Why am I mildly excited about this? 1. Blackberry App World and Handango are both rather crummy. 2. RIM’s not dead and might not die as fast as a lot of us were predicting. Some amazing reports have come out about the upcoming WebKit browser that will be featured in OS 6.0. Apparently, it scores higher on certain standard Acid tests than Android 2.1 and Apple’s Mobile Safari. While the browser advancement is good news, Blackberry still lags the two giants, Android and iOS, in app development by an impressively wide margin.

Android offers users the ability to return paid apps within 24 hours for a full refund if they’re unsatisfied. While V Cast does not appear to have a similar return policy, it is somewhat less necessary on Blackberry. RIM controls both the hardware and the software on Blackberry phones. With Android, not every app plays nice with every Android device. Because of this problem, returns are sometimes necessary. I returned an app once but all of the other apps I’ve downloaded played nice on my Incredible.

For more information about the Blackberry advancements, including OS 6.0 and the new browser, I highly recommend Salomondrin’s site. He is generally the blogosphere’s starting point of all reliable Blackberry rumors and he’s been kind enough to pay us a visit and comment on a post about his 9800 prediction he made back before the holidays.

[via Official Verizon Press Release]

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Boy Genius Report just posted the Verizon summer device catalog. Oddly, it lists the Droid X as “Coming Soon” (yeah, like tomorrow). The images are hard to make out but if you blow it up really big, it’s legible. Here are the specs for the Droid 2, which are somewhat underwhelming:

• Google Maps and Navigation
• 8 GB storage and 512 MB RAM
• Memory Expandable to 16 GB (really 32, but we’ll cut them some slack)
• QWERTY physical keyboard, (unnecessary)
• 5.0 MP camera
• 3G Mobile Hotspots
• Note: NO HD video capture. This probably requires better than a 5.0 MP camera.

The Samsung phones that are launching on a bunch of carriers will beat the pants off this phone. And, if you require a QWERTY physical keyboard, the Samsung Galaxy S Pro model has one.

You might also enjoy:

--Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --Updates Coming to HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --Android Showdown: HTC Incredible vs. Motorola Droid [Verizon] --Droid X Full Review [Hands On] vs. HTC Incredible — Verizon Android Showdown --Confirmed: Google Nexus One Phone Coming to Verizon in the Spring

The primary area where Apple outshines Android is in app count and, arguably, app quality (footnote 1: better Google integration with Android tips the scales the other way for me). The past six months have seen the number of Android apps skyrocket. Current unofficial counts have reached 100,000. With App Inventor rolling out to the general public, I expect Android to approach Apple’s App Store count, roughly 225,000, within the next year (footnote 2: a much higher percentage of Android apps are free than the percentage of Apple apps).While many of App Inventor apps will be novelty items and unappealing apps, it looks like App Inventor is capable of producing some really powerful apps.

You must register through Google to gain access to App Inventor.

Here’s a video that illustrates how easy it is to program a basic app with App Inventor:

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Click to Zoom

I have been using a Droid X for the last three days. I’ve read the reviews that are out in the blogosphere and want to take a different approach. I’ll simply compare the Droid X with the HTC Incredible that I’ve used since early May. I’m very satisfied with the Incredible but ultimately I conclude:  While they’re both great phones, the Droid X is the better phone.

I wanted to compare apples to apples as much as possible. I had both phones running LauncherPro Beta for the home screen, instead of Sense UI (Incredible) and some form of blur (Droid X). I prefer LauncherPro Beta to both so this was a “real world” modification to the phones. I used the phones in similar settings to compare antennas and Wifi reception.

Hardware

Form Factor and Ergonomics — Both phones feel solid but the Droid X weighs in at ~5.5 ounces vs. Incredible at ~4.5 ounces. It’s not enough difference that you need to wear suspenders to keep your pants up but the extra weight is noticeable. The Droid X has a massive 4.3″ screen vs. the Incredible’s adequate  3.7″. This makes the Droid X a considerably larger phone overall (basically, Motorola and Verizon’s answer to the HTC Evo). I was asked on Google Buzz whether the phone fits comfortably in a pocket. It does. I found the larger screen easier to type and Swype on. (Swype is preinstalled on Droid X, a nice touch (pun intended).) Droid X has a dedicated camera button and physical Menu, Home, Back and Search keys, oddly in that order. The Incredible lacks a camera button and has virtual or flush Home, Menu, Back and Search keys. I like the feel of the physical keys better for those functions. The Incredible has an unnecessary optical trackpad that I almost forgot about because I use it so infrequently. Winner: Droid X, primarily due to massive screen size. Admittedly, this is a highly subjective assessment and some may prefer the Incredible because it is smaller.

Screen Quality —   Both screens are very responsive and do multitouch well. I couldn’t distinguish the screens based on responsiveness. To compare the displays, I loaded Beautiful Live Weather wallpaper on both phones. Side by side, the blue on the Incredible’s AMOLED was much deeper or richer than the “washed out” powdery blue on the Droid X. I initially concluded that colors on the Droid X were “washed out.” However, I crowdsourced an answer and Bud Gibson and Mark Richards on Google Buzz directed me to PC Mag’s comprehensive screen review. The review found that the Incredible oversaturates colors by 37 percent and the Droid X undersaturates by 6 percent, which means the Droid X has a more accurate display of colors. In fact, the Droid X has the most accurate display of colors of all of the phones tested, including the iPhone 4. Nonetheless, I showed the screens side by side to two tech-savvy people who both preferred the oversaturated Incredible. This whole issue may be somewhat of a red herring because of the shortage of Samsung AMOLED screens that are used in the Incredible; the later batches of Incredibles are rumored to have Sony TFT screens similar to the TFT screen used in the Droid X. Winner: IMO, Droid X for accurately displaying colors vs. AMOLED Incredibles. However, inconclusive because information about future Incredible screens is unconfirmed.

Antennas — The Droid X receives better signals than the Incredible. In the same location where my Incredible regularly drops calls, the Droid X did not. This was not a fluke; the results were repeatable. The Droid X also appeared to obtain stronger Wifi signals. Winner: Droid X.

Sound Quality — Both phones sound good and the ear pieces are loud. I don’t think a good argument can be made that one is better than another. Winner: Tie.

Battery — Battery technology really hasn’t kept pace with advances in smartphones. Battery life is probably the chief complaint about smartphones, excluding the highly-publicized complaints about the iPhone 4 dropping its signal. If I can make it through the day without a charge, I’m thrilled. The Incredible usually goes the 8-10 hours with light to moderate use. On my first full day with the Droid X, it went 12 hours with about 1.5  hours of heavy Wifi use and 0.5 hours of talk and still had more than 20 percent of its charge remaining. One reason could be that the Droid X has battery manager software baked into the OS. Also, the battery in the Droid X has more milliamps than the Incredible’s battery (1540 vs. 1300). Winner: Droid X by a large margin. Furthermore, for those requiring even more juice, an extended battery for the Droid X will be available.

Storage — Both phones have 8 GB internal and can support up to 32 GB on a card. The Droid X comes with a 16 GB card, whereas the Incredible ships with a 2 GB card (which I never received but I already owned a 16 GB). Winner: Droid X wins by a hair because the 16 GB card comes with the phone.

Other — The Droid X has microphones up the wazoo… I believe there are three of them. Frankly, I don’t know what they all do (one is noise cancellation but the purpose of the third is unclear to me) but there must be a reason for them. The Droid X has a HDMI output but it requires some type of adapter that doesn’t come with the phone. I have seen videos of the Incredible outputting to a flat screen but it was by standard video cables, not HDMI. Both phones have 8 megapixel cameras with dual stage LED flashes. I’m not a camera guy so I didn’t futz around with the cameras but the Droid X can record in 720P and the Incredible can’t. Some say a software update will enable it in the Incredible. Winner: Droid X because it has slightly more bells and whistles.

Software

Both run Android 2.1, contrary to early rumors that Droid X would launch with 2.2. The Droid X is expected to receive a 2.2 upgrade by late summer. That’s based on official word from Verizon. The best estimate on the Incredible was a statement by HTC that it will receive 2.2 before the end of the year. This may mean tomorrow or it could mean December 31st.

Stock UI — Sense UI might be a little better than Motorola’s blur. In any event, I recommend replacing almost every item that can be replaced on the phone, including the UI. You can read my recommendations here. Winner: They both lose to LauncherPro Beta. :P By the way, I noticed that on the Droid X there is a red indicator that highlights the cursor in text fields. This was helpful in locating the cursor and it continued to display even when I changed the UI. This is a nifty improvement.

3G Hotspots– Droid X can create a 3G hotspot to support up to five Wifi devices. The Incredible may get this feature by a software update. (This optional feature will cost $20 per month.) This feature is easy to use. You simply key in a hotspot password for the other devices and toggle it on. Winner: Droid X.

DLNA– The Droid X supports it and the Incredible doesn’t. This is a fantastic feature and underplayed by other reviewers. Digital Living Network Alliance is a trade organization that has created a protocol of sorts by which various devices can share media. For more information, the Wikipedia page is pretty good or visit DLNA’s page. You can play music from your Droid X on your computer  or vice versa. You can also transfer music wirelessly from one device to another if you are using the same Wifi router. PS3s and many other devices support DLNA (Wikipedia has a list) and I think you’ll be hearing more about this technology. Maybe we’ll have cloud-based music solutions later this year but until then DLNA streaming is great. Winner: Droid X.

Pre-Installed Apps — Both phones come with some bloatware that cannot be removed. Other than Swype, which comes on the Droid X, I would prefer not having any of the other apps on either phone. (You might find the Blockbuster app on the Droid X appealing but I didn’t.) Winner: They both lose because bloatware sucks. :P

Conclusion

I’m a satisfied Incredible owner but, all in all, the Incredible doesn’t seem to do anything better than the Droid X. That said, I’m not paying full retail to upgrade to a Droid X. If I had upgrade eligibility or if I were a new Verizon customer, I would choose the Droid X. Speaking of upgrade eligibility, check out this promotion: if your Verizon contract expires anytime in 2010, you can upgrade to the Droid X at the subsidized price, which is competitive at $199.

You might also enjoy:

--HTC Incredible Full Review [Verizon/Android] --Android Showdown: HTC Incredible vs. Motorola Droid [Verizon] --Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --Updates Coming to HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --Droid 2 Specs Confirmed [Android/Verizon]

I won’t pretend to know exactly how this thing works but it takes a cell phone call that is initiated to a tower and turns it into a VOIP call using a standard wireless router. These devices are also known as “femtocells.” The device was easy to connect but it needs to be placed in a location that receives a decent tower signal. My office wouldn’t work but I tried plugging it into a router in an office down the hall and, after waiting about twenty minutes, it locked on to the tower signal. My first phone call was a success. I did more testing and it worked flawlessly for every call I placed or received. Calls were crystal clear with no garbling. I never dropped a call with the Network Extender. More than one Verizon phone can connect to the Network Extender simultaneously. Presumably it saturates the bandwidth at some point but I only tested it with two simultaneous calls.

Verizon Wireless sells the Network Extenders for $199.99 and does not assess a monthly service fee. Other carriers have similar offerings but some assess a monthly service fee (Sprint, for example). Overall, the Network Extender was easier to connect than I expected (quite unlike installing a router) and it performed exactly as promised. For more information, visit Verizon’s website.

P.S. I’ve been using a Droid X for two days and will post up a review on Monday. Will I end up eating my words from a prior review based on specs and reading that compared it to my HTC Droid Incredible?

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• There’s a Droid X scavenger hunt going on to help promote Verizon’s flagship device. Certificates for 21 Droid X Androids are hidden around the country. Clues are being posted to twitter @DroidLanding. The scavenger hunt runs from July 7 through July 15. [via Android Phone Fans]
• The HTC Desire, hugely popular in Europe, is coming to North America. It passed the FCC certification and will end up on one or more of the following carriers: Bell, Telus, Rogers, and AT&T. The Desire is quite similar to the Nexus One with the primary difference being an optical trackpad instead of a trackball. [via DroidDog]
• I’ve touted AppBrain before. It’s a terrific front-end for the Android Market that allows you to browse the market on your computer and then load up apps on your phone. You can also share your app lists with others. Here’s my list. Now, AppBrain supports pushing apps to your phone. You’ll need to install an app called Fast Web Installer.
• Adobe has been showing off Flash on the Droid X. Here’s the video:

[via Android Phone Fans]

• The HTC Incredible, my phone, is seeming more and more like yesterday’s news (though it has specs meeting the rumored Android 3.0 Gingerbread minimum requirements).  Not only is Verizon shifting its marketing from the Incredible to the Droid X, it is allowing customers who have ordered Incredibles but not yet received them to switch to the Droid X. I speculate that was done to appease those who are up in arms over the screen change on the Incredible. Future batches of Incredibles will have a Super TFT screen manufactured by Sony instead of the brilliant AMOLED screen made by Samsung. Basically, Samsung is hogging its 3.7″ screens for use in the Samsung Galaxy S which now has about a half dozen names and will launch on almost every carrier in some form. I’m being lazy with citations here but these stories were all well publicized. Many of them appeared in BGR.

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--Mashup of Best Tech Stories of the Past Few Days --HTC Desire on Camera with Latest Sense UI [Video] --Demo of HTC’s Latest Sense UI (HTC Legend, HTC Desire, HTC Incredible…) [VIDEO] --Referring Readers to Scobelizer’s Latest Post --Blackberry vs. Android

The idea a year and a half ago was to do the Nexus One to try to move the phone platform hardware business forward. It clearly did. It was so successful, we didn’t have to do a second one. We would view that as positive but people criticized us heavily for that. I called up the board and said: ‘Ok, it worked. Congratulations – we’re stopping’. We like that flexibility, we think that flexibility is characteristic of nimbleness at our scale.

While I didn’t predict that Google would nix the Nexus Two (there were rumors swirling that N2 would be a business-oriented Android device), I agree that the Nexus One was a smashing success. I wrote back in March:

[The Nexus One] set the bar by which other Android devices are measured. Google wasn’t looking to necessarily outsell the upcoming HTC Incredible, for example. I believe it was simply looking to protect the brand by demoing Android on well designed hardware and avoid regulating the ecosystem it has fought so hard to keep “open.” Think of the Nexus One as the model by which Android should be measured. That’s what Google wants you to do.

Viewed from this lens, the Nexus One was an overwhelming success. I have come across many enthusiastic Nexus One owners on Buzz who are evangelistic in their love for Android. The Nexus One was the prototypical Android device that propelled the platform forward. It comes as no surprise to me that Google is declaring mission accomplished.

[via IntoMobile]

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Solutions to the following problems would be helpful, though are not currently rumored to be included:

• Antenna issues. It may be possible to improve reception with an update.
• Short battery life. We can always hope, although I’m getting a day’s worth of use on one charge by running Advanced Task Cleaner Pro (free; Rating: 4.53/5.00). Phooey to those who say that task killers don’t improve battery life.
• Two bluetooth issues. With a Motorola T505 the phone (1) regularly disconnects from the bluetooth signal and (2) skips when streaming music while the phone is in motion.

In other good news, the HTC Incredible appears to meet the leaked system requirements for Android 3.0, which is expected later this year. Apparently a 1 GHz or better processor is required and at least 512K of RAM.

Also, if you suffered a painful wait to receive your incredible because of the shortages, you are likely to receive a $25 gift card from Big Red.

Here’s the teaser boot animation that Verizon recently leaked:

[via DroidDog via Phandroid]

You might also enjoy:

--Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --Android Showdown: HTC Incredible vs. Motorola Droid [Verizon] --Droid X Full Review [Hands On] vs. HTC Incredible — Verizon Android Showdown --HTC Incredible Coming to Verizon in Two Weeks? --Droid 2 Specs Confirmed [Android/Verizon]

You may have noticed that I have been blogging less often.  Before I was averaging around two posts a day and now I’m down to a few per week. (During this slow down, page views and unique visitors have held steady. Thank you, Google.) The topic I covered the most frequently was mobile devices (mostly smartphones) and that will continue. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cover mobile devices for a few reasons:

1. Information overload makes blogging phones difficult. It seems like a new phone is announced or leaked almost every few days. Virtually every major tech blog now covers mobile devices heavily. Bloggers who rely on reading other blogs for post ideas need to sift through thousands of posts a day to stay on top of the latest developments. If you have interests in other topics too, you can expect thousands of additional posts to show up in your RSS reader. Unless you blog full time, it is difficult to stay abreast of current topics.
2. The mobile device blogging space is becoming increasingly saturated; is it possible to have a unique view of the iPhone 4 reception problems? I suppose but it’s unlikely. Is it worthwhile to write the 1,001st post about the HTC Evo 4G’s battery life? Hell, there’s probably an entire blog or two dedicated to the HTC Evo 4G’s battery life.
3. Products are less differentiated because Android is spreading like wildfire. Let’s face it, comparing an Android 2.1 to an Android 2.1 isn’t the most exciting thing in the world. If they’re running the same OS, then the phones will produce a somewhat similar experience. Sure, processing power, camera quality and other factors matter but high-end mobile devices seem to have much more in common than in the past. Frankly, it is difficult to remain interested in comparing somewhat similar devices, e.g., a Droid 2 and a Samsung Galaxy S Pro. Maybe Blackberry OS 6.0 will shake things up a bit but I see it more of a copycat OS than something revolutionary.
4. The “leaked” photos scene is the modus operandi of the industry. Almost every major manufacturer and carrier seems to intentionally leak photos and specs far in advance of launch. (One notable exception is Apple.) This is becoming increasingly transparent and Jonathan Geller (a/k/a Boy Genius) estimated that 70% of leaks are planned. So, if you want to be in the inner circle of reporting phone leaks, then you need to cozy up to device manufacturers and carriers like Geller. Bottom line: you’re not going to get your hands on a Droid X before Engadget. Of course, you can go the remaining 30% route and hang out in German beer gardens located near Cupertino, CA hoping for the next Apple slip-up.

These are just some of the reasons why I’ve been blogging less. Other reasons include being busier with other activities and shifting my blogging to Buzz ratio in favor of Buzz.

I probably bit off more than I could chew when I launched this blog in November. The idea was to write about anything tech that interests me. By doing so, I have become interested in more and more tech topics. Going forward, I expect to continue at my current blogging pace but to try to come up with unique posts and share more personal opinions (instead of regurgitating a bunch of leaked photos and planted rumors). I’m my own editor and can shift the direction of the blog at any time without running the decision up a flagpole. That’s one of the things I like best about blogging.

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--Social Networking Phones — KIN 1 and KIN 2 [Verizon] --HTC Portofolio of Phones for 2010 Q1&Q2 Leaked --Top U.S. Mobile Phones: iPhone (4%), Blackberry Curve (3.7%), Mot. Razr (2.3%)… --Microsoft’s Secret Event on April 12th: Unveiling Project Pink Phones --Citrix Receiver Coming for Blackberry and Android Phones

I’ve already written that I would opt for the Droid X over my the HTC Incredible. I prefer the larger screen and would use the wireless tethering. That post has generated significant traffic for this blog, more quickly than any other post I have written — approximately 500 views in the first few hours.

Enjoy the show.

You might also enjoy:

--Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --Droid X Full Review [Hands On] vs. HTC Incredible — Verizon Android Showdown --Droid 2 Specs Confirmed [Android/Verizon] --Nokia N900 Walk-Through Video from YouTube (a re-run for some and an eye opener for others) --Android Showdown: HTC Incredible vs. Motorola Droid [Verizon]

Click to Enlarge

AT&T is landing one of the most anticipated Blackberries. It went under the codenames Mr. T and Talladega but now the Blackberry 9800 is being called the “Torch.” While I’m not thrilled with the name, this device looks pretty good. It’ll run OS 6.0 with a significantly improved browser.

Engadget landed some “leaked” pictures from RIM of the Torch. I cherry picked the best one for this post but there’s an entire gallery.

You might also enjoy:

--Blackberry vs. Android --Blackberry OS 6.0 Pictured --RIM has a strategy for Blackberry --LinkedIN for Blackberry… Finally! --Bad News for Blackberry [Survey]

• Optional carrier billing. Previously, PayPal was the only method for purchasing apps.
• “Blackberry ID” which allows you to take your paid apps along with you when you switch Blackberries.
• Wifi support. It’s a mystery why it’s not already supported but better late than never.

While these changes will help, I question whether app developers will focus on the Blackberry platform. Some, like SkyFire, have abandoned the platform. On the one hand, Blackberry OS 6.0 could breathe new life into RIM. On the other hand, one pillar of Blackberry OS 6.0 is a WebKit browser; developers may choose to reach the Blackberry crowd through their browsers instead of Blackberry App World.

[via thecellularguru via Crackberry and WorldTech24]

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We will probably need to change the design of our pricing where it will not be totally unlimited, flat rate.

This spawned a flurry of blog posts and struck fear in the hearts of smartphone users across the country. However, a piece in FastCompany takes a different view. Should someone who uses data casually be required to “buy” as much data as someone who streams movies all day and all night? That’s what flat rate data plans do. Presumably tiering data plans can result in fairer apportionment of the fees the carriers collect.

Dan Nosowitz, author of the article, points out that AT&T and other carriers are trying to have their cake and eat it too. They want to tier data plans which suggests that you pay for what you use, in a general sense. However, if you decide to use the same amount of data but divide it among multiple devices (i.e., tether your computer to your smartphone), you’re hit with additional fees. It is difficult to justify these tethering fees because tethering itself does not drive up the carrier’s expense.

I really like the FastCompany article but it misses one critical component. Consumers who want to stay in the lower data tiers can rely on Wifi signals to install apps and download massive files. Many home internet providers do not cap bandwidth and public Wifi is becoming widespread.

I tossed a picture of Sprint’s HTC Evo 4G at the top of this post for a reason. Sprint has a $10/mo. data surcharge (on top of the standard data charge) for the Evo. It was assumed that this charge related to the use of the 4G WiMax network. However, Evo owners who live nowhere near a 4G lit area are required to pay the surcharge. Official word eventually came out of Sprint that, basically, the Evo is so cool that Evo owners are more likely to use more data than other Sprint smartphone customers, even on a 3G network. In other words, Sprint is already trying to tier its data without officially saying so.

I wonder if people who have recently signed up for or renewed unlimited data contracts will be offered incentives to dump their existing contracts for tiered data plans. Early equipment upgrades? My pure guess is that we won’t see that but it’s an interesting possibility.

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--Internet Explorer users click ads 5x more often than Google Chrome users [DATA] --Tips for Selecting Your First Smartphone --Smartphone Rube Goldberg [Video] --J.D. Power Smartphone Report 2010: Survey Says… --HTC Incredible Coming to Verizon in Two Weeks?

UPDATE: Now includes full Droid X press release at bottom of post.

UPDATE 2: Replaced by a hands on review of Droid X and comparison.

Soon Verizon customers will have a choice between two top Android devices, the recently released HTC Droid Incredible and the upcoming Motorola Droid X. Here’s my take: if you have pockets or a handbag big enough for the Droid X (4.3″ screen), it’s a better choice. If you want a smaller phone, the Incredible (3.7″ screen) is the way to go.

The Droid X has everything the Incredible has plus some goodies like 720P video recording and HDMI output. The Incredible has long been rumored to support 720P video recording using its 8 MP camera but it would, according to the rumor, require a software update. I don’t put tons of credence in rumors like this because if you look around there were rumors of FM transmitters in phones that never had them and other features that never materialized.

Also, the Droid X runs Android 2.2 while the Incredible has yet to receive an update from 2.1 to 2.2. PocketNow and Engadget have good coverage of the differences between the versions. Two primary advantages to 2.2, in my opinion, are the boost in speed and built in Wifi tethering.
UPDATE: Latest press release indicates that Droid X comes with 2.1 installed, contrary to rumors, but Droid X owners will receive 2.2 OTA in the second half of the summer.

Other than the differences previously mentioned, it would be difficult to distinguish these two phones. They run the same apps (both at 1 GHz) and the overall user experience would be quite similar. I think the bigger screen and Android 2.2 would tip the scales in favor of the Droid X for me. Nonetheless, I have been extremely satisfied with the Incredible.

JULY 2010: DROID X BY MOTOROLA LANDS On the NATION’s LARGEST & MOST RELIABLE 3G Network

DROID X Delivers More Browsing, More Connectivity, Personal HD Video and Enterprise Features – All on a 4.3” Widescreen

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless 3G network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), a pioneer in the mobile industry, today unveiled DROID X by Motorola.  DROID X does more with ultra high-speed Web browsing; a fast 1GHz processor; 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities; loads of memory; intuitive social messaging; Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10.1 ready; and access to Android Market™, which has more than 65,000 applications, along with a host of unique Verizon Wireless applications such as NFL Mobile, Skype mobile™, V CAST Video, EA Need for Speed Shift™ and more.

“Nine months ago, we made a commitment to our customers to bring the openness of Android to the Verizon Wireless network,” said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.  “Since then, we have introduced the top-selling Android phone in the marketplace today – the DROID by Motorola.  DROID X takes that commitment to another level with exclusive content, faster processing speeds, and, of course, the reliability of our network.”

Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer of Motorola and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobile Devices and Home business added, “Motorola designed DROID X to push the extreme limits of Android innovation, and enable you to do even more with your mobile device. We are breaking down barriers so that you can experience the Web the way it was meant to be and create, share and view content like never before, either in your hand or in your home. Enterprise users will also find DROID X appealing with features including push e-mail and live widgets for e-mail and calendar updates.”

DROID X gives customers a 4.3-inch high-resolution screen for viewing the latest movies and video from BLOCKBUSTER On Demand^® presented by V CAST Video, the newest addition to the Verizon Wireless V CAST application, which also includes access to favorite TV shows.  The DROID X video capabilities let customers capture spontaneous fun, combining a dual-flash, 8-megapixel camera, HD camcorder, as well as DLNA and HDMI connectivity to download, stream and share personal HD content.

DROID X customers will also receive Android 2.2 and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 with an over-the-air update in the latter half of the summer.  With the update, the Flash Player will allow mobile users to experience hundreds of sites with rich applications and content inside the browser, including games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, music, video, audio and more.

“It has been an exciting time for Android momentum and global consumer adoption since the announcement of DROID by Motorola nine months ago,” said Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering for Google. “There are 160,000 new Android-powered devices activated daily and Android Market has grown to over 65,000 applications. Plus later this summer, Verizon Wireless and Motorola will update all the DROID by Motorola phones to the latest 2.2 software. For customers, this means great new features and improved browser performance. For developers, this will provide new tools such as cloud-to-device messaging and enhanced enterprise functionality.”

“We are excited about full Flash support coming to the DROID X and other devices from Motorola,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief executive officer of Adobe. “Flash Player 10.1, which is one of Adobe’s most anticipated releases ever, has been redesigned from the ground up to deliver the kind of highly engaging experiences that consumers now expect from their mobile devices.”

Once updated to Android 2.2, business customers will find DROID X offers the features that turn the device into a workhorse with support for both Exchange and Gmail™ for business. Corporate users can enjoy push delivery of e-mail; live widgets that stream messages to the home screen; filter widgets to differentiate work and home e-mail; corporate directory and Global look-up along with a unified calendar for Enterprise and sync with Google Calendar™.  Security protocols allow remote password control and wipe via Exchange server.

Pricing and Availability

DROID X by Motorola will be available at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning July 15 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. In addition to subscribing to a Nationwide Talk plan or a Nationwide Talk & Text plan, customers will also need to subscribe to an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access. Email and Web for Smartphone plans start at $29.99 for unlimited monthly access.

Customers can add the optional 3G Mobile Hotspot service to their DROID X for $20 per month.  The 3G Mobile Hotspot allows customers to turn the phone into a wireless modem for up to five compatible Wi-Fi devices.  In addition, current Verizon Wireless customers who have contracts ending by December 31, 2010, can upgrade to any smartphone, including DROID X, without penalty.

For more information on DROID X by Motorola, go to http://phones.verizonwireless.com/droid/x/.  For information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

# # #

You might also enjoy:

--Android Showdown: HTC Incredible vs. Motorola Droid [Verizon] --Droid X Full Review [Hands On] vs. HTC Incredible — Verizon Android Showdown --Updates Coming to HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --HTC Incredible Full Review [Verizon/Android] --Droid 2 Specs Confirmed [Android/Verizon]

P.S. I am standing by my prediction that RIM will only survive the smartphone wars if it manufactures some Android devices.

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--Android Monster – HTC Scorpion heading to Verizon [Rumor] --Upcoming Blackberry Slider to look like Palm Pre [rumor] --Samsung sets the bar high with the Halo i8520 --Blackberry vs. Android --Switching from Pandora to Slacker (available for Blackberry, iPhone and Android)

• Keyboard: Swype (not in the market, try http://beta.swype.com/), runner up ShapeWriter. I’ve touted Swype before. It allows you to drag your finger key to key to spell words. It dramatically improves typing speed. ShapeWriter is similar but not quite as good at matching words with swipes.
• Browser: Dolphin Browser HD. While the Android browser is very good and roughly comparable to Safari, Dolphin Browser HD is substantially better. It includes support for add-ons and themes, multi-touch (of course), RSS feed detection, tabbed browsing, a slick UI, bookmark sorting, gesture commands and user agent control.
• Email: K-9 Mail. This easily beats the Gmail app and the lousy Sense UI mail app. It’s open source and supports search, push mail (via IMAP), multi-folder sync, message flagging and refiling, signatures, bcc-self, configurable alerts and multiple identities per account (so, for example, you can send from more than one address from within Gmail).
• SMS/Text Messaging: Handcent. This is a real winner. Handcent can be highly customized. I particularly like that it can be set so a long press on the search key brings up Handcent Quick Compose from any screen.
• Home Screen: LauncherPro. LauncherPro gets updated almost daily (which is sometimes an annoyance with apps) but it gets better each time. It clearly bests HTC’s Sense UI.
• Music Player: 3 (Cubed). The 3D graphics alone make this a better player but it also can retrieve album art and it has some nice widgets to go along with the player.
• Video Player: Meridian Media Player Pioneer. There are others in the market, but Meridian is my favorite. I like the UI and it’s easy to FF and RW.
• Market: AppBrain App Market. The AppBrain front-end is a must have app
• Phone: Google Voice. While it’s more like an add-on than a replacement, Google Voice is worth a mention. I’m a big fan.
• Search: Gesture Search. This app belongs front and center on your main home screen. It searches the phone by you swiping out letters.

That’s it. I think I successfully replaced everything that can be replaced on the phone with better apps.

I’ll also plug DropBox which allows you to share a folder between your phone and computer(s). It syncs everything up for you and you get 2 GB of free storage and more for each referral you provide. Shamelessly, I’m looking for referrals to boost my quota. Click here to join DropBox for free.

You might also enjoy:

--AppBrain.com: My First 53 Free Android Apps on the Incredible… --HTC Incredible can be even MORE Incredible… replace HTC’s Sense UI and use these Widgets --Android Market grows to 50,000 Apps --Two promising Blackberry apps you haven’t heard of… --Blackberry Apps Now Available from Verizon’s V Cast App Store

I’ve read many of the reviews out there of the KINs and I believe that many reviewers haven’t considered the target market. These phones are designed for 13-15 year olds.  If I were in that demographic, I would be delighted to have a phone that offers Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, email, an HTML browser, Zune music features, Wifi, cloud archives of all activity, a camera, decent memory capacity and a solid keyboard.  However, if you’re outside of the young teen demographic or you’re looking to upgrade from your LG, you might want to consider a full blown smartphone, which permits app installations and greater customization.

I offer the caveat that I didn’t try out every feature of the KINs but in my time with the phones I formulated the following opinions:

Likes

The hardware, manufactured by Sharp, is good.  I particularly like the large screen on the KIN 2. Both phones have full QWERTY keyboards that are easy to use. The cameras are 5 MP on the KIN 1 and 8 MP on the KIN 2.

The Windows Phone interface is funky with asymmetry on almost every screen.  I like the “tile” layout which is a nice departure from the mundane world of gridded icons.  In this regard, perhaps the KINs offer a glimpse inside of the core elements that will likely become Windows Phone 7.

The simplicity of the phone makes it a good choice as a youngster’s first phone.

Dislikes

The browser isn’t terrific.  It can display basic pages but it fumbles a bit on more complicated pages like those on many news sites and blogs.

It takes some getting use to because, as I mentioned, it’s not a traditional gridded icon interface.

At this point, I’m a spoiled HTC Incredible user and wouldn’t look back. However, if I were a parent buying a first phone for my kid who is just old enough to object to being called a kid, the KINs would be at or near the top of my list.

You might also enjoy:

--Facebook vs. Google isn’t about Social vs. Search --Blogging phones is getting more difficult --HTC Portofolio of Phones for 2010 Q1&Q2 Leaked --Top U.S. Mobile Phones: iPhone (4%), Blackberry Curve (3.7%), Mot. Razr (2.3%)… --Apple and Verizon hate each other. Will the iPhone ever come to Verizon?

I have been using Swype for about a month and I love it. It makes touchscreen text entry much more manageable. If you’re going to check it out, I highly recommend using the built-in tutorial before you begin. It’ll show you how to capitalize letters, double letters and use some of the more advanced features.

Plus, they have a nifty jingle… “Why type when you can Swype?”

[via TechCrunch]

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--Google Voice: “Lite” is a Myth — Pick Your Number --Google Voice Lite Users Can Now Pick a Number [Instructions] --Blackberry vs. Android --Previewing Android OS on a Computer --Android Developers Complain

1. Pick your carrier first: Your mobile phone experience will be severely hampered if you cannot get a signal or talk on the phone without the call dropping. Sometimes I’m asked what carrier provides the best service. Answer: it really depends on your geographic area. Some cities have good coverage by one carrier and not another. Ask friends, neighbors, etc. Maybe borrow a phone from someone on the carrier you are considering to make sure it works in your home.
2. Choose your platform next: The primary choices are (alphabetical order): Android, Blackberry, iPhone and WinMo/Windows Phone 7 (coming soon). I say people should avoid any device that doesn’t run one of those OSs.  Google “Android vs. Blackberry” and “iPhone vs. Android” etc. I would avoid relying on any source that relies directly on manufacturers for advertising revenue like print publications. Also, carrier websites are not that helpful in choosing a platform because they tend to present all options they offer as near equals. Even Palm still gets promoted. Ask friends what they use and whether they would switch to another platform if given the choice. (There are also some surveys on this subject like this one.)
3. Visit Official Websites and Carrier Websites: Now, with the exception of the iPhone, you may find your options somewhat confusing. The Blackberry Curve or the Bold? The Ally or the Incredible? Visit your preferred carrier’s website to compare the specs of the phones. Here are some links:
   • Verizon: https://smartphones.verizonwireless.com/ is a terrific site. It’s easy to navigate and displays only smartphones. Click on “Shop Smartphones” and then select the OS you want on the left.
   • Sprint: http://shop.sprint.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?INTNAV=ATG:HE:Phones provides a way to filter Sprint’s offerings to only display smartphones but it doesn’t offer a way filter by OS like Verizon’s site does.
   • AT&T: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/pda-phones-smartphones.jsp has a smartphone section but only allows sorting by manufacturer, not OS.
4. Visit a Brick and Mortar Store: Narrow your choices to two or three devices and go to a corporate owned store, not an “authorized retailer.” Don’t pester the employees who are willing to push just about anything on unsuspecting customers. Just spend a few minutes with each smartphone. Try the camera, see if you like the screen, push the buttons and poke around a bit. Formulate a final opinion.
5. Order Online: I’m not a big fan of waiting in line at a store and being pushed a bunch of accessories while I wait for the smartphone to boot up. Have the phone shipped to you. It will come with detailed instructions and if you need assistance activating your phone contact your carrier.
6. Mark Your Return Period on Your Calendar: Many carriers will allow you to swap out your phone for a different model once within your first 30 days of ownership. If you really made a huge mistake, pay up the $20-$30 and swap smartphones.

If all else fails, pester the person in your social circle who knows smartphones the best.

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--Smartphone Rube Goldberg [Video] --J.D. Power Smartphone Report 2010: Survey Says… --Dell Mini 3 Smartphone Featuring Android to Launch in China Later This Month --Google Buzz Tips for Newbies --Google Chrome Tabs — 10 Tips & Tricks

10:43 [Steve Jobs:] “Well I’m sorry guys, I don’t know what’s going on.” Wi-Fi network is still hanging. “Scott, you got any suggestions?” Someone yelled “Get Verizon!”

In any event, the take aways for me are:

1. The 960 x 640 screen kicks ass even though it’s on the small side by today’s standards at 3.5″.
2. Videoconferencing will be featured prominently in advertisements, unlike the Evo advertisements.
3. Nothing truly magical happened today. It’s still the same Android (open) vs. iPhone (closed) debate as yesterday.

You might also enjoy:

--iPhone 4G Photos on Engadget… Yes, They’re Real. --Bah… I scooped Engadget by more than two months. --iPhone 4G, was it a hoax set up by Apple? --iPhone 3GS vs. Android 2.1 — Five Advantages to Each --Verizon getting iPhone, so says WSJ sources

While this phone will be tops in the Verizon line-up, I’m not sure it’s a real game changer if it comes out as a 3G phone. The Incredible’s processor is plenty fast and perhaps an OTA update of Froyo rolls out for the Incredible soon. I certainly hope this doesn’t become a painful wait like what happened with the Droid Eris.

The Droid Scorpion could be a real game changer if it rolls out as Verizon’s first 4G/LTE Android in 2012. This is within the realm of possibilities considering not a single picture has hit the interwebs and we’d expect that by now if the phone were to launch any time soon. Regarding 4G Androids, reports are funneling in that the Sprint 4G Evo (WiMax, not LTE) is selling like mad and new activations even brought down Sprint’s phone activation system. Apparently, Radio Shack is doing a second round of pre-orders, which could be more aptly called post-orders.

Friends and family keep asking me about whether the iPhone 4G or HD or whatever is heading to Verizon. I have two answers… no clue and don’t care. Many of the most notable tech writers who got ahold of Evos have quickly became iPhone-to-Android converts. I’ve read the first-hand accounts on Buzz from techies like Louis Gray. Unless Apple has some real tricks up its sleeve, the new features that were previewed for the iPhone OS 4.0 are hardly revolutionary. Apple is playing catch up with Android at this point.

[via Mobile Crunch]

You might also enjoy:

--Samsung Galaxy Q: Android takes on RIM’s Blackberry [Rumor] --Where Google is heading… Google Translation for Android --HTC Incredible Full Review [Verizon/Android] --Droid X Full Review [Hands On] vs. HTC Incredible — Verizon Android Showdown --Verizon confirms HTC Incredible, Android Superphone

• Android 2.1
• 9 Home Screens with Default Launcher
• 8 MP Camera with Dedicated Camera Button
• HDMI Out

This phone looks good, really good. Here’s a taste of what Droid-Life has posted:

And for the rest of the photos, try this link and this link.

You might also enjoy:

--Android Showdown: HTC Incredible vs. Motorola Droid [Verizon] --Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible [Verizon/Android] --iPhone 4G Photos on Engadget… Yes, They’re Real. --Upcoming Blackberry Flip-and-Slide? [Patent Photos] --Pre-Release Device Photos … Mobile Phone “Porn”

Sense UI Pictured

I am a recovering Sense UI (video here) fanboy. At first, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. Now, I am happily using another home screen which dumps the flip clock/weather widget (4 x 2) and the extremely limited bottom dock (3 button). This post is a how-to for replacing your Sense UI home screen along with some recommendations, including widgets. I have linked apps to their respective AppBrain pages.

A word of caution, if you rely heavily on HTC’s proprietary widgets, then you may not want to replace your home screen. Frankly, I found them to be clunky and oversized in many cases, using up valuable real estate on the screen.

If you want to replace your home screen, there are a number of options available to you. OpenHome ($3.99), aHome ($4.99) and GDE (2.60 Euro) are popular home screen replacements in the Market but they are all paid apps. I chose to redesign my UI on the cheap and selected LauncherPro, a free beta home screen replacement (over 8,300 ratings and an average of 4.73 out of 5.00). Other free options include HelixLauncher, HelixLauncher2, Home++ and Tag Home. But, first things first. You will need the free Home Switcher app or another similar app that allows you to switch to a different home screen. Using Home Switcher, you can pick a home screen on the fly, without a reboot. You can also designate a default home screen.

LauncherPro is a terrific home screen replacement for many reasons. Some earlier versions were force closing but the latest version is very stable on the HTC Incredible. I have noticed that on rare occasions the app drawer will lag when opening but this happens very infrequently. These are the reasons I prefer LauncherPro to Sense UI:

1. The bottom dock (which is present on any of the home screen panels) has five buttons, four of which can be customized. The fifth is the app drawer. I used the four customizable buttons for phone, HandCent (SMS), Gmail and Dolphin HD.
2. LauncherPro is very configurable. Menu -> Preferences to change them. I selected 7 home screens with 4, the middle one, as my default screen. I also enabled auto-rotation (a feature Sense UI does not support). I left “home button to default screen” unchecked because I prefer that the home key show me thumbnails of every screen; this is the same as pinch-zoom on Sense UI, a feature that also works in LauncherPro.
3. The screen animations are impressive. If you click the app drawer, icons fly into the screen and when you return to the home screen they fly back out. Apps also fly in and out.

These are some of the widgets I have found that you might find appealing (all free with two noted exceptions):

• 3 (Cubed) — This is my preferred music player and the 2 x 2 widget shows album artwork along with controls. (This app is hard to find in the Market. Just click on the AppBrain link to add it.)
• Advanced Task Manager Free — This is a good task manager and it is easy to exclude processes. I use it sparingly but it does come in handy at times.
• Android Agenda Widget — This is the best calendar widget I have found and you can select different sizes beginning as small as 2 x 2.
• AudioManager Widget — Displays all of the volume settings on the widget.
• Battery Widget — One of the best for displaying %s. Click to enable and disable services.
• Beautiful Widgets (1.49 Euro) — This package has many 1 x 1 toggles but, more importantly, Beautiful Home (4 x 2) and Beautiful Smaller Home (4 x 1) clock/weather widgets are amazing. They can be reskinned with downloadable apps and heavily customized. You can even choose what programs launch when you tap time, date or weather. To customize the widget after you slapped it on the screen, tap weather icon -> Menu -> Skins or Configure. There is also an accompanying weather live wall paper that you can download from within the app.
• Extended Controls Bar (0.79 Euro)– A bar that can range from 1 x 1 to 4 x 1. This works like the power widget in stock Android but you can customize the toggles. I have 7 toggles on a 4 x 1 bar.
• Fancy Widget — This is almost identical to the HTC Sense UI flip clock/weather widget. Frankly, I don’t care for it but if you want a Sense looking environment with a customizable bottom dock, this widget might appeal to you.
• Gmail Unread Count — 1 x 1 Gmail notification icon that is very customizable in terms of icon, colors and label.
• Google Buzz — 4 x 1 widget because I’m a big fan of Buzz and, particularly, mobile Buzz.
• HandCent SMS — Previously mentioned but I throw down a 1 x 1 widget to alert me to new text messages.
• Last.fm — 4 x 1 because I really like Last.fm and prefer it to Pandora and Slacker.
• NYTimes — 4 x 1 of all the news that is fit to print.
• Reader Widget — I use this for displaying my Google Reader RSS feeds.
• Twitter (Official) — This is a very good widget and I prefer Twitter (Official) to other twitter apps (though I’m looking forward to TweetDeck).
• Wifi Toggle Widget — Last but certainly not least, this 1 x 1 widget displays the SSID of the Wifi network you are connected to beneath the icon, glows different colors to alert you to status and, of course, toggles Wifi on and off. This is a must have widget.

Drop a comment down there if you know of a widget I should check out or have opinions about customizing the home screen.

You might also enjoy:

--Demo of HTC’s Latest Sense UI (HTC Legend, HTC Desire, HTC Incredible…) [VIDEO] --HTC Desire on Camera with Latest Sense UI [Video] --Google, Buzz could replace Blogs if… --HTC Incredible can be even MORE Incredible… Part II. Install these Apps. --HTC Incredible, first 10 things to do with Android…

I’ll start with the awesome announcement. The mobile version of Google Buzz now works on virtually all smartphones, including Blackberry, WebOS, Android <2.0, Nokia S60, and Windows Mobile. Previously, only iPhones and Android 2.0+ could access the mobile site. The Blackberry version can even support location based searches by following some simple instructions. The inclusion of Blackberry specifically should help build the Buzz user base because 43% of smartphone users are toting Blackberries, as of Jan. 2010.

The so-so news is that Buzz now has a native rebuzzing feature which is called “reshare.” Some people are wild about this but I’m not. While it’s only been out a few hours, it seems to fragment meaningful discussions into multiple tidbit buzzes. Also, who wants to read the same blog post 30 times in their Buzz stream? Nonetheless, the eagle has landed and rebuzzing is here.

[via Official Gmail Blog]

You might also enjoy:

--If you missed Buzz this week… all the buzz is about… Buzz. --mIQ Backup from Best Buy Mobile for Blackberry and Mobiles --HOW-TO: Send a Google Buzz from your Blackberry --Blackberry and Google Buzz Notifications & Gmail Dupe Emails [Workarounds] --Google, why Buzz? This is probably the answer.

• Android 2.2 “FroYo” debuted at Google I/O. Many people have it up and running on rooted Nexus Ones. It supports the creation of mobile hotspots which basically turns a FroYo device into a wireless router.  IntoMobile has been providing good coverage. It recently reported that the “leaked” version is not the final version, according to Googler Romain Guy, but it is apparently very stable.
• Google I/O attendees found HTC Evo 4Gs in their goodie bags, Oprah style. I’ve written about the Evo 4G before (which should have stayed with the codename “Supersonic” but, anyhow…).  What happens when you give an hot Android phone to hundreds of developers? Well, someone figures out how to gain superuser access by rooting the device (video). Robert Scoble started a high traffic Buzz comparing the Evo to the iPhone platform. Many newly minted Android fans weighed in and dueled with Apple fanatics. The iPhone 4G (or HD or whatever they decide to call it) has a fierce competitor comprised of Google and virtually every major device manufacturer.
• Mark Zuckerberg conceded by email (which he agreed to make public): “I know we’ve made a bunch of mistakes….” Captain Obvious? I wonder, however, whether they did as big a land grab as possible with a slight retreat in mind from the onset. Don’t know.  In any event, it remains to be seen what Facebook intends to do about the mistakes. I suggest that they include a lockdown button in the privacy settings which basically toggles off all information sharing except with friends. In my opinion, that would be a step in the right direction for Facebook.
• Gizmodo found or stole another prototype, depending on your perspective. This one appears to be the Motorola Shadow which runs Android. The story goes that a gym employee found one laying around and Gizmodo got ahold of it (follow link for pics). This phone looks great and it’s almost certainly Verizon bound. It could be branded as the “Droid 2.”
• The Google Orkut experiment is still ongoing. A number of Google Buzz users are playing around with Orkut and enjoying it. If you’re at all interested, check out my post about it.
• Finally, this blog has been getting very heavy traffic lately compared to historical numbers. I attribute that primarily to my posts about the HTC Incredible which is still back ordered at Verizon. I’ve loaded up on apps and if you don’t know where to start, check out my AppBrain page. Also, I redid the TechBottle logo in the header of the blog. Do you like it? Be honest. I’m on the fence about it but I’d rather read and write to the blog than tinker with the logo more.

P.S. I have something brewing with a major carrier. Expect good but very honest hands-on cellphone reviews.  It’s also possible I’ll have some leaked info about upcoming phones soon. Stay tuned!

You might also enjoy:

--Mashup of Best Tech Stories of the Past Few Days --Apple’s Lesser News of the Day… VOIP on the iPhone --Bad News for Blackberry [Survey] --If you missed Buzz this week… all the buzz is about… Buzz. --Google Finance Updated… Real-Time News Streams