Does anybody have a Droid X?
 

My cell phone is relatively primitive. But I have not been willing to spring for an iPhone and we like our Verizon coverage.

We have a Verizon aircard that we use on the laptop when we travel and that's another reason to keep Verizon. (If only I could type on a laptop.) We have had Verizon forever.

And now that the new iPhone is having all those problems, I am over thinking about changing.

I have asked Mr. Boomer to sign on for this mission because I do not speak fluent cellphonestore. (Those places drive me nuts.) But I figured I could try to help by asking TOTVers if anybody has any comments on the Droid.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Boomer

Droid
 

I have a friend who has the Motorola Droid and loves it. He has had it since March and admits he still does not know how to use all the features yet. His only complaint is that is a bit heavy and the slide out keyboard is somewhat difficult to use.

I was in the market for a new phone and narrowed my search down to the Droid and the LG Ally. I just got the Ally yesterday and admit that I am currently a bit frustrated as this is my first smart phone. I chose the Ally because it was a bit smaller and lighter and it was free with a new 2 year contract. The Droid is made of metal and the Ally is plastic. I am pretty easy on a phone so the plastic did not bother me.

My friend feels his Droid is the best phone he has ever had from Verizon. My suggestion would be to go to the store and handle each phone and get the one that "feels" the best with the features you want.

I HATE shopping for a cell phone and making the transition from a phone I know how to use to one that makes my head spin!

Good luck phone shopping!

Well, the Motorola Droid X just came out on a couple days ago (July 14 or 15), so I'm not sure how many early adopters are on this forum.

I'm also with Verizon and I bought the HTC Incredible when it came out on April 29. I am very pleased with it.

The Droid X and the Incredible are made by different companies but have the same form-factor: brick shape with no physical keyboard. The Droid X has a larger screen.

For what it's worth, the Motorola Droid 2 is expected to come out in mid-August. Its screen will be sized like the Incredible but it will be a "slider" - it will have a physical keyboard that slides out. It will also have a on-screen keyboard like the Droid X and Incredible both have.

My opinion is that phones with the Android operating system are the way to go. There are lots of choices out there - have fun.

Thank you, kfierle and champ6.

I did not realize that the Droid X had just come out. I will give it a little more time, but this sounds like it might be promising.

Boomer

You are welcome, Boomer.

I agree with Champion6 that the Android operating system is the way to go. I just got done playing with my Android phone, LG Ally. Each time I use it I am amazed with what it can do!

Hubby and I have Droid Incredibles and we love the phones. I've never had phone internet capability before and am surprised at how much I use it. I use the camera for so many things. One thing I do now is when I see a sign about an upcoming sale at a particular shop, I just take a picture of the sign, e-mail it to myself and when I get home, print out the reminder.

We've had Verizon for years. Of course, the increase in phone bill is something that I'm not happy about, but I'll keep the service and cut back somewhere else... ;)

OK.... I'm coming over from the "Dark Side""....iPhone user...:smiley:

Don't know too much about the Droids yet, so I'm watching this thread closely too. My iPhone will just become a big iPod, when I move back to the States [and TV] in a few months.

For me, a smartphone is only as good as the apps you are able to use. I did a little research and here's a good website to discover Droid apps, as well as iPhone apps.....

http://www.pcworld.com/appguide/index.html?platform=2

Looks like some interesting apps for the Droid....

LOL...welcome... ;)

So far, all the apps I've installed are free...games, weather, tv stations' news (local and San Diego), calculator, a level (actually it comes in handy!), Kindle, a few others, but I'm still searching. Particularly enjoy the Kindle...I've always got a book with me when waiting around.

Since this is my first smart phone, I'm still in the awestruck state. My son has had an I phone for years and enjoys it, except when he's here. AT&T reception isn't always at optimum levels.

Now memason, come into our club, sit down, have a drink, relax, think Droid, think Droid, think......Droid.....th....... ;)

For Android apps, I use these sites:

http://www.androidzoom.com/

http://www.appbrain.com/

http://www.androlib.com/

We were at a birthday party a few weeks ago and people got into comparing phone apps and adding apps that were cool.

One app lets you place your phone near a music source and it tells you the song name and artist.

Another app tells you where the public bathrooms are located nearby.

Another is a golf GPS

etc etc etc


.

Droid
 

The Verizon store is wonderful. Since the store cannot provide a tech-saavy teenager complimentary with the purchase of the Droid, they understand. They jokingly told me they would answer 3 questions each time with my Droid..that 3 answers would be all I retained. I've gone back several times. But now, after several months, the phone has become fun, somewhat to easily use, the Navigator has been a life saver, the camera and video camera are great. I like the compass and the level, too! There's a flashlight I used one night to help a person in a golfcart find some dropped keys.

I'm thinking......I'm thinking....I'm thinking....my eyes are getting heavy....

Oh, wait... I'm reading some reviews on the Droid and its battery life. Seems it's a bit too short, if you use it as it was meant to be used.

Anybody having battery issues ??

Golf GPS......
 

The public bathrooms may be one feature we would like (especially as we age) but, The only Golf GPS app I would really go for is one that will guide me to that little, white, directionally challenged sphere, where ever it's hiding. :cus: (How the h*** can a white ball hide in green grass?????? ) :1rotfl:

I have the same problem. Check this out...

http://www.radargolf.com/news/articles/072007.asp

I'd still want to the able to track the ball with my iPhone or iPad. Never satisfied!

Just an opposing point of view.

My neighbor got the Droid X a couple weeks ago. He offered to sell it to me for 25% of what he paid. Very frustrated with it and how not user friendly it is. Finally gave it to his son and went back to his old phone. Now planning to switch his service and get a new iphone. No thanks to a Droid. There is nothing wrong with the iphone 4. And the compatibility between that and the Mac are awesome. There are no dropped calls. And AT&T coverage is excellent. And it is so very intuitive to use as with all Apple products. Lots and lots of apps available for almost anything you could possibly ever want. Before making a final decision, go to the stores and check out both. IMHO there is no comparison.

Me neither...
 

Should've known someone would do it. Now, how about a blinking light for those slow twilight games when the sun sets way too early? :p

I make sure I recharge the battery every night. If I use it for more than phone, battery life isn't as long as if just using the phone, I'll agree to that. So far it hasn't been an issue with us, but I can see if one does lots of texting, checking e-mail, surfing the web, playing games, shortened life could be a problem.

Yikes..... I'm starting to drift back over to the "dark side" :D.

I'm really hooked on the iPhone and now the iPad... iPad battery life is truely amazing at around 10 hours of usage. I use the iPhone alot...80% internet, 20% phone. Not sure the Droid battery would hold up for me.

Oh well..... sure did want to go back to Verizon, but....

Ohhhhhhh, noooooo.......

This thread has made me run the gamut of emotions.

I was feeling so good at the start.

Now, I'm feeling so awful.

In fact, I am feeling downright verklempt.

I was all set to get a Droid X and keep Verizon. I really like the Verizon aircard. I can use the laptop in the car on long roadtrips.

Mr. Boomer likes the Verizon aircard, too. I am glad he likes it, even though I know how much he misses my helpful driving tips. But I just cannot make them as often because I am distracted now by my computer in the car.

I want one of those new-fangled phones with the big pretty screens. But I do not want to have two different carriers. I thought the problem was solved. But now......ohhhhhh, nooooooo -- battery issues could be a real pain.

Boomer

Verklempt?

:ohdear:

Never had an Android phone. Before my iPhone I had an HP smart phone with Windows Mobile. Other than doing email, it was nothing to write home about!

The iPhone has so many fabulous apps, both useful and fun. Android's probably will catch up, but for now, for me, it's all about the apps.

Boomer..... being "Verklempt" is not a good thing, especially over a cellphone. All I can say is "es tut mir leid"

Tschuss...

Tony....all is OK. Trust me :o Just a little fun with the German language...

Hi memason,

In spite of my German roots, I must confess that I got that word from an old Saturday Night Live skit called "Coffee Talk with Linda Richman."

Ohhhhhhh, I am so overcome with emotion, all upset -- what with all this angst over the cellphone thing. It's a hyperbolic tizz though.

(And Tony, he's right. It's OK. I translated.)

And, danke, memason..........(Ohhhhhh, I hope I said that part right.....For some reason I am starting to hear Wayne Newton singing in my head.)

Boomer, BabyGirl's boyfriend just got the Droid X a few days ago. He said it's bigger and heavier compared to his old phone - and you know kids... a 6-month old phone is OLD. I'll let you know if I hear anything else from him.

Droid X is a hotspot
 

Just a piece of information.... The Droid X is also a WiFi hotspot, allowing 5 devices to connect, so there is no more need for a Verizon Aircard and associated data plan... This means you can connect any device you have to the internet, regardless of your location, just like the aircard.

As for battery life....I think you charge it every day and when you're using it for a hotspot, you make sure you're close to a power source. In the car, you could keep it plugged into the cigarette lighter plug...

There's lots to like about the Droid... The "only" downside I have found is battery life. Then, there is the app issue. As best I can tell, there are just over 12,000 apps for Andriod devices and almost 235,000 [yeah, I said 235,000 !!] apps for the iPhone. The real issue is whether the types of apps you would use are part of the 12,000 Android apps offered.

For me, it's a tough call... I like the iPhone, but I will have to purchase something different, once I hit US soil in a couple months. So, do I go for the iPhone 4, along with AT&T or do I migrate from the "dark side" and get the Droid and Verizon's service.

Yikes.... decisions, decisions, decisions.... I thought deciding which home in TV was tough. I haven't even gotten to the golf cart yet...let me see...gas or electric ??? Hey, wait.... maybe there's an app for that ??? :MOJE_whot:

A few people in this thread speak as if there is one DRIOD. In fact, there a many DROIDS available at Verizon.

Motorola DROID (will be discontinued by mid-August)
HTC DROID Incredible
Motorola DROID X
Motorola DROID 2 (will be available to buy in mid-August)

Each has different features, but all are Android phones.

Boomer, my advise is to keep learning about them until mid-August when the DROID 2 is available. Then go to a Verizon store and look at the three DROIDS. You will able to compare the size, shape, weight, user interface and other features.

LG Ally
 

I finally got my first smart phone 2 weeks ago today. I opted for the DROID interface. My phone is the LG Ally, which in not on the above list. It was a bit frustrating at first but I am really enjoying the capabilities of the phone now. My phone is lighter weight than the Motorola DROID and has a much nicer slide out keyboard.

I agree with champion6. Go to a Verizon store and look at all the DROID phones. I know I like to physically handle the phone to see how it feels in my hand. Also, go to the Verizon wireless website and compare all the features online so you are a bit more informed when you go to the store.

It is now legal to jailbreak your IPhone so it will be interesting to see how it will work on other networks. Also it would be fun to get a version 3, jailbreak it and just use it for WiFi connections and not the phone. Not sure if that can be done yet.

I know. I'm anxious to hear reports of how well it works jailbroken (?) on other networks.

Where was the jailbreak being legal reported? I have been waiting for that and missed it.

Tony, here is one article: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/us-...ry?id=11254253

It was covered extensively by many sites.

Tony
Take a look at this as it also has the pro's and con's of jailbreaking. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20012109-38.html

Also on one of the Google searches I hit on in the past few days had a link on hot to jailbreak a number of or versions and software revisions.

Here is another link. http://www.ismashphone.com/2010/07/m...reak-tool.html

It it not the one that I found the other day but I will look for it.

Tony
Here is another link to a site that has a lot of videos on how to jailbreak but I am still looking to that site that covered all versions.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/topic/iph...lbreak-sprint/

Tony
Everything you need to jailbreak the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

http://www.jailbreakmatrix.com/

One thing of interest that I found in one of the video's is that once the iPhone is jail broken there is a app that can allow it to become a WiFi hotspot. Now just what is the guy referring to here? A true hot spot that anyone with a wireless device can connect to or he is meaning that the iPhone can now be used for tethering. Not sure on that one.

I need the tethering function which is why I stayed with the Blackberry. Would be interested in knowing if anyone is successful in tethering with the Iphone and if there are any additional costs.

I'm a little hopeful that the jailbreak ruling will lead Apple and AT&T to drop their exclusionary contract.

It seems like a double-edged sword for both. I never had problems with the AT&T network before the iPhone became so popular. Now the AT&T network in Atlanta, and no doubt in all major metro areas, gets bogged down by text traffic it was never designed to handle-- leading non-iPhone cellphone users to switch to Verizon!

Oh no....
 

OK...Droid X thread morphs into an iPhone thread ??? Sorry Boomer!

Jailbreaking.... Just so you all understand. Jailbreaking your iPhone does NOT mean you'll be able to use it on the Verizon network ....or Sprint ...or any other non-GSM cell phone network. This is a hardware thing with Apple and no matter how many You-Tube videos you see with someone using the iPhone on Verizon...it will not work!

If you jailbreak your iPhone, you have one other choice...T-Mobile. ...and, when I was going to jailbreak my iPhone for a recent trip to the States, T-Mobile USA told me I could get a SIM card that would allow phone calls, but NO 3G ACCESS!

Finally, Apple will not honor the warranty on a jailbroken phone. If your iPhone is less than one year old...I'd tread cautiously.

If you're interested in WiFi hotspot (tethering) and the Verizon network... check out the Droid X.

JoJo, are you on AT&T? Is that why you wan to tether with the iPhone? The reason I ask is that I can tether with my Incredible on Verizon.

Such is life on TOTV. It happens all the time... too often if you ask me.

I am on T-Mobile and like it. I do envy the Iphone functions but absolutely have to have the tethering when I'm on the road in non-wireless territory.