I think the difference between the Droid and the other past "iPhone killers"

[XciteMe]

in the past, that have all failed, is that the Droid actually DRASTICALLY improves upon many of the 3G/3GS specs. Past contenders have only mimicked what the iPhone does... the Droid says "Uh, no... Mimic? I can do it better."

I mean, have you guys seen the numbers for the screen itself? Not only is it bigger in size (3.7") but that kind of resolution will mean you can see the pimples on your friend's face next time you snap a picture of him!

And the 5 mp camera, With Hi-Def video recording??? Holly hell Batman, what kind of phone on the market right now offers that?

Flash on the browser set to be available? O, hai thar. Did not know that. Nice to know.

Seriously, let's try to NOT discredit this phone, Apple fan or not. Take a Business 101 class and learn why competition in the free market is a GOOD THING.

 

[thespazz]

Sense....on MacRumors...no way!

It really is a great phone, can't wait to see how apple responds.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

All it'll take is a decent App Store with the same prices as Apple's. No app store, no iPhone killer.

 

[anjinha]

I'm not trying to discredit the Droid since it looks like a great phone but most of the previous "iPhone-killers" had better hardware specs than the iPhone and that didn't take them far...

EDIT: Just an example, the Samsung Omnia:

It had a 5MP camera with LED flash and auto focus (the iPhone at that time had a 2MP with no auto-focus)
HDSPA, 7.2 Mbps
Videocall camera
FM Radio
Better battery life

The Nokia N97 had much better specs too.

 

[LoganT]

All it'll take is a decent App Store with the same prices as Apple's. No app store, no iPhone killer.

I honestly don't think that the app store is the reason to buy the iPhone. Sure it's a fantastic bonus, but not the sole reason. When I hear people say that Android sucks because it doesn't have as many apps as the app store I think: That just means that Android has mostly good apps without all the junk and the iPhone has some great apps but the majority are crap and useless.

I say this with owning an iPhone 3g and now an iPhone 3GS.

 

[The Californian]

All I can say is that while there will never be an iPhone killer until another device can match all of the non-device features that you get with the iPhone ( App Store, Easy syncing with iTunes etc. ). That said, it excites me that someone is finally creating some device competition for the iPhone, cause all that will do is push Apple to innovate a little more to get that "Wow factor".

I expect a bigger "Wow factor" in June.

 

[tnisatard]

I'm not trying to discredit the Droid since it looks like a great phone but most of the previous "iPhone-killers" had better hardware specs than the iPhone and that didn't take them far...

EDIT: Just an example, the Samsung Omnia:

It had a 5MP camera with LED flash and auto focus (the iPhone at that time had a 2MP with no auto-focus)
HDSPA, 7.2 Mbps
Videocall camera
FM Radio
Better battery life

The Nokia N97 had much better specs too.

omnia had windows mobile, and i think nokia did too

but droid is backed by ANDROID +google

and android has so much potential, before i was an iphone user, i had an android phone, and it was cool, but it had too many bugs, so i opt for a more stable phone

but years from now, i believe i will come back and get an android, the iphone hype cannot last forever

 

[iLeoMarc]

That just means that Android has mostly good apps without all the junk and the iPhone has some great apps but the majority are crap and useless.

I say this with owning an iPhone 3g and now an iPhone 3GS.

And you also say this not yet knowing the specifics of the Verizon Droid, remeber that this will not be a google branded device so the market place is only optional. We'll have to see if Verizon uses the android market place (which I like) or if they decide to use their own application store.

 

[bruinsrme]

The iphone killer may never exist.

I think the Android OS will offer the industry a measurable amount of flexibility in hardware and platform design with the possibility of better service plans than just 1.

The wow factor seems to be a key component in selling the iphone.

Honestly, I really didn't see a big wow factor between the 3G and 3Gs.
I hope there is a wow factor come june along with the selection of more than just ATT for my carrier.

 

[Pundle]

I don't see the Droid as being sufficiently different from previous "iPhone killers". As others have said, previous phones have had better specs on paper than the iPhone.

In fact, at least two of the features Droid markets as being better than the iPhone I actually count as negatives: their hard keyboard and their multiple apps at once. No mobile operating system - including Android - has as good a soft keyboard as Apple's. If your soft keyboard sucks, of course you need a hard one. But if your soft keyboard works brilliantly like Apple's then the hard keyboard is unnecessary and just gets in the way. As for multiple apps at once, you can only actually use one app at a time, so this has never bothered me. Only being able to run one app at a time makes the iPhone very resistant to viruses.

It basically comes down to being the same as the Mac vs PC debate. With the Apple product, you don't necessarily get the top specs or the wide range of variant models that you do with the competition, but you do get something that has been designed for the very best in user experience and is a pleasure to use.

 

[bruinsrme]

As for multiple apps at once, you can only actually use one app at a time, so this has never bothered me. Only being able to run one app at a time makes the iPhone very resistant to viruses.

Not sure I understand that.
I can listen to music while I am surfing the web or reading email. Even on a non jailbroken phone.
What about the push services? I thought they were apps running in the background?
If push services are running in the background have they opened up the iphone to viruses?

 

[anjinha]

omnia had windows mobile, and i think nokia did too

but droid is backed by ANDROID +google

and android has so much potential, before i was an iphone user, i had an android phone, and it was cool, but it had too many bugs, so i opt for a more stable phone

but years from now, i believe i will come back and get an android, the iphone hype cannot last forever

I know, that's exactly my point. The OP said the Droid might be an iPhone killer because of its better specs. My point was that other phones in the past had better specs and it didn't make a lot of difference.

But I agree, Android has great potential.

Not sure I understand that.
I can listen to music while I am surfing the web or reading email. Even on a non jailbroken phone.
What about the push services? I thought they were apps running in the background?
If push services are running in the background have they opened up the iphone to viruses?

Push aren't apps running the background. Actually Push was implemented to avoid having to run apps (like IM apps) in the background...

 

[Daiden]

Not sure I understand that.
I can listen to music while I am surfing the web or reading email. Even on a non jailbroken phone.
What about the push services? I thought they were apps running in the background?
If push services are running in the background have they opened up the iphone to viruses?

Apple gives itself some leeway with background processes. I believe all of the "built-in" applications continue running on some level even after they're closed.

Third party apps, though, do not run in the background. Push notifications work on a server-to-server level. The server running the application's Push Notifications essentially sends Apple's Push Notification server a tiny "package" (with text, a sound clip, and an iPhone ID) that tells Apple's server to alert a specific user. Ever try out the "Find My iPhone" service through MobileMe? It's able to send alerts to an iPhone with no extra software. Push Notifications work in a similar manner.

 

[bruinsrme]

Apple gives itself some leeway with background processes. I believe all of the "built-in" applications continue running on some level even after they're closed.

Third party apps, though, do not run in the background. Push notifications work on a server-to-server level. The server running the application's Push Notifications essentially sends Apple's Push Notification server a tiny "package" (with text, a sound clip, and an iPhone ID) that tells Apple's server to alert a specific user. Ever try out the "Find My iPhone" service through MobileMe? It's able to send alerts to an iPhone with no extra software. Push Notifications work in a similar manner.

I haven't tried MobileMe.

thank you for the explanations.

I am still a tad confused how me switching from playing skeeball to checking the weather then cnn and return to skeeball already in progress would create an environment for virus attacks.

 

[LethalWolfe]

It's not really about building a better phone. It's about being able to "out brand" Apple. Apple doesn't just sell phones and MP3 players and computers. They sell a culture, an image, and a lifestyle. The fact that tons of people w/horrible AT&T coverage are buying iPhones is testament to that. They are buying a phone, that doesn't work very well as a phone in their area, for no other reason than owning an iPhone is hip & cool.


Lethal

 

[Daiden]

I haven't tried MobileMe.

thank you for the explanations.

I am still a tad confused how me switching from playing skeeball to checking the weather then cnn and return to skeeball already in progress would create an environment for virus attacks.

Don't worry, I don't understand that part either.

So I'm not totally off topic in this thread, I will say that Android phones are getting way better. As I've mentioned in other threads, my biggest problem with Android devices is that the hardware for the phones has been very weak so far. Apple started with some pretty speedy hardware to go along with their easy-to-use software, which helped make the iPhone a solid device from the start. The Android platform is still recovering from its early beginnings, but I honestly would consider getting the Droid phone if a) Verizon had better service in my area, b) I wasn't under contract with AT&T and (less importantly) c) I hadn't spent so much damn money on these apps.

As a side note, does anyone know how well the Android phones sync up with Macs? Is it as easy to use as the iPhone? I like how all my contacts go into Address Book, all my calendar events go into iCal, etc. It makes me feel very secure knowing that I have a backup of all of my contacts and whatnot in case of hardware failure or breakage.

 

[Pundle]

I am still a tad confused how me switching from playing skeeball to checking the weather then cnn and return to skeeball already in progress would create an environment for virus attacks.

The way viruses work is by running in the background and doing things you don't know about.
If untrusted third-party apps can only run in a certain way, limited by Apple, then as soon as you stop using that app you know it isn't doing anything you don't know about.
To use your example, say the skeeball app maker had a virus in his app. On Android, that virus can continue to run once you've stopped playing skeeball. On iPhone, as soon as you stop playing skeeball the virus can no longer run either.
It may seem very limiting at first glance to only be able to run one process at once, but in my opinion it is way better, both for viruses and performance. In the end that equates to a better user experience, so Apple went with that model. I believe simultaneous apps only sounds better on paper and has little benefit in reality.

LethalWolfe, if you think the only reason to have an iPhone is to be hip and cool then I take it you haven't actually used an iPhone.

 

[Andrew K.]

They did an excellent job on the commercial LOL, I always get the songs used in the Apple commercials stuck in my head, and the song they chose was definitely Apple hahaha

 

[bruinsrme]

It's not really about building a better phone. It's about being able to "out brand" Apple. Apple doesn't just sell phones and MP3 players and computers. They sell a culture, an image, and a lifestyle. The fact that tons of people w/horrible AT&T coverage are buying iPhones is testament to that. They are buying a phone, that doesn't work very well as a phone in their area, for no other reason than owning an iPhone is hip & cool.


Lethal

I tend to agree to agree for the most part for a certain demographics.

the iphone is hip and cool. apple kept it simple and it has done well.
I like the device overall but as individual components;
phone - adequate but other devices seem to do better
music - I honestly think zunes and sony product have a much better sound and playback.
internet/email - no strengths of weakiness here when compared to other smart phones. each take a little getting used to.
keyboard - i still prefer a physical keyboard. preference not better or worse
media - I still prefer a removable media
camera - my voyager 2mp blew away even my 3Gs
video - 3Gs is very good comparable to my wifes shine, thoughthe software is where the iphone really excels.
if it wasn't for jailbreaking I really do not think I would have upgraaded to the 3Gs. I am looking forward to seeing the droids and android OS.



My hope for the droids is they attract the same people or groups that have engergized the jailbreak community. Having such creativity and personalization intrigues me. Even it there is a perceived risk involved.

As far a the iphone goes, I do believe it will continue to be the hottest selling phone while the android OS takes over the overall market share.

 

[LethalWolfe]

In the end that equates to a better user experience, so Apple went with that model. I believe simultaneous apps only sounds better on paper and has little benefit in reality.

People multitask on their desktop computers. People multitask on their laptops. People multitask on PDAs. People multitask on other smart phones. Yet the world has not ended. If you don't think multitasking on a smart phone is advantageous I take it you haven't actually used a smart phone w/proper multitasking.

LethalWolfe, if you think the only reason to have an iPhone is to be hip and cool then I take it you haven't actually used an iPhone.

So people buy and/or continue to use iPhones in places w/poor AT&T coverage why? It's certainly not because it's a reliable phone or internet device under those circumstances. It's because the iPhone is *the* phone to have currently. It's getting close to becoming the "Xerox" or "Kleenex" of consumer smart phones.

BTW, your assumption is wrong.


Lethal

 

[The General]

i dont care if it has a 1.21jigahertz processor, a 52 megapixel camera with an 18-300mm f/1.2 lens, a 2560x1600 OLED display and 1.21jigabytes of storage space and can play all media formats known to man.

i dont care if it gets cell service everywhere in the world from a geosynchronous mesh of satellites and they pay you to use it.

if the UI sucks and it's difficult to use, i don't want it.

if it has buttons for a keyboard, i don't want it.

if it doesn't have tweetie, i don't want it

if it doesn't have 85,000 apps, i don't want it.

if its name is a short word for hemorrhoid, i don't want it.

 

[Kadman]

if it doesn't have 85,000 apps, i don't want it.

if its name is a short word for hemorrhoid, i don't want it.

Really? Because I would take a selection of a few thousand useful apps over a selection of 85,000 apps that's 80% (if not much more) crap. It's about apps, but it's about useful apps in my mind.

Oh, and since when was Droid short for hemorrhoid? Spell much?


In the end, there doesn't have to be a "Killer" anywhere in this equation. Hell, the iPhone didn't "kill" all other phones or even all other smart phones. People around here used to call it a "Blackberry Killer" yet I see RIM doing just fine. To me it's about raising the bar on technology & features. I'm confident that the product mix for Droid will add value to the game and give Apple & others things to think about and build upon.

Competition can be a beautiful thing! (but I'm not giving up my iPhone anytime soon)

 

[VulchR]

The reason I have bought Apple products over so many years is that they are almost always elegant. Not style-elegant, but engineering-elegant. As for Droid: nice specs, but shame about the device. Now if they made a Droid that was fully touchscreen, dumping the physical keyboard's weight and bulk (with the slide's vulnerability to mechanical damage), then I think Droid might compete.

 

[anjinha]

The reason I have bought Apple products over so many years is that they are almost always elegant. Not style-elegant, but engineering-elegant. As for Droid: nice specs, but shame about the device. Now if they made a Droid that was fully touchscreen, dumping the physical keyboard's weight and bulk (with the slide's vulnerability to mechanical damage), then I think Droid might compete.

That's the thing, although I personally think the iPhone's virtual keyboard is genius and I absolutely love it a lot of people simply don't like it. A lot of iPhone users still wish for a hardware keyboard so the Droid might actually appeal to those users in that aspect.

 

[thelatinist]

Just from a marketing standpoint, the new Droid commercials seem to be targeted very narrowly at the (young, male) technical crowd. Being an iPhone killer is not about having better specs, it's about capturing that unexplainable element of cool that accompanies a must-have device. My grandmother is never going to buy a Droid phone based on this campaign.