The rumor mill is buzzing about the possible launch of an Android handset that is actually designed BY Google. We heard this rumor before the launch of Android but now it makes much more sense. Here’s why…
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I like the Android platform a great deal. I find it relatively easy to use and quite powerful. The ability to run a number of applications in the background makes a tremendous difference in usability of the device. This continues to be one of the main shortcomings of the Apple iPhone. Add to that the tremendous integration of the device with Google’s various applications and you have a winning combination. Or so I thought.

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Actually, make that “Living With Motorola Droids.”  Yes, Droids, plural.  My initial intention was to post my first impressions of the Motorola Droid after just a few days with it.  However, the first Droid that I picked up started locking up and spontaneously resetting itself on the first day I had it, and it continued to do so two or three times per day.  A few times it wouldn’t power on at all, and I had to pull the battery in order to get it to restart.  The upside, if there is one, is that none of the resets seemed to result in any data loss.

I tried uninstalling the few programs and widgets that I initially installed, thinking that perhaps one of them wasn’t working well with Android 2.0, but that didn’t eliminate the problem.  Next, I tried a factory reset.  Still didn’t solve the problem.  After checking a the forums on a few Android sites, it was apparent that a few other new Droid owners were experiencing the same problem.  So, I took the Droid back and exchanged it for another unit, which so far seems to be behaving just fine.  After this disappointing start, things got much better. Continue Reading

While the new Motorola Droid has only been out for a few days, it looks like there is already an issue.  A thread started in the Motorola forums last week reports of users having sound and speaker problems with the handset.

The gist of the issue? The phone is working AOK, then the sound cuts out.  No sounds are played through the speaker.  Users will hear something when you place the phone to your ear.

The thread has gone up to 73 posts so far, and still climbing.  There is a workaround for the issue.  The temporary solution– switch the phone on and off, effectively rebooting the phone.  The sound returns afterward.

Motorola is responding to the issue by replacing handsets with this issue.  Users are hoping this is just a minor software issue that can be resolved in a quick update.

Thanks to Geek.com and Engadget for the heads up on this.

Sometimes it’s the simple apps that really make a difference.  That is what Toshl for Android does.  Toshl is a simple expense tracker.  It doesn’t have a tone of options and it’s not really designed for putting a expense report together for a business.  However, what it is good for is tracking personal expenses.

There are basically only two tabs.  First is the Timeline.  This shows your expenses you have already entered in descending order.  The most current expense is at the top.  At the bottom you have a add expense button.  Tapping that gets you into entry mode. Continue Reading

The Verizon droid has gathered a great deal of attention over the past few days.  It’s something that Dan I’ve been talking up quite a bit.

Dan has tried a number of Android devices and really likes the operating system.  So I stopped by Verizon wireless store earlier today and tried it myself. There’s no doubt that it’s a nice piece of hardware, it felt great in the hand, sturdy, and the screen was bright and easy on the eyes.  But I couldn’t help but feel like the Droid ran slow.  I called Dan on my way home and told him so.  To which he remarked something to the effect of “I can’t believe they haven’t fixed that issue yet.”

Dan was headed out to a meeting and mentioned that he was going to stop by the Verizon wireless store and pick up the Droid.

He got to the store and e-mailed “I like the hardware on this device a whole lot.”

I quickly e-mailed back. “So I guess you got it?” to which he responded that he didn’t, but he was about to.

About 10 minutes later, however, I got a slightly different e-mail from him than the one I was expecting. It said — “this thing has a tremendous amount of lag. Anybody who doesn’t report any lag is being paid off or something, because there’s no way you can miss it.”

To which I replied — “told you so”

I love tablets. I used a Windows Tablet PC for years and have been chomping at the bit for the Apple tablet. The iPhone and iPod touch have been and are awesome, but I have been longing for something a bit larger. When the Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Android came along, I thought it just might be the ticket. Here was a slick slate tablet with a 4.8“ touchscreen with 800*480 resolution. The 32GB model is just thin and light and… it runs Android. I bit.

It is an impressive device. But is it a “keeper”?

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After using the G1 for about three months, I came to one conclusion.  The battery life just sucks.  You can’t get through a day with light use and if you are a heavy user, like myself, you will need to charge before you even get halfway through a day.  The Kanex High Capacity Battery for the G1 solves this and gives a heavy G1 user like myself all day battery life.

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Full disclosure.  I haven’t touched a Droid yet.  I have an iPod Touch and use a Palm Pre as my everyday device.

Here is my humble opinion.

The Motorola Droid will sell well.  Not awesome, but well.  There is a lot of pent up demand from those locked into Verizon who wanted a serious smart phone, and they definitely get it here.

I see very few people dumping an iPhone to switch to this.  Sure it has a few benefits, but it also has a fair number of weaknesses when compared, and nobody is switching carriers over the differences. Continue Reading

I was chatting with a friend on Google IM about the Droid, and out of the corner of my eye I saw a message come through Twitter from @jbqueru (@jbqueru is an Android developer with Google) regarding the Saygus V1.  The V1 promises a lot of what the Droid does … plus video calling!  It also is equipped with a 5 megapixel camera and a slide out keyboard similar to the Droid; it even looks a lot like the Droid. Continue Reading

To watch the commercials for the Verizon Droid, being released tomorrow morning, one might get the impression that this is the very first android handset to be released. It certainly has garnered more attention and excitement and previous devices, but there are already a number of android handsets on the market that are actually quite good. I recently had a chance to spend a week with Sprint’s version of the HTC hero, and I found myself more than a bit impressed. So with that in mind, I thought we might take a good look at a fantastic Android device that’s been on the market for a number of months already.

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To say the DROID’s release is highly anticipated would be an understatement.  Marketing has gone into overdrive for this handset, making us wonder why there’s no big love for the Eris (yes, they’ll appeal to different users — and the Eris is running Android 1.5, at least for now, but the Eris looks just as capable for anyone who prefers the Sense UI versus the DROID’s Android 2.0 interface).    So Verizon customers looking to finally wield a smartphone that won’t shame them when they’re out and about with their iPhone-toting friends have tomorrow marked and ready.  Heck, even the impatient could have pre-ordered it already from Best Buy (and, if you really, REALLY, want a DROID but just don’t feel like hoofing it over to your local Verizon store in the morning you can order one straight from Wirefly beginning at midnight tonight).

But what about the corporate user?  Should you (and your IT department) be putting the DROID on your company network?  Sure, Android 2.0  now natively supports MS Exchange.  Oh, but before you run out to pick up your very own DROID, and then expect to be using it for work you may want to take note of a few things.  Unfortunately, everything is not puppy dogs, fluffy clouds and rainbows…

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The new HTC Droid Eris is a jam-packed mobile phone featuring some pretty amazing specifications, namely: a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen and trackball interface, a 5.0 megapixel auto focus camera, expandable memory with pre-installed 8 GB microSD™ card (up to 16 GB supported), 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 … and many more. Priced at a budget friendly $99.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer plan), the Droid will go on sale both online and in stores Friday, November 6th.

So how about it? Will you be bringing home a Droid?

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I’ve been reading up on the Droid release, and I came across a post on TheUnlocker.com who have learned from Tmonews that an internal web page has been found indicating that the Motorola Sholes and Sholes tablet will both be coming to T-Mobile.  No word on when it is going to get to fans of T-Mobile or even if it’s official. The Sholes/Droid looks to be a winner of a device.  Only time will tell when – and if – this gets to T-Mobile here in the states.

How often do you hear a phone from Verizon getting play on local media?  The Droid is definitely getting that here in Columbus, Ohio.  WBNS 10 TV is running a story about it on their site.  I find it a little interesting that they say the Droid has thousands of applications, while ignoring the fact that it is actually running Android, and Android has been out for about a year now.  They don’t call it Android OS either; they say it runs Google’s software.

Also worth noting is that Vincent at Slashgear has posted a full review on the Droid.

All in all, the Verizon DROID by Motorola sets the bar for all new Android devices and is arguably the best Android device to date. The natural comparison is always going to be the iPhone 3GS, and while the DROID lacks the Apple handset’s finesse and polish, it’s only a few steps behind. If you’re not entirely content with your iPhone 3GS and AT&T’s service, we’d suggest giving the DROID a try; meanwhile, if you’re looking to dump your current handset or carrier, the DROID should definitely be on your shortlist.

-Vincent at Slashgear

Do you think the Droid will be good enough to beat the iPhone?  I think it will be really close, but that all depends on Verizon.  I think Motorola is officially back thanks to both the Cliq and the Droid, but we’ll have to see how it does in the coming weeks.  Friday is only a couple days away!  Are you getting a Droid?