- The screen: the resolution is much better and it’s bigger. That makes reading easier.
- Wake up on movement: Like my HTC, my Droid goes dark when I am holding it up to my ear on a call (I am the only person I know that doesn’t have a Bluetooth ear ornament), but when I move the phone away from my ear, the screen “wakes up” so I can press hang up, or a number on the keypad, or speaker phone, etc… On my HTC, I had to hunt for the ‘on’ button on the side to wake up the phone.
- Function accessibility: When using it as a phone, the functions I most likely want to use are on the screen. The keypad, mute, speaker phone, and hang up buttons are all accessible without first opening up a menu.
- The keypad: Again, when using it as a phone, the keypad is always available. The keys are large and each number’s corresponding letters are labeled so if you’re in a phone tree spelling a name, you don’t have to guess where a letter is.
- Feedback: When pressing a number on the phone keypad or a button on the touch screen, the phone gives you a very slight vibration letting you know you’ve pressed the key. This is extremely helpful.
- Browser: It’s a real browser. Also, when you’re in a data entry field, it zooms in on the field so you can see what you’re typing more clearly.
- Camera: It takes pictures and movies as well as a standard digital camera. My HTC photos looked like photos you took on a phone.
- Apps: There are plenty already available.
- Keyboards: There are three of them - two virtual and one slide out. All three have been awesome.
- Password view: I’ve turned on the option to see the last letter typed as I type any passwords. For example, if I am on the fourth letter of the password Snoopy, the screen shows ***o until I type the next letter. Then it shows ****p. This is very helpful as you make your way through the password – particularly if you have to look up for a moment.
- Apps: Did I mention apps?
- ….Droid….: When I receive a text message, the phone says, “Droid” in a “Terminatoresque” voice. Who wouldn’t love that?
These may seem like small features, but they are significantly helpful. Keep in mind that I’ve only had the phone for two days so I am sure there are other functions and features I will like. I should also comment that the voice quality on calls has been excellent and the battery has lasted two days without being recharged. Is it an iPhone competitor? Yes, it is.
By they way - what makes this phone so great? My favorite subject - usability. A great deal of user experience design went into this phone's engineering. Excellent job Motorola.