Comments for Droid: Is it an iPhone killer?

Droid: Is it an iPhone killer?

2009-10-28T22:09:06Z

The short answer is I don't know. I don't think anyone knows just yet, but I'll tell you this much: From the buzz and the comments I've seen online, it's definitely the closest thing that exists unless Steve Jobs already has the next generation iPhone in his pocket.

I almost had a chance to try it out this morning, but sadly something came up and I couldn't get to the press briefing. But I'm impressed with what I'm hearing.

Click through for the specs and some more thoughts - you'll find those in parenthesis.

High-speed mobile browsing (We all have that. Next).

Android 2.0-powered (From what I've seen, Android is looking much better at 2.0 than it did at 1.anything.)

Voice-activated search (I can do that with an iPhone, but the fact that it's built into Droid makes the experience that much better. That said, I don't really use voice-activated anything for much of what I do, but your mileage may vary).

Slide-out QWERTY keyboard (I hear the feel of the keyboard is awesome, but after two years of my iPhone touch keyboard, I'd never go back).

5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash (iPhone's camera - even though it was recently upgraded to 3.2 megapixels, is woefully behind the times. In fact, I think it's one of the weakest pieces of the iPhone).

16 gigs of removable storage (removable is nice)

3.7-inch display with more than 400,000 total pixels. The resolution is 854x480 which is equal to 267 ppi. For comparison purposes, the iPhone is 163 ppi.

Customizable home screen with pre-loads like Facebook and Google Maps (no big deal here, although I think Apple and Facebook should work together and do something bigger than they do now, which is basically nothing).

Multitask messaging that integrates work and personal email (I'm a fan of multitask anything. I know Apple says it slows down the experience, but apparently it can be done so I'll look forward to Apple changing its position on that soon).

Nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network (Sorry, AT&T, but you get zero points for this one. I would expect a phone on Verizon to have much better coverage and the overall experience to be better).

Thousands of apps and hundreds of widgets from Android Market (ehhhh. 100,000 apps in the iTunes App Store. I don't think you should be pushing the app angle).

DVD quality video camcorder featuring 16:9 cinematic display (Sounds like the quality of video/photo is just plain better than the iPhone. As I said earlier, Apple is woefully deficient in this area).

5.96 oz (That's heavy, but if it's substantial and feels right in your hand, well, that's more important.

The price is $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Minus a full star for that, Verizon - seriously. The mail-in rebate annoys me almost as much as that impossible to open plastic packaging that cuts your fingers. I don't want to fill out forms. Charge me $199. No rebates. Period. Not interested in the bother and the time it takes to put it all together and the time it takes to get the money.

It's available on Nov. 6.

So tell me - what are your thoughts? Would you switch to Verizon for this phone? Does it look and sound like an iPhone killer to you? Remember - it's just a matter of time before you see an iPhone on Verizon. I don't know when that will be, but I know it's if, it's when.

I'll close with this. Droid may be a great phone. And Droid may be the closest thing to an iPhone killer on the market. But I've heard it before. Voyager still makes me laugh. Palm Pre is really nothing special. The power of Google and Android is definitely iPhone's closest competitor, but will Droid be able to overpower the cool factor that comes with the iPhone?

We'll see. I always say that competition is great for everyone and this is no exception.

Let me know what you think in the comments or on Twitter.

Thanks for calling.

Comment from All About iPhone UK on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T00:58:13Z

Nah, Droid won't kill the iPhone. It's all about the apps.

As Gruber mentioned today, no-one thinks the iPhone 3GS sucks more than Steve Jobs. They're already working on its successor, on iPhone OS 4.0.

I have a feeling that the next iPhone is the iPhone HD.

Comment from JudeeB on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T01:44:19Z

I think once the battery & reception issues are resolved, you'll never have a reason to write a column as this one. I can live with some of the negatives you stated -- as I can live with a public health care option with an opt out clause -- so I am sticking with the iPhone. The iPhone can only get better -- Steve Jobs isn't going to drop it at this point -- his ego won't let him.

Comment from J.M. Haas on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T02:18:15Z

Well, I think there is a case to be made for droid based phones taking over the market. Maybe not now or even in the next few years, but I think that all of the problems iPhone users have had in the past year (especially in the Chicago area) without speedy improvement, might be the turning point for some. I have the iPhone 3GS and I love it, but last month when I couldn't get it to connect a call or send a simple text, I was about ready to throw it out the window.

I think the key to the iPhone's popularity in the years to come is the network. If you see iPhones with Verison in the next few years, I think it will be safe. If not, I think many people will be fed up and get themselves an iPod Touch for the apps and a droid phone or a blackberry.

Also, if the droid phones break into the Enterprise/Blackberry market which iPhones for the most part still haven't (most likely because of the lack of physical keyboard which I doubt the iPhone will ever get) then you may see a big rise there.

As far as apps are concerned, I can promise you that the number of droid widgets that will be developed will surpass what is being offered in the app store. It's more open to developers and they won't have to jump through all the hoops that Apple put them through.

All this being said, I will be sticking with my iPhone, even though I know that a cool new iPhone will be coming out every summer and I will have to wait a year to get it and be jealous. (damn 2 year contracts)

Comment from Paul Spitsen on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T02:46:01Z

No one piece of hardware can be all things to all people. That being said I know that I could never like a "slider" device. That is yesterday's technology no matter how much other good stuff you cram inside the device. Apple will continue to provide hardware designs that are industry leading even if their devices don't contain all the things that everyone feels they should have inside them.

Comment from Ryan Kiefer on 2009-10-28

2009-10-29T03:29:38Z

I'm sticking with the iPhone just because it syncs oh-so-nicely with all of my Mac programs. And this is without MobileMe! Once had the nightmare of dealing with syncing an iPod touch directly with Microsoft Outlook. Don't try this at home.

Comment from Bill Rafferty on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T14:34:01Z

Is it an iPhone killer? No. With the Apple app store any carrier/phone manufacturer would be hard pressed to come up with a killer. Would I switch back to Verizon for this phone? In a second. I have been plagued with minor issues with my iPhone that have added up to my complete and total dissatisfaction with the device. Is Android better? Time will tell, but I am a fan of FLOSS also so that's a plus to me. I loved my iPhone when I first got it, but between bugs that have popped up over the past 18 months and AT&T's spotty 3G coverage I am ready for a change. Of device at least, of carrier if necessary.

Comment from Charles Slutzky on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T14:47:27Z

This google phone rocks. Free Turn by Turn navigation, the car docks/desk top docs work great. The widgets on the homescreen are so useful. Not to mention all the things the commercial says. It won me over. The android market is only going to grow when there are 20 android phones out there on all the networks, and the iphone (for now) is only one 1. (plus I love how all my contacts are synced/backed up with my gmail account, and all of their facebook profile pictures show up when they call me)

Comment from cyanyde on 2009-10-29

2009-10-29T14:50:20Z

Who cares?? If people put half the time/money wasted using their phones into the community instead, we would be a lot better off.

Comment from Wiz on 2009-10-30

2009-10-30T17:42:26Z

I'm not sure what you mean by 'kill'. I mean, was Windows the Apple killer? Right now the iPhone has every reason to feel good about itself. It changed the world. There would be no Android or Droid phone if there had been no iPhone. I am certain that the Android platform will overtake the Mac OS phone platform in a few years. And there will be features available on the platform that will not be on the Mac (do you realize how long it was before you could Command-Tab to cycle through programs on a Mac or how long it was before an Apple mouse could right-click?

That said, the iPhone will continue to be the innovative hand-held computer that it was born as. And I will remain a fan

Comment from Harold Olivey on 2009-10-31

2009-11-01T00:07:47Z

I left Verizon for my iPhone in May. While I love my phone, I would jump at the chance to have the coverage and reliability of Verizon back. When my AT&T contract is up, if the Droid lives up to its billing, I'd seriously consider going back. Also, Best Buy is offering instant rebate http://bit.ly/NexXm. I agree that rebates suck, but that makes it a little bit more palatable.

Comment from SidricTheViking on 2009-11-02

2009-11-03T01:00:38Z

Scott, I think the Droid, following on from the Pre will cause one thing to happen: iPhone updates more than once a year. Annual updates work fine for iPods but the mobile phone business changes much faster. With computers, both desktops and laptops, Apple already updates a couple of times each year. The iPhone is going to need a similar rate of improvement. I know that 2-year contracts would seem to work against that but perhaps 18 or even 12-month contracts will become the norm next year. With Android, WebOS et al cranking up their game Apple has to respond to maintain the great lead it currently has. I, for one, wod love to see biennial updates, even if I could only drool with envy until my next upgrade option comes round!

Comment from TheIphoneSucks on 2009-11-07

2009-11-07T08:45:37Z

you guys should check out this video about the iphone, it’s funny but sad at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggD3Hr1rVyA

What would really be nice is if a phone company would provide a truly awesome smart phone and not deliberately overcharge them for buying one i.e. charging a mandatory data plan fee for a phone even if you don’t plan on using the phone for data that much or would prefer to use the phones data capabilities via wi-fi only.

at&t should have at least given people the option. As it stands they can’t even handle the massive increase in data traffic that happened as a result of the massive influx of new iphone owners!