MOTOROLA DROID AND DEVOUR

LGERALDD1 · ‎11-25-2003

ATT, verizon carry these two phones and to me the backflip is nothing compared to these, you guys used to carry all the motorola phones,what happened?

will i basically have to change to verizon to get these phones? or r u guys expecting to get them sometime this year? what's the deal did att lose a motorola contract?

DG

saint168 · ‎03-06-2006

Base on the press release, there are 4 more Android phones coming out from AT&T this year. Just wait and see what's coming before making a decision. Rumor said an Android phone from HTC that is very similar to the Nexus One is coming to AT&T, I'm gonna wait for that one.

LGERALDD1 · ‎11-25-2003

yeah i read that, but what the hack happen with att and motorola, i like that style of the verizon motorola and devour. they are sleek to me.

DG

dgrbovic · ‎03-09-2010

Droid and devour are not GSM phones and at&t requires those to work on their network. There is however a GSM version of Droid called the Milestone, but you need to get an unlocked Canadian version of it in order to utilize 3G features since european and south american Milestone does not have the same frequencies as at&t for 3G so you could use it as an edge connection. I, too wish at&t would get a milestone.

paradoxofborg · ‎03-10-2010

Just purchased the MOTOROLA FLIP. The Motorola webiste says the phone is upgradeable to Android 2.1 (see links below) Only complaint is that I can't list it as my device in my customer profile with AT&T as it is not listed. Otherwise, the MOTOROLA FLIP is equivelant to VZW Moto Devour. It uses the same MOTO BLUR technology so you can streamline your Social Networking sites, and in the Universal INBOX see all incoming msgs whether from Facebook, MYSPACE, twitter, your own SMS/MMS (text,pix,flix). It runs Android 1.5, same as HTC DROID ERIS, and it has unexpected features, such as a touch sensitive pad on the back of the phone that allows you to flip through pages instead of using touch screen. A great scrolling feature, but will still need to use the touch screen. Once you learn to use the ZOOM on the browser, that is great too.

This is not a phone for someone wanting simplicity, however, if you have enjoyed pda/blackberry/3G MM HMTL capable phones in the past, you'll enjoy how the MOTO FLIP helps you streamline the experience making it simple. Also the Android Market is wonderful. Basically, you are not going to learn this phone in a day. It is going to take you some time to learn. However, don't fail to take advantage at http://www.motorola.com; click on consumer, and then choose Motorola BackFlip, and you find a wealth of resource information there, as well as video user tutorials.

The MOTO DEVOR only runs Android 1.6, and is not currently able to uprade to Android 2.1. For now the MOTO DROID cannot run MOTO BLUR, so after an upgrade to Android 2.1, your MOTO FLIP has the capacity to surpass the DEVOR & DROID in functionality.

paradoxofborg · ‎03-10-2010

Additional info with a little more research @ motorola.com; compare the MOTO DROID, MOTO DEVOUR, and MOTO FLIP, and you'll see the FLIP is the best of the 3. Android 1.5 comes with the phone, and while upgradeable to Android 2.1, Motorola simple says it will be, hasn't released a date for the upgrade, so you can either check back with the website or check the System Updates under ABOUT PHONE in SETTINGS. Neither the DROID or DEVOR are Global Capable, so if you go out of the country with VZW, you'll have to use a loaner phone and leave your DROID or DEVOR at home. With the MOTO FLIP it's ready to go with a change of packages on your price plan. Once the Android 2.1 update is available for the MOTO FLIP, the only advantage of the DROID is that it can show 30 fp instead of 24 fp when it comes to video quality. Don't really care that much about video that much to be that concerned. Also, unless they release an upgrade to the DROID it can't run MOTO BLUR for now.

androidbestie · ‎03-11-2010

ive got 1 of the android phones.i work for htc.big android fan in gen.but most of android phones r the same.same features at least.same apps since android phones have access to android market

cdwhit · ‎04-19-2009

OK, I'm a current Tilt user, but looking at a new phone since my contract is up. I'm VERY interested in Android, BUT my big concern after reading a ton of web sites and forums (and this does link to the topic!). AT&T has basically crippled the Backflip. Yes, it has great potential features, but AT&T has the power to limit those features such as filling memory with bloatware I don't want and won't use, taking up memory I could use for apps. They replaced Google with Yahoo (the sites I've seen disagree whether this can be reversed) which since Google created the phone, removes functionality. While Motorola says that Android 2.1 will be available, will it be full 2.1, or an AT&T approved (crippled) version? I'm a bit distrustful.

IF the Android 2.1 is a complete implementation, and IF AT&T allows opens access to the "market", and IF AT@T gives me memory to use the available apps, and IF AT&T allows me free access to Free Google features rather than forcing me to pay for their versions, THEN the Backflip MAY beat the others.

Right now I'm going to hope my Tilt keeps working long enough to see what AT&T does, and if they keep playing these games I guess I'll look at other carriers once the rest of the families contracts are up.

marvin02 · ‎07-07-2009

cdwhit,

You state - "AT&T has basically crippled the Backflip."

This is not true. Google search was replaced as the default with Yahoo search. This is not as big a deal as some are making out. I have my homepage set to Google in the browser and there are other options for dealing with this. Any other restrictions in running the Google apps is the result of the OS being at 1.5.

You can not change the setting to allow non-market apps to be installed, but there were methods to bypass this (without rooting the phone) posted within hours of the phone's release.

You state - ".. Google created the phone.."

Actually Google created an open source OS that serves as the OS for the phone. As long as Motorola and AT&T do not violate the license for Android they can modify it as they wish. Google isn't the first open source developer to see their work used in ways they do not like or would not do on their own.

You state - "IF AT&T allows me free access to Free Google features rather than forcing me to pay for their versions.."

You do not have to pay for any of the AT&T services you don't want. Google Maps works fine (but as on other Android 1.5 phones, no turn-by-turn directions). Gmail, Google calendar, and POP and IMAP email all work great on the Backflip.

You state - "While Motorola says that Android 2.1 will be available, will it be full 2.1, or an AT&T approved (crippled) version?"

There is no Android OS phone that runs 'pure Android' - not even the Nexus One. Android has to be customized for the hardware it is running on for every phone. Some of the changes are fine tuning the OS to run better on the chosen hardware. On any branded phone you will see stuff added by the carrier. The phones manufacturer also makes changes to put their stamp on the phone. HTC has the sense UI and Motorola has MotoBlur. So don't expect any carrier or phone manufacturer to suddenly abandon their business partners and start selling phones with no branding at all.

Only two phones are sold with Android 2.xx, the Droid and the Nexus One. There are more WinMo phones using the snapdragon processor than Android phones and altogether there are very few phones with Snapdragon.

I have had my Backflip for over a week. My experience is that it is a solid phone, not a great phone. It works well for me. Others may not like it, this is the case with any phone.

If you want the latest and greatest you do not want the Backflip. It is on the trailing edge of technology, not the leading edge. This does not mean that the Backflip isn't a good phone and that some people, like myself, will be content with the Backflip because it does what we need it to.

One way for Android believers to see this is that the Backflip will put Android into the hands of many more people because it isn't aimed at the tech geek. Being inexpensive (check the sites that sell cell phones) and on one of the biggest carriers will get many to try Android that have waited for a mid-range phone.

LGERALDD1 · ‎11-25-2003

me personally just like the design of the droid and the devour, the design is the first thing that catches my eye.

DG

cdwhit · ‎04-19-2009

OK, Maybe I'm misunderstanding what I'm reading. Can I access and use Google Docs?

To run NON market apps, is the fix a one time fix, or a bunch of hoops to jump through every time you install an app?

Does Google maps work with the GPS? At least one site I read said it didn't (I don't have the phone so can only go by what I read.)

My Tilt came loaded with ATT bloatware, but within 3 days of getting it I found the hack to remove it from RAM (It's still in ROM, but my RAM is freed up for Apps I want). Is this possible with the Backflip? So far I'm finding very few hacks available, but then the phone hasn't been out long either.

Message Edited by cdwhit on 03-18-2010 08:15:36 AM

dgrbovic · ‎03-09-2010

The part I know the answer to is regarding the google maps. Google maps do work with GPS and you can find your location and get direction. What it does not come with, as it is a feature of android 1.6 or higher, is the turn-by-turn free google navigation. This should, in principle, be taken care of once the system gets upgraded to the android 2.1.

VydorScope · ‎03-01-2010

cdwhit wrote:
To run NON market apps, is the fix a one time fix, or a bunch of hoops to jump through every time you install an app?

Message Edited by cdwhit on 03-18-2010 08:15:36 AM

I read up on how to do this (do not own a backflip), and no it does not appear to be a one time fix, its more of a backdoor. It sounds simple enough, but requires a PC. Given time though I would suspect a whole pile of better hacks will come out.

RicoLX · ‎05-29-2008

I personally do like the DEVOUR . I like its design, the entire bit. It makes me wanna CRY that verizon and other carriers are coming out left and right with all the new cool phones, and all we get are messaging phones, and one or two new smartphones that are not worth a crap.

ATT why???? Please release the Devour on our network!

davenit · ‎03-30-2010

Why you ask??? Because they don't want to impede on Iphone sales. Verizon keeps getting on board with all the latest greatest but as long as ATT has the iphone you won't see droid, storm 2 or a ton of other cool phones. It's just horrible.

I'm probably going to switch to Verizon because I can't stand the iphone (had one for a year, cool gadget, horrible phone) and need other options.

paradoxofborg · ‎03-10-2010

The BACKFLIP has the better keyboard when compared with the DROID, bigger keys for sure; I haven't held the DEVOUR since it's launch; however the DEVOUR only has a 3.0 megapixel camera, whereas the BACKFLIP has the 5.0.

paradoxofborg · ‎03-10-2010

The DEVOUR & BACKFLIP are essentially the same phones. Got to http://www.motorola.com and click on Consumer Site and at the top of the page click on Mobile Phones, and the pick DEVOUR, BACKFLIP, & DROID. The DEVOUR only has a 3.0 megapixel, camera, and the BACKFLIP has 5.0 megapixel. Haven't held the DEVOUR yet, but the keybaord on the BACKFLIP is bigger than the DROID. The DROID has 3.7 in screen and 480X854 pixels and the BACKFLIP has a 3.1 in screen and 320X480 pixels (same as DEVOUR). The BACKSLIP has a more solid build and feel to it I prefer over the DROID. Plus you can access the web while talking to people. When my girlfriend calls long distance and talks for hours sometimes, it nice to be able to access the web in hand. I do have 3G service where I work, but at home I do not, but the national access speed is not bad when needed (tested in Church this morning), but at home I have a GHZ router for my Broadband Cable access, and the BACKFLIP can handle the traffic speed which is nice. Sometimes when I leave home, I do get frustrated by the slowness of 3G speed, but its better than the former National Access speeds.

paradoxofborg · ‎03-10-2010

Where I live VZW does not have direct service, only EXTENDED, and as much money as they spent on acquiring ALLTEL last year, and with BLUEGRASS CELLULAR still being profitable and holding all the CDMA towers, I don't see them coming here anytime soon. I really wanted a DROID phone, and was very happy when AT&T acquired the BACKFLIP and have no complaints for now. There are plus and minuses for both companies once you research closely, but for me, my family is with AT&T and switching would have cost them in minutes used trying to call my on another network.

I was with this service when it was BELL SOUTH MOBILITY back in the days of the penny phones, it became Cingular when I paid real money for my first MOTO phone; watched Cingular buy AT&T Wireless, purchased an outgoing MOTO RAZR with Cingular still on it when SouthWestern BELL bought AT&T and then kept the name and bought BELL SOUTH Landline and Cingular, and for now appears I will be with AT&T. Honestly, I always perferred the name CINGULAR ove the ANCIENT AT&T, but "se la vi"!

marvin02 · ‎07-07-2009

If you go read the Motorola Owners Forum you'll see that all is not perfect in Devour and Droid land either. Many of the same problems that are present on the Backflip are present on both of those phones also.

Since the Android 2.1 update date has been announced for the Backflip one of the threads on the Devour forum has been about the update to 2.1 for that phone.

NO phone is perfect. I try to buy phones that suit my needs. At this time the Backflip does that. After looking at the Droid and Devour if I had to buy one I would pick the Devour over the Droid, I just don't like the design of the Droid and the Droid keyboard is pretty bad IMO.

Another thing about the Devour camera is that it is fixed focus, the Backflip has auto-focus.