Verizon and Motorola have yet to update the Motorola Droid to the Android 2.1 operating system (OS). I really wanted my Droid to run the official release of the OS because it makes it easier for me to talk about general Android features and bugs without concern that the issue or feature was related to a special version. On Friday, March 5th 2010 I gave up waiting and decided to root my Droid. Rooting my Droid gave me the ability to install many of the awesome features only available on the Google Nexus One. For example, I used the speech-to-text feature to send this text message to one of my technical friends:
“I just rooted my droid and I’m using the voice dictation to send you this message”
His response to my text message was, “Huh?” I quickly realized that the term rooted is only familiar to those geeks in the Android community. It is much like saying “jailbreak” to iPhone devoted users. To simplify this conversation rooted on Android equals jailbreak on iPhone.
Basically, it allows you to do things with your phone that the carrier and the OS manufacturer, Google, did not want to allow by default. In my case it allowed me to install a newer OS version on my Motorola DROID. Also it allowed me to install apps that give me more access to the phone hardware. Without rooting my phone these applications are worthless because they require root (administrative) access to the phone. Hopefully, you’re getting the term “rooted” means to get root or administrative access. Google, unlike Apple, takes a more supportive stance on rooting as they have built Android as an open source operating system.
Initial Experience
It is extremely difficult to describe the feel of the user interface since updating my DROID from the official 2.0 2.01to the rooted 2.1 2.01 operating system. Everything is faster and more polished; the physical interaction with the phone feels different despite only being a software update. Â For example the phone unlock slider glides like silk. Many Nexus One users talk about how vibrant the OLED screen of the phone looks. I fully understand this feel because my Zune HD has an OLED screen and the look is vibrant and rich. Remember, I updated the OS on the Motorola Droid and despite not having an OLED display, everything looks more crisp than before.
I was seriously considering buying the Nexus One when it comes to Verizon on March 23, but after this update I could care less about the Nexus One. I wonder if Verizon is sitting on this update until after the Nexus One release week. I deeply love my Motorola DROID again. I also will no longer be looking to Verizon and Motorola for updates. I have no facts to back my belief but I believe the official Motorola DROID 2.1 update will somehow come a week or so after the Nexus one hits Verizon. I feel like I have a new phone. Let me tell you about and show you some of the features I am loving about my Droid since updating.
Speech-to-Text
I wrote about how comical Google’s speech to text translation was on Google Voice in a previous article. Assuming you pronounce your words clearly the speech-to-text translation on is astonishing. I want to describe how good it is but a video will provide a clearer picture.
To activate the speech-to-text feature you just click the microphone icon on the virtual keyboard and start talking.
Notification Panel
On Android 2.1 2.01 rooted the notification panel is translucent. While this provides no additional value it just looks good and adds layers and depth to the experience. This change is what most would call eye candy, and I could not agree more but sliding the panel closed gives you an appreciation of the graphic enhancements in Android.
Wireless Tether for Root Users
The first new app I noticed when scrolling through all my applications was called Wireless Tether for Root Users. As soon as I opened the Wireless Tether app I got prompted to donate to the developer. I would rather be prompted to donate after I successfully tether a device but let’s forget that. I donated within seconds anyway. I changed the SSID and connected my Zune HD, iPhone, and laptop to test tethering. The tethering works for me but I wish it provided a WPA encryption option vs. WEP. Since WEP is fundamentally broken from a security perspective you might as well run an open WiFi access point vs. wasting your time with WEP. I do understand the choice of I am going to try WiFi Tether exclusively despite having a Verizon USB EVDO device on my next business trip. I am so happy I did not buy the MiFi now that I have this option.
Gallery
Someone asked a developer to create a gallery that will blow users away because this is chalk full of eye candy. Google decided to go the extra mile on polishing the UI. The default stacks images design is gorgeous and as Chris would say stolen from HTC. When you click on a stack of photos the animation to lay the stacks out in a rows and columns demonstrates the level of detail that went into designing Android 2.1. When you slide the the gallery photo stacks too far to the right or left the screen pivots back as if it was on a 3D plane. I included video of this because you really have to see it to appreciate the little things. If your a Picassa online user you will be happy to see google had integrated the gallery with Picassa online.
Browser
When I use my iPhone or Zune HD to browse the web I can “pinch” or “stretch” to zoom in and out respectively, which is one of the common uses of multi-touch. Google recently gave multi-touch to Android users in the US despite it being available in Europe previously. I did not realize how much I missed multi-touch when browsing until getting it back on the DROID. I personally had gotten so use to the + / – buttons for zooming I really did not care about multi-touch. Â Now that I have it on my Droid I could not be happier. And by-the-way, if you liked double-tapping to zoom, it’s still there too.
CPU Over-clocking
One of the outstanding features of having root access to the Droid is the ability to play with the processor clock speed, both up and down. I now have the ability to boost my top speed to 800 MHz or even 1000 MHz at the top end, but have it automatically reduce to 250 MHz when I am not using the device. This offers amazing performance under load, but also saves battery during the times when it just sits idle.
Screen and Keyboard Brightness
Not everyone sees this as a problem, but if you are bothered by having a screen too bright, or by a physical keyboard or function key backlighting that just won’t go away (especially in the multimedia dock at night-time) then there are also patches/tweaks available to fix that. Of course, only available with root access.
It is Not Hard to Have Greatness
The process to root my Motorola Droid is easy enough my 6 year old could do it. I went to the DroidMod site and downloaded the DroidMod updater released on February 20th 2010. When I attempted to install, I had to make a security change to my Droid to allow apps outside of the Market Place to be installed. After installing I had to follow a specific reboot key press process and the phone was rooted. After rebooting I was still running 2.01 but I now had root access. At this time I installed these applications from the market place.
- drocap2 – Allows me to take screenshots on my Droid. This should be a built-in feature like it is on the iPhone
- SetCPU – This allows the configuration of the CPU overclocking explained above
- Titanium Backup – allows to backup applications, a sadly missing feature in Androids default backup
Finally, I ran the DM UPdater application to upgrade to Andorid 2.1 2.01 rooted with 2.1 features. There are a wide variety of options to select here but nothing is technical, as I said above, my 6 year old could make the choices. What I like most about rooting my Droid vs jail breaking my iPhone is that all my application is saved.
The only side effects I have seen so far has been:
- Post the rooted 2.01 2.1 upgrade my home screen icons got shifted by 1 screen because 2.1 offers 5 home screens vs 3.
- Post the rooted 2.01 2.1 upgrade my desktop widgets had to be re-added
- Post the rooted 2.01 2.1 update shortcut icons to 3rd party applications had to be readded to the home screen
- 1 Crash of the phone service but I have seen this prior to the rooted 2.01 2.1 upgrade
I accidentally keep saying 2.1 vs 2.01 with 2.1 features. I have edited the information above with red line. To be clear, DroidMod of 2.01 with 2.1 Features. You get so use to saying 2.0, 2.01, and 2.1 you lose track.
