Motorola RAZR Gets Update In Europe

A new software update is rolling out starting today for the Motorola RAZR. This is not the DROID RAZR here on Verizon, and instead is the international and European model just named the Motorola RAZR. The European model is responsible for those leaked 4.0 builds too but today it is only getting Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.

RAZR users in the UK, Italy, France and Spain can all enjoy the latest and greatest from Motorola starting today. Over on the Moto Facebook page they detailed some of the new features. Most of them we’ve already seen such as smart actions, better battery life, improved camera support and a few different Google security patches. We are also hearing this will update the recent Google Play apps to the latest versions.

You can also see the full change log direct from Motorola by clicking here. Again, the update is rolling out today and should arrive for most users by Friday. As usual if you’d like to get it now and not wait for the OTA push head to settings > about phone > system updates > download and enjoy that BLUR infused Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.

With the Android 4.0 ICS getting leaked last month we were hoping this would be Android 4.0 but sadly that isn’t quite ready for prime time just yet. Let us know how the update procedure goes for those with the international Motorola RAZR.

DROID RAZR by Motorola: Switchers:

HP CEO: ZOMG, Android to be closed after Motorola purchase!

HP’s latest CEO, Meg Whitman, has the unenviable task of trying to talk up WebOS after HP dumped it last year, tried and failed to sell it, then undumped it enough to open source the code. WebOS itself had some very nice things going for it, although some have questioned whether fundamental problems in the code base will always hold it back from Android and iOS style performance.

But the main problem is the spectacular string of failures it suffered in HPs hands. The delayed hardware, the under-performing phone sales, and the tablet that was yanked off the market just weeks after it launched.

Speaking at HP’s Global Partners Conference, how do you imagine Ms. Whitman solved this problem? Via an expert appeal to the intrinsic technical superiority of the code base? By some deft marketing of the platform to developers and OEMs? No…instead Whitman chose door number three: scaremongering about Android.

Her pitch is that once Google closes the deal on Motorola, it’s going to decide to close off the operating system to other manufacturers, choosing to pursue the Apple route of controlling everything. We’ve heard this claim before, of course; we heard it from Microsoft and Nokia last year when the Motorola deal was announced. The funny thing is the people you haven’t heard it from: Google or any of the Android vendors.

We don’t want to go too far with this – there’s no doubt that some Android vendors may be concerned about what the purchase of Motorola could mean long-term. But Google’s entire M.O. is to get Android in as many hands as possible. And it’s not just Android – their search business, ad revenue, and various services (like Docs and Gmail) are all predicated on the idea of broad horizontal distribution, not tight vertical integration.

So it seems unlikely that Google will try to cut out its partners. But that’s not the real issue here; the real issue is that WebOS desperately needs someone to talk up its good points – someone to evangelize for the platform and convince people that it’s still worth investing in, despite the string of unfortunate events that have befallen it. If the best thing that HP can say about it is that “the industry really needs another operating system” because Android might someday be closed…it seems unlikely that WebOS has much of a future.

Touchpad vs Xoom - Android and WebOS Tablets Compared:

Motorola Reveals Android 4.0 ICS Update Schedule

Many of you have been waiting for Motorola to dish out information about its plans for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Today, the company updated its software upgrade news page, and well, the news is probably not going to be the news that many of you wanted to hear as the manufacturer has revealed extremely long wait times for some devices while not providing any sort of window at all for others.

The news comes just a few days after we wrote two scathing posts aimed at HTC and Motorola in regards to the lack of information in regards to the Android 4.0 update for the HTC ThunderBolt and Motorola Droid Bionic. As of right now, there is only one Motorola device on the list that has seen the Android 4.0 update and that’s the Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi edition which saw the update arrive a few weeks ago. The rest of the devices have vague release windows.

Going down the list of U.S. devices we see that the MOTOROLA XOOM Family Edition will see the update in Q2 while the Motorola Photon 4G, ATRIX 4G MB860, XYBOARD 8.2 and XYBOARD 10.1 will see the update arrive sometime in Q3 of this year. This means that the soonest those of you with those devices will see the update will be April.

As for the rest of Motorola’s devices like the Droid 4, Droid RAZR MAXX, Droid RAZR, and Droid Bionic, the company says that details will be following in the future. No elaboration, no information. The first option is to get frustrated and lash out at Motorola. (Remember, I’m only angry about the lack of information for the Droid Bionic. Motorola has explained why the update process is so slow and vague and it’s understandable.)

Motorola Droid RAZR Overview:

Droid Bionic update rolling out to everyone

It may be hard to remember now, but the Droid Bionic was one of the most anticipated devices of 2011. The oft-delayed and totally redesigned Bionic wasn’t quite the smash hit that Verizon and Motorola had been hoping for, but quite a few people did snap one up. If you’re one of those people, be sure to head over to your “Settings” menu, select the “About Phone” option, and click on “System Updates”.

The Motorola Droid Bionic is set to receive a fairly substantial update, said to fix connectivity issues and a number of various bugs. Software version 5.5.893, which totals 54.5 MB, improves data stability, increases the Mobile Hotspot capacity to eight devices, and fixes media playback via Bluetooth, just to name a few tweaks. The full list of improvements is available at the source link (there’s more than the image above leads you to believe), as are detailed instructions for both the manual and OTA update process. As always, we

You’ll be treated to the 5.9.902 update that was subject to a soak test last week. The update brings a bevy of improvements to connectivity, battery life, and overall stability. Enlarge the image below for the full list of improvements.

Droid Bionic Review - The Best Android Phone?

Motorola considers targeting education and medical fields with rugged tablets

With an eye toward expanding the size of the tablet “pie”, Motorola Mobility is considering new tablets targeted at specific vertical markets, according to Christy Wyatt, Vice President and General Manager of Motorola Mobility’s Enterprise Business. While being quick to emphasize that their current tablet lineup – including the recently launched Xyboard tablets and their original Xoom tablet – are well suited for a range of enterprise uses, Wyatt said MMI was considering whether different sizes, aspect ratios, or durability needs could better serve those markets.

One example provided was education, where a smaller tablet than the 10.1 and 8.1 inch models they currently offer might fit better in some uses. Durability could be a key factor for educational professionals as well, although it was in reference to medical needs that it was pointed out that water-proofing, or at least water-resistance, was needed for sanitation reasons.

In the short term Wyatt said MMI is focusing on making their Android tablets more enterprise friendly in general, by increasing the security of their devices, making them easier to manage and provision for IT departments, and generally bringing down the cost of ownership for businesses that choose to deploy Motorola’s products. Unless Google leads the company in a different direction after the acquisition closes – something they’ve indicated they won’t do – we can expect to see Motorola branch out into some specialty markets with their Android devices in the coming years.

Targeting the Education Market with Motorola Solutions:

Motorola DROID 4 is now available with Verizon

Android junkies, call up your corner dealers because on February 10, 2012, Verizon started selling the Android 4 by Motorola. As you may already know, this new addition to the Android family is no amateur to the smartphone arena. This phone is jam-packed with features. It boasts a 5-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a whopping 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and a 1GB of LP DDR2 RAM, a 4” qHD display, riding on the Verizon 4G LTE network, and Android 4 is topped off with a rear-facing HD 1080p camera. This camera can also take 8mp pictures, then flips over for video chat in 720p. The Android 4 also has high artificial intelligence that according to Verizon will “automate routines while adjusting your device settings to conserve power—extending battery life so you can do more of what Droid does.”

If you plan on going in without a contract expect to pay $549.99, with a 2-year contract you will shave off $350 bringing the price down to $199.99. In October 2011, Verizon released the Android RAZR Maxx with a 2-year contract for $299. It’s intuitive design and reputation of being the thinnest smartphone on the market has definitely set the tone for future mobile phone designs.

I think the Android 4 will surpass the Android RAZR, given the fact that it sports the QWERTY keyboard and is by far the thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone. Android 4 is even more appealing, since it sells for $100 cheaper than its predecessor.

Motorola Droid 4 Hands-on; Verizon's 4G LTE Network at CES 2012:

Nokia, Motorola and Sony seen increasing handset orders to ODMs in 2012

Having seen their share of the smartphone market eaten away by Apple and Samsung, Nokia, Motorola Mobility and Sony are looking to increase their handset orders in 2012. These orders, which are going to Taiwan based ODMs, are being used by the trio in an attempt to win back the marketshare lost to the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S II.

While Finnish based manufacturer Nokia recently gave pink slips to 4,000 employees in Hungary, Mexico and Finland to move production to Asia, DigiTimes says that Foxconn International Holdings (FIH) will get more EMS and smartphone orders from Nokia. Compal Communications will also see an increase in orders from Nokia. Motorola is expected to give more business to Foxconn and Arima Communications with the focus on Android flavored smartphones. Sony also will be lining Foxconn's pockets in return for the production of entry-level and mid-range Android models. Some other Android models will be built by Arima for Sony.

DigiTimes says that its source points out that Motorola Mobility (being acquired by Google) and Sony both could have changes in management which might lead to changes in the ODMs used by both firms. An ODM is an Original Design Manufacturer that designs and manufacturers a product specified by another company that eventually puts its brand on that device.

The state of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is a big update to Android for handsets. So big, that it's got some phone makers hesitant whether they'd even update their devices to the new version. First, it was LG which dropped the bomb on Facebook by saying it's not going to update its LG Optimus 2X flagship. The company quickly changed its position and is "currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as well as other LG high-end smartphones," according to a note which also appeared on the social network.

But it's not just LG – pretty much every other major phone maker has been vague about updating its handsets to ICS. HTC, which was recently ranked as the number one smartphone vendor in the States, judging by smartphone shipments, said it "has been looking closely at the new OS's features and functionality to determine our upgrade plans." The Taiwanese are likely to update their high-end handsets, but when it comes to exact models the company says it needs more time: "Our goal is to upgrade as many HTC devices as possible and we'll be sharing details on specific devices and timing in the coming weeks!"

Update HTC: HTC has announced that it's Sensation series will be the first to get ICS by the end of March. It has also added more handsets to its list of ICS-eligible devices, which will get updated later in 2012.

Samsung, which has gathered some negative PR after some of last year's Galaxy S models took a long while to get bumped up to new Android versions, has now said that its top-tier smartphones will get Android 4.0. The list includes all 9xxx models, so that means that last year's Samsung Galaxy S in all of its flavors should also be bumped up to the new Android.

Motorola, which is now closer to Google than any other phone manufacturer, seems to be the only company which has given us exact time frames. Moto has pledged to deliver ICS updates six weeks after Google pushes the public release.

Sony Ericsson has also given us a vague promise that it will bring ICS to its devices, but there it seems that the situation will depend a lot on Sony, which is taking over the company in the near future.

With so much uncertainty, we've decided to post a table of everything we know about Android Ice Cream Sandwich updates on various handsets and tablets. We'll update it as soon as we hear about a particular devices getting the update or being denied, so make sure to bookmark it and check back every once in a while.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Review & State of Mobile Discussion:

Verizon to launch Motorola DROID 4 on Friday; Bogo promotion to start on Motorola DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX

As expected, Verizon is launching the Motorola DROID 4 on Friday for $199.99 with a signed two-year pact. What was not expected are the promotions that Big Red is debuting on Friday. For example, if you like the Motorola DROID RAZR or its big batteried (did we just invent a new word?) brother the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, you can buy one of either model and get a second unit for free

But wait, there's more" as they say in those annoying television commercials. Big Red is offering up double the data with 4GB of 4G LTE service going for $30 per month with any smartphone purchase. And if you finally are ready to trade in that LG Voyager or LG Dare that you have been sporting since the Bush administration was in power, Verizon is giving away $30 gift cards in its stores for those willing to part with their old featurephone and move on up to a smart one. Finally, you can take $100 off the price of a 4G tablet with the purchase of a smartphone and a signed 2-year pact.

It sounds like Big Red customers have plenty to think about in the next few days, especially those with an upgrade burning a hole in their pocket.

NEW Verizon Launches Motorola's Droid Phone:

Motorola Xoom vs BlackBerry PlayBook

The battle for tablet superiority is going to be hard-fought in 2011, with flagship releases expected from every leading manufacturer. But there are those that have already been singled out from the impressive pack of contenders and ear-marked for great things. Two of these prodigious devices are currently slugging it out for the leader of the pack badge – RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook and Motorola's XOOM .

Display
The Motorola XOOM weighs in with an amazing 10.1-inch 1080p ready display, which makes web browsing and viewing media a pleasure. RIM's offering may be smaller but it certainly isn't inferior and the PlayBook's 7.1-inch 1080P display performs admirably. It's tough to separate them but we feel the Motorola just takes the tape ahead of the PlayBook.


Drivetrain
RIM's PlayBook boasts a hugely impressive spec sheet, including a 1GHz Ti-OMAP dual-core processor and 1GB RAM, which is more than enough to keep the device flying along, under even the most heavy of burdens. Motorola's little box of tricks, the XOOM, is equally powerful though, with a dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 chip and 1GB RAM. Both devices offer dedicated GPU support, enabling them to keep up with the latest games and visual requirements.

Operating System
The XOOM is the first device to be empowered by Android 3.0 (aka Honeycomb), which is a version of the hugely popular mobile OS that has been specially tailored to operate tablet PC's. Honeycomb offers redesigned apps for e-mail, web browsing and offline support for the new 3D version of the company's market leading Google Maps.

RIM's PlayBook brings something new to market though, in the form of the company's new QNX Neutrino based operating system, which looks on track to set the world alight. Both devices are cutting-edge in terms of operating software .

Cameras
Both tablets boast front and rear-facing cameras, ideal for snapping photos and video-conferencing. The XOOM offers a 5 mega-pixel rear with dual-LED flash and 2 mega-pixel front-facing effort.
The PlayBook ups the ante though, with a 5 mega-pixel rear-facing snapper and 3 mega-pixel front-facing, making it the tablet of choice for enterprise standard video-calling.

Connectivity
Motorola's XOOM comes with every conceivable connectivity option. It offers Wi-Fi (b,g,n), Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and 3G, as well as being future-proofed with support for 4G LTE.
The PlayBook, on the other hand, currently only offers support for Wi-Fi (a,b,g,n) though 3 and 4G versions are said to be in the pipeline. This needn't be a terrible encumbrance though. Even with its good points it can't take this bout from the XOOM.

So it's a pretty comprehensive victory for the Motorola XOOM, which offers everything a user could possibly want from a tablet PC, and a little bit more to boot. RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing contender though, and it would be remiss of us to write it off when we know how solid and dependable RIM's other devices are.

Motorola RAZR Ice Cream Sandwich ROM leaks

An ICS ROM for the GSM version of the Motorola RAZR has leaked online that gives a glimpse of what we could expect later during the year when it starts rolling out officially.

At first glance it looks almost stock but that's mostly because it is still in the developmental stage and there is a lot of work left to be done on it. only visible changes are a new lock screen that features four custom spots where you can drag the lock icon and the option to put the phone on silent or vibration, sorely missing from the stock ICS ROM. Also new is a camera app that is similar to the one on the current Gingerbread ROM for the RAZR.

Unfortunately, the final version may be drastically different, which, considering Motorola's track record, not something we're looking forward to. Hopefully, Motorola sees sense and keeps the customization to a minimum.