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Droid X2 Rationale, Review and one Odd thing

rushmore

Extreme Android User
Nov 13, 2008
8,256
1,355
Kentucky
Rationale

I bought the DX2, rather than wait for the LG Revolution, so decided that getting a device mainly just for 4G for now, was not needed. The reason is regardless if you buy a 3G or 4G phone, it is apparently the same unlimited web package (confirmed by VZW) and should not change, unless grandfathering is not being honored. People buying 4G devices to "lock in" are apparently in the same boat as people that buy 3G devices- same package in contract. I choose device power, over an immature 4G network that is about a year away for my area.

Review (not to rehash john's great review thread, but some perspective beyond my store overview) -FWIW & IMO

+ As with the demo unit, I have almost zero delay that others mention when waking the device using power or home key (nice having two options to wake).

+ The display is fantastic for a few reasons- even compared to the Charge and the Inc:

1. Colors look better. Cartoon amoled reds are gone
2. Sharp a$$ display and contrast is very good for non-amoled.
3. I could barely see the Inc and Charge in the sunlight, but the DX2 looks good- I have gone over a year with the Inc and got used to not using in the sunlight. This rocks.

+ 3.5mm sounds better than DX1, due to the Tegra 2 chipset having MUCH better audio features.

+ Device power-wise, games and emulators (N64 & PSX) play just as fast as on my gtablet (fantastic) and I LUV not having capacitive buttons to hit by accident while using a Vpad :) No comparison in speed with the TB and Charge.

+ Touch response impression is even better now, since using more. Luv that Swype built in and KB layout.

+ Root was nut-level easy and I recovered my apps from my Incredible's back-up.

+ Call quality makes me want to check if the Incredible speaker had mud in it. Very good and radio reception appears to be as good as the Droid X.

+ I am semi-stunned how well DX2 version of Blur works and I am having no UI lag issues. Will probably not bother with Launcher Pro.

+ As others have stated, Flash performs better and blows my Incredible away with browser as well. Added: Tested Youtube in browser and not the mobile app.

+ I like that internal and microsd storage is mapped as logical drives, rather than the PURE EVIL mobile storage mode that Honeycomb tablets use.

+ Easier for me to operate the device with one hand than the TB, Charge and Revolution.

+ Like other folks have mentioned, Netflix works SWEET!

+ The $200 (was $170 to upgrade) and $449 full price are very good price points for what you get.


- No 4G, but as mentioned above, no harm no foul.

- Wish the DX2 had more internal storage like the Rev, but I prefer the higher res display and especially the Tegra 2.

- Speaker seems not as good as expected and the DX1 could get louder without getting muddy. Then again being too loud can hose a speaker anyway.

FWIW, I give the DX2 a 9/10, when considering cost, features and performance.

One Odd thing

I also bought a belt case while in VZW, but whenever I put the device in the case, we would hear "Droid, Droid" within about two seconds. The device was locked each time. The sales persons could not figure it out and one had a DX1 that did not do this. We tried to figure out if there is some undocumented combo of buttons that may cause this, since it was little tight in the case. Whatever it is, the case not only wakes the display, but unlocks it and we hear "Droid, Droid", in the case. I returned the case on the spot.

Ghosthunter material, or do one of you fine folks know what might cause this?


Added:

The magnets on the case and the horizontal position with the DX2 in the case may be the issue. The DX2 probably thinks it is being docked. Credit to mrfixitx.
 
emulators (N64 & PSX) play just as fast as on my gtablet (fantastic) and I LUV not having capacitive buttons to hit by accident while using a Vpad :)


What is this??? I must know!! What games can it emulate? How do i get them?

And how do you have a Vpad? Unless you mean a virtual one?

Tell me more!
 
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Yep, the "Droid, Droid" is odd and am surprised other folks have not mentioned yet... are we the only ones?


Tegra 2 handles N64Oid and FPse games very well. Several dozen N64 games play very well and the ones that do not do not work or have graphic issues (or I have not tried them yet). All play smooth that work (there are threads about what games work).

Ditto for FPse, the PSX emu. Dead or Alive, Tekken 3 and Crash Racing play smooth, to name a few.

The other cool thing is due to the DX2's form factor, the Virtual pad and control plays much better than on a tablet (for obvious size and weight reasons). Better touch response makes a difference too.
 
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Ok im still a bit lost, so let me take a stab at what I think I know, as i never really tried to play games on my phone much, but this intrigues me.

1st i need some software (emulator?) to play the games. (can i get them at the app store?) Any tips on a good emulator(s) and where to get them if not the app store?

then i need to get the games on my phone (can i through the app store?) Or if not, where?

thanks!
 
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if you turn off sd card notifications does the "droid droid" still happen?

and I didn't realize Netflix was working out of the box on the DX2... need to try that out


I do not have the case now to test it. Only way it happened for me was in the case.

You have to install the Netflix version linked in the DX2 forum about Netflix working.

Brady,

There are tons of threads with info. Too much to cover, so please have a quick search :)

Almost every older game system you can think of has one and most work well.
 
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I had the droid droid issue with my D1 and DX2. Bases on my experience this was triggered by magnets in my belt case making the phone believe it was being put into a car dock.

If I hold the closes case to the back of the phone in a certain way it believes that it is in a car dock. With the Dx2 if I put the phone in screen out it has no issues but if it is screen in it will randomly do the droid droid sound.
 
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One thing I found out about the screen, may be qHD screens overall...

The viewing angles are ALOT better compared to LCD's. Dont really know compared to SLCD's. The phonearena review showed the DX2 testing the viewing angles and it was almost like looking at an Amoled screen viewing angles. That was a surprise I didnt expect.

It wasnt quite the same viewing angles as an Amoled screen....they have dynamite viewing angles. And the screen in sunlight was nice compared to an Amoled screen.

If you step back and give this phone a chance....it turns out to be a nice lil device...lol So much so that I may pull the trigger on it and just wait til 4G devices get better sometime next year.
 
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I had the droid droid issue with my D1 and DX2. Bases on my experience this was triggered by magnets in my belt case making the phone believe it was being put into a car dock.

If I hold the closes case to the back of the phone in a certain way it believes that it is in a car dock. With the Dx2 if I put the phone in screen out it has no issues but if it is screen in it will randomly do the droid droid sound.

Magnets. Another good catch! Makes sense.... I need to find a case with buttons...
 
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