TECH KNOW: Motorola DROID debuts

by Adegboyega Laniyan

Technology

The Motorola DROID is unveiled as a highly finished product, from a strategic partnership between Motorola and Google. The Communication device features as the first Smartphone powered by the Google Android 2.0 Operating system (OS).

Design

The slide phone showcases a sleek and handful design. It has a rectangular shape with a large screen capable of displaying 480 x 854 high pixel resolutions. On sliding it up, its neatly arranged full QWERTY keyboards are revealed. The screen has the ability to switch modes from its normal screen setting, into a cinematic style background for watching videos and web browsing in an exciting way.

Specifications

The phone is built with 256MB of Ram and 512MB of ROM. It also comes with additional 16 GB memory card slot. It features a 5 megapixel camera with a dual LED flash, which has autofocus and image stabilisation. The camera lenses can also video record, with its ability to capture up to 16 million colours, hence giving it quality video production.

Applications

The Motorola DROID multitasks very well, with its ability to run simultaneously and smoothly with six open applications and even more. It allows for customising and downloading of thousands of applications from the Google android market. It has a handy notification panel, which immediately alerts users whenever an e-mail is received. The phone has a tight integration with G-Mail and Instant Messaging (IM).

Fully packed entertainment is offered via its multimedia package, which has varying picture galleries, music and videos. Unlimited music tracks can be downloaded via a link to the Amazon mp3 music store. The phone has outright access to fun and social networking websites like Facebook and YouTube, Google chat etc.

The Motorola DROID is recognised by its uniqueness in voice recognition and voice commands. It's been built with a voice activated search link to Google search. Map findings and location navigation and finding is powered, through its inbuilt GPS system and Google maps, which has a street view and satellite imagery look and feel, added with a voice guidance direction.

As a 3G phone, the DROID connects speedily with the Internet and also uses the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology.

The phone has an 1140 mAh battery, which has a usage time of up to 385 minutes and standby time of up to 270 hrs. It comes into the market on November 6 2009, at a price of $599.99.

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Reader Comments (26)

Posted by Jordan on Nov 25 2009

I bought the Droid when it came out and I LOVE this phone. If you have Verizon and are choosing between the very tempting BlackBerry Storm 2 and the Motorola Droid to put on your Christmas wish list, I strongly suggest choosing the Droid. I have never loved a phone this much and it has amazing features!

Posted by Dave Clark on Nov 25 2009

I've had my Droid for almost a month and find it superior to the Blackberry I've been using. Applications that have been most useful include Googles' calendar which syncs with the PC Google Calendar, excellent quality google maps with an excellent GPS receiver (Blackberry GPS was not good), Audio books (plenty of volume when not using earphones, Streaming radio stations and pod casts with almost 100% reliability and of course Pandora. Other excellent applications include Aldiko books, Librivox audio books, cardio trainer, Amazon Mp3, Google Sky (fantastic),calorie counter, sportstap, youtube and where (even finds the best gas prices). It's hard to put this little thing down!!

Posted by John on Nov 25 2009

All of this is great, but I went to the Verizon store and the person waiting on me could not get any of the functions to work. Store staff needs better training.

Posted by drodannoyed on Nov 25 2009

Camera cannot work in low light or indoors . Focus is off and video is the same. There is a "fix" December 11 which tells me that the real fix is in when you buy this rather small Ibook . They really jammed this one in . Do not buy it if you want to take any pics worth keeping.. and dont count of the big Dec 11 date either it fixes a problem with the phone only taking good focused pictures on certain days and lousy ones on others.

Posted by Jeff on Nov 25 2009

The Droid is the baddest phone on the face of this planet! Welcome to the future.

Posted by Bobarazzi on Nov 25 2009

This phone def. blows away the iPhone. I love mine...mark my words, this will hurt the iphone (however slightly).

Posted by P on Nov 25 2009

I have had my Droid for 2 weeks now, but it is NOT as seamless as my Blackberry. My Motorola bluetooth headset connected easily with my Blackberry, but needed some convincing to connect to Droid - a Motorola phone. Plus, all applications and widgets still run after closing? I really need to download an app that acts like Windows Task Manager to "kill" them? I can't forget about not having voice activated headset dialing, either. There are things this phone does very well, but most people don't realize that Blackberry does them well, too. I may be reconsidering my purchase after realizing all the compromises I've made to have it, and may be returning to Research in Motion. Blackberries are very well sorted devices.

Posted by Alexis on Nov 26 2009

@P - you can download the Advanced Task Killer App for free - shows all apps running and lets you kill any/all.

Posted by Steve-O on Nov 26 2009

The Droid is a very cool Apps phone. I love all the widgets available especially the free ones and the nice Google Maps - GPS feature which is also free. BUT....in my opinion it is lacking when it comes to being a cell phone. Motorola usually have superior cell phone products but the Droid is not all that when it comes to using it as a phone. Be warned it is just average to below average when it comes to using it as a phone. Else, its pretty nice, lacking as a phone though.

Posted by Hershon13 on Nov 26 2009

The iPhone is the best phone out there. ALL others are second rate copies. iPhone is the leader of ALL smart phones.

Posted by djtabor on Nov 26 2009

this phone is so great

Posted by Franco on Nov 26 2009

Droid is the best, iphone is the best , blackberry is the best.We all have different tast and different needs if droid works for you maybe dont work for me or if iphone works for him maybe dont work for me, what I try to say here is we are all different and we need different things in the life,if you happy with your smartphone stick with it as long you happy everyone is happy. P.S I am happy with my droid :-)

Posted by Matt on Nov 26 2009

I love my Droid...all the other managers own Blackberries and drool when I whip out my sexy phone.

Posted by TATA on Nov 26 2009

somebody is trying to push a sell real bad...

Posted by Marcos on Nov 26 2009

Its hard to believe, but the motorola droid is awesome! Call quality is great. Internet is fast. Many free applications to download. GPS is very useful. No dropped calls like other companies.

Posted by Matt Moran on Nov 26 2009

as much as several apple fanboys out there want to cry "iphone rules" the droid dominates in every measurable way(processing power, signal pickup/quality, etc). that being said, it is not as "sexy" or "popular" as the iphone. but give it time. this is a really solid phone, with a great backing by google. if any phone will take over the market right now, it is the droid (nod to iphone for being in the lead). I've had mine for almost a month now. every app works perfectly, and it performs every task flawlessly. Not to repeat myself.. but that being said. the droid is not flawless, it fills its position masterfully, and is easy to use. but there is no be all end all of technology. if it is something that works for you better...use it. if you're unsure however, try the droid. i guarantee you will be impressed.

Posted by Ricaboni on Nov 26 2009

This phone is def the bomb! Should of been called the ROID

Posted by ibrahim on Nov 27 2009

I like my droid especially my google maps. How ever when handling this phone I find it a little slopy...the qrty keyboard is off set and is not spring loaded, and gives it a feel like its gonna get lose. I thought about returning it for the storm but love the Google maps so much that I will learn to deal with it.

Posted by jay Klarnet on Nov 27 2009

i too am very impressed with the droid and looking to upgrade from my samsung omnia, but there are some issues with the droid that rule it out. For one, I listen to my favorite npr radio station (kplu) by streaming over the internet. As of now, the droid does not support internet streaming and will have to wait for the next version of flash for this to work. My other issue is the form factor of the motorola, I am not a fan of a slide out key board. The backberry has the best keyboard for typing by far. This being said, I will most likely more to a google phone within a year until then I am going to look at the samsung omnia II coming out next week.

Posted by Andy on Nov 27 2009

I just purchased the Droid on my 2 year Verizon renewal... wow, it blew away the Blackberry Pearl that I was using. I am still learning about its capabilities, but so far I like it very much!

Posted by Miguel on Nov 28 2009

Like the look and the options to do things. I have Blackberry Pearl and it does not compare to this phone.It's a great thing that it's going to Verizon.Looking foward to get one as soon as my contract expired.

Posted by Tatas on Nov 29 2009

Typing this from my Droid. As a former iPhone 3g owner, I can tell you the Droid makes the iPhone look like a childs toy. Better screen, faster, you can actually multi task, open platform, integrated Google navigation, and much better 3g coverage.

Posted by ladyryder on Nov 29 2009

does the droid work well with wi-fi?? searching the internet???

Posted by Kyle on Nov 30 2009

Can you talk to someone and surf at the same time?

Posted by Will on Nov 30 2009

Hello Folks, It will make u feel bad that THe NOKIA N900 is twice better than this Droid phone.. NOKIA N900 is superior amongst all the smart/android phone that exist...

Posted by Phildo on Dec 02 2009

The Droid is definately a sweet phone but it's just not for me. There are a lot of great phones on the market. Enough for everyone to find one that's fits. I live in a metropolitan area with great cell coverage from all the carriers so that has no bearing on my decision. I still prefer the iPhone. Running multiple apps at once just isn't important to me but I understand it's a necessity for others. For those folks the droid is a better choice. For me......I just need to be able to surf the web, take care of my email and text while I'm talking on the phone. If that's what you need then the droid/verizon combo won't do it for you.