Droid trumps iPhone for Time Gadget of the Year
updated 05:40 pm EST, Tue December 8, 2009
Droid picked for free nav, keyboard, more
Time today provided a minor surprise by giving the Motorola Droid a first-place finish in its Gadget of the Year countdown (video below). The Android phone won for including free turn-by-turn GPS through Google Maps Navigation as well as having both a large (3.7-inch) touchscreen and a hardware QWERTY keyboard. In comparison, the iPhone 3GS only reached fourth place, earning the spot for popularizing augmented reality through apps like Layar and Yelp.
Other highlights included the just-shipping Barnes & Noble Nook, whose secondary touchscreen and friends system put it at second place, and Dell's Adamo XPS earned sixth place for its extremely thin design.
The pick is a rare win for Motorola, which hasn't had a major device to carry its sales and garner attention since the RAZR in 2005. Apple has been a regular mainstay of Time's gadget and invention lists but this year was limited to just the iPhone's mid-field performance; many of its introductions this year were evolutions of existing designs rather than major overhauls or new creations.
QWERTY keyboard
12/08, 06:09pm reply
Sure it has one, but that thing is a total piece of c***. I used it for about 15 min the other day and if I did own a Droid.. would never touch it.
eldarkus
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Joined: Feb 2004
I second that...
12/08, 07:13pm reply
I've used several just out of the box droids, and they are horrific.
- A
Fast iBook
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Joined: Mar 2003
Gimmicky
12/08, 07:34pm (3 replies) reply
Its a shame TIME based their choice on novelty and gimmickry rather than something that is actually better than the iPhone (or a completely different device altogether). It is far to say that Apple didn't have anything really "new" to put in the race this year, but without the iPhone NONE of these new groovy phones would even EXIST.
People have short memories, it seems; it was the iPhone that made touchscreen mandatory, soft keyboards standard, apps a must-have, real internet browsing/real email a requirement, etc etc etc etc.
If it had been up to me to choose "gadget of the year," I would have been torn between the rise of affordable HD video cameras (Flip HD, Kodak Zi6, et al) or the new "Micro 4/3rds" type cameras that promise to bring near DSLR-quality to hobbyists for way less than ever before.
Both of these are genuine "innovations" in the market: the Droid, regardless of its quality, is just an iPhone knock-off at the end of the day.
chas_m
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Joined: Aug 2001
Unsurprising
12/08, 08:05pm reply
Don't take it personally. Time can't just give this award to the iPhone *every* year; that would be boring. They've got little choice but to pick something, anything else to put on there once in a while.
WiseWeasel
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Joined: Apr 1999
Keyboard
12/08, 09:02pm reply
Unlike you guys, I actually OWN a Droid, the keyboard is nice. You have the vertical or horizontal virtual keyboards, ala the iPhone, or you can pull out the physical keyboard and don't have to share the screen with the typing area.
Redwolf
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Joined: Nov 2009
Droid, Falls Short
12/08, 09:30pm (1 reply) reply
Yes, I have tried Both Droids offered by Verizon.. Far from a iPhone killer... And personally i like the HTC Droid better than the Motorola Droid... You may have your pretty toys now, But when Apple releases their 4th Gen iPhone in July 2010, You droid owners will see a $350.00 Disconnection fee to get out of verizon!
And no, Verizon will not be getting the iPhone yet again, Maybe next year guys!
On a complete side note, Everyone complains that Verizon is SO MUCH BETTER than AT&T, But try and Look up something on google while on the phone with your precious Droid. As for me, Ill stick to my Current iPhone 3GS, And for the guy in the video, Dont quit your day job, Because your terrible at making videos.
AT&T "The Nations Fastest 3G Network"
mattballew
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Joined: Dec 2009
um
12/08, 11:57pm (2 replies) reply
@Redwolf,
Good luck enjoying the no-multitouch browser phone. And good luck with your failed shilling. (note sign up date)
dliup
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Joined: Jan 2006
he he he he he
12/09, 04:21am reply
Drrrooooiiidddd
iToy
Faaiiilllll
timjones17
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Joined: Nov 2009
Look...
12/09, 07:31am reply
The Droid would be a piece of cr@p if the QWERTY kybd didn't work all the time or if the GPS map dropped out due to coverage gaps, but that's not the case.
So this comes down to personal choice of what you feel is important to your mobile device/phone. Personally, I don't like the keyboards nor have a need for turn-by-turn GPS. That and I really like my iPhone...wouldn't trade it for any foreseeable device. But that's my choice...doesn't mean the Droid is cr@p. To each, his own.
Congrats to Droid from Time.
/
pairof9s
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Joined: Jan 2008
That's great
12/09, 12:09pm reply
Not that Apple is perfect, but the Droid (and previous Android devices I've used) software felt slapped together. Pretty, yes, intuitive - hardly.
JTh
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Joined: Sep 2007