GadgetRick
Member
Ok, took a vacation (driving trip from NJ to FL) and here are some things I learned about it...
First, I still love the phone...even more than when I started out. It was extremely useful on the road. I especially like the Google Places Directory App. Would go into the restaurant area, tap the search icon and look for a Wendy's or an Outback Steakhouse or whatever we wanted. It would give me the ones which were in the area. Very handy on the road when you're looking for something in particular.
Maps
I did, however, find a bug. When you find a place and tap on it, you get info about the place (address and reviews and a picture of the place if available). However, if you tap the, "Map," button it will bring the address up in Maps but you cannot tap on the address in Maps and navigate to it. Just doesn't work. You must tap on the address on the page which comes up in Directory, which takes you into Maps then you can tap on it and navigate to it.
The Maps app still amazes me when I remember it's free. So many features built-in. However, I found a few nagging issues:
-Wish they had the speed limit on the road you're traveling on. Very useful when you're away from home.
-When going into Maps from somewhere else (e.g. from Places Directory), Maps forgets your layers you have enabled. Annoying as you have to go turn on each one every time. Seems to remember them just fine if you go directly into Maps, however.
-Had one time where Maps wigged out. For some reason it kept losing the GPS signal even though I had good locks on multiple satellites. Had to restart the phone to get it working again.
I also noticed Maps is FAST when in a 3G area. When not in a 3G area, it can be a bit slow but I figured that would be the case.
Camera
Well, what can I say here which hasn't already been said? The camera software just plain sucks. It's super slow--not just talking about taking a picture--doesn't react the way you'd expect and it utterly unusable if shooting anything which might move. With that all said, however, it can take some very nice pics (I'll post some later when I have a chance). I can't wait for the update to see if it makes it more usable because, as it is, it's just a horrible camera--because of the software. Or maybe someone will write a good camera app. That's what's so great about Android, anyone can write an app to replace the basic stuff.
Phone
I must say the phone itself is quite good. Never had problems unless I was in an area with no coverage at all. Clear quality and the phone software is much better than the crap I've used on WM phones. No real complaints about the phone.
I did, however, experience the, "45 minute," bug. Seems the Droid doesn't like calls over 45 minutes. I don't normally talk that long but did at one point on the way down. At about 44 minutes, it just dropped the call and closed the phone app (no force close message, it just closed). I understand this should be fixed in the Dec. 11 update?
Useful
So we were driving home the other day and we stop on the way back since it's like an 18-20 hour drive. We normally just find a cheap hotel on the way back based on the signs on the road. However, this is hit or miss. Have stayed in some really bad places. So I decided to go into the MP and see what's out there. Found an app (HotelsByMe--no affiliation) and downloaded it. Typed in a city we'd be in about the time we'd want to stop to find hotels with availability (on a Saturday night) and their rates. Quickly found one in Rocky Mount, NC. Read the reviews, booked/paid for the room and headed there. Turned out to be the best place we've stayed in all of the times we've done this trip. Got a great rate as well. Gotta love being able to do something like this. Would never have been able to do anything like this with my old EnV 2!
A crash!
Yes, finally had a crash bad enough I had to pull the battery. Wasn't doing anything crazy (I forget exactly what I was doing) but the phone just froze and I couldn't do anything with it. Pulled the battery and it worked fine after that. I know other people have had this happen more often so I feel lucky. I'm wondering if I need to restart the phone every so often?
Oh, I also noticed things running slowly every so often. Wasn't doing anything else, just not very responsive at times. Like I'd tap a button or a letter and it would take a second (or so) before it registered. Cleared itself up each time though.
Overall
So the phone isn't perfect but it's an awesome device. I don't know how I've lived without this kind of functionality. Needs a few fixes but nothing is a game-stopper for me. Love my Droid more every day!
First, I still love the phone...even more than when I started out. It was extremely useful on the road. I especially like the Google Places Directory App. Would go into the restaurant area, tap the search icon and look for a Wendy's or an Outback Steakhouse or whatever we wanted. It would give me the ones which were in the area. Very handy on the road when you're looking for something in particular.
Maps
I did, however, find a bug. When you find a place and tap on it, you get info about the place (address and reviews and a picture of the place if available). However, if you tap the, "Map," button it will bring the address up in Maps but you cannot tap on the address in Maps and navigate to it. Just doesn't work. You must tap on the address on the page which comes up in Directory, which takes you into Maps then you can tap on it and navigate to it.
The Maps app still amazes me when I remember it's free. So many features built-in. However, I found a few nagging issues:
-Wish they had the speed limit on the road you're traveling on. Very useful when you're away from home.
-When going into Maps from somewhere else (e.g. from Places Directory), Maps forgets your layers you have enabled. Annoying as you have to go turn on each one every time. Seems to remember them just fine if you go directly into Maps, however.
-Had one time where Maps wigged out. For some reason it kept losing the GPS signal even though I had good locks on multiple satellites. Had to restart the phone to get it working again.
I also noticed Maps is FAST when in a 3G area. When not in a 3G area, it can be a bit slow but I figured that would be the case.
Camera
Well, what can I say here which hasn't already been said? The camera software just plain sucks. It's super slow--not just talking about taking a picture--doesn't react the way you'd expect and it utterly unusable if shooting anything which might move. With that all said, however, it can take some very nice pics (I'll post some later when I have a chance). I can't wait for the update to see if it makes it more usable because, as it is, it's just a horrible camera--because of the software. Or maybe someone will write a good camera app. That's what's so great about Android, anyone can write an app to replace the basic stuff.
Phone
I must say the phone itself is quite good. Never had problems unless I was in an area with no coverage at all. Clear quality and the phone software is much better than the crap I've used on WM phones. No real complaints about the phone.
I did, however, experience the, "45 minute," bug. Seems the Droid doesn't like calls over 45 minutes. I don't normally talk that long but did at one point on the way down. At about 44 minutes, it just dropped the call and closed the phone app (no force close message, it just closed). I understand this should be fixed in the Dec. 11 update?
Useful
So we were driving home the other day and we stop on the way back since it's like an 18-20 hour drive. We normally just find a cheap hotel on the way back based on the signs on the road. However, this is hit or miss. Have stayed in some really bad places. So I decided to go into the MP and see what's out there. Found an app (HotelsByMe--no affiliation) and downloaded it. Typed in a city we'd be in about the time we'd want to stop to find hotels with availability (on a Saturday night) and their rates. Quickly found one in Rocky Mount, NC. Read the reviews, booked/paid for the room and headed there. Turned out to be the best place we've stayed in all of the times we've done this trip. Got a great rate as well. Gotta love being able to do something like this. Would never have been able to do anything like this with my old EnV 2!
A crash!
Yes, finally had a crash bad enough I had to pull the battery. Wasn't doing anything crazy (I forget exactly what I was doing) but the phone just froze and I couldn't do anything with it. Pulled the battery and it worked fine after that. I know other people have had this happen more often so I feel lucky. I'm wondering if I need to restart the phone every so often?
Oh, I also noticed things running slowly every so often. Wasn't doing anything else, just not very responsive at times. Like I'd tap a button or a letter and it would take a second (or so) before it registered. Cleared itself up each time though.
Overall
So the phone isn't perfect but it's an awesome device. I don't know how I've lived without this kind of functionality. Needs a few fixes but nothing is a game-stopper for me. Love my Droid more every day!
