Other smart phone makers have been trying
since then to dispel the notion that the iPhone
is the be-all and end-all of mobile gadgets. The
latest push comes from Verizon Wireless and
Motorola, whose Droid is a good alternative
for those seeking a feature-packed smart
phone with a full keyboard and strong wireless
service.
The Droid stands out from the crowd of
iPhone wannabes with a slim but weighty
body, noticeably angular look and large touch
screen. Its 3.7-inch screen is bigger than the
iPhone's 3.5-inch one, and the extra real estate
really makes it easier to navigate Web pages
and play with applications. It also offers plenty
of space on the home screen (and two side
screens that you swipe to see) for software
"widgets" that give a quick look at such things
as your friends' Facebook status updates or
the song you're playing on the built-in music
player. And the Droid's cost is comparable with
the iPhone's - $200, after a rebate, with a two-
year service contract with Verizon Wireless, its
exclusive U.S. distributor.
The Droid is the first phone to include a cool,
free mapping application from Google that
can announce turn-by-turn directions.Like
other Android phones, the Droid has a voice
search function. It can be used, for instance, to
help navigate routes when you're in the Maps
Navigation application. Saying "Navigate to
Starbucks in San Francisco" should give you
a list of Starbucks Coffee shops. Pick one, and
you'll get turn-by-turn directions.
The Droid's big screen makes for a nice
viewfinder, and a small menu of camera
settings slides out from the left side of the
screen so you can adjust the white balance
and use different color effects. You'll have
plenty of space to store the photos you take,
too, because the Droid includes a 16 gigabyte
microSD memory card.
Motorola has been struggling to come up with
a phone that comes close to matching the
popularity of 2005's Razr, and the Droid is the
latest indication that Motorola is really trying
to figure out what consumers want. It's also
one of the most promising challengers to the
iPhone, a field that now includes Palm's Pre
and Research In Motion's BlackBerry Storm2.
Some Verizon Wireless customers have been
holding out on getting the iPhone - available in
the U.S. only through AT&T - because it means
switching away from a service they are already
used to and like. For them, the Droid might be a
good reason to stick with that wireless provider.
Even if you aren't already using Verizon, if
you're not swayed by the iPhone, you might fall
for the Droid.
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THE IpHONE KILLER?
Since its debut in 2007
millions of people have
gravitated toward
apple's iPhone, wooed by its
sleek hardware,
simple user interface &
abundance of apps
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