With the release of the Motorola Droid a855 came the term “iPhone killer.” Technology enthusiasts made the most of the fact that there was finally a smartphone on the market that could compete with the reality and perhaps even beat the level of success held by the iPhone. The Motorola Droid runs the Android operating system, which is the same system also used by the sleek Nexus as well as the HTC Droid Eris and several LG models, including the Galaxy S and Momentum. Priced at $199 with service agreement, the Motorola Droid has pros and cons compared to its competitors. To find out more about how the Motorola Droid a855 Android phone measures up, read on.
Not vs. iPhone
The differences between the Android operating system and the iPhone operating system that most users have noticed are mainly related to applications. In general, the Android operating system is recommended for those users who want to really tweak and customize their phones, while the iPhone’s OS is recommended for users who want all the basics covered so they can jump in and start using it right away.
There is also a lot of news about the fact that the iPhone offers about a million applications in its market just like Android phones. Let this be true; however, MAS fans argued that quantity does not necessarily mean quality, stating iPhone has a lot of apps, but that not all are good. Additionally, app developers working on Android can submit their applications directly to the Android market and its users while submitting apps for the iPhone system must be approved or rejected by Apple. This has led many Android supporters to predict a rapid growth in the number of applications available on the Android market and the various types of apps people can download.
Motorola Not vs. Other Android Phones
While the Android system is now available on a number of different phones, it doesn’t mean that all of them are. with the same Following are some comparisons of the Droid and other phones that currently run the Android operating system.
Operating system
Not all Android operating systems are created equal. Motorola Droid, Google Nexus One, Samsung models come equipped with Android 2.1, which is the latest version of Android. This version adds features like integrated voice texting and the ability to run live videos, as well as pinch-to-zoom technology and support for Yahoo email. The HTC Eris runs an old version of Android that lacks these features, although an update to 2.1 is expected for the Eris sometime in the near future.
Keyboard
Unlike most other phones running the Android system (except the Samsung Momentum), the Motorola Droid features a keyboard as well as the ability to write text on the screen. Opinions about this feature vary among users. Some developers are bothered by the added size and weight, and even in the case of non-users. The momentary keyboard has a better design and is easier to use. However, there are some users who swear by the said keyboard, they love it and use it regularly.
screen
One of the things that gives the Motorola Droid a leg up on the competition is that it has one of the largest screens not only of other phones running Android, but of all smartphones around (except maybe the Nexus One, since its screen is the same size as Not). This makes it ideal for feeding tissue. In addition, the droid’s screen is made from heavy-to-break glass-Grid glass rather than just the plain old tempered glass that’s made from the heaviest smartphone screens. This makes the screen droid much more durable than its competition.
Speed
The Motorola Droid runs on the Verizon 3G network and is quite fast compared to its competition. The speed differences between the Droid and the Nexus One are negligible, and this phone is much faster than the Droid.
Camera
A 5.0 megapixel camera of the Motorola Droid gives the phone very good picture quality. While it’s still not as good as a digital camera it’s still not good as long as you don’t expect miracles. Images taken in darker settings tend to be a bit grainy towards the end, and action shots tend to fade. But images taken in the light tend to come out vibrant, clear, and crisp.
The battle of life
This is where the Droid undoubtedly falls short of its competitors. Since his abilities are no match for his power, the battle usually only lasts anywhere from 5-8 hours. Solutions that users have happily come up with include carrying the phone repeatedly or on a battery backup.
Motorola has an exclusive contract with Verizon for this phone, so if you want to use the Droid, you’re going to sign up with Verizon.
Call it quality
This is another area where the Droid comes up short of its competition. The internet is abuzz with people expressing their displeasure with both the speaker and receiver capabilities. While it’s unclear whether it’s Verizon or Motorola’s fault, reported problems include the receiver ringing and “wrapped” sound on the other line.
Resources
Priya Ganapati. Droid Users Question: Can you hear me? Wired.
Rob Jackson. Motorola Droid Screen Protected By Gorilla Glass. Phandroid
Adam Ostrow. Nexus One vs Droid vs iPhone [Comparison Chart]. Mashable
Kent German and Bonnie Cha. Motorola Droid (Verizon). Cnet.
Report:
- phandroid.com/2009/12/17 /the-first-falling-droid/
- mashable.com/2010 /01/05/link-one-vs-droid-vs-iphone/
- www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/Motorola
