Droid X 2.2 Update Issues

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With the release of Android 2.2 for the Droid X, many users finally got their long anticipated upgrade. However, that upgrade has not necessarily gone smoothly. According to several reports, an issue with SMS (text) messaging has been discovered on the 2.2 update. Apparently some incorrect time and date settings in the software have affected the order of messages received, which can really be a hassle for users. There is no current workaround for this problem, but Motorola has stated that they are working on solving the issue, and we should expect a solution soon.

This problem was around during all of the beta builds of Android 2.2 for the Droid X, but was not addressed before releasing the official version for some reason.

Hopefully we will see a fix over the next few days (or perhaps weeks). Then we can finally turn our attention to Android 3.0, Gingerbread.

Motorola Droid 2 welcomed with mixed reviews

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With the highly anticipated release of the Droid 2, it was expected that this would be a must have smartphone. Granted, it is a very good smartphone that is more than capable to hold its own, but its lack of overall improvement over the original Droid left many early reviewers wanting more.

To begin with, the keyboard on the Droid 2 is still difficult to type with, with the keys not being particularly easy to press. The keyboard overall is still an improvement, but most were hoping Motorola would make it as perfect as possible. Bigger problems than they keyboard however include buggy wifi operation and mediocre call quality. There have also been reports of inconsistent Flash performance.

One lacking feature that is surprisingly missing: no HDMI.

Another disappointment for some users is that unlike the original Droid, the Droid 2 uses Motoblur. Many people have said they prefer the vanilla version of Android.

Not everything is bad though. The Droid 2 is the first phone to ship with Android 2.2 Froyo, runs a 1Ghz processor, has a 5 megapixel camera, and a relatively sleek design.

In comparison to its Droid X cousin, the Droid 2 is just not that upgrade worthy. Its a good phone, but it does not differentiate itself from the original Droid enough to make it a real hot item.

The one cool thing about this phone though, is that Verizon and Motorola are going to release a R2D2 version of this device in tribute from the character in Star Wars.

Droid 2 coming thursday, Droid discontinued.

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Add another high end smartphone to this summer's list of super powerful phones. The Droid 2, which shortly follows the Droid X in its introduction into the market, is expected to be available for sale on Thursday. The Droid 2 not surprisingly is expected to run Android 2.2 with the Motoblur skin. This device is expected to cost $199 with a 2 year agreement with Verizon, or $599 without.

In addition to this news, the days of the original Droid are over. Verizon has announced that they are no longer selling this device, which in the 9 months it has been on the market, it has helped demonstrate the true potential of the Android operating system.

Android to double by 2012

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According to research firm isuppli, Android, which grew 886% from 2009 to 2010, is expected to double by 2012. This research firm indicates that this means that in 2012, 75 million PDA's will be led by Android, compared to 62 million iPhones. The result makes sense, as Android has many partners, including HTC, Motorola, and Samsung as well as many others, while the iOS has just Apple as a partner.

Eric Schmidt, the leader of Google, stated that he expects the company will earn more revenue from mobile internet than fixed internet PCs.

Android still has a long way to go.

Android 2.2 Not Coming to Droid X Until September

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According to a Motorola employee, Android 2.2 will not be out for the Droid X until early September. This is big disappointment for Droid X owners, as the device has been riddled with software bugs, most of which are expected to be fixed with the update. It also appears that the original Droid will not obtain full Flash support until August 18th. Unfortuanately for these owners, they are going to have to play the waiting game, while Evo and Nexus One owners enjoy Android 2.2 in its entirety.

Froyo 2.2 on Evo 4G, Motorola Droid

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As expected, yesterday Android 2.2 Froyo was released for the HTC Evo 4G on Sprint and now today customers using Verizon's Motorola Droid can manually obtain the update. Although not much was changed aesthetically, just a few minor tweaks here and there, there was a big change under the hood. The new OS is speedier and more efficient, and web browsing is now noticeably quicker as well.

The biggest feature of Android 2.2 however, is full Flash 10.1 support. You know those flash based games on websites that never worked on your phone before? Well now they do, thanks to this update. Other updates include new security options, voice dialing over bluetooth, and new management features.

The performance of the new Android OS is perhaps the biggest advantage of upgrading next to Flash support, and now that Froyo is rolling out, we should begin to hear leaks of information about the next future OS version, 3.0 Gingerbread.

*Note: Many people have asked me why Android 2.2 has been nicknamed "Froyo". Google has given a nickname to each version of the operating system beginning with cupcake (1.5), followed by donut (1.6), then eclair (2.1), and now froyo (2.2). Froyo, for those who don't know, is short for frozen yogurt.

Motorola takes a shot at Apple

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Motorola has taken a shot at Apple's iPhone in their latest marketing campaign, a likely retaliation to Apple claiming that all phones, including the Droid X, saving antenna problems if held the wrong way. Many affected companies have been taking shots at Apple lately, including Nokia, HTC, and Motorola. The ad campaign, which states, "No Jacket Required" has been the most publicly visible response.

It appears that Apple's attempt to cover up their own "antennagate" scandal has backfired, and now it has put all of the major smartphone carriers in a position to rip Apple.

Motorola i1 available from Sprint July 25th

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Another first for the Android world: An Android phone that supports Nextel Direct Connect's push-to-talk service. The phone is expected to come with a 3.1 inch HVGA touch screen, 5 megapixel camera, and of course Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

The phone is expected to be priced at $149.99 after a $50 mail in rebate when it goes on sale July 25th.

Other things to note about this new phone: Construction is rugged, so if you need a phone that will not break easily, this is a good choice. Also, one negative aspect of this device, it comes loaded with Android 1.5, which is nearly obsolete. However, if you need a push-to-talk phone, this is a great choice.

Smartphone Showdown: Apple iPhone 4 vs HTC Evo 4g vs Motorola Droid X vs HTC Droid Incredible

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This year has truly become the summer to buy a smartphone. So many great choices, but which one to get? Lets break it down in a summary here:

Apple iPhone 4 (AT&T): Ah, the ever so popular iPhone. This year, the iPhone has a bit more competition than in the past. The iPhone 4 comes in either 16gb or 32gb (not expandable), 5 megapixel camera, VGA front facing camera, and an impressive 3.5 inch retina display. The iPhone runs iOS4, and has access to Apple's App Store. The iPhone is powered by Apple's A4 processor (unknown clock speed, reports say 1ghz).

*There are reports of signal issues if held a certain way. Apple is giving away free bumpers to help issue.

HTC Evo 4G (Sprint): This amazing device has a spec sheet to dream of. The only phone on this list that can run on a 4G network, which makes its mobile hotspot feature (in which you can connect up to 8 devices) very useful and effective. It also sports a 8 megapixel rear facing camera, as well as a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera (useful for video conferencing). This device also has a 4.3 inch screen, and a speedy 1ghz Snapdragon processor. This phone runs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense. Other notable features include an HDMI port and a kickstand. It comes with 1gb internal memory, and an 8gb micro sd card (expandable up to 32gb).

*Many users report poor battery life, over the air update may have partially/fully fixed this.

Motorola Droid X (Verizon): This smartphone is very similiar to the Evo, with a few differences. To begin with, it has a 4.3 inch screen, just like that Evo, but it is thinner and taller (screen size is measured diagonally). The Droid X also has an 8 megalpixel camera, but no front facing camera. This phone features a 1ghz ARMv7 processor. This phone also runs Android 2.1 with Motorblur. The Motoblur software has been greatly improved, but HTC Sense is still superior. The Droid also supports a mobile hotspot feature for up to 5 devices. This device also includes an HDMI port. This phone comes with 8gb of internal memory and a 16gb micro sd card (expandable up to 32gb).

*Reports say it cannot be modified, hackers and power users will not like this.

HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon): This speedy phone has a 1ghz Snapdragon processor, an 8 megapixel camera, 3.7 inch screen, and has 8gb of internal memory, with a micro sd slot that supports cards up to 32gb. This smartphone runs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense. An overall impressive phone.

Conclusion:

Best Smartphone: HTC Evo 4G

2nd place: Apple iPhone 4

3rd place: Motorola Droid X

4th place: HTC Droid Incredible

In my comparison, the winner is the HTC Evo 4G. However all of these phones are great phones, and it really is up to personal preference. For some users, the Evo's lack of battery life (most likely will last 1 day at most) will make the phone impractical. However, with Apple's signal issues, and the lack of a front facing camera on the Droid X and Incredible, I feel confident that the Evo 4G is currently the best phone on the market. Please, let me know what you think!

Good luck getting your hands on any of these!

Verizon's Droid X newest smartphone to experience low supplies

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Verizon's newest addition to their lineup, the Motorola Droid X, is nearly sold out in some regions after the first day of sales, with the next available shipping date online July 23rd. However, the Droid X is currently faring better than competitors such as the HTC Evo 4G (Sprint), as the Droid X is still available to be shipped. Demand was expected to be high with this device, especially with the shortages with the Evo and with issues plaguing the Apple iPhone 4. Verizon has been doing its best to handle the demand, and has avoided any shortages caused by suppliers thus far.


As Verizon's newest addition to the Android family, the Droid X will one of this summers elite "superphones" and will continue to be talked about in the months to come as consumers try to get their hands on this exciting new smartphone.