One more minor irritation. I like my contacts organized by last name, first name. Android organizes by first name last name, and does not appear to have any options for changing this. Gmail contacts does the same thing.
I just picked mine up this morning so an just getting familiar with it. Alan has done a terrific job of running down the in's and out's of this device and so far he is spot on.
I have (am still am) using an iPhone and I love it. However, I am VERY impressed with this device so far. I really like the hardware including the physical keyboard which has come under some scrutiny from most of the blogs I've been following about the Droid. The OS is quite snappy and very intuitive, like the iPhone. It's not as polished, but it is very good. I've had no issues navigation around the OS and easily finding everything I needed right off such as Exchange setup and device settings.
Also, the Google Nav is impressive and easy to use (and frickin' free). I do hope this comes to the iPhone soon. I purchased a $29 windshield mount that has a very secure suction cup grip to use on glass or the smooth adhesive mount that you can stick on dash board or other parts of your vehicle.
Something I also found nice was the way the battery door slides on and off of the device. It's hard to describe but basically you just pull down on the top of the door and it slides down and then tilts up from the bottom. It's probably the easiest battery door I've used.
As I've stated, I am a non-apologetic Apple fanboy and love the iPhone. That means I'm going to carry both for the next month and really pit them against each other. To date, I've tried several new iPhone competitors including the Storm 1 & 2 (still have the 2), the WM HTC Imagio (goodbye), and the Palm Pre. None of them made me even consider leaving the iPhone behind. However, after a couple of hours with the Droid, and knowing it's potential and the openness it has over the iPhone, thoughts of keeping it and getting a Touch have started creeping into my head. That is a first.
We'll see how it goes over the next 30 days but if you have any questions that I can help with, especially if you are a current or previous iPhone user like myself, please don't hesitate to ask.
__________________
Ascii stupid question, get a stupid Ansi.
Great review Alan... this looks like a winner of a device.
Thanks,
The only thing I really wish it had, that some of the newer WinMo phones do is worldphone capability. I don't travel overseas much, but when I do, I would like to use the same phone (although I would probably buy a local SIM rather than pay Verizon's $2/minute roaming rates).
I suppose I could buy the GSM version at full retail from O2 in Germany and use backup software to move all my apps to it when I travel, but that seems excessive. I will probably just get a cheap GSM phone that supports the Bluetooth Modem profile and use it for voice and connect the Android to it for data as needed.
One more minor irritation. I like my contacts organized by last name, first name. Android organizes by first name last name, and does not appear to have any options for changing this. Gmail contacts does the same thing.
Alan
I'm with Alan on this one.. It's a minor annoyance, but one nonetheless -- I'd love to have my Contacts "Lastname, Firstname"...
One more minor irritation. I like my contacts organized by last name, first name. Android organizes by first name last name, and does not appear to have any options for changing this. Gmail contacts does the same thing.
Alan
It's just one more example demonstrating that Google (and by extension Droid) is not oriented toward the business community. It appears to me they are much more intent on the consumer market. When you have 1000+ entries in your contacts list, it makes no sense to order them by first name. In many cases I don't even remember the client's first name!
It's just one more example demonstrating that Google (and by extension Droid) is not oriented toward the business community. It appears to me they are much more intent on the consumer market. When you have 1000+ entries in your contacts list, it makes no sense to order them by first name. In many cases I don't even remember the client's first name!
Wait so Exchange sync will NOT bring over Exchange contacts? The would totally eliminate this as a buisness phone. Is there Global Address book lookup?
Wait so Exchange sync will NOT bring over Exchange contacts? The would totally eliminate this as a buisness phone. Is there Global Address book lookup?
No No. Exchange Active Sync does mail, calendar, and contacts. I was just complaining that it sorts by first name where Windows Mobile let me choose by contact how to sort.
I went to play with the Droid this evening and have decided that it definitely tops the Imagio. I'm going to swap them tomorrow. One question.....does the screen provide haptic feedback? I didn't notice any on the unit in the store but thought there may be an option to turn it on/off and it was set to off.
I went to play with the Droid this evening and have decided that it definitely tops the Imagio. I'm going to swap them tomorrow. One question.....does the screen provide haptic feedback? I didn't notice any on the unit in the store but thought there may be an option to turn it on/off and it was set to off.
Thanks,
Joe
It does, but can be turned off, and when on not every application uses it. You can have the on screen keyboard always use it, and then it is up to the individual apps whether or not they uise it and whether or not they give you control.
I complained about the visual browser bookmarks in my review. If you hit the menu button while displaying bookmarks you can change to a list view. I'll edit the review later. Posting from my droid and edits are easier from my laptop.
It's just one more example demonstrating that Google (and by extension Droid) is not oriented toward the business community. It appears to me they are much more intent on the consumer market. When you have 1000+ entries in your contacts list, it makes no sense to order them by first name. In many cases I don't even remember the client's first name!
Of course its not geared to the biz community.. we are a small market compared to men age 15-35! (apparently the target market for the 'Droid). The iPhone was definitely pointed squarely at the teeny booper market...but look at how many people have used it for biz-ness. Just wait till the folks at Web-is get their android version out.. and AlanB will be able to sort his contacts by their underwear size if he wishes.
BTW AlanB... nice review. I checked one out at the store today I find the keys to flat for me.. Otherwise looks like a great phone!
Mark
__________________
Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.
I went to play with the Droid this evening and have decided that it definitely tops the Imagio. I'm going to swap them tomorrow. One question.....does the screen provide haptic feedback? I didn't notice any on the unit in the store but thought there may be an option to turn it on/off and it was set to off.
Thanks,
Joe
Ok...I'm not proud. I'll show my ignorance in public. What is haptic feedback and how do you use it?
Of course its not geared to the biz community.. we are a small market compared to men age 15-35! (apparently the target market for the 'Droid). The iPhone was definitely pointed squarely at the teeny booper market...but look at how many people have used it for biz-ness. Just wait till the folks at Web-is get their android version out.. and AlanB will be able to sort his contacts by their underwear size if he wishes.
BTW AlanB... nice review. I checked one out at the store today I find the keys to flat for me.. Otherwise looks like a great phone!
Mark
I certainly hope you're right, but I also hope that things move very quickly. I really do not want to have to take this phone back, but if I can't figure some things out that will make it more like Windows Mobile in some of the "business" ways, then I will have to. And I guess get the Imagio.
Of course its not geared to the biz community.. we are a small market compared to men age 15-35! (apparently the target market for the 'Droid). The iPhone was definitely pointed squarely at the teeny booper market...but look at how many people have used it for biz-ness. Just wait till the folks at Web-is get their android version out.. and AlanB will be able to sort his contacts by their underwear size if he wishes.
BTW AlanB... nice review. I checked one out at the store today I find the keys to flat for me.. Otherwise looks like a great phone!
Mark
heh, sorting by UW size..
I tried the unit at the store, and found the phys. keyboard to be a PITA. It is offset to the left because of the DPAD. Do you find that something you will get used to? Alan?
But, I am coming from the i760. I LOVED the physical keyboard of the i760 but got extremely tired of having to open and close the keyboard constantly while having heavy-text messaging periods or having the keyboard out consistently.
I still wanted a physical keyboard, but longed for the ease of the on-screen keyboard. The Droid offers the best of both. I am getting extremely comfortable w/ the onscreen after only a few hours of usage and have only used the physical keyboard a few times, and only to try it.
I consider myself a "power user" but generally do not type extremely long emails. For me, the onscreen will be used more frequently, but if you're anything like me, you can get used to anything and can get around the physical keyboard issue w/ the d-pad.
I had the Omnia 1 and it was terrible for typing. I now have the Imagio and it's much better for typing (due to the larger screen size). The Droid is about the same screen size, so i can compare to what i have now.
The physical keyboard seems like it will be one of those things that won't be used as you stated, WinstonSmith.
I have until around the 19th for my Return of the IMagio. Then start my 30 day trial on the Droid.
Hopefully by then, any real bugs will be reported / fixed.
Something you didn't mention but which is driving me crazy is that the media player plays the songs in an Album by alphabetical order, not track order. Otherwise, like you I like it and don't understand all the fuss over at Engadget about how bad it is.
Windows Media Player will allow you to set up a sync relationship with an SD card so you don't need to drag and drop. However, it will not sync album cover folder.jpg files so you may be better off with drag and drop.
Verizon has announced that the monthly fee for tethering will be $30!! My BlackBerry fee was $15, I don't understand the change, although I've benchmarked the Droid at dslreports.com at 1800kbs, which is about twice as fast as my BlackBerry Pearl.
I'm missing the ability to turn the phone off automatically at night like you can with the BlackBerry. Locale is nice but does not turn the cell radio off.
I also miss that the Droid doesn't turn off in the holster like the BlackBerry. Mine actually turns on half the time because of the magnets in the clasp interacting with the detectors in the phone.
I've found a neat little trick - go to the Voice Dial application and say "Open Battery Info" and you get a detailed summary of battery charge state, voltage, etc. I don't know of any other way to get to that app. I wonder if there are other hidden apps?
I'm having trouble with my car bluetooth. I paired successfully but when I turn the car on the connection to the phone fails and I have to connect manually. This is a bit of a deal breaker for me, so I'm hoping there will be a solution within 30 days!
so you may be better off with drag and drop.
Login
Panel
