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Motorola DROID review
Engadget ^ | Oct 30th 2009 at 1:10PM | by Joshua Topolsky

Posted on 11/03/2009 9:46:48 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

It's hard to look at the DROID without looking at the company which brought the device to life. Motorola: for years the name has been synonymous with... well, disappointment. While the industry-stalwart made cellphones sexy with the RAZR, the days which followed have not been especially fruitful or compelling. Over the past year or so, we've seen Motorola beating its way back into the mainstream through a series of smart plays: first embracing Android as a platform, then shucking off the weight of Windows Mobile and finally bringing some desirable (and high profile) devices to market.

With the DROID, the company has perhaps created its most attractive and intriguing piece of technology yet. Forging an alliance with both Verizon and Google, Motorola has come up with a second compelling reason to count the phonemaker down, but certainly not out, while the other two giants have finally found a seemingly worthy device to position against the iPhone. So we must pose these questions: is this the phone which will catapult Android into the mainstream? Is it the device that will pull Motorola back from the brink? And -- most importantly -- is it the lynchpin Google and Verizon have needed to challenge the leader in mindshare in the smartphone market? After putting the device through its paces, we think we can give you the answers you seek -- so read on to find out!

Gallery: Motorola DROID review hands-on


(Excerpt) Read more at engadget.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: cellphones; droid; droidx; hitech; mobiledevices; motorola; motoroladroid; smartphone; telecommunications; telephony
This is a pretty lengthy review...
1 posted on 11/03/2009 9:46:48 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: All
And:

Verizon announces early store openings for DROID launch


2 posted on 11/03/2009 9:50:34 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...

A tech ping.


3 posted on 11/03/2009 9:52:27 PM PST by narses ("These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.")
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To: America_Right; ctdonath2; papasmurf; Skooz; thefactor; EternalVigilance; JerseyHighlander; ...

ping!


4 posted on 11/03/2009 9:54:35 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I’ve been interested in this.


5 posted on 11/03/2009 9:57:14 PM PST by wastedyears (My 15 seconds of fame are on my profile.)
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To: All
A previous thread:

Droid smartphone unveiled by Motorola, Verizon

6 posted on 11/03/2009 10:02:51 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I’ll be getting one.


7 posted on 11/03/2009 10:11:22 PM PST by EternalVigilance (In NY-23, the GOP set out to elect a liberal Democrat. They succeeded.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

And, as usual, it’s crippled in at least one aspect - the Verizon version of the Droid does not support multitouch, the rest of world version will.

So, the question now is, how *else* is the Droid crippled by Verizon (which should be renamed The Phone Crippler).


8 posted on 11/03/2009 11:24:43 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Well Ern...I like it. I've always liked Motorola commo products.
But here's my questions:
How durable is it? How much abuse can it take and still keep working?
Is it user friendly? IOWs, how steep is the learning curve to use it?
How good is the telephone? Does background noise render it impossible to use? I have some hearing loss in one of my ears and this is a problem sometimes.
Can I take a picture and email the pic to someone or myself ASAP?
Does it work everywhere? ow good does it pick-up a signal in weird and far-a-way places?
How secure is the body? Moisture? Sand? Vibration?

I like its looks. If it meets these criterion I might pursue this one further.
9 posted on 11/04/2009 12:37:27 AM PST by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus)
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To: Spktyr

Here’s another vote for wondering how Verizon crippled an otherwise good phone - again.


10 posted on 11/04/2009 5:17:54 AM PST by ctdonath2 (End the coup!)
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To: Tainan
Not many answers from me....and I too am concerned about the sound...don't hear med & high frequencies very well at all.
11 posted on 11/04/2009 10:07:42 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: All
This seems to be detail developers would be interested in...but might be useful reading thru it.

A Taste of Android's Freshly Baked Eclair

and a related link:

Android 2.0 Platform Highlights

12 posted on 11/04/2009 10:12:01 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Bring back the StarTac


13 posted on 11/04/2009 10:15:56 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: ctdonath2; Spktyr
Well....about the Android software...there is this:

Click on the logo for the link.

14 posted on 11/04/2009 10:18:12 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

when exactly does it come out? i have read a bunch but have yet to see an actual date.


15 posted on 11/04/2009 10:21:49 AM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: Spktyr

Isn’t the assumption that Apple holds some multi-touch patents in the US they don’t other places that keeps it off the US version? Since it is built into Eclair I don’t think it will be too long before adventurous folks can get it turned on.

Also, the US version has the new google navigation and the other countries won’t.

Certainly the one people find most useful will vary. I think I would prefer the multi-touch. But I would also prefer the phone to be all touch as well (and on T-Mobile).

The good thing is with Android finally on Verizon, the Android Market should start taking off with more customers.


16 posted on 11/04/2009 10:24:10 AM PST by Mr. Blonde (You ever thought about being weird for a living?)
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To: thefactor

Nov 6 for the Verizon Droid....see #2.


17 posted on 11/04/2009 11:02:47 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach ( Geert Wilders)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Bought mine today. :)


18 posted on 11/06/2009 5:20:51 PM PST by America_Right (The best thing about the Obama Presidency: McCain isn't the President!)
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