DROID sells over 250,000 units in first week?
According to new data from WHERE, active users of the much hyped Motorola DROID has doubled in the last few days, suggesting that there are now about 250,000 total units now active.
The WHERE map also shows where the phone is being sold, with New York being the largest adopter, at 12 percent, followed by Los Angeles at 6 percent and Washington DC at 5 percent.
Earlier this week it was reported that 100,000 units had been sold in the opening weekend, so the new numbers suggest positive momentum for the Android 2.0 phone.
[Source: After Dawn]
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Motorola Droid Multi Touch, Better Battery Life And YouTube Videos
Here are three You-Tube movies that can help you with the Motorola Droid: set up multi touch, improve battery life and setup YouTube videos:
[Source: fonefrenzy]
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Motorola Droid Free Tethering
Ever since the birth of the Android platform, developers have been working on a process called “rooting,” which gains administrative rights to a device. That allows developers (and users) to have complete control and to utilize all the features found in the Android platform. Now independent developers bundle features such as tethering, overclocking and multitouch into custom OS builds that are available free for download. Firmware mods makes it easy for a regular Android user to have it all.
What exactly does that mean for Droid customers, or owners of any Android phone for that matter? You’ll be able to install modified firmware onto your smartphone and gain access to everything Android is capable of — without paying extra fees on top of your cellphone bill — so long as the hardware can technically support it. For example, you won’t have to pay $30 for Verizon’s official tethering plan so long as you install a free mod that includes the feature.
Earlier Android phones — the T-Mobile G1 and MyTouch 3G — have already been hacked to support Google Maps Navigation, which is supposed to be a Droid-exclusive feature. Thanks to the folks at the XDA Developer forums, all that G1 or MyTouch owners have to do is reinstall an updated version of Google Maps and change configuration settings.
Some manufacturers and carriers are already embracing the direction of open customization with all the available and upcoming Android devices that are hitting the market. For example, T-Mobile’s official development forum allows developers and consumers to discuss step-by-step directions on rooting an Android device. T-Mobile customers who have gone this route enjoy the perks of data tethering, for example, without an additional cost.
You can assume that Verizon, a company which just doubled its early termination fee, won’t look as kindly on the idea of customers rooting their devices and tethering for free.
Of course, changing the way a device operates from a manufacturer’s specifications always comes with a risk, and an Android phone is no exception. There are warnings about “bricking” your phone, which renders a device unbootable, and this commonly happens after installing a custom build of Android. Although it is considered a rare occurrence, a quick Google search brings up many results of Android users asking for help or wondering if their phone is, in fact, bricked.
And don’t think a carrier or manufacturer will offer any assistance with issues caused after modding their device, a clear violation of most Terms of Use. When someone discovers a way to root the Droid, Verizon doesn’t have to take the T-Mobile route of turning a blind eye to these changes. It could retaliate by terminating contracts and voiding warranties.
Read the full story at Wired.
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It’s Google’s world and handset makers just live in it
When the Motorola Droid launched this month everyone was amazed that a company so down on its luck was able to put together a well-designed phone running a powerful, “brand new” OS. The whole package – hardware, software, and marketing – seemed flawless. In fact, phones running Android 1.5 now look hopelessly outdated and with 2.0’s gesture, CDMA, and search support you’d wonder why handset manufacturers like HTC, LG, Kyocera, and Samsung are using 1.5 at all.
The reasons have more to do with Google than any decision on the carriers’ part. In fact, according to a source close to the handset business, Google’s Android team directly assisted Motorola and Verizon in building the Droid’s software from the ground up and is currently assisting another, unknown, handset maker in Korea to create a finely-tuned hardware and software combination. Most important, however, is that this is sort of assistance most manufacturers do not receive and, in the end, they are dinged for running an “older” version of Android.
Read the full story at CrunchGear.
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Motorola MT710 Android Phone, Ready for OPhone Action in China
Just days after launching a pretty big hit called Droid, Motorola is readying a new Android device, this time for the Chinese market. Said device is Moto MT710, which is not an Android phone per se, since it runs the OPhone OS, China Mobile’s open home system, based on Android.
Till now we’ve only seen the OPhone on Lenovo, HTC, Philips and LG devices, but things change, specially when you quit using Windows Mobile. Rumours claim that Motorola MT710 will feature a 3.7 inch display, with a 854 x 480 pixels resolution, plus 3G support and in the end it’ll have the same specs as Moto Droid.
However, this phone won’t sport a physical keyboard, as you get to use a virtual keyboard instead. Moto doesn’t stop here and promises to bring 6 more handsets on the Chinese market, all of them with Android on board.
[Source: GSM Dome]
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Mobile Deathmatch Calculator
Not sure how reliable their numbers are and why InfoWorld don’t think the the Motorola Droid is the answer to every question, but to help you choose a phone, InfoWorld have created this calculator, where you can either select a profile that represents you or enter in the specific weightings for each category to get an individual set of ratings for the six mobile devices that may be tempting you today: the Apple iPhone, HTC Droid Eris, Motorola Droid, Palm Pre, RIM BlackBerry Bold, and RIM BlackBerry Storm 2.
Let us know what you think of it.
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After first weekend, Motorola Droid accounts for 1.49% of all mobile internet traffic
In the Motorola Droid, Verizon finally has a phone capable of going head to head with the iPhone. It’s a gorgeous, full-featured little handset with just as much sex appeal as the iPhone, running Android, a smartphone operating system just as capable (if not more so) than the iPhone OS.
So far, it looks like Verizon has a success on its hands: Motorola has already managed to ship 100K Droid phones in its first weekend alone, which certainly looks like they’ve got a breakway handset on their hands… Motorola’s first major success since the launch of the sexy (if functionally terrible) Razr.
But what is the market penetration of the Droid after its first week? Does it also reflect a successful launch. According to a study done on mobile internet traffic in the United States, very much so.
Data taken on November 11th shows that the Motorola Droid accounts for 1.49% of all mobile internet traffic in the United States. That number does not seem particularly significant, but consider the fact that the Android operating system only accounted for 6.33%. That means the Droid is already accounting for a quarter of all Android mobile internet traffic.
The iPhone is, of course, the biggest slurper of mobile internet: an enormous 52.09% of all traffic comes from just three models of Apple’s iPhone. The Droid may look insignificant compared to that, but consider the fact that the iPhone has two years of momentum behind it, and in a single week, the Droid has managed to impact that. Things are looking rosy for Verizon and Motorola.
[Source: Geek.com]
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T-Mobile USA Upgrading to HSPA By End 2009, HSPA+ by 2010
T-Mobile USA, the nation’s fourth largest carrier, will be upgrading its 3G network to 7.2 Mbps HSPA by the end of 2009 with an HSPA+ to faster 21 Mbps data speeds in 2010. Current devices, including the MyTouch 3G, the T-Mobile G1, and the Motorola CLIQ will be able to take advantage of the 7.2 Mbps HSPA speeds. News of the fast network upgrades should be welcomed for customers of the carrier; T-Mobile was the last of the big four to implement 3G.
The carrier has already begun deploying its 21 Mbps second. Philadelphia is the current testbed for the fast data transfer speeds.
[Source: PocketNow]
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Review: Taking the Droid on the road
Is Motorola’s new Droid good enough to vanquish iPhone envy? To find out, Computer World took it on a 3-day trip.
My conclusion: My iPhone lust has been sated. The Droid, which costs about $200 after rebates and a two-year contract with Verizon, is superlative. On the whole, it is as carefully designed, useful and fun to use as an iPhone. At last.
Some quick observations
First, a note about the Droid’s general usability. In a word, it’s excellent. Google’s Android 2.0 platform, on which the Droid is based, feels fully formed and tightly designed.
With one notable exception — getting media onto the device — I never spent more than a few seconds figuring how to do something, which is the hallmark of a well-developed interface. For instance, when the device arrived, I immediately wanted to turn on Wi-Fi because of bad cellular reception in my house. At the Droid’s home screen, I pressed the menu key, then Settings — and there were all the wireless and networking options, just where I expected them.
The Droid’s basic interface consists of four buttons below the screen for backing up to the previous screen, displaying the menu, returning to the home screen and searching the device’s contents. Its home screen resembles the iPhone’s, with icons for all included apps. At the top of the home screen is a Google search box.
A major advantage compared to the iPhone is that the Droid multitasks. For instance, I was able to listen to Pandora while checking e-mail. To switch among running tasks, you press and hold the home button and a dialog appears with icons for the six most recently opened and still-running applications. You just tap on one of those application icons to switch to it.
…
Hitting the road
The first test of the Droid on the road was to use its GPS capabilities. Like the iPhone and many BlackBerrys, the Droid comes with Google Maps, which provides static lists of directions. But unlike those competitors, the Droid also comes with Google Navigation (in beta form), which provides spoken turn-by-turn directions.
…
Conclusion
Did the Droid put an end to my iPhone envy? Absolutely.
Sure, there are a few things that could stand improvement. Sideloading music should be easier, particularly from a Mac. And I can’t wait for the number of apps in the Android Market to grow.
But it has four significant features that the iPhone can’t match: built-in turn-by-turn GPS, multitasking, a superior display and a keyboard. And, like the iPhone, the Droid is powerful and elegantly intuitive to use. Better still, it’s fun.
At last, my iPhone envy is gone. I will get a Droid. It’s that good.
Read the full story at Computer World
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Motorola Droid vs. iPhone: It's on!
ComputerWorld has a comparison between the Motorola Droid and the iPhone:
The scoop: Motorola Droid smartphone (Verizon Wireless service), about $200 (with two-year agreement, plus $70 monthly voice/data service).
What it is: With apologies to Terrell Owens, “Get your popcorn ready!” The Motorola Droid smartphone is ready to take on the iPhone for the hearts and minds of consumers (and, gasp, enterprises). Running on Google’s Android operating system, the Droid features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard as a way to combat the lack of a physical keyboard on the iPhone — but like the iPhone it has a touchscreen (3.7 inches with 480 x 584 resolution) with an iPhone-like UI. In addition to the cell phone, the Droid lets you access e-mail, send text messages and download additional applications from the Android Market.
Why it’s cool: The Droid’s 5 megapixel digital camera is a step up from the iPhone’s camera (the iPhone 3GS has a 3 megapixel camera), and the addition of Wi-Fi on a Verizon Wireless smartphone is a much appreciated feature (unlike last year’s BlackBerry Storm, which was Wi-Fi-less). Accessing applications from the Android Market was as easy as an iPhone, although some of the applications available were not completely formatted for the Droid (I tried the apps out before the phone’s official launch, so hopefully they will conform more to the Droid’s screen size). Connecting to Verizon’s 3G wireless network was especially appreciated in New England. The built-in GPS and navigation application was very cool (and free), especially when it gives you a street view photo of your location when you arrive at the destination (it’s possible Street View can be active while you’re driving, but I had other things to worry about — driving — when I was trying that application.
Some caveats: I’m not completely sold on the slide-out keyboard. The physical placement of the keyboard (it slides out from the side, or the bottom if you rotate the phone 90 degrees) becomes an issue on the right side — extra space is used, making it harder for people with smaller hands to do the thumb-typing method. Since I have smaller hands, typing on the keyboard was more difficult. I gave the phone to a colleague with larger hands, and he was not bothered by this feature.
Bottom line: I’ve seen a lot of iPhone clones and alleged “iPhone killers” come and go by the wayside. It’s possible that the Droid will join them as well, but I don’t think so. I think this device has legs, and it seems to have the support of Verizon Wireless behind it, based on some of their latest ads challenging AT&T’s 3G coverage (somehow I think it means hopes for a Verizon iPhone has dimmed). The final decision on whether to go with a Droid vs. an iPhone could ultimately end up being a choice of whether you prefer AT&T’s network or Verizon’s.
Grade: 5 stars (out of five).
