Droid 2 Explained

Slogan:"Droid Does"
Manufacturer:Motorola
Series:Droid
Carrier:Verizon Wireless
Networks:Droid 2: CDMA2000/EV-DO Rev. A 800/1900 MHz[1]
Milestone 2: quad band GSM, UMTS 900/2100 MHz[2]
Droid 2 Global: quad band GSM, UMTS 850/1900/2100 MHz, CDMA 800/1900 MHz[3]
Price:$149.99, contract
$559.99, no contract[4] Secondary seller pricing as of December 2010 is $0.00 with contract[5]
Discontinued:Q3 2011
Predecessor:Motorola Droid
Successor:Droid 3[6]
Droid 4
Related:Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid Pro, Motorola Droid X, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Droid Bionic, Motorola Milestone, Motorola Milestone 2, Motorola Droid 3, Motorola Milestone 3
Form:Slate slider smartphone
Size:116.3mm H
60.5mm W
13.7mm D
Weight:169g
Os:Android 2.2[7]
2.3.4 Gingerbread with over-air update August 2011
4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich with custom ROMs
Input:Slide out full QWERTY keyboard
Cpu:1 GHz OMAP 3630[8] Droid 2 Global runs an OMAP3640 clocked at 1.2 GHz
Memory:8 GB flash ROM, 512 MB RAM
Storage:8 GB onboard phone, SD card up to 32 GB (included 8 GB MicroSD Card)
Memory Card:8 GB microSD, maximum 32 GB
Battery:1400 mAh internal rechargeable removable lithium-ion polymer batteryTalk time: 9.58 hoursStandby time: up to 315 hours
Display:480×854 px (0.41 MP) TFT LCD, 3.7inches, 16:9 aspect ratio, WVGA
Rear Camera:5.0 MP, autofocus, dual LED flash, digital zoom, geotagging
Ringtones:64 polyphonic ringtones
Connectivity:Bluetooth 2.1, HTML web browser, synchronization, Wi-Fi, WLAN, 3G Mobile Hotspot
Other:Virtual QWERTY keyboard, Swype, physical keyboard (QWERTY keyboard)
Hac:Yes

The Motorola Droid 2 (GSM/UMTS version: Motorola Milestone 2; GSM/UMTS/CDMA version: Motorola Droid 2 Global) is the fifth mobile phone in Verizon's Droid line. In the U.S., it is available exclusively on Verizon Wireless,[9] and was released August 12, 2010 (pre-order sales of the device began August 11).[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] It runs the Android operating system by Google, and can run Flash Player 10.1.[9] It comes with 8 GB of internal memory and is shipped with an additional 8 GB SDHC card, upgradable to 32 GB. It has a 3.7 in display and a 5-megapixel camera.[9] Unlike the Droid X, the Motorola Droid 2 features a redesigned slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but still features the Swype keyboard found on the Droid X.[9] A limited edition version featuring the Star Wars droid character R2-D2 with exclusive apps and content was announced by Verizon for September 30, 2010, to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary for The Empire Strikes Back.[9] [15]

Reception

Reviewers felt that the good aspects of the prior Droid, like the sturdy build and functional styling, were maintained in the Droid 2, but with many refinements. Some reviewers thought that the styling was less abrupt, but some criticised the device for not departing enough from the prior design. The consensus on the screen was that, while it was not as big as some phones, or as high resolution as the iPhone 4, it was good quality and not too small. The new keyboard was praised by some reviewers for being less awkward than on the prior Droid, but others found little improvement. The keyboard overall had mixed reviews but was generally the same but without a d-pad. The camera, like other parts of the device, was criticised by some for being little better than the prior device, but most were happy with picture quality. Most reviewers found the device to be good and solid all around, but were unimpressed by what they saw as a small evolution of an already successful model rather than a revolutionary new device.[16] [17] [18]

Patent suit

In October 2010, Microsoft filed a lawsuit against Motorola with the International Trade Commission in a district court in Washington, D.C., claiming the manufacturer had "infringed on nine patents in its Android-based devices."[19] The court papers specifically mention the Droid 2 and Motorola Charm smartphones but Microsoft claimed that it was not limited to these phones.

Revised model (new keyboard)

The original Droid phone received criticism for its keys being too flat and for not having an offset placement. The Droid 2 was designed with a replacement closer to that of standard keyboard as seen with computer's keyboard with significantly raised ("domed") keys.

A revision of the Droid 2 features keys that are much closer to the flatness of the Droid 1, but it does maintain the offset placement. Both phones are labeled as Model: A955, HW B on the inside of the battery compartment. Other changes may have been made as well.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Droid² by Motorola . Tech specs . . January 29, 2011.
  2. Web site: Motorola Milestone 2 . Tech specs . . January 29, 2011.
  3. Web site: Droid² Global by Motorola . Tech specs . . January 29, 2011.
  4. Web site: Set Your Location . Verizonwireless.com . April 22, 2011 .
  5. Web site: Droid 2 pricing consistently stays at $0.00 with new contract . Allcellbrands.com . April 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707112752/http://www.allcellbrands.com/contract-phone/detail/5711-Motorola-DROID-2-verizon.htm . July 7, 2011 . dead .
  6. Web site: Motorola Droid / Milestone 3 gets previewed, Verizon release finally nearing? -- Engadget . June 13, 2011 . . July 4, 2011.
  7. Web site: DROID by Motorola: Android phone . Motorola USA . October 28, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091206101321/http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/ci.Motorola-DROID-US-EN.alt . December 6, 2009 . mdy-all .
  8. Web site: DROID 2 by Motorola, A955 . . MOTODEV . January 29, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101223002110/http://developer.motorola.com/products/droid2/ . December 23, 2010 . mdy-all .
  9. https://gizmodo.com/5609069/motorola-droid-2-officially-announced-pre+sale-starts-august-11-on-verizon Motorola Droid 2 Officially Announced, Pre-Sale Starts Tomorrow on Verizon
  10. Web site: Droid 2 Launching August 12 with R2-D2 Edition?. July 20, 2010 .
  11. Web site: Motorola Droid 2 Release Date – Two dates may be involved . Apexnewsnetwork.com . 2010-07-23 . April 22, 2011 . May 25, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110525025746/http://apexnewsnetwork.com/25105/motorola-droid-2-release-date-%E2%80%93-two-dates-may-be-involved/ . dead .
  12. Web site: Motorola Droid 2 Release Date Availability August 2010 . CNM News Network . 2010-07-24 . April 22, 2011 . July 8, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708171726/http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/124160/motorola-droid-2-release-date-august-availability-anticipated/ . dead .
  13. Web site: ninagosaimas says . Motorola Droid 2: Release Date and First Verizon Pictures : Product Reviews Net . Product-reviews.net . 2010-07-19 . April 22, 2011 . July 25, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110725154508/http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/07/19/motorola-droid-2-release-date-and-first-verizon-pictures/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Verizon Motorola Droid 2 sales begin . Engadget.com . 2010-08-11 . April 22, 2011.
  15. Web site: Press Release . . September 27, 2010 . Basking Ridge, NJ/Libertyville, IL, US . . June 4, 2014.
  16. Web site: Droid 2 Review . Chris Ziegler . Engadget.com . August 13, 2010 . . . June 4, 2014.
  17. Web site: Motorola DROID 2 Review . PhoneArena.com. October 7, 2011 .
  18. Web site: Motorola Droid 2 . Bonnie Cha . . . San Francisco, CA.
  19. News: Microsoft files patent suit against Motorola over Android . Pepitone . Julianne . 1 October 2010 . . . October 1, 2010.