The Daily Dog for Thursday, November 05, 2009

Mobile Content Today posted an interesting breakdown today. Writer Todd Ogasawara ponders, not whether to get the Moto DROID, but how to get it: At the discount price (with two-year contract), partial discount (for a one-year contract) or full price (no contract at all). I know some of you guys might be wondering the same thing, so here’s a summary of what Mr. Ogasawara came up with:

The choices:

1. $200 price (after a $100 mail-in rebate) with a two-year contract
2. $270 (after a $100 MIR) with a one-year contract
3. $560 at full retail price with no contract restrictions

(The last two bits of info come courtesy of Verizon's @DroidDoes Twitter account)


Using a minimum $70/month plan price as a baseline, the breakdown works out thusly.

After two years of service:
$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) + monthly fees = $1,880
$560 (full price phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $2,240

After one year of service:
$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) +  monthly fees + $350 ETF (early termination fee) = $1,390
$270 (partially discounted phone with 1-yr contract) + monthly fees = $1,110
$560 (full priced phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $1,400

After 6 months of service:
$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) + monthly fees + $350 ETF = $970
$560 (full priced phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $980

In each case, the subsidized phone (for the designated time length) is the most affordable way to go — except in the last scenario. There’s no subsidy or contract for six months, so the comparison pits a full price DROID against a fully subsidized one. Turns out, even with the ETF, it’s still less expensive to get the handset via two-year contract and then dump it six months later. Too bad it’s only a $10 savings, though.

Or is it?

The analysis contains a flaw: Mr. Ogasawara didn’t take into account that the ETF gets prorated down (by $10) for each month of service completed. So if a user got a fully subsidized phone, then broke the two-year contract after half a year, that would make the fee $290 and put the total amount spent at $910.

In other words, the total cost savings would actually be $70.

What’s the moral of the story? If you’re planning to use a no-contract Droid for at least six months, don’t. Instead, get the contract and pay the fee. Then when you’re done with it, you can sell it and kick the extra cash toward the next hot device you’re drooling over.

Via: Mobile Content Today

UPDATE: A buddy pointed out to me one important fact: The $350 ETF price hike isn't expected to go into effect until November 15th. That means the current fee ($175, with $5 prorated per month) is still in effect for now. So if you grab this phone within the week, the numbers would look different. How much? This is the new six-month analysis:

$200 (subsidized phone with 2-yr contract) + monthly fees + $145 ETF (175 minus six month prorate) = $765
$560 (full priced phone, no contract) + monthly fees = $980

That's a difference of $215, which is enough for a whole new smartphone. So the lesson here is twofold: (1) Math is your friend. (2) If you want to maximize your bucks and are planning to use the DROID for six months, DO NOT WAIT TO NAB THIS.

The Droid by Motorola is arguably Verizon's largest launch in recent memory.  Huge ad campaigns (some of which are getting them into legal hot water), early retail store openings, and more, the smartphone is Verizon's flagship for the rest of the year.  What's more, the success of the Droid is incredibly important for Motorola, as they've struggled to retain a competitive edge since the launch of their RAZR device in 2004 (I know, I can't believe it has been five years either).

The Droid is the first retail device running Android 2.0 out of the box, and in my opinion, is the best Android device on the market.  It appeals to all demographics with its neutral design (more on that later), feels sturdy, and feels like it's worth $199.99.  It's a business device just as much as it is a consumer one.

What I like about the Droid: The design, the OS, and the beautiful screen

The Droid is the most well-built Android device to date, period.  Sporting metal, glass, and a minor amount of plastic on the back, the Droid houses an absolutely gorgeous 3.7-inch WVGA display, and gives off a vibe of an expensive phone.  I've always argued that the Android platform suffers from a lack of professional devices, and the Motorola Droid (along with the Sprint HTC Hero) does a good job of filling that gap, thanks to the design and Exchange support.  Despite the fact that Android still retains a "geek" appearance to an extent (that is, it's still not as user friendly as other devices), Android 2.0 does a good job of shortening the divide.

For me, one of the most notable improvements in Android 2.0 is the support for multiple Gmail accounts.  As a BlackBerry user, I'm used to strong e-mail support, but it was always frustrating to be limited to one push Gmail account on previous Android devices.  I have five Gmail accounts, and it always left me prioritizing which one was the most important of the bunch.

What I dislike about the Droid: The keyboard and the battery life

The Droid's physical keyboard may be a challenge for some.  Granted, the "different strokes for different folks" philosophy applies here, but the Droid's keyboard is flat, and was hard to reach with my right thumb due to the placement of the D-pad.  The phone offers an on-screen keyboard that works in both portrait and landscape modes, and it's also a love or hate thing.  If you're used to the fluidity of the iPhone keyboard (sorry, the Verizon ads force me to compare it), you may not like it.  I will argue this point as long as I'm in the industry: there's always going to be a contingent of users that prefer a physical keyboard to a virtual one.  I happen to be in that group, and for me, the stock virtual keyboard on the Droid doesn't cut it.  There are plenty of alternate solutions, so I'm sure that those familiar with the process have already considered this.

Simply put, the battery life isn't great on the Droid.  With a full charge, I was able to make it about 9 hours before the phone powered off.  I understand that Android devices are loaded with widgets and that, along with the ability to multitask, makes the battery decline significantly faster than similar devices on the market.  Having said that, the potential inability to make it through the day with a moderate level of use may be frustrating to road warriors and those away from charging solutions.

Conclusion: My favorite Android device

The build quality, beautiful screen, and overall design make this my absolute favorite Android device on the market today.  If I was to purchase a device on my Verizon account (and it wasn't a BlackBerry, of course), the Motorola Droid would be my first choice.  It just feels good.  It's a sturdy device, and appeals to the professional crowd with Exchange support and a modest look (a demographic that Android needs to take advantage of). 

Stay tuned for my full review, coming soon!

Our pal John Walton has a post up on Droiddog with a video that offers a look at the Samsung Behold2's interface. If you’ve been itching to see the Android phone “Cube”-style, check it out by clicking here. (And say hi to John for us.)



Actually, the vid itself came courtesy of David over at TmoNews. In addition to the glimpse of the UI, he also offers a short preview vid of the Behold2, which is on view at the same Droiddog link. (By the way, David rightly points out that the apparent lag in the interface is actually the result of choppy video, so don’t blame the handset.)

Via: Droiddog.com, TmoNews

Not to be left in the dark, shortly after the official Verizon Wireless announcement regarding the BlackBerry Curve 8530, Sprint came out with an announcement of its own.  Though no firm date or price point have been established, the nation's third largest wireless carrier confirmed that it will launch in the future.  My guess is that the price point will be somewhere in the $99.99 range after a $100 mail-in rebate, however with the Tour available at Best Buy for $99 (with an instant rebate), I'm hoping that the carrier offers it at an enticing price point.

The full press release is below.  Sprint BlackBerry users, is it worth the upgrade?

   
BLACKBERRY CURVE 8530 SMARTPHONE COMING TO SPRINT FEATURING AMERICA’S MOST DEPENDABLE 3G NETWORK AND AFFORDABLE PRICE PLANS
 
Next generation of popular BlackBerry smartphone adds Wi-Fi, external multimedia buttons and BlackBerry App World; visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530" www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530?to pre-register for BlackBerry Curve 8530 from Sprint

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Nov. 5, 2009 – Sprint (NYSE: S) announced today it will add the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone to the wireless industry’s best lineup of devices. Beginning today, customers can visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530" http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530 to pre-register for this next generation of the popular BlackBerry wireless device on America’s most dependable 3G network1 with the affordability of Sprint’s Everything Data plans featuring Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone makes it even easier to enjoy music on-the-go with dedicated keys to skip to the next song on a playlist, pause or play. It comes preloaded with several multimedia applications including BlackBerry Media Sync, Sprint Music Store™, Sprint TV™ and Pandora™. It also boasts dedicated applications for a smoothly integrated social networking experience with Facebook®, MySpace™ and Flicker™. BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available in three color options – Black, Royal Purple and Red.

“BlackBerry Curve 8330 has been a tremendous success for Sprint. BlackBerry Curve 8530 continues that legacy with the addition of several important features that make it a winner for both entertainment and productivity,” said Kevin Packingham, Sprint Senior Vice President of Product Development. “This is one device that can really do it all with the email, calendar and contact synchronization BlackBerry is known for as well as the latest multimedia and social media features. We are anxious to bring it to our customers who also appreciate the strength of our network, the affordability of our rate plans and our Ready Now customer service experience.”

Sprint’s BlackBerry Curve 8530 will offer BlackBerry App World™ for instant access to thousands of applications. Sprint has employed an open Internet approach, and the Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers, since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 unboxing by Aaron Baker from PhoneDog.com. 624 MHz processor, trackpad, 3.2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, and OS 5.0.  Is it a worthy upgrade to its predecessor?

Take a look at this. What is wrong with this picture? (If it’s not hitting you, take another look. Do you see it?)

That phone better be encased in solid gold and rubies to justify that Buy Now price. More likely, a horrendous (and hilarious) typo was made. Either way, it’s not surprising that there haven’t even been any feeble attempts at bids, much less any takers.

Talk about overvaluing your handset. Geez….

Via: eBay

In case you missed the “R word” in the title, this is strictly rumor category:

BoyGenius Report says there are no less than two sources claiming that AT&T and Apple are mulling over the possibility of offering a cheaper, lower-end iPhone to compete with all the Droid hoopla. If the rumor’s to be believed, it might happen in time for Christmas.

I know, I know — iPhone: You either love it or hate the bejeebers out of it. But if they did offer an 8GB model for a C-note, would you grab it? At this price, they’d practically be stocking stuffers…

Via: BoyGenius Report

We’re on the cusp of D-day (DROID day), and the Droid PR machine hasn’t let up. This is the recent commercial touting the device. Which one do you like better: This movie preview–style Stealth commercial or that now classic “iDon’t” ad?

In a previous post, I got slammed for perceived bias against T-Mobile. I mentioned the voice outage that affected various users across the country, coupled with the Sidekick/Danger data gaffe, and implied that cost savings might not be worth this kind of hassle. Truth is, if any carrier was plagued with these kinds of issues within such a short period of time, I would’ve called them out the same way, so I wasn't apologetic then. But I might be eating my words now — especially if that recent blowout had anything to do with what I’m about to report:

It seems Tmo is preparing to launch its new HSPA 7.2Mbps 3G network. Not only that, but various subscribers are already experiencing sudden bouts of fast speeds. The guys at AndroidandMe confirm that on average, users — specifically in Chicago and New York City — are getting 5.4Mb/s and 3.8Mb/s, respectively. (Apparently, a simple reboot is all that’s needed to enable the crazy fast 3G connectivity.)

While there hasn’t been an official announcement on the rollout yet, most are predicting it will happen by the end of the year.

This puts everything in a new light. T-Mobile’s official word on the outage was that it was due to a back-end system software glitch that resulted in “abnormal congestion,” but there were no specifics mentioned of why or how that happened — or which back-end system caused the gaffe. TmoNews wonders if it could be tied to this 7.2 rollout.

Oh boy, if that’s true:

Then I am truly sorry, Magenta, for besmirching your network. Rollouts are never smooth, and if errors happen in the course of upgrading to a lightning fast new 3G network, then it’s all for the good. No, not good — really amazingly great. So I’m sorry, Tmo. I like your funky personality. I love your customer service. And your phone lineup is getting better by the day. So can we be friends again? Please?

As for all the Tmo customers in the house, are you experiencing a boost in 3G speeds? Report in and let us know. (If you’re wondering how to check, AndroidandMe has the following how-to: “Download the Xtreme Labs Speedtest and post your results (make sure WiFi is turned off). Run the test a couple times and share what you find. If your phone is rooted, tether it to your laptop/netbook and try running a test on speedtest.net. I have found I received much higher download speeds when tethered vs. just testing on an actual device.”)

Via: AndroidandMe, TmoNews, PhoneArena, PhoneScoop

If you’re addicted to Twitter like @CarlosGraves is, and you are sick of iPhone apps that get laggy and drain your battery, then look no further! Tweetie 2 (or 2.0) has arrived! Twitter is my main social network, so naturally I want an application that will be smooth, sexy, and most importantly – reliable.

If you use the original Tweetie 1x and want to upgrade but notice that it costs $2.99 to upgrade (yes, even if you bought Tweetie 1), this might change your mind. Because of this, you might ask, “What’s so different in Tweetie 2 that I have to pay for it again?” Well surprisingly, there are a lot of new features packed into Tweetie 2. The most notable is the revamped UI (user interface). If you use the Mac desktop version of Tweetie, you’ll likely find Tweetie 2’s look to be a combination of that and iPhone Tweetie 1.

At the bottom of the new UI, you have the usual tabs (left to right) – Friends, Replies, Direct Messages, Search/Trends, and More. In the “More” tab, you have – My Profile, Favorites, Go to User, and Drafts (A new feature in Tweetie 2). Now to get more in depth with some of the new features...

The main goal with Tweetie 2 was to make it easy to use, but also very stylish. For example, the refresh system - To refresh, all you have to do is pull down on your current list of tweets and you will see a message at the top that says “Release to Refresh”. This is one of the more obvious changes in Tweetie 2. Another key feature that I really love is the tab notifications. Every time Tweetie 2 refreshes, the tab with new tweets or messages gets a little glow underneath it. I like this a lot better than a system like Echofon’s (formerly Twitterfon), which gives you a numerical tweet-count.

Have you ever seen a tweet you liked in your twitter stream, but forgot who it was from? Well now you can find out with ease! Twitter 2 introduces a search bar at the top of your friend stream so you can search for those amazing tweets even if you don’t remember who crafted them.

But my absolute favorite new feature in Tweetie 2 is the full landscape support – and when I say full landscape, I mean FULL landscape! Every screen in the app can be auto-rotated into landscape mode, which is perfect for people who are horrible at typing in portrait mode (Editor’s Note: Like Noah). Another cool must-have feature in Tweetie 2 is the ability to edit your twitter profile. Tap into the My Profile section, and you have the ability to change everything about your profile, even your picture!

Like I said before, this new and refurbished app will cost you $2.99 in the App Store – but it’s a very worthy buy in my opinion.

Lars Aronsson of GeekedOut.se has put together one of the most comprehensive guides to Windows Mobile available on the web.  There is so much information we decided to break it down for our readers in numerous blog post.  The first part covered Tweaks, Tips, and Optimization for Windows Mobile.  Part 2 highlights essential software while Part 3 covers User-interfaces.  This new section is a quick look at some great modifications and windows mobile goodies. 

Modifications and Goodies

This is a little list of some nice user-interface modifications and enhancements, along with links to their corresponding original threads when applicable.

HTC Enlarge Start Menu - HTC's larger version of the start menu
Touch-HD cabs - Lots of nice extracts from the HTC Touch HD
Extra CABs for the Touch-IT 5 ROM - Plenty of sweet add-ons, check it out
HTC Footprints - Geotagging app
TouchResponse - Vibration feedback
FingerSuite - Replaces the standard menus
FingerKeyboard 2.1 - A finger-friendly touchscreen keyboard
FInixNOver VGA Battery/Network Icons - A better battery meter
AnX1 Landscape mode for TF3D
SE X1 Icons (SEX1cons) - New taskbar icons
Wisbar Advance - Task management and interface customization tool

Beyond the DROID and DROID Eris, Verizon’s LG Chocolate Touch, BlackBerry Curve 8530 and Samsung Convoy have also become bona fide. The carrier announced official launch dates for these additions to the lineup, including:



LG Chocolate Touch (November 5, $79.99 after $50 MIR)
This music-oriented phone offers Dolby Mobile, so users can customize audio prefs to crank the bass or clarity, in addition to a slew of audio-related features.

• FM radio with 12 presets
• Integrated Song ID
• Dedicated side key (to access favorite songs)
• Bluetooth with support for headset, hands-free, dial-up networking, stereo, phonebook access, basic printing, object push for vCard and vCalendar, file transfer, basic imaging and human interface device
• “Join the Band” lets users play along with built-in instruments, including: a full drum kit (snare drum, kick drum, floor tom, hi-hat cymbal, ride cymbal, crash cymbal, and even a cowbell) with finger tap input, and a piano function (with a full scrolling 88-key keyboard)
• Dolby Mobile equalizer, with customizable prefs for headphones, plus Natural Bass, High-Frequency Enhancer, and Sound Level Controller
• Social networking (including Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace) with a dedicated key that lets users upload pics and vids
• 3.2 MP camera and camcorder with 5 different resolutions, zoom, panoramic shooting feature, integrated image editor and manual controls for white balance, color effects, brightness and self-timer.

Samsung Convoy (November 15, $49.99 after $50 MIR)
This beast of a feature phone was built to military specifications to endure the toughest of elements. It’s a Push to Talk device that comes with a stereo speaker, extended battery life and multiple messaging options.

• Rugged, durable design
• Meets military specifications 810F standards for shock and dust resistance, vibration, salt fog, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and low and high temperature storage
• Push to Talk over Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO, Rev. A network, for fast two-way communications
• High-quality stereo speaker
• 1300 mAh for long battery life
• 2.0 megapixel camera with Night Shot, panorama, color effects and more
• Bluetooth (v2.1): supports headset (mono/stereo), hands-free, dial-up networking, serial port, object push (vCard and vCalendar only), basic image, basic printing and phonebook access
• Personal organizer with calendar, tip calculator, currency converter, notepad, alarm clock, world clock and stop watch
• Has VZ Navigator, which allows audible turn-by-turn directions for more than 15 million points of interest and lets users share directions with others

BlackBerry Curve 8530 (November 20, $99.99 after $100 MIR)
The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 — with 3G, built-in Wifi and GPS — seems like quite a nice update to the Curve 8330. It also features a 2 MP camera with zoom and vid recording, expandable memory via hot swappable microSD/SDHC memory card slot (up to 16 GB, possibly up to 32 GB, when next-gen cards are available), 256 MB flash memory, 528 MHz next generation processor, plus all the stand-out email and messaging features that BlackBerries are famous for. (For more on this, hope over here to Aaron’s post on the Curve 8530’s launch.)


In all cases, the mail-in rebates come in the form of a debit card, and the list price requires a 2-year contract. For more info, you can check out Verizon Wireless online or grill the sales clerks at your local retail store.

On the heels of tomorrow's Droid Day at Verizon Wireless, the carrier has launched a YouTube video walkthrough of the HTC Droid Eris.  Yes, people will inevitably learn the device as they grow accustomed to it, but I like the fact that Verizon is taking a proactive step to launch training videos (and of course, it helps them in marketing the Droid line as well).

Check out the video, and get ready for tomorrow's big day!

Via: Verizon (YouTube channel)

The Samsung Mythic and Flight were announced by Samsung Mobile for AT&T this morning, just in time for the holiday shopping season. 


The Samsung Mythic is AT&T Mobile-TV capable (though the service will cost you $9.99/monthly), and will offer a 3.3-inch touchscreen with Samsung's popular TouchWiz user interface.  Additional features include 3G, a full HTML web browser, 3.2-megapixel camera, AT&T Navigator, and stereo Bluetooth.  Available on November 8th, the Mythic will cost $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement.




The Samsung Flight offers 3G, 2.0-megapixel camera, full HTML web browser, QWERTY keyboard, stereo Bluetooth.  The Flight will land at AT&T stores (pun intended) on November 8th as well, and will be offered at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

For more information on the two devices, check out Samsung's Newsroom.

Despite previous rumors marking the BlackBerry Curve 8530 as the "Curve2," it appears that Verizon opted to keep it as-is.  A welcome addition to the carrier's hoiday lineup, the 8530 was announced this morning, and is slated to replace the aging Curve 8330.  The 8530 contains a 320 x 240 display, EVDO, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 2.0-megapixel camera, and RIM's new trackpad solution.  Launching in "Black" and "Smoky Violet," the Curve 8530 will land on November 20th for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement.

VERIZON WIRELESS INTRODUCES THE BLACKBERRY CURVE 8530 SMARTPHONE
 
New Smartphone Features 3G Connectivity, Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS, Touch-Sensitive Trackpad and Dedicated Media Keys
 
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WATERLOO, Ontario – Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go.
 
Available colors: Black and Smoky Violet
 
Key features:

• Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
• 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance
• Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth® (version 2.1), with support for hands-free headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
• 3G-enabled (EV-DO)
• Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
• GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging pictures and Verizon Wireless’ VZ NavigatorSM service
• 2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording*
• Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry® Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from your computer to the smartphone**
• Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry® smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more
• Access to e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace)
• Rich multimedia capabilities, including dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset, giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and video
• Support for BlackBerry services with access to up to 10 supported e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts such as Yahoo!®, Windows Live™ Hotmail®, AOL® and Gmail, and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments
• Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD™/SDHC memory card slot, supporting up to 16 GB cards today and expected to support next generation 32 GB cards when available

Pricing and availability:

• The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.
• For information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

* Video recording requires microSD card, sold separately
** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies
 

Looks like tomorrow’s launch of Big Red’s DROID initiative won't be tied to just one phone. Like the gossip mill predicted, HTC and Verizon are letting the DROID Eris loose the same day, giving customers a choice of Android handsets at two difference price points by two different makers: $199 for the Motorola DROID and $99 for HTC’s DROID Eris (after MIRs).

Here are a few details on the Eris:

• 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen, plus trackball
• Sense UI, with “scenes” feature for customized home screens
• 5 MP auto focus camera
• Expandable memory with pre-installed 8 GB microSD card (up to 16 GB supported)
• Supports USB mass storage
• Bluetooth and Wifi
• 3.5 mm headset jack
• Integrated GPS and a digital compass
• Smart dialer for simplified dialing by name, number or initials
• Full HTML browser (with Flash Lite)

If you’re interested in the industry’s least expensive Android phone to date, remember that the $99 price tag requires a two-year contract and — if you’re picking this up from a Verizon store or online — it’s after a mail-in rebate, which comes in the form of a debit card (not check or cash). If you’re picking it up at Best Buy Mobile or another third-party retailer, you may be able to get the rebate on-the-spot.

Still not sure? You can check out Verizon’s marketing promo/demo of the device here, or just swing by a retail location and get handsy with the device, to see for yourself. It’s only one day away.

UPDATE: D'oh!! Aaron beat me to this news by 2 minutes! Sorry for the duplicated post, everyone. But hey — anything worth covering is worth covering right (or, I guess, multiple times). So we're obviously tuned in to this launch. Are you? Is anyone planning to grab this tomorrow? 

After countless rumblings, rumors, leaked pictures, and reviews, Verizon Wireless and HTC have finally made the Droid Eris official.  Sporting a 3.2-inch HVGA display, Qualcomm 528 MHz processor, 512 MB ROM, 288 MB RAM, EVDO Rev. A, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack, microSD card slot (with 8 GB card included), Android 1.5, a 5.0-megapixel camera, and HTC's Sense UI, it will be available on November 6th (tomorrow) for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and new two-year customer agreement.

With the Droid Eris, Verizon has two Android devices, priced at $99.99 and $199.99 after mail in rebates.  Is it just me, or does it seem like they're priced identically to a certain competitor?

Though it's not out just yet, I've been working with the BlackBerry Bold 9700 since RIM's media event in New York City on Monday evening, and it has quickly become my favorite QWERTY BlackBerry.  As a replacement to the aging BlackBerry Bold 9000, the Bold 9700 (also referred to as "the Bold") ushers in new design cues, and adds notable improvements such as the trackpad, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and OS 5.0.0.330.  As much as I loved the Bold's design, I love the Bold 9700's even more, as it fits in my hand with the smoothness of the Curve, but offers the premium features expected from the Bold product line.

Yes, it's a love or hate characteristic, but RIM is a historically conservative company when it comes to design changes, and the Bold is no exception.  From a distance, it's challenging to tell the 9700, Tour, Bold 9000, Curve 8900, and Curve 8520 apart, and I don't think that's an accident.  What I love about the Bold 9700 is not that it's a radically new design, but that they've improved upon the issues that plagued previous models to make a truly great device.


The Bold 9700 offers OS 5.0.0.330, which includes threaded text messaging.

User interface, OS, and responsiveness

Though similarities can be found in the design of OS 5.0 and previous builds, OS 5.0.0.330 is a welcome improvement.  Featuring threaded text messaging and a refined 'home' page, OS 5.0 boots up faster (a common frustration among BlackBerry users), and offers a list of small improvements over previous builds.  The threaded text messaging was something we saw coming, but it's nice to have a second retail unit that supports it out of the box (Storm2 was the first).  As with any BlackBerry, the menus are largely customizable, and can be tailored to the user's specific needs.

RIM says that the Bold 9700 sports a 624 MHz processor (same as the original Bold), but in my testing, the 9700 is significantly faster than its predecessor.  Tasks all the way from moving the trackpad around to opening numerous applications performed incredibly well, whereas the original Bold struggled at times.  Without a doubt, it's the best performing BlackBerry on the market to date.


With the exception of the bottom row, RIM did a great job on maintaining the size of the keyboard.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard on the Bold 9700 is the absolute best keyboard I have ever used, without question.  I loved the Bold 9000's keyboard, but was frustrated at times by the size of the unit itself, particularly when sexier models such as the Tour 9630 and Curve 8900 were out on the market.  The keyboard is absolutely phenomenal, and I'm pleased to say that most of it carried over to the 9700 (I'm sure there's some small size difference, but it's negligible).  With the exception of the bottom row, the keys appear to be almost identical

The 9700 is the second BlackBerry to ship with a trackpad instead of a trackball, and as if it wasn't obvious, RIM executives tell me that's where they're all headed.  If I can be candid, I think it's a fantastic idea, as the trackball has quite a notorious reputation.  The Tour's had some issues at launch with the trackball, and most BlackBerry owners will tell you that the trackball becomes harder to use as the years go on.  Though it takes a few hours to adjust to it (and consequently, to go back to the trackball afterwards), I absolutely love the trackpad.  It's incredibly easy to use, and adds to the sleek profile of the phone.


The Bold 9700 offers a 3.2-megapixel camera, which takes good pictures.

Camera

Matching the Tour 9630, the Bold 9700 offers a 3.2-megapixel camera, and in my testing, pictures came out well (see above). 

Reception

The Bold 9700 has been tested in both New York City and Charlotte using T-Mobile's 3G network, and I'm impressed with call quality.  In areas where my other T-Mobile review units have 2-4 bars of service, the Bold has been at a consistent 5 bars, with no fluctuation between 3G and EDGE.

Battery

The battery life is impeccable on the Bold.  Enough said.  Of all the BlackBerry devices I've owned, the 9700's battery life is fantastic, and is probably my favorite feature of the device.  To give some background, I tested the device on Tuesday with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, followed by a span with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on.  Though Wi-Fi and Bluetooth caused a bit more battery drain, it wasn't to the extent that I've seen with other devices.  Most users will be able to make it 1 1/2 - 2 days without a problem.  The only BlackBerry that I've seen come close is the 8900, which is impressive, given that the Bold 9700 was operating on T-Mobile's 3G network during my testing.

Stay tuned for the unboxing and full written review, coming up soon!

Technology: CDMA
Announced Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Rumored Release Date: November 20th, 2009

Verizon Wireless announced the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry Curve 8530 for November 20th.  Priced at $99.99 after $100 mail-in rebate, the 8530 comes equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, 2MP camera, full QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry's new touch-sensitive trackpad.   

Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Retail Price: $129.99 or via ebay
Contract Price: $79.99 or via Lets Talk 
Hot Features: Touchscreen with vibrating response, 3.2MP camera

Technology: CDMA
Announced Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Rumored Release Date: November 15th, 2009

The Samsung Convoy is a rugged push-to-talk device.  Other features include 2MP camera, GPS, Bluetooth, and high-quality stereo speakers.

Technology: GSM
Announced Carrier: N/A but rumors have it going to T-Mobile
Rumored Release Date: Q1 2010

The HTC HD2 offers the first capacitive touch display on a Windows phone with pinch to zoom.  Other features include a 4.3" touchscreen, HTC Sense, and Win Mo 6.5.  More details about the HD2 will be updated when made available.