What I really like about Verizon is that they don’t try to keep a stranglehold over their phones. They have a fantastic network (yes, it’s the truth) and now good phones too. The Verizon Droid is running Google’s new version of the Android operating system (Android 2.0).

The Droid has a huge screen which can be great for watching videos, websites and other media. With 16 GB of memory you have space enough.

Now with the touch screen of the Motorola Droid phone there is a small flaw. It’s a single touch and not a multi touch like the iPhone. I personally don’t mind but I heard some people complaining about it. I’ve never owned a phone with a touchscreen before, and it’s taking getting used to, but it’s nice and handles taps and such responsively.

The slide-out keyboard is somewhat “weird”. The 4-way pad gets in the way with typing which is kind of annoying. I like the on-screen keyboard alot you have to get used to it at first but then… I was thinking that they should make a version of the Droid phone with out the slide-out keyboard. A thinner version.

All that said, the keyboard is really nice when playing Super Mario on an NES emulator. Which brings me to software.

I really like Android, except when it bugs the hell out of me. I love the customization options, the Google integration and syncing, the general setup and style, and think we’re going to see Android phones continue to rise in popularity as Windows Mobile phones dwindle. Unlike the iPhone, you can add widgets (weather, calendars, battery info, FaceBook notifications, etc) to the home screens of the Motorola Droid. You can move everything around, make folders for icons, change the background, and so on. I also like the general setup – the slide-up application drawer, the slide-down notification drawer, and so on.

Likewise, in terms of openness, the Android Marketplace has applications the iPhone Apps Store will never ever, ever allow. I’ve downloaded NES emulators, replacement text messaging programs, replacement video programs, custom widgets, and so on. Not only that, but when you download something like a replacement text messaging program, the OS will ask you if you’d like to use it instead of the built-in text messaging program. That’s how interested Google is in letting you customize the phone.

Some not so great things… By default, almost all phones (this one included) have start up noises, shut down noises, new email noises, noises to let you know there haven’t been any noises in a while… Unlike Windows Mobile, the Droid hasn’t a central place to turn all these noises off – they’re on a per-application basis. That’d be fine, and I’ve managed to turn most of them off, except some of them can’t be turned off. I can’t turn off the “I’M TURNING ON!” noise, or the “I’VE BEEN CONNECTED TO A USB CABLE!” noise, to name the two that have been annoying me the most. And, because my notification noise is on the SD card – which doesn’t activate until the OS is fully booted – the turning-on noise is an obnoxious default noise, not the custom noise I’ve specified.

Likewise, while it is possible to text multiple people, you can’t simply go through and check a bunch of contacts to text ‘em all. Or access the Contacts screen from within a text message, to choose more people. You can type a name to find someone, but if you’re not sure who else you want to text and want to just look through your contacts, you’re SOL. Most of my other complaints are similar – odd interface quirks that seem not to have been thought out.

To be continued…

The first thing that many hands on reviews of the device have reported is that it instantly feels very fast and smooth. Browsing menus and switching between applications is incredibly fast, and it’s clear that the new Google Android 2.0 OS is a big step up from its predecessors. In combination with its way better processor, the Droid’s huge 3.7-inch display, containing over 400,000 pixels, makes web browsing and watching videos easier than it has ever been. The impressive screen also displays impressive pictures from the Droids 5 mega-pixel camera, which has flash, zoom, and auto-focus. The Droid also records video of incredible quality.

Because the Motorola Droid runs Google’s Android 2.0 software, it comes with Google Maps and Google’s navigation, built in and for free. The voice guided navigation looks really impressive and should definitely save you from the need to buy a stand-alone navi system. Motorola is offering a suction-cup window cradle for the Droid, which contains magnets allowing the Droid to automatically convert to Navigation Mode.

Another really sweet accessory for the Motorola Droid is the alarm clock cradle. When you insert the Droid into the cradle, the units combine to form a really nice looking alarm clock. If you’re like me, you use your phone as your alarm clock anyway, so this just makes it easier and more stylish. To be honest this is my favourite feature although it’s simple.

The Droid also includes a 550MHz Texas Instruments OMAP3430 processor, separate PowerVR GPU, 256MB of RAM, CDMA Rev A., Wi-Fi, GPS, a digital magnetometer, accelerometer, proximity sensors, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, notification LED, four touch-sensitive navigation buttons, a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5mm headset jack, and a microUSB port.