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Topic: Collaboration

Verizon's HTC DROID ERIS may be the best $100 smartphone

Summary: Readers here know how much I enjoyed using the HTC Hero and now we see HTC coming out with its 3rd version of the Hero and IMHO the third time is the charm. I had a chance to hold and play a bit with the HTC DROID ERIS (Verizon's version of the HTC Hero) and I could not put it down because the form factor is so compelling. It is wrapped in black soft touch material, it is narrow so it feels like a phone, it is thin, it is dense, and it has curves that make a supermodel envious. I have not yet used a Verizon DROID, but every review I read stated the keyboard was not that great so the HTC DROID ERIS without a keyboard and much more pocketable form factor may be the Android device of choice on Verizon. Amazingly, HTC was able to pack in their awesome Sense UI into the ERIS at this low $100 price point and you may just see me at Best Buy tomorrow, 6 November, picking this one up and adding a Verizon line to my mobile collection.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

Readers here know how much I enjoyed using the HTC Hero and now we see HTC coming out with its 3rd version of the Hero and IMHO the third time is the charm. I had a chance to hold and play a bit with the HTC DROID ERIS (Verizon's version of the HTC Hero) and I could not put it down because the form factor is so compelling. It is wrapped in black soft touch material, it is narrow so it feels like a phone, it is thin, it is dense, and it has curves that make a supermodel envious. I have not yet used a Verizon DROID, but every review I read stated the keyboard was not that great so the HTC DROID ERIS without a keyboard and much more pocketable form factor may be the Android device of choice on Verizon. Amazingly, HTC was able to pack in their awesome Sense UI into the ERIS at this low $100 price point and you may just see me at Best Buy tomorrow, 6 November, picking this one up and adding a Verizon line to my mobile collection.

Even though the HTC DROID ERIS is available for only $100 HTC did not skimp on the specifications as you can see below:

  • Qualcomm MSM 7600 528MHz processor
  • CDMA/EV-DO Rev A. support
  • 3.2 inch 320x480 HVGA capacitive touch screen and trackball interface
  • 5.0 megapixel auto focus camera
  • Expandable memory with pre-installed 8 GB microSD card
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3.5 mm headset connectivity
  • Integrated GPS and a digital compass with a sensor that enables the phone to know what direction it is facing
  • Smart dialer for simplified dialing by name, number or initials
  • Dimensions of 4.45 x 2.19 x 0.51 inches and 4.23 ounces
  • 1300 mAh Li-Ion battery

DROID ERIS by HTC will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com on Friday, 6 November, for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an e-mail feature or e-mail plan. If you visit a Best Buy Mobile location you can get the rebate applied instantly too.

Compared to the Motorola DROID, we see this device with a sleeker form factor, mult-touch web browser, better performing camera, and the Sense UI (with all the great HTC widgets and customizations) while the DROID has the a slightly faster processor, larger higher resolution display, hardware QWERTY keyboard, and vanilla Googla Android experience with support for the new Google Maps Navigation beta. The Motorola DROID runs Android 2.0 while the HTC DROID ERIS runs Android 1.5. HTC has stated they will be skippping 1.6 and putting Android 2.0 on Hero devices so the ERIS should also get the upgrade eventually, but there has been no confirmation of that yet.

Which Google Android device do you find more compelling on Verizon?

Topics: Collaboration, Hardware, HTC, Mobility, Smartphones, Verizon

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15 comments
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  • Power of the Linux distro model!

    Yes, the claimed 'niche' Operating System as the
    MS fans scream does not appear to be a 'niche'
    anymore...

    ;)
    use_linux
    Reply Vote

    • Sorry but

      MS fans by their nature will consider anything that is not a PC to be a niche product.
      Michael Kelly
      Reply Vote

      • You are correct!

        nt
        use_linux
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon's HTC DROID ERIS may be the best $100 smartphone

    I thought the whole point of Android was that the OS could be upgraded OTA? Will Android 1.5 not update to 2.0? Or is it only if Verizon pushes the update out?
    rob_gordon
    Reply Vote

    • The whole point of Android is it can be done either way

      Ideally it would be done OTA, if your phone company is looking after you. But if they don't, you at least have the option of doing it yourself (or having someone help you).

      So yes it would be great if all phone companies looked after all their customers equally, but if they don't at least you can take matters into your own hands and won't be stuck with an obsolete phone. Obviously it would be a good idea to keep a scorecard of which phone companies do OTA updates for which phones, so that a buyer can compare and make a good purchasing decision.
      Michael Kelly
      Reply Vote

  • Saving $100 is less than a 5% savings...

    When you buy one of these smart phones, you are looking at a $2000-$3500 two year expenditure. Don't worry about the $100 up front if you end up with an inferior phone. If you happen to like the cheaper phone than go for it.
    cchx111
    Reply Vote

  • One question

    With the ability to use any font they want, why do interface
    designers continue to make clocks with those silly "flip" numerals
    with the line across the middle of them??? A modern phone with
    an antique clock. Go figure.
    Userama
    Reply Vote

    • The clock widget shown

      is one of many clock faces available should you want it. It's all about variety and choice. If you don't like it, change the clock face or remove the widget altogether. The flippy numbers are kind of nostalgic if you ask me.
      wrenchy
      Reply Vote

    • HTC made that widget

      They use it on all their smart phones, including Windows Mobile phones. It was on WinMo first I believe.
      Michael Kelly
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon's HTC DROID ERIS may be the best $100 smartphone

    Despite all the charm, those of who use MAC computers will still be left out of the sync game for Contacts, iCAl, iTunes and iPhoto. As much as anything, this is why the iPhone is the only device that will be able to keep me with Verizon when our contract is up in two months.
    drdave@...
    Reply Vote

  • Regular Droid is more than a little faster than Eris

    The regular Motorola Droid uses an ARM A8 type of processor which is 2-3x faster than the A11 used in the Eris, Hero, and G1 at the same clock speed. It's even faster if your program needs to do floating point math because it's supported in the hardware.

    The iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre use A8 cores as well.
    Ed Burnette
    Reply Vote

  • Bad timing?

    I don't think Verizon did Moto any favor by introducing the Eris the
    same day as the REAL Droid. I bet that most non-techie people
    will go for the smalller, lighter, cheaper Eris over the Droid.
    Userama
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon's HTC DROID ERIS may be the best $100 smartphone

    you guys should check out this video about the iphone, it?s funny but sad at the same time.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggD3Hr1rVyA

    What would really be nice is if a phone company would provide a truly awesome smart phone and not deliberately overcharge them for buying one i.e. charging a mandatory data plan fee for a phone even if you don?t plan on using the phone for data that much or would prefer to use the phones data capabilities via wi-fi only.

    at&t should have at least given people the option. As it stands they can?t even handle the massive increase in data traffic that happened as a result of the massive influx of new iphone owners!
    fiyahstotah
    Reply Vote

  • Enterprise

    Hello,
    Nice review...If my company does not support anything but blackberry, can I work around and get mail thru Outook Web Mail access? Any help is appreciated, I want a change from BB.
    Thank you
    mgr8ful
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Verizon's HTC DROID ERIS may be the best $100 smartphone

    I just spoke with Amber who is a tech support supervisor and was completely shut down on this problem (HTC eris 2.1 update). All of the well documented phone problems since the update are now happening to my wifes phone and our business is suffering because of it. How can we be compensated for business and customers already lost by my company due to this problem. When i asked who is responsible for the update coming on to the phone, she blamed HTC. My issue is that we bought our phone from verizon and pay money to verizon so why am i needing to call HTC? They are taking advantage of the convoluted mess of having three companies involved being google, HTC and Verizon. Getting the same useless phone as a replacement is not the answer to our problems as we continually lose money with our phone based business. My wife and I were both very happy customers at Verizon until this update and the response. We had a fair proposal that would make the situation right which Verizon will not agree to. She compared it to buying a tv at walmart and that any problems with the item must be taken up with the manufacturer outside of the warranty. I say that is apples and oranges since a phone is made up of the hardware, software and service and much different than a TV. It's like the cable company(verizon) selling you a tv then zapping it with something that breaks it. Please fix this VERIZON or you will hear from a lawyer soon and lose many customers!
    verizoniskillingme
    Reply Vote
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