Is the Verizon Zoom crippled?

[ddunn]

Did Verizon cripple the GPS, Google maps, etc on the Zoom like they're known to do on their Android phones? I picked up a WiFi Zoom last Saturday and really like the functionality of it. However, I've had a need for internet access twice in as many days and for whatever reason I haven't been able to get Wifi access. Once was in a clients house, his WiFi was acting up, and the Zoom wouldn't connect so he had to run around and find a checkbook instead of me using the Square reader on the Zoom.
Second was tonight getting my taxes done. I needed to look something up and the battery on my MiFi died right as I was connecting. I know not the Zooms fault, but it just shows the shortcomings of the Wifi only device for my usage style.
I don't want to switch over to a Verizon unit however if they mucked around and disabled keyboard support, TRUE GPS functionality, etc.

 

[Vudumedic]

No it is a Google experience device so everything is there. If they had tried to cripple it and or bog it down root fixes all those issues or at least it did on my Inc.

 

[p08757]

It has the same functionality as the WiFi version plus 3G & soon 4G support.

 

[lcsglvr]

Xoom is great, along with the maps and GPS.

 

[Smokexz]

I see this as the worst GPS ever.... the screen isn't the best under sunlight and it is just way too big. Cell phones will remain to be the next best thing to use as a GPS.

Sent from my Xoom

 

[ddunn]

It's not the best, I use my Evo when I'm driving for GPS, but if the wife is driving it would be nice to have a larger screen. Not to mention the fact that the thing is supposed to do GPS...until the carriers muck around in the OS.

 

[DrWu]

They did however cripple the market. They control which apps you can and can't buy.

Also, they won't let me delete dungeon defenders or gun bros...though that might be Motorola's doing.

 

[ddunn]

Did Verizon cripple the market app, or is the Market filtering non Honeycomb apps? I know my Gopayment app from Intuit is nowhere to be found on the wifi Zoom...but it downloaded on the Tab.

 

[Vudumedic]

Verizon didn't cripple the market. If the app is not compatible with honeycomb you won't be able to download it from the market. That is Google's doing. If you want to try the app anyway you can side load it from one of the alternative markets. Most of them however will force close and cause stability issues with the OS and that is why they have blocked access to them on the Google market. I can site one specific issue where Google has completely block access by honeycomb devices (Read Xoom) Lookout requires SMS messaging to locate a missing device and since the Xoom does not have SMS capability Google has chosen to block access to it when accessing from the Xoom marketplace. I e-mailed Lookout and was told that the program would work just fine but I would not be able to use my locate a missing device option. Side loaded it and it works fine to scan and backup. As programmers update their software to be compatible it will show up in the market.

 

[DrWu]

Verizon didn't cripple the market.

Nah, I've run across more than a few apps on market.android.com that say "This item is not available on your carrier"

Just this morning, I wanted to install Bing (I know this won't be popular with the Android crowd but I like bing on my pc). If you look on the Xoom market, you'll only see "Bing on VZW" if you look on market.android.com you'll see Bing and Bing on VZW...if you want to install "Bing" it says "this item is not available on your carrier" so you have to install "Bing on VZW"....my guess is because verizon wants to #1 - monitor what you're searching for and keep a database of all of your searches for their marketing use, and/or #2 - they want to steer search results to "Verizon Approved" sites. I simply can't imagine why else they'd need to have their own branded app. There are numerous other apps like this too.

 

[LMO]

If you look on the Xoom market, you'll only see "Bing on VZW" if you look on market.android.com you'll see Bing and Bing on VZW...if you want to install "Bing" it says "this item is not available on your carrier" so you have to install "Bing on VZW"....my guess is because verizon wants to #1 - monitor what you're searching for and keep a database of all of your searches for their marketing use, and/or #2 - they want to steer search results to "Verizon Approved" sites. I simply can't imagine why else they'd need to have their own branded app. There are numerous other apps like this too.

Interesting... Hmm, maybe so VZW can advertise on that one!?