Motorola Droid



New product review
The Motorola Droid runs Android 2.0, with EVDO Rev. A on board for super fast 3G. GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and USB 2.0 will help it connect to whatever you can think to connect it to. The whole thing is powered by a Cortex A8 processor. Motorola said that the processor can hit a max of 600MHz, but its variable and will depend on demand for computing tasks.
The screen measures a whopping 3.7 inches, with WVGA (480 x 854 pixels) resolution. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio. Nice. The device measures 2.4 x 4.6 x 0.5 inches, and weighs in at 6 ounces.
The camera rates 5 megapixels and has image stabilization, dual LED flash and autofocus. It can capture DVD-quality video (720 x 480 pixels) at 24 frames per second. The phone will be packed with a 16GB microSD card, which is quite generous.
On the messaging side of the equation, it has support for multiple Exchange, Gmail, and POP3/IMAP email accounts. It also supports SMS, MMS, IM and visual voicemail. All this, and over-the-air syncing. Motorola claims up to 270 hours of standby time and 6 hours, 25 minutes of talk time on the 1400 mAh battery. Not bad, but the Motorola CLIQ didn’t live up to its claimed talk/stand-by times.
Of course, it will integrate with many of Google’s services, such as Maps, Search, Talk, Voice, Contacts, Calendar, Gmail and the Android Market.
One of the most interesting new features is a beta version of the Google Maps Navigation application which will be preloaded on the device. The Maps navigation app will let users route directions and view them in 3D, and will also offer voice and turn-by-turn directions.
Verizon Wireless said that the partnership between Google and Verizon will be a multiyear partnership and any Android devices launched by Verizon Wireless will run under the Droid moniker.
Motorola Sanjay Jha said that the device is a “with Google” device, meaning it will run a native version of Android with no customization. That means no MOTOBLUR. An interesting move, especially since Android devices that offer the “with Google” experience are getting a bit boring.
The Motorola Droid sets high hopes for the future of the Google Android OS, and features powerful hardware: 3.7-inch high-resolution capacitive touchscreen display, 5-megapixel camera, and WiFi and Bluetooth, among other features.
But the star function of the Motorola Droid is the newest version of Google Android OS, version 2.0 Éclair. Google announced on Tuesday Android 2.0, which introduces such new features as support for multiple Google accounts, SMS search functionality, and better camera software.
GPS navigation on the Verizon Motorla Droid comes from the new Google Maps app in Android 2.0, which was completely revamped and also includes turn-by-turn directions capabilities for free.
The 2.0 version of Android is already receiving glowing reviews from the likes of PC World’s own JR Raphael, especially as the release brings numerous UI enhancements, like double tap zooming in for the browser. Previous lack of such functionality placed the Android browser behind Apple’s mobile Safari browser on the iPhone.
Android: Clearly on the Right Track
Powerful devices like the Motorola Droid are set to put Google Android into a leading market position by 2012 as well, according to data released Tuesday by research firm Gartner, which predicts that Android will hold the number two spot after Nokia’s Symbian OS with 18 percent of the market in a few years.
The Google Android platform is also quickly becoming popular among application developers. There are around 10,000 apps for the platform in the Android Market, placing Google in a distant second place behind Apple, which is on track to top 100,000 apps in its App Store.
The problem so far with Google Android was that only a limited number of devices run the OS. Only a handful of devices are available now, among them the Sprint Hero and the T-Mobile myTouch 3G, but anticipation of the Motorola Droid could increase the presence of the OS on the market if successful during this holiday season.
Google’s free licensing model for Android will also boost the popularity of the operating system. Handset manufacturers such as Asus, Sony Ericson, LG, Samsung, and Toshiba are already preparing Android handsets, choosing Google over Microsoft’s Windows Mobile OS. Microsoft’s entry features only 246 applications in its Windows Mobile Marketplace.
Motorola DROID review
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http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/motorola-droid-review/
specifications
CAMERA
Image stabilization, real-time color effects, scene modes, location tagging
MEGAPIXELS
5 MP
DIGITAL ZOOM
4x
FLASH
Dual LED
FOCUS
Automatic
IMAGE EDITING TOOLS
Cropping, rotating, Geo Tagging
MUSIC ENABLED1
MUSIC PLAYER
Yes
VIDEO CAPABLE
VIDEO CAPTURE
PLAYABLE FORMATS
AAC, H.263, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4, WAV, WMA, OGG, eAAC+, AMR WB, AMR NB, AAC+, MIDI
STREAMING MEDIA
Audio, Video
VIDEO CAPTURE RATE
DVD quality (720×480 resolution) up to 24 fps capture; up to 30 fps playback
ANDROID™ PLATFORM
Android™ 2.0
CDMA
CDMA 1X 800/1900, EVDO rev. A
BLUETOOTH® TECHNOLOGY
Stereo Bluetooth® technology v2.1 + EDR (profiles supported: HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, PBAP, and OPP for video/still images)
SYNCHRONIZATION
Support for Corporate calendar, email and contacts (Exchange 2003 and 2007), Google contacts, calendar and Gmail™, Facebook™ contacts
WIFI
802.11 b,g
DATA ACCESS5
Yes
CONNECTOR TYPE
Micro USB
DATA TRANSMISSION RATE5
USB 2.0 High Speed

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