Two weeks with the droid 3, and here is what I see right / wrong w/ the device

xodustrance · Aug 10, 2011

Things I love about the droid 3 - screen size is perfect, not to big or small. Screen quality is sharp and bright, no complaints. The keyboard is such a huge improvement over my D1 and Droid Pro. The responsiveness of the phone is amazing. I felt like this is what the android experience should be like (minus the blur UI). Video capture is phenomenal.

Things I like - The blur UI is not perfect, but I have genuinely grown to like this iteration if blur. The home screen transitions are nice and definitely eye candy, the colors in the UI and specifically texting screens are just so refined. I like the phone size, weight, and build quality - the phone just feels fantastic in the hand, kind of like D1.

Things I really dislike - battery life is kinda meh... It can go low quick. All the bloatware. Verizon now blocked tethering on rooted devices -http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Verizon-tethering-hotspot-jailbreak-Cydia,news-12124.html

So for me, I am no longer interested in rooting, and with a locked boot loader, no custom roms.

But all in all, the phone is damn near perfect, and I am happy with the stock experience. Its like the D1 except every complaint about the D1 has been addressed and significantly improved. The only way this phone could get better is with custom roms.

JoeFishNC · Aug 10, 2011

I agree, except that the battery life for me is pretty good.
Since this phone is 2.3.4 why Root? My D1 was at 2.3.4 before I switched.
Only issue I have is when I am using Google Maps for navigation, the D3 warms up pretty good and the battery life starts to go fast.
No 3G, if you stream movies I guess you would need 4G. I have 4 gigs of Music and 15 Movies on the SD Card.
You did not mention Phone call quality, Mine works very well, compared to the D1.

HadouGhost · Aug 11, 2011

JoeFishNC said:
No 3G, if you stream movies I guess you would need 4G..

incorrect. on my 15 hour ride to texas from chicago, i watched a ton of movies over netflix with great quality and very VERY few stutters.

Doubledee90 · Aug 11, 2011

`Ghost` said:
incorrect. on my 15 hour ride to texas from chicago, i watched a ton of movies over netflix with great quality and very VERY few stutters.

I agree, I have had gone for a while streaming Netflix on 3g and it worked flawlessly. Streaming that is, not battery

diskman8004 · Aug 11, 2011

you forgot to mention bluetooth that actually works with a touch of the button on headset and not using the phone buttons : ) this is the biggest plus. also, voice confirmation before dialing a must in my state of Maryland

rushmore · Aug 11, 2011

Battery its too subjective for anyone to compare to others, but yourself or someone who may live with you and has the same settings, apps and usage habits.

Too many variables unless using controlled standards.

Hoosiermama · Aug 11, 2011

I've had my phone for about a week and absolutely love it. I came from the Droid 1 (unrooted). Other than the blue tint on the camera (hopefully they'll have a fix for that soon), I can't think of anything I dislike about the phone. I did have to get a replacement battery, but since then, my battery life has been great.

Frisco · Aug 11, 2011

rushmore said:
Battery its too subjective for anyone to compare to others, but yourself or someone who may live with you and has the same settings, apps and usage habits.

Too many variables unless using controlled standards.

+1

With the one caveat: give the same population several different devices to use over time and we'll see some of those devices set aside as resource/battery hogs much more than others.

I won't name names.

spunker88 · Aug 12, 2011

I turn off wifi, bluetooth, gps and even 3G when not in use and the battery will last a few days.

Hopefully a root comes to take care of bloatware, but for now I'll live with it.

Verizon may be trying to block free wifi tethering but bluetooth tethering works fine on the Droid 3. This video for the Droid X uses the same instructions as the Droid 3:
Droid X Bluetooth tethering - YouTube

The driver was included in Windows 7, and if you don't have bluetooth you can pick up a USB dongle for pretty cheap. I'm not sure if Verizon can disable bluetooth tethering, the connection can be initiated from Windows 7 one the bluetooth pairing is set.

AKD3270 · Aug 12, 2011

I am coming from using a long line of BB's, but heard great things about apps and how fast the Droid 3 is.

I don't have another Android for comparison, but mine is a slug - 3 - 7 seconds between apps - totally unacceptable. My BB was much faster. And let's not even talk about the camera app - that is ridiculous.

I understand that there are too many variables to compare definitively, but the battery life is horrible. I too have no WiFi, no Bluetooth, and no streaming anything - few calls and maybe 30 - 40 emails and the battery does not last a full work day.

My wife used to get 1.5 days on her BB between charges, and now gets less than 6 hours.

Also, Exchange is horrific to set up - still hasn't worked - and BB configured it automatically.

I don't play games, don't spend time on social apps (doesn't anyone have a real job anymore) and just really need bulletproof email and a great contacts directory app. It seems that means a BB - pity as I had great hopes for my Droid 3.

I have a few hours to decide, but it may very well be that both Droid 3's go back tonite.

HadouGhost · Aug 12, 2011

see you on the other side i guess.

my buddy's D3 takes maybe 1 second between apps. have you thought that maybe you have too much crap running? have you tried optimizing it?

rushmore · Aug 12, 2011

AKD3270 said:
I am coming from using a long line of BB's, but heard great things about apps and how fast the Droid 3 is.

I don't have another Android for comparison, but mine is a slug - 3 - 7 seconds between apps - totally unacceptable. My BB was much faster. And let's not even talk about the camera app - that is ridiculous.

I understand that there are too many variables to compare definitively, but the battery life is horrible. I too have no WiFi, no Bluetooth, and no streaming anything - few calls and maybe 30 - 40 emails and the battery does not last a full work day.

My wife used to get 1.5 days on her BB between charges, and now gets less than 6 hours.

Also, Exchange is horrific to set up - still hasn't worked - and BB configured it automatically.

I don't play games, don't spend time on social apps (doesn't anyone have a real job anymore) and just really need bulletproof email and a great contacts directory app. It seems that means a BB - pity as I had great hopes for my Droid 3.

I have a few hours to decide, but it may very well be that both Droid 3's go back tonite.

Seems that any Android is overkill for you and a BB is best option. BTW, sounds like your have something eating the battery in the background, but a moot point, since even 48 hours of battery life would be irrelevant to your stated needs and use.

rushmore · Aug 12, 2011

Frisco said:
+1

With the one caveat: give the same population several different devices to use over time and we'll see some of those devices set aside as resource/battery hogs much more than others.

I won't name names.[/QUOTE

True dat.

Fetch Questman · Aug 12, 2011

Going back to a BB? You must suffer from some sort of Stockholm Syndrome.

I don't get all the hate for iOS, but I also don't get why anyone would want a BB.

AntieMoe · Aug 15, 2011

I am new to androids having recently purchased my Moto D3. Can you please explain - what is "rooting"? I see all these posts about it but I don't understand. Thx!

HadouGhost · Aug 15, 2011

AntieMoe said:
I am new to androids having recently purchased my Moto D3. Can you please explain - what is "rooting"? I see all these posts about it but I don't understand. Thx!

rooting means it opens you up to what was once locked down. it basically grants you admin rights. lets you do much more with the phone and access things normally you would be unable to.

hahny42 · Aug 19, 2011

AKD3270 said:
I am coming from using a long line of BB's, but heard great things about apps and how fast the Droid 3 is.

I don't have another Android for comparison, but mine is a slug - 3 - 7 seconds between apps - totally unacceptable. My BB was much faster. And let's not even talk about the camera app - that is ridiculous.

I understand that there are too many variables to compare definitively, but the battery life is horrible. I too have no WiFi, no Bluetooth, and no streaming anything - few calls and maybe 30 - 40 emails and the battery does not last a full work day.

My wife used to get 1.5 days on her BB between charges, and now gets less than 6 hours.

Also, Exchange is horrific to set up - still hasn't worked - and BB configured it automatically.

I don't play games, don't spend time on social apps (doesn't anyone have a real job anymore) and just really need bulletproof email and a great contacts directory app. It seems that means a BB - pity as I had great hopes for my Droid 3.

I have a few hours to decide, but it may very well be that both Droid 3's go back tonite.

i can see where your coming from, had a tour for about a year before jumping to the fascinate and now a d3 to tryout. 8 days in and with the 1500mah battery i can pop about 7-8hrs of battery. however with the extended battery i have been getting anywhere from 16-18hrs of use in. i have also turned my widgetlocker off seeing as it likes to eat battery like about 4-5% a hr. i have considered a bold 9650(i will not blow $250 on a bb sorry 9930) and am just not overly impressed with how apple handles themselves and there lawsuits(altering images to benefit them in some cases). the infancy pains of android however if you can handle them far outweigh running back to a bb. and im not completely sold on lte for the simple fact of battery life. if i were available for a new phone and i was a general consumer right now the 5 phones i would consider on verizon are as is from top to bottom. 1. Droid Charge 2. Droid 3. 3. Droid X2 4. iPhone 4 5. Blackberry Bold 9930. thats if price was not a concern or battery. i wouldnt mind seeing seidio make a extended battery for the d3 but i doubt it will happen.

xodustrance · Aug 19, 2011

The more I use the phone, the more I like it. Battery life is still kind of sucky for me as subjective as that may be, so I think I'll be buying the extended battery.

I got my D3 on the same day I got my Asus Transformer. So now tethering is more important than ever to me. I handed my Droid pro down to the wife, and that is rooted. So for now I have internet on the tablet when out with the wife. But damn, I want free tethering on my D3. I guess if it means that much to me, I might just break down and pay verizon for the feature.... ughhh.

But yeah, I am in love with this phone. So where is everyone buying their x-batteries from?

hahny42 · Aug 20, 2011

and for those who do not want to blow $52 smacks or $40 with the discount on the 1930mah battery, i have 2 of these for $20 a pop off of amazon. Amazon.com: Factory New Extended Slim Battery For Motorola DROID 3 And Milestone 3 1800mAh! High Capacity Slim Battery: Electronics

MicroNix · Aug 20, 2011

hahny42 said:
and for those who do not want to blow $52 smacks or $40 with the discount on the 1930mah battery, i have 2 of these for $20 a pop off of amazon. Amazon.com: Factory New Extended Slim Battery For Motorola DROID 3 And Milestone 3 1800mAh! High Capacity Slim Battery: Electronics

Let me know how they work. I was on the fence to purchase that one especially since it didn't require a different back cover but it seemed too good to be true.

hahny42 · Aug 22, 2011

MicroNix said:
Let me know how they work. I was on the fence to purchase that one especially since it didn't require a different back cover but it seemed too good to be true.

when i got them they had about 40% left in them. today is the first day i have been using them. been unplugged for 10hrs 27m sec and am at 62% with moderate to heavy use.

HadouGhost · Aug 24, 2011

hahny42 said:
when i got them they had about 40% left in them. today is the first day i have been using them. been unplugged for 10hrs 27m sec and am at 62% with moderate to heavy use.

what do you consider moderate / heavy use? streaming HD video (youtube or netflix) intense 3d games?

Two weeks with the droid 3, and here is what I see right / wrong w/ the device

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