Droid Launch: Is This The Start of The Android Revolution?
With its large, vibrant 3.7 inch WVGA (854 x 480 pixels), the Motorola Droid hits the shelves today, ready for the Android-hungry masses. Beyond its sharp display, the Droid comes with free turn-by-turn GPS, a fast Web browser, 5.0 megapixel camera — the Droid may just yet live up to its buzz and hype.
Motorola Droid Specifications:
Appearance and Size:
Phone style: Slider
Antenna: Internal
Color: Licorice
Height: 2.36 inches
Width: 4.53 inches
Depth: 0.54 inches
(Slightly taller than an iPhone 3GS and slightly thicker. One of the thinnest QWERTY-slider out there).
Display
Display Color support: 16,777,216 colors
Display resolution: 854 x 480 pixel
Display screen size: 3.7 inches
Multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, LCD TFT
Camera
Integrated 5.0 Megapixel Camera, Auto-focus support with Camera Flash and Video Capture
Camera Features: Real-time color effects, scene modes, location tagging, and image stabilization
Power & Connectivity
Li-ion battery with 270 hours standby time and 385 minutes talk time.
Bluetooth v2.1 support, Wi-Fi 802.11g and 802.11b
Cellular band & frequency support: EVDO, CDMA 1900, CDMA 800
Memory, RAM, CPU & GPU
256 MB RAM, 512 ROM
Included 16 GB MicroSD (up to 32 GB)
550 MHz ARM Cortext A8 CPU
PowerVR SGX 530 GPU
Audio & Video Support
Integrated audio player supporting:
AMR-NB, AMR-WB, OGG, AAC, MP3, eAAC+, MIDI, WAV, AAC Plus
Integrated video player supporting:
H.263, H.264, WMV, MPEG4
Ringtone support: AAC Plus, eAAC+, MP3, AAC
Other Functionality
Android 2.0 mobile operating system
Calling features: Call barring, call divert, call hold, call timer, call waiting, caller ID
Messaging support: SMS, EMS, MMS, and IM
Input type: Multi-touch capacitive touchscreen with slide out QWERTY keyboard
Previously under the codename Sholes, the Motorola Droid is being launched with better hardware support and implementation of Google’s Android operating system. One of the major improvement to Android 2.0 would be its support and presentation of multiple emails accounts, across Gmail, POP, IMAP, Exchange accounts making it much easier for users to see all their email accounts in one place (Blackberry users will be familiar with this). For the Facebook crowds, Facebook account integration is now built into Android 2.0.
Accessory lovers can rejoice as the Motorola Droid has two available extras that are definitely worthwhile to look at (if not cheap on the wallet): a multimedia docking station for $30, and a GPS car-mount that will also run you $30 — (then again, when compared to the TomTom $100 iPhone app + $120 car kit, the Droid’s $30 car-kit will seem like a steal).
If you’ve been following the Android operating system for awhile now, you’ve no doubt already read about the bombshell Google dropped on the consumer-GPS industry, offering free turn-by-turn GPS navigation map on the Motorola Droid and future supported Android-device. Though the offering may not completely destroy the standalone consumer GPS device market , this offering certainly made a disruption and is a clear showcase on the type of features Google will continuously update and offer for the Android platform.
As one of the first device to be designed for the new Android 2.0 operating system, the Motorola Droid is definitely THE Android device to beat. Are you a current fan of the Android lines of smartphones and will you be picking up a Motorola Droid? For other smartphone users, is the current offering from Motorola enough to entice you to switch?
In months, as the dust settle and sales report comes rolling in, will the Motorola Droid emerge as a steady stepping stone to consistent Android improvement, or will it be a clear sign to the beginning of a heated battle between smartphone devices and platforms?
If you love the Droid and Android platform, here are some other Android devices:
Sprint HTC Hero / Verizon Droid Eris
Touchscreen: 3.2″ / 320×480 HVGA resolution; Touchscreen TFT-LCD
Dimensions: 4.40″ x 2.21″ x 0.56″ mm & 4.76 oz
Camera: 5 MP with AutoFocus
Standby Time: Up to 440 hours
Talk Time: Up to 470 minutes
Processor: Qualcomm MSM7200A 528 MHz
Battery: 1350 mAh Lithium-ion battery
Internal/External Memory: 288MB / MicroSD 2.0
Other Features: 3.5mm Headset jack, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS enabled
Price: $99 (Eris) 179.99 (Hero)
T-Mobile MyTouch 3G
Touchscreen: 3.2″ /320 x 480 HVGA Touchscreen TFT, TFD, LCD
Dimensions: 4.45″ x 2.19″ x 0.54″ & 4.13 oz
Camera: 3.2 MP, AutoFocus
Standby Time: 420 hours
Talk Time:7.5 Hours
Processor: Qualcomm MSM7201a, 528 MHz
Battery: 1340 mAh Lithium-ion battery
Internal/External Memory: 192 / 288 MB / MicroSD up to 32GB
Other Features: HTC ExtUSB Headset Jack, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS enabled
More Specifications: T-Mobile MyTouch 3G
Price: $149.99
Dell mini 3i
Touchscreen: 3.5″ / 640 x 360 resolution
Dimensions:4.49″ x 2.28″ x 0.61″ & 5.75 oz
Camera: 3.2 MP, Flash & AutoFocus
Standby Time: Unknown
Talk Time:Unknown
Processor: Unknown
Battery: 950mAh Li-ion
Internal/External Memory: Unknown/microSD card slot
Other Features: No Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS enabled
Price: Unannounced
Can’t get enough of the Droid? Check out our Droid vs iPhone Comparison chart for more!
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