My Droid hands-on/highlight (full review next week)

[Vincent]

Just wanted to drop a note to share with all the members that my Droid write up is published over on SlashGear (http://url.ag/u8hk0k). Ewdi's Droid (http://twitter.com/ewdi/statuses/5297830005) just arrived from Verizon today - he'll have a review up for Android Community early next week as well.


http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/droid-2-r3media-540x374.jpg

[Iceberg]

I'm pretty impressed with the video you took with it.

[scrannel]

Question: can you receive and send files using bluetooth? Thanks

[mckoy]

Question: can you receive and send files using bluetooth? Thanks

You can send media and contact info NOW with Cyan's latest 4.2.3 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=567610) !!!

[scrannel]

You can send media and contact info NOW with Cyan's latest 4.2.3 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=567610) !!!

Well, there's also this that doesn't require root: http://www.medieval.it/content/view/61/53/

I was asking to see if Android is still walking around lame.

[konzern]

i think with the release of 2.0 it will include bluetooth filesharing

[Vincent]

Question: can you receive and send files using bluetooth? Thanks

Yes you can out of the box.

[mattsh33]

Hello Vincent. Thanks so much for the write up, I enjoyed reading it. I've made the decision to give the Droid a try which is a big switch for me coming from Blackberry.

My question for you is, do you know if this phone will have tethering support like most of the PDAs offered by Verizon? My job has their network locked down so I bring in my own laptop and tether my Blackberry. This is a HUGE selling point with me and honestly cannot make the switch unless it supports it.

Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[smoger]

Vincent: does VZ allow full access to the Android market as well as full access to all features of the phone? One compaint friends of mine have had with past VZ phones was the way they were locked down as far as hardware access and access to only VZ applications/games

[JohnnyLicious]

does this includle the new facebook app for 2.0?

with the new features :)

[Vincent]

#droid battery: 30% @ 7h38m, 158m calls via BT, display on 164m, BT on/connected & WiFi 393m, exchange/gmail push on http://url.ag/5bbmu7

Google Maps on #droid will not work if you're on the phone.

[TheJuan]

hey vincent, good to c ya around

so the map not working during a call thats weird, does the browser work? and ur on 3g (hdspa)?
sounds like the battery is holding up well

[Jet]

This is Motorolas first Android right? Although I think it falls short on the iDont campaign, this is only the beginning for them. 3 home screens, I was not expecting that though.

[TheJuan]

lol, u know itll really get crazy when xda kids get theyr hands on it to pimp it out

[docprego]

lol, u know itll really get crazy when xda kids get theyr hands on it to pimp it out
I hope they unlock the multitouch capabilities and bring pinch to zoom over from the GSM version. Shouldn't be too challenging for those guys!

[tiki]

Sounds pretty sweet- I'll check out the review.

Kinda sucks you cant use the mapping while on the phone- I've definitely had to do that a few times in the past.

I'm looking forward to checking out a live one in-store. I'm not sure if I'm gonna like that weird chin, or lack of a frontface trakball


__________________
HTC Dream (TMobile G1) | JF 1.5 ROM |Androider since October 2008 | Fave App: Pandora |
Wanted App: Rhapsody | Fave Sites: Android Community, (http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/tiki-2349.html)Mobile Pornhub (http://www.mobilepornhub.com), Android and Me|
QWERTY or VK: Qwerty All the Way | Looking forward to: Motorola Droid (http://androidcommunity.com/forums/members/tiki-2349.html)

[ImaG]

lol, u know itll really get crazy when xda kids get theyr hands on it to pimp it out
XDA only supports HTC devices.

[mattsh33]

Vincent: does VZ allow full access to the Android market as well as full access to all features of the phone? One compaint friends of mine have had with past VZ phones was the way they were locked down as far as hardware access and access to only VZ applications/games


I am an expert by no means but I've been following the Droid for quite a while now and I listened to the Conference Call between Google and VZW and the CEO of Verizon Wireless stated that this will be a completely OPEN phone and will allow all apps in the Android Market and that even includes Google Voice. Also all the spec sheets and reviews state that GPS, Wifi, bluetooth, ect are all unlocked and usable. This is a new initiative by Verizon and can been seen in the new Blackberry Storm2, which has all features unlocked.

[Vincent]

My full review of Verizon/Moto Droid: http://www.slashgear.com/motorola-droid-review-0462796/

[paul roberts]

so the map not working during a call thats weird, does the browser work? and ur on 3g (hdspa)?

isn't that because it's cdma?

[steven s]

Google Maps on #droid will not work if you're on the phone.That will suck.
If the phone rings it goes to VM or you loose your directions?

What if I was listening to streaming audio?
Loose the phone too?

[Inundated]

isn't that because it's cdma?

Yes, that is a limitation of CDMA data. Nothing to do with the Droid...any data phone on VZW (or Sprint, etc.) has this problem. Not a biggie for me, as the Droid will be 95% a data-only device for me. The other 5% is calls to my father. :D

[OKC-G1]

looks like it takes some great video! and the sound is 100x better than the mytouch or g1

[iampedro]

Hi I am new to Android environment and I have purchased the Droid just tomorrow and will receive it monday. I like the environment that the HTC DROID ERIS (http://www.engadget.com/tag/DROIDERIS/) offers. Is there a way to have the same type of widgets that are on the HTC Droid?

[almondjoy17]

Verizon user here trying to do my homework and learn more about Android before I upgrade. One of the complaints I've heard against Droid is they don't have that many apps compared to iPhone. Duh, they're newer than Apple's phone, right? Give Droid time, they'll get there. But what I need to know is..isn't Android supposed to be open and so the apps that had been written for Sprint's Android O/S, or T-Mobile, will they be able to work on Verizon? Or are we limited to only the apps that are written and become available thru Verizon's Android Market? How do I find out availability and pricing of apps before I get the phone? I'll pay what I have to to get what I want, but I can't afford mistakes.

[TheJuan]

3rd party apps will al work on android, now, specific network apps, such as sprint tv, and tmos "my account" and verizons "my verizon" will just work for theyr phones, we had sprints tv app working and then they noticed and killed our fun. playing with the droid now, wowo how i wish my g1 had that speed, but id still like my g1s design better, call me crazy i love that trackball and keyboard better

[bbrvvvvv]

Hi Vincent,
Thanks for the info! Nice to see someone’s else’s take. I have been playing with my Droid since Friday morning at 7:30am. I was truly hoping for more in the way of email control. I have been using a Storm and cant figure out how the heck to delete emails (all)? Also have not been able to open pdf’s from email? 2.0 says it is fetching the attachment only to not be able to open? I have a few pdf reader app’s ie Documents To Go and PDFGView still no luck. Have you had any experience with this? Thanks again for the info.

Werner
CA USA

[ShdwDrake]

Just ordered mine! Can't wait to get rid of ATTs ****ty service

[panda]

hello ! sorry for the desagrement but I'm french and i want import a motorola droid verizon !
just one question for you user a DROID.
I ENJOY this device but it's a cdma please check *#*#4636#*#* and phone information and after set preferred network type for view about it's support GSM ?
It's possible ?

thanks you guys.

[paul roberts]

why don't you just get the gsm version that's coming to Europe.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/11/01/motorola-droid-headed-to-germany-as-the-motorola-milestone/

[panda]

Yes but the europe version off device is not "with google" ! : (
He doesn't update by OTA !
My G1 US version as update with OTA, i like that !

[ZepGG]

Random question. My current phone is an LG EnV2 (ugh)...and one of the complaints that I've had about it from the start was that the music player was never loud enough (coupled with the fact that it uses a 2.5 mm jack...requiring an adapter).

How is the music player on the Droid/Eris/(Passion?) volume-wise and in terms of ease-of-use. I've read some sub-optimal reviews from more than one source and I was wondering what owners' experiences have been. Thanks.

[Shel]

How is the music player on the Droid/Eris/(Passion?) volume-wise and in terms of ease-of-use. I've read some sub-optimal reviews from more than one source and I was wondering what owners' experiences have been. Thanks.

The basic Android music player is garbage.... it's ugly, and doesn't have a host of basic features found in phones/mp3 players today.

That being said, the sound coming out of the Droid is LOUD, MUCH louder then what I got from my myTouch or G1.

Get one of the many other music players (most are free) from the market, and you'll have excellent music, with great volume from a Droid.

(Check out Tune Wiki.... it downloads the lyrics, and displays them as the music is playing, for many songs!)

[ZepGG]

The basic Android music player is garbage.... it's ugly, and doesn't have a host of basic features found in phones/mp3 players today.

That being said, the sound coming out of the Droid is LOUD, MUCH louder then what I got from my myTouch or G1.

Get one of the many other music players (most are free) from the market, and you'll have excellent music, with great volume from a Droid.

(Check out Tune Wiki.... it downloads the lyrics, and displays them as the music is playing, for many songs!)

Thanks! I was hoping the volume would beat the crap out of the nonsense coming from my EnV2, I'll def check out other options for players though.

[qwertzchris]

He doesn't update by OTA !
My G1 US version as update with OTA, i like that !

Mine does. At least it says so in the options, it didn't actually pick up any updates in the two days i own it now.

[JasonGom]

does the Droid have a charm hole?

[mwhartman]

Anyone have any experience using a Droid on a Mac? I have two Mac's one has leopard and one snow leopard. Will the Droid work (music, contacts, email, etc) with one?

Thanks in advance for comments and suggestions.
Mike

[NetCom]

I was disappointed once I played with one for the first time today... I even think that G1 was lot smoother than this Droid... not sure if it's because it was on display at Verizon's stand in shopping mall (which I believe is the reason) but ... so slooow and choppy... uh - I could not believe it...

[Starc]

How do you soft boot up a droid phone, motorola?