Motorola Droid / Google Android

I still have my trusty T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) from late 2008. The birth of Android. Still runs fairly well! But mine is highly modified and optimized. I rooted it and installed a custom ROM; I love the stuff Cyanogen puts out.

http://cyanogenmod.com


My wife recently got a Nexus One (she absolutely loves it and I can see why). The day she got it I asked her if I can borrow it for a little while. She relinquished it to me and I immediately went to work "voiding the warranty." LOL! I handed it back to her rooted and mod'ed. Live on the (cutting) edge I say! Hehehe :thumbsup:

Anyway, it's almost time for me to upgrade to a beefier new Android phone. I'm waiting a bit longer to see what T-Mobile USA may offer beyond the Nexus One.

Barry_Green said:
... I do really like the Garmin app for it, but getting tired of having to pull the battery to reboot the darn thing!
Click to expand...

I love Google Maps; the GPS navigation is quite awesome, especially the satellite view where you can "see the Burger King on your screen as you can see yourself driving by it in real-life." But I like using it in a pinch. I prefer a dedicated GPS unit for my vehicles. Garmin is solid. In fact, Garmin is coming out with an Android phone.

http://phandroid.com/2010/04/26/garminfone-wants-to-navigate-your-life-sign-up-now/
 
Glad I bumped this thread. Lots of great info. thanks, guys.

I could get the HTC Incredible which comes out this week, looks like it has a lot of internal memory, storage & all that crap. The only major drawback I see is it has no physical keyboard.

Anyone think I should pick up something like the existing Motorola, or you think I'll just get used to the touch screen for texting, browsing, etc.?

I wonder how long till the next Motorola goes on the market that Timur mentioned. Always something better on the horizon......
 
Deepfocus88 said:
...I could get the HTC Incredible which comes out this week, looks like it has a lot of internal memory, storage & all that crap. The only major drawback I see is it has no physical keyboard.

Anyone think I should pick up something like the existing Motorola, or you think I'll just get used to the touch screen for texting, browsing, etc.?...
Click to expand...

I think there is no true replacement for a physical keyboard with real tactile feedback. I absolutely love them. Software keyboards can be decent, but IMHO, it's just not the same (I'm a blazingly fast typer with physical keys and so-so with soft keys). However, I think physical keyboards are slowly (and sadly) being phased out in the majority of mobile devices. To get the "best in high tech," you might very well have to opt for one that has a software keyboard, and just start getting used to it as people like us are now in the minority.

So, I think an HTC Incredible would make you very happy if you look at it from that perspective. There's always a new and "better" Android device on the horizon; if you keep waiting, you'll be waiting forever. Oh, Swype is quite an awesome little program that introduces a new pardigm for software keyboard input.

http://swype.com
 
DC said:
I still have my trusty T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream) from late 2008. The birth of Android. Still runs fairly well! But mine is highly modified and optimized. I rooted it and installed a custom ROM; I love the stuff Cyanogen puts out.

http://cyanogenmod.com


My wife recently got a Nexus One (she absolutely loves it and I can see why). The day she got it I asked her if I can borrow it for a little while. She relinquished it to me and I immediately went to work "voiding the warranty." LOL! I handed it back to her rooted and mod'ed. Live on the (cutting) edge I say! Hehehe :thumbsup: ...
Click to expand...

BTW, I just want to make something clear:

Rooting and mod'ing - in and of itself - your Android phone is 100% legal! Even Google gives their "blessing" by allowing you to somewhat easily unlock your Nexus One when attached to a computer with the Android SDK. All they basically say is that YOU are voiding your warranty should YOU choose to make these modifications. In other words, don't come back crying if something goes wrong, i.e. it doesn't work 100% as it did, or you brick your phone. You're sorta on your own island once you do this. So far, there is no way to reverse this on the Nexus One, though other Android phones can (with some tinkering) be reverted back to factory stock.

Android is an open platform and that's a big part of the beauty of it. There has, however, been only one legal issue (that I'm aware of) which came up some months back.

http://androidandme.com/2009/09/hacks/cyanogenmod-in-trouble/

Cyanogen (Steve Kondik) was issued a "cease & desist" order from Google for his earlier ROM distributions. This was because his ROMs contained certain proprietary Google apps that were not allowed to be re-distributed. What was really cool was that Google opened up a dialogue with him to try to resolve the issue, and after a short time, he figured out an alternative way around Google's complaint. He simply distributes his ROMS without those Google apps. Depending on which phone you own, you can restore/preserve the Google apps by legal means. In the end, we all get what we want; Cyanogen is happy, the community is happy, and Google is happy. :)

Here is what Cyanogen wrote after Google's hammer came down on him:

Cyanogen said:
Sept 27, 2009

The last few days have been difficult. What has become clear now is that the Android Open Source Project is a framework. It’s licensed in such a way so that anyone can take it, modify it to their needs, and redistribute it as they please. Android belongs to everyone. This also means that big companies likes Google, HTC, Motorola, and whomever else can add their own pieces to it and share these pieces under whatever license they choose.

I’ve made lots of changes myself to the AOSP code, and added in code from lots of others. Building a better Droid, right?
The issue that’s raised is the redistribution of Google’s proprietary applications like Maps, GTalk, Market, and YouTube. These are not part of the open source project and are only part of “Google Experience” devices. They are Google’s intellectual property and I intend to respect that. I will no longer be distributing these applications as part of CyanogenMod. But it’s OK. None of the go-fast stuff that I do involves any of this stuff anyway. We need these applications though, because we all rely so heavily on their functionality. I’d love for Google to hand over the keys to the kingdom and let us all have it for free, but that’s not going to happen. And who can blame them?

There are lots of things we can do as end-users and modders, though, without violating anyones rights. Most importantly, we are entitled to back up our software. Since I don’t work with any of these closed source applications directly, what I intend to do is simply ship the next version of CyanogenMod as a “bare bones” ROM. You’ll be able to make calls, MMS, take photos, etc. In order to get our beloved Google sync and applications back, you’ll need to make a backup first. I’m working on an application that will do this for you.

The idea is that you’ll be able to Google-ify your CyanogenMod installation, with the applications and files that shipped on YOUR device already. Or, you can just use the basic ROM if you want. It will be perfectly functional if you don’t use the Google parts. I will include an alternative app store (SlideMe, or AndAppStore, not decided yet) with the basic ROM so that you can get your applications in case you don’t have a Google Experience device.

I’ll have more updates soon as I get all the code hammered out.

Thanks for all the support thru all of this.

------

Sept 30, 2009

I’ve been working on getting my source trees on Github in shape so that anyone can build a basic CyanogenMod system. Some small parts still need added but things are looking good there.

I’m also continuing to examine the backup/restore option for the proprietary bits necessary to operate your device, so I can simply ship open-source code only. I believe this is well within the license and the spirit of the ADP1 and ION devices.

A lot of people are helping to work many of these issues out, notably the guys from Google (Dan and JBQ) who manage the open-source project. Some great discussion and initiatives are happening like the Open Android Alliance and the Replicant projects. As much as it sucks to be sort of the “fall guy” for this, I can take it. Let’s fix the problems and move on.

Expect more from me by the weekend!

------

Oct 5, 2009

Finally now that the dust has settled.. The installation process is slightly more complicated the first time around, and you’ll need to agree and understand HTC’s licensing terms.

No CM Updater support just yet, but that’s next.

Check out my thread on XDA for the scoop:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=567610
Click to expand...
 
On a side note . . .

I just got Android OS v2.1 running on my T-Mobile G1 (HTC Dream)! This was quite a feat involving a significant amount of tinkering and flirting with disaster. But thanks to Cyanogen's (and co.'s) coding genius and my relentless (but careful) mod'ing passion, my phone now enjoys nearly all the same luxuries as a Nexus One and other similarly classed Android phones.

Anyone who's a bit tech savvy can pull this off with their own Dream/Magic/Sapphire. It's still slightly experimental but I got lucky and my current installation works well enough to be a "daily driver." Others have reported not so good results. But if you make a backup image of your functional pre-2.1 installation, you can always revert then keep trying. I just feel bad for those that "brick" their phones by fumbling the radio or SPL flashing. Eeek. :shocked:

http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/index....c-would-you-like-a-pony-v507-test1-04292010/?
 
mcgeedigital said:
Got my HTC incredible on Thursday.

Best phone/computer/gadget I've ever had!
Click to expand...

Oh, I have NO doubt about that, my friend! :thumbsup: Me be a wee bit jealous. Ok, a LOT jealous! :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

DJDecay said:
Cool, the Android platform running Linux is infinitely more expandable than the closed iPhone . . .
Click to expand...

I agree. It's very cool what people are doing with this platform. It runs on a highly modified Linux kernal, yes.

DJDecay said:
. . . did Verizon ever institute that WCDMA (EVDO) bandwidth restriction?
Click to expand...

Not sure; I'm on GSM hardware. However, the truth is out there . . . :happy:

DJDecay said:
Unfortunate that Apple owns their little "gestures" for another 11 years they bought of from Touch, Inc. - What I've found that instead of Mobile Me, Android phones use GMAIL/Google,
if you forget that "core" password (which now supports remote-kill of a lost android phone) it's impossible to recover past the initial setup.
Click to expand...

Yep, they've got some super slick stuff weaved in there.
 
Soon, the Blackberry will be relegated to the bin, to be replaced (most likely) with one of these...
http://now.sprint.com/evo/?ECID=vanity:evo

Android 2.1.
8-megapixel camera.
720p HD video from a cell phone!
Huge high-res screen, over twice the def of an iPhone
and ... oh yeah, 4G connectivity, so internet speeds at 12 megabits per second, which is about 8x faster than the DSL or cable interent they offer here at my house.
and ... check this out, it works as a hotspot so up to 8 other computers could use it as a remote hotspot. It's its own mobile 4G hotspot.

Reviews/previews on it are pretty killer. But it's still three weeks away and I don't know what Sprint will charge for the monthly plan. Looks to be ideal though.
 
Barry_Green said:
Soon, the Blackberry will be relegated to the bin, to be replaced (most likely) with one of these...
http://now.sprint.com/evo/?ECID=vanity:evo
Click to expand...

I have my eye on this phone. I've had the Palm Pre since it came out last summer and while it can do MANY MANY things it can be frustrating at times. It can down right piss me off. The software program used to drive the call feature, which is the single most important part of a phone, is maddening. So, hopefully, this HTC is better thought out.

If I switch phones, I'll surely chime in with some input.
 
mcgeedigital said:
Does Sprint have a "new every 2" plan?
Click to expand...
No idea; I haven't been on sprint in years and years and years.

However, I did find details of the monthly pricing including 4G data. It's not too bad. $79.99 monthly, for unlimited 3G and 4G data/websurfing/etc, unlimited voice calling to any wireless phone, unlimited texting, and 450 minutes for calling any wired phone.

If you want to use it as a wireless hotspot, that's an additional $30/month.

http://jbtaylor.posterous.com/sprint-evo-4g-pricing-vs-atandt-and-verizon
 
I purchased an HTC incredible a couple weeks ago and I really love it. I did not want a physical keyboard and was waiting for a phone with 32gb memory...

It's amazing. The touch screen is gorgeous, and fun to use, and the phone does a bunch of crazy useful and fun things. 3g is crazy fast. It's everything I wanted ever since the first iPhone came out.

The evo looks to be great also. It has a bigger screen but equal resolution to the incredible, so the benefit is debatable. You might want to hold one in your hand to see how you like the larger size; it seems like it might be a giant.
 
Yeah, I'll have to see what it's actually like... but ... come on, 720p HD video on a phone, and 4G speed, those two right there are calling to my techie nerd roots... :)
 
Barry_Green said:
Yeah, I'll have to see what it's actually like... but ... come on, 720p HD video on a phone, and 4G speed, those two right there are calling to my techie nerd roots... :)
Click to expand...

I heard the 720p video shoots like 20fps max. 4g coverage is spotty. A couple things to check on.
 
4G is only in about 27 towns so far, covering about 15% of the US population. I happen to be in one of the towns where it's active, so ... not worried about that. And most of the places I go are in the map. And the rep said that within 8 months they should have rolled out full nationwide 4G.

But, hey, it'll always drop down to 3G for uncovered areas.

Where did you hear the 720p was only 20fps? I thought it was 24...
 
20fps? Seriously? Bah. What is this, a Canon T1i or something?

Soooo close. Well, hopefully they got the spec wrong.

And, yeah, I don't expect any actual quality out of the phone, but ... just like a DSLR, if you want to put a lot of work into it, I bet you could get something pretty good looking. The Nokia N8 demo footage looked pretty good for cell phone footage.

But, yeah, if it's 20fps, that's a bit silly. Certainly less appealing.
 
well, android 2.2 is coming out within days, they claim massive massive performance improvements. it might be the extra boost the evo needs when it can be installed to get more framerates. offers a lot of other cool features too. but as far as smartphones go, Evo is gonna be at top of its game. Switching to sprint for it asap... hopefully 4g coverage in the tri state soon!
 
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