Moto Droid hand-designed by Google?
updated 09:20 am EDT, Mon October 19, 2009
Droid "most impressive" since iPhone
The Motorola Droid may have been designed by Google itself in what could be its best attempt to rival the iPhone, an early hands-on with the phone reveals. While Google has been known to provide input on Android devices like the T-Mobile G1, BGR now says the company had a "direct hand" in the Droid and virtually told Motorola what to build. The move suggests Google now wants a "halo" Android phone and is interested in competing more closely with Apple rather than relying on the platform alone.
The handset itself reflects this and is considered the "Android device to beat" with a genuinely fast, ARM-based Texas Instruments OMAP processor, a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen that feels "huge," and an extremely thin design which is only slightly thicker than an iPhone 3GS despite including a sliding QWERTY keyboard. In a unique spin, the Droid will reportedly come with a special docking station that turns the phone into a mini data station.
An initial test claims the device is the "most impressive" seen yet since any version of the iPhone with a significantly more upscale design than the Motorola Cliq, which just became available to existing T-Mobile subscribers as of today and is seen as the more frugal, Motorola-only design of the two.
The Droid is known to be a showcase for Android 2.0 and features like Facebook integration as well as a much improved web browser. Verizon has also hinted that it has all but dropped the BlackBerry Storm2 as its flagship phone and has launched a major teaser campaign for the Droid ahead of its release in November. So far, the carrier has had little success in offering a strong-selling alternative to the iPhone that would lure customers away from AT&T.
hmmm...
10/19, 09:56am reply
so much for a nice design :)
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
Seems like a very solid design...
10/19, 10:02am reply
Nothing fancy but very functional with solid specs. If the performance is good and with some decent marketing this could be very competitive against RIM and the rest of the second tier smartphones. It should beat Nokia cold with it's likely lower price. It could also do well in China. Maybe, just maybe Motorola might have a hit on it's hands. There's probably not much of an ecosystem for it though, so it won't do much against the iPhone.
iphonerulez
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
hilarious
10/19, 10:08am reply
that looks and sounds like a MUCH better phone than any of the dreck Moto has put out recently.
As the article says, Google had to virtually tell them what to build. Of course. LOL
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
I want one.
10/19, 10:49am reply
I've typically used MOTO phones in the past, but lately, their offerings pretty much sucked. This looks like it has potential.
Since an iPhone unfortunately isn't in my near future (no AT&T coverage) this looks to finally be a close alternative. LOVE the idea of a real keyboard too. Now, the real test will be to see if it plays nice with my mac. Let's hope, at least.
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Makes sense
10/19, 10:53am reply
Function over form. This thing is ugly as sin but has good specs. Exactly what you'd expect from engineers.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Solid Design?
10/19, 11:11am (1 reply) reply
So all those moving parts and slidie things are going to get full of lint, they will, Every Wireless Phone I ever had had that issue, My Razr was the worst for lint buildup. I've not seen that in the iPhone.
Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Logos
10/26, 08:28am reply
It does look like a decent offering.... does it really need so many Verizon and Motorola logos?
burger
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2000