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Topic: iPhone

Motorola DROID on Verizon: Is this the iPhone killer you're looking for?

Summary: Motorola and Verizon officially announced the DROID this morning, surprising many with an earlier than expected release date (November 6) and a lower than expected price ($199 after rebate). Droid is the first phone running version 2.0 of the Linux-based Android operating system (which itself was just announced yesterday).

Ed Burnette

By for Dev Connection |

Motorola and Verizon officially announced the DROID this morning, surprising many with an earlier than expected release date (November 6) and a lower than expected price ($199 after rebate). Droid is the first phone running version 2.0 of the Linux-based Android operating system (which itself was just announced yesterday).

Droid boasts a glorious 3.7" FWVGA (480x854) capacitive multi-touch display, which works out to 260 dots per inch and a true 16:9 HD aspect ratio. By contrast, the Apple iPhone is only 3.5" HVGA (320x640), at 160 dots per inch and a 1.5:1 aspect ratio. Bottom line: on the Droid you'll get crisper graphics, smoother letters, high definition movies without letterboxing, and web pages with less scrolling.

In addition to an on-screen keyboard it also features a super-thin QWERTY slide-out keyboard. Yet somehow Motorola managed to squeeze all that in a package that is almost exactly the same size as the iPhone. It's a little heavier, though:

Motorola Droid Apple iPhone
Width 60.0mm (2.36in) 62.1mm (2.44in)
Height 115.8mm (4.56in) 115.5mm (4.55in)
Depth 13.7mm (0.54in) 12.3mm (0.48in)
Weight 169g (5.96oz) 135g (4.76oz)
In a departure from other Android phones, the Droid has no physical keys on the front. Instead, it has a touch sensitive area below the screen that accesses the back, menu, home, and search functions. If you've ever tried to apply a screen protector to a phone with lots of buttons on it, or you've gotten dirt and grit in the tiny cracks around the buttons, you'll appreciate this "slab" approach.

Other features:

  • Webkit HTML5 based browser with geolocation and video support; Flash 10 on the way next year
  • Exchange, Gmail, IMAP, POP, Macmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL mail support
  • Bluetooth 2.1+EDR Stereo, 3.5mm Headset jack, microUSB 2.0 with charger
  • Advanced video record/playback at D1 resolution (720x480) with up to 24fps capture and 30fps playback, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
  • 5.0 megapixel autofocus camera with dual LED flash and image stabilization (digital I presume)
  • 16GB microSD card included, 32GB supported
  • aGPS and sGPS, turn-by-turn directions
  • TI OMAP 3430 Cortex A8 ARM CPU with GPU for faster graphics

It looks like Motorola and Verizon have a hit on their hands with the Droid.

Related articles:

Topics: iPhone, Hardware, Mobility, Telcos, Verizon

About

Ed Burnette is a software industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience as a programmer, author, and speaker. He has written numerous technical articles and books, most recently "Hello, Android: Introducing Google's Mobile Development Platform" from the Pragmatic Programmers.

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22 comments
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  • No it isn't.

    It needs two things to even dent the iPhone, much less kill it. It needs a REAL equivalent to iTunes & App store. It needs to have a crazy simple interface. I haven't seen anything which leads me to believe Droid has either of those.
    BillDem
    Reply Vote

    • Well, they will not have 20 farting applications out of the gate, but,

      there will be a good selection. There will also
      be a huge bonus in turn by turn directions AND
      automatically updated street database.

      Combine that will all of the amazing hardware
      features that blow away the iPhone, and this
      will sell.

      Finally, the Android user experience is better
      than with the iPhone.
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote

    • Simple is as simple does...

      The only thing I can see that may not appear simple to someone new to Android is the desktop with widgets. But thats the price of functionality. I'd rather a desktop that tells me something at a glance rather than a list of applications. Aside from that theres nothing more complex about the Android interface than the IPhone interface.

      Basically I think the IFools have run out of runway this time. Looking at the docking and Nav features alone its blowing IPhone out of the water....and thats for a second time because it did it with 1.5 to begin with. So I guess we'll be seeing and upgraded IDon't next year to outdo the phones that supposedly don't outdo it.
      storm14k
      Reply Vote

      • RUN FOR THE HILLS

        The iPhone is doomed! Oh is there nothing a multi-billion dollar company can do to improve their condition against the sheer perfection of Android? Surely I shall go the my local Apple store and find is empty of customers at the mere mention of (yet another) iPhone killer :)

        OK enough drama and sarcasm, back to work everyone!
        oncall
        Reply Vote

        • Sure, it takes more than being better to displace the established leader,

          but, the Droid WILL gain a lot of market share
          given all of the features. Given the wide variety
          of Android models, and the availability on
          virtually all carriers, Android will likely over
          take iPhone in phones sold eventually.
          DonnieBoy
          Reply Vote

          • Which of course...

            Only concerns me in that someone might actually make one with such a great set of features that I might want to buy one. Or Apple will be forced to respond by improving the iPhone OS/hardware enough to make me stay. Which actually isn't so much a concern as it is something I, as a consumer, look forward to. I actually like companies to be fighting for my business :)

            Sorry just couldn't help poking fun at some of the statements of impending doom here. There is no doom, the game is just getting more interesting.
            oncall
            Reply Vote

        • No need to run...

          No one said Apple can't improve...in fact thats the last thing I said in my post. They'll improve where they supposedly aren't behind to begin with...doesn't make sense does it? And folk take this "killer" term to far. It doesn't mean its going to wipe the other product off the face of the earth. In my opinion it simply means its better. You IFools are pretty sensitive.
          storm14k
          Reply Vote

          • My sarcasm eluded you

            Sorry, I will try harder next time ;)
            oncall
            Reply Vote

        • you will have to run

          simply because you won't be able to call the store with the lousy AT&T service. Apple should be concerned because they have have a competitor that can compete on features and has superior phone service.
          Al_nyc
          Reply Vote

    • Sorry you are stuck with the iDont and AT&T.(nt

      .
      ShadeTree
      Reply Vote

      • Poor Shadetree


        Your beloved Microsoft fails to impress, even with years experience in the cellphone market, so more slams at Apple (and what happened to your consistent slams at anything (including open source/Linux/etc) other than MS?... changing your spots or MS OEM employer?)

        Windows Mobile looked (still looks) ancient as Apple came out of the blue to eat it's lunch (the iPhone will fail according to Ballmer) and now Android (and the rest of the market) is finally catching up. Good for competition as it will only make others (including Apple) move forward.

        But, it's easy for others to follow (even if late) and build on the iPhones strengths and weaknesses.

        Funny how you've suddenly become an open source fanboy :-)

        (*** I don't own a cellphone of any kind)


        MacCanuck
        Reply Vote

      • Who's stuck? Seen the latest iPhone satisfaction ratings?

        http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139984/iPhone_satisfaction_rating_on_a_different_planet_says_survey
        dave95.
        Reply Vote

    • iTunes?

      Seems like you said this elsewhere. As someone who
      has never used an iPhone but is currently loving
      his Android experience, can you tell me what I'm
      missing from not have an iTunes equivalent? What
      does having a desktop app have to do with my my
      smart phone?
      30otnix
      Reply Vote

    • not yet, but soon

      iTunes sucks! So let's hope they don't go that route. But you are right, nice hardware with no software makes the hardware lame. But if you recall when the iPhone first came out there was not much in the way of apps either. The Droid has better hardware and the potential for better software. You are also neglecting the one HUGE advantage the Droid has over the iPhone. That's Verizon phone service. Verizon service is superior to AT&T.
      Let's hope Verizon and Motorola doesn't screw up the Droid.
      Al_nyc
      Reply Vote

  • The next iPhone is going to have to get a lot better. The bar has been

    raised. Also, future smart phones will have to include
    GPS turn by turn directions, and free map updates.
    DonnieBoy
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Motorola DROID on Verizon: Is this the iPhone killer you're looking for?

    Multi touch confirmed? Not just hardware might be able to but phone launches with pinch to zoom or some useful multitouch feature?
    mathiastck
    Reply Vote

    • Confirmed, with a disclaimer

      DROID's screen has the right hardware for multi-touch, and Android 2.0 has APIs that allow developers to code for multi-touch. But apps will have to modified to take advantage of it. I've read that the current browser does not do that yet, for example, but there will be an update later to add that functionality.
      Ed Burnette
      Reply Vote

  • You forgot one added feature of the Droid

    Google spyware included!
    jorjitop
    Reply Vote

  • Where are the price complaints?

    This thing costs the same thing as the iPhone. Shouldn't it
    cost less?

    Actually, this professional Apple FanBoy thinks this is a
    great addition to the competitive landscape.

    Especially when Verizon is offered the iPhone next year.

    This may be a game changer for those who still have a
    contract with Verizon and want an iPhone wannabe
    telephone.

    Good for Motorola. See what a little competition makes
    your company do?

    Palm screwed up, Motorola has a winner, Apple, get busy,
    AT&T, you have about 12 months to fix your 3G system.

    Now, the game's getting interesting.

    BTW, bye Nokia. Looks like you are going to bite some big
    dust in North America and Europe.
    mlindl
    Reply Vote

    • the price for being the first on the block

      ALL phones cost more when they first hit the stores. You can be sure the price will drop in a few months.
      Al_nyc
      Reply Vote
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