droidStory

Great news for Droid owners – the wait is over. Verizon just announced the availability of Android 2.1 for the Droid.

Enjoy improved performance with these Android™ enhancements. Verizon Wireless
is pleased to announce new software updates for your Droid by Motorola smartphone.
The Droid by Motorola software version AP: ESE53/BP: C_01.3E.03P update includes
numerous enhancements and improvements.

This puts the Droid on par with all of the Nexus One features, including the live wallpapers.

The OTA update should start appearing on phones by tomorrow. Enjoy!

The rumor mill now spinning at maximum velocity. This new phone with its impressive specs is likely to dethrone the Motorola Droid as the Android King at Verizon.

• 8 megapixel camera with autofocus
• Memory: 512 MB ROM, 512 MB RAM (320 free to the user)
• Android 2.1 with HTC’s Sense UI
• Optical Trackpad
• 3.7″ WVGA (800×480) AMOLED Screen
• 1300mAH battery
• FM Tuner
• 802.11b/g WiFi
• 117.5 mm (L) x 58.5 mm (w) x 11.9 mm (T)
• 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, underclocked to 768Mhz.

via mobilecrunch

Read this if you’ve been eying a Droid Eris!

BerryScoop reports that the HTC Eris will be replaced by the new HTC Incredible as early as April 1st. The new phone has already been spotted in the Verizon inventory system.

The Incredible is expected to be a close cousin to the Nexus One, sporting a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, AMOLED display, 5MP auto-focus camera with flash, and running Android 2.1 + Sense UI.

In essence, the Incredible will be Verizon’s branded version of the Nexus One, sold through their retail stores. Contrary to some rumors, the actual Nexus One will continue to be sold directly by Google and should become available for Verizon around the same time.

The trade-offs between the two phones will come down to choosing:  A carrier subsidized HTC Incredible with a mobile contract and less frequent software updates over an unlocked Nexus One without in-store support and higher up-front cost.

If the current sales performance numbers of the Nexus One are any indication, I think the traditional retail sales model will continue to outsell the online-only Nexus One, and the Incredible could become the next Android hit for Verizon.

via pocketnow and berryscoop

The Motorola Devour is available this week, on February 25th, exclusively at Best Buy Mobile for $99 with contract, after rebates. It will be available at Verizon stores sometime next month.

This newest phone in the Verizon Droid lineup could turn out to be a great entry level Android device. I think its sturdy aluminum case with slide-out keyboard combined with MotoBlur is going to appeal to many current Blackberry users and people that are looking for a simplified Android experience. 

Although the specs are not as impressive as some of the other Android phones, it will satisfy most users:

• Android 1.6 with MotoBlur
• 3.1-in.; HVGA (320 x 480 pixels)
• 3MP Fixed Focus Camera with Video
• WiFi 802.11 b,g
• GPS
• Dual microphone noise cancellation
• 1400 mAh Li Ion Battery

Wow – Droid prices are dropping to new lows. Motorola Droid now $50 at Sears online. Droid Eris free at Best Buy with new 2 year contract or extension. New Droid Devour rumored to be $99 at launch.

No more fighting over the remote, just use your Droid to change the channel.

Verizon just released an app exclusive to the Motorola Droid that allows you to control your FIOS HD set-top-box from your phone. Just install the free mobileremote app from the Android Market Place, connect to your Wi-Fi network and pair the Droid with your FIOS Box by using the Mobile Remote Widget on your TV, enter your phone number, and you are all set.

Now you can use your Droid just like your FIOS remote to change channels, pause, rewind, fwd, etc. In addition, you can view pictures stored on your Droid directly on your TV, either individually or as slide show. The app will even mute the TV when a call comes in. Pretty cool, huh?

Of course, you can also use this to prank your family and change channels from another room, since Droid uses Wi-Fi to remote-control the FIOS box.