Manufacturer Motorola Series Droid | Slogan "Droid Does" Discontinued Q3 2011 | |
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Compatible networks Droid 2: CDMA2000/EV-DO Rev. A 800/1900 MHz
Milestone 2: quad band GSM, UMTS 900/2100 MHz
Droid 2 Global: quad band GSM, UMTS 850/1900/2100 MHz, CDMA 800/1900 MHz Availability by country August 12, 2010 (2010-08-12) | ||
The Motorola Droid 2 (GSM/UMTS version: Motorola Milestone 2; GSM/UMTS/CDMA version: Motorola Droid 2 Global) is the fifth phone in Verizon's Droid line. In the U.S., it is available exclusively on Verizon Wireless, and was released August 12, 2010 (pre-order sales of the device began August 11). It runs the Android operating system by Google, and can run Flash Player 10.1. It comes with 8 GB of internal memory and is shipped with an additional 8 GB SDHC card, upgradable to 32 GB. It has a 3.7 in display and a 5-megapixel camera. Unlike the Droid X, the Motorola Droid 2 features a redesigned slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but still features the Swype keyboard found on the Droid X. A limited edition version featuring the Star Wars droid character R2-D2 with exclusive apps and content was announced by Verizon for September 30, 2010, to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary for The Empire Strikes Back.
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Reception
Reviewers felt that the good aspects of the prior Droid, like the sturdy build and functional styling, were maintained in the Droid 2, but with many refinements. Some reviewers thought that the styling was less abrupt, but some criticised the device for not departing enough from the prior design. The consensus on the screen was that, while it was not as big as some phones, or as high resolution as the iPhone 4, it was good quality and not too small. The new keyboard was praised by some reviewers for being less awkward than on the prior Droid, but others found little improvement. The keyboard overall had mixed reviews but was generally the same but without a d-pad. The camera, like other parts of the device, was criticised by some for being little better than the prior device, but most were happy with picture quality. Most reviewers found the device to be good and solid all around, but were unimpressed by what they saw as a small evolution of an already successful model rather than a revolutionary new device.
Patent suit
In October 2010, Microsoft filed a lawsuit against Motorola with the International Trade Commission in a district court in Washington, D.C., claiming the manufacturer had "infringed on nine patents in its Android-based devices." The court papers specifically mention the Droid 2 and Motorola Charm smartphones but Microsoft claimed that it was not limited to these phones.
Revised model (new keyboard)
The original Droid phone received criticism for its keys being too flat and for not having an offset placement. The Droid 2 was designed with a replacement closer to that of standard keyboard as seen with computer's keyboard with significantly raised ("domed") keys.
A revision of the Droid 2 features keys that are much closer to the flatness of the Droid 1, but it does maintain the offset placement. Both phones are labeled as Model: A955, HW B on the inside of the battery compartment. Other changes may have been made as well.