Droid X: Goodbye AT&T (iPhone), Hello Verizon (Android)!
Greetings everyone, it has been a while! I have taken a bit of a hiatus and got lost on Empire Avenue (I will blog about EAV soon!). Today’s post is going to be about the new Motorola Droid X from Verizon Wireless. I know, it is a bit of a shock, considering most of my last few months have been devoted to the iPhone 4, but sadly, after much thought, I have decided to end my relationship with AT&T. Yes, you heard right, it really isn’t so much Apple and iOS4 as it is AT&T. I really cannot deal with shoddy service, dropped calls, people complaining that they cannot hear me and more dropped calls. In my line of work, my real job that is, I cannot afford to have dropped calls. I log about 3,000 minutes a month and my device needs to be a phone first! With that, I needed to make a change and with the iPhone 4, the poorly designed antenna was the last straw. Along with my boss pretty much demanding I get a new carrier.
Hardware
So, hello Verizon and Motorola Droid X! Where have you been all my life? It has been 4 hours and nary dropped call 
. The first thing you notice right away is obviously how huge the screen is. It’s massive and takes up most of the phone. I am going to start with hardware, then discuss software. As many reviews have outlined prior to launch, this thing is packed with everything you could possibly want in a phone. Like most of my reviews, I am not going to do a blow by blow review of the specs and go through the hardware with a fine toothed comb. I will state what I like and dislike about the device in general and how it compares to my go-to devices and how I think you all will like it.
So my experience with Android started with the original Droid, which was version 2.0 of Android. It had Motorola’s software changes to Android and, let me tell you, they didn’t help the original Droid. Did Motorola make the same mistakes with the Droid X? YES! More on that in a bit. What I do love about the phone is the hardware. The screen is amazing! Not quite as nice as the iPhone 4,but when you are not doing an A/B comparison, it looks great. It is just so big! The 854×480 screen is gorgeous and bright. The Droid has come a long way baby!
The phone feels great in your hands and isn’t too big, at least for me. If you have small hands, what I recommend you do is go to the Verizon store and try it out, make up your own mind before you decide that this thing is too big. You may be surprised to find that you just may fall in love with a 4.3 inch screen! One of the things I was concerned with was one handed operation. With the Droid X, unlike the Sprint EVO, you can wake up the device with either a touch of the top sleep/wake button OR the home button on the bottom before sliding to unlock. This makes waking the device very easy.
For you iPhone converts you are going to love the fact that it has a notification LED on the top when you have an email, VM, IM, Twitter message, Facebook message or any other item that needs your attention. Sweet! For the love of all that is holy, why can’t Apple figure that one out after four tries? And thin and sexy? ooo-eee! This little number has curves. It is very thin all the way till you get to the camera, then it has this lip at the top, which acts as a rest for your hand. It actually kind of works, although when I first saw it, I thought it was really lame they couldn’t integrate it more evenly. I haven’t really tried the camera yet, so I can’t recommend it one way or the other, but it is 8MP and has a 720p video. The reviews are just ok on both. There is an HDMI out that I will never use (you need to buy a cable) and the headphone jacks work with standard headphones. It comes with a micro-usb charger which is great cause I have tons of extra’s lying around.
Software
I am really just getting to know the software and this is where it falls flat. The Motorola software blows. Hard. Why they would try to mess with Android, I will never understand. Motorola continues to try, and fails miserably, to put layers of software which bastardizes the Android OS. They have a social networking element that screws up your contact list. With things like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Skype, Yahoo, and Google, they are trying to have an integration of all your social networks. It sucks. You can only add one Twitter account. Huh? What good is that? And, you cannot really even interact with the service. What’s worse, it ingests ALL of your contacts from that social network into your contact list. You cannot stop this. You can post an update and see peoples status. That is it. Riiiight. You are clearly much better off downloading the Facebook and Twitter applications. My question is, did the folks at Motorola actually use the device? I doubt it. The clock is lame, so is the weather. Pretty much everything that Motorola has done to the software, stinks. Here is the really great news about Motorola’s software. You can ignore it and throw most of it in the trash. As Steve Jobs likes to say, there is an app for that! Just head over to the Marketplace and download what you need. I personally downloaded Launcher Pro and Beautiful Widgets (which is why it looks like an HTC Sense clock and weather widget) and the OS has never looked better.
On to Android. As an iPhone user, it isn’t quite as elegant and clearly not nearly as integrated into the Mac eco-system as the iPhone. The Twitter app is not nearly as nice, neither is Facebook. Not really sure why? I haven’t explored whether or not there are better alternative Twitter clients for Android yet, so sound off in the comments if you know of any. The notification bar rocks the house. It is amazing, no annoying popups to ruin games or emails. What an elegant way to display things. And, when you download a program in the marketplace, it just happens in the background. True multi-tasking! Not everything is smelling like roses of course, but this is way better than Android 2.0, which did have notifications and I did like it then, it is just there were virtually no apps at the time. Google Navigation is amazing and Google should keep that one to themselves, it is awesome.
The obvious comparison is going to be with the Sprint HTC EVO, which I did consider. The battery life reports, coupled with the lack of coverage in various areas in which I travel, pretty much sealed the deal for me on the Droid X. So far, I am happy with the decision and I hope to have an update soon. I will have either ported my number to Verizon or returned it and will have made the leap for the EVO. I am not going back to AT&T unless the iPhone goes to Verizon AND Apple fixes the antenna issue. Even then, I may be an Android convert.
So, can I recommend this device? Maybe: I am still testing it, but I do really like it so far. I can say that I really like Android so far; I really like a 4.3 inch screen and if you are reading the reviews on the EVO and don’t like what you read, then this may be the device for you. I haven’t found anything I don’t like on it yet other than the software, which you can totally ignore and the beauty of Android, you can customize it. A note on the Droid X; word is that if you try to root the Droid X, it will nuke your phone. Way to alienate your customers Motorola, that really sucks!
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My iPhone 4 I’ve had more issues with it than any of they other iPhone put together now it keeps telling me I don’t have a sim card installed so the phone doesn’t work unless pop the sim card out and put it back in you have to do this every time it messes up which sucks And I’ve already had the sim card replaced once ?
I recommend that you take the phone to an apple store, they should replace it!
I have been with AT&T since i left verizon when I had the treo 650. Where i lived, they had better reception than verizon. I picked up the iPhone first year, Iphone 2G, and now I have the 3GS (4.0/jailbrokne/unlocked).
It pains me so, but, after all this time, after all my friends have left me to be the sole survivor still on at&t with the iphone, i give up. My fiance’ was trying to reach me, again, and again, until i finally got the voicemail notification, i didn’t know she called. I have full bars, but apparently, no service.
To end my rant, I ordered the droid incredible. I went to the store to get the Droid X, but while playing with the X, it just seemed too big. Messed with the incredible and liked it more, and no worries about rooting it.
My friends say they will believe it (me without an iphone) when they see it, so sad that i have to go.
I also left AT&T/iPhone for Verizon/Droid X for the same reasons. Overall, I agree with everything that you said and think that this was one of the better reviews of the phone…you didn’t just copy and paste the hardware specs.
Anyway, I love the phone so far. The only frustrating thing is that my iTunes library has a lot of 256 and 320 bitrate AAC files, and I have discovered that Android can not work with AAC files with a higher bitrate than 160. It can handle any bitrate for MP3. That is my only complaint (now that you helped me get the Facebook junk out of my contacts!).
John, thanks for the comments!
I was not aware of the ACC issue, and perhaps that explains why some of my songs are missing! Will need to do some conversions.
I have found a couple interesting things about the X. For one, leaving wifi on crushes the battery. Launcher Pro, totally replaces all of the motoblur stuff. Beautiful Widgets will allow you to have an HTC Sense UI kind of feel if you are looking for that.
Ok, I need to get on mediamonkey or some other tool to start converting my ACC files to lossless Flac or MP3.
Thanks for the comment, it is one of the recommended apps in the blog post to help get rid of blur. Thanks!
Use launcher pro and get rid of blur forever.
Thanks for the comment, yes, I love launcher pro!!!!
Adam -
You can turn off the Twitter and Facebook contacts.
Open contacts, select menu button, select accounts, select facebook and/or Twitter, then remove account.
You will lose them, but then re-add Facebook and/or Twitter account. Then turn off the sync and don’t sync with contacts.
Thanks for offering that tip! For Droid X users, you will need to bypass the Motorola versions of Twitter and Facebook and download their official apps. Then choose whether or not you want to sync the contacts.
I left AT&T/iPhone last week for the same reason. I live in NYC and switched to Sprint to get the Evo. I love the phone. I love Android. But I get no reception in my apartment. Even with AT&T, I got reception in my apartment (although the calls often dropped). Today, I’m going to a Verizon store to play with a Droid X. If I like it, I’m going to jump ship — for the second time in two weeks. Is it asking too much to want a phone with solid hardware, that integrates Android well, on a network that doesn’t financially rape you for its good service?
Sorry.
If you enjoyed the EVO, and get good coverage from Verizon, i think you will love the Droid X.
No need to apologize, asking for a service that works on a phone that does what you want it to do shouldn’t be a big request.
Good luck!
I left the iPhone too, it cost to munch to have. I went to Sprint and picked the Evo. I really like it!
Can I give you a idea?
If you go to Verizon, don’t port your number yet. Try the Droid X with a new number. That way, if you choose to back to Sprint/EVO. You don’t need to mess around porting the numbers over again.
Anyway, just a thought. Good Luck!
I totally agree with you about the dropped calls, it drives me nuts and everyone is yelling at me to get another phone. They are tired of me dropping them.
I have until July 24th to return the Iphone 4, and am thinking about going back to Verizon, after I paid lots of money to get out of my contract to go to ATT. Boy was I dumb. Having said that, I have some questions. Was your contract up with AT & T or did you have to buy out? What, if any, difficulties have you found with your new phone in relationship to the Macbook Pro?
By the way, Apple is coming out with a news conference today about using the bumper to solve their problems. I have had that since day one. That doesn’t help one bit.
One thing that does not seem to be addressed by anyone is their proximity sensor. I am always either muting someone or dropping calls as a result of my cheek on the screen of the 4. Like you, I love the Iphone, it is very sexy, but it is driving me to an early grave.
Thanks for the post! I really havent found any issues with syncing with Mac. DoubleTwist integrates with iTunes for music and Videos. You can also put pictures and other items through the explorer app Astro Explorer using the Mass USB storage device.
After seeing the Apple press conference, it looks like the proximity sensor is being fixed with a software update.
You have another week to see if you want to return the iPhone and wait to see if they make any more changes, you can always upgrade then. Perhaps they will have it available in white?
Thanks for the review! This is the perspective I was looking for as a current iPhone 3gs user. I played with one briefly in a Verizon store yesterday and was quite lost in the UI. I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind:
1. How does that app work to remove the motoblur?
2. What is the process for loading music (currently in iTunes)
Thanks again!
Thanks for visting!
1. It isnt an app that you use to remove Motoblur, what you do is download LauncherPro and it will create an overlay that will basically put its own skin on top of Motoblur.
2. I use Doubletwist for Mac. This integrates with iTunes. Works great. You need to set the Android up to USB mode. You can then download the Doubltwist player for Android.
Great read! I went to see the Droid X today with the intentions of getting one. I really love the screen size and the feel of the device. Keyboard is large and easy to use. It runs very fast and is relatively easy to navigate (I agree that the Motorola software is horrible, hopefully they will wake up and dump it or at least give you the option to).
However, I prefer my HTC Incredible. There is no Motorola software issues to deal with and it just feels like everything works together a little bit better. As a recent iPhone convert, it was easier for me to adjust to. I hope that HTC introduces a device with a larger screen or simply offers the EVO on Verizon.
As a recent AT+T defector to Verizon — I am so happy that I jumped. I simply could not deal with AT+T’s terrible reception and dropped calls anymore. 2 years almost drove me into therapy. Since coming back to Verizon, I have become much more thankful for their reliablity. I am not going back to the iPhone even if they do open it to Verizon, simply because I am so angry that they alowed me to experience 2 years of AT+T hell.
Best of luck with the Droid X, I can’t wait to see more posts.
My note to Steve Jobs – piss off assh&*e
Thanks for the comment Matt, yes, it is good to be back to a reliable network. I am still up in the air on evo v. Droid. I don’t know anyone on Spint that can vouch for their reliability. It really does suck that the evo isn’t on verizon and i don’t think it will come until Verizon rolls out their LTE network later this year. What i will probably do is hold on to the Droid and wait for the LTE devices to roll out from HTC. Talk with you soon!
Good Post!
I put my name down on a waiting list @ Sprint for HTC EVO. Sometime next week.
Neat to compare Droid X against HTC EVO. However, I would recommend HTC over Motorola.
J, they have them in stock over near Trader Joe’s in MTKA as of yesterday. Call first.
I do hear ya, and thought real hard on HTC v. Moto. It really comes down to Sprint v. Verizon for me because with Android, you can pretty much tweak the hell out of it. The only real difference is going to be 4g. I am still undecided on this and may still go for the evo, but i hear the battery is pretty bad, so read the reviews. Thanks for the reply, you will love android!
So essentially you’re saying that this is inferior to iPhone in virtually every way, but you’re willing to put up with that in order to escape AT&T. Fair enough! But your review left me with two questions. Does it, like the iPhone, have a forward facing camera for video Skype? And can you use it on a GSM network in Europe?
Dan, being someone who loves just about everything Apple does, it was hard to make the switch, trust me. But, I need a phone first and the iPhone is horrible at making and keeping calls. I even bought the microcell, which didn’t work, to try to help. Apple, and more particularilaily, the app makers, create beautifully designed applications to run on the iPhone. Apps that run on both iOS and Android seem to look and feel better on iPhone, I don’t know why! But, it is that way. To your questions. The EVO has a front facing camera to do Skype over 3G/4g, which will be in Msp this fall. The Droid X does not I am sorry to say. And since both Sprint and Verizon are CDMA, neither work in Europe. Thanks again for visiting Dan!!!!