Motorola Mobility Cutting 800 Jobs

Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. Now, Motorola is cutting 800 jobs (which is going to cost them roughly $31 million). Motorola has been coming up with some new smartphones that look quite promising. Specifically, the new Droid RAZR (not your old flip phone) and a host of other Android devices using the "Droid" name like the Droid Bionic, the Droid 3, the Droid X2, the Droid Pro, etc.

The overuse of the term "Droid" has caused many to refer to all Android devices as "a Droid." However, the Droid name is limited to Android smartphones on Verizon. None of the other carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint are using "Droid" in the names of their Android devices.

Battery life when using my Droid X as a 3G Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot

The Droid X and many other smartphones are capable of turning themselves into 3G Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspots that allow you to connect up to 5 mobile devices. When you enable this feature, you'll get a notice reminding you that this feature will drain your battery very quickly, so you should plug your phone to a power source.

A few weeks ago, I was using my Droid X every day as my personal hotspot. I was using an external battery pack, so I had the ability to recharge my battery during the middle of the day. If I didn't have that battery pack, my phone would have died by noon.

The 3G mobile hotspot on the Droid X is a great feature, but it would be nice to see a higher level of battery efficiency in these devices. The MiFi 2200 is rated to 4r hrs and the Fivespot Global Ready 3G hotspot lasts 5 hrs, so those devices aren't great either unless you're carrying a separate battery pack.

Medscape Mobile for Android

I've been using the Medscape App on my Droid X for the past few weeks.The Medscape App includes many features including:

Drug Reference

Search prescribing and safety information for over 8,000 brand, generic and OTC drugs, herbals and supplements

* Review adult and pediatric dosing, adverse effects, contraindications, cautions & warnings, pregnancy and lactation guidelines, and more
* Drug database includes:
o 6,000+ generic and brand drugs
o 1,000+ generic and brand OTC drugs
o 1,000+ herbals and supplements
* Search by drug name or browse by class
* Save commonly searched drugs to your 'Saved list'
for fast access
* Access anywhere – no Internet connection required (after full installation of app on device)

Drug Interaction Checker

Check mild interactions to serious contraindications for any combination of drugs, herbals and supplements. Allows up to 30 drugs per search

* Check interactions across our database of 8,000+ drugs, herbals and supplements
* Provides detailed information from minor to
contraindicated interactions
* Input up to 30 drugs, herbals and/or supplements per search
* Access anywhere – no Internet connection required (after full installation of app on device)

Android adds a "Medical" section to its Market (App Store)

If you're using an Android smartphone, you may have noticed that there's a new section in the Market (app store). It's called "Medical" and it lists a variety of apps including Medscape, First Aid, and Epocrates.

I currently use a Droid X. My wife uses a Droid Incredible. We're just a Droid family.

The Verizon iPhone - is it too late?

Verizon will be revealing the Apple iPhone today. Is it too late? We now have so many users using the Droid (Android OS) and a number of users using the Palm Pre (webOS). Will BlackBerry and Android users on the Verizon network switch to the iPhone? Will AT&T customers move to Verizon in hopes of getting better reception and fewer dropped calls?

My wife had been waiting for a Verizon iPhone for several years. Last year, she went with the HTC Droid Incredible. She's fairly happy with that phone and she mainly uses Epocrates, email, and Google Voice.

The world has been waiting for the Verizon iPhone, but I wonder if it's a year too late for many people.

A discussion about iPhone vs. Android

The other night, I was at a party and I was talking with several people about Apple's iPhone vs. Google's Android. It's really a discussion between iOS vs. Android, but given that Apple's iPhone is the only smartphone running iOS, we're really talking about both the operating system and the hardware when we're talking about the iPhone.

Here are a few reasons why Android will be the most popular smartphone operating system in the near future:

• Android is currently available on every major wireless network. Although the iPhone is coming to Verizon in 2011, will it also come to T-Mobile or all the other wireless carriers?
• We're seeing a wide range of Android smartphones ranging from free phones to expensive smartphones. Yes, Apple is offering their older iPhone models for less (or free refurbished), but who wants to buy an "outdated" model or a refurbished smartphone?
• We have many major smartphone manufacturers who are developing smartphones running Android. This means that we'll have a wider selection of hardware features if you're shopping for an Android smartphone. Will Apple diversify the iPhone lineup and create models with QWERTY keyboards that slide out?

Let's face it: most of us will be upgrading smartphones every 1.5 to 2.5 years. How much do you really want to spend if you're only going to have that smartphone for 1.5 to 2.5 years? With Android, you have a wide range of models that range less than $50 to over $200. Sometimes I wonder whether we're comparing smartphone features: iPhone vs. Android, or whether we're comparing companies: Google vs. Apple?

5 Free Android Apps to Boost Health and Fitness

This is a guest post by Rachel Davis.

5 Free Android Apps to Boost Health and Fitness

Exercise has gone hi-tech today; we no longer use just our bodies to get into shape, we also rope in the help of technology to make our workouts informative, interesting, fun, and more bearable. The mobile phone has morphed from being just an instrument used to communicate to a multi-purpose utility gadget – there’s nothing much you cannot do with smartphones. And as the war between the different operating systems heats up, it’s the consumers who stand the most to gain and who end up on the winner’s stand. Hot on the heels of the iPhone and its many apps comes the Android, and although it’s too early to predict who will be the eventual winner, Droid users are already swearing by it. Add to this the fact that the Android OS is not restrictive and used only in one smartphone brand and you can see why this OS may be pulling slightly ahead. So if you’re a Droid user, check out these absolutely free apps that help boost your health and fitness:

• Endomondo Sports Tracker: Monitor your workouts if you’re a jogger, runner, cyclist or walker and keep track of the distance you’ve covered, the average speed of your workout, and the altitude you’ve climbed with this nifty app. It allows you to maintain a history of your exercising habits, and it integrates with your music playlist on your phone and Google Maps to show you where you’ve been and where you have to go.

• Calorie Counter by FatSecret: Want to check if that sandwich you’re going to bite into is as healthy as it claims to be? Use this app to add the number of calories you’ll be adding to your body by eating your sandwich – Calorie Counter allows you to check the calorific value and nutritional information for almost all food items; it’s free to download and use, but please remember that it’s worthless if you still go ahead and eat food after you’ve learned that it’s unhealthy and laden in calories.

• Workout Coach: This app is great for those who don’t jog, walk or cycle for exercise; it allows you to enter details of any workout you’ve done, in the gym or at home or outdoors, including which part of the body you exercised, how long you worked out, and how many reps you did if you’re strength training. You can view a comprehensive history of your workout history and shake up or slow down things accordingly.

• Medicinal Herbs: If you prefer alternative and natural health therapies, this is a must-have app. It provides you with information about all kinds of herbs, including any medicinal property they possess and any side-effects they cause. It also allows you to distinguish between those herbs that are safe and those that are not.

• Fitness Club and Gym Finder: Away from home and frustrated because you cannot work out? Never fear – this app helps you find a gym or fitness club close to your location so you can just walk across and get your daily dose of exercise; great app if you’re on holiday or traveling and don’t want to mess up your regular routine and/or gain weight.

This guest post is contributed by Rachel Davis, she writes on the topic of Radiology degree. She welcomes your comments at her email id: racheldavis65[@]gmail[.]com.

The DROID Pro reminds me of the Palm Treo

Some of you lived in the era of the Palm Treo. I did. Well, the upcoming DROID Pro is a candybar smartphone running Android 2.2 (Froyo) and it has a hardware QWERTY keyboard that looks like the types of buttons you would find on a BlackBerry. So, if you're thinking about switching to Android, this could be the device for you if you're a former Treo or BlackBerry user who really wants to have a QWERTY keyboard that doesn't slide out.

Samsung Fascinate SCH-i500 (Verizon Wireless)

The Samsung Fascinate SCH-i500 is the latest addition to the Verizon Wireless lineup of Android smartphones. Traditionally, Samsung had smartphones on Verizon that were running Windows Mobile. This is their first Android smartphone on Verizon. On the AT&T network, this phone is known as the Samsung Captivate (why all the different names Samsung?) Actually, the Captivate is not identical to the Fascinate. These smartphones all belong to the Samsung Galaxy S series.

From a distance, the Fascinate almost looks like an Apple iPhone. This Android smartphone is sized between the Motorola Droid X and and the HTC Droid Incredible. I wonder why it's not being called the Samsung Droid Fascinate. I thought Verizon was going to use the "Droid" name on every Android smartphone.

Perhaps the best feature on the Samsung Fascinate is the 4" Super AMOLED touch screen that works really well when you're outdoors. Even in bright sunlight, you won't have any trouble seeing this screen. Besides the screen, the other features are very similar to what you'll find on other high-end Android smartphones. So, if the Droid X is simply too big for you, the Samsung Fascinate or the HTC Droid Incredible make good alternative candybar smartphones.

Buy a certified pre-owned Droid X and save $50

Through Verizon Wireless, you can purchase a certified pre-owned Droid X and save $50. That means that you can purchase one for $149 instead of $199. Then again, you may want to purchase your Droid 2 or Droid X through Amazon since you can get a brand new Motorola DROID X Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) for $149.99 or a brand new Motorola DROID II Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) for only $89.99 (that's not a typo).  I think I'll go with the Droid X and use it with an extended battery.

Slider vs. Slate?

If you've had several different smartphones over the years, perhaps you've owned a slider (slide-out QWERTY keyboard) and a thin slate that only offers an on-screen keyboard. We're seeing fewer candybar designs like the Palm Treo or BlackBerry that includes a smaller screen combined with a small QWERTY keyboard on the bottom.

So, slider vs. slate? If you're a Verizon customer and you're thinking about getting an Android smartphone, that decision could boil down to:

Slider: Droid 2
Slate: Droid X or Droid Incredible

If you do a significant amount of typing on your device, then it's imperative that you test the keyboard on each of the devices and physically try them out. Before I picked up the Droid 2, I thought I'd be relatively happy with the QWERTY keyboard. After playing with it for 5 minutes, I realized that I'd probably end up using the on-screen keyboard over the physical QWERTY buttons. So, if that's going to be the case, then why should I get a slider?

The large on-screen buttons on the Droid X are easy to use because the screen is so large. The Droid X is larger (wider and taller) than the Droid 2, but it's actually lighter.  5.47 ounces for the Droid X vs. 5.96 ounces for the Droid 2.

Upcoming Verizon Smartphones and Tablets (Android)

According to this blog post on the Boy Genius Report, these are a few of the upcoming Verizon smartphones that we can expect to see in the near future:

• Motorola Droid Pro (Android)
• Droid 2 World Edition (Android)
• Motorola Tablet (Android)

Are you a world traveler? Maybe you attend some international symposia. In any case, if you need a Verizon phone that also switches to GSM mode when you leave the country, you will have some new options. I'm sure we'll also see several new smartphones from Samsung, LG, HTC, and others. I'm eager to see what the Motorola Tablet will look like.  Still no definitive word on the Verizon iPhone.

My wife got her HTC Droid Incredible

I probably had more fun setting it up for her. The more I spend with the HTC Droid Incredible, the more I realize that Android will quickly emerge as the dominating smartphone OS. I am really impressed by the way Android integrates elements of your Gmail/Google account, Facebook, and other elements of social media. Given that my wife and I both actively use Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar, the Android OS is a true winner for people like us.

The HTC Droid Incredible is a very fast phone. The browser opens web pages very quickly compared to most older smartphones. It's a great size and you won't be disappointed by this device. The Motorola Droid X is also a very fast smartphone, but the Droid X may be too big for some people.

After I pulled the HTC Droid Incredible out of the box, I went right to the Android Marketplace so that I could download and install some medical apps for my wife (who's a family physician). What apps did I download and install?

I started with these free medical apps:  Epocrates, Skyscape, and QuantiaMD

I'll be installing a few more apps for her over the weekend.

The Droid 2 is coming

Although Motorola has announced the new Droid X, there are rumors of an updated version of the Motorola Droid. This new "Droid 2" will be very similar to the current Droid, but it will have a larger, friendlier keyboard. So, if you want a slider that includes a usable QWERTY keyboard, the Droid 2 could be the device for you.

All the other major Android smartphones are being designed without a physical keyboard. If you can't stand the on-screen keyboard, then the Droid (or the Droid 2) could be your device. Current rumors seem to suggest that the Droid 2 will be released in August on Verizon Wireless. It should come loaded with Android 2.2 (also known as Froyo). 

Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible

My entire family is on Verizon Wireless. So, even if I really wanted the new Apple iPhone 4, I won't be switching to AT&T.

My wife recently ordered the HTC Droid Incredible. She hasn't gotten it yet, but I'm sure she's going to like it. I'll be due for an upgrade in 3 months, so I'm trying to wait patiently. If my current device had a faster processor, then I really would not mind using it a bit longer. Given that newer smartphones are so much faster, it really is getting painful to use my current smartphone. However, I will be patient.

So, should you get the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Droid Incredible? If you have small hands, try holding the Droid X before you make any decisions. The Droid X is a very LARGE smartphone (even though it's very thin). The Droid Incredible is a very nice size and still has a very fast processor.  So, which one is right for you? As long as you don't mind the large size of the Droid X, that's the one to get. However, if you don't want the "biggest" device out there, then choose the Droid Incredible.

Motorola Droid X appears on the Verizon website

Are you excited about the Droid X?  It's a large phone, but you also get a larger screen. Do you really need 4.3" of screen space?

The Motorola Droid X will have HDMI output and it will capture 720p video. This will truly be a multimedia smartphone. So, if you're looking for a large Android smartphone that also can be used as a robust digital camera/camcorder, then maybe the Droid X will be the one for you. You can now learn more about the Droid X on the Verizon Wireless website.

http://phones.verizonwireless.com/droid/x/

New Motorola Droid is coming (Droid 2 or Droid X) on June 23

Since the Motorola Droid had a lousy keyboard, Motorola decided to update the Droid and improve the keyboard. Now, many customers are eagerly waiting for the next version of the Droid. Will it be the Droid 2 or the Droid X? You can find leaked photos on the Internet by searching for Droid 2 or Droid X.

I think it's rather confusing that Verizon Wireless decided to use the "Droid" name with all the Android smartphones. Now, when you're describing a smartphone, it's getting a bit complicated to differentiate the HTC Droid Eris from the HTC Droid Incredible from the Motorola Droid and now the Motorola Droid 2 or X.

The updated Droid will have a larger screen and a better physical QWERTY keyboard. Will it have a better digital camera and flash? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Which OS? Apple iPhone or Google Android?

I get this question all the time: Which OS is better? Apple iPhone or Google Android?

Many medical students and physicians have asked me if they should get the Apple iPhone 4 or one of the newer Android smartphones (like the Motorola Droid, the HTC Droid Incredible, the Google Nexus One, or the Sprint Evo 4G). This question is actually several separate questions. The first question revolves around the operating system. The second question revolves around the physical form factor. The third question relates to your wireless network since iPhone is only on AT&T but Android is available on all networks.
 
Let's talk about form factor:  Some people really want a hardware QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard on the Droid isn't the best (in fact, it's probably one of its main weaknesses), but Motorola will be releasing an updated Droid that has a better keyboard.  I doubt that Apple will be releasing an iPhone Pro anytime soon that includes a hardware keyboard. 

So how about the OS? Should you go with the Apple iPhone OS? Or, should you go with Google's Android OS? This is one of those FAQs that has an evolving answer and I'm sure the answer will change. Apple's newest iPhone 4 now offers multitasking support, so you can be more productive than ever before. More medical apps are appearing on the Android Marketplace, but we still have a long way to go before we'll catch up with the iPhone's App Store. Google's Android 2.0 (now updated to 2.1 with 2.2 coming soon) includes familiar features like Google Maps with audible turn-by-turn GPS navigation, portable Wi-Fi hotspot, and more.

I'm not switching to AT&T, so I think you know which OS I'll be using.

HTC Droid Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 4 vs. HTC Evo 4G

The other day, someone asked me to compare the HTC Droid Incredible to the new Apple iPhone 4. Then, another person said, "what about the Sprint Evo 4G?" So, let's take a brief look at these top 3 smartphones:

First, they all have super-fast internal processors. Whether you've got the A4 or the Snapdragon, you're going to have a very fast smartphone.

• Droid Incredible: Very fast, still using the 3G Verizon Wireless network, allows tethering (including Wi-Fi hotspot), great camera, and runs Android. Expandable memory (up to 32GB microSD) and you can remove the battery.
• Apple iPhone 4: Still using a 3G network, great design, only on AT&T, video conferencing appears to be limited to Wi-Fi for now so that front-facing camera may not be that useful, and AT&T to offer tethering sometime in the future (when?). Can't expand the memory or change the battery yourself. How will AT&T's network improve? Will we continue to see all those dropped calls?
• HTC Evo 4G: First (and currently the only) smartphone on a 4G network. Limited to the Sprint network (which is currently the only 4G network). Very large screen and running the Android OS.  Expandable memory (up to 32GB microSD) and you can remove the battery.
  

So, is there a verdict? If you can't switch networks, then I think it's easy to say that you should have an easy time choosing your next smartphone. If you're open to switching, then it gets much more complicated.

If you want the fastest smartphone with 4G data speeds, then the Evo 4G is your clear answer. However, if you want to stay current on the Apple iPhone OS which currently offers the widest selection of medical apps, then go with the new iPhone 4. The Droid Incredible is a great phone for Verizon customers and the Verizon Wireless network has been rated as one of the best wireless networks in America. My family has been with Verizon for over 10 years and we've been happy with their coverage. If coverage is important, then go with Verizon.

Ordered an HTC Droid Incredible for my wife

I ordered an HTC Droid Incredible for my wife.  It was time for her to upgrade and she saved $50 thanks to Verizon and their "new every two" plan. I think she's going to like this smartphone. The Droid Incredible is probably the leading smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network, but that could change as Motorola updates the Droid and releases a new model soon that has a much better keyboard.

What makes the Droid Incredible so great? It's very fast, it's very thin, it runs Android, and it has a great camera for a smartphone. It also includes all those other smartphone features like a built-in GPS with audible turn-by-turn directions (thanks to Google Maps), a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot, etc.

Given Android's increasing popularity, it should be interesting to follow the smartphone wars over the next few years. Since the Apple iPhone 4 is still only available on AT&T's network, we're not going to see too many Verizon customers make the switch if they're stuck on long-term contracts or family plans where everyone else has a Verizon phone. That's us: our entire family is using Verizon and most of our friends are also on Verizon.


So, I'm sure my wife will enjoy her new smartphone when it arrives. It looks like we'll have to wait a few weeks because the Droid Incredible is so popular (and sold out at the moment).