We’ve already seen the viral iDont and pods falling from space promos. Now Verizon has decided to take a turn in marketing strategy moving towards more traditional “this is what the product can actually do” commercials. I mean, what does DroidDoes do does did? Peek after the break for two more spots that will take over the airwaves “soon.”
[Via Engadget]
Continue reading New Droid commercials finally bring Android into play
We already know all about the Droid by Motorola. Now you can pick it up (or order it online) for $199.99, after a $100 rebate and under the obligatory two-year commitment. Verizon has stated that tethering (connecting your phone to your computer to gain Internet access) will be made available for Droid customers in 2010 and will add an addtional $30 to the data plan.
If that price is too steep for you VZ is giving you the option to select a similar handset with the Droid Eris by HTC. Basically it’s a rebranded Sprint Hero (also by HTC) with a few aesthetic and UI changes. Compared to its older and more sophisicated brother, the Droid Eris runs Android 1.5 (not 2.0), it does not have a physical keyboard, it packs a slower processor (528MHz Qualcomm), and its screen size and resolution is lowered. It does, however, feature a 3.2-inch capacitive display, 5 megapixel camera, WiFi, 3.5mm headphone jack, 8GB microSDHC card (with expansion up to 16GB). It will be the first Verizon phone to run HTC’s personalized user interface called HTC Sense on top of Android 1.5. You can also pick up the Droid Eris now (or order it online) for $99.99, after a $100 rebate and under a two-year agreement. Take a look at the Droid Eris in the gallery below and peek after the break for the full press release.
Here’s the bottom line: The Droid by Motorola is the next best phone on the market after the iPhone. If you are in the market for a new cell phone and you are a Verizon Wireless customer, getting the Droid is a no-brainer. If the Droid’s price and fierce looks are too much for you, saving one hundred dollars and purchasing the Droid Eris by HTC is a worthy sacrifice that can be made. All in all, the new family of Droid phones is a win for all Verizon customers and finally brings some worthy competition to the current king of smartphones, the iPhone.
[Via Engadget, here & here; Gizmodo, here & here]
Continue reading Motorola Droid and HTC Droid Eris out now on Verizon Wireless
“What in the world is that?”
Silly man, it’s the Droid by Motorola, Verizon’s first Android phone. It does everything iDon’t, remember? The Droid “drops” November 6. (That’s tomorrow, people!)
I’m really enjoying this super sci-fi viral marketing campaign. Never has Verizon created such a bold and exciting ad campaign. And it’s working; there’s much hype for tomorrow’s highly anticipated launch.
Today Verizon finally released solid information about the first Android 2.0-powered device, Droid by Motorola. The Droid is a Verizon Wireless exclusive and will be made available to purchase on November 6 for $199 (with a two year contract, after a $100 mail-in rebate). So it costs as much as an iPhone; is it worthy of its price tag? Seeing the handset in pictures and specification on paper alone make it look like a strong competitor. We already knew this but here are a bunch of the official specs: 3.7-inch display (854 x 480 resolution), 5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, a bundled 16GB memory card, and a full slide out QWERTY keyboard (Verizon notes that it is the world’s thinnest slide out QWERTY), 3G, WiFi, and over-the-air Amazon MP3 downloads. A home dock accessory will also be available to purchase. Oh, and it’s also the first phone to support Google’s brand new Maps Navigation software. Get learn’d and preorder Droid here. Look after the break for the official press release and a hands-on video from Engadget.
At today’s press conference Verizon also confirmed that Droid is indeed a family of phones, though there was no mention of the oft-rumored Droid Eris by HTC.
All in all the Droid by Motorola looks great on paper and even better in pictures. Once it releases this November it will have to face the test of real usage. Who knows, this may be the competition the iPhone has been craving for over three years.
[Via Engadget, here & here; Gizmodo]
Someone over at Motorola accidently spilled with beans the other day when they accidently revealed the product specs of the upcoming Motorola Droid (codename Sholes) smartphone (of “Droid Does” fame). Though the product page was taken down shortly after it was posted, the guys over at Boy Genius Report were able to screen capture all the juicy details: “550MHz Texas Instruments OMAP3430 processor, separate PowerVR GPU, 256MB of RAM, CDMA Rev A., Wi-Fi, GPS, a digital magnetometer, accelerometer, proximity sensors, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, notification LED, four touch-sensitive navigation buttons, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5mm headset jack, microUSB port.” It sports a 3.7 inch, 16:9 capacitive touch screen with 480 x 854 resolution, a 1400 mAh Li-ion battery (up to 385 minutes usage time/ 270 hours standby time), and comes pre-installed a 16GB microSD card. It weighs six ounces and has measures 2.4 x 4.6 x 0.5-inches. Also, BGR says that the browser supports HTML5 and Flash 10 is coming in 2010.
Here’s some even more interesting news. Apparently “Droid” is not just a device; it also represents a brand–Verizon’s Android-powered devices. Although the discussed device here is called “the Droid” the name will be carried with other Verizon/Android phones. In fact, the second phone in the line-up has been leaked. According to Engadget’s source, what the tech world has been calling the HTC Desire will be the “Droid Eris.” The source claims that the Eris will be released on November 6, shortly after the Droid will likely be released. Speaking of release dates, an official date has not been pegged yet, but Verizon is holding a special event for the press on October 26. More information will be relayed then. For now, indulge yourself in BGR’s up close and personal shot of the Droid in the gallery below.
APPLE, WATCH OUT. Verizon is taking the battle to you, not AT&T, with this advertisement that is pushing over the airwaves on major networks such as FOX.
The 30 second spot begins with a bunch of “iDon’t” phrases, clearly bashing the Apple iPhone for all the things it can’tdo. This plays alongside an Apple commercial-esque playful tune. About 20 seconds in the viral fun begins. The phrase “Droid Does” forms in a futuristic and mechanistic way and it leaves the viewer with a hint: something is coming in November. Those who closely watched the ad caught the text visible on the bottom of the screen. This is a commercial for Verizon, and, interestingly, Verizon had to state that “Droid is a registered trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd., licensed to Verizon.” (It seems as if Mr. George Lucas owns the word “droid.”)
Anyway..after further investigation, all signs point to this being a commercial for Verizon’s first Android-powered cell phone, properly called “Droid.” (For all you fellow techies, its code-name was Sholes.) This device is developed by Motorola and will run Google’s Android operating system, version 2.0. The teaser page includes an “alien counter” that has been decyphered; the timer ends on October 30. Will more information be released about this mystery device on that date? We shall wait and see…
Well, looks like we don’t have to wait thatlong for some new info. The fellas at Boy Genius Report have captured some images of the Motorola Droid. Here’s a summation of their “hands-on:” it runs Android 2.0; it’s very thin (for a QWERTY smartphone); it’s fast; it has a 3.7 inch capacitive display; it runs on a TI OMAP3430 processor; it has a 5-megapixel camera (with flash). Will report on more information as it comes. For now, check out images of the Droid below.
[Via Engadget; Gizmodo, here & here; BGR]
