Verizon fires a shot accross the iphone's bow

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I have to see how Verizon treats the Android phones, up till now TMobile was the only carrier willing to risk Android, Verizon is notorious for crippling phones, for them to embrace an open source OS is pretty unusual.

The agreement with google is that it will be 'unverizon-ified'. No locked down wi-fi, gps, no verizon 'added value' in the gui. This is completely a google phone on the verizon network.

 

[Slick5150]

This is not just another Android phone. It's the first Android phone that has a real CPU in it. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it has the same CPU as the iPhone and Pre. My knock on Android has always been that it feels sluggish, but that's because the phones are using CPUs that are too slow to handle what it can do. The Droid should change that.

 

[dwell]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This is not just another Android phone. It's the first Android phone that has a real CPU in it. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it has the same CPU as the iPhone and Pre. My knock on Android has always been that it feels sluggish, but that's because the phones are using CPUs that are too slow to handle what it can do. The Droid should change that.

As long as the apps are Java-based, I have no hope that Android apps will run anywhere as fast as iPhone apps.

Side note, are they really called "droid"? If so, George Lucas might not be happy.

George Lucas holds a trademark on the term "droid." The miniature 'mech combat wargame BattleTech was originally released under the name BattleDroids, but was renamed due to trademark issues with Lucasfilm.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Droid

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: Chris

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This is not just another Android phone. It's the first Android phone that has a real CPU in it. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it has the same CPU as the iPhone and Pre. My knock on Android has always been that it feels sluggish, but that's because the phones are using CPUs that are too slow to handle what it can do. The Droid should change that.

As long as the apps are Java-based, I have no hope that Android apps will run anywhere as fast as iPhone apps.

Side note, are they really called "droid"? If so, George Lucas might not be happy.

George Lucas holds a trademark on the term "droid." The miniature 'mech combat wargame BattleTech was originally released under the name BattleDroids, but was renamed due to trademark issues with Lucasfilm.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Droid

Did you even read the thread? There was like 3 posts about the Lucasfilm trademark text.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I have to see how Verizon treats the Android phones, up till now TMobile was the only carrier willing to risk Android, Verizon is notorious for crippling phones, for them to embrace an open source OS is pretty unusual.

The agreement with google is that it will be 'unverizon-ified'. No locked down wi-fi, gps, no verizon 'added value' in the gui. This is completely a google phone on the verizon network.

That actually sounds quite promising. Motorola phone, improved Google OS, Verizon network.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I have to see how Verizon treats the Android phones, up till now TMobile was the only carrier willing to risk Android, Verizon is notorious for crippling phones, for them to embrace an open source OS is pretty unusual.

The agreement with google is that it will be 'unverizon-ified'. No locked down wi-fi, gps, no verizon 'added value' in the gui. This is completely a google phone on the verizon network.

That actually sounds quite promising. Motorola phone, improved Google OS, Verizon network.

bgr just put up their hands-on and first impressions

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: SirStev0

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
If anything, I'm an apple-hater. But the other companies genuinely suck at providing a good competitor. Apple has a knack for making good UIs and providing a support system of their own - which, of course, forces you to buy their stuff if you want it to work problem-free. And they market it as "cool." It's genius.

Um ...

Ipod vs Zune for support?

I'm not talking about warranties and stuff, if that's what you mean by "support." I've never owned an Apple product (or a Zune), but I've heard that they're terrible with that stuff. I'm talking about the huge library of apps you can buy, the huge variety of accessories, etc. Everything I've heard tells me the Zune's "community" is dead in comparison.

 

[MrDudeMan]

I will absolutely buy that. Apple can suck it.

 

[GTSRguy]

Good luck to them. There going to need it, big time.

 

[theflyingpig]

Pathetic. The fact that it is a non Apple product has doomed it to failure. The iPhone will continue to be the best. This should come as no surprise to anyone. Everyone knows this.

 

[ChaoZ]

I wish I could afford that.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
I wish I could afford that.

Gotta be cheaper than the apple tax.

 

[Glitchny]

Looks like I know what my next phone will be. Looks pretty nice, Andriod has lots of potential and VZW coverage area is nice.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: lifeobry
I hope it doesn't suck.

yup. somehow i doubt it'll match the iphone. but they really got to get the competition going to drive down prices. right now its still ridiculous. on tekzilla they had the htc with its giant screen, that looks enticing. but what it can do i dunno.
http://revision3.com/tekzilla/inspired

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: Chris
Android just blows. I spent most of the day learning the Android SDK but now I have no desire whatsoever to write an Android app. Even though Objective-C and the iPhone SDK are shitty, I'd rather be writing iPhone apps.

Can you give some insight as to why other than just saying it blows?

 

[dwell]

Originally posted by: geno
Can you give some insight as to why other than just saying it blows?

Slow, looks ugly, and the platform is already fragmented (Open Android Alliance vs Google).

Knock Apple's single-vision approach, but it works.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: Chris

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This is not just another Android phone. It's the first Android phone that has a real CPU in it. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it has the same CPU as the iPhone and Pre. My knock on Android has always been that it feels sluggish, but that's because the phones are using CPUs that are too slow to handle what it can do. The Droid should change that.

As long as the apps are Java-based, I have no hope that Android apps will run anywhere as fast as iPhone apps.

Side note, are they really called "droid"? If so, George Lucas might not be happy.

George Lucas holds a trademark on the term "droid." The miniature 'mech combat wargame BattleTech was originally released under the name BattleDroids, but was renamed due to trademark issues with Lucasfilm.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Droid

How long will this Java = slow thing go on?

 

[dwell]

Originally posted by: Jack Ryan
How long will this Java = slow thing go on?

As long as Java apps are slow? I've been a Java developer since 1996 and there's no denying that Java apps, UI apps especially, are slow. Even on my quad core Xeon Java apps chug compared to native apps. It's worse on a cell phone.

It's not just Java -- it's any VM based language. Compare iPhone apps to Zune HD apps as well. iPhone's calculator starts instantly where on the Zune HD it takes 10 seconds to load because it requires a runtime VM.

Let's hope Android can fix this, but I've been waiting 13 years now so I'm not really optimistic about it.

 

[Spineshank]

Ive owned all 3 Iphones, (currently using a 3gs) and owned a G1 and i must say i really liked Android...however the touchscreen itself on the G1 is what made me want to go back to the Iphone. Given the fact that the Droid will have multitouch makes me optimistic about this phone.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: anxi80

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
I have to see how Verizon treats the Android phones, up till now TMobile was the only carrier willing to risk Android, Verizon is notorious for crippling phones, for them to embrace an open source OS is pretty unusual.

The agreement with google is that it will be 'unverizon-ified'. No locked down wi-fi, gps, no verizon 'added value' in the gui. This is completely a google phone on the verizon network.

That actually sounds quite promising. Motorola phone, improved Google OS, Verizon network.

bgr just put up their hands-on and first impressions

Thanks, now instead of doing homework I'm going to be reading that... awesome.... Oh well CCNP test, Droid hands on review are more important.

I have a BB Curve on Verizon, and an iPod touch (newest gen). I love the keyboard of the Curve more than the touchscreen keyboard of the Touch/iPhone. That said, the Touch has an amazing keyboard though and is much better than any other touchscreen phone IMHO. As far as apps go, Blackberry doesn't hold a candle to the Touch. The Touch absolutely BLOWS anything else away. Nothing can touch the Touch in that area (pun intended).

The Droid needs a great app store like apple has. It has the network (Verizon>Apple), provided that network doesn't cripple the phone. If it can get the UI right, and the apps are there then Verizon may have something with the Droid.

So, guess that kills the iPhone on Verizon network anytime soon then?

 

[Codewiz]

I have an iphone. It serves my purpose right but I am pulling for Android. Right now there is no competitor to the iphone. I am sorry but I want multitasking. I want an app store that is more open. The problem is that Android phones are slow as dogshit. I mean the iphone pisses me off with the lag it has sometimes, much less the much slower Android phones. Until they can start putting some power behind the Android phones, I can't see them taking off.

But once a good Android phone hits verizon, I will be dropping my iphone like a rock.

 

[Zstream]

Can this thing be encrypted and do native Exchange sync?

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: lifeobry
I hope it doesn't suck.

All I can think/hope as well.

So far a lot of claimed to challenge the iPhone but all have failed.

If it's legit and can give the iPhone a run for it's money then I'd happily buy one.

 

[Slick5150]

FYI - The Palm Pre is coming out on Verizon in January as well. So, for those opposed to Android, that's another REALLY solid option (I've owned an iPhone, and currently have both an HTC Hero (Android) and a Pre, and the Pre is definitely my favorite of the 3)

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
FYI - The Palm Pre is coming out on Verizon in January as well. So, for those opposed to Android, that's another REALLY solid option (I've owned an iPhone, and currently have both an HTC Hero (Android) and a Pre, and the Pre is definitely my favorite of the 3)

Will likely be getting a Pre or HTC Hero when my contract is up. Why do you like the Pre better?