Droid
I'm a phone geek.
I no longer work in the mobile phone industry, but still follow along.
Caveat - I haven't played with a Droid yet myself, though I'm sure I will soon.
I did a comparison with a few other phone geeks at work, so I'm posting it here.
The Droid is the latest Android OS phone, released by VZW, and again called an "iphone killer" - which again it is not.
Droid has some weird version of multi-touch that doesn't allow most things iphone owners love (pinch-to-zoom, etc.) - a huge deal to anyone who's used Apple's multi-touch touchpad &/or ipod interface enough to become completely enamored with it (um, like me). Can't wait for my Magic Mouse (worst name ever) to arrive.
Some notes about the differences between the two:
+Droid:
* Droid's screen resolution kills - it's 854x480 display has 160% MORE pixels than iphone's 480x320. God I hate the iphone's resolution.
* No dropped calls (but do you still make many phonecalls on your iphone/android? I don't.
* Camera - Droid has "flash" via an LED light, and is 5mpx, iphone is 3mpx. That said, I've seen comparison tests, and Droid's photos actually look worse, not better, thanks to the iphone's zoom software.
* Removable memory.
* Unhacked App backgrounding. Since Apple's done a good job with push notifications, this currently really only means "can play Pandora while using another app", which is the only thing I ever use hacked iphone backgrounding for these days.
+iPhone
* Tethering - my hacked iphone still tethers to any laptop quickly & easily, it's awesome. I've never been charged for overages. Don't think for a second VZW will allow free tethering.
* The Droid's physical keyboard doesn't have auto-correct, but the on-screen keyboard does. Umm, what/why?? Rumor has it the keyboard is pretty bad too. Seriously, why hasn't the thumb keyboard been perfected yet? (or put another way, why doesn't everyone always use the Sidekick keyboard, widely regarded as the best thumb keyboard in the crappiest smartphone)
* Droid is 25% heavier & larger(by volume), with no real increase in battery life.
* Droid service plan is worse - 2 years at a required $70+, SMS extra. At least iphone owners can drop below $70 if necessary, not that we really do.
* Droid only allows 500mb for App storage, and only 3 screens of Apps. I have no idea why these limitations exist.
* GSM network. Sure, VZW never drops calls, but it's on a CDMA network, so you cannot use data while calling, & vice/versa. While Tethering, I enjoy still being able to receive calls and SMS. While on a call, I like going to speakerphone to talk while checking GoogleMaps, Bart times, etc..
* iTunes. Droid has nothing comparable for managing your phone/apps/music/videos/PODCASTS from a computer interface. Additionally, you probably already use itunes anyway.
I'm still glad to stick with the iphone, though the Droid has narrowed that gap more than any other competitor so far.
I don't think the Droid is an iphone killer, but I do think it'll help kill off WiMo and Palm.
Small notes:
* Droid does not actually come with Flash support. They "promise" Flash support in the middle of next year. Hell, Adobe's been promising Flash support eventually for the iphone too, I don't see a real difference here. One would assume that both platforms will eventually gain Flash support, but neither in the near future.
* Droid has a swappable battery. But seriously, what % of the population cares? My Morphie case/battery has done a great job of solving this for the iphone. If I go away for the weekend, I take the case, &/or an ipod cable - because if you're leaving for a weekend, you're probably bringing a laptop too.
I no longer work in the mobile phone industry, but still follow along.
Caveat - I haven't played with a Droid yet myself, though I'm sure I will soon.
I did a comparison with a few other phone geeks at work, so I'm posting it here.
The Droid is the latest Android OS phone, released by VZW, and again called an "iphone killer" - which again it is not.
Droid has some weird version of multi-touch that doesn't allow most things iphone owners love (pinch-to-zoom, etc.) - a huge deal to anyone who's used Apple's multi-touch touchpad &/or ipod interface enough to become completely enamored with it (um, like me). Can't wait for my Magic Mouse (worst name ever) to arrive.
Some notes about the differences between the two:
+Droid:
* Droid's screen resolution kills - it's 854x480 display has 160% MORE pixels than iphone's 480x320. God I hate the iphone's resolution.
* No dropped calls (but do you still make many phonecalls on your iphone/android? I don't.
* Camera - Droid has "flash" via an LED light, and is 5mpx, iphone is 3mpx. That said, I've seen comparison tests, and Droid's photos actually look worse, not better, thanks to the iphone's zoom software.
* Removable memory.
* Unhacked App backgrounding. Since Apple's done a good job with push notifications, this currently really only means "can play Pandora while using another app", which is the only thing I ever use hacked iphone backgrounding for these days.
+iPhone
* Tethering - my hacked iphone still tethers to any laptop quickly & easily, it's awesome. I've never been charged for overages. Don't think for a second VZW will allow free tethering.
* The Droid's physical keyboard doesn't have auto-correct, but the on-screen keyboard does. Umm, what/why?? Rumor has it the keyboard is pretty bad too. Seriously, why hasn't the thumb keyboard been perfected yet? (or put another way, why doesn't everyone always use the Sidekick keyboard, widely regarded as the best thumb keyboard in the crappiest smartphone)
* Droid is 25% heavier & larger(by volume), with no real increase in battery life.
* Droid service plan is worse - 2 years at a required $70+, SMS extra. At least iphone owners can drop below $70 if necessary, not that we really do.
* Droid only allows 500mb for App storage, and only 3 screens of Apps. I have no idea why these limitations exist.
* GSM network. Sure, VZW never drops calls, but it's on a CDMA network, so you cannot use data while calling, & vice/versa. While Tethering, I enjoy still being able to receive calls and SMS. While on a call, I like going to speakerphone to talk while checking GoogleMaps, Bart times, etc..
* iTunes. Droid has nothing comparable for managing your phone/apps/music/videos/PODCASTS from a computer interface. Additionally, you probably already use itunes anyway.
I'm still glad to stick with the iphone, though the Droid has narrowed that gap more than any other competitor so far.
I don't think the Droid is an iphone killer, but I do think it'll help kill off WiMo and Palm.
Small notes:
* Droid does not actually come with Flash support. They "promise" Flash support in the middle of next year. Hell, Adobe's been promising Flash support eventually for the iphone too, I don't see a real difference here. One would assume that both platforms will eventually gain Flash support, but neither in the near future.
* Droid has a swappable battery. But seriously, what % of the population cares? My Morphie case/battery has done a great job of solving this for the iphone. If I go away for the weekend, I take the case, &/or an ipod cable - because if you're leaving for a weekend, you're probably bringing a laptop too.