2-reviews-8500-iphone-apps-per-week/).

6 minutes. I wonder if that counts the thirty second install?

And contra the counter-hype, Android Marketplace is not a bulletin board where any shmoe can put up just anything and it goes live. There is a minimal QA process to prevent virus foolishness, etc. My guess is Google isn't shameless enough to call that a QA check.

I have an Android phone myself. I love it-- but it sure as heck isn't really an iPhone. (Particularly since I don't have the data plan!)

There's a lot of reasons to go with an iPhone over an Android device-- a LOT of them. But a thoroughly QA'd app store is not one of them.

[hc5duke]

And contra the counter-hype, Android Marketplace is not a bulletin board where any shmoe can put up just anything and it goes live. There is a minimal QA process to prevent virus foolishness, etc. My guess is Google isn't shameless enough to call that a QA check.

The minimal process certainly doesn't involve any real person. I uploaded my application in the marketplace, and when I didn't see any "pending" messages, I was curious. I went to my phone and was able to find it in the Android marketplace. Within maybe 2 minutes of uploading my application. My guess is the only thing they do is make sure the application bundle is compiled correctly and the signature matches.

As an aside, I hate how there are tons of fake apps titled "Facebook Browser" or "Yahoo Browser" -- pretty sure it's all from the same Indian or Chinese company. All it does is load up an app that is a web browser (which takes no programming) with a home page set to yahoo or facebook, and every time the app loads, it displays an ad. I tried out the "Yahoo Browser" because it had the official-looking Yahoo icon, and I wanted to check out another browser. If there was any kind of a QA process, this type of dispicable behavior would not have been allowed to continue, but it does, because there is no review process, at least not one that is stringent enough.

The main reason (as far as I can tell) developers get upset about the iPhone platform is its closed nature, in that you can't download some random app unless you jailbreak your phone, which can also void your warranty and whatnot. The Android platform allows you to download anything you want already - what it needs is not a flea market that the current marketplace is, but a mall like the AppStore.

Alternate idea: Maybe there is room for the current Android Marketplace, but if they are serious about continuing the Android platform for phones, there also needs to be a secondary store, perhaps one that charges developers an annual fee (iPhone = $99/yr) and guarantees X amount of QA per app submitted. They can also publicize the app review status and reasons for rejection, and rejected apps can fall through to the current marketplace, and everyone is happy (or maybe just me and 2535Miles).

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

There are a few more hands-on reviews (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/11/03/motorola-droid-review/)that have come out this week. I'd say that overall they are all positive, although they all note a couple areas of disappointment (keyboard, camera, music).

I pre-ordered mine yesterday.

[alteran]

The minimal process certainly doesn't involve any real person. I uploaded my application in the marketplace, and when I didn't see any "pending" messages, I was curious. I went to my phone and was able to find it in the Android marketplace. Within maybe 2 minutes of uploading my application. My guess is the only thing they do is make sure the application bundle is compiled correctly and the signature matches.

As an aside, I hate how there are tons of fake apps titled "Facebook Browser" or "Yahoo Browser" -- pretty sure it's all from the same Indian or Chinese company. All it does is load up an app that is a web browser (which takes no programming) with a home page set to yahoo or facebook, and every time the app loads, it displays an ad. I tried out the "Yahoo Browser" because it had the official-looking Yahoo icon, and I wanted to check out another browser. If there was any kind of a QA process, this type of dispicable behavior would not have been allowed to continue, but it does, because there is no review process, at least not one that is stringent enough.

The main reason (as far as I can tell) developers get upset about the iPhone platform is its closed nature, in that you can't download some random app unless you jailbreak your phone, which can also void your warranty and whatnot. The Android platform allows you to download anything you want already - what it needs is not a flea market that the current marketplace is, but a mall like the AppStore.

Alternate idea: Maybe there is room for the current Android Marketplace, but if they are serious about continuing the Android platform for phones, there also needs to be a secondary store, perhaps one that charges developers an annual fee (iPhone = $99/yr) and guarantees X amount of QA per app submitted. They can also publicize the app review status and reasons for rejection, and rejected apps can fall through to the current marketplace, and everyone is happy (or maybe just me and 2535Miles).

Thanks for this. I am surprised that the vetting is THAT minimal.

I must concede that while 6 minutes of review by the iPhone App Store doesn't mean much, it really should stop some of the abuses you're referring to, which means it does have some significance that I underrated.

According to the press I've read, the cell phone providers are planning to, in fact, move in the direction you describe by either setting up alternate stores (Verizon) or branded Marketplace "channels" (T-Mobile).

Android is never really going to "beat" the iPhone in functionality for a lot of reasons. But since it has a target, it's going to get closer over time. And as that happens, it's going to put pressure on iPhone pricing.

[alteran]

There are a few more hands-on reviews (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/11/03/motorola-droid-review/)that have come out this week. I'd say that overall they are all positive, although they all note a couple areas of disappointment (keyboard, camera, music).

I pre-ordered mine yesterday.

Would love to hear what you think.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I skipped BestBuy and got it this morning at a VZW store.

So far, I love it. A lot of the reviews by the bloggers focused on the keyboard and the lack of pinch-zoom multitouch in the standard apps. I have to say that I have zero issues with the keyboard, both physical and software. They work great. I've been chatting with a friend on Google Talk throughout the day. The lack of pinch zoom is disappointing, but isn't as much a dealbreaker as I thought it'd be.

The Android Market app store may not have 100K apps, but the 10K that they do have are great. I've played with my wife's iPod Touch quite a bit and I don't think I'm missing any must have apps. Also, Android has Widgets, which are pretty useful. Oh and Google Voice is excellent, you can make all your calls/SMS through it.

One of the cooler features is the Voice Search. You hit a button on the home screen and then speak what you want. "Call John", "Navigate to Washington DC", "Duke Basketball Report", etc. It's Google, so they somehow know what you are meaning to do.

I also really like the contacts syncing. My previous phone's contact, my Gmail contacts, and my Facebook contacts were instantly merged. The are also constantly synced. Address book maintenance was one of those tedious tasks that I've always hated. I'm done with that.

I'm taking it on a trip to Boston tomorrow, so I should have more time to play with it. If you have any specific questions, let me know.

While I'm just an anonymous stranger to most of you, I would basically say this about the Droid. If you want Verizon Wireless and a very cool phone, this is the phone for you.

(one last note - there is almost no Verizon Wireless influence on this phone... this is a very good thing)

[DevilAlumna]

The lack of pinch zoom is disappointing, but isn't as much a dealbreaker as I thought it'd be.

I believe Apple's filed patents on pinch-zoom. And just about anything else multi-touch related.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/26/apple-awarded-iphone-and-multi-touch-patent/

How's the hardware feel? Solid/substantial?

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I believe Apple's filed patents on pinch-zoom. And just about anything else multi-touch related.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/26/apple-awarded-iphone-and-multi-touch-patent/

How's the hardware feel? Solid/substantial?

Definitely a solid feel.

The patents didn't stop HTC or Palm. Both the Pre and the Droid Eris (Htc Hero) have it functional. I suppose google is playing it safe.

[alteran]

Definitely a solid feel.

The patents didn't stop HTC or Palm. Both the Pre and the Droid Eris (Htc Hero) have it functional. I suppose google is playing it safe.

Apple rattled some sabres at Palm regarding multitouch when the Palm Pre came out, and Palm kinda went "go ahead, make my day." The bottom line was that Palm's early entry into handhelds gave them more than enough intellectual property (IP) in the handheld/PDA realm to countersue Apple with-- they might even come out ahead.

HTC's been in handhelds a long time as well, and probably has enough handheld IP to make Apple think twice.

Google, on the other hand, probably doesn't have much handheld IP at all, which is probably why off-the-shelf Android doesn't do multitouch.

Full disclosure: IANAL, this is just what I read in the trade press. If any lawyers want to clear up anything here or correct it, please feel free.

[alteran]

This is mildly off-topic, but I just thought I'd give a heads up to some of the iPhone users in this thread-- you are almost assuredly eligible for a 15% discount on your monthly fees.

Go to the link below and try to find if one of your emails is eligible for the discount:

https://www.wireless.att.com/business/authenticate/

Basically, if you have an email address ending in .gov, .edu, work at a reasonably large company, etc., you can probably qualify. Many smaller businesses may also qualify. It's totally done by email, so even an alumni email ending in "duke.edu" will work.

My brother got the original iPhone shortly after it came out and is currently out of the plan window, but they still lowered his rate.

Good luck.

[hc5duke]

Ooooh just installed a "jailbroken" Google Maps Navigation (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=582256) on my G1 and it's pretty sweet. It's not enough to convince someone to buy a new phone, and it's probably not that much better than a normal GPS you can get from CostCo for $200. But in my mind, it is exponentially better than any map software on cellphones, and especially on a reliable network like Verizon, I would imagine street view + compass + map = awesome. I haven't tried using it in a car yet, but here are some screenshots I took at home:

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=48&pictureid=415
Regular map mode

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=48&pictureid=416
Overhead satellite view

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=48&pictureid=418
Compass + Street View = where it gets fun. If there was a camera + Augmented reality mode, that would be pretty sweet, but that probably wouldn't help drivers.

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=48&pictureid=417
Vertical view, just for the hell of it

[YourLandlord]

GPS devices work off from satellites, which provide coverage anywhere.

Cell phones work off towers, which leaves vast swaths of the US unable to use this "revolutionary" new feature. And if the navigation app requires 3G coverage, that further limits where it can be used.

What good is a navigation feature based off cell phone towers, if you (heaven forbid!) find yourself outside of a city.

[hc5duke]

Cell phones work off towers
Nope. My phone (and most new phones nowadays for that matter) has GPS built in.


if the navigation app requires 3G coverage
It doesn't. Street view probably needs 3G, but if you're on Verizon that shouldn't be a problem.

[YourLandlord]

Nope. My phone (and most new phones nowadays for that matter) has GPS built in.
.

So you're saying if you are in an area with zero coverage for phone calls -- literally no signal -- you can still use the GPS?

[hc5duke]

So you're saying if you are in an area with zero coverage for phone calls -- literally no signal -- you can still use the GPS?

wow you really just don't get it or you don't read what i write at all.

[DevilAlumna]

My phone, AT&T branded HTC Raphael, has a GPS receiver in it, and I use the Bing Mobile app for navigation. It also does turn-by-turn directioning, aerial & birds-eye views, etc.

While I can get a GPS track wherever, regardless of cell signal availability, the mobile app uses the data connection to download the maps of where the GPS says you're located. The phone, obviously, doesn't have enough memory to store a country's worth of detailed data.

So, assuming the Google nav works the same way, you can be located by GPS, but need a cell signal to view it. YMMV.

[alteran]

My phone, AT&T branded HTC Raphael, has a GPS receiver in it, and I use the Bing Mobile app for navigation. It also does turn-by-turn directioning, aerial & birds-eye views, etc.

While I can get a GPS track wherever, regardless of cell signal availability, the mobile app uses the data connection to download the maps of where the GPS says you're located. The phone, obviously, doesn't have enough memory to store a country's worth of detailed data.

So, assuming the Google nav works the same way, you can be located by GPS, but need a cell signal to view it. YMMV.

FYI: there's an app for Android that will do turn-by-turn WITHOUT data. It has a compressed map of the entire US which takes almost exactly 1 gig of my micro SD card. It's called CoPilot.

It's nowhere near as good as a dedicated GPS device, but frequently I don't have my GPS device handy, and I want GPS. And it's nice not to depend on the data signal.

[alteran]

So you're saying if you are in an area with zero coverage for phone calls -- literally no signal -- you can still use the GPS?

You can if you have an Android phone with a gig of memory. I think it works with iPhone, too, maybe some other OS's.

[YourLandlord]

wow you really just don't get it or you don't read what i write at all.

well, tough guy, you're contradicted below, so don't think you're the cat's meow. sorry I don't spend 18 hours a day reading dorky tech blogs so that I should just "get it."

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

So I was hanging out with an iPhone-enthusiast this past weekend and he was particularly impressed with the notifications on my Droid (although that's an Android feature, not something specific to the Droid).

If someone sends me an IM via Google talk, that IM automatically appears in the notification bar at the top of the screen. It's always on, I don't need to have the app open or even to have started it. Apparently, this isn't the case with his iPhone.

[YourLandlord]

So I was hanging out with an iPhone-enthusiast this past weekend and he was particularly impressed with the notifications on my Droid (although that's an Android feature, not something specific to the Droid).

If someone sends me an IM via Google talk, that IM automatically appears in the notification bar at the top of the screen. It's always on, I don't need to have the app open or even to have started it. Apparently, this isn't the case with his iPhone.

Correct, kinda. You can have the iPhone push notifications to you regarding mail, etc., but it eats battery life. How do you find your battery life when you have all your features running?

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Correct, kinda. You can have the iPhone push notifications to you regarding mail, etc., but it eats battery life. How do you find your battery life when you have all your features running?

Yes, but I believe you need a 3rd party app (GPush $.99) in order to have Gmail pushed. Also, this doesn't work for GChat IM. I signed my online-life away to Google long ago, so the integration with these services has been pretty excellent.

Battery life has been good with background apps running. It's about what I expected.

[Acymetric]

So has anyone picked one of these up and given it a try?

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Yes, I got it the day it launched. The Android OS is much better than I expected. Let me know if you have any questions.

Some nice apps that I've been using:
Weather Widget (looks just like the SenseUI clock on the HTC phones)
Foursquare
Barcode Scanner
Last.fm
Google Listen
Bump
CardioTrainer
chompSMS
Gmote
Ringdroid
Seesmic
Where's My Droid?

[YourLandlord]

Yes, I got it the day it launched. The Android OS is much better than I expected. Let me know if you have any questions.

Some nice apps that I've been using:
Weather Widget (looks just like the SenseUI clock on the HTC phones)
Foursquare
Barcode Scanner
Last.fm
Google Listen
Bump
CardioTrainer
chompSMS
Gmote
Ringdroid
Seesmic
Where's My Droid?

Really? You've been USING "Where's My Droid?" You've been losing it SO much the past month that you've been using the app?

I think you just listed some "cool" apps that are available.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Really? You've been USING "Where's My Droid?" You've been losing it SO much the past month that you've been using the app?

I think you just listed some "cool" apps that are available.

What's your problem? You've been hostile since this thread started. Did Motorala kick your dog or something?

[Stray Gator]

I got a Moto Droid four weeks ago, after my trusty but museum-ready Treo 650 finally had to be shot and buried by the side of the road. I had been trying to delay the inevitable in hopes that Verizon might come out with a device comparable to the iPhone, which my son finally capitulated and bought a few months ago. Fortunately, the Droid was released the very week my Treo reached the end of its road.

I'm absolutely delighted with the Droid. And having had the opportunity to compare the features of the iPhone, I wouldn't trade my Droid for one even if the iPhone suddenly became available on Verizon. The so-called "camera problem" was a temporary auto-focus glitch that is being rectified by an update being sent later this week. The video camera and music player are fabulous--my son agrees the Droid's sound and video quality clearly surpasses the iPhone--and it's quick and easy to transfer files from my laptop, especially using the software that can be quickly downloaded from the Motorola website. The GPS system is awesome--we used it extensively traveling to and around Atlanta this past weekend, since it's more current and easier to use than the nav system in my wife's car. The voice Google search function is very convenient, and there are tons of cool apps, including the Dolphin Browser that enables the same "pinch-to-zoom" multitouch capability that the iPhone offers, and the newly released Google Goggles. The wi-fi seems to work great, too, although I've yet to be anyplace where there isn't a good 3G signal with Verizon's network. Most importantly for me, however, is that it is the clearest and most reliable cell phone I've ever used.

In fairness, the physical slide-out keyboard is not as easy for typing as my Blackberry Curve (which my business provides for work use), so that takes a little acclimation--I prefer the onscreen touch keyboard for short messages. But otherwise, the only problem I've had so far is that it crashed a couple of times during the month I've had it following periods of extended use, which required rebooting by removing and reinstalling the battery (which takes only a few seconds); and the speaker audio went out briefly, but came back when I turned the device off and back on. Aside from that, it's incredibly smooth... :D

[hc5duke]

Yes, I got it the day it launched. The Android OS is much better than I expected. Let me know if you have any questions.

Some nice apps that I've been using:
Weather Widget (looks just like the SenseUI clock on the HTC phones)
Foursquare
Barcode Scanner
Last.fm
Google Listen
Bump
CardioTrainer
chompSMS
Gmote
Ringdroid
Seesmic
Where's My Droid?

Ooh I didn't know Foursquare was out for android. Installed and ready to complain about how useless it is :D WMD (heh) would have been useful when I lost my first G1 phone... oh well.

Is there an app that tells you of friends' apps? there is a few like that for the iPhone, and that might be a good way to figure out what is a good app, since the rating system is totally useless. here's my faves so far:

* Aldiko (e-reader)
* Astrid (tasks)
* Radiant (Galaga clone, best game for android hands down)
* Twidroid (Twitter)
* Weatherbug
* WeightPad

[moonpie23]

if they have SPORTACULAR i would highly recommend that.,,,,,it's awesome on the Iphone

[Acymetric]

Really? You've been USING "Where's My Droid?" You've been losing it SO much the past month that you've been using the app?

I think you just listed some "cool" apps that are available.

You know...this would really come in handy for the party-going college student. Seems like a couple times a week a new facebook group pops up "Lost my phone at a party, got a new one, need everyone's numbers." A phone locator would be great.

Does anyone know if the Motorola Droid is significantly better than the htc Droid Eris? The htc appears to be cheaper, and has a smaller screen and no slide out keyboard, but is it the same functionally?

[hc5duke]

You know...this would really come in handy for the party-going college student. Seems like a couple times a week a new facebook group pops up "Lost my phone at a party, got a new one, need everyone's numbers." A phone locator would be great.

Does anyone know if the Motorola Droid is significantly better than the htc Droid Eris? The htc appears to be cheaper, and has a smaller screen and no slide out keyboard, but is it the same functionally?

no keyboard + Android 1.5 device = probably not going to feel as nice as the Droid, though you're right it's significantly cheaper. I personally wouldn't get it only because I never get phones without a keyboard (since around 2003ish when I got my Treo 600) - if not having a keyboard doesn't bother you it should be a really nice Android phone to have.

added: It's the same phone (http://gizmodo.com/5401220/droid-eris-review) as the Sprint Hero FWIW

[alteran]

You know...this would really come in handy for the party-going college student. Seems like a couple times a week a new facebook group pops up "Lost my phone at a party, got a new one, need everyone's numbers." A phone locator would be great.

Does anyone know if the Motorola Droid is significantly better than the htc Droid Eris? The htc appears to be cheaper, and has a smaller screen and no slide out keyboard, but is it the same functionally?

The Droid has a higher screen resolution of 854 by 480. That's a huge boost over the Eris, which, like iPhone, Palm Pre, pretty much all the late generation smartphones, has 480 by 320.

In terms of raw functionality, the Eris is comparable to the Droid, but the Android 2.0 system boost is a significant edge. My understanding is 2.0 will be released on many if not all Android phones over time, so I imagine the Eris will get it.

[Stray Gator]

Also, if I understand correctly, the Eris does not have the nifty built-in GPS navigation system with turn-by-turn directions that the Moto Droid offers. And I don't know whether the Eris has the same capacity as the Moto Droid for storing music, photos, and videos. According to at least one source, the Eris battery doesn't match the Moto Droid's, either. Of course, the price difference may justify these relative shortcomings for some consumers. I can tell you that the OTA upgrade to the Moto Droid last week has made it function even better.

[mkirsh]

How is the motorola hardware? My previous 2 devices were moto (razr and Q) and after I dumped the Q for BB Curve I swore never to go back. Battery life was dreadful (would not last a full day), OS was very very slow, and the Q would randomly decide to shut itself on and off periodically. Were these problems windows mobile related or moto, and is the driod a better manufactured device than the Q? Very interested but hesitant to get burned again.

[Stray Gator]

How is the motorola hardware? My previous 2 devices were moto (razr and Q) and after I dumped the Q for BB Curve I swore never to go back. Battery life was dreadful (would not last a full day), OS was very very slow, and the Q would randomly decide to shut itself on and off periodically. Were these problems windows mobile related or moto, and is the driod a better manufactured device than the Q? Very interested but hesitant to get burned again.

After a month, my satisfaction level with the Moto Droid--which was already off the charts--is still elevating. I keep adding these incredibly nifty free apps, and they all seem to work splendidly. (Last night my wife and I went out to the mall, so I added "SavvyShopper," which enables the Droid to read bar codes and instantly provide all kinds of information about the product, including comparison pricing for online sources and other local stores. And I was showing another Droid user the Dolphin Browser, a free app which enables multi-touch and "pinch-to-zoom" features on the Droid like on the iPhone.)

I would encourage you to Google "Moto Droid" and read some of the many reviews and comparisons--from what I've seen, my highly favorable opinion of the Droid seems to be widely shared. It is quite solidly constructed--some even say it's a little too heavy and "brick-like" for their taste relative to the iPhone, though the inclusion of the slide-out keyboard accounts for that difference. (I hear they're coming our with another version in 2010 that doesn't include the physical keyboard, if you'd prefer that.) I understand the Windows Mobile OS has been the subject of considerable criticism, but I have no personal experience with that. I can tell you that the Droid OS has been very stable--it froze or crashed on me twice in the first three weeks, but there's been no hitch at all since the OTA system upgrade last week; in fact, it's noticeably faster and smoother since then.

The only complaint I've heard was from a clerk in a Verizon Wireless store who said he isn't getting as much battery life as he'd like--but he also acknowledged that (a) he uses the device constantly throughout the day; and (b) he's running multiple apps simultaneously using the web-browser on the 3G feed, which takes more juice. He indicated that he has to recharge every night. I'd say that my use is moderate, maybe a little below average on workdays when I'm using my company-provided Blackberry Curve for certain functions, and I get 2-3 days easily on a full charge--or stated another way, with normal use, my charge diminishes between 30-40% in a 24-hour period. That's not as much battery life as I got on my Palm Treo (which would go for 4-5 days), or as much as my wife gets on her new Samsung Intensity; but then, the Droid is a whole different technological device, and I use it for all kinds of tasks that wouldn't be so easy on other smartphones.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

The only complaint I've heard was from a clerk in a Verizon Wireless store who said he isn't getting as much battery life as he'd like--but he also acknowledged that (a) he uses the device constantly throughout the day; and (b) he's running multiple apps simultaneously using the web-browser on the 3G feed, which takes more juice. He indicated that he has to recharge every night. I'd say that my use is moderate, maybe a little below average on workdays when I'm using my company-provided Blackberry Curve for certain functions, and I get 2-3 days easily on a full charge--or stated another way, with normal use, my charge diminishes between 30-40% in a 24-hour period. That's not as much battery life as I got on my Palm Treo (which would go for 4-5 days), or as much as my wife gets on her new Samsung Intensity; but then, the Droid is a whole different technological device, and I use it for all kinds of tasks that wouldn't be so easy on other smartphones.
Stray, do you leave your Droid on overnight or turn it off? Just curious if your 2-3 days are 24 hour days or 18 hour days?

[Stray Gator]

Stray, do you leave your Droid on overnight or turn it off? Just curious if your 2-3 days are 24 hour days or 18 hour days?

I leave my phone on all the time, Ozzie, except when required to turn it off on airplanes. So those are 24-hour days. Some tech website has probably conducted a study of the battery life of the Droid relative to comparable devices, and it might be worth a Google search if that information is critical to anyone. While I'm guessing the Droid's battery life is below average, I don't mind recharging every other day, or even daily if necessary, because it does seem to charge fairly quickly.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I have to agree with pretty much everything straygator has said. My happiness with the purchase has only gone up in time, which is odd for me, since I typically get buyer's remorse for anything other than an impulse buy.

The Android 2.0.1 update released last week made major improvements to the phone, the menus seem slicker, the camera is loads better, and the battery life improved (note, by actively managing your screen brightness, and your GPS and WiFi radios, you'll get better battery life - which is true on any smartphone).

BTW, one neat feature I read about is that you can add a Navigation shortcut (http://lifehacker.com/5426824/create-instant-navigation-shortcuts-from-androids-home-screen) to the home screen taht brings up a specific location. I setup 'Home' as a shortcut to automatically startup Navigation and input my home address as the destination, rather than opening Nav and searching or typing in my address.

[Stray Gator]

I have to agree with pretty much everything straygator has said. My happiness with the purchase has only gone up in time, which is odd for me, since I typically get buyer's remorse for anything other than an impulse buy.

The Android 2.0.1 update released last week made major improvements to the phone, the menus seem slicker, the camera is loads better, and the battery life improved (note, by actively managing your screen brightness, and your GPS and WiFi radios, you'll get better battery life - which is true on any smartphone).

BTW, one neat feature I read about is that you can add a Navigation shortcut (http://lifehacker.com/5426824/create-instant-navigation-shortcuts-from-androids-home-screen) to the home screen taht brings up a specific location. I setup 'Home' as a shortcut to automatically startup Navigation and input my home address as the destination, rather than opening Nav and searching or typing in my address.

An app that I find highly useful is "Where"--it identifies your location, and provides on a single screen access to such information as news (including sports, of course), detailed weather info, current traffic problems, movie theaters in town and what's showing (with cast and summary, plus buttons to play the trailer, list show times, link to wikipedia entry, etc.), restaurants and shopping and attractions (with reviews), gas prices, yellow pages, etc. Somebody referred to "Where" as the "Swiss Army knife" of apps. Just awesome (and available for iPhone, too, of course).

Check it out at http://www.where.com

[Indoor66]

An app that I find highly useful is "Where"--it identifies your location, and provides on a single screen access to such information as news (including sports, of course), detailed weather info, current traffic problems, movie theaters in town and what's showing (with cast and summary, plus buttons to play the trailer, list show times, link to wikipedia entry, etc.), restaurants and shopping and attractions (with reviews), gas prices, yellow pages, etc. Somebody referred to "Where" as the "Swiss Army knife" of apps. Just awesome (and available for iPhone, too, of course).

Check it out at http://www.where.com

Broken link.

[juise]

Broken link.

Not for me.

[Stray Gator]

Broken link.

I just tried it, and it worked fine for me. But if you have trouble with the link, just try Googling "Where app" and it should lead you to the site. It appears to be available for iPhone and Blackberry as well as Android.

[Acymetric]

Ok, so I'm currently trying to convince someone to stick with Verizon and go with the Droid rather than switching to AT&T and going iPhone (because we share a plan and I want a Droid). The main selling point for the iPhone in this case is mobileme...is there anything on the Droid that offers similar function? In looking at mobileme's features it doesn't seem like it does anything that my email account doesn't do on its own (syncing mail with all machines, not just the one that gets it first, and adding sent items to the sent folder on all machines). Thoughts?

[hc5duke]

Ok, so I'm currently trying to convince someone to stick with Verizon and go with the Droid rather than switching to AT&T and going iPhone (because we share a plan and I want a Droid). The main selling point for the iPhone in this case is mobileme...is there anything on the Droid that offers similar function? In looking at mobileme's features it doesn't seem like it does anything that my email account doesn't do on its own (syncing mail with all machines, not just the one that gets it first, and adding sent items to the sent folder on all machines). Thoughts?

mobileme is a really nice feature that (as far as i know) android doesn't really offer out-of-box. but like someone in this thread pointed out, i've also sold my digital soul to google a long time ago, and having gmail, gcalendar, and contacts all sync (i.e. offline access without worrying about annoying duplicates) was more important for me. i'm almost considering switching from flickr to picasa as well, but haven't done that just yet.

[YourLandlord]

So how many of you phone geeks are pissed you jumped in on the Droid and now can't get the google phone?

[alteran]

So how many of you phone geeks are pissed you jumped in on the Droid and now can't get the google phone?

Maybe they can join the support group formed by the iPhone 3G buyers who went through the 5 Stages of Grief (and added a few) when they found they couldn't upgrade to an iPhone 3GS for free. ;)

Seriously though, mild obsolescence is just the way it is with phones, no matter who makes them. Obviously, the cycle is a little faster with Android because there's so many corporations in the game.

FWIW, I'm a little baffled as to what Google thinks they're doing releasing a Google-branded phone. That's got to make some of the carriers cautious, at the very least-- although when you look at the deal with T-Mobile, it's ultimately a very conventional phone deal. I don't get it.

And as far as I can tell, the phone does not compare favorably with iPhone in monthly cost, either. (Like, maybe 5 bucks). I don't get that, either. I love Android, but if the difference is 5 bucks I'm getting an iPhone.

My best guess is that Google wants to have a "pure" Android phone out there, so that the carriers can't muck up / lock up Android too much without it standing out, but that's totally a stab.

[hc5duke]

FWIW, I'm a little baffled as to what Google thinks they're doing releasing a Google-branded phone. That's got to make some of the carriers cautious, at the very least-- although when you look at the deal with T-Mobile, it's ultimately a very conventional phone deal. I don't get it.

It's still an HTC device - which is a plus, but I'm still holding out for the next non-Motorola Android phone with a real keyboard

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I'm waiting for Verizon to offer the iPhone later this year. If I need to upgrade my phone before then, I'd probably go with the Motorola Droid. If Verizon never offers the iPhone, I'd probably go with the Droid.

[moonpie23]

i am going to take a look at the nexus......if it can save me money over AT&T i might go for it......my AT&T service has been fine, but the cost is ridiculous.

I love my iphone.....but if it's tied to the carrier, not so much...

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I'll be happy once Android 2.1 comes to the Droid. It's really the software that matters the most in this case, although the Nexus One has a sweet processor and form factor.


I'm waiting for Verizon to offer the iPhone later this year. If I need to upgrade my phone before then, I'd probably go with the Motorola Droid. If Verizon never offers the iPhone, I'd probably go with the Droid.

Note that Verizon will be offering the Nexus One sometime soon as well.

[Stray Gator]

I continue to be perfectly delighted with my Motorola Droid, which does everything I want from a smart phone and more. So far as I can tell, neither the iPhone nor the new Google phone offers anything of interest to me that the Droid doesn't already provide. And I trust the Droid will continue to evolve as further software updates are released.

[mpj96]

Agree with Stray. No regrets with my Droid. Great phone, tremendous video capability. Many good apps. For folks who play the guitar, Robotic Guitarist is a great free app and although I was skeptical the docking station is really cool too.

If I could just get it to allow me to do hands free blue tooth calls in my car I'd be all set. I suspect they will patch this issue soon.

[Stray Gator]

Agree with Stray. No regrets with my Droid. Great phone, tremendous video capability. Many good apps. For folks who play the guitar, Robotic Guitarist is a great free app and although I was skeptical the docking station is really cool too. ...

Agree about the Droid docking station--definitely one of my favorite Christmas presents!

[DukeFencer]

Any more recent experience with the HTC Droid Eris? I'm looking for a reliable, cheap smartphone, and since I also have every aspect of my life manage by google, this seems like the obvious answer. I've read that sometime early this year (first quarter) they will be releasing a software upgrade to 2.0...

[Bluedog]

Any more recent experience with the HTC Droid Eris? I'm looking for a reliable, cheap smartphone, and since I also have every aspect of my life manage by google, this seems like the obvious answer. I've read that sometime early this year (first quarter) they will be releasing a software upgrade to 2.0...

I'm curious about this too and have done a bit of searching regards to the HTC Droid Eris vs. Motorola Droid. BTW, the Eris is only $10 on Amazon with a 2-year contract, pretty darn cheap. (Compared to $110 for Moto Droid). Note that I haven't had exposure to either so I'm not speaking from first hand experience, but based on what I've read, it seems like these are the main differences:

1.) Eris physically feels better in your hand and has a simpler, sleeker UI than the Droid. Droid has more functionalities perhaps, but it's not as intuitive and simplistic.
2.) Droid runs 2.0, offering Google navigation, while Eris seems to still be on 1.5, although it should be upgraded in first quarter as you said. Software difference is fairly significant to some consumers, so this could be deciding factor until the Eris gets the upgrade.
3.) Droid has much better screen resolution and a larger screen at that, making web pages easier to read and the phone larger in general.
4.) Battery life for the Eris is the most common complaint. If you have wifi enabled at all times and mobile broadband, prepare to charge it every night. The Droid battery life is also not ideal, but better than the Eris. There are certainly ways to improve battery life by configuring it differently though.
5.) Droid has a physical keyboard, while Eris does not. Although people don't seem to like the keyboard on the Droid since it's too squished and the keys are difficult to press.
6.) Droid's processor is a bit faster.

I personally think I'm leaning towards the Eris as it's cheaper and smaller (as soon as it gets upgraded to Android 2.0). Either are a big upgrade from my current phone that I just use for calls - although it works very well in that regard.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Verizon is advertising buy a Moto Droid, get an Eris for free. I'm sure that is after mail in rebates.

[DukeFencer]

They also have a buy an Eris, get an Eris free. Thanks to some fancy negotiating by my sister an Eris is en route to my house, courtesy of her purchase of a Moto Droid awhile ago. Price was too good to pass up!

[ivduke]

OK.... I need help!

I picked up my DROID on Thursday and have been having a blast playing with it ever since. I only have 1 problem although it is admittedly a huge issue. I can't hang up the phone after a phone call! I am sure it must be a setting that needs changed, but I have friends with the phone who have tried to look at it and it appears as though settings are fine. When I place a call (or take one) my screen goes black as I am talking. When the call is ready to be hung up, I can't get the screen to come back on. I try the power button, I try opening up the keyboard--nothing works. The phone is essentially "locked up" for a couple of minutes. Is there anyone that can offer a suggestion? I have pulled the battery, and I have checked all settings that I can think of....:mad:

[OZZIE4DUKE]

OK.... I need help!

I picked up my DROID on Thursday and have been having a blast playing with it ever since. I only have 1 problem although it is admittedly a huge issue. I can't hang up the phone after a phone call! I am sure it must be a setting that needs changed, but I have friends with the phone who have tried to look at it and it appears as though settings are fine. When I place a call (or take one) my screen goes black as I am talking. When the call is ready to be hung up, I can't get the screen to come back on. I try the power button, I try opening up the keyboard--nothing works. The phone is essentially "locked up" for a couple of minutes. Is there anyone that can offer a suggestion? I have pulled the battery, and I have checked all settings that I can think of....:mad:
Since I don't have one I can't make any suggestion other that call Verizon and ask them. You may have a defective phone and need to have it replaced. I would guess that Stray doesn't have this problem...

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

OK.... I need help!

I picked up my DROID on Thursday and have been having a blast playing with it ever since. I only have 1 problem although it is admittedly a huge issue. I can't hang up the phone after a phone call! I am sure it must be a setting that needs changed, but I have friends with the phone who have tried to look at it and it appears as though settings are fine. When I place a call (or take one) my screen goes black as I am talking. When the call is ready to be hung up, I can't get the screen to come back on. I try the power button, I try opening up the keyboard--nothing works. The phone is essentially "locked up" for a couple of minutes. Is there anyone that can offer a suggestion? I have pulled the battery, and I have checked all settings that I can think of....:mad:

The screen should go black when you hold the phone to your face using a proximity sensor (this saves on battery life). When you move the phone away from your face to hang up or whatever, the screen should come back on so you can push the end call icon or any other function. I would take the phone back as it sounds like there is something defective with the sensor. I have never had any issue like this.


On the Droid vs Eris question:
I would skip the Droid Eris. It's cheap yes, but it's outdated software AND hardware. The SenseUI skins really just get in the way of rolling out new OS updates. The Eris may be pretty out of the box, but you can customize any stock Android OS (like droid) to look like this with a variety of apps (typically free).

If you need something on Verizon now, get the Droid. If you can wait a bit, go for the Nexus One on VZW.

[Stray Gator]

OK.... I need help!

I picked up my DROID on Thursday and have been having a blast playing with it ever since. I only have 1 problem although it is admittedly a huge issue. I can't hang up the phone after a phone call! I am sure it must be a setting that needs changed, but I have friends with the phone who have tried to look at it and it appears as though settings are fine. When I place a call (or take one) my screen goes black as I am talking. When the call is ready to be hung up, I can't get the screen to come back on. I try the power button, I try opening up the keyboard--nothing works. The phone is essentially "locked up" for a couple of minutes. Is there anyone that can offer a suggestion? I have pulled the battery, and I have checked all settings that I can think of....:mad:

I had the same quandary the first couple of times I used the Droid for phone calls. The answer: Try being just a little more patient. When you're talking on the phone, the Droid touchscreen automatically goes black and "inactive" so that you don't accidentally touch a button on the screen (and possibly disconnect the call) while the screen is in contact with your cheek. Once the call ends, a second or two after the phone detects that it is no longer in contact with your face, the touchscreen display will automatically come back on and you'll see the red "End" button that you can touch to hang up the call.

[ivduke]

I wanted o thank everyone for their suggestions and also relate the solution that ultimately solved the issue. As Stray said there are sensors on the phone which recognize when the phone is in contact with your face. My problem was I bought a bundle package of accessories from Ebay ($17 for 2 chargers, USB, hard case, screen cover, etc.) and realize now that the case was covering one of the sensors and leading to my issues. I found a site call droidforumns.net and the information on there is unbelievable. I popped in my issue and within minutes had the answer. Additionally, if you have purchased chargers from Ebay please do not use them with the DROID--there have been all kinds of issues described on that site.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

I wanted o thank everyone for their suggestions and also relate the solution that ultimately solved the issue. As Stray said there are sensors on the phone which recognize when the phone is in contact with your face. My problem was I bought a bundle package of accessories from Ebay ($17 for 2 chargers, USB, hard case, screen cover, etc.) and realize now that the case was covering one of the sensors and leading to my issues. I found a site call droidforumns.net and the information on there is unbelievable. I popped in my issue and within minutes had the answer. Additionally, if you have purchased chargers from Ebay please do not use them with the DROID--there have been all kinds of issues described on that site.

Many of the 3rd party cases and chargers leave a lot to be desired, although the car dock and desk dock work like a charm. I keep mine naked, it'll take a lot to scratch (http://phandroid.com/2009/11/11/motorola-droid-scratch-test-with-car-keys/) that screen.

I recommend this moto charger (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y8IH2Q/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001EJFZ5G&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=00ZQQM2AWWTDHNBVK9SD)

[Stray Gator]

Many of the 3rd party cases and chargers leave a lot to be desired, although the car dock and desk dock work like a charm. I keep mine naked, it'll take a lot to scratch (http://phandroid.com/2009/11/11/motorola-droid-scratch-test-with-car-keys/) that screen.

I recommend this moto charger (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y8IH2Q/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001EJFZ5G&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=00ZQQM2AWWTDHNBVK9SD)

Agreed. I initially bought and used a plastic case and screen protector. But then I got one of these multimedia docking stations, which I highly recommend -- http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Droid-Multimedia-Docking-Station/dp/B002WB2P76/ref=pd_sim_cps_7 -- and had to remove the case to allow the device to fit. Since then, I've learned that the screen is made of an incredibly hard glass that is virtually impossible to scratch. Just to be safe, however, I got one of these slim leather cases, which works great for protecting the Droid when I carrying it in my pocket: http://www.amazon.com/Droid-Motorola-Holster-Carrying-Black/dp/B002WKYISG/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_1