One Droid to rule them all

[s44]

Yup, the Prime. Guess that explains how the next flagship Android can be Verizon-exclusive -- it's a return to the OG Droid days, when Eclair launched on it (and made Android what it is today).

Man, Moto is really blowing it with both their big launches this year.

 

[Glitchny]

I'm kinda worried that since it is branded as a Droid it will be stuck in update hell and come with all of Verizons shit apps. I really hope not but... ugh.

 

[misle]

The question for me is, Bionic in 2 weeks or Prime in 5-9 weeks?

 

[Spoooon]

The question for me is, Bionic in 2 weeks or Prime in 5-9 weeks?

I'm just going to wait until there is some firm date on the Prime. I've been waiting on Bionic for a while, but with Prime so soon and a touchpad to mitigate my new gadget fix, I think I can wait a bit longer.

 

[Oyeve]

so only 2 SGS2?

 

[Paladin]

With the Vigor (Incredible HD? or TB 2?) and now the Prime probably coming gonna have to play the waiting game.

 

[s44]

so only 2 SGS2?

Yeah, unless you're counting the Hercules that will also be announced tomorrow.

 

[anxi80]

Was planning on the Droid but with October coming up quick I'm going to wait to see what the Prime brings to the table. A part of me is worried Verizon bloats it but another part of me thinks no way the first Ice Cream Sandwich device comes with a skin/bloat on it.

Of course this is the same company that was the last to the market with a bluetooth phone because they thought customers would transfer ringtones/wallpapers to their handsets instead of buying it through their Get It Now application. I know that was a long time ago but history shows Verizon prefers to march to the beat of their own drum.

 

[Demo24]

Well if it's a nexus device then it should be stock android. This is the phone I am now waiting on as it's becoming increasingly clear this is the sgs2.5, plus ice cream sandwich = win in my books!

 

[Bateluer]

Devs on Twitter are saying the BGR is flat wrong with this. The Prime will not be a Droid branded device.

 

[Anubis]

Devs on Twitter are saying the BGR is flat wrong with this. The Prime will not be a Droid branded device.

droid branded or not it wont stop me from getting it

will be the first time i buy a phone off contract

 

[obidamnkenobi]

A droid branded Nexus does seem weird. Even if it's true, I would think there needs to be a GSM version for international market. So I would be able to get one for AT&T anyway so I'm not too worried.

 

[anxi80]

Devs on Twitter are saying the BGR is flat wrong with this. The Prime will not be a Droid branded device.

..and it appears BGR has updated their post to reflect this.

This does raise an interesting scenario though. With the rumors of iPhone 5 launching in September/October does Verizon stay on their schedule and release the Bionic in September, Vigor in October and presumably push the Prime to November or do they tell HTC to shove off and bump the Prime up to October to compete? Or perhaps release the Vigor around the same time but give it smaller marketing attention?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Well with all the new phones being released in the next ~2 months I think the Bionic is done for now.

The longer I can push my current D1 the better I'll be (can upgrade gf's phone at same time then)

 

[YoungGun21]

I don't care what they call it. I want it.

 

[Red Storm]

I want the Nexus Prime on Verizon, not another Droid branded phone that will likely be infested with tons of bloatware... :\

 

[abaez]

I want the Nexus Prime on Verizon, not another Droid branded phone that will likely be infested with tons of bloatware... :\

Won't happen on Verizon.

 

[shortylickens]

I'm kinda worried that since it is branded as a Droid it will be stuck in update hell and come with all of Verizons shit apps. I really hope not but... ugh.

Root.
Install what you like.
All good.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

A droid branded Nexus does seem weird. Even if it's true, I would think there needs to be a GSM version for international market. So I would be able to get one for AT&T anyway so I'm not too worried.

getting one for europe/asia is no problem most likely, but the issue of getting an 850/1900 3G compatible phone is still always another story....

 

[UNCjigga]

My guess is that whether the Prime is Nexus branded or Droid branded won't matter--either way it will be a pure Google device with stock ICS and AOSP based updates.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Even if one doesn't plan to get the iphone 5, one should still wait because of it's impact on the market. It forces OHA members to make better Android phones and slash prices on existing ones.

If the phone is indeed exclusive to VZW, I'm not worried, variations for other carriers will come soon after it's launched.

Hoping both the Prime and the iphone 5 set the bar very high.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Even if one doesn't plan to get the iphone 5, one should still wait because of it's impact on the market.

You expect the Android makers to drop their screen size significantly, rip out half their RAM, and reduce the clock speed on their processors? I'm going to go out on a limb and say not too likely. To say that Apple has had close to no impact on hardware would be giving them a bit more credit then they deserve.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/1

That was when they launched the iPhone 4, they were below/matched the specs of existing Android devices at the time. Android phone makers aren't getting into a spec war with Apple, that's like Mike Tyson getting in a fist fight with Dakota Fanning right now. For all the hype over the "Retina Display" the most popular Android devices in the world have reduced their PPI, and gotten applause for it for the most part(people want bigger screens more then increased resolution apparently).

You can make a lot of arguments over iOS and what they did or did not do, but iPhone hardware certainly isn't known for pushing any limits outside of battery life on a regular basis(yes, the iP4 pushed PPI, but the 3GS was the worst in the industry by a long shot).