Motorola's Droid

Motorola is introducing its Android 3G Motorola Droid, using Android 2.0 with a capacity of social networking etc and back in the race. Add in a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, 5 megapixel camera, improved browser, Wi-Fi, and A-GPS with sat nav capability, and things are looking very interesting at Motorola.

It's solidly put together though, weighing in at a surprisingly heavy 165g for its 60 x 116 x 14mm dimensions. The weight is partly due to its metal casing, which features a rubberised coating on the back to prevent it sliding around on smooth surfaces.

The large screen sits above a touch-sensitive Android menu bar with back, menu, home and search buttons, while the sides sport a volume rocker, blingy gold-coloured camera shutter button and micro USB power/sync slot, with a power/lock button and 3.5mm headphone jack on top.

The slide-out Qwerty keyboard is nice and thin, but found it just a little bit disappointing. It has four lines of good-sized keys with a large D-pad on the right. Yet, even though the keys are slightly raised, they're not as easy to find under the thumbs as recent models from Nokia or HTC.

Motorola Q9m

A Windows Mobile 6 smartphone destined for Verizon Wireless. After messing around with it and comparing it with the original Q, it seems quite obvious to the Q9m is a re-skinned Q with a new OS and a number of software enhancements.

Physically, the Q9m is a near masterpiece. It is a simple but good looking device. It is very solidly built, and the metal frame around its edges make it look quite rugged. The soft-touch paint on the back cover has a nice feel to it, and the grippy matte surface on the keyboard is something haven't seen on a phone before. In fact, the QWERTY keyboard on the Q9m is probably the best I have ever used on a Windows Mobile device when it comes to typing. It shares its layout with the original Q, which is its only problem. Prefer if the Q9m had a shift key on both sides of the keyboard instead of just the right. Also would rather have seen a back key in the keyboard layout. As is, users have to rely on the back key that is located next to the d-pad or the one that is located beneath the scroll-wheel on the right hand edge of the phone.

Everything on the Q9m is in nearly the exact same position as on the original Q. For those that count millimeters and grams, its dimensions are 117.5mm x 65mm x 15mm (4.6" x 2.6" x .6"), and it weighs 134g (4.7oz). The only real differences, apart from the keyboard and the choice of materials, are the lack of an IR port on the Q9m and the fact that the d-pad and the plastic keys that surround it have changed slightly in size and position. The new d-pad looks better than the Q's, but I think I prefer the old one for actual use. In any event, it works fine.