Google’s foray into the cell phone industry, with the Motorola-built Droid and powered by the lightning-fast Android 2.0 platform, is proving to be a worthwhile venture for the marketing gurus. Google joined with a consortium of businesses and developed the Android 2.0platform for running cell phones which run multiple applications (apps). So far, and the Droid has only been on the market for a mere two months, the idea seems to have been a great one, and the Droid, along with other Android-run smart phones, has the potential to topple the IPhone and Blackberry strangleholds on the high-speed, multi-tasking cell phone markets.
With a 3.7 inch high-definition LCD touch-screen display, the Droid really is all that you could possibly want in a cell phone. For instance, within less than a minute, you can take a picture of a bar code on any product in a store, and have the Droid tell you, with the tap of one icon, anywhere nearby that the same product is for sale, with the associated prices, in descending order. And, you even get directions to get to each store from where you are currently located, overlaid on Google Maps Street View, if you want. And, yes, you can also make phone calls!
Some of the more desirable accessories for Droid smart phones include, but in no way are limited to;
* Skins. Once you have your beautiful high-definition LCD touch-screen Droid, and have it set up with your personal preferences, learning how to control the phone is extremely easy. The touch-screen display, with over 65 Million colors, needs to be protected from the elements, skin oil, accidental liquid spills, shocks from being dropped or banged into something solid, like a table’s edge or a wall. Customized skins, .99 and up, allow the Droid owner to reflect their personality on the cover of their cool, new, next-generation cellular phone, and vary in price due to the material, artistry, quality and manufacturer.
* Screen Savers. A screen-saver is a great accessory for the Droid, and should be purchased at the same time as the phone. With anti-glare technology, you will be able to use your Droid outside in the brighter light more easily, and protect the screen from scratches and your skin’s oil build-up. From .99 and up.
* The Docking Station. The Droid docking station, used as an alarm clock, digital photo frame and all-around great accessory for the Droid is a wonderful gift in the 0 range. The web-enabled next generation cell phone’s docking station is one of the most sought-after accessories for the Droid, and it charges the Droid while being used as a veritable multimedia powerhouse.
* Solar Power Panel. A solar power panel will charge your Droid phone no matter where you are. Well, as long as the sun is out. .
* Car Accessories. Another hot item is the external antennae, between and , which will greatly enhance the phone’s signal strength, especially for radio use, or for while traveling in remote areas. A dash-mount for the Droid will turn your cell phone into a GPS, with voice activation, Google Maps and Google Earth, along with all of Google’s other mapping and location systems applications (apps). Car mounts can have suction cups, cup-holder mounts or vent mounts, and run between and .
* Stylus Pen. The Droid also has a series of stylus pens, for using the on-screen commands and on-screen keyboard, without using your bare fingers. For using your Droid outside in the cold, or to avoid skin-oil build-up, these handy and screen-saving stylus pens cost .99 at the Droid Apps Store.
* Case. A cell phone case is a common accessory that is required for all cell phones, older models and newer next generation phones alike. You can get a few different cases, or one good one that has many different configurations. Use it as an arm-band, clipped to your pants’ waist or belt, strapped over your shoulder and arm, or as extra protection in case the phone is ever dropped, banged into something or bumped out of your hands. From to well over 0.
Some more thoughtful gifts for Droid owners include the 3-in-one USB charger, the Belkin Bluetooth USB connector, and the 36-in-one media reader. The USB charger, or less, is used to charge your phone using any plugged-in computer’s USB ports. You can use a laptop with a USB interface that is turned off, but the battery burn on the laptop is rather quick when not turned on. The 36-in-one media reader is an accessory for the multimedia expert for downloading medium to and from the Droid, and comes in at about .
One of the best accessories to buy for a Droid owner who loves listening to music, watching movies or live streaming video is the Stereo Headset. Coming with or without mic-booms (for hands-free phone use), the stereo headsets range in price, functionality and quality. The stereo headset has controls on one earpiece, and has a useful ambient noise cancellation option. Some models in the works have remote control and plug-wire controls. At under when found on sale, the stereo headset is one of the better gifts for Christmas, 2009, or for any other reason, for the Droid owner and music, movie or television junkies.
If you are giving a Droid as a gift, and want to include a stocking stuffer or second gift, but can not decide upon which accessory to choose, try to figure out what options of the Droid the person would be using the most, and get an accessory that helps with that option. If the Droid did not come with a screen protector or carrying case, those are two rather inexpensive gifts that the Droid owner absolutely must have.
Gift certificates from the Droid Apps Store, which sells all of the authorized Droid accessories, are available in customizable values.
Written by Marc Phillippe Babineau
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