I'd like to know how important having a keyboard is to you guys. I'd like to buy a new phone soon and I'm picking between this phone, the Galaxy Nexus, and waiting for a Droid 4. The thing is, I use AT&T which none of these phones are available for. The Droid 4 is said to come with GSM bands, and I know the D3 does, so I can work with that. My question is whether it's worth giving up the Droids' keyboards for the Galaxy Nexus' superior specs.
P.S. I'm coming from a 4 year old HTC Kaiser, so anything is an upgrade.
I love my keyboard. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have one. I definitely would sacrifice a little on the processor and ram to have a keyboard phone,
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
I chose the droid 3 specifically because of the keyboard. That and the fact that it needed to be new and android
My droid 3 was the best phone I ever used, the keyboard is amazing. But the phone sometimes lagged with only 512mb or ram, the boot loader is not unlocked, other than that stuff it is blazing! I would suggest waiting for the droid 4 if you love qwerty keyboards that much but go for the nexus if you cant wait for a phone and want specs now.
ourtut said:
My droid 3 was the best phone I ever used, the keyboard is amazing. But the phone sometimes lagged with only 512mb or ram, the boot loader is not unlocked, other than that stuff it is blazing! I would suggest waiting for the droid 4 if you love qwerty keyboards that much but go for the nexus if you cant wait for a phone and want specs now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is, I have AT&T, not Verizon. I don't know if the Nexus will ever come to AT&T and the Droid 4 may or may not have GSM bands.
I always go for the best phone available with keyboard. My XT860, which is the nearly identical cousin of the Droid 3 (except 4G), unlocked, works with my AT&T sim card when I travel in U.S. might be worth your considering.
Sent from my XT860 using xda premium
Thank you, that's very useful to know. I hope it's possible to do the same with the Droid 4, because this phone will become obsolete when that comes out.
My advice is not to get the Verizon version as it is a pain to get unlocked for AT&T but the 860. But other then that yes this is a good phone. If Hash can get the kinks worked out for ICS (I know he can), then it will be an amazing phone. It is still new enough hardware wise it isn't a big deal.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
You can get unlocked gsm nexus online. It means you pay full price instead of using a carrier upgrade. Check out www.negrielectronics.com (I'm in no way affaliated, I just know they have gsm nexus)
Sent from my XT860 using xda premium
The physical keyboard is really a person preference thing. Generally speaking, the recent phones that have physical keyboards are usually slightly lacking in other departments like screen size/quality and/or RAM. What I'm getting at is having a physical keyboard is usually a trade off, but those of us that are willing to make that trade will swear by them because we greatly dislike having only a virtual keyboard.
The advice mentioned earlier about getting a non-Verizon version is sound advice. It is my understanding that Verizon's GSM capable phones are locked for other US GSM carriers. You could probably avoid a lot of headaches by not getting a Verizon phone if you don't plan on using them as your carrier.
But I thought this would remedy all my GSM-related needs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=20634546
There is that hack to get At&t working on the Verizon Droid 3 and if you are comfortable doing it then go ahead. It will require rooting and unlocking.
Otherwise you could look at getting the international XT860 since it will work on At&t out of the box. You could probably grab a Canadian one off ebay and to pop in your At&t SIM and not have to do anything else.
But if you don't mind doing that hack, the US XT862 is getting more dev attention it seems so it may be a better investment.
I'm using my Verizon D3 (xt862) on T-Mobile, which only allows me to use Edge. The process to hack it to use GSM isn't hard, and it's pretty reliable still, but does require unlocking the phone through Verizon. I've heard a ton of problems coming from people who think they can get it to work using paid for unlock codes, so I'd advise being sure you can get the VZW unlock code from the source.
This phone is compatible with AT&T 3G bands, so if RAM isn't too big an issue (works fine with 512 MB IMHO), then this phone works great. I would argue that the D4 coming out won't make this phone outdated unless it comes stock with ICS. That would mean it would get a lot more developer attention probably, but wouldn't necessarily make me switch right away
Sent while mobile using Tapatalk.
Without a doubt, i'd go with a keyboard. I picked this phone specifically because of that.
ChocolateShein said:
I'd like to know how important having a keyboard is to you guys. I'd like to buy a new phone soon and I'm picking between this phone, the Galaxy Nexus, and waiting for a Droid 4. The thing is, I use AT&T which none of these phones are available for. The Droid 4 is said to come with GSM bands, and I know the D3 does, so I can work with that. My question is whether it's worth giving up the Droids' keyboards for the Galaxy Nexus' superior specs.
P.S. I'm coming from a 4 year old HTC Kaiser, so anything is an upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got fat fingers soo a keyboard will be a must for me since i do heavy messaging with my phones, but bear in mind the Nexus do have a larger screen and there are keyboard apps that give a wide selection of layout for data entry, i dont know haha but i guess i am milestone used since the day when droid 1 came out, soo i have been buying every droid they ever released. i have a droid 1, 2, 3 now , i am waiting for the droid 4, but i like keyboard, cuz it feels better to type with a hardware keyboard, rather then poking at a screen.
if u are still iffy about the galaxy nexus then i'd say u wait a bit longer, new year they have to have new phones to be released
Keyboards are amazing, I have all Droid phones with keyboards (Milestone 1, Milestone 2 and finally Droid 3) and it`s impossible for me to buy a phone without HW keyboard anymore
keyboard is the major reason for me buying xt860
I'll be the dissenter. I lived for a couple of years with a virtual keyboard only and I am fine with that. I chose the D3 because I wanted a stable 3G phone, I wanted Moto because my house is in a weak cell area for Verizon and Moto has better radios, and the world phone capability I felt was a good idea for me - we are planning to do some travel in the next year and a half.
Ok, that said, once I tried the keyboard, I loved it. The original plan was just to ignore the hardware keyboard, but now I almost always use it.
I can't stand using a virtual keyboard, I am always hitting a wrong key. The Droid 3 physical keyboard is great and is a must in my book!
For me, it's the deciding factor in purchasing an Android phone. I waited and watched for the Droid 3's five-row keyboard as the first satisfactory upgrade from my HTC Dream.
My password contains numbers, so having to hit all those extra shifts on my iPod Touch poops me to tears. That and my continuous fat-fingering on the on-screen keyboard. I can use my fingernails on my Milestone 3's keyboard quite happily, with nary a mistake.
Related
Hi all,
I am not an owner of the phone yet, but I have two questions.
Has the bootloader been unlocked, or not? That's one reason why I am hessitating of buying this phone.
Also, how is the sound quality?
No the bootloader as of right now is still locked. Though root is possible, custom roms are not. We are at this point stuck with 2.1 with no word yet as to if and when froyo is coming. I'd suggest looking at phones from HTC for an alternative unless you wish to join the many dissatisfied milestone owners in the wait to see what Motorola decides to do. And judging by the release of Droid X with eFuse and it's bootloader lock down, things don't look favorable...
Vic
Sent from my Milestone
OK, well, the thing is that I need a phone with a physical keyboard, and there are not many choices. So well, we'll see what I will end up with. I don't like that the bootloader is locked.
I also went with this phone for its physical keyboard not knowing about the bootloader situation until I had time to learn more about it online. I made the mistake of assuming it would be just as hackable as the droid. If it wasn't way too late to return it I would have. I still might try to sell it and get a Nexus One before they are no longer for sale. It's a shame really, cause the phone itself is great, just the company support for latest software and for openness of the device in general just sucks.
Vic
Sent from my Milestone
OK, well then I will have to think twice before I purchase it.
The Nexus is just available in the US, not Europe right?
It does not feature a physical keyboard?
Not sure about it's availability in Europe but I do know it's available online in Canada where I am. And no there is no physical keyboard. Which, I might add, is just a luxury not a necessity with all the wonderful touch screen keyboard options for android.
Sent from my Milestone
wileyvic said:
Not sure about it's availability in Europe but I do know it's available online in Canada where I am. And no there is no physical keyboard. Which, I might add, is just a luxury not a necessity with all the wonderful touch screen keyboard options for android.
Sent from my Milestone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, the touch keyboards may be great, but I need to have a physical keyboard since I am visually impaired and have difficulties using on screen keyboards.
So that's the main reason why I am searching for an Android phone with a physical keyboard.
I am using Windows Mobile at the moment, but if I purchase a Milestone it may just be a starting point for me so I at least get a feeling of the Android OS and may upgrade t something else if let's sy HTC releases a phone with a physical keyboard. What do you think?
I would personally wait for something different to come along with a physical keyboard. But again if you are okay with a locked down phone that is slow to receive updates the Milestone is a decent android device, it's just crippled by Motorola...
In the USA the Galaxy S by Samsung just released a keyboarded version, that may be an option for you.
Sent from my Milestone
I just found this: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f27/htc-vision-marries-the-htc-desire-with-physical-qwerty-keyboard-35204/
Vic
Sent from my Milestone
OK, looks great. But the question is when it will become available here in Europe and I need a new phone quite soon. So it's therefor I can't wait. The Galaxy S by the way looks really interesting to me.
But how is the sound quality of the phone?
Does the earpiece sound ok?
My vision sucks too. The physical keyboard doesn't help as much as some of the on-screen alternatives such as Swype.
As far as bootloader goes, it's only necessary for roms. Milestone has root, so apps that require root will run. Milestone has bluetooth voice dial already, so the BIG difference in froyo is already met. So long as you can find it subsidized, milestone is a solid purchase.
Sent from my droid using XDA App
Hi,
Just a question, root what's that?
I am not able to flash any ROMS right?
Many thanks for any info.
Root is when you gain super user rights on the OS, in this case Android. It's a unix term. What it means in terms of your phone is the ability to run programs which need special permissions to execute. For example rooted users can overclock the phones CPU, wifi tether their carrier internet connection, etc...
Vic
droid 3 owners please sign this petition made by David Parrella to give droid 3 owneres early upgrades for the droid 4 http://t.co/HIpWwQZA
Signed.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
Signed.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
The Droid 3 was released before the Bionic and Razr. Phones take months to develop, they aren't put together overnight. Considering the Droid 3 was the first with the new version of motoblur and the new plaform (omap processor) it was probably the longest in development out of those three phones. The Droid 4 being released doesn't make the Droid 3 obsolete. Plus, plenty of other phones were released at that time with 3G, you don't see petitions for those phones, do you?
Everyone was fully aware 4G was going to be available at the time of the 3's release, if you wanted a 4G phone you should have waited for one.
Its not necessarily the 4g they are after. Its the 1G of ram, faster processor, keyboard setup the Droid 3 should have been.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
Darksurf said:
Its not necessarily the 4g they are after. Its the 1G of ram, faster processor, keyboard setup the Droid 3 should have been.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still equally as ridiculous. Not every phone released is a high end phone. These companies develop midrange ones all the time. There were plenty of 512 phones being released at that time. Plus the bionic has the same processor.
And the keyboard, really? The Droid 3 keyboard was a huge step up over the 2 and Evo Slide or w/e. Should they just constantly delay the phones launch because they have people working on building better keyboards? Give me a break. Feature creep is the number one reason why companies lose money and their products are unsuccessful.
I mean this is really like people that complain their computers are obsolete after buying them. Welcome to the technology market. There are multiple teams working on multiple products.
Whatever, I don't even think 10,000 people bought the Droid 3, mostly because most of them recognized it was a terrible purchase at the time anyway. I mean I sat there and weighed the options of having a keyboard to having 1GB of ram and 4G (and most people at the time were saying the 1GB of ram wasn't really true, it was 512 for the phone 512 for the laptop dock). I choose the keyboard, but honestly the phone has other issues that bother me more than just lack of 4G. The fact that my multiple 32GB cards randomly loses music folders is way more annoying to me. That and how I'm on my third phone because the USB --> PC connection decides to stop working after lots of use.
I'm upgrading to the Galaxy Nexus as soon as possible.
Signed.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
I also signed....
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
i4mt3hwin said:
It's still equally as ridiculous. Not every phone released is a high end phone. These companies develop midrange ones all the time. There were plenty of 512 phones being released at that time. Plus the bionic has the same processor.
And the keyboard, really? The Droid 3 keyboard was a huge step up over the 2 and Evo Slide or w/e. Should they just constantly delay the phones launch because they have people working on building better keyboards? Give me a break. Feature creep is the number one reason why companies lose money and their products are unsuccessful.
I mean this is really like people that complain their computers are obsolete after buying them. Welcome to the technology market. There are multiple teams working on multiple products.
Whatever, I don't even think 10,000 people bought the Droid 3, mostly because most of them recognized it was a terrible purchase at the time anyway. I mean I sat there and weighed the options of having a keyboard to having 1GB of ram and 4G (and most people at the time were saying the 1GB of ram wasn't really true, it was 512 for the phone 512 for the laptop dock). I choose the keyboard, but honestly the phone has other issues that bother me more than just lack of 4G. The fact that my multiple 32GB cards randomly loses music folders is way more annoying to me. That and how I'm on my third phone because the USB --> PC connection decides to stop working after lots of use.
I'm upgrading to the Galaxy Nexus as soon as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I read there is " I hate my droid 3". How about ending the beotch fest and just sign the petition. Lol.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
I'm not gonna sign it because I know it won't do any good. Besides the only major upgrade is the 4G to me. The extra RAM isn't needed and we can already overclock our phones to the same speed so IMO it's not a huge upgrade. The D2->D3 was a more superior upgrade because of the dual core. I got my phone running nice and the battery actually runs good enough for me to be able to go ahead and go through the day without needing a charger most of the time provided I'm in a good 3G area or have Wi-Fi. But go ahead. Besides tell me one time Verizon has actually listened to a petition?
I signed it. I hope for an early upgrade.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
I dont know where the problem is, a new product gets realesed, if you have the money and you want it, you buy it. You should stop to care so much about your phone....its just a phone.
Sent from my DROID4 using XDA App
I signed it, for what it's worth. I'm fine with my droid 3 and love it. I know it won't get us anywhere but it's worth a shot.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
Signed....
This is just a little bit silly. Everyone that DECIDED to buy a D3 knew full well that they were compromising 4G AND 1G of RAM. If these were the things that were important to you at the time, then you could have got the Bionic. You can't blame any company for coming out with better devices too soon, you can only blame your own poor timing to make a purchase.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
Uh yeah... like this measly little petition is gonna get enough attention for Motorola wanting to lose millions of dollars on D3 owners because a few of them whined about a new phone coming out too soon.
My issue is then why buy a phone if 6 months later the same phone comes out that better. So if I buy the d4 then six months later a tripple core d5 comes out then what. Its stupid. The carriers don't care about you they want your money so the pump out these android phones as fastas they can. And stick you with there ui's and your current phone will always feel old. Now the d3 is still a good phone with its duel core but why did they come out with a d4 so soon. Makes me feel that they said oopps we should of made it 4g and more ram. So to bad for the d3 owners, so go out and get the new phone and pay full price becouse you already used your upgrade. More money in there pockets. That's why as soon as my upgrade is availible I'm getting the samsung nexus and I'm saying good buy to the carrier phone with there stupid skins and out dated software ( galaxy s is at 2.3.7 and my d3 is still at 2.3.4 and the s is a year old). And I will never look back. In fact I can't even recomend the d3 becouse of this, or any other carrier phone. Yes I know that the samsung nexus is still a carrier phone but goole is in control of it. That's why there are no stupid bloat ware on it. So the new stock look of 4.0 is so much better then any skin.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
spacecasespiff said:
My issue is then why buy a phone if 6 months later the same phone comes out that better. So if I buy the d4 then six months later a tripple core d5 comes out then what. Its stupid. The carriers don't care about you they want your money so the pump out these android phones as fastas they can. And stick you with there ui's and your current phone will always feel old. Now the d3 is still a good phone with its duel core but why did they come out with a d4 so soon. Makes me feel that they said oopps we should of made it 4g and more ram. So to bad for the d3 owners, so go out and get the new phone and pay full price becouse you already used your upgrade. More money in there pockets. That's why as soon as my upgrade is availible I'm getting the samsung nexus and I'm saying good buy to the carrier phone with there stupid skins and out dated software ( galaxy s is at 2.3.7 and my d3 is still at 2.3.4 and the s is a year old). And I will never look back. In fact I can't even recomend the d3 becouse of this, or any other carrier phone. Yes I know that the samsung nexus is still a carrier phone but goole is in control of it. That's why there are no stupid bloat ware on it. So the new stock look of 4.0 is so much better then any skin.
Sent from my DROID3 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're saying that these companies shouldn't produce phones so you can feel good about you having the best for a little longer? These companies are in the business to make money.
I find it amusing that people think they are entitled to stuff beyond what they've purchased. You bought a Droid 3, you got a Droid 3. Motorola doesn't owe you **** beyond what they gave you. If Motorola came out with a slightly improved Droid everyday it wouldn't and shouldn't make a difference. You knew what you were buying and you bought it. If you don't like it you have no one to blame but yourself.
Well, the thing is...when the iphone 4 came out...everyone who bought a 3gs like 4 or 5 months before was allowed an early upgrade. So why not us.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
I love these responses. This is great for a bored day at work.
1. Yes, you knew what you were buying. You may not have gotten exactly what you wanted, but you did get exactly what you paid for.
2. The economy is not governed by simply productivity. If that was the case, a new type of widget would be made every day because numbers would be the only thing that matters. The economy is governed by the desires of the people. While Verizon and Motorola may not care. They should provide a strong effort to give people a sporting chance. I have my Droid 3 after innumerable software issued with my D2G. Verizon gave it to me. That said, I always wanted a 4G qwerty slider. The Stratosphere is a poor substitute as its specs are last generation. Should Verizon offer Droid 3 owners something? Yes. Because its important to keep your customers happy. Case in point, I will NEVER buy another Motorola handset again. Samsung has better battery, and HTC has better UI. Keeping your customers happy is key. HTC knows this, and so does Samsung. In the next year, I suspect any device can be activated on any network, giving us more options of phones. And I'll take an Epic 4G anyday!
3. The petition may not work, but when has sitting your behind ever done anything helpful? Don't antagonize people for having hope, and standing on their principles. It is because of people with the courage to fight for what they believe that I can ride in the front of the bus. Principles are important.
4. FLAME ON!! The same people complaining about the petition, are likely the same people that vote for a party just because of the party. Or just let people walk all over them. If you feel the brown stain on your nose belongs there, good for you. Don't be upset that others have different opinions and act on them. I'd rather stand alone than sit amongst millions.
As I did not purchase the Droid 3, I have no right to sign. However, it remains true that when a new device is released, support for the current market of devices diminishes. That alone, should be enough to make you fight.
Hi everyone
I have been considering buying the Motorola droid 3 for some time now and wanted the actual users feedback weather to buy it or not?
I want a qwerty android phone with a dual core.
All your Inputs would be welcome.
Thank you
Anand
What do you want to know? I don't know about prices/availability over there but you might also get the droid 4 instead if possible.
As for droid 3, for me:
Pro's:
- best qwerty I've used
- qwerty + android
- dual core
- looks
Cons:
- screen is "good" but certainly not up there with the best
- locked bootloader
- Droid 4 release
Well i am using a galaxy sl at the moment
What I miss the most is the lack of a qwerty keypad. Dual core and the stock of roms etc really make it better.
The droid 4 is not available here : ( needless to say not even the droid 3....
Motorola here has not launched any of these models here
I want a really good qwerty handset keeping the most modern hardware possible Both the droid options would have to be imported..here
Well if you want QWERTY i say get the droid3/4.
You could import them from negri electronics, thats what I did.
Just depends whether you wanna pay the extra ~$100 for the droid 4
I love this phone. The only advice I have is to avoid buying a Verizon XT862 as it seems a lot of users out there are having issues unlocking them due to Verizon meddling with the unlock codes.
If you decide on the D3, go for an XT860 as it's basically identical but not a hassle to unlock.
Rick#2 said:
I love this phone. The only advice I have is to avoid buying a Verizon XT862 as it seems a lot of users out there are having issues unlocking them due to Verizon meddling with the unlock codes.
If you decide on the D3, go for an XT860 as it's basically identical but not a hassle to unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why you buy the verizon XT862 unlocked version from negri electronics
I will keep the Xt 862 in mind when buying..
I wanted to know the problems with the device specifically and problem which is pointed out with the display?
What is wrong with the display?
I wanted to know how it compares to my Samsung galaxy sl which is still single core but the other stuff??
How is the xda support for this device like the custom roms etc etc?
abehrani said:
I will keep the Xt 862 in mind when buying..
I wanted to know the problems with the device specifically and problem which is pointed out with the display?
What is wrong with the display?
I wanted to know how it compares to my Samsung galaxy sl which is still single core but the other stuff??
How is the xda support for this device like the custom roms etc etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing is "wrong" with the display. It's just not an improvement over a galaxy S.
It's higher RES but shadows/dark are worse than galaxy S and when you look real close you can see a bit of grain because of pentile.
But unless you're a display-freak its OK. I'd rather have the droid 3 than galaxy S2 because of its QWERTY
abehrani said:
I will keep the Xt 862 in mind when buying..
I wanted to know the problems with the device specifically and problem which is pointed out with the display?
What is wrong with the display?
I wanted to know how it compares to my Samsung galaxy sl which is still single core but the other stuff??
How is the xda support for this device like the custom roms etc etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would not say there is a "problem" or "wrong with the display", probably there are better...
DoubleYouPee said:
What do you want to know? I don't know about prices/availability over there but you might also get the droid 4 instead if possible.
As for droid 3, for me:
Pro's:
- best qwerty I've used
- qwerty + android
- dual core
- looks
Cons:
- screen is "good" but certainly not up there with the best
- locked bootloader
- Droid 4 release
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Price is a factor add the following
--Pro's: VERY CHEAP or even free
What it boils down to to me is if you want a QWERTY slider Android phone, the Droid series is the only way to go. If you want the latest and greatest and/or have to have/want 4G and are willing to pay for it, get the Droid 4. If you are wanting cheap and don't care about or are willing to forgo 4g, then get the Droid 3.
I paid $50 for my droid 3 with contract renewal in Jan and my Wife's was free with her contract renewal in Feb (and came with the dock and car dock thrown in free too). The OP mentions "not available here" but where is "here"? The contract renewal probably doesn't apply I guess - but the Droid 3 will be getting dumped for cheap until supplies run out and its a great phone. Particularly if you are like me and upgrading from a Droid 1.
The only downside I have experienced was a lack of LTE. Battery life and performance are excellent.
Sent from my XT862 using XDA App
http://www.motorola.com/us/consumer...,pd.html?selectedTab=tab-2&cgid=mobile-phones
At first glance, I thought this was a Droid 4. But then I saw that Moto took off the capacitive buttons on the bottom of the front of the phone. The Photon Q gets an upgraded 1.5gz dual core processor, and the display apparently has ColorBoost technology (resolution is the same, however).
I always wondered what Moto would do as a one-up on the droid 4. Looks like we have an answer
Motorola has stated that it'll have an unlockable bootloader. Also i think someone said that it has an s4, srsly the only real drawback so far to this phone is Sprint and that qhd display. Still very nice though
* raises fist * Damn you, Motorola! I just got the Droid 4!
* settles down * I still prefer a menu button though
* enables puppy-eyes * Please release an unlocked version in Europe?
I think the SIM card of the photon Q is not removable, so don't worry about getting it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
If it'll be non-removable SIM card, it's dead phone
danifunker said:
I think the SIM card of the photon Q is not removable, so don't worry about getting it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sure is not removable. I hope this is not going to be a new trend. Does not bode well for the Droid 5 on Verizon whenever it will be out.
From the Spec sheets:
Frequency: LTE, CDMA 800/1900 EVDO Rev A, World Phone - GSM 850/1900/1800/900, UMTS 850/1900/2100 (SIM is embedded in the phone, GSM SIM is locked and not removable)
hey all i care about is the fact that they will let you unlock the bootloader, they better do it for the Droid 4 and RAZR too!
Fat chance of that. Verizon thinks that rooted phones can impair the quality of the service they provide. /:
maddeath said:
Fat chance of that. Verizon thinks that rooted phones can impair the quality of the service they provide. /:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
**** Verizon, all they do is pack their phones with bull**** bloatware, delay OTAs by months, overprice, and all that. the only good thing they've ever done for me is not get rid of my unlimited data plan yet. ....yet.... *knocks on wood*
@sjaakbaanan i had the same reaction when reading OP
rubixcube said:
@sjaakbaanan i had the same reaction when reading OP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, good to see I'm not the only one!
I'm still keeping my hopes up that one day they'll release this or a newer QWERTY over here too, with unlocked SIM. If not this phone, then the next.. and I'll buy it right away!
Maybe we should start some kind of internet petition to bring Motorola QWERTY phones than Europe and see if more than 5 people sign it
Didn't Samsung succumb to internet users when it offered a "developer version" (unlocked bootloader) of the GS3 on verizon (for way more money, of course)? If I'm correct, then it can be done
alex94kumar said:
Didn't Samsung succumb to internet users when it offered a "developer version" (unlocked bootloader) of the GS3 on verizon (for way more money, of course)? If I'm correct, then it can be done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and they offered it for 600 USD I believe, which is actually still cheaper than the S3's unsubsidized price over here. So I'm already taking into account that I need to spend that amount of money, as long as they give me the chance
But I think more people want an unlocked S3 (which already existed for Europe anyway) than an unlocked Photon Q, so the power of the internet may be smaller here. Ah well, if I get data to work, I'm fully happy with my Droid 4!
No microSD cards, non-removable batteries and now embedded SIM cards. Are we noticing a trend yet?
Tappin' and talkin' with Tapatalk.
This one takes a microsd, but yeah there's definitely a trend...
my guess is the trend is actually carriers trying to hold on to the old way of doing things. they don't like device hopping and by forcing you to buy a new phone, they are able to bring in additional revenue.
I hate how we're basically the only market that's this way. meanwhile the rest of the world is "free to roam" and prices remain competitive.
Me too
640k said:
my guess is the trend is actually carriers trying to hold on to the old way of doing things. they don't like device hopping and by forcing you to buy a new phone, they are able to bring in additional revenue.
I hate how we're basically the only market that's this way. meanwhile the rest of the world is "free to roam" and prices remain competitive.
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I hate how the phones seem to be built to break after 2 years. My mom got a phone 13 years ago that is still kicking..its even been dropped in a drink cup....6 years after the cup incident the pixels in the display are finally going out. She loves that thing and is very upset that she has to get a new phone, I am very surprised it's still working. She's even using the original battery! As for me, I love the keyboard on my D4, and now that I have my much-beloved FM radio on it, I probably won't upgrade again, it's just too expensive to. I will just surf ebay and get other D4s. :silly: Anyone else notice that as Verizon gets bigger, the more expensive, dumber and ruder they become? I wish we had more competition.
I have noticed that trend too, and I don't like it. If they wanted to keep things like they were, they would still be making indestructible bricks like what my mom is using. I like the thinner phones, yet I want to be able to rip out the battery if I get frustrated, and I hate needing a SIM card
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Rooted Moto Droid 4 with Spirit FM
Stock Samsung Galaxy S (Samsung Facinate)....Why does it have 2 names?
KrellaKrentoshi said:
I hate how the phones seem to be built to break after 2 years. My mom got a phone 13 years ago that is still kicking..its even been dropped in a drink cup....6 years after the cup incident the pixels in the display are finally going out. She loves that thing and is very upset that she has to get a new phone, I am very surprised it's still working. She's even using the original battery! As for me, I love the keyboard on my D4, and now that I have my much-beloved FM radio on it, I probably won't upgrade again, it's just too expensive to. I will just surf ebay and get other D4s. :silly: Anyone else notice that as Verizon gets bigger, the more expensive, dumber and ruder they become? I wish we had more competition.
I have noticed that trend too, and I don't like it. If they wanted to keep things like they were, they would still be making indestructible bricks like what my mom is using. I like the thinner phones, yet I want to be able to rip out the battery if I get frustrated, and I hate needing a SIM card
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Rooted Moto Droid 4 with Spirit FM
Stock Samsung Galaxy S (Samsung Facinate)....Why does it have 2 names?
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+10
I have been trying to point this out to eveyone I work with especially with all of the HTC devices every time a new ver of the evo is coming out all of sudden the old ver starts to fall apart physically and software !! coincident? i dont think so!!!
I do like my D4. Its been the first DROID phone I've been happy with since the 1. Some other slider is going to have to have some prett decent features to get me to switch. Like a better screen and battery life that lasts days.
What should I do now?
Am one of those who'll want a physical keyboard on Android for sure.
Last year waited so much for Droid 3, but bad reviews didn't let me go for it. Early this year got Xperia Pro, which was working very much fine, and then few weeks ago, STOLEN.
Now on a prowl for another Android + keyboard handset. Found Droid 4, but thanks to GSM radio still off (am from India and on GSM) have been more than eagerly waiting for ICS on Droid 4. Now that it is just rolling out, come across Photon Q.
Very much confused which one to go for, Droid 4 or Photon Q?
# Droid 4 has higher battery life among the two (of the data in hand at present), with ICS so late, Jelly Bean would be light years away.
# Photon Q will launch with ICS, so have a chance for Jelly Bean. But battery life doesn't look promising (reviews after the launch will give exact idea). Apart from that, Photon Q looks better with better processor and bigger screen.
Please advice which one should I really go with.
Thanks!
I recently bought an HTC Desire Z but was given the T-mobile model which doesn't suppport 850Mhz 3G, which is what my local network runs. The eBay seller has a Droid 3 XT883 that he can exchange my HTC for, would you recommend your Droid?
I really like the QWERTY keyboard on the HTC but there seems to be less in the way of ROMs for the Droid. Any other models you can suggest?
ashok_fernandez said:
I recently bought an HTC Desire Z but was given the T-mobile model which doesn't suppport 850Mhz 3G, which is what my local network runs. The eBay seller has a Droid 3 XT883 that he can exchange my HTC for, would you recommend your Droid?
I really like the QWERTY keyboard on the HTC but there seems to be less in the way of ROMs for the Droid. Any other models you can suggest?
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Its not a bad device, its got a solid cpu and ram which is still pretty speedy, the keyboard is one of the best available ( besides the droid 4's ), but in terms of roms and dev support its almost dead. They devs still around are still working very hard but sometimes a lot of things are outdated , and if you get brick it can be hard with limited support.
It is quite durable and reliable, easy to root as well, once hash develops the JB ROM it'll be a solid phone. I use mine day to day, on an ICS ROM, and it works well. However, doesn't mean I won't buy the fighter once is out, due to the fact that its a bit old. But I would recommend it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers
Never even approach to this phone. It is the worst smartphone I have ever not only owned, but even held in my hand. This phone has managed to disappoint me not even in Motorola, but in whole Android. I'm pulling the thread to get brand new flagship on WP8 - thankfully we will never see WP8 on Motos. F..k Moto, damn droid!
the biggest pro to this phone, the keyboard, sucks for me. i've had 2 now and both have had problems with double pressing keys and some keys (particularly the question mark) not wanting to register. plus there's very little support. stay away
edit: on the pro side i can use it to open my beer bottles because of the metal bezel
DROID 3 - good specs, terrible support/updates. biggest drawback at the moment is the locked bootloader. i'm currently trying to decide whether to keep it (hoping we can actually get an OS update) or sell it.
if you're looking for the QWERTY keyboard and full 3G band support, have a look at the Xperia Pro mk16a. It's a good piece of equipment already running Jelly Bean.
Droid 3 could be good for you
If the following apply to you, the Droid 3 is a great phone:
1. You are OK with not having the latest and greatest version of Android
2. You don't mind rooting
3. 3G rather than 4G is OK for your purposes
Number two kind of applies to all Verizon Android phones in my book. They are so incredibly full of crapware as they come from Verizon that the hardware seems basically crippled by it. However rooting it and installing Titanium backup and then freezing all the crapware so it can't run transforms the phone. Personally I don't much care if I ever get ICS or JB on it. Once de-crapified the version it has is fine in my book. Then again my needs are probably less demanding than others. For me my phone is just a glorified PDA for getting my email, providing appointment notifications and storing my contacts. I use Touchdown for those things and that is going to be pretty much the same no matter what phone I use it on.
The speakerphone is the best I've had so far, very clear sound. The camera is above par as well, crisp and little grain, certainly better than my Atrix.
Absolutely