Sam Oliver
The handset runs the new Android 2.0 operating system and was co-developed by Google and Motorola, according to The Boy Genius Report. With a hands-on look at the hardware, the site calls the handset "the most impressive phone we've used since the iPhone."
"It's the Android device to beat, and easily the most impressive," the report said. "From what we've been told, Google had a direct hand in the Motorola Droid. Something to the point of almost dictating every move Motorola made with designing and making the phone."
The hardware is said to be slightly thicker than an iPhone 3GS with a slide-out physical keyboard, and internally the phone sports a reportedly speedy TI OMAP3430 processor. The hardware keyboard has a rubberized finish but allegedly is not finalized.
The handset also comes with a charging cradle that turns the phone into a multimedia station, displaying weather, time and other information.
The forthcoming Android 2.0 mobile operating system reportedly includes a new Maps application, an improved browser, and native support for both Exchange and Facebook. It has not yet been officially announced.
In an advertisement that debuted over the weekend, Verizon and Motorola targeted the iPhone with a TV spot teasing the new hardware. With a style and accompanying song set to parody Apple's own ads, the commercial ran a list of things the iPhone cannot do, with the tag "iDon't."
The advertisement attacks the iPhone's lack of a physical keyboard, inability to multitask with third-party applications, and absence of a camera flash, before teasing the Droid's November debut and directing viewers to the Web site droiddoes.com.
Verizon's marketing has turned its attention toward the iPhone in recent weeks. Another advertisement compares the 3G coverage of their network to AT&T, the exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the U.S. The TV spot lampoons Apple's famous "there's an app for that" advertisements by declaring "there's a map for that," comparing the two companies' service.
Earlier this month, Google and Verizon announced that two Android-powered phones would debut soon on the carrier's network. All Android-powered Verizon handsets will allow the Google Voice service and support open development. It's a change for the nation's largest wireless carrier, which has traditionally kept tight controls on its network.
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135 Comments
I was actually excited to see the phone. Then they dropped a FUGLY keyboard on it. Poor, poor Verizon. They just haven't got it yet.
Before everybody starts to praise the physical keyboard and how this is missing on the iPhone, here a thought.
Every country overseas requires a different keyboard (e.g. Germany has the QWERTZ instead of QWERTY keyboard and the ä, ö and ü), France requires a different keyboard, all Scandinavian countries etc., etc, and not to forget the Asian countries. The Pre, and now the Droid will have to be produced with different keyboards if they want to sell them overseas. Translation: more expensive.
Apple uses software to accommodate all languages. I think that is very smart. Moreover, typing on it with Apple's character recognition system is really easy and fast.
Also, every key is another small little component that can fail.
I prefer Apple's approach.
Two and a half years (three if you include the original iPhone announcement) for the industry to catch up (and possibly overtake) the iPhone. That's not bad, but it has taken a dictatorial Apple-esque approach from Google to do this. Maybe they should merge and become MOTOOGLE? GOOROLA!
The hardware keyboard isn't a major win as Apple's soft-keyboard is so good - apart from not taking over the screen that is. C'mon Apple, let us use Bluetooth keyboards, maybe even create a portable keyboard dock...
Background apps is a major win, especially for streaming apps. Apple seems to be coding these in separately, if the Radio rumour is correct. Maybe Apple will eventually come up with a stable background API for certain classes of application, where they have to provide a pop-up UI like the pop-up background iPod UI for music control when you're in Safari, etc.
Looks pretty fug, but I care more about what it can do. I wouldn't mind trying one out.
"Genesis does. Nintendon't."