SlashGear Japan
We’ve been avidly playing with the Verizon DROID by Motorola since its launch on Wednesday, and while we think it’s still too early to give a definitive opinion on the Android smartphone either way, we wanted to share some highlights. The Motorola DROID could be one of the most important smartphones of 2009, so check out our early thoughts on battery life, the QWERTY keyboard, some camera disappointments and more, after the cut.
Verizon DROID by Motorola highlights
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Posted 3 weeks ago #
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Was that video studdery or was the the lag from my connection or slashgears video bandwidth?
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
It started instantly for me (on Mifi – verizon)
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
LongIslander
MemberI’m a Windows Mobile user who hadn’t considered Android till now. The Droid Does website claims you can browse the web while on a call. I haven’t seen anyone mention this in reviews and I thought this was not possible on Verizon’s network. Not being able to take an incoming call while the GPS still works is a deal breaker for me. Have you tested this on the Droid?
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
I tested it just now, you CAN’T browse the web while on call unless you are on wifi.
As for GPS, incoming call works just fine while GPS is active.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
adamman41
Member3 things. First, coming from a sidekick, do you think I will be able to adjust to the new physical qwerty keyboard. I feel like it’s just something you have to get used to before you can type well on these things.
2. I don’t use facebook but if I wanted to pull contacts down onto the phone from a friends account and then delete the ones I don’t want in my contacts list, is that possible?
3. This device does not work out of the U.S right? Why didn’t they make it a world phone like other verizon phones? It seems silly not to have that functionality for such a high end device…
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
district5
MemberI think you’d get used to the keyboard. Every phone has a slightly different one, you adjust.
The one thing that really annoys me about Android (1.6) compared to Sidekick/HiptopOS is that when you go to the Dialer (Phone) screen and start typing letters, it interprets them only as numbers. So if you want to type “bo” and have it search your contacts and display Bo, Bob, Bonnie, Bozac, etc you have to first switch to the Contacts tab. If you type “bo” on the default Dialer screen it just displays “26″ and leaves the rest of the screen blank instead of simultaneously searching your contacts and displaying partial matches. Similarly, if you type “123″ it doesn’t show you any partially matched phone numbers that contain “123″. Completely frustrating coming from Sidekick where dialing was smart & intuitive. Hopefully Android 2.0 is different but I’m not holding my breath.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Standard micro-USB
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Instantly for me, too; I’m guessing it’s your connection, NeedfulToyz. Perhaps let it all download before starting to watch it?
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
I’ll leave Vincent to address 1. and 2. (though for the latter I’m thinking that it would probably delete the Facebook contacts if you remove the account). As for 3. no, the DROID won’t work outside the US. I can only assume either that Motorola had trouble fitting both CDMA/HSPA radios inside, or that Verizon didn’t want them to; neither is a particularly positive situation, frankly.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
3d
MemberAmongst all of the many early Android reviews on the internet, very few adequately review the Android’s call clarity and reception.
When on a call with someone on a landline how is the reception? Is there any hollow echo? Can you swap phones with the caller and you (the reviewer) LISTEN to the Android yourself during a call while you are on the landline. Does the reception get better or worse with a headset. How about voice clarity in slightly breezy conditions. Maybe in a moving car. Speakerphone clarity? Does the phone get hot because of all that metal during a one hour call?
Do you get reception in a typical windowless office surrounded by cubicles and computers? How about in stores at the mall? Basement one level underground?
Thanks!
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
I think many reviewers understood it depends on how well carrier tower gives coverage on certain zone, so it’s really hard to determine call clarity based on phone only. since carrier plays major part on it
but thanks for the suggestions, it might be something we can standardized in the future
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
1. coming from a sidekick, do you think I will be able to adjust to the new physical qwerty keyboard. I feel like it’s just something you have to get used to before you can type well on these things.
Answer: I’ve been using the iPhone the first day it arrived and haven’t used any other phones with a physical qwerty keyboard for a long period since then. I acclimated to Droid’s physical QWERTY keyboard quickly with ease. That being said, the keys are rather flat but that’s a small price for keeping it super thin.
2. I don’t use facebook but if I wanted to pull contacts down onto the phone from a friends account and then delete the ones I don’t want in my contacts list, is that possible?
Answer: Yes. There’s an option under settings in Facebook app to sync contacts.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
It’s the standard android market with extra Verizon tab
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
yee
MemberI am struggling with Droid, HD2 and the sooooooon coming X10. Between WM6.5-featured HD2 and the new-comer Droid, which one would you recommend? So far as you have experienced, is Droid as smooth as iPhone 3GS when running the apps? Sorry for so many questions, since Droid doesn’t have its own unique UI, do you think later, technically, it will be possible to transport the HTC Sense UI to Droid?
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
You said the camera was subpar on the Droid, how does it compare to the G1? I currently have a G1 and the camera takes great pictures, with good light of course. The Droid seems like a great upgrade to the G1 on paper so I’ve been thinking about switching over from t-mobile (contract is expired to gtg).
Posted 2 weeks ago #
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