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Verizon Droid 2 Launching August with Android 2.2

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

The two devices were spotted in the wild well before Verizon's June 23 unveiling of the Droid X and some people even thought the Droid 2 would appear at the event. Unfortunately, we didn't get a glimpse of the second Droid and we didn't hear when we might, either.

Today we learn that the reason Verizon is waiting to launch the Droid 2 is that it's going to be the first Android phone to rock Android 2.2 (aka Froyo) right out of the box. Android and Me is citing a trustworthy source that claims the Droid 2 will appear on August 23 with Android 2.2 in tow. The rumor fits in with previous leaks that revealed the Droid X would be getting Android 2.2 in 'late August.'

The first Droid device to get the update will be the original Droid, which is set to get Froyo in late July.

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TunaSoda 06/29/2010 10:56 PM
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ac21365 06/29/2010 11:15 PM
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TunaSoda :
With the similarities between this and the original Droid, and the Droid X coming out, the Droid 2 seems like an epic fail to me



And the flames begin!

Check out the specs on the Droid X and Droid 2: Similar if not same screen, same innards, only differences is the keyboard and OS.

Your Epic fail would be a buy for me as I prefer a physical keyboard over touchscreen. It's nice that Motorola's looking out for customers with different preferences, instead of forcing them to adapt to a sole product.

Though, judging from your comment, I wouldn't expect you to understand anything about business/marketing.

Rhynn 06/29/2010 11:17 PM
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I much prefer the keyboard to the touch screen. Droid 2 ftw!

dgingeri 06/29/2010 11:29 PM
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I'd prefer a keyboard. I've been considering leaving AT&T early because of reception issues and my crappy phone as it is. Couple it with this, and I think I'm going to get one of these. All the other android phones I've looked at were touchscreen only, which I didn't like too well. it's too bad this is a craporola. I don't like the company, but I like the features of this model.

Anonymous 06/30/2010 12:32 PM
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hate the chin!

dtm4trix 06/30/2010 1:32 AM
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I will deffinately be getting the droid 2. I like the droid x but would prefer a smaller footprint and the slide out keyboard. I have a first gen droid and I love it, I will be giving it to my wife when she's done with her worthless att contract.

maestintaolius 06/30/2010 5:37 AM
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Rhynn :
I much prefer the keyboard to the touch screen. Droid 2 ftw!


I just wish they wouldn't use that membrane switch overlay keyboard and would instead switch to physically separate keys like my BB. One of my coworkers here has a Droid 1, and while I'm impressed with the phone and Android overall, I'm not crazy about the keyboard style (I also have reservations about Android because I couldn't get my coworker's Droid to sync up with my company's OWA where my BB has no problems-my guess is our IT dept is somehow blocking them with their evil magic like they did with the iphones too).

BPT747 06/30/2010 8:00 AM
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"IT" always seems to be a problem when you need to get something useful done at work.

As for keyboard/ no keyboard I can't decide, I guess I'll just have to wait till the droid 2 appears so I can hold both. (it is always just another month away I want to throw my old phone in the trash now)

fusion_gtx 06/30/2010 9:34 AM
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I'm definitely a keyboard user myself. I can't stand not having it. The touchscreens are great, but the physical keyboard is still more accurate.

However, I don't know how much I like the idea of them getting rid of the directional pad. It comes in handy when you want to zero in on a certain spot to make a corrections. Trying to tap the screen in just the right spot can be difficult at times.

adipose 06/30/2010 7:56 PM
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TunaSoda :
With the similarities between this and the original Droid, and the Droid X coming out, the Droid 2 seems like an epic fail to me



I have a Droid, and even I am considering the Droid 2. It fixes all the (minor) issues with Droid, and has way better specs, innards-wise. How is this a fail exactly? It doesn't really compete with Droid X as it has a keyboard and is not a monster size.

Anonymous 06/30/2010 10:44 PM
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The Droid 2 isn't an epic fail for someone like me who would be a first time buyer of a droid. I plan to get the Droid 2 when it comes out with the much better keyboard than the original droid, froyo and other internal upgrades. It doesn't seem like a logical upgrade for someone who already has the Droid, but for a new buyer, I don't see anything wrong with this.

MitchMeister- 06/30/2010 11:31 PM
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ac21365 :
And the flames begin!Check out the specs on the Droid X and Droid 2: Similar if not same screen, same innards, only differences is the keyboard and OS. Your Epic fail would be a buy for me as I prefer a physical keyboard over touchscreen. It's nice that Motorola's looking out for customers with different preferences, instead of forcing them to adapt to a sole product. Though, judging from your comment, I wouldn't expect you to understand anything about business/marketing.




Agree, My friend has the original droid and I love the keyboard. The droid 2 has a bigger keyboard = better imo. Also, the faster specs in the same design, and 2.2 = win. Even better is that I'm up for a new phone at the end of August.

Anonymous 07/13/2010 1:41 AM
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Thank heaven for alternatives. Android provided an excellent option for those who didn't want to live behind the high walls of "i" land. I've owned Motorola phones (Razr, V9m) for years and have always found them reliable and enjoyable to use--definitely not deserving of pejoratives like craparola. I now have the original Droid and after a learning curve, am highly pleased with it. Highly customizable, synchronizable with numerous email and other accounts, and with access to innumerable apps (including excellent navigation, Skymap, foreign language translation, Google Voice, the new Kindle e-reader, and one of my personal favorites--Find Starbucks). The browser is fast, and the phone plays very nicely with wireless networks and my various bluetooth devices.

I, too, have a strong preference for the physical keyboard, even if it means additional weight and thickness. For my purposes, the Droid is the perfect phone, combining business use with personal use, without undue emphasis on social networking uses more suited to the younger crowd. (I doubt I shall ever feel the need to Tweet people with the news that I am sitting in the drive-through lane at Chick-Fil-A.

Will definitely upgrade to Droid 2 in the future, and look forward to seeing Froyo on my current phone later this month. As a tip for other upgraders, I got my Droid through Wirefly.com at a very significant discount several months ago (49.95 with contract renewal).

Anonymous 10/03/2010 12:10 PM
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The D2 has a lot more features then the env touch and the speakers are great in it too. The big thing for me is that the battery sucks on it but if you have a smartphone you are going to have to live with that anyways. I have a couple of chargers so I can make sure that my phone does not die.
A couple of good things about it:
Linux Based
Built in GPS
Internet Browser works well
I like using the Swype feature for short messaging.
5 MP Camera albeit 8 would have been nicer
QWERTY Keyboard is descent on it too.
a lot of cool other features

What I don't like:
Battery
Verizon's Bloatware (You can get it off if you root the phone)
The Motorola blur is sometimes slow but you can get around that.
Before you buy one, see this http://www.Droid2Forum.net it's useful.