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===Root access===
===Root access===
The Motorola Droid was successfully "[[Privilege escalation|rooted]]" or manipulated to provide [[superuser]] access on December 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.androidguys.com/2009/12/08/the-droid-has-been-rooted/ |title=The Droid Has Been Rooted |publisher=AndroidGuys |date= |accessdate=2010-01-18}}</ref> This allowed the removal of sponsored/pay-to-use applets (Amazon, Verizon Visual Voice Mail, etc.), installation and launch of custom software, and root access on the phone using a [[terminal emulator]]. There is also a separate unofficial Android Market that allows easy installation of software solely for rooted Droids. The unofficial market is accessed and searched through the regular Market interface, after further modding, alongside official Market apps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://how2droid.com/forum/root-f13/how-to-root-your-droid-from-android-2-1-t23.html |title=How To Root Your Droid From Android 2.1|publisher=How2Droid |date= |accessdate=2010-06-06}}</ref>
The Motorola Droid was successfully "[[Privilege escalation|rooted]]" (manipulated to provide [[superuser]] access) on December 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.androidguys.com/2009/12/08/the-droid-has-been-rooted/ |title=The Droid Has Been Rooted |publisher=AndroidGuys |date= |accessdate=2010-01-18}}</ref> This allowed the removal of sponsored/pay-to-use applets (Amazon, Verizon Visual Voice Mail, etc.), installation and launch of custom software, and root access on the phone using a [[terminal emulator]]. There is also a separate unofficial Android Market that allows easy installation of software solely for rooted Droids. The unofficial market is accessed and searched through the regular Market interface, after further modding, alongside official Market apps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://how2droid.com/forum/root-f13/how-to-root-your-droid-from-android-2-1-t23.html |title=How To Root Your Droid From Android 2.1|publisher=How2Droid |date= |accessdate=2010-06-06}}</ref>


On June 5, 2010, a leaked Android 2.2 ROM was given to the public for those with [[superuser]] access. It includes a new home launcher, Flash 10.1 support, new homescreen widgets, an updated Market, a JIT compiler for a faster system, as well as new aesthetic changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/motorola-droid/2477-download-froyo-2-2-your-motorola-droid.html |title=Download Froyo 2.2 for Your Motorola Droid|publisher=MyDroidWorld |date= |accessdate=2010-06-05}}</ref>.
On June 5, 2010, a leaked Android 2.2 ROM was given to the public for those with [[superuser]] access. It includes a new home launcher, Flash 10.1 support, new homescreen widgets, an updated Market, a JIT compiler for a faster system, as well as new aesthetic changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/motorola-droid/2477-download-froyo-2-2-your-motorola-droid.html |title=Download Froyo 2.2 for Your Motorola Droid|publisher=MyDroidWorld |date= |accessdate=2010-06-05}}</ref>.

Revision as of 13:57, 14 August 2010

Motorola Droid
ManufacturerMotorola
TypeSlider smartphone
Release dateNovember 6, 2009
Operating systemAndroid 2.0[1]
2.0.1 with an over-the-air update (Droid and Milestone) in December 2009
2.1 with an over-the-air update (Droid and Milestone) in March 2010
2.2 with an over-the-air update (Droid only) in August 2010
CPUTI OMAP 3430:[2]

Arm Cortex A8 600 MHz underclocked to 550 MHz [1]

430MHz TMS320 C64x DSP (Digital signal processor) + ISP (Image Signal Processor)
MemoryRAM: 256MB, ROM: 512MB
StorageOnboard Flash memory: 512MB.
Removable: 16 GB Class2 microSD included (8GB for Milestone); expandable up to 32 GB.[1][3]
Display854 x 480 px (0.41 Megapixels) TFT LCD, 3.7 in (94 mm), 16:9 aspect ratio, WVGA, 265 pixels per inch (ppi)
GraphicsPowerVR SGX 530
Inputcapacitive touchscreen display(multitouch), proximity and ambient light sensors, QWERTY keyboard, 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass, Dual microphone
Camera5.0 megapixel with video (720 x 480 px at 30 fps or higher), geotagging, Dual LED flash and auto focus.
ConnectivityUSB Micro-B
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR,
A-GPS
US Version: Dual band CDMA2000/EV-DO Rev. A 800/1900 MHz
European version Quad band GSM & 3G @ 900/2100MHz
N.A. GSM version Quad band GSM & 3G @ 850/1900MHz.
Power1400 mAh
Internal rechargeable removable lithium-ion polymer battery Talk Time: 385 minutes Standby Time: 270 Hours
Dimensions115.8 mm (4.56 in) (h)
60 mm (2.4 in) (w)
13.7 mm (0.54 in) (d)
Mass169 g (6.0 oz)
List of Droid models
Related articles:
Android (operating system)

The Motorola Droid (WCDMA/GSM version: Motorola Milestone) is an Internet and multimedia enabled smartphone designed by Motorola, which runs Google's Android operating system. The brand name Droid is a trademark of Lucasfilm licensed to Verizon Wireless.

In the United States, the handset is distributed exclusively by Verizon Wireless. Features of the phone include Wi-Fi networking, a 5-megapixel low light capable digital camera, a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, interchangeable battery, 3.7-inch 854 x 480 touchscreen display. It also includes MicroSDHC support with bundled 16GB card,[3] free turn-by-turn Google Maps navigation (beta), sliding QWERTY keyboard, and Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 processor.[2] The Motorola Droid runs Android version 2.1.[8] The phone does not, however, run the re-branded MOTOBLUR interface for Android, instead providing the Google Experience skin and application stack.[9][10]

The Droid has a hearing aid compatibility (hac) rating of M3/T3.[1] The phone was the first to ship with free Google Maps Navigation (beta) installed.[11] The Droid had been publicized under the codenames Sholes and Tao[9][12] and the model number A855.[13]

Motorola Droid US launch & information

Verizon explicitly promoted the Droid as an Apple iPhone-alternative. Launched on October 17, 2009 TV spots and an associated website made "entertainingly combative" claims[14] listing features lacking on the iPhone, e.g. "iDon't multitask", only mentioning the name of the Droid in the final frame, reading "Droid Does".[12] At the official launch event on October 28, 2009 Verizon's Chief Marketing Officer John Stratton described the campaign as a spoof of Apple's iPhone ads, intended to "wake up the market."[15]

The marketing for the American launch included "Droid Does Times Square."[16] This was a program (billed as an "interactive experience") in which Verizon connected the Nasdaq and Reuters electronic billboards in Times Square to its systems such that people were able to control the electronic displays by using voice commands (illustrating the voice search function that is a primary Android feature). Control of the billboards was available in Times Square or via the "Droid Does" website.[17]

The November 6, 2009 release date of the Droid came just under a month after Verizon and Google announced that they had entered into an agreement[18] to jointly develop wireless devices based on the Android mobile platform. Verizon said at the time that it planned to have two Android-based handsets on the market by year-end with more to come in 2010. The other handset is the HTC Droid Eris, a modification to the HTC Hero, seen in shots of Google CEO Eric Schmidt holding one in a Verizon/Google press conference.[19]

American exclusive software for the Droid includes Google Maps Navigation, an Amazon MP3 Store applet, and Verizon Wireless Visual Voice Mail management.[20]

Analytics firm Flurry estimated that 250,000 Motorola Droid phones were sold in the United States during the phone's first week in stores.[21] Flurry also estimated that 1.05 million Motorola Droids were sold in first 74 days of the launch. This number is greater than that of the original iPhone which sold one million units through day 74.[22] Flurry also reported that Droid sales did not match the newest Apple release, the iPhone 3GS, which sold 1.6 million in the first week.[23]

Motorola Milestone

The quad-band[24] GSM/UMTS version of the Droid is the Motorola Milestone.[25] While the phone's internal hardware (besides cellular) is the same, differences include out-of-the-box multi-touch support enabled, a trial version of Motorola's MOTONAV service (instead of Droid's US-only[26] Google Maps Navigation) and an 8GB microSD Card, instead of the Droid's 16GB microSD card.[27] The launch countries for the Motorola Milestone included Germany, Italy and Argentina on November 9, 2009.[28] Other European countries soon followed.

Joining this trend, a new, North American, version of the Motorola Milestone was released in Canada in February 2010. This new version supports 3G bands II and V instead of bands I and VIII so it is compatible with Rogers, Bell, and Telus in Canada, and with AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. At this time only Telus has announced availability.[29] The Milestone is also available in the U.S. from several regional GSM carriers.

Unlike the DROID, the Milestone has a bootloader that only allows signed Firmware to load. This prevents users from booting Custom ROM images not signed by Motorola that have become popular in the Droid modding community. This has caused discontent in the Droid community in markets foreign to the US. Whether the disabling of custom boot loaders is due to retailer, carrier, manufacturer, or legal restrictions is unknown and the primary reason(s) may differ in each individual market.

United Kingdom launch & information

The phone was launched in the United Kingdom on Thursday December 10, 2009, as the Motorola Milestone. The exclusive sales outlet for the phone, eXpansys, reported that all stocks of the phone had completely sold out within 3 hours of its debut. The sell-out was considered a major victory for Motorola, which has had little success with its previous Windows Mobile-based phones, and had been counting on Android-based phones for future growth.[30]

Asian/Indian launch & information

The Milestone was launched in Hong Kong on December 21, 2009[31] as the sixth Android device in the region for HKD 4,680 with an 8GB MicroSD card included. This version is in English but supports Chinese hand writing that originated from the Motorola Ming and pinyin input method. While MOTONAV is included, it does not work and is not officially supported. The phone can be updated to Android 2.1 in 1Q 2010, the update will also feature a Chinese user interface and more Chinese input methods such as Changjie. Currently users who want to use these input methods need to download 3rd party solutions from the Android Market.[32] The Milestone launched in India on 30 March 2010, priced at 32k INR (approximately US$680).

Droid software (US)

This section applies to the Verizon-branded Motorola device in the US. Droid versions in foreign markets (Milestone) may be crippled or have certain features disabled due to restrictions enforced by retailer agreements, carrier agreements, manufacturer agreements, or local laws and should be addressed in the appropriate section above.

The Linux kernel used in the 2.0.1 OTA release is 2.6.29 (Android build).

Android 2.1 update

On February 8, 2010, Motorola announced via Facebook that the Droid update would begin rolling out later that same week.[33] Details were later released via Motorola's official forums[34]. However, the details about the update were later retracted, and unclear information from Motorola and Verizon Wireless caused confusion among many, and technology news websites speculated the update would happen even later in 2010.[35] As an attempt to clear confusion, Motorola released a chart of dates stating when each of their Android devices would be updated to Android 2.1, but this only added to the issues because they said the update would happen "soon", rather than offering a concrete time frame.

However, on March 17, 2010, Verizon Wireless announced that they would issue the Android 2.1 "ESE53" update over-the-air, beginning March 18 to a small test group, and more users would see the update later, into the following week. But screenshots from Verizon Wireless documents showed that a last minute software bug was found, and the update was delayed once again, with no new roll-out date determined.

The new news from Verizon Wireless provided official information about the update and what it entailed, including "Pinch-to-zoom...available when using the browser, Gallery, and Google Maps", a weather and news app/widget including "information you want from the Web...weekly and hourly weather forecasts based on your location, and news headlines", voice-to-text wherever there are text boxes, "New Gallery application with 3D layout", and Live Wallpapers "offer[ing] richer animated, interactive backgrounds on the home screen", as well as other, more minor upgrades. However, the update did not include the addition of two more home screens currently available on the Nexus One, another Android 2.1 device.

The 2.1 update started rolling out on March 30, 2010.[36] The 2.2 update is being released the week of August 2, 2010.

Android 2.2 Update

After some apparent discussion by Motorola over whether they would provide a Froyo upgrade for the Droid and Milestone, it has been confirmed that the Droid will get the upgrade, and the staggered roll out has begun.[37] This rollout started on August 3, 2010 and updates the phone to Android 2.2 bulid number FRB01B. Another update has also been rumored and possibly confirmed from a Verizon business email that will upgrade the phone again to another build of Android 2.2, rumored to be build number FRG22.[38]

Root access

The Motorola Droid was successfully "rooted" (manipulated to provide superuser access) on December 8, 2009.[39] This allowed the removal of sponsored/pay-to-use applets (Amazon, Verizon Visual Voice Mail, etc.), installation and launch of custom software, and root access on the phone using a terminal emulator. There is also a separate unofficial Android Market that allows easy installation of software solely for rooted Droids. The unofficial market is accessed and searched through the regular Market interface, after further modding, alongside official Market apps.[40]

On June 5, 2010, a leaked Android 2.2 ROM was given to the public for those with superuser access. It includes a new home launcher, Flash 10.1 support, new homescreen widgets, an updated Market, a JIT compiler for a faster system, as well as new aesthetic changes.[41].

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "DROID by Motorola - Android phone - Motorola USA". Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  2. ^ a b Sherwood, James (2009-10-19). "Moto Android 2.0 smartphone revealed • Register Hardware". Reghardware.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  3. ^ a b Cha, Bonnie. "Motorola Droid specs get posted then pulled | Android Atlas - CNET Blogs". Cnet.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  4. ^ http://gizmodo.com/5591941/droid-2-launching-august-12-with-r2+d2-edition
  5. ^ http://apexnewsnetwork.com/25105/motorola-droid-2-release-date-%E2%80%93-two-dates-may-be-involved/
  6. ^ http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/124160/motorola-droid-2-release-date-august-availability-anticipated/
  7. ^ http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/07/19/motorola-droid-2-release-date-and-first-verizon-pictures/
  8. ^ "Motorola DROID review". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  9. ^ a b "Motorola Droid Is the First Android Phone from Verizon; MotoBlur Not Included! - Specs, reviews and prices". Mobilewhack.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  10. ^ "Verizon Motorola Sholes not running MOTOBLUR?". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  11. ^ Arrington, Michael (2009-10-28). "Google Redefines GPS Navigation Landscape: Google Maps Navigation For Android 2.0". Techcrunch.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  12. ^ a b "Verizon's anti-iPhone gets its first commercial: 'Droid Does'". Engadget Mobile. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  13. ^ "Motorola Sholes (Motorola Tao?) Slides Through FCC | Android Phone Fans". Phandroid.com. 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  14. ^ McCracken, Harry (18 Oct 2009). "Verizon's Droid Targets iPhone". PC World.
  15. ^ Reardon, Marguerite (2009-10-28). "Verizon, Motorola unveil the Droid | Signal Strength - CNET News". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  16. ^ Genius, Boy (2009-10-28). "Verizon Wireless to take over Times Square with the Motorola DROID « Boy Genius Report". Boygeniusreport.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  17. ^ "Droid from Verizon Wireless - Times Square". Droiddoes.com. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  18. ^ "Google, Verizon teaming to develop Android devices". Network World. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  19. ^ "Verizon Motorola Android Live Picture! | Android Phone Fans". Phandroid.com. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  20. ^ "The Droid: Best iPhone competitor to date | PC Mike - Tech News and Reviews". PC Mike. 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  21. ^ "Droid Sales and the Android Explosion". PC World. November 17, 2009.
  22. ^ "Day 74 Sales: Apple iPhone vs. Google Nexus One vs. Motorola Droid".
  23. ^ "First Week Launch Comparison".
  24. ^ "Motorola Droid "Milestone" Gets European Specs, Adds MultiTouch". Inquisitr.com. 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  25. ^ "Motorola Milestone - Android phone - Motorola USA". Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  26. ^ "Google Maps for mobile anounce Navigation Beta for Android 2.0 - GSMArena.com news". Gsmarena.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  27. ^ Webster, Scott. "Motorola Milestone is GSM Droid | Android Atlas - CNET Blogs". Cnet.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  28. ^ "Motorola Droid going global as Motorola Milestone in 3 countries - International Business Times". Ibtimes.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  29. ^ "Motorola Milestone coming to Canada on the 9 February 2010, Exclusive to Telus | PMP Today". Pmptoday.com. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  30. ^ "Moto Milestone's UK launch sells out in 3 hours". Electonista. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  31. ^ 由 Stone IP 於 29 days 之前發表. "Retrieved 22 December 2009". Chinese.engadget.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ 由 Stone IP 於 27 days 之前發表. "Retrieved 22 December 2009". Chinese.engadget.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "Motorola: Droid update to Android 2.1 'will start to roll out this week « Engadget". Engadget.com. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-10. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  34. ^ "Motorola details Android 2.1 update for Droid « Engadget". Engadget.com. 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-02-10. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  35. ^ "Motorola: Motorola 'jumped the gun' with details of Droid's Android 2.1 update « Engadget". Engadget.com. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-12. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  36. ^ "Get the Most Out of Your DROID by Motorola « Verizon Wireless" (PDF). support.vzw.com. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-03-27. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  37. ^ "Motorola Droid getting Android 2.2 next week"
  38. ^ [1]
  39. ^ "The Droid Has Been Rooted". AndroidGuys. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  40. ^ "How To Root Your Droid From Android 2.1". How2Droid. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  41. ^ "Download Froyo 2.2 for Your Motorola Droid". MyDroidWorld. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
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