Motorola Droid A855 (aka Tao/Sholes/Shules/Flash) Pre-Release Thread

[dsjr2006]

As long as they ditch the crappy outdated 528mhz chip and go with something current I'll be looking. If not I'll keep going.... I personally really like my service with At&t, but they have no Android phones which I kinda prefer to my iPhone especially since developers have started jumping on board.

[Ark6]

I agree I think it has been smoothed out and the silver edge removed. Looks sleeker. If you look at the bottom of the phone on the leaked pic of the silver (frame?) and the top of the pic from today you can see the silver frame is gone and it is more rounded.

I like how the Verizon CEO's finger is where the prototype serial # would be. Its also the same reason that no insider is risking taking pics of the bottom...or the keyboard becuase the serial # is within sight of the D pad. And I'm suspecting the D-pad is grey BTW.


And you Motofans are either really excited about this phone...or are complete postwhores.

[BrockD]

those phones look about the same shape, i think the silver and angle of the picture is just throwing it off.

also, the reason for one having brushed aluminum is probably because motorola went through many different builds of the phone. just like bill said he got many builds of the phone with the red, brown, etc d-pads.

[Aixelsyd]

Also, the metal frame on the Nap has a similar rubberized coating on it that gives a very nice feel and solid grip. If that is the finish on the Sholes then, once again, I am very happy.

I'll second that as I really like the build & feel of my Nap also. Just can't wait to see what this thing actually looks like in person.

[xbernaut]

Hi All,

Been lurking here for about 30-40 pages, and thought I would add my $0.02. I know somebody who knows somebody who tells me that I will have my new S/T/D soon, and I quote, "hopefully you can wait just a couple more weeks to get one hot off the assembly line...."

This was today, and this person works for either Verizon or Moto, I won't say which since I really don't want to get anyone in trouble.

Sounds like 10/30 to me... I hope so anyways.

well, they are very very wise people that you know young grass hopper.

[xbernaut]

well, that's that I suppose. No reply is needed from bill23 after all. The CEO is already holding the device, and posing for shots.

There are 3 possibilities:

1) Sholes is running Android 1.6; bill23's phone doesn't have 2.0 with Eclair.
2) Eclair looks exactly like 1.6; with no cosmetic enhancements or OpenGL ES 2.0 effects.
3) bill23 has a 2.0 device, it just doesn't have Eclair on it; which wouldn't justify the jump from 1.6 to 2.0.

(sigh....)

why would you doubt the almighty me?
fact,2.0 droid eclair on the units and mine.
it goes through s/w changes daily as the launch gets closer each day.
google verizon,moto fine something new everyday to fix,correct,change.
and remember they let you see what they want you to see. maybe they wnt to display 1.6 and then when it comes out ,boya its got 2.0 eclair.

[toasterhead]

If this is an Android phone and Verizon says it is "Open" doesn't that mean I can install just about any kind of app I want? Even "Format" the phone with a completely different OS?

[wickcity]

Why would you buy an Android based phone and then want to put a different OS on it? Kind of defeats the purpose, if you ask me.

[kbman]

You can install any app for certain, but whether we will have root access and the ability to load custom ROMs remains to be seen. In all likelihood, it's is just a matter of time and work to figure it out, but the chipset used in this phone has very sophisticated new security features that may present some serious challenges. Then you need some very smart folks to write the firmware itself.

Fortunately, there's a lot a smart people on the internet!

[xbernaut]

You can put any apparently you want.but not sure about the OS

[matthew brideau]

You can install any app for certain, but whether we will have root access and the ability to load custom ROMs remains to be seen. In all likelihood, it's is just a matter of time and work to figure it out, but the chipset used in this phone has very sophisticated new security features that may present some serious challenges. Then you need some very smart folks to write the firmware itself.

Fortunately, there's a lot a smart people on the internet!

I really really hope we can put the Sense UI on this.

It has the power to run it smoothly and it is so darn beautiful.

If not, I'll be happy with the stock UI, but the only reason the HTC androids are so nice is because of Sense.

[ICOR611]

I believe you are right. I want a good moto!

[sadmedic]

well, they are very very wise people that you know young grass hopper.

Thanks for the narrowing down of the release date Bill! It will be nice to have the phone by the end of the month!

[barry99705]

Can't you see it now, "I got just got this cool Motorola Tao!"

Non-geek friend, "Towel? Why would they name a phone towel?"

If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.

[Quickster357]

looks as if ANY Android phone can run ANY type of ROM check this out. MotoBLUR on a myTouch3G. Maybe SenseUI, MotoBLUR or PulseUI on Sholes if you wanted?

http://home.leakdroid.com/2009/10/06...ces/#more-1951