it might be a little early (since I have the phone for only about 20hrs) but...
Initial impressions....
Newbie questions...
Some more google maps observations... or comparisons with VZNav...
Now, the big question... how many of these observations for both the droid and google maps are just me being new to the device and android? and how many are legit findings?
Initial impressions....
- Heavy. This phone feels heavy, but it does feel solid and well built.
- beautiful and clear screen (except when I get finger prints or face oils on it )
- Fast and responsive. Quick transitions from screen to screen, when opening apps, scrolling through pictures, etc.
- side buttons for volume and camera are in a comfortable position.
- installing apps from Market is simple. I do wish market had short descriptions in the list of apps, rather than having to guess what an app is by name, and tap it to get more info to see what it really is. (I have this same gripe about RIM's BB app store.)
- Web browser is FAST and renders pages very well. Visiting the FULL howardforums.com looks just like it does in firefox on my laptop. Moving around is quick.
- Google maps navigation is awesome! I do not really miss VZNav, however I would like to see a "distance to destination" (is there an option for it that I'm just missing?)
- Being right handed, I wish it slid open the other direction. It feels so much more natural using the thumb on my right hand to slide the top part (screen) to the left to open it. As it is, I feel I have to use TWO hands to slide it open without fear of dropping. Maybe over time I'll get used to it??
- I miss the surepress click screen of my storm. I find myself "tapping" something on the screen when I was just trying to relocate my thumb to another position.
- After using the pwr/lock button on top, you still need to "slide to unlock"
- The Pwr/Lock key isn't in a comfortable location, and I have to move my hand to get to it, which again means two hands so I don't drop the phone.
- the status bar should be bigger/taller. The icons for notifications, or to switch apps are hard to hit.
- the Home Screen and Application tab appear to not rotate 90 degrees unless the keyboard is slid open. i.e. when at home screen rotate device, and icons/status/words do not change. if the physical keyboard is slid out, the screen does rotate along with the device.
- The camera reinforces that number of mega pixels isn't as important, its the quality of the sensor that really matters. Pictures are grainy see some shots taken yesterday -> Index of /DroidPix
- when reading my gmail, you can't reply or forward using the menu key and making a selection.. you have to scroll to the bottom of the email (hope its not a chain, or long discussion) and select reply/forward from there. There are short cuts for the physical keyboard if you have it slid open, I found them only because someone on a hofo thread told me about them based on the simulator.
- this device is not intuitive. my GF picked it up to call our son's doctor last night. Task.. pick up, light screen, slide to unlock, go into contacts, find doc, call. She had troubles scrolling through the phone book. While waiting on hold, screen blanked out, she tried to bring it back on, couldn't. After hanging up, she told me how this phone sux and she'd never use it. She is kind of technically inclined, so if she can't figure it out, how is not so tech savvy consumer going to??
Newbie questions...
- Can you remap the camera button to be something else? like maybe voice dial? or to light up the screen?
- How do you exit apps? I started GMaps navigation, then had to jump on a conference call. Apparently Gmaps was still open, navigating, and announcing directions!! I had to fumble back to Gmaps to stop the navigation, couldn't see that easily, but was able to MUTE the sound from the menu.
- When the screen blanks out due to idle time (i.e. sitting on table), how do you get it to turn back on without having to hit the Power/Lock button on the top first?
- Is there a way to lock the screen without it going DIM, or without having to use the Pwr/Lock button?
Some more google maps observations... or comparisons with VZNav...
- No fav map locations... i.e. I don't want to make contact records for places I visit once, twice per year, like the Borgatta in Atlantic City... With Gmaps, it appears a contact is the only way to "save". VZNav had its own fav's, in addition to using contacts from your address book.
- Layering Traffic onto the map while navigating causes the map to zoom out so far, its no longer useful. i.e. its too far out to see the up coming intersections when the phone is sitting on my dash. (VZnav alerts you to traffic congestion via voice, and a "miles to incident" in a box along the bottom of its display rather than zooming)
- Layering traffic onto the map also causes the map updating to slow down, including your position on the map. (VZnav alerts you to traffic congestion via voice, and a "miles to incident" in a box along the bottom of its display)
- GPS position, even with no layers, is about 100-500 feet off. I've already passed through intersections while Gmaps shows me just approaching them. (VZnav was more accurate)
- While Gmaps shows you number of minutes to destination, it does not show number of miles left (VZNav does).
- Voice announcement of up coming turns is loud and clear.
- Once when I deviated from route, the map with the turn by turn directions did not update and continue to follow me, however the voice prompts continued with the NEW updated route. I had to hit a blue triangle along the bottom left corner (just above time remaining) for the map/display to get back to showing my position and following the route.
- arriving at the day care lady's house today, Gmaps showed me a picture of the house when it told me I arrived! It didn't do it for me on my return trip home when I arrived
Now, the big question... how many of these observations for both the droid and google maps are just me being new to the device and android? and how many are legit findings?