Verizon's HTC Droid Eris to run Android 1.5 on a 528MHz CPU
By Nilay Patel 
posted Oct 27th 2009 5:11PM
posted Oct 27th 2009 5:11PM
We can certainly understand why Verizon wants to brand all of its Android devices under the "Droid" label, but at this point we can't say we understand why it's launching the HTC Droid Eris alongside the Motorola Droid at all -- BGR says it's going to run Android 1.5 on a 528MHz Qualcomm CPU, which means it'll be instantly obsoleted by Android 2.0 on the Moto's OMAP3 at launch. What's more, it sure seems like Verizon knows it's mismanaging this situation, as we haven't heard a single peep about the Eris in the runup to the Droid launch tomorrow, even though Eric Schmidt and Lowell McAdam were waving both devices around a few weeks ago. We'll see how this all plays out -- HTC certainly has Android 2.0 phones of its own in the works, so the Eris might not be long for this world.
I had a feeling that the specs would be the same as all the other "Hero"s. The only thing this has going for it over the Moto Droid is that is doesn't have a keyboard (some people don't need them) and that it will have Sense UI. But with the faster processor, bigger screen, better GPU and 2.0, I'd take the Droid!
Agreed, I don't think it is any surprise that it is "just another Hero" with the same specs as the rest on other carriers.
This however, to me shows the folly and problem with all these "skins." Not only is this phone not running Eclair... it isn't even running Donut because "Sense" needs to be upgraded along with it. Just give me Android, let the skins be an add on.
Of course, I am one of those people that HAS to have a keyboard, so this was never really an option for me.
It would have been nice for a lower price point on Verizon had it at been running 1.6.
Boo for the 528mhz processor. I'll pass.
HD2 please
how do these new phones rate in terms of radiation emissions?
http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/8-Safety-Tips
i found that hero has a sar rating of 1.13, moto droid a sar rating of .98, iphone 3Gs 1.19, palm pre 0.92, samsung moment 1.16
for the samsung, the highest sar of 1.16 was found when the back of the phone was facing the body. the highest sar when the front of the phone was facing the head was 0.60. that was the lowest sar for a phone with its front facing toward the head.
Verizon, Verizon, why do you mess things up EVERY time your sooo close to having something awesome
Okay idiot. What did Verizon mess up on?? All this is, is the HTC Hero with Verizon on it. It is just like the one on Sprint and the GSM networks... HOW DID VERIZON MESS UP!?
The next HTC phone will have 2.0 OS and a much faster CPU.
Why on earth are they releasing it with 1.5? Even the G1 has 1.6 now. This is really stupid. With 1.5 you don't even have the "new market".
Take me darling, all of me! I'm yours!
(But do you mind if I leave my clothes on?)
Looks for all the people with inside connects that said the VZW Hero was an upgrade from Sprints.. Tell Engadget to fix the story...
And people stop complaining about the chip speed.. Your crazy if you think a real homescreen is gonna run as fast as an icon grid.. The Hero is fast, not minimalist icon grid lightning fast but for having a real live homescreen its great. The day you find the "perfect" phone you will be dead and in heaven. Until then its give and take.
I don't understand why they don't make this with the top of the line processor?
Do they think that to compete with the iphone you need a keyboard? I'm using a blackberry storm, and all I want is an android phone with a fast processor (and ram), wifi, and screen that doesn't move :-)