What do you think about the Verizon Android Phone? - Page 19

kdarling · 11-02-2009, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by psylichon

Interesting note about the European version of the Droid (The "Milestone") on BGR... apparently it does multitouch whereas the American version does not. Think it has anything to do with Apple patents in the USA? Hmmm...

Apple doesn't have any applicable patents on multitouch, so probably not.

Could be a parts price thing, with it left out to make the phone less expensive here. But perhaps it's just software.

I haven't found a lot of use for multitouch on a handheld anyway. Its main advantage is with onscreen keyboards or game controls, but if you have real buttons, no sweat.

As for zoom, there are ways to do that with just one finger. (Like drawing a circle around the part you want to zoom. Or double-clicking, as even Apple put in for ease. I think I actually pinch maybe only once a month.)

Hawk · 11-02-2009, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by kdarling

Apple doesn't have any applicable patents on multitouch, so probably not.

And here I was under the impression that Apple DID own the rights to multi-touch... At least here in the states.
I was sure that was one of the reasons that the G1 did not have full multi-touch. Maybe I am mistaken.

kdarling · 11-02-2009, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Hawk

And here I was under the impression that Apple DID own the rights to multi-touch... At least here in the states.

A lot of people mistakenly got that impression from the first widespread (and technically abysmal) web articles about the Apple scrolling patent, before wiser heads pointed out their mistake.

Of course, headlines make bigger splashes than corrections do.

I don't even think they got the word "MultiTouch" trademarked. Last time I looked it up in the summer, the government had denied their application.

I was sure that was one of the reasons that the G1 did not have full multi-touch. Maybe I am mistaken.

Someone else has pointed out that it could simply be another agreement that Google made with Apple. That sounds more likely than my scenarios about cost. I foresee some hacks for that right away.

Londonrockz568 · 11-04-2009, 03:32 AM

psylichon · 11-05-2009, 01:00 PM

Appleinsider did a great review roundup of the Droid:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...d_handset.html

connie · 11-05-2009, 07:54 PM

Just played with a Motorola Droid at Walmart (yes they are selling them today), it was awful. It felt like a cheap plastic toy. The keyboard is just awful. I can't imagine anyone buying one of these. My husband who's on Verizon wanted one until we actually got our hands on it and played around with it. I hated it. Best Buy had the HTC Droid but they would not sell it until tomorrow. That one seems to be better than the Motorola phone. So happy with my iPhone

.

TRBO VNM · 11-06-2009, 10:40 PM

a buddy of mine just got one. he said he likes it so far. I haven't had a chance to check it out. sometime next week. it might be the phone for a lot of people. my problem is verizon service is horrible where I live. so even if it was the best thing out there, I wouldn't be able to use it worth a damn.

Deathwish238 · 11-07-2009, 04:25 PM

Cnet review

They gave it 4 stars...same as the 3GS.

Originally Posted by connie

Just played with a Motorola Droid at Walmart (yes they are selling them today), it was awful. It felt like a cheap plastic toy. The keyboard is just awful. I can't imagine anyone buying one of these. My husband who's on Verizon wanted one until we actually got our hands on it and played around with it. I hated it. Best Buy had the HTC Droid but they would not sell it until tomorrow. That one seems to be better than the Motorola phone. So happy with my iPhone .

lol cheap plastic toy.

You hate it and can't imagine anyone buying it? Guess all the professionals saying it's pretty great and a good alternative to the iPhone have no idea what they're talking about.

By HTC Droid, do you mean the Droid Eris? It's just a Hero...so no it's not better.

You realize there's an on screen keyboard too right? No one forces you to use the physical keyboard and the on screen is quite good.

I am dissapointed that the keyboard isn't better...it should have gotten nothing but good remarks. Though I think most would just get used to it and learn to type on it. I didn't know how to type well on my G1 at first, but now I type 90 wpm. Cnet said the Droid's keyboard is better than the G1's too...

Plus, the keyboard is one of the least important aspects of the phone imo. The software is more important...and Android 2.0 is excellent.

psylichon · 11-07-2009, 04:29 PM

Connie just gave her opinion (as all of us here do). YMMV

rocketto98 · 11-07-2009, 04:33 PM

I like the droid

Hopefully Apple will give the next iPhone the same screen though!