Is anyone else now NOT considering the Droid after hearing about the Nexus?

Agentbolt

Diamond Member
Jul 9, 2004
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From what I understand, now that Google's phone is going to be directly competing against other Android phones, carriers are possibly going to start avoiding Android handsets, which will lead to a plunge in Android market penetration, etc etc...

I'm up for my new phone on January 8th w/ Verizon, and when the Droid came out I was obviously salivating. Now, however, I mean I'm still 99% likely to pick it up, but I can't say the chatter I'm hearing now makes me particularly happy.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
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Nope, carriers know that clients love Android too much. They wont dump their Android phones. I suspect that this will cause us to see a wider variety in Android phones in the future. So far they've been bulky smartphones with large touchscreens. I think there will be more and more basic and mid range phones with stripped down Android installations. Also, this along with the iPhone will force manufacturers to put a little more thought into their high end phones.
 

Agentbolt

Diamond Member
Jul 9, 2004
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Nope, carriers know that clients love Android too much. They wont dump their Android phones. I suspect that this will cause us to see a wider variety in Android phones in the future. So far they've been bulky smartphones with large touchscreens. I think there will be more and more basic and mid range phones with stripped down Android installations. Also, this along with the iPhone will force manufacturers to put a little more thought into their high end phones.

Well, that's heartening. I guess the fact that I'm with Verizon also helps, there's certainly nothing on the horizon that's apt to supplant the Droid anytime soon.
 

YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
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Is there even ANYTHING at all coming out in the next 2-3 months for Verizon, smartphone or not? I looked at phonearena and they have 5 or 6 phones, nothing great though, and they were all smartphones I believe. I'm up for an upgrade in late February and was considering getting a smartphone, but if I can get a nice dumbphone it would be much cheaper. $30/mo for data may be a good deal, but it is still pretty expensive.
 

Demo24

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
8,356
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Is there even ANYTHING at all coming out in the next 2-3 months for Verizon, smartphone or not? I looked at phonearena and they have 5 or 6 phones, nothing great though, and they were all smartphones I believe. I'm up for an upgrade in late February and was considering getting a smartphone, but if I can get a nice dumbphone it would be much cheaper. $30/mo for data may be a good deal, but it is still pretty expensive.

There's the rumored 'Passion/Incredible', which is likely to be a Nexus for Verizon.

I just got tired of waiting and went with the Droid, helped with the BOGO Verizon had. Besides I have 30 days, so if anything more official comes out I have a chance to trade over. However, so far I love my droid and don't really want to switch. I like having the keyboard. Besides, its speedy enough for my needs.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
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Nexus One will be a T-Mobile phone.

Just like the MyTouch 3G, and the T-Mobile G1 before it.
It's not nearly as big of a deal as the rumor hoards are making it out to be.

Get the phone on the carrier you want.
If you don't mind waiting a bit, define EXACTLY how long you want to wait... or just say, I'll wait until the next phone, and get that if it feels better than a currently available phone, and decide right there.
I say that, because the problem with waiting, if you look at it a certain way, you will be waiting forever. As soon as any phone is nearing release, the leaks of a better phone on the horizon will start making their way around the internet.

There is a very strong rumor that a Snapdragon-powered HTC Android 2.x handset will be arriving on Verizon, but the main question: when?

Look at the carrier you want, and pick your phone or a phone likely to be upcoming sometime shortly. Don't get too caught up in the waiting game, that's my biggest piece of advice. No phone will stand at the top of the hardware world for too long, one more powerful is always on the way.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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Nope. Its got some impressive hardware, but no keyboardless phone will ever be superior to a QWERTY phone in my eyes.
 

Agentbolt

Diamond Member
Jul 9, 2004
3,340
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Nexus One will be a T-Mobile phone.

Just like the MyTouch 3G, and the T-Mobile G1 before it.
It's not nearly as big of a deal as the rumor hoards are making it out to be.

Get the phone on the carrier you want.
If you don't mind waiting a bit, define EXACTLY how long you want to wait... or just say, I'll wait until the next phone, and get that if it feels better than a currently available phone, and decide right there.
I say that, because the problem with waiting, if you look at it a certain way, you will be waiting forever. As soon as any phone is nearing release, the leaks of a better phone on the horizon will start making their way around the internet.

There is a very strong rumor that a Snapdragon-powered HTC Android 2.x handset will be arriving on Verizon, but the main question: when?

Look at the carrier you want, and pick your phone or a phone likely to be upcoming sometime shortly. Don't get too caught up in the waiting game, that's my biggest piece of advice. No phone will stand at the top of the hardware world for too long, one more powerful is always on the way.

Right, no, I hear you there. I'm on a computer forum, I know you can never be future proof. This isn't a normal "Should I get this X or wait till a better X comes out" question though. I've read three opinion pieces already that are saying the Nexus is going to spell the death of Android as an option for most wireless carriers, because they're not gonna want to be competing with a phone made by the same company that makes said software.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Right, no, I hear you there. I'm on a computer forum, I know you can never be future proof. This isn't a normal "Should I get this X or wait till a better X comes out" question though. I've read three opinion pieces already that are saying the Nexus is going to spell the death of Android as an option for most wireless carriers, because they're not gonna want to be competing with a phone made by the same company that makes said software.

Why? Google isn't actually making the hardware, HTC is - and HTC already makes Android phones branded by other companies (such as the T-Mobile G1).

A lot of my less tech-savvy friends don't even know that Droid is made by Motorola, they just assume its "the Google phone". If anything, having a strongly-marketed Google branded phone will enhance the "mindshare" of Android - thus giving hardware manufacturers "free advertising" in a sense.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
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There's still too many rumors about this phone, I still can't believe Google will market this phone.

1.) It'll seriously piss off the Open Handset Alliance members, Google's goal is to generate income from putting ads in front of people and from tracking consumer behavior, why risk losing a crapload of data by losing a manufacturer or 2 or 3?

2.) Why would Google saddle themselves with the PITA of supporting a phone?


I suspect the Google employees were confused by TMobile's unsubsidized plans and thought Google would market the phone directly. According to a couple of sources, several Google employees were terminated because of the leaks over this phone. The leaks/rumors likely caused some pretty furious calls from OHA members.

From what Google has said in the past publicly was that they wanted the carriers to be reduced to dumb pipes, not to reduce the manufacturers to fools that have been played...

http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html
 

teneriffa2005

Junior Member
Dec 12, 2009
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making--money-online.com
I will definitely go after the Android. All what I have heard so far makes me more confident.

Merry Xmas
Tom
I.gif
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
PSA, cell phone specs are moving targets. One of the reasons I don't like CDMA carriers is because it's so easy to swap out a SIM card & sell your phone on eBay, move on to the next big thing...
 

YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,546
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PSA, cell phone specs are moving targets. One of the reasons I don't like CDMA carriers is because it's so easy to swap out a SIM card & sell your phone on eBay, move on to the next big thing...

Do you mean GSM?

CDMA doesn't use SIM cards.
 
Feb 19, 2001
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Unfortunately phones in the US are tied with carriers. So heavily tied, you can't do anything about it. Even unlocked phones are useless because the same phone that works with ATT bands won't work with T-Mobile bands.

I mean if 3G coverage was a huge issue for me, I'd stick to Verizon. If it's based on phone only, Nexus One all the way. Unfortunately, life here in the US is very carrier dependent, so it's neither because I'm stuck on AT&T for another 18 months with my iPhone contract...
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
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Unfortunately phones in the US are tied with carriers. So heavily tied, you can't do anything about it. Even unlocked phones are useless because the same phone that works with ATT bands won't work with T-Mobile bands.

I mean if 3G coverage was a huge issue for me, I'd stick to Verizon. If it's based on phone only, Nexus One all the way. Unfortunately, life here in the US is very carrier dependent, so it's neither because I'm stuck on AT&T for another 18 months with my iPhone contract...

Same with me, I am stuck on Sprint. Two things are important to me, 3G coverage and price. Verizon has the best coverage but I can't afford to pay 40% more than Sprint charges. AT&T and T-Mobile has no 3G coverage within 60 miles of my house. So in that end my phone selection is pretty limited.
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
29,974
405
126
PSA, cell phone specs are moving targets. One of the reasons I don't like CDMA carriers is because it's so easy to swap out a SIM card & sell your phone on eBay, move on to the next big thing...

All I gotta do is go online to verizon's website, type in the ESN number of the phone, reboot it, and have it activated.

I loaded up custom wm6.5 roms on my xv6700 and xv6900 and activated them both on my account just to make sure they work. Then I reactivated my Imagio. :p
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
All I gotta do is go online to verizon's website, type in the ESN number of the phone, reboot it, and have it activated.

I loaded up custom wm6.5 roms on my xv6700 and xv6900 and activated them both on my account just to make sure they work. Then I reactivated my Imagio. :p

Damn you, making me consider Verizon as a carrier...
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
meh. I quit lusting after "the next best thing" years ago. If I need something I get the best out there at the time. Unless something is imminent I dont wait. Guess what...when/if this phone comes out, rumors will be out about the upcoming <insert name here>.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
meh. I quit lusting after "the next best thing" years ago. If I need something I get the best out there at the time. Unless something is imminent I dont wait. Guess what...when/if this phone comes out, rumors will be out about the upcoming <insert name here>.

Well seems that a lot of people haven't been into tech long and are now learning that in the tech world, there's always something new coming around the corner.
 

nitromullet

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2004
9,031
36
91
Trying to future proof is one thing, and trying to go with the best carrier/hardware is another.

I'm pretty solidly committed to VZW right now (I currently own an envy2), and I've been following the Moto Driod and HTC Eris with interest. At this point I'm thinking I will wait for whatever HTC Nexus One equivalent phone shows up on Verizon whether it's called the Dragon, Bravo, Passion, Incredible, or whatever... However, looking at Pliablemoose's thread here causes some concern:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2035864

My concern is specifically with the statement made in the article regarding carrier differentiation attempts resulting in custom UI versions of Andriod, and this leading to delays in releasing the latest versions of the OS for some hardware manufacturers. Looking at Verizon, the HTC Eris is on Android 1.5 and the Moto Droid is on Android 2.0. Rumor has it that the Eris will get upgraded to 2.0 eventually/soon, but the delay compared to the Droid should be taken into account when considering which brand manufacturer to go with IMO.

I'm also siding with the idea that Google is not going to be putting out their own unlocked phone. If you look at Google as a business, it really doesn't make much sense for them to enter the cell hardware market. They would HAVE to support end user customers, which is something they really don't like doing (because it's expensive).

Given that, you'll be stuck relying on whatever hardware/carrier you have to support and update your Android phone. So, you really want to make sure you get the hardware manufacturer that will stay up to date with Google's latest version of Android as closely as possible, and a carrier with a good app store since it looks like the app stores will be carrier specific.

Honestly, right now, as a consumer I'm a little overwhelmed by the Android thing and I'm waiting at least until the new HTC Android 2.1 phones come out. First if all, I'm interested in these phones. Second, it will be interesting to see if the Moto Droid gets Android 2.1 before or after the HTC phones.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Trying to future proof is one thing, and trying to go with the best carrier/hardware is another.

I'm pretty solidly committed to VZW right now (I currently own an envy2), and I've been following the Moto Driod and HTC Eris with interest. At this point I'm thinking I will wait for whatever HTC Nexus One equivalent phone shows up on Verizon whether it's called the Dragon, Bravo, Passion, Incredible, or whatever... However, looking at Pliablemoose's thread here causes some concern:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2035864

My concern is specifically with the statement made in the article regarding carrier differentiation attempts resulting in custom UI versions of Andriod, and this leading to delays in releasing the latest versions of the OS for some hardware manufacturers. Looking at Verizon, the HTC Eris is on Android 1.5 and the Moto Droid is on Android 2.0. Rumor has it that the Eris will get upgraded to 2.0 eventually/soon, but the delay compared to the Droid should be taken into account when considering which brand manufacturer to go with IMO.

I'm also siding with the idea that Google is not going to be putting out their own unlocked phone. If you look at Google as a business, it really doesn't make much sense for them to enter the cell hardware market. They would HAVE to support end user customers, which is something they really don't like doing (because it's expensive).

Given that, you'll be stuck relying on whatever hardware/carrier you have to support and update your Android phone. So, you really want to make sure you get the hardware manufacturer that will stay up to date with Google's latest version of Android as closely as possible, and a carrier with a good app store since it looks like the app stores will be carrier specific.

Honestly, right now, as a consumer I'm a little overwhelmed by the Android thing and I'm waiting at least until the new HTC Android 2.1 phones come out. First if all, I'm interested in these phones. Second, it will be interesting to see if the Moto Droid gets Android 2.1 before or after the HTC phones.

Well, that delay kind of makes sense.

I fully believe the HTC Droid Eris will be receiving Android 2.1, the same version in the Nexus One. Why? I think 2.1 has been cooking up for some time, and HTC has been working on the Sense UI for 2.1 specifically. IIRC, there is a Hero ROM floating around with 2.1 (and Sense UI, since it is the Hero), so this further cements the concept that HTC as a manufacturer was just skipping 2.0.
2.0 was released for the Motorola Droid, and is a vanilla OS version. I believe 2.0.1 was an update conceived in partnership between Motorola and Google, and not just Google.

HTC decided to just kind of skip over this, and instead of working on a v2.0 w/Sense UI update, used the knowledge that 2.1 will be released in a reasonably close timeframe to just focus on said 2.1 release.

I'm sticking pretty firmly to the belief that both Verizon phones will be updated to Android 2.1 in late January, and the Nexus One will be released as the T-Mobile Nexus One in early-to-mid January.

Special UIs slow down the release of OS updates, but not by too much. HTC simply used a little practical logic and decided to flat-out skip 2.0, just not worth the development time with 2.1 being so close.

Since there were little bugs in both the Droid's 2.0 flavor, and the Droid Eris's Android version, both phones got an intermediate update to fix the nagging issues, as a short-term remedy while waiting for the more important 2.1 update in January.
 

nitromullet

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2004
9,031
36
91
Completely skipping 2.0 does make sense, provided that 2.1 comes out soon enough.

Obviously, VZW and Motorola wanted the Droid out before black Friday with the latest and greatest Android version, so having the Moto Droid with 2.0 also makes sense.