Can you finger the tremors ? Verizon ’s hotly anticipatedMotorola Droidfinally arrives on Friday , and — if theearth - growl adsare to be believe — we’ll be feeling its force all over the world .
All right , so the advertising may be a bit exaggerated . allow ’s face it , though : This phone is stirring up quite the eccentric - friendly craze . Whether you guess it ’ll be a mereblip on the radaror you think it’llsend the iPhone scramble to a unassailable bunker , the Droid has in spades become difficult to ignore .
Here ’s a quick and easy guide to everything you need to love about Verizon ’s Droid and its November 6 launch .
Verizon ’s Droid : The bedrock
• Verizon ’s Motorola Droid is 4.56 by 2.36 inches and weighs just under 6 ounces .
• The phone features 3.7 - in , 854 - by-480 pixel touchscreen presentation .
• It has a slide - out QWERTY keyboard and a 5 - megapixel camera with DVD - quality video transcription .
• The Droid utilizes an Arm Cortex 550mHz A8 processor with 256 megabyte of built - in memory . It has a 16 GB microSD card and can be expound to 32 GB .
• Running theAndroid 2.0operating system , the Droid is adequate to of multitasking and boast unique option such as integratedturn - by - turning GPS pilotage .
• The Droid link to Google ’s Android Market , whichfeatures close to 10,000 downloadable apps .
Verizon ’s Droid : The purchasing
• The Droid cost $ 199.99 when bought with a newfangled two - year contract . In most instances , however , you ’ll end up pay $ 299.99 up - front , then getting $ 100 back via a chain armor - in discount .
• If you buy your Droid at Best Buy , you canavoid pay the supernumerary $ 100from the mail - in rabbet . Best Buy will automatically accredit the discount at the time of your purchase , signify you ’ll pay only $ 199.99 that day .
• The Droid need a Verizon voice architectural plan , which runs a lower limit of $ 39.99 for 450 second . It also requires an unlimited data plan , which hunt down an additional $ 29.99 . textual matter electronic messaging is not included and costs extra to add on .
• Over two years ’ time , you ’d terminate uppaying essentially the same amountwith either an iPhone 3GS or a Verizon Droid . A Palm Pre would end upcosting you a full fleck less .
• Despitesome initial confusion , you will not have to give extra just to utilize the Droid ’s Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync feature . There is a $ 15 surcharge only if you have a multiple - personal credit line occupation account .
• Verizon Wireless willopen many of its retail stores earlyFriday morning to accommodate the Droid launch . Some location will open up at 7 or 8 a.m. The flagship Verizon store on 34th Street in New York City willopen from midnight to 2 a.m.for an early round of Droid gross revenue . Be sure to callyour specific storeto stay on its 60 minutes , as opening time vary from situation to place .
Verizon ’s Droid : The Reviews
•PC World : “ The first Android 2.0 phone impressment with a solid suite of Web feature of speech and a sensational 3.7 - in display , but some user might have problem with the shallow keyboard . ”
•The New York Times ( David Pogue ): “ The Droid wins on phone meshing , customizability , GPS navigation , speaker , physical keyboard , obliterable battery and receptiveness ( barren operating arrangement , mostly uncensored app store ) . ”
•The Wall Street Journal ( Walt Mossberg ): “ It ’s the best super - voguish speech sound Verizon offers , the best Motorola telephone I ’ve screen and the best ironware so far to lam Android . I can recommend the Droid to Verizon loyalists who have lusted for a better smart phone , but do n’t want to switch web . ”
•Time : “ The Droid is without a doubt the unspoiled Android twist currently available ; it ’s also the best phone Verizon has to declare oneself and it does n’t injure that Verizon is the best web . … [ It ] issue forth in a penny-pinching second to the iPhone in terms of a unlined drug user experience . ”
•Gizmodo : “ If you do n’t buy an iPhone , grease one’s palms a Droid . It ’s the best headphone on Verizon , and with Android 2.0 , the second best smartphone you could buy , period . It ’s blemished , deep in some elbow room . But it ’s the second good telephone around , on the best web around . ”
•Engadget : “ It ’s operose not to advocate the Droid to potential buyers eager to do more with their twist . It ’s well the best Android phone to day of the month , and when you pair the vamp OS , Verizon ’s slayer internet , and an industrial design straight from a gadget enthusiast ’s fever - dream , it makes for a powerful concoction . ”
•Boy Genius Report : “ We absolutely love the Motorola Droid . It ’s a perfect storm between awesome hardware , great software , and a enceinte internet . ”
•SlashGear : “ The Verizon Droid by Motorola arrange the bar for all new Android devices and is arguably the good Android equipment to date . … While the Droid miss the Apple handset ’s discreetness and polish , it ’s only a few steps behind . ”
Verizon ’s Droid : The Alternatives
If you like the estimate of the Verizon Droid but are looking for something slightly different ( or are looking to pass a little less dough ) , Verizon has also announced a second Droid phone : theHTC Droid Eris .
Check out thisside - by - side comparisonfor an in - profoundness smell at how the two phones stack up . you could also dawn over to“Verizon ’s Droid Phone and the Android Army”for a full rundown of other Android devices lately debuted and on the horizon .
Android not your thing ? No trouble — there are peck of other pick out there . PC World ’s Ginny Mies compiled a list of theTop 10 Cell Phonesas of this fall , and there ’s something in there for everyone . Heck , there ’s even the iPhone — assuming , of course , that Apple allow it out ofthat top - secret bunkerby the weekend .
JR Raphaelwrites oddball humor ateSarcasm , where two scoops of sarcasm total free with every meal . you may keep up with him on Twitter:@jr_raphael .
