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Android Hardware Thread - 2009 Edition

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Andrex said:
At the "almost" statement, not having pinch-to-zoom does still hurt a bit, I'm sure.

At the "sales" statement, see my previous comment. ;)
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I'm not sure that was entirely a sales statement. There are reasons beyond pure specs and raw sales why iPhone is the top dog right now. The applications gap is massive, and until it's monetized effectively elsewhere, will remain massive. And that's not something the Droid is going to turn around.
 
CrankyJay said:
I'll need to test drive this. Extensively. I wanted an iPhone, but if I can stay on Verizon and this meets my needs I'll consider this.
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I got an iphone 3gs at the beginning of the month. I absolutely loved the phone, but service with AT&T was so terrible I dropped more calls in 12 days than I had in over 5 years with Verizon. The frustrating part was that these dropped calls occurred more frequently with other iPhone/AT&T owners. The phone would show full service, but the second I got in a call service would drop to one or zero bars. I just went through the process of bringing my number back over to Verizon and talking with their customer service I got my phone upgrade moved to today instead of May 2010. The droid is looking like a first day buy for me.
 
VanMardigan said:
The past caught up with the future. :lol
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Here's the thing, I'll actually be able to make and receive calls on this phone unlike AT&T phones. I live right outside NYC and iphones never have good service. I'm sure that's been said to death, but I'd never switch off Verizon. Not around here anyway.

I'm so glad I'm up for a new contract right now. Getting the Droid day 1 now.
 
Yeah, it doesn't matter how good the phone is if the service is crap. Where I live, AT&T is tops anyway, so I get the best phone and the best service I can get.

But yeah, I wouldn't have an iPhone if I lived in an area without 3g and with spotty service.
 
GMUNYIFan said:
I got an iphone 3gs at the beginning of the month. I absolutely loved the phone, but service with AT&T was so terrible I dropped more calls in 12 days than I had in over 5 years with Verizon. The frustrating part was that these dropped calls occurred more frequently with other iPhone/AT&T owners. The phone would show full service, but the second I got in a call service would drop to one or zero bars. I just went through the process of bringing my number back over to Verizon and talking with their customer service I got my phone upgrade moved to today instead of May 2010. The droid is looking like a first day buy for me.
Click to expand...

That's the phone itself. Iphone users have much more trouble with their devices than other users on ATT. Guaranteed... That being said, still, Iphone is not so hot on ATT.

I'd love to do this Droid, but if I went to Verizon from ATT, it'd be about as much as if I just stuck with ATT and got an Iphone.. So it's either Sprint or TMo for me.
 
GMUNYIFan said:
I got an iphone 3gs at the beginning of the month. I absolutely loved the phone, but service with AT&T was so terrible I dropped more calls in 12 days than I had in over 5 years with Verizon. The frustrating part was that these dropped calls occurred more frequently with other iPhone/AT&T owners. The phone would show full service, but the second I got in a call service would drop to one or zero bars. I just went through the process of bringing my number back over to Verizon and talking with their customer service I got my phone upgrade moved to today instead of May 2010. The droid is looking like a first day buy for me.
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How did you pull that?

And does anyone know the how phone upgrades work for lines on a family plan for Verizon? I've had the same phone since September '05 and the Droid is a-calling. My Dad and my sister, the other 2 people on the family plan, got new phones about 2 months ago, but apparently only my Dad got an upgrade discount.
 
VanMardigan said:
Yeah, it doesn't matter how good the phone is if the service is crap. Where I live, AT&T is tops anyway, so I get the best phone and the best service I can get.

But yeah, I wouldn't have an iPhone if I lived in an area without 3g and with spotty service.
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Ah, you luck bastard.:D I'd have gotten one a long time ago if that was the case around here, no doubt about it.
 
I'm just trying to figure out what's so hard about pin-pointing what apple does well with the iphone and try to top that. And I'm not talking so much about OS, but hardware as well.

Will there be multi-touch support? I want to zoom in on a browser like I can on my friend's iPhone.

Can I fast forward through voice messages and rewind them on a Droid like I can on the iPhone?

edit: And how accessible will the open dev stuff be? I'm a software eng and would like to program my own apps for my droid...
 
CrankyJay said:
I'm just trying to figure out what's so hard about pin-pointing what apple does well with the iphone and try to top that. And I'm not talking so much about OS, but hardware as well.

Will there be multi-touch support? I want to zoom in on a browser like I can on my friend's iPhone.

Can I fast forward through voice messages and rewind them on a Droid like I can on the iPhone?

edit: And how accessible will the open dev stuff be? I'm a software eng and would like to program my own apps for my droid...
Click to expand...

Pardon my ignorance but there will be multi-touch support on the Android, is just no pinch zoom-in and zoom-out. I believe Apple has applied for patent on this, no? That's probably why we have not seen it...yet.

Visual Voicemail is not limited to the Android OS, I believe this is a carrier service option. T-mobile has visual voicemail on the MyTouch I believe.
 
SimleuqiR said:
Pardon my ignorance but there will be multi-touch support on the Android, is just no pinch zoom-in and zoom-out. I believe Apple has applied for patent on this, no? That's probably why we have not seen it...yet.
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I think it is more ignorance on my part. =(
 
CrankyJay said:
I think it is more ignorance on my part. =(
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No, you are not ignorant, it was a legit question. My answer to it is what might be ignorant, since that's what I have read. But I'm not 100% it is correct.
 
CrankyJay said:
Can I fast forward through voice messages and rewind them on a Droid like I can on the iPhone?
Click to expand...

The Droid has visual voicemail, yes.

CrankyJay said:
edit: And how accessible will the open dev stuff be? I'm a software eng and would like to program my own apps for my droid...
Click to expand...

It's pretty much the backbone of Android. :) Just connect any Android device to your PC, enable debugging in the settings, and you can deploy your own apps for testing on the device.

For more information on Android development, see my other Android thread.
 
SimleuqiR said:
Pardon my ignorance but there will be multi-touch support on the Android, is just no pinch zoom-in and zoom-out. I believe Apple has applied for patent on this, no? That's probably why we have not seen it...yet.

Visual Voicemail is not limited to the Android OS, I believe this is a carrier service option. T-mobile has visual voicemail on the MyTouch I believe.
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we have pinch to zoom on the htc hero browser . good stuff
 
Looks like the Droid is coming out on November 6th.

http://phandroid.com/2009/10/23/motorola-droid-launching-november-6th/
256zq87.jpg


I think I'm going to drop my Blackberry for the Droid.
 
Holy POOP!
Verizon's Droid is a series, not just a phone; Droid Eris coming from HTC
Click to expand...
htc-droid-eris-gdgt-sm.jpg


ENGADGET said:
We just got some wild information from a trusted source about Verizon's Android strategy, and let's just say this shakes things up a little bit. Here are the big takeaways:

* Droid is the brand name being applied to Verizon's Android devices. It isn't a single phone.
* The Sholes -- the phone we've been calling the Droid so far -- may simply be known as the Droid.
* HTC's Desire will be coming to market as the "Droid Eris." (Allow us to save you the Wikipedia lookup -- Eris is the Greek goddess of strife.) Interestingly, it's already up on gdgt as such.
* Droid Eris will be released -- not announced, actually released -- on November 6. In all likelihood, it will not be announced or shown at Verizon's October 28 event -- that will probably just be for the Sholes.

That's all we've got so far, but it's a heck of a change in plans, isn't it? It's interesting that Verizon will be applying a sub-brand to its Android line -- and a pretty solid sign that Big Red's got a serious commitment to the platform going forward.
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Much of the iPhone's success is attributed to branding so Verizon is on the right path here. "Droid" being their brand which is based on the OS rather than tied to any hardware. Very interesting approach.
 
I still like the Droid (or the Sholes I guess) better because of the qwerty keyboard, although that trackball would be nice. That being said, I like the way Verizon is thinking with these new phones. I'm dying to get rid of my EnV2. It's been a loooong time coming, time to get a real phone.
 
It's so fast, and sexy. I'm sold. Droid/shoals that is.

I just gotta figure out wtf I'm going to do about my service plan. :(
 
I want the Droid (or is it back to Sholes now?) SOO BAD. The only thing is my contract isn't up until Oct 2010. I just know this thing is going to be crazy expensive without that New Every 2 discount. Any one have any ideas into how I can talk Verizon into giving me the discount early?
 
FUCK. My sister went and updated our contract a few weeks ago (without even telling me) because she couldn't friggen wait to get some crappy new phone (that's a POS btw). Aaarg, this would have been the perfect time to go back on a contract.
 
gutshot said:
I want the Droid (or is it back to Sholes now?) SOO BAD. The only thing is my contract isn't up until Oct 2010. I just know this thing is going to be crazy expensive without that New Every 2 discount. Any one have any ideas into how I can talk Verizon into giving me the discount early?
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I remember some people being able to kick their new-every-2 discount early, but only by a few months. I'm in a similar situation.

I'm on a existing Verizon family line, and my contract isn't up till next year. But I think I'm going to just take the plunge, and get my own line. I haven't been this hyped for a phone ever. And I've been pretty excited about my past phones, but never like this. I need a phone like this in my life that does everything I want, and still on Verizon's great service.

Droid it is.
 
Word around howard forums, this phone (droid that is) is going for...

$579 Full Retail
$299 w/ new 2yr contract
$149 w/ NE2 & rebate

Makes me sad my contract doesn't come up till next year. :'( And I'll be coughing up 300 bones for a new contract on this phone. Would of loved that NE2 price.
 
149 isn't too bad at all. I've got a NE2 coming up in December, as well. Can't you technically "renew" after a year-and-a-half, though?
 
Andrex said:
Like I explained earlier, an ARM Cortex can probably go toe-to-toe with the 800 MHz ARM11 in the Samsung Moment. Maybe not, but it's definitely much faster than anything on the market right now. It's just a more optimized chip, both in terms of speed and power consumption; the latter will probably be the Moment's Achilles' heel.
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From what i have read tha Cortex A8 core is ~3x faster than an equivalently clocked ARM 11 so it should easily outdo even the 800mhz processor in the Moment.

The Droid is looking great. Think I will wait to see what HTC has in the next couple of months. Sense UI is a big selling point, but then again so is a physical keyboard. Might take the plunge if the Droid is as well build as the preview says though. Even the Cliq looks much better in the flesh.
 
El Papa said:
Wow. Looks like Verizon is gunning for the Andriod crown, what say you T-Mo?
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The fact that HTC is coming out with the HD2 in both WinMo and Droid flavors... I'd say Verizon is still 3 steps behind.
 
Pctx said:
The fact that HTC is coming out with the HD2 in both WinMo and Droid flavors... I'd say Verizon is still 3 steps behind.
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not sure how considering that verizon will almost certainly get the HD2 both flavors given their past history with HTC.
 
sableholic said:
not sure how considering that verizon will almost certainly get the HD2 both flavors given their past history with HTC.
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Tmo is still the premier Android phone carrier. Will that change with Verizon's phone? Doubtful but who knows. It's will be a long wait considering Tmo is getting HD2 Q1 and most likely it will be a Q3 release at the earliest for Verizon.
 
I'm a Tmo subscriber. I like my G1. The fact is though that the Droid looks to be the Android phone to beat when it's released. The Desire is going to be release (reportedly) around the same time, and the Calgary later. That gives Verizon Android 2.0 and SenseUI (and possibly Blur with Calgary). The Cliq is getting mixed reviews. I would like to see what Tmo has in the bag. The HD2 is nice, but I want something with a physical keyboard and the power of the Droid.
 
NimbusD said:
FUCK. My sister went and updated our contract a few weeks ago (without even telling me) because she couldn't friggen wait to get some crappy new phone (that's a POS btw). Aaarg, this would have been the perfect time to go back on a contract.
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You can return your phone within 30 days and get your eligibility back. Does you sister think she has to do both lines at the same time? Because you don't.
 
Bad_Boy said:
New every 2.

2 year contract allows you to get a free new phone every 2 years. Or at least at a mean discount on those really expensive phones.
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Nice, I should be able to get that. My family's contract ended sometime last year and we never upgraded.
 
Belfast said:
149 isn't too bad at all. I've got a NE2 coming up in December, as well. Can't you technically "renew" after a year-and-a-half, though?
Click to expand...


They have always let me do it 2 months early if I wanted. Ive been with Verizon for around 12 years and it's been that way each time I upgraded.

Edit: err, or what he said below me......sounds like he knows what he is talking about more than I do.:lol
 
Bad_Boy said:
Word around howard forums, this phone (droid that is) is going for...

$579 Full Retail
$299 w/ new 2yr contract
$149 w/ NE2 & rebate

Makes me sad my contract doesn't come up till next year. :'( And I'll be coughing up 300 bones for a new contract on this phone. Would of loved that NE2 price.
Click to expand...

$300... eh.......................... fine, I can accept that I guess. Or should I say, "swallow" it.

Kamakazie! said:
From what i have read tha Cortex A8 core is ~3x faster than an equivalently clocked ARM 11 so it should easily outdo even the 800mhz processor in the Moment.

The Droid is looking great. Think I will wait to see what HTC has in the next couple of months. Sense UI is a big selling point, but then again so is a physical keyboard. Might take the plunge if the Droid is as well build as the preview says though. Even the Cliq looks much better in the flesh.
Click to expand...

Hrm, thanks for the info.
 
Bad_Boy said:
Word around howard forums, this phone (droid that is) is going for...

$579 Full Retail
$299 w/ new 2yr contract
$149 w/ NE2 & rebate

Makes me sad my contract doesn't come up till next year. :'( And I'll be coughing up 300 bones for a new contract on this phone. Would of loved that NE2 price.
Click to expand...

So is verizon the only company that doesn't say "fuck you" to current customers?

I've always been pissed with sprint and t mobile that new customers get better pricing on phones than old customers.
 
Bad_Boy said:
New every 2.

2 year contract allows you to get a free new phone every 2 years. Or at least at a mean discount on those really expensive phones.
Click to expand...

But there's no way to get that $150 price if you're starting up with Verizon for the first time with this phone?

(And what are the howard forums?)
 
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