The Droids: Google Phones

Friday was the release date for two Google phones, called Droids, with Verizon Wireless. Both phones run Google’s Android Operating System and both look like they’re the start of some exciting mobile options for Verizon customers. Both phones, the Droid Eris by HTC and the Droid by Motorola, are both phones similar looking to an iPhone with large touch screen interfaces.

This is not surprising, as Apple’s iPhone is likely going to be the main competition for this new deal between Verizon and Google. The initial buzz surrounding these new Droids is positive. They’re powerful phones, with plenty of hard drive space and a good camera. They feature

QWERTY keyboards, WiFi, Flash, all the standard social application abilities, and a growing app library called Android Market. Predictably, the phones all include a full suite of Google features, such as Latitude, Gmail, Search and YouTube and Picasa. The Droid is supposedly the world’s thinnest QWERTY slider.

Presumably these are the first in a line of phones released for Verizon that will feature Google’s Android OS. Their main rival would appear to be the iPhone, and their first strike appears to be a good one. Apple has a head start, something that is very helpful in terms of available apps for download, but with the huge amount of Verizon customers now potential customers, I’m sure the Android Market will be growing fast. Couple this with the better coverage area and reception Verizon offers compared to AT&T and Apple could be in trouble.

Still, these are the first Droids on the market. They are the version 1.0 of the Google and Verizon deal. Similar to the initial version of C3PO that Anakin Skywalker was working on in Episode One of Star Wars, these are the first thoughts of what a phone equipped with Google and Android can do. As they refine what a phone can, and should, do the Droids will be even more exciting. Much like generation one iPhones still can’t do SMS these Droids are the first step in a long process of development. There will likely be bugs, and quirks, and things that just don’t feel right. My initial thoughts on the bigger Droid were that it looked a little boxy, and not quite as sleek as it could be.

The main thing to note here is that Verizon customers never had an option for an iPhone, or a G1 Google phone. Whether it was contracts, perks, quality or loyalty keeping customers with Verizon, the choices were between a couple of blackberries and a handful of Windows Mobile smartphones. Few of those options compare to an iPhone, or these new Droids. Now Apple may be hurt by keeping the iPhone exclusively with AT&T, when millions more would’ve purchased one given the option with another carrier.

Looking for a new mobile phone? Check out these for the summer.

About four months after CES, the Las Vegas Convention Center packs in more tech goodness with CTIA Wireless. It is a chance for all the big names in the mobile phone industry to put their best phones forward, and here is the newest crop.

I have listed them alphabetically in order of companies first, and then the model itself. Most of them did not have a price, but there are links to other sources with the prices. If you are in the market to buy this summer, this should give you an idea of what phones are out there, as well as the price.

HTC

Snap

Taking a page from the BlackBerry playbook, the Snap has something RIM doesn’t have: an e-mail management feature known as the Inner Circle. It involves pressing a button and bringing selected email messages from a pre-programmed selected group straight to the top. Other features include a 2 Megapixel Camera, and the ability to look nice.

Verdict: O, Snap!

LG

Electronics Neon

The big selling points of the Neon are its unusual QWERTY keyboard, and the navigation buttons below its screen, but it doesn’t look like a touchscreen. It comes with other features like Bluetooth, FM radio, and integrated FM radio, 2 Megapixel camera, picture and video recording, plus an SMS conversation box. Consider it a cheaper model of the Electronics Xenon.

Verdict: Quality at low cost.

Electronics Xenon

Like previous models of cellular phones like the Voyager or the Dare, the Electronics Xenon has both the touchscreen display (2.8 inches) and a slide-out, push-button QWERTY keyboard. The Xenon has a home screen that is customizable with widgets, along with an Annunciator menu that allows the user access to certain shortcuts. Other features include a 2-Megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS Integration, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Verdict: Another LG Electronics phone, another inert gas.

Motorola

Evoke QA4

This one sports a 2.8 touchscreen, which has the haptic feedback (vibration at the touch) which really should be required for touchscreen phones these days. When it is turned to the side, the Evoke can become a touchscreen QWERTY. This slider model comes with seven widgets that work with its Wi-Fi browser including MySpae Mobile, Follow Me Weather, Google Quicksearch, Google Picasa, RSS Reader, USA Today Mobile, as well as YouTube.

Verdict: Evokes a response.

Nokia

E71x

This cheaper version of its predecessor, the E71, has a black steel finish, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, integrated A-GPS, a 3.2 Megapixel camera, and runs the Symbian S60 platform. I believe another page from the RIM playbook has been stolen for this BlackBerry look-a-like, but it is very slim at 0.4 inches.

Verdict: E71x marks the spot.

Samsung

Impression

Considering that Samsung has recently produced a very flexible prototype of an AMOLED screen, the company seems to want to make a good impression with the Impression, the first commercially available AMOLED display on a phone. I am told that this 3.2 inch screen is a touchscreen, and it also has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3-Megapixel camera, accelerometer, and assisted GPS.

Verdict: Nice.

Instinct S30

I’m personally sick of the barrage of Instinct adds, and not looking forward to another in the collection. However, this one is a slimmer version of the first model, with Calendar Sync, IM, and supports 32 GB of memory.

Verdict: Instinct, you stink? We all stink for Instinct? (I got nothing.)

Mondi

CTIA visitors just loved the Mondi, with its 4.3 touchscreen LCD, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, plus 4GB of memory. Not only does the Mondi feature the Windows Mobile 6.1 Operating System, but it has the TouchWiz overlay, giving the user one-touch access to their favorite widgets. It also features Opera 9.5 and Route 66, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 3.0 Megapixel Camera/Camcorder.

Verdict: Mondi! Mondi!!

Propel Pro

This slider with the intriguing QWERTY keyboard is a follow up to the Propel (not to be referred to as the Propel Amateur). It has 32 GB worth of memory, Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, a 3-Megapixel camera and an optical joystick.

Verdict: Gone Pro.

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