Much has changed since my original post. View the update post Revisited – The Difference Between “Droid” and “Android” here.
What’s going on here?
The purpose of this article is to act as a stepping stone to properly educate users on the differences between the classifications of cell phones and their meanings. Mainly because it is a pet peeve of mine to hear one over the other. While it’s not a huge deal, there is a meaningful difference.
While many believe “Droid” to be the proper shortening of “Android,” I would like to present to you, the reader, the important difference between the two when relating to smart phones. In a nutshell, “Droid” is the name of a specific phone offered through Verizon online, while “Android” is the name of the operating system that runs on the “Droid” (and “Droid Eris”, and any other future Verizon phone with the Droid name as licensed by Lucasfilms) and a plethora of other phones. This article attempts to compare the “Android” operating system with the “Motorola Droid”, ignoring the “HTC Droid Eris” for increased clarity.
Why is this?
The root of the confusion between Droid and Android begins with the misunderstanding of the workings of a cell phone. In today’s world of technology and evolution, cellular phones are resembling personal computers more and more. This being said, we can relate the inner workings of a cell phone to the inner workings of a personal computer.
Can you tell me more?
A personal computer has three main attributes by which it can be classified: the brand or company that sells and distributes it, the operating system that runs on the device, and the “nickname” of sorts by which the individual models are known. In the case of a personal computer, the “brand” can be something like HP, Dell, Toshiba, Apple, or Asus. The “operating system” of a personal computer is generally a version of Windows, Macintosh, or a type of Linux. “Nicknames” are very diverse, from the Eee PC 701 to the Macbook Pro. So you would say your “Dell” made “Inspiron 1000“‘s Operating System is “Windows XP“.
A cell phone, similarly, has three main attributes by which it can be classified: the brand or company that sells and distributes it, the operating system that runs on the device, a “nickname” by which the individual models are known, and also the company that sells the “service plan,” (the service provider), often including minutes, data, and text messaging. “Brands” of cell phone include names such as Apple, Motorola, Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, or Nokia. The operating systems of these phones range from Symbian, Bada, Android, RIM, or iPhone OS. The “nicknames” for phones are also very diverse, ranging from the Wave to the Dream to the iPhone 3GS. Often, there are multiple “nicknames” of a single phone, depending on the distributer. Being a telephone, the fourth attribute is the service provider of the phone. The four main service providers in the United States are Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
What does this mean?
Generally, there is an overlapping hierarchy of these classifications ranging from broadest to most narrow. The hierarchy is overlapping because the same operating system can be used on multiple phones on multiple different service providers. Similarly, the same “brand” may create multiple phones, each using different operating systems, also on multiple service providers. However, more often than not, the “nickname” of a phone is specific to one set of attributes.
For instance, the “G1″ is a phone with the following characteristics: Brand-HTC, Operating System-Android, Service Provider-T-Mobile. By saying the nickname of this phone, it is understood that the previously mentioned attributes hold true. As mentioned earlier, some devices also have more generic nicknames. For example, the “G1″ can also be referred to as the “Dream.” This holds true because the “Dream” is the name the physical creator, HTC, gave this device. The “Dream” is marketed both in Canada by the service provider “Rogers,” under the “nickname” “Dream” and in the United States by the service provider “T-Mobile,” under the “nickname” “G1″. The “T-Mobile G1″ has one specific set of attributes, while the “Rogers Dream” has another specific set of attributes.
How does this relate to Droid and Android?
Now that we have addressed the meanings behind the names of some phones and attempted to address some generalities, we can address the difference between “Droid” and “Android”. In the case at hand, “Droid” is the “nickname” for a particular set of attributes. This set is as follows: Brand-Motorola, Operating System-Android, Service Provider-Verizon, Nickname-Droid. The “Motorola Droid” is also sold in Europe and Canada as the “Motorola Milestone,” another nickname with a specific set of attributes.
The Operating System of the phone is called Android. The “Nickname” of the phone is called Droid.
But why does it matter?
There are many devices that run the Android operating system. However, there is only one device that is known as Droid. For this reason, calling every “Android Phone” a Droid both belittles the Android name and unnecessarily bolsters the reputation of the Droid.
Is it getting hot in here?
It is my belief that global warming is a real and present problem. As Al Gore emphasized, the dangers of continual destruction of the earth will cause a worldwide collapse of ecosystems. Many sources corroborate with Gore’s argument that the weather patterns of the world have been altered in the past few years, in conjunction with a similar alteration of fossile fuel usage. The numbers verify it; the summers are getting hotter. You can not deny that global warming has been caused by humans.
It is my belief that global warming is an idea brought about misconstrued data and is not a real problem. While Al Gore urged us to act for fear of the dangers of continual destruction of the earth, his complicated charts and graphs unmasked more information than his words. The data Gore asserts in his “Inconvenient Truth” documentary contradicts his argument that humans are the sole cause of global warming due to the cycles of heating and cooling as corroborates with the findings of many reputable sources. Global warming is a hoax for the ill-informed.
Purdue’s Impact on History
While many may have come to believe that the grand mural painted on the wall in the Stewart Center on Purdue’s campus depicts the evolution of Purdue in relation to the changing of time, I argue that the real purpose behind the painting is to expose the impact Purdue has had on history. Before Purdue, as depicted on the leftmost side of the mural, the world is filled with farmers and not much education. Immediately after President Lincoln signed off for Purdue as a land grant college the mural shows scholars and technology beginning to prosper. This juxtaposition of scenes from before the signing and after shows the huge impact Purdue had on society. The mural shows scenes in the scholarly world, undoubtedly relating to Purdue, such as the space mission in the background, to further show the importance of education and the good things that can come from it. Purdue changed society and technology forever.
A Traveler’s Tool
Crisp and new, this can tear a hole in your soul. With each step forward in time it gets older and older, quickly losing its pristine, innocent appearance and darkening with each new day. Each year you find it to no longer be fitting and proper for you so you must attain a new set. Laced with personality, people tend to take much pride in their set. Some choose to use them for purpose and others for looks. When you are running late, it helps you tread on the lines of purpose. When you are standing tall, you exhibit pride to those around you. Regardless of the way you use it, it helps you to walk along the way. Those who disagree can shoo!
Blood Red
At this moment, I delve into the juggernaut that is the “Right Turn on Red”.
Close your eyes and imagine the most pristine work of art reflected on the canvas of your eyes. You see an orb of beauty, the color of your favorite plant’s leaves. But these leaves leave you.
In an instant, your perfect world shatters. Winter has come much too early. The leaves instantly fade to red as fall passes. The blood orb of dispair takes control as life accells to a halt. You and the rest of your mindless lemmings aquiesce to the blood overlord. Hell has the wheel. But in another instant the table turns as the dealer slips you an Ace.
You are the first in line to kiss the feet of the demon orb. But as you see the sphere in line of your destination, you realize an oppotunity is present: to join! Join the tyranical ruling of the lemmings with the power of the death orb! Or you can continue to be a follower, a slave to the light of blood.
You seize the day.
