(Verizon/Motorola/Google) DROID - November 6th

[Deftones]

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

Well the GPS looks cool, but I'd use my Garmin because it announces street names. Not sure if this did. Plus, I use my GPS and phone for work, and I can't see using the same thing for two tasks.

My problem now lies with the iPhone. The reception sucks ass thanks to AT&T. I love the apps, though, and I love the text messaging, the visual voice mail, etc. I paid $570 for the phone, including tax and the ridiculous $200 deposit.

I have three weeks or so to decide whether I want to cancel or not, sans the $30 I'll lose from the restocking fee. Plus, I heard it might take 2 months to get the money refunded to my account. My next upgrade for Verizon doesn't hit until March, so I doubt they'd let me go 4-5 months early. Maybe if I mention I was thinking of jumping ship to AT&T.

We pay $205 a month for 3 lines with Verizon, and two are data plans. We have 700 anytime minutes, and unlimited texting. One phone has insurance on it, the others don't.

As for AT&T, my plan would be $59 for the 900 anytime minutes, with rollover and a-list, and $30 extra for the iPhone data plan. Add another $20 a month for unlimited texting.

Any ideas on what I should do? In a perfect world I'd keep both, but I can't see paying $300+ a month for four cell phones

go into Verizon store, and tell them you want to look at the Droid. Tell them you are interested, but since you don't have your NE2 credit soon you will probably just jump ship to ATT for an Iphone. I'll bet they'll get you the credit. many people here have gone a few months early and got them to give the credit early.

[nickdawgy]

I have gotten it two months early before. It's not the NE2, though, just the yearly upgrade for one of the lines.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by Checkmate

Does anybody know anything about email support? Obviously they are going to be doing G-mail but what about exchange support on par with a Blackberry. I'm trying to decide whether I should buy this or the Storm 2. Droid looks like it has better features and designs but only a short mention of email support has me wondering. Any info would be appreciated.

My two year contract was up in July and I have NE2 credit of $100 so I could possibly get this phone for $99. That sounds like a great deal to me.

Google along with Apple licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft, so expect the same kind of support as the iphone. Only difference is that Google also licensed the ability to transfer documents

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by Jay G.

Only iPods sync with iTunes.

Android phones don't have a desktop manager at the moment. I believe they just mount as a removable drive in Windows.

blackberries can sync with itunes. apple fully supports a way to do it. palm just tried a shortcut

[Jay G.]

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

My problem now lies with the iPhone... My next upgrade for Verizon doesn't hit until March, so I doubt they'd let me go 4-5 months early. Maybe if I mention I was thinking of jumping ship to AT&T.

Don't tell them you're "thinking" of jumping ship. Tell them you have an iPhone in your hands and you want to know what they can offer to convince you to stay.

However, you might not even have to do that. If you're the account owner, you can get an annual phone upgrade. From the Verizon FAQ:
http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Wireless...ee.html#item21

What is the My Verizon Advantage?
Customers who register as the Account Owner in My Verizon get the added benefits of the My Verizon Advantage:

• You’ll receive a waiver of the monthly subscription fee for Backup Assistant so you never have to worry about losing your phone’s contact list. Backup Assistant will let you automatically retain a copy of your saved phone numbers to a secure website, so they’re available if you lose or upgrade your phone. All lines on your account receive this waiver when the Account Owner is registered.
• You can get a new phone every year with Annual Upgrade. Sign up for a 2-year agreement on a calling plan of at least $49.99 and you can purchase a new phone at its promotional price through My Verizon every year with a 2-year renewal (upgrade fee may apply).
• If you're using more minutes than your calling plan includes, we’ll let you know with Minute Check. Minute Check will periodically notify you through My Verizon if you are exceeding your plan allowance and let you know of other calling plan options that may save you money.

How do I sign up for the My Verizon Advantage?
Simply register for My Verizon as the Account Owner and you will receive the My Verizon Advantage benefits.

[nickdawgy]

Originally Posted by Jay G.

Don't tell them you're "thinking" of jumping ship. Tell them you have an iPhone in your hands and you want to know what they can offer to convince you to stay.

However, you might not even have to do that. If you're the account owner, you can get an annual phone upgrade. From the Verizon FAQ:
http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Wireless...ee.html#item21

We have that. We have three lines. A BlackBerry Tour (my phone), a LG EnV (wife), and a Palm Treo (her brother).

I upgraded from the Voyager to the Storm with one upgrade last November. I had another family member use their upgrade to get me a Curve and I sold the Storm in March. Finally, I sold the Curve and used another upgrade to get the Tour in August. So we have an annual upgrade coming in March 2010, a NE2 in October 2011, and another annual upgrade in October 2010.

Yeah I know, I have had alot of phones.

Right now, the wife says it's crazy to have two phones, even if one is a work phone, and she says if I want an iPhone so bad, either cancel my line from Verizon and pay the ETF, or just get the Touch again and upgrade the Tour to a Droid. She is leaving it up to me, but you know how women can get with the guilt trips

As it stands, I'd only be paying $50-$60 more a month if I got both the Droid and kept the iPhone. But I'd be afraid one wouldn't get used as much as the other. Like I'd be paying $100 a month to send a few texts here and there or play Monopoly.

I am so confused

[Deftones]

take back iphone, get droid, then buy yourself a nintendo dsi.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by nickdawgy

We have that. We have three lines. A BlackBerry Tour (my phone), a LG EnV (wife), and a Palm Treo (her brother).

I upgraded from the Voyager to the Storm with one upgrade last November. I had another family member use their upgrade to get me a Curve and I sold the Storm in March. Finally, I sold the Curve and used another upgrade to get the Tour in August. So we have an annual upgrade coming in March 2010, a NE2 in October 2011, and another annual upgrade in October 2010.

Yeah I know, I have had alot of phones.

Right now, the wife says it's crazy to have two phones, even if one is a work phone, and she says if I want an iPhone so bad, either cancel my line from Verizon and pay the ETF, or just get the Touch again and upgrade the Tour to a Droid. She is leaving it up to me, but you know how women can get with the guilt trips

As it stands, I'd only be paying $50-$60 more a month if I got both the Droid and kept the iPhone. But I'd be afraid one wouldn't get used as much as the other. Like I'd be paying $100 a month to send a few texts here and there or play Monopoly.

I am so confused

your wife is right

only reason i bought an iphone 3G for my wife was that it was cheaper than a Storm or another BB from Verizon.

for 2 iphones and 2 cheapo phones for my in laws the bill is $150 a month. for texting we use the free iphone texting apps

if i was in your situation i would stay on Verizon and get an iPod Touch

[SonOfAStu]

Everybody buy a DROID!! (says the guy who just bought a bunch of MOT stock)

[Deftones]

i will probably be doing my part by pre-ordering at BB today.

[SonOfAStu]

I think I'm losing it. I'm sitting here at work spending my time reading about this phone and watching videos (like this)



and just laughing and getting more excited.

TGIF.

[Deftones]

their review was fantastic. showed some of the flaws of the phone. not just a puff piece like some other sites (which I won't name).

[emachine12]

I saw the G4 AOTS yesterday and even though K Pereira and O Munn were in costume (K as the Twitter Fail Whale and O as a Fail Whaler), they still were professional about the review and gave some very honest critiques. They both agree and say its the best phone ever for Verizon Wireless. Keven says its the fastest phone they have ever come across and the Google 2.0 operating system is good along with the touchscreen being very responsive

However, they hate the keyboard because its too flush and a bit small. They also feel its too cramped because of the D-Pad, which Kevin feels is unnecessary for a touch screen phone. Another flaw they found was no multi-touch capability, you tap to zoom rather then pinch.

Kevin was half and half on the camera. He said the pictures were not great for a 5mp lens but the video was incredible for a cel phone.

EDIT.

Here is the video:

Video Games - E3 2009 - Attack of the Show

[SonOfAStu]

They're confused (and wrong) about the multi-touch. It doesn't have some of the exact same "gestures" (pinch zoom) that Apple and others have used, but the screen is certainly multi-touch capable.

Personally, I could give a rats ass if I can "pinch zoom" (God I feel like a dork even saying it). Double tap zoom works just as well, and I can't see how it could possibly be considered a "con" for the phone unless everything has to be just like an Apple product.

[emachine12]

You have to remembeer that people want devices that act like the iPhone because its cool. That's the expectation, just like a lot of people expect the Wii, The PS3, and the XBox 360 to work the same damn way when it comes to online play. When you get down to the nitty gritty, it does work the same when you are playing but getting connected and online with your firends is where it differs.

And according to Engadget's review, it does not have multi-touch so they confirm G4's review. The Android 2.0 OS supports multi-touch events but the Verizon Droid does not use them in any way.

[Deftones]

So, went to BB to inquire about preorder. The clerk either doesn't know what she's talking about or BB does things very differently. I'm eligible for NE2 credit of $100. When i told her that, she told me the $100 credit I'd get would be the one where I don't have to do the MIR. I told her I should get a credit on top of that, according to Verizon's site if I were to buy a phone with them (as I'd get NE2 credit and any promo going right now). She said it would be $199 flat. So, i guess I head into Verizon store on the 6th to see if I can nab one.

[SonOfAStu]

Originally Posted by emachine12

You have to remembeer that people want devices that act like the iPhone because its cool. That's the expectation, just like a lot of people expect the Wii, The PS3, and the XBox 360 to work the same damn way when it comes to online play. When you get down to the nitty gritty, it does work the same when you are playing but getting connected and online with your firends is where it differs.

And according to Engadget's review, it does not have multi-touch so they confirm G4's review. The Android 2.0 OS supports multi-touch events but the Verizon Droid does not use them in any way.

Engadget is just as wrong. They also originally said it was all plastic in their review (before they changed it).

The DROID is as capable for multi-touch as anything. There's actually a video on Youtube somewhere of a GSM version where they actually used "pinch-zoom" on their browser. Obviously that feature won't be on the DROID at launch, but the phone is certainly capable.

G4 and Engadget are not infallible.

[emachine12]

Wow! Okay, this is the new Jesus phone. I won't point out anymore things about it. I sincerely apologize for pointing to two sources that multitouch was not on the Verizon Droid.

[SonOfAStu]

Originally Posted by emachine12

Wow! Okay, this is the new Jesus phone. I won't point out anymore things about it. I sincerely apologize for pointing to two sources that multitouch was not on the Verizon Droid.

No one ever said it was the new Jesus phone. It certainly has improvements to be made, but I'm not going to quit correcting you when you (or other sites) are wrong about something or spreading false information.

[Jay G.]

Originally Posted by SonOfAStu

Engadget is just as wrong. They also originally said it was all plastic in their review (before they changed it).

The DROID is as capable for multi-touch as anything.

So, both Android 2.0 and the DROID have mutli-touch capabilities, but as shipped, the DROID doesn't have any multi-touch functionality.

From Endgadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/m...-droid-review/
...we're fairly certain there's nothing technically holding back the DROID from utilizing multitouch input... Android 2.0 does support multitouch events, but the functionality isn't implemented here.

Note that the G1 is multi-touch capable as well, but hasn't had any multi-touch features in the official ROMS.

Obviously, since both Android 2.0 and DROID have the capabilities for multi-touch, perhaps the DROID will gain multi-touch functionality in a later update. But as for now, the reviews are correct in saying there's no multi-touch on the phone right now.

[emachine12]

EDIT: Someone beat me to it.

[Deftones]

thing is, all the apps right now are 1.5 and 1.6 anyway. Once we start seeing 2.0 apps rolling out, I'll bet there will be several with multi-touch functioning.

[Baron Of Hell]

Originally Posted by SonOfAStu

No one ever said it was the new Jesus phone. It certainly has improvements to be made, but I'm not going to quit correcting you when you (or other sites) are wrong about something or spreading false information.

You are so wrong. I actually said it was the new Jesus phone yesterday. Now I will banish the devil iphone with the power of holy 3g. bam bam. Can I get an amend.

[SonOfAStu]

Amend!

[Deftones]

Engadget has updated their review, to add perspectives from 3 of the 4 people that helped review it. Looks like some good and some bad.