Apps - Just like in video game console wars, the software is what makes the difference for the success of a phone platform. I have to say that I am finding it difficult to find additional third-party apps. Games are scarce, and there are many duplicates of the same game in the Android Market. That being said, the device pretty much comes with everything important. I can get to my email, get to where I’m going, browse the web and use Facebook out of the box.

Battery - I have played with this thing a lot on the first day. I’ve called many people, used Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi. The battery is still holding up well at about 50%. So far so good.

Typing - I chose the Motorola Droid over the Eris because of the physical keyboard. I got used typing on it, but the top row of keys are sometimes difficult to type on because the screen gets in the way (I have big thumbs). I tried the on screen keyboard and was shocked at how easy it was to type on it. I now use the on screen keyboard over the physical keyboard.

Screen - What a bright and brilliant screen! You’d think you were looking at a 47″ HDTV at times it’s so nice. No problems here at all.

Music - I invested a lot of time building an iTunes library. I thought it would be difficult to get my tunes to the Droid since there is no app to automatically sync the music. I was shocked to find that I could drag and drop many of the songs directly from iTunes onto the SD Card drive. The songs that aren’t protected with DRM work on the device and play much better than my iPod Nano.

Camera - People are complaining about the camera being blurry. I think those people have to read the manual first. There is a focus feature you need to learn how to use. Also the picture is taken when you release the button, not when you press it. Knowing this,  I have managed to take very clear, high quality photos. The video is very nice as well.

Calls - Crisp and clear. I talked to my a friend that was 1,200 miles away and it sounded like he was next door. The speakerphone picks up my voice very well.

Overall Value - I truly believe if you’re going to get a smartphone, this is the way to go. It simply has the entire package. I’m shocked they could get the price down this low. The amount of apps are lacking, but there is hope that will change in the next few months as developers come aboard the Android platform. The Motorola Droid is a good investment for those of us that are tech savvy and want a phone that has a growing future ahead.

In 2006, Verizon announced it was easing fees after many class action suits and threatened action from the FCC. The dust has settled a bit now, and Verizon is back at locking customers in again.

It’s rumored that the phone will be priced at $199. A little steep, but the geek inside me wants to be one of the first people to get one and play around with it. Of course, this thing will probably be marked down to $99 after Christmas. Several other Android phones will also be released shortly after, including the HTC Hero. Maybe I should wait. I know a lot of Palm Pre buyers that weren’t happy to see their device is now available at $99.

Nah, I’m too geeky. I needs me a Droid.

Please stop taking video of your television using a handheld camera. It is cheap and lazy. Also nobody likes to watch them. Learn how to hook your TV input to your computer and actually upload the real video if you’re that excited about that music session on Glee.

Thanks!

Obviously this was going to be a very difficult time for her. Knowing this, she promptly called into work and said she wouldn’t be in for a while because her pet passed away. Word got around to everybody at the office. Some were sympathetic, and others smirked at the excuse for missing work. “Because of a pet?” they would say. “I lost my Dad and was at work the next day!”

This situation brings up a good question. Should people be allowed to miss work because of a the death of a pet? I believe different people may need time to recuperate when a loved one passes away, regardless of whether the loved one is an animal or a human. Some people may be a bit closed to their pets than others. And why not? Pets are usually with their owner for a large amount of time through their lives.

There always seems to be a group of people that doesn’t get it, though. Some people have never owned a pet. Others have owned pets but don’t care for them properly and couldn’t care for their own mother. These are the people you’ll need to lie to. So maybe when you call in sick when Buster passes away, you might just want to lie and say “I have the flu.” instead. It may save yourself from the drama of the 50% of the world that doesn’t seem to get it.

Remember back when the Macintosh first came out? It was closed, locked, shut down, and basic. Only Apple made Mac computers. The PC, on the other hand, was open. Anybody could make them and easily build applications for them. You could take them apart and add onto them. It didn’t matter that the Mac was functionally better in every way. The openness made the PC sell and it became more widespread. It’s the same scenario we’re seeing with these phone platforms. You have the iPhone, which is locked down to the max and currently only available from one carrier versus the wide open Android platform being added to the largest wireless provider in the United States.

Which do you think will win in the end? I think it’s obvious.

DreamHost still has the feature where you can Restore a domain. This feature unfortunately didn’t work out for me though. I received a message from DH telling me there were no available backups and that I was responsible for them.

You know, while we’re on the subject of Twitter, I am incredibly amazed at how many hot, 21 year old chicks want me to follow them.

Motorola was late to the fight with their Q phone. It ran Windows Mobile, an OS that has been dying for years. I know 2 people that purchased this phone only to return it for a BlackBerry. Both said that they just couldn’t get the phone to run reliably. Many others also seemed to hold the opinion that a BlackBerry or iPhone were just the way to go when going for a smartphone.

In a last gasp for air, Motorola is now introducing an Android device. It looks like a boxy mess to me. The HTC Hero looks a lot sleeker. I also would prefer to buy something from a company that has more experience making Android phones. It looks like Motorola will join Palm in exiting the phone market.