Then things turned ugly. We really didn’t hear about any innovative devices coming out from Moto for a long stretch. This cascaded to a significant decrease in revenue, many executives leaving the company to work on competing devices (read: “the iPhone”), and company layoffs in the thousands. Stock prices gradually dwindled to roughly 10% of what they were at the turn of the millennium, and the once powerful tech company faced bankruptcy.

Enter Google Android.

Initially, Verizon supported LiMo (Linux Mobile), a foundation which competed with Android for Linux-based mobile operating system marketshare, but last November, Motorola changed all that with their flagship Droid 1 device for Big Red’s network. The Droid 1 (a gift from the Gods for phone modders) was the first Android device for Verizon, and the first time that I can remember where Verizon didn’t cripple a smartphone’s capabilities with its limitations on Wi-Fi and software.

With the newly released Motorola Droid X’s sales being higher than expected, it seems that consumers have bought into Verizon’s “Droid Does” campaign. In addition, Motorola’s CEO claims there will be a 2 GHz Android handset by the end of this year. Seems kind of ambitious to me, but it’s nice to see that from time-to-time in the tech world. Can’t wait till I’m eligible for an upgrade.

Android has instilled a new breath of life into Motorola, and hopefully the two companies will continue providing the mobile community with a solid platform-hardware combination at regular intervals throughout the coming years.

Am I the only one that finds this rather hilarious? I never knew there was an incorrect way to hold a smart phone. If I’m paying $200 (subsidized) for a handset, I want to hold it however I want! This seems more like a hardware issue which was brushed aside.

And a software glitch which exaggerates the signal strength? Way to go AT&T. If there were ever a time that your underpowered network reached the peak of its humiliation, it’s now. Better trap as many customers as you can in a two year contract before the iPhone goes to Verizon’s LTE network.

Sure, it’s great to have the variety and allow developers to innovate, but how can companies like AT&T use the fact that the iPhone has access to 100,000+ apps as a legitimate selling point? When push comes to shove, it’s more about how an end user can actually utilize those applications – the main reason why I’m with Verizon (superior 3G network compared to AT&T) and have a Motorola Droid (multi-tasking, open-source, and highly integrated apps). Plus, the iPhone’s SDK has been around much longer than Android’s… explains the discrepancy in the volume of apps.

I’m not saying any of the app stores out there are bad. They all have their pros/cons for end users and developers. I just can’t comprehend how the media thinks that volume alone equates to superiority.

On another note, I wrote this at almost 2 AM because I was playing around on the Android Market.

I used to be one of those Verizon customers who was eagerly awaiting the iPhone’s release on Big Red’s network, but the Droid changed all that. So what if Apple does make its flagship device compatible with Verizon’s CDMA (or upcoming 4G LTE) network? Heh, I don’t really care. The Droid is perfectly capable of holding its own. I’ve always been a proponent of the open source movement, and Android is the only popular mobile platform which falls into this category.

Pros:

• Verizon’s 3G network
• Google’s Android platform
• Ability to multi-task without loss of performance (16 GB of memory + 550 MHz processor)
• Capacitative, high resolution touch screen (multi-touch in future software update?)
• Sturdy build

Cons:

• Battery life (depends on usage)
• Physical keyboard may be cramped for users with large fingers
• Battery cover can slide off when removing from pocket

Now from a software perspective, I’ve gotten my feet wet with every mobile platform (Windows Mobile 6.5, BlackBerry OS, and iPhone OS) by owning devices which ran them. Android 2.0 blows them away with its integrated feature set, and with Google serving as the backbone, I’m pretty confident about Android’s abilities to do anything the iPhone can (if not better) in due time. So let’s take a look at the applications I use on a daily basis.

Social Networking

Touiter is probably the best written third-party application for Android and a must-have for Twitter users. Facebook’s application for Android is significantly better than the versions for BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile.

Browser

The Android web browser makes its analogues on BlackBerry and Windows Mobile look like Internet Explorer 6. It’s fast and easy to navigate across web page real estate. Safari has a perfect 100 Acid3 score with multi-touch capabilities, but Android’s browser will have Flash support starting with Android 2.2 (“Froyo”).

Music

It’s not an iPod, but the default Android audio player is simple, straightforward, and functional. Therefore, in many ways, I enjoy it more than the iPod Touch I own.

Epocrates

It’s Epocrates. You’re a soon-to-be healthcare professional. You need each other.

Google

The beloved search giant has also provided Android users with amazing applications. Google Sky Map, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Google Maps, Google Navigation, Google Voice Search, GMail, YouTube… yeah, you get the picture. And you’ll end up using most of the apps in an incredibly integrated manner.

I could go on and on about the great things the Motorola Droid offers, but if you have any specific questions, please leave a comment!

Facebook

Personally, I’ve had nothing but trouble with the Facebook application. This could be due to a lack of WiFi on the Tour, but then again, shouldn’t all Internet-driven apps be created with the mindset that users will be using the slowest connection possible? Since I still use Facebook, I still use the app to update my status from time to time.

UberTwitter

I love it. It loves me. We’re a match made in digital heaven. I tried TwitterBerry before, but UberTwitter is far faster and more suited to my needs.

Epocrates

If you’re even remotely involved with healthcare (medical student, physician, etc.), get it! Quickly look up drug interactions, doses, pharmacology, and even pill pictures. Epocrates is the trusty sidekick of any healthcare professional.

BlackBerry Pro v3 Black

This really can’t be considered an “application.” BlackBerry Pro v3 is the theme I use as it’s a.) free, and b.) free. Also, it’s free. The best part is… it’s free! And incredibly functional. Coupled with the WeatherEye, I have a great interface where I can access my frequently used apps with a single click.

Pandora

Those who have used Pandora’s service on on a desktop know it’s a priceless piece of software, especially for those long hours of studying. Pandora asks a user to input a song, and it automatically references the “Music Genome Project” to play songs similar to the input. So simple. So elegant.

WordPress

As a loyal user of the WordPress open source platform for nearly half a decade, I naturally jumped at the chance to have a mobile version for my BlackBerry. Whether I’m on the road or in the middle of a lecture (neither of which is a good time to be typing on a mobile device, mind you), I can quickly draft or publish a post on the go.

Vlingo

Vlingo is something new I’ve been trying out. Supposedly, it helps you speed through your tasks by minimizing the need for typing. Instead, you use your voice to dictate text messages, look up nearby coffee shops, update your Twitter status, etc. Pretty nifty application, but as with all voice-recognition software, it takes some “training” before it’s useful.

Viigo

The RSS reader for the ages. Viigo keeps me updated with the latest sports scores, tech/health news, blog comments, and a whole plethora of other information using the power of RSS.

While I’m at it, I thought I would also throw in my BlackBerry Messenger barcode. I’m more than welcome to answer questions or offer opinions.

Keep in mind that flashing a ROM will erase most things which aren’t on your storage card (programs, system settings, etc.) Follow these steps using a Windows XP box which has ActiveSync installed:

1. Set ActiveSync to “not allow USB connections” on your computer.
2. On the Omnia, go to Settings -> Connections -> USB Connection, and toggle “Mass Storage” as the USB function. Then turn your phone off (hold down the power button) and plug it into the computer.
3. Open the UMDL program you downloaded earlier.
4. Select “Unified Image File (*img) on the left column and search for the CF03 ROM you downloaded earlier.
5. Select “Detect” in the lower left part of the UMDL program, and then turn your phone on. Cross your fingers. A dialog box in the bottom left should say that a PDA device was detected. The ROM will automatically be uploaded to the phone, and upon finishing, the Omnia will restart. Don’t bother restoring your system preferences at this point.
6. Choose one of the third party ROMs available for the Samsung Omnia i910 (remember, i900 ROMs are not compatible with the i910). I use Blazingwolf’s WM 6.5 ROM.
7. Simply turn your Omnia off and connect it to the computer, download the ROM file, open up the UMDL software, click on “PDA” at the top left (instead of unified image loader as you did earlier), navigate to the ROM’s location, click on “Detect” on the bottom left, and turn the Omnia back on. Just as before, the ROM will automatically upload itself and the phone will restart upon completion.
8. Before reconfiguring your phone’s settings, go to Start -> Settings -> Personal -> Phone -> Services Tab -> Highlight GPS and click “Change Settings” -> Toggle “Location On”
9. Next, dial *228 and hit option 1. This will reprogram the phone. Then dial *228 again and hit option 2 to update the preferred roaming list.
10. Enjoy adding applications, themes, and whatever else you want.

It doesn’t make sense how much we worry about cancer when we’re the ones, for the most part, who can prevent/postpone the onset. Breathing city air can cause cancer. Going outside can cause cancer. And for those who are content on breathing purified air while staying indoors, you’re out of luck too – aging causes cancer. It’s true that cancer is no laughing matter and prevention should be important (especially for seniors). However, this doesn’t mean we should compromise the luxuries of technology. Cell phones are routinely accused of emitting radiation directly to the brain therefore being a great threat to the user’s health.

Let’s use some simple logic. In our technological era, all electrical devices emit radiation of varying levels and types. Heck, the granite countertop in my kitchen may be emitting dangerous levels of radon gas (a known carcinogen) without me even knowing. It’s true that cell phones are far more prevalent than other “luxuries”, but there are measures that can be taken to minimize the amount of radiation one is exposed to. For example, purchase a phone based on documented radiation emissions. I use an LG Voyager which has a SAR (specific absorption rate) of 0.765 watts/kilogram. This is a moderate SAR rating compared to other phones. Hands free technology (ie, Bluetooth) will also reduce one’s exposure to the radiation. Imagine our phones having to transmit/receive signals from cell towers which may be miles away. That’s a pretty strong radio frequency compared to the signal given off by a Bluetooth headset from a few feet away. 

To conclude, just use some common sense when using your cell phone. Yes, they give off radiation, but there’s no scientific fact that conclusively states the connection between cell phones and any form of cancer. Experimental results have not been reproducible in laboratory animals. Regardless, in our pursuit of “minimizing the risk”, we have to cut exposure to radiation wherever possible. Reducing your cell phone usage and/or investing in hands-free devices may contribute to this effort.

I’ve been with Verizon Wireless for nearly two years and have been extremely satisfied with the coverage. *Very* rarely do I get a dropped call or unsatisfactory data transfer speeds. However, as many of you know, Verizon passed up the opportunity to be the exclusive provider of iPhone due to an inability to come to an agreement with Apple Inc. Now, AT&T/Cingular holds the “privilege” to sell the iPhone. About six months ago (around Christmas time), I purchased the LG Voyager VX-10000 and was content saying that I had a phone which at least competed with the first generation iPhone. A full keyboard, GPS, video recording, and… well… the Verizon network… are all something the Voyager has on the first iPhone; however, having other Apple products of my own, I was always skeptical about passing up the iPhone.

Now, the 3G iPhone has everything that I could want in a phone: GPS, Mac OS X, Wi-Fi, iPhone 2.0 platform, virtually endless amounts of software, and a multitide of other features. Heck, the 16 GB model of the 3G iPhone costs as much as my 8 GB iPod Touch. Quite a bold move by Apple; however, now even more than ever, it’s the quality of the network that (for now) is steering me away from iPhone. When AT&T/Cingular can prove to have a network as reliable and vast as Verizon’s (hopefully sooner than later), then I’ll probably get the phone. Afterall, what’s the point of having such a neat mobile device if you can’t even use it as a mobile device. XD.

So to all those people who are going to trade in their old iPhones or be first-time customers on July 11th… enjoy! =).