The Droid has been advertised as the king of devices and the multi-tasker of the powerful. I naturally said, “Let's see what you're made of.” I had long known about a little company called PDAnet. PDAnet is an app maker for devices like the iPhone or Android software. I had always been tempted to use it with my iPhone, but was unfortunately dissuaded by horror stories and awful reception. The iPhone would require a jailbrake and then the app download; not that big a deal, but much harder then I would soon find out on my Droid.

The Android market and software system is incredibly powerful, but it's taken me a few weeks to understand all of its potential. The market is very open, with few apps being removed because of the open market – users vote to remove an application. The market is so open that PDAnet, maker of the tethering app for my Droid, has a nice little home. Just do a simple search and you're off. Download the app and it'll be on your phone within seconds.

As a previous iPhone owner, this is where I say, “That's too easy, something is bound to fail or block me.” But then I install the software from PDAnet's website, USB tether my Droid, and plug it into my new HP Mini 311 netbook (review coming soon!).

Connect.

Verify.

On.

That's it. On the internet and surfing at rates up to 2.4 Mbps, but it's more like 115 Kb/s average. Regardless, it feels like high-speed DSL, and I'm insanely happy. My netbook can have internet whenever and wherever I want!

I have been reading about tethering for a few weeks now, and have noticed a common theme in forum posts. “Does PDAnet work with the Droid?” Verizon associates have been telling consumers that the Droid “does not tether” and that it will be about “$15 more a month to enable tethering on the Droid [next year].” Verizon is not exactly lying, but it isn't the whole truth. Verizon will most likely announce tethering software a la Verizon-brand to the market next year. After that, Verizon customers will be able to download the software and tether; albeit at a cost, $15 a month. Why suffer the extra cost burden and wait?

Tethering isn't illegal; in fact, the Android system encourages this type of open development, which is geared towards internet for all. Go try it out today – let us know how it works or if you have any questions below.

Caution: Remember Verizon still has a cap on the "unlimited data" -- it's still just 5GB of data per month.

I've been trying to hone in on the most important and vital apps for my new Android 2.0 phone. With the help of Twitter followers and Luke, I've come up with a great list of top 5 Android apps for my wonderfully powerful Droid. If you enjoy this, check out our Top 3 News and Weather Apps for Motorola Droid too!

• Google Voice -- [Link to Site]
  • I've been addicted to Google Voice, it saves me something like $15 to $20 every month on texting and I can call ANY number with a secure, controllable line from Google. Google Voice may actually be more important, relevant, and usable than Google Wave. There's so much potential with this technology. On an Android phone, unlike the closed off iPhone, you can have the Google Voice App take over all calls -- even international ones! By taking over the device, any call that I make through the phone emulates my Google Voice number. No inconvenient Google Voice mobile website for me [on an iPhone], now I just make a phone call. The application transcribes my voicemails and allows for a visual form too. This visual system saves me yet another $2.99 -- Verizon charges that for visual mail access.
  • Downsides: No messaging app support, SMS messages are not pushed (fetched at every 5 mins -- fastest rate), must have a data connection to make phone call through GV number.
    
• Pandora -- [Link to Site]
  • This is nothing new, and it's still the ultimate personalized radio. Pandora delivers a fantastic application and service to Android and iPhone. The experience is hindered by a basic ad on the bottom of the application, but it's nothing compared to the ads and messages that Pandora places on its website. Pandora let's you create personalized stations with a thumbs up/down voting system. It allows you to bookmark songs and artists for later viewing. The application also supports the adding and removal of new "stations" that can be based off of artist, song, album, etc.
  • Downsides: Advertisements on the bottom of application, improper Bluetooth support (doesn't stop playing if Bluetooth headphones are disconnected), and still slow, despite the Droid's processor power.
• DoggCatcher -- [Link to Site]
  • There is no native application to download, subscribe, and listen to your latest podcasts. DoggCatcher is the perfect accoutrement to your powerful device. It comes at a price though, $6.99, which makes it one of the most expensive apps in the Market. In fact, it's the only app that requires a purchase on this list. But it's still well worth it and powerful. DoggCatcher lets you select and subscribe to your favorite podcasts, and unlike the iPhone (AT&T), you can download as large a file as you'd like. While burning through battery, it can download that 131 MB episode of Diggnation for immediate viewing. And if you don't feel like burning through battery life, you can choose to have the device only download new episodes on Wi-Fi and/or while being plugged into power. Unlike Pandora, DoggCatcher responds to disconnects from headphones and Bluetooth, pausing where you are.
  • Downsides: Price tag ($6.99), no automatic downloads despite a subscription (still need to queue downloads), and small selection of suggested podcasts.

• i Music -- [Link to Site]
  • The internet has a number of ways to illegally download music. LimeWire and Kazaa are things of the past. So many people put music straight onto their websites, and it's just a matter of finding the songs. i Music is a powerful music search app that finds exactly what you're looking for. Looking for a Beatles song or something by Bob Dylan? Search on i Music and you'll find the song. After finding the song you want, you can legally listen to the song or you can illegally download it to your Droid. This is a gray area of copyright laws, but there's no doubt that downloading songs for free is still illegal. Whether you just NEED to hear a song once, or want to grab it for free, i Music a prime example of the power of open-source and spits in the face of Apple's closed system.
  • Downsides: The user interface (UI) is hideous, ads are on the top of searches (making queries unintuitive), and the apps widget is appallingly simple.
• FxCamera -- [Link to Site]
  • The Droid camera is finally fixed! But the basic camera application doesn't leave a lot of options for users. That's where FxCamera comes in. Offering basic image additions like the Toy Camera effect makes images look aged and artistically designed. Just look at my Twitter pic. FxCamera doesn't have some of the editing features of PicSay Pro, but it does spruce up the the basic camera. The application simple, and is relatively quick at launching the camera and processing the picture with its effect. What's missing is the ability to truly take over the camera and by default, launch the app after a picture has been taken.
  • Downsides: Doesn't connect with the Droid camera by default, needs more effects, and could use a quicker user interface.

Runner up:

• Twidroid -- [Link to Site]
  • A powerful Twitter client for the Droid, but still with a variety of faults. Twidriod is quick and actively processes new tweets in the background -- seemingly using very little battery from what I've seen. And you always know when you have a Twidroid notification; the program has its own notification light, it's a cool blue. But it doesn't give users trending Twitter topics, and the app doesn't have a proper widget for the Droid quite yet (free or paid).

What we still want to see:

• NPR -- [Link to Site]
  
  • The public radio company has yet to produce an app for the Android platform. The iPhone has a beautiful application that is insanely powerful and convenient for users. Android users are seriously missing out from any solid NPR player and program. It's the single app that I miss most from the iPhone.

Please comment below or Twitter us if you have any other apps that we should take a look at or we left out!

For many US iPhone users, that means you can now choose between T-Mobile and AT&T. And if you're abroad for any reason, pick up a cheap SIM-card and plug it into the iPhone--you should have no problem (as long it is also a GSM carrier)!

Check out an eBay auction that is now advertising a 3.1.2 iPhone 3GS that's unlockable with Blackra1n.

The iPhone doesn't do/have: multitasking, a 5MP camera, open-source development, Google Voice, etc. But here's an early prediction, Apple will soon have a face off with Verizon's new "killer." If the environment and competition warrants it, I foresee Apple and AT&T retracing a number of their preventative methods, which hinder the phone's greater capabilities.

Verizon's Droid is due to come out on October 30th, with some estimates pointing to an early November release date. Either way, the phone its accompanying specs will quickly stunt the iPhone's growth; that is, if Apple and AT&T do nothing.

That's where I think we're going to get a healthy does of competition. Apple can quickly and easily allow apps to background and therefore multitask--it just takes the flick of a switch and a major press release to developers. All of a sudden, apps like Pandora and NPR, which stream over 3G/EDGE/Wi-Fi, will operate for as long as you want, even while checking your email. No doubt, their will be complaints over battery drain and AT&T's horrid wireless network. But at least the iPhone will have built-in multitasking capabilities.

Soon after that, we could see a firmware update with a major megapixel upgrade to the iPhone. FM capabilities will be a must. Google Voice may soon be approved. And we could see improvements to AT&T's troubled data network.

Maybe the last couple sentences are more of a hope than reality. But without a doubt, competition will force Apple to finally step up. It's time to take advantage of everything the phone is already capable of!

One source close to the thinking of AT&T executives said the company has been deliberating the decision for weeks and that top executives have said they were close to accepting voice over Internet services on all AT&T phones, including the iPhone. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because a decision hadn't been officially announced. Skype currently operates on the iPhone through WiFi access, but not on AT&T's 3G mobile network. (SOURCE)

Stay tuned for more details. News like this isn't surprising as the recently inked deal between Google and Verizon may be pressuring Apple and AT&T to think about the ramifications of open source applications.

Update: Looks like AT&T just approved VOIP apps to be on the 3G network. Now the question is how long it takes for apps to update. Hopefully google voice will also be included in the new rules.