Somehow, taking a look back at the rumors, leaks, launches, and reviews of the week has a way of putting things into perspective. And since a bunch of you want the skinny, net results rather than a post on every whisper, I give you the link-heavy, image-light, piece I'll write late Thursday night: What up, Droid?

Here we go.

GooglePhone: About to blow up?

GooglePhone

While still unresolved, the long-standing rumors and rebuttals of Google's intention to get into the cell phone hardware game have recently grown to a deafening roar thanks to a couple of posts from TechCruch, which have been covered by myself and Adriana. Writing about the device as a sure thing (and as something that renders the entire history of the Universe prologue) has put all tech bloggers on alert. Let's hope TC's source is a strong as they think it is.

Samsung Behold II

The T-Mobile follow-up to the original Behold may not have seen enough change since it's previous incarnation. This Android device feels TouchWizzy through and through and reactions to "The Cube" have been almost unanimously negative. Sammy did bring a nice drop-down notification bar enhancement to Android, and the media management is kinda cool. I'd just like to see those flipping Polaroids in a widget or something.

Adriana was at the launch last week, and she posted her first impressions as well as a demo of the interface.

I unboxed the phone and completed round one of a Q&A/request video series.

Motorola's Motus - or is it Backflip?

What is widely viewed as the Cliq's little brother should be launching in the first few months of next year, but don't expect any major changes in the guts. Cliq and Backflip share the same father. The name - Backflip - apprently comes from the device's hardware keyboard, which is attached to the screen panel facing opposite of the direction we're used to. When the phone is closed, the keyboard is situated on the back of the phone. Confused? Check out a picture, and imagine you're looking at the front and back covers of a book.

X10

Sony Ericsson's X10 - the first device to run the Nexus UI (previously known as Rachael) - has been on everyone's minds this week. Unfortunately, not always for its strengths. SE held a luncheon in NYC where a number of hands-on videos were produced. Despite disclaimers about the beta state of the hardware and software, it seems that everyone walked away with a bad impression. Maybe beta luncheons aren't such a good idea for devices with such incredible buzz behind them. Especially when your company is trimming the fat and causing what some see as a loss of confidence in the brand.

I'm still super-excited for this Snapdragon phone, and am awaiting any X10-related info in Sony Style news. Check out samples from the X10's camera here.

DRAGOOOOOON!!!

This bad boy may as well be called the HTC Super Hype Ultra. The rumors/leaks just don't stop. And while this phone was being rumored to launch in mid-December, the GooglePhone gabbers say it's been bumped to the new year.

Droid

Noah wrapped up his three part iPhone vs. Droid dogfight this week, and that's what all of this industry buzz surrounding Droid is founded upon, right? Check it out. And as if you haven't seen enough Droid... here's one in pieces. Is that enough? No? O.K., check out this video to warm up for the weekend. Yeah, it's older than this past week, but still funny.

Updates

A couple of software updates were made available this week: the new HTC Sync and a Sprint Hero OTA full of fixes. Check out the changes here.

Those are the bigger stories from the past week, folks. But here are a few crumbs for those who are still hungry:

Bargains

Hero and Moment holiday special

Odds and Ends

Sciphone N21 video is the greatest of ALL TIME!

Dell Streak headed for AT&T with Eclair?

Install Android on WinMo

Say what? Saygus.

It seems that $99 is one of the two magic price points of the holiday season (with $199 being the other one).  The AT&T BlackBerry Curve 8520 ("coming soon"), HTC Droid Eris, and Apple iPhone fall into the $99 category, along with the Sprint's HTC Hero.  Though the price remains at $179.99 on the carrier's website (after mail-in rebate), rumors are pointing to a price drop to $99 at Best Buy locations.  Sure, you have to sign a two-year agreement, but for $99, it brings it down into the entry-level smartphone playing field.

With Verizon's HTC Droid Eris and Sprint's HTC Hero at the same price, it all boils down to carrier preference.  Which do you prefer?

Via: PhoneArena

That said, Sony Ericsson's forthcoming Xperia X10 Android phone is looking faster and sexier than ever in this latest hands-on video. Looks like the HDBlog folks got a newer build of the software than SE showed off at the phone's launch a few weeks back - Rachael is right snappy in this 10+ minute vid, and the highly visual user interface looks great. And wow, that EuroTechnoPop music playing in the background is pretty hot and snappy itself ... 

Contacts, Mediascape, Timescape, it all looks great on X10 in the vid. The latest info has SE's first Android phone pegged for a February ship date in the UK. Now excuse me while I go pester my contacts at SE for an early prototype.

Via: HDBlog.it and Engadget

• 528 Mhz processor
• 3.2” AMOLED capacitive screen
• Accelerometer
• BlueTooth
• Wifi
• GPS
• Support for up to 16GB external memory (comes with a 2GB microSD card)
• 5 MP autofocus camera with built-in flash, zoom and video
• 1500 mAh battery

The Behold II feels good in the hand. From the previous unofficial photos, I kind of thought it would be more “plasticky,” but the device has a decent amount of weight so that it feels substantial (though it’s not as heavy as the DROID). And it’s thinner than I thought it would be, with rounded corners, which make for good “pocketability.” While fans of physical keys may pine for the lack of QWERTY keyboard, they’ll definitely like the front face buttons. Overall, it’s a quality build.

I am such a fan of AMOLED screens, and this one is quite decent. Maybe not as snazzy as the high-res display on the DROID, but still vibrant and crisp, with great colors. The slightly protruding camera button on the side of the device is a nice touch — it sticks out far enough that you can find it without looking, but not too far out — and half-pressing it engages autofocus (like real digital cameras).

Like I told Noah, the UI didn’t really do it for me. Your mileage may vary, meaning that if you’re already a fan of TouchWiz, it’s probably neat seeing it on top of Android. But it seemed to slow things down a bit, in terms of responsiveness, and it just didn’t seem worth it to me. It didn’t help me navigate, and the Cube’s “cool” factor wore out after about a minute.

Considering all the buzz about Verizon's Moto DROID, it's hard not to make comparisons. Given that the Behold II comes with a noticeably laggy UI on top of Android 1.5 for $229, while Verizon’s listing the Moto DROID for $199 (with Android 2.0 and superior display), I’m kind of worried for the success of this offering. But, and I can’t stress this enough, this is a first impression after playing with it for 5 minutes, so take it with a grain of salt for now — at least until PhoneDog can get in and really test it for a full review.

Below are a mix of promo pics, along with images I shot myself. You can tell which is which because in my photos, the film is still on the face. Noah told me that PD fans like it when the film is removed in the unboxing vids, so I left that on for now. I also took some shots of the handset next to the Moto DROID, the iPhone 3GS and the Palm Pre, just for size comparisons. (There’s even a pic next to a Sharpie, so you can really get the thickness of it.)

So enjoy these images for now. I’m in the throes of vid editing the hands-on demo, so you can see it in action, so look for that later today.

Behold II (promo pic 1)

Behold II (promo pic 2)

The front of the Behold II

Back of handset (camera, flash)

Front face buttons

Camera button, lock button on right side

Microphone

Volume rocker (left side)

USB and 3.5 mm headphone jack (top)

Tmo branding

The Behold II, next to DROID, iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre (length comparison)

Another length comparison (without the distracting reflection in the glass)

Thickness comparison (again, Behold II is on the left)

Behold II next to DROID

Behold II, next to iPhone 3GS

Behold II, next to Palm Pre

Behold II, next to a Sharpie!

It's been rumored, rumored, and rumored a little bit more, but the Dell Mini 3i is now official for China Mobile and Brazil's Claro.  The much anticipated Android smartphone will be offered in a 3G flavor for Claro in Brazil, while China Mobile will have to make do with a non-3G unit.  Pricing and specifications remain unknown, though rumors point to a Brazilian release with Wi-Fi - similar to that of the US-bound 3iX.  According to Dell's press release, the 3i (and related variants) is simply the "initial" smartphone for Dell.

The official Dell press release is below.  With the official announcement, a US launch can't be too far off.  AT&T in early 2010, anyone?

• Dell confirms entrance into smart phones. China Mobile and Claro named first to sell Dell Mini 3 smart phones • China Mobile serves more than 500 million subscribers • Claro part of the largest mobile phone network in the Americas, America Movil

Dell today confirmed plans to enter the smart phone business and announced partnerships with two of the world’s largest mobile operators.

Dell plans to distribute its new Mini 3 smart phones through China Mobile, the largest telecommunications company in the world with more than 500 million customers, and Claro, which serves more than 42 million people in Brazil as part of the America Movil network.

Entry into the smart phone category reflects Dell’s continued expansion into mobile internet products and services through value-added relationships with leading operators. Earlier this year Dell was the first mobile PC manufacturer to embed China Mobile’s 3G technology and services into its netbooks and quickly became the leading seller of netbooks through retail outlets in China. In addition Dell has existing agreements with other leading global telecom providers, including Vodafone in Europe; Australia/New Zealand, AT&T and Verizon in the U.S.; M1 and Starhub in Singapore; and Maxis in Malaysia, creating more opportunities to meet the needs of a connected lifestyle.

“Our entry into the smart phone category is a logical extension of Dell’s consumer product evolution over the past two years,” said Ron Garriques, President, Dell Global Consumer Group. “We are developing smaller and smarter mobile products that enable our customers to take their internet experience out of the home and do the things they want to do whenever and wherever they want.“

“This signals an important milestone in the long term partnership between China Mobile and Dell,” said a China Mobile spokesperson. “We are excited for Dell to be among the first manufacturers to introduce new technology based on the OPhone platform. We look forward to working with Dell as it brings innovative new products and services to add value to our customers’ lives.”

“As a leading innovation company in Brazil, Claro is proud of being the first wireless carrier in the world offering the 3G version of Dell’s smart phone. This confirms the Brazilian market strength and Claro as a leading actor in introducing new technology products and services to the country”, said João Cox, president for Claro.

The initial Mini 3 smart phones are designed around the Android platform to best deliver power, flexibility and customization opportunities for both users and carriers.

Dell’s Mini 3 smart phones reflect the elegant look and style that demonstrates Dell’s commitment to design innovation. Details of phone models will be announced on a partner-by-partner basis when devices are available in stores, anticipated in late November for China Mobile and year’s end for Claro.

Via: Engadget Mobile

Adriana is live at the Samsung/T-Mobile joint press conference in New York City. She just texted me to say that the phone has officially been announced as available November 18 for $229 on contract. This contradicts widespread reports of a $199 price point that hit the Web earlier this week.

So I texted her back saying, "Whoa, $229? Are you sure?" She hasn't replied. Probably because she doesn't have time to type out, "Yes, Noah, I'm sure. I know how to read a press release. Duh."

$229 seems like an awful high price tag in the age of the $99 Droid Eris and $199 iPhone 3GS and Moto Droid.

More soon, including some hands-on impressions (we hope!) from AL in NYC.

Updated: Adriana's first thoughts on the device:

"It's much less plasticky in person than it looked in the photos."

"The screen is really pretty and the phone is very thin. It feels really pretty good in the hand."

"I'm kind of worried about this phone, though, because the whole Cube UI thing feels very gimmicky. For a moment, at first, it's kind of neat, but then it's like, 'I could see this getting really annoying really quickly.'"

While DroidDoes bash the iPhone, DroidDoesn't come close to the weekend sales numbers of the popular smartphone.

At least that's the estimate coming from Broadpoint AmTech analyst Mark McKechnie.  According to his math, Verizon Wireless had approximately 200,000 Motorola Droid units available at launch, and the nation's largest wireless carrier was able to liquidate approximately half of their inventory last weekend.

“I see the first few days as encouraging,” McKechnie said in a statement to Bloomberg. “There seems to be pretty good demand -- they’ve taken the right steps and picked a good partner with Google on the Android side."

The weekend sales numbers go up against Apple's iPhone 3GS, which sold over 1 million units during its weekend debut in June.  There are many ways to compare the two, and the comparison may not be fair given Apple's App Store and the availability in numerous countries.  Keeping that in mind, the device is clearly marketed by Verizon as a direct competitor to the iPhone, yet the estimates are closer to the Palm Pre's debut numbers (50,000) then those of the 3GS.

McKechnie went on to say that Motorola would sell approximately 1 million Android devices in the fourth quarter, and 10 million in 2010.  All competition aside, it's nice to see Motorola in the game again.

Via: Bloomberg

Despite the Motorola Droid and HTC Droid Eris being on the sales floor for just under a week, it appears that Verizon is preparing a software update for each.  The OTA revision, which is rumored to hit on December 11th, is said to correct a number of known software issues with the two devices.  I have to give credit to Verizon - instead of letting the issues spread, they're taking proactive steps to fix the reported problems.

Hit the link for a detailed snapshot of Verizon's 'product technical bulletin,' which gives a more detailed look at some of the observed issues.

Via: BGR, Phandroid

We want to take you on a quick tour of Android from a consumer perspective to help you better know the lay of the land, talk smack about iPhone/WebOS/Windows mobile at your next cocktail party, or even pick up a new smartphone to call your own. Here's a quick rundown of every Android device currently for sale on a US carrier, and a few that are expected in the coming months, led by John Walton, PhoneDog's resident Android Guru and Managing Editor of DroidDog.com, the place to go if you really want to get to know Android.

The Editors:

John Walton, PhoneDog Editor and Founder, DroidDog.com; Noah Kravitz, Editor-in-Chief, PhoneDog; Aaron Baker, News Editor, PhoneDog; Adriana Lee, Lifestyles Editor, PhoneDog

Special Guests:

David, Founder, TmoNews.com (for his T-Mobile expertise); John Edgar, Android Geek and Friend of the Dog

NOTE: We've broken this article into two parts for your ease of reading. Part One covers currently available Verizon and Sprint Android phones. Part Two covers available T-Mobile phones and upcoming Android devices already announced or strongly believed to be coming to the US market within the next several months.

NOTE: All prices are given as on contract/after rebate when bought direct from the carrier.

T-Mobile Motorola CLIQ ($199)

NK: CLIQ is T-Mo's best Android device, at least until Behold II comes out. I actually prefer CLIQ's keyboard to Moto Droid's, and while the aptly named MotoBlur system is a bit overwhelming, I found the Messaging and News apps to be pretty handy.

AB: I like the overall form factor of the CLIQ, but am not a fan of the QWERTY keyboard or the battery life.  For social communication, the CLIQ is top notch, and MOTOBLUR provides a good level of customization.

AL: As a newbie to MotoBlur, it left me a little confused. How do I shut some of this off?? Social networking or news fiends will like the pushed info on the homescreen, though it will drain your battery drier than a vampire at a blood bank. I like the hardware QWERTY and the capacitive screen (though there's no "pinch/zoom" for pics — bummer), but mostly, the unspectacular looks and sheer thickness of this device would make me look elsewhere to get my Android fix.

David: In my 24 hours with the CLIQ I have found MotoBlur to be, as Noah said, overwhelming. So my first move was to the Android Market for a task killer. If you love social integration this device will answer your prayers, with a slick keyboard to boot. Some might prefer a little more of a generic Android experience, however.

JE: I like the CLIQ. It's a solid phone with Motorola providing some great tweaks to vanilla Android 1.5. Two-thirds of MotoBlur is awesome. I love the Messaging and Status widgets. After some testing, I determined that the confusing Happenings widget is responsible for keeping the processor clocked to max, thus draining the battery. I wouldn't buy a future phone based on it having MotorBlur. 

T-Mobile HTC myTouch 3G ($179)

JW: myTouch feels very nice in the hand, and if all of them featured the upgraded specs of the Fender Limited Edition this phone would be much higher up on my list. As it is, myTouch isn't exactly on the front lines of hardware tech. Still I think it makes a nice gift for the casual user who wants a comfortable phone that they can adjust to their tastes.

NK: Unless you really want a touch-only Android on T-Mobile, skip it. Or at least wait to see how Behold II performs after it's launched later this week. This is old hardware backed by an annoying ad campaign (though as David points out, it is an effective ad campaign).

AB: I feel like the myTouch 3G is the cheap sedan that's trying to compete with the mid-range SUV.  Sure, it's a good entry-level Android handset for someone who is entering the arena for the first time, but I'd opt for CLIQ and MOTOBLUR over the myTouch 3G (especially for $20 more).

AL: Cuter than its predecessor (the G1), MyTouch seems like a decent upgrade from the original Android phone. But compared to other offerings, the lack of 3.5-mm headset jack, lackluster vid quality, and syncing problems are annoying. And the virtual QWERTY could use some tweaks. (Why won't it go landscape for Google search terms? Ugh.)

D: Love, love, love the size of this device. As pocket-friendly as smartphones can come, and the ad campaign music might annoy me but everytime I hear that song, I think "MyTouch." Mission accomplished. This phone still appeals to the user looking to jump into the Android game and succeeds in winning over many a T-mobile customer.

JE: I believe this was a fail by T-Mobile. I would have loved to have seen a jump in RAM and ROM specifications. This device does not have enough memory, especially with how big in data size apps had become and quantity of apps that were available in the Android Market, at the time of its release.

T-Mobile HTC G1 with Google ($129)

JW: I have been a fan of the G1 since release, and while definitely aging, this QWERTY-packing, awkward chunk of kit can still hold its own - if only for the hacking, tweaking geek set. Average consumers seeking a keyboard should probably look elsewhere for an updated Android, though I love the G1's keys.

NK: G1 did a great job of getting Android launched and into the hands of early adopters and developers. I never much liked typing on the shallow keyboard, and so would much prefer a Moto CLIQ to this, despite CLIQ's smaller display.

AB: I tend to forget that this thing is still on the market.  Great first Android device, but the chin, keyboard placement, and battery life made me return this phone within 4 days of getting it.

AL: Simply put, the G1 was great in its heyday. Say whatever you want about the hardware (chunky looks, terrible QWERTY, big chin, etc...), there was nothing else quite like it on the market when it came out. At this point, though, only open-source geeks or tech museum curators should even consider it. There are way better offerings now (and even better ones about to drop).

D: Within 20 minutes of using this device the slide out keyboard had my right hand cramped up and ready for an ice bucket. Have the expectation this device will find itself on the EOL list shortly, making way for better looking and better equipped Android devices.

JE: Its quirks are well documented. I will say this, though: the latest Android phones have instilled greater appreciation for G1's combination of trackball, touchscreen, and keyboard . Interesting to note that the HTC Dream/T-Mobile G1 has been removed from HTC US's products page. The G1 is looking out at a large green pasture.

Android Devices Expcted Soon

T-Mobile Samsung Behold II (Mid-November)

JW: I've generally had good luck with Samsung phones and get along just fine with TouchWiz. I'm not so concerned about the Cube interface as I am about the device's power. Specs are hard to come by at the moment and video demonstrations don't tell the whole story. If Behold II packs a decent punch, I'd like to give that Cube a spin.

NK: Goodbye myTouch 3G, hello Behold II. Though I'm not so sure about that "Cube" interface.

AB: Noah is spot on - I couldn't have said it better.

NK: Stop sucking up, Aaron ;-)

AL: I wouldn't consider this a "pretty phone," so looks aside, everything depends on the specs and how the Cube performs. So far, the UI just looks like a novelty gimmick to me, but I really hope it proves me wrong.

D: Having not yet seen this device but having been shown plenty video covering it, the "Cube" interface looks more beautiful than functional to me. I for one, love TouchWiz and can't wait for a Samsung/Android lovechild on T-mobile.

JE: I love TouchWiz on feature phones, but I'm concerned how it translates to the user working in conjunction with Android on a smartphone. Reminds me of the Compiz cube desktop from Ubuntu. Sometimes I disable it because it just gets in the way. But the Omnia, after the last update to TouchWiz, is an awesome phone.

HTC "Dragon" aka "Passion" (Q4 2009, No Carrier Announced)

(Photo via theunlockr.com)

JW: Second only to Sony Ericsson's X10 on my list of anticipated Androids, Passion has me all giddy for a phone that can run HTC's Sense without a single stutter or trace of lag. This is the stuff of legend, and will cause plenty of folks to jump ship and sign new contracts - regardless of escape fees.

NK: Android 2.0 plus HTC sense on a fast device with a huge touchscreen? Please, please, please let the rumors come true - including the one about this being available in the US before this Christmas.

AB: 1 cup HTC, 1 cup Android 2.0, 1 cup Sense UI, 1 cup speed - the recipe to a truly great Android device.  Needless to say, I'm excited about this one.

AL: 1 GHz Snapdragon processor running Android, part deux, with Sense? The mere thought makes my toes numb. (It's even got the rollerball I love!) Simply cannot wait to get handsy with this phone. I wonder how many people are holding off on the Droid because of this. I'd have to say I don't blame them.

JE: I agree with all these points. I love Sense. That being said, some of the features of the Sense UI are wasted on me. Like John, I don't use all seven screens because it's easier to pull things from the app drawer than go horizontal 6 screens. Sense leaves me longing for another desktop like the Huawei Pulse's Canvas UI with 3 screens up and 3 screens down that can zoom out to one big desktop.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 (Q1 2010, No Carrier Announced)

JW: This phone has me excited like no other. Will Sony Ericsson's custom interface and apps meet the hype generated by leaked videos and enthusiastic rumor posts? It's hard to say right now, but this UI, known as Rachael, is getting the introduction HTC's Sense deserved - albeit overseas - with the support of a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor.

NK: I'm excited for this one. Android may be the solid, modern OS that Sony Ericsson needs to showcase their skill in designing user interfaces and multimedia-heavy handsets.

AB: I'm looking forward to this as well.  Android is building quite the reputation, and I look forward to seeing more Sony Ericsson choices in the US market.  If they were subsidized on a carrier, that would be even better.

AL: Specs ahoy! If the rumors pan out, and it does feature an 8 MP camera, 4-inch screen, Snapdragon processor and 32 GB of onboard memory, this will be an amazing beast of a phone. And i can't wait to see the release version of the Rachael UI up close and personal.

JE: Sony Ericsson is my favorite manufacturer. I am a little worried about the comments from people that have had time with the UI. By all accounts, Rachael is not "ready for her closeup, Mr. DeMille". A big time processor can actually exacerbate bugs within a UI. There is not much time left before her curtain call. Fingers are anxiously crossed.

Dell Mini 3iX (2010, No Carrier Announced)

JW: I think this launch is more about Dell's officially diving into the cell phone game than it is about creating the greatest Android on the market. That said, I've been impressed with Dell's direction and engagement with consumers in terms of R&D over the last couple of years, and I'm rooting for them.

NK: Just because it passed FCC muster with AT&T-compatible banding doesn't mean AT&T's going to carry it. Though they really should; not everybody wants an iPhone.

AB: Yes, it's floating around in the US, and yes, it passed through the FCC.  Perhaps more importantly, it shows where devices are headed (much to my dismay): large, touchscreen-only devices.  I would guess that we'll see the 3iX in early 2010.

AL: Dell's day job is all about offering low- to mid-range specs for desktop computers, so it's no surprise that its premiere offering didn't shoot for the moon and unveil a top Android competitor. Having said that, I think the arrival of this phone, if it does land on AT&T, has a chance of success (since it would be the only Android phone on the carrier).

JE: This arranged marriage was destined to happen. Dell produces more Linux machines than any other company except Quanta Computer (who produces the OLPC or One Laptop Per Child computer). I expect great things from this partnership.

We want to take you on a quick tour of Android from a consumer perspective to help you better know the lay of the land, talk smack about iPhone/WebOS/Windows mobile at your next cocktail party, or even pick up a new smartphone to call your own. Here's a quick rundown of every Android device currently for sale on a US carrier, and a few that are expected in the coming months, led by John Walton, PhoneDog's resident Android Guru and Managing Editor of DroidDog.com, the place to go if you really want to get to know Android.

The Editors:

John Walton, PhoneDog Editor and Founder, DroidDog.com; Noah Kravitz, Editor-in-Chief, PhoneDog; Aaron Baker, News Editor, PhoneDog; Adriana Lee, Lifestyles Editor, PhoneDog

Special Guests:

David, Founder, TmoNews.com (for his T-Mobile expertise); John Edgar, Android Geek and Friend of the Dog

NOTE: We've broken this article into two parts for your ease of reading. Part One covers currently available Verizon and Sprint Android phones. Part Two covers available T-Mobile phones and upcoming Android devices already announced or strongly believed to be coming to the US market within the next several months.

NOTE: All prices are given as on contract/after rebate when bought direct from the carrier.

Verizon Motorola Droid ($199)

John Walton: Droid looks and feels like a high-end device and may be the poshest Android to date. I prefer to leave the hardware keyboard hidden and avoid that sliding mechanism altogether, but the display makes up for any complaints. Not to mention that this phone comes with the sure-to-be-a-smash Google Navigation and Android 2.0.

Noah Kravitz: My qualms with the lousy, awful, terrible keyboard aside, Droid is sleek, fast, and sports perhaps the best display on any mobile phone ever. It's also the only way to get Android 2.0 and Google Nav, which as John says are both pretty keen. I'd love to see Droid2 as a super thin, touch-only version of the same phone.

Aaron Baker: A 3.7-inch display, Android 2.0, and a great form factor make the Droid my favorite Android device this year.  Despite the keyboard and some battery life issues, the design appeals to business professionals (a group that Android needs to begin catering to) and media junkies.

Adriana Lee: Stunning display, yes. I could even see it in full daylight with the sun blasting my eyes. Okay, the keyboard isn't perfect, but as an iPhoner who'sbeen pining for a physical QWERTY, I'd rather have this than none at all. A bit too boxy for my taste (I prefer more rounded corners), but the excellent build quality is evident. And Android 2.0 rocks! Can't wait till all my favorite apps (like Layar) support it.

John Edgar: The metal, glass, display, weight, and feel all scream quality. Android is ready for prime time with version 2.0.  I have concerns about app compatibility and how fast apps will come online for use on Droid. App developers have only had the SDK for a few weeks. There was a 4 to 6 week lag in compatibility for some apps with Android 1.5.

HTC Hero: Sprint Hero ($179), Verizon Droid Eris ($99), Unlocked "European" GSM Hero (Price Varies)

JW: The European Hero swept me off my feet with its daring design and the debut of HTC's customized flavor of Android, Sense. Sprint's version may be lacking the retro-geek lines of the GSM version but it has all of the original Hero's grace - and then some - behind the screen. Sprint's Hero is a great introduction to HTC's custom UI, but Sense will be extra impressive on a more powerful phone.

NK: Hero has a leg up on Droid with a Web browser that does iPhone-style pinch-and-zoom, and HTC's custom widgets and apps. Despite Droid Eris' low price tag, Sprint's Hero is still the better value over the long haul of a two-year contract. But Droid Eris looks cooler all done up in black.

AB: While this is a "love or hate" thing, I much prefer the form factor of the Sprint Hero to the Droid Eris.  That being said, there will always be a group of people that prefer physical QWERTY keyboards to virtual keyboards, and I am one of those people.  Despite the inclusion of a physical QWERTY, HTC's Sense UI along with pinch and zoom capability make this device a winner.

AL: European Hero = serious win. Sprint's version? A little less so for me, re: the form factor. Yes, it has rounded corners, but the flat "buttons" at the bottom don't appeal to me. But I'll take it if it means I get to use Sense. As for Eris, I like the rubberized exterior, so this felt good in the hand. In both cases, I love the rollerball action, but I felt like the onscreen QWERTY keyboards were a little small and spaced close together.

JE: I am a Euro Hero fan. The feel of the white teflon coating on the hardware does so much for the tactile feel of the device. Personal belief is that a bad hard keyboard is better than no hard keyboard at all. I would not purchase Eris, when the Motorola Droid is available, and woudn't be swayed to Sprint's Hero when the European version is available. But that's just me.

Sprint Samsung Moment ($179)

JW: Moment is a powerful handset in disguise. The physical design leaves plenty to be desirerd in my book, but if you're looking for a capable, customizable Android with a hardware keyboard, then Moment is worth a look. Just be sure to thoroughly test drive that QWERTY.

NK: Moment's an interesting device that I want to like more than I really do. The AMOLED display is gorgeous, and the combination of a stock Android release and fast processor makes for a smooth ride through apps and Web browsing. But whoever designed the hard QWERTY board should be fired - the keys are okay but the layout makes no sense at all.

AB: I absolutely love the Moment's AMOLED display, fast 800 MHz processor, and roomy QWERTY keyboard.  Overall build, not so much.  Yes, there's a lot packed under the hood, but the Moment is a bit bulky.

AL: Fast and snappy. If function matters more than looks, then this handset might be up your alley. But for guys, this fattie of a phone isn't the most pocketable (and ladies, don't even think this will fit in your skinny purse). As for the keyboard, staggered keys and dedicated number rows are generally good, but not in this case. The "z" isn't where you expect it to be.

JE: This would be the phone I would choose from the current Sprint Android offerings based on sheer horsepower alone. That combined with a physical keyboard, albeit a quirky one, seals the deal for me. AMOLED is a huge plus. Not my ideal phone though, making it a device that would not get me me to sign on the dotted line with Sprint.

Continue on to Part Two: T-Mobile and upcoming Android phones.

You'll find that the Amazon MP3 store (Droid has a dedicated app) is a fast and convenient way to purchase new, copy-protection-free music on your Android device, though it doesn't include a handy media management and syncing tool such as iTunes. However, the makers of the app I'm about to discuss are currently working on Amazon MP3 Store support. It's not all there just yet, but it is coming. Your new toy can be a killer media player for your existing media right now though, so don't fret.

I realize there are nearly limitless options for buying, stealing, managing, and backing up digital media out there, but there's no way I can address every single person's concerns. So, I'm going for the audience that has adopted what has become the standard for the purchasing and management of digital media, iTunes. There is currently one program that is far and away leading the very small pack of Android iTunes solutions, alternatives, and er... um, e... equivalents. It's called DoubleTwist (click for download).

DoubleTwist is a free app for Windows and Mac that more or less feels like iTunes. Once installed, it will ask you where your media library is located on your hard disk. It's pretty self-explanatory from there. But if you felt like downloading and testing every potential iTunes replacement for yourself you wouldn't be reading this, so I'll offer up a quick walk-through so you can dip your toe in the experience. (cont.)

After you have DoubleTwist installed, connect your Droid and pull down the notification bar at the top of the screen. Select the "USB Connection" option and then tap "Mount." Your Droid is now being accessed by your computer as a USB Mass Storage Device. You can browse it like any drive on your computer and you could simply drag and drop media files to the phone. That's not the friendliest way to do it though, and it's tough to stay organized using that method. DoubleTwist will detect the phone and you'll see "Motorola Droid" in the left pane. (cont.)

From here, you can browse the media currently on your Droid. But wait, before we move on, you see that "Playlist Setup" link above your device? Click it to create a new playlist or import the ones you have created in iTunes. I'll choose to import. (cont.)

Now that I have all of my iTunes playlists available in DoubleTwist I can just click and drag one to my Droid. I can select individual tracks as well, but I think I'll transfer my Thai language playlist. (cont.)

When I initiate a transfer, a little pie chart that displays progress will pop up next to my Droid in the left pane. (cont.)

Once the transfer is complete, the pie will disappear and it's safe to eject the device. In order to do so, hit the eject button next to the Motorola Droid entry in the left pane. The phone has been safely unmounted but it hasn't been told to read the SD card again, which is where your media is located. Pull down the notification bar and select "Turn off USB storage," then hit the button labeled "Turn off."

You can now open the Droid's music app and play your files. If you want to transfer video the process is exactly the same only you'll use the "Gallery" app to access it. Yeah, I know. Weird. I want some videos on my phone, so I'll connect the Droid again and highlight it's entry in the left pane to see how much space I have left for media. (cont.)

Cool, I've got plenty of room to spare. Here's a shot of me pulling some videos over to Droid. See the progress meter? (cont.)

So there you have it: An acceptable method of managing your iTunes library for use with an Android device. Wait a second. Some of my media is missing. All of the CDs I ripped myself are showing up on Droid, but some of the older items I purchased via iTunes aren't available in my media player. Where are the videos?  They're on my SD card, so why can't I see them? There's a reason I stuttered when calling DoubleTwist an iTunes "equivalent," folks. To learn more about missing media, read my post over at DroidDog entitled: Droid doesn't do DRM?"

The boys at the FCC have just given approval to the Dell Mini 3iX in US form factor - 3G on the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands, along with Wi-Fi.  It will offer a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 3G connectivity, GPS, a microSD card slot, and a 3.0-megapixel camera.  No word on what Android OS it will be running, but the hope is that it will run Android 2.0 "Eclair" out of the box (or some sort of newer Android build).

Though conventional logic states that the device will be heading to AT&T at some point in early 2010, I wouldn't hold my breath.  Yes, the fact that it passed through with 850/1900 MHz 3G bands is promising, but we've seen the same thing happen in the past.  My hope is that as time progresses, we'll get some leaked documentation from AT&T, but until that happens, I would recommend taking the thought with a grain of salt.  Pricing and availability have yet to be determined, but with the holiday shopping season heating up (Droid, Droid Eris, Behold II, and more), I'm a bit surprised that this phone isn't out on the market.

Stay tuned to PhoneDog.com - and our Droid-centric website, DroidDog.com - for more information.

Via: IntoMobile

Today's a big deal, whether you care about Android, iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, Motorola, or none of the above. The biggest wireless provider in the land is now selling Google-powered smartphones. With all due respect to Sprint and T-Mobile, both of whom I love, with Verizon in the game we'll really start to see whether or not US consumers have love for Android.

To that end, I present to you John Walton, PhoneDog Editor Extraordinare and Founder/Managing Editor of DroidDog.com.

Or, as I like to call him, the guy to whom I pose incendiary one-liner questions about Android.

Today's topic? Can Android really compete with Apple if Android apps are limited in size by the lack of internal memory on Android phones? Or, in other words, iPhone games and apps can get all big and crazy because iPhones have 8/16/32 GB of internal storage. Android apps can't get all big and crazy because they have to be saved to internal storage and there ain't no Droids I've seen with internal gigabytes of room. You want to play Myst or FIFA 10 on a mobile phone? That's a big app.

So, John, what's the deal? How will Google and Android developers cope with this limitation? Or is it really a limitation?

John's answer, of course, is yours for the taking on DroidDog.

And speaking of Johns weighing in on this topic, the ever-entertaining John Biggs weighed in over on MobileCrunch, as well.

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!

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

Via: Verizon (YouTube channel)

• 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?

Via: BoyGenius Report

In a keynote today at Open Mobile Summit in San Francisco, T-Mobile Chief Technology Office Cole Brodman reaffirmed the carrier's commitment to the Android platform, noting that the company plans to offer an official T-Mobile channel within the Android Market by Thanksgiving.  More importantly, Brodman went on to say that the carrier would offer direct billing from the Android Market, meaning that users will no longer have to pay using a credit card.  Though no ETA has been established for carrier billing, the T-Mobile channel will be live in the Android Market by Thanksgiving.

By simplifying the manner required to obtain new applications for your phone, I see this working out in T-Mobile's favor.  For me, the ability to charge things to my monthly bill (and forget about them for a month) makes it easy to spend more money.  What are your thoughts?

Via: PhoneScoop

Though it's not 6 AM as originally rumored, Verizon Wireless corporate stores will be opening between 7 and 8 AM on Friday to handle the expected increase in traffic as a result of the Motorola Droid launch.

As a recap, the Droid will be the first to offer Android 2.0 at launch, along with a 3.7-inch touchscreen, a 550 MHz processor,  EVDO Rev. A, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, and a 5.0-megapixel camera.  It will be available at $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate debit card and a new two-year customer agreement. 

Are you planning on waking up early to secure a spot in line?  Be sure to disclose your strategies below!

WAKE UP, HUMANS: DROID BY MOTOROLA GOES ON SALE EARLY
 
Extended Hours, In-Store Demos, Unique Times Sq. Billboard, Other Events Planned For Nationwide Debut at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores
 
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Many of Verizon Wireless’ more than 2,000 Communications Stores will open early Friday (Nov. 6) to give customers the earliest opportunity to purchase the DROID by Motorola on its first day of sale.  Some stores will open at 7 a.m. and others at 8 a.m.  Customers should check local stores for their opening hours.  (Mall stores will not open early.)
 
Customers visiting Verizon Wireless Communications Stores on or after Friday, Nov. 6, will not only be able to purchase the world’s first smartphone with Android™ 2.0, they can also learn about its variety of advanced features and functions.  Verizon Wireless will host demonstrations at select locations to help customers get the most from their new DROID by Motorola devices.
 
Also on Friday, Verizon Wireless will create a first-of-its-kind interactive experience in New York City called, “DROID Does Times Square.”  This experience will let callers control two of Times Square’s largest digital billboards – the NASDAQ and Reuters signs – using only voice commands.
 
The digital billboards will instruct passersby to call a toll-free number (1-888-376-4336) to search locations in the Times Square area.  Participants can search for practically anything (e.g. their favorite cuisines, plays, movies, stores), and the search results will be displayed on the digital billboards using Google Maps.  This activity takes place from Nov. 6 through Nov. 20, daily from 12:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. and from 6:00 a.m. on Nov. 27 through 2:00 a.m. on Nov. 28.  Beginning Nov. 6, Internet fans worldwide can also view the experience in real-time by visiting www.droiddoes.com/timessquare.
 
DROID by Motorola will be available in the United States exclusively at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online on Friday, Nov. 6, for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement after a $100 mail-in rebate.  Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
 
The DROID by Motorola features high-speed Web browsing, voice-activated search, a customizable large screen, access to thousands of Android applications and hundreds of widgets, and the largest 3G mobile network in the country.  To learn more, visit http://news.vzw.com/news/2009/10/pr2009-10-27.html. Experience the all-new DROID by Motorola at www.droiddoes.com.
 
For a list of Verizon Wireless Communications Store locations, visit www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/storelocator/index.jsp.

Introduction

The Motorola Droid for Verizon is a big deal. But you knew that, thanks to the "iCan't but DroidDoes" marketing blitz that Verizon has just started to unleash upon the American media in the weeks leading up to Droid hitting stores this Friday, November 6th. Verizon is positioning Droid as their "iPhone Killer," to use a beat-to-death-overused phrase, and while that positioning is rather unfortunate, it also makes sense. Verizon wants to challenge both iPhone's dominance at the top of the U.S. smartphone sales charts and AT&T's back-and-forth claim to VZW's spot atop the U.S. wireless carrier pile.

And then there's the whole Google-Apple love/hate affair, which I frankly can't quite keep up with anymore. 

But I digress … Moto Droid is a big deal for Motorola, as well, as it cements the company's return to the fore of top-tier cell phone makers. Whether or not Moto will keep pace with the big boys, let alone return to the glory days of StarTacs and RAZRs remains to be seen, but Android has given Motorola new life with the T-Mobile CLIQ and Verizon Droid (just launched in Europe as the GSM "Milestone").

The Phone, The Device, and The Battery

I've had a Droid in hand for almost a week now. How is it? In a word, excellent. I'll save the head-to-head with iPhone 3GS for a video Dogfight, but suffice it to say that when Droid hits Verizon stores on Friday it will deserve its spot as Big Red's flagship device for the holiday season. BlackBerry users and other hard-core email/texters may not be drawn to Droid (more on that in a minute), but other smartphone users will no doubt be won over by the device's gorgeous screen, high-end features, and the usability and potential of Android OS 2.0.

First off, Droid works very well as a phone. Verizon's network performed very well for me out here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and calls came through loud and clear whether I used a headset, speakerphone, or just the phone itself. Droid has one of the louder speakers I've heard on a cell phone in recent days, as well, which is handy both for voice calls and the new Google Navigation app with its voice prompts.

Secondly, battery life has been okay, but just barely. My device has been in dire need of a recharge pretty much every night that I've had it. That said, it only ran completely out of gas during abnormally heavy testing, and my rule of thumb is that I charge my phone every night, period. Droid gets better battery life than CLIQ, but fares slightly worse than an iPhone 3GS or Palm Pre under similarly heavy but "normal" use of voice and data features. Interestingly, I've heard and read some pretty wide-ranging reports on battery life from other early reviewers, so your mileage will no doubt vary depending on use habits and network coverage in your area.

The phone is made largely from metal and glass. It feels solid in hand, and is rather large and a little bit heavy as compared to other smartphones. That's not necessarily bad, just how it is - it's still quite pocketable. Droid's slider mechanism lacks a spring hinge, but it also doesn't wobble too much. The three touch-sensitive buttons located beneath the display work just fine for me, though I'm not so sure that plain old buttons don't work better than fancy touch controls, in the long run.

As for the phone's looks? Totally a subjective thing, so judge for yourselves. Me, I think the gold accents are kind of funny, but I otherwise like the stealthy black looks of the thing.

The Good: Beautiful Screen and Updated OS

Droid's best feature is its gorgeous 3.7" touchscreen display. The 16:9 widescreen renders 854 x 480 pixels at a whopping 267 pixels per inch, which means it shows more pixels than most competitors and has plenty of room for widescreen Web browsing and high-quality video watching. And the screen is just beautiful to look at. The capacitive touch system is quite responsive, as well, and supports multitouch input to a degree: multitouch on the virtual keyboard is a yes, pinch-to-zoom on the Web browser is a no, though double tap-to-zoom has been implemented.

In all honesty, Droid's display is probably the best-looking I've ever seen on a mobile phone. And the touchscreen is almost as responsive as iPhone 3GS' … but not quite. You won't notice the difference, though, unless you're obsessed with trying every cell phone on the market, so let's just say it's one of the most responsive displays out there.

Droid's next best feature is probably Android 2.0. This is quite simply the fastest, most responsive Android device I've seen to date. Yeah, yeah, I know that statement will likely only stand true for a month or so (Snapdragon, anyone?), and a Samsung Moment running 2.0 could make for an interesting race, but for now Droid's the fastest Android on the block.

Android's been more of a geek's playground than a consumer-ready platform since its inception, and while version 2.0 isn't quite as polished as some of its competitors, it's definitely much more ready for mass adoption than any 1.x version. The Web browser, contact manager, and Email clients have all seen notable upgrades and the OS itself now supports syncing with Facebook accounts in addition to Google and "Corporate" (Exchange) accounts. And the aforementioned Google Maps Navigation Beta is great. No, it's not perfect, but it's great for a Version 1 Beta, and between the solid integration with Android's voice search and the power of Google Maps behind it, it will only get better with subsequent releases. And it's free; iCan't, indeed.

Droid is notably lacking Motoblur, the widget-heavy social networking fiesta that graces CLIQ's home screens, apps, and PIM utilities. While I don't mind the lack of Blur here, having used CLIQ I do wish Droid took advantage of certain aspects of Blur - notably its rich messaging composer and RSS feed widget. Android 2.0's universal Email inbox is nice, but I like Motoblur's Messaging widget even better, as it lets me scroll through Emails and other messages without leaving the home screen. Still, Android 2.0 debuts a plug-in framework that should allow for all sorts of social network integration and other nifty widgets and add-ons that could bring some Blur-type functionality to Droid users in due time. And Droid ships with a Facebook widget that's pretty decent.

The Bad: Another Disappointing QWERTY

Droid's worst feature is its physical keyboard. Let me preface what I'm about to say with this: Phone keyboards are a very personal thing, and you may well love what I can't stand (I'm looking at you, Palm Pre users). So take my opinion for what it's worth and try the darn thing for yourselves, okay? And our own John Walton may well disagree with me when his Droid review comes out.

Okay. Now, then … 

Droid's hard QWERTY board is disappointing. I love, love, love the idea of a high-end Android phone with a slide-out keyboard. I love that MOTO managed to keep Droid super-thin and sleek while still packing a real keyboard in. But I hate typing on the thing. For my money, Droid's QWERTY board is too flat and too shallow. It's also a wee bit cramped, and suffers from being oddly offset to the left thanks to the D-Pad positioned to the keyboard's left. Said offset resulted in my right thumb having to stretch over the D-Pad during typing, a minorly uncomfortable thing. But it's those flat, flat keys and that short, short travel that left my thumbs screaming for mercy after a few sentences at a time. Imagine the old HTC Touch Pro ("Tilt" on AT&T) keyboard, all grid-like and chiclet-y, but worse, and you've got Droid. CLIQ's keyboard offers contoured buttons and a bit more key travel, which makes for a slightly better experience.

The combination of Android 2.0 and Droid's huge display and limited multitouch support makes for a nice virtual QWERTY experience, except for some occasional lag. The software doesn't miss my taps, but it sometimes hangs for a second while I'm still typing, and then catches up by registering multiple letters in rapid sequence. That said, landscape and portrait modes both offer pretty good typing experiences, enhanced by user-controllable haptic feedback. Virtual QWERTY also lets you take advantage of Android's excellent autocomplete/user dictionary system, something oddly missing from the display when you're using the hard keyboard. 

Experienced Android users will likely replace the virtual QWERTY, anyway, so you may well have skipped most of that last paragraph.

Personally, I'd rather see a thinner, lighter Droid with the physical keyboard lopped off. That pretty much sums up my reaction to the virtual and real QWERTY experiences offered here.

The Rest: So-So Camera, Okay Media, and Excellent Nav

What else can I tell you? Droid's camera is so-so. On the one hand you've got five megapixels, a dual-LED flash, and a great camcorder mode. On the other hand, the camera is slow to focus, slow to capture, and really slow to reload for the next shot. Compared to other Android phones, it's fine. Compared to iPhone 3GS it's slow (sorry, Verizon, you're begging for the comparisons). Photo quality was good except when the focus was kinda iffy or I missed the shot entirely waiting for the device to set up and shoot.

Droid's media player is good but not great, being Android 2.0's stock install. This is one area where customization really benefits device makers - take a look at a recent HTC Android phone or, better yet, Sony Ericsson's forthcoming Xperia X10 and you'll see what I mean. Still, I could load media onto a microSD card, pop it into Droid, and play it back. Videos looked great and music sounded great. No headset is included, but Droid supports 3.5mm wired 'phones and Stereo Bluetooth.

A 16GB microSD card is included with the phone, which is cool. The microSD slot is hidden beneath the battery cover, and you actually have to pull the battery to get the card in and out, which isn't so cool. Android also lacks a decent media sync solution, so get ready to implement the good lo' "USB drag and drop" method to manage your music, photos, and media … at least until somebody comes up with something better.

Oh yeah, Moto is also offering two accessory docks for the device: One for home and one for car. They'll run thirty bucks each. I've tried the home dock and it's pretty neat, though I wish it had audio-pass through so I could leave it hard-wired into a speaker system. Still, it more or less turns Droid into the old Verizon Hub, as you can see in this video.

And Google Navigation? Like I said, pretty awesome. I mean, it got me to frozen yogurt, as you can see in this video.

Wrap-Up: It's Very Good, This Droid

Verizon should wind up selling a bunch of these things when Droid goes on sale this Friday for $199 after rebate with a two-year contract. Motorola, Verizon, and Google have done a solid, solid job crafting the first Android 2.0 phone. iPhone haters and Verizon loyalists finally have themselves a sleek, flashy touchscreen smartphone to call their own, and everyone else has the fastest Android phone to date and their first chance to buy something with 2.0 pre-installed.

Do I recommend Droid? Yes. The usual caveats apply, and in this case I highly recommend you try the device's physical keyboard out for yourself. My thumbs didn't much care for it, but I'm sure some of you won't take quite so much issue with the setup. I wish Droid had a pinch-and-zoom Web browser like Milestone, it's European counterpart, and I wish some of those Motoblur features had crossed over to this device, too. 

Would I rather have Droid than any other device on the market? Not sure I can say that. Will iPhone users leave AT&T in droves for Droid? Some will, but likely more for Verizon's network than Droid itself. Will BlackBerry users jump ship for Android on Verizon? Not if they like their BBerry's keyboards, they won't. 

But is Droid an excellent smartphone? Absolutely. And if I had to use Droid and only Droid for the foreseeable future, would I be alright with that? Yep. The hardware is solid, the virtual QWERTY is there for me when my thumbs get tired, and Android 2.0 has a very promising future.

Rejoice, Android, Motorola, and Verizon fans: Droid Day is upon us and it should be a happy day, indeed.

(Top: MOTO Droid; Bottom, l-to-r: HTC Sprint Hero, Verizon HTC Imagio, AT&T Apple iPhone 3GS, Sprint Palm Pre, T-Mobile MOTO Cliq)

Via: TmoNews

Sony Ericsson made it all official today, ending the teasing and announcing the Xperia X10, the first of what SE says will be a family of Android OS devices to ship next year. X10 is expected to be available in Q1 of 2010, though no specifics were given as to pricing or availability.

A few hands-on reports have popped up from the SE launch event, and it sounds like the canned demos of the "Rachael" UX (User Experience) are pretty amazing, but the sole X10 prototype shown to media was suffering from severe pre-pre-pre-release performance issues. Engadget went so far as to say that "Calling the present interface 'laggy' would be paying it an unearned compliment." Heh.

That said, SE's got a great history with media-centric devices, and their "Timescape," "Mediascape," and face recognition features sound really nifty. X10 looks less like an Android device and more like a brand new Sony Ericsson device - at least from the demos SE's showing - which is a testament to the power of an open OS upon which developers can build custom user interfaces. 

Sounds like SE's got quite a job on their hands if they're going to ship this thing in a few short months. But I'll echo most all of my peers in saying that if they can get X10 into stores in Q1 of next year, and if the production units look like and act like the press photos and demo videos SE's been getting out to the media, we'll have ourselves one whale of an entertainment-focused Android phones on our hands. 

From SE's new Product Launch Blog:

Some quick facts about the X10:

• Users will be able to download apps from a variety of stores, including Play Now Arena and Android Market.
• 4.0 inches, 480 x 854 pixels (WVGA), scratch-resistant capacitive screen
• The processor is the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon
• 8.1 megapixel camera
• Available colors will be Sensuous Black and Luster White

More on the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 product page.

For more on the Samsung Moment, click here.

Left: Motorola Droid for Verizon, Right: Motorola CLIQ for T-Mobile. Hint: Droid is the black phone in all photos.

Motorola's Droid is perhaps the most anticipated new smartphone of the season - if not year - and for good reason. The handset marks a number of firsts: Verizon's first Android handset, the first phone to ship with Google's Android OS 2.0, and one of the first two "comeback" phones from Motorola. Droid is also one of the slimmest touchscreen-and-physical keyboard phones in the world (Motorola and Verizon claim it's the thinnest) and is Verizon's entirely unsubtle head-to-head competitor for AT&T and Apple's iPhone, as the carrier's new "iCan't … DroidDoes" ads attest to.

For me, Droid's biggest calling cards are it's massive touchscreen display and that slide-out hard QWERTY. Looking at the Droid/iPhone comparison, Droid should be able to sway many a potential iPhone customer with the mere addition of that physical keyboard. Whether reality or perception, many a smartphone customer claim that they simply can't type on a touchscreen and so continue to eschew iPhone in favor of BlackBerries and Windows Mobile devices with clickable keyboards. Not that there aren't other reasons for eschewing Apple's smartphone, mind you.