Live from Motorola's Android announcement at Mobilize 09
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Sep 10th 2009 1:20PM
posted Sep 10th 2009 1:20PM
11:11AM And that's all she wrote!
11:11AM Everying Jha is saying leads to the same conclusion: this is Motorola's near-singular way forward. He's amped about delivering additional Android phones before the year's over and a lot more stuff in 2010.
11:09AM Jha: "Over the past year, I've been preoccupied trying to improve Motorola phones, because they've needed improvement."
11:08AM Om's asking whether Android or iPhone OS came first. "You know, I have no idea." We believe him, too.
11:06AM Rubin's talking up the fact that Android's serving as a foundation here, not an endgame -- he seems genuinely pleased at the way that Android is already giving rise to skins and code forks. We're wary, but there's no question BLUR's beautiful.
11:05AM "One of the competitive advantages we see for ourselves is that we do both hardware and software."
11:04AM On the product bringing Moto back from the brink: "It's a start. Is this phone the make or break point? No." Jha says this is a starting point, the beginning of a volley over the next 12-18 months.
11:02AM Wow! Jha talking about Motorola's relationship with Google and Rubin: "Two drunks finding each other in a bar and realizing the other was the only solution they had." Not sure that's what he really meant.
11:00AM Jha, holding the Click: "I can't imagine that in 5 to 7 years time, people don't view this as their primary computing device."
10:58AM Rubin on the disruptive nature of personalized phones like the Click and other Android phones: "This is Moore's Law applied to something very personal that you can carry around with you 8, 10 hours a day."
10:55AM Om's asking about the definition of a smartphone; Jha thinks that it has to do with a great, rich browser to start. We'd agree.
10:54AM Om Malik's playing with the Click. Lucky!
10:54AM Q&A time in the form of a "fireside chat" with Andy Rubin and Jha once again. This should be good.
10:53AM That's all from Jha!
10:52AM Click coming internationally as the DEXT on Orange, America Movil, and Telefonica!
10:52AM Jha says they're taking the Click and MOTOBLUR "global" with more announcements in 2010.
10:51AM "Best-in-class HTML browser."
10:51AM Spec time: 3G, WiFi, 5 megapixel camera with 24fps video, 3.5mm headphone jack.
10:50AM That's it for Cole -- he's stepping off the stage. Sanjay's thanking him for his efforts.
10:49AM Click coming in the fourth quarter in two colors: Winter White and Titanium.
10:48AM "Our customers text message more than any other carriers' customers in the world." Wow.
10:47AM From what we're seeing so far, the Click is way more attractive than the Morrison prototypes. We're not hearing sighs of relief in the room, but you can sense them.
10:46AM He's mentioning T-Mobile's rich tech history with the Sidekick, the G1, WiFi calling, and now, the Click. Hallowed company there.
10:45AM It'll be available in time for the holidays, and it's a T-Mobile exclusive. "The first phone with social skills."
10:45AM The Motorola Click has been announced for T-Mobile!
10:44AM Cole Brodman, CTO of T-Mobile, is taking the stage!
10:44AM "MOTOBLUR servers" were just mentioned -- like Palm with the Palm Profile, this is going to require some cloud stuff on Moto's end, it seems.
10:43AM Remote wipe! Sounds enterprise-y, but obviously, this is useful to everyone.
10:43AM As you might imagine, MOTOBLUR aggregates contacts as well. You can see status updates when they call -- think of it like a dynamic photo caller ID. Very cool.
10:42AM Messages can be browsed in an aggregated view across sources, or by account. It's like Synergy... but, you know, for Android. And seemingly more functional.
10:41AM Now we're seeing a messages widget, which really looks the same as the status widget -- it's just got messages instead of status updates.
10:40AM Now we're seeing a widget that allows you to flick through recent status updates from friends. You can tap it and reply to the update that's currently showing.
10:40AM Demo time! Social status widget on the home screen -- it can update all of your statuses at once, regardless of site. You can also update statuses individually.
10:39AM We've gotta say, this is giving Sense a run for its money visually.
10:39AM "It comes with built-in live widgets that bring the content you want forward."
10:38AM "MOTOBLUR syncs emails, contacts, photos from sources like MySpace, corporate email, Gmail, and serves it up on the home screen just the way you want it."
10:37AM Sounds like Moto Blur is the tradename for Moto's skin. Looking good so far.
10:37AM Moto Blur - Motorola's solution to many email addresses and social networking accounts!
10:36AM He's hanging on the social networking stuff -- there must be a TON of social integration in this Android shell we're about to see.
10:35AM "In the coming weeks, I'll be showing with you a second device" that'll be available in time for the holiday season! The Sholes, maybe?
10:34AM "In a few minutes, I'll be showing you a new, differentiated smartphone."
10:34AM Consumers are "overwhelmed" by smartphone capabilites; they want to be able to choose just the features they want depending on who they are and what they're doing.
10:33AM He's really driving home the importance of multithreading. We remember the subtle iPhone digs at the Pre announcement, and it's happening again here. Zing! Zing! Zing!
10:33AM A "Multi-threaded, multi-tasking graphical OS" is critical to smartphones, and he says that Android fits the bill.
10:32AM "Smartphones are the background upon which mobilization of the internet will occur." He's lamenting the fact that there's no standard definition of "smartphone" (we can say conclusively the RAZR isn't included, but yes, we agree).
10:31AM Jha's suggesting that communication is moving from "one to one" to "one to many" -- a shift from SMS and the like to social networks. Given the rumors that Moto's Android effort is going to be social-focused, we see where this is going.
10:30AM He's talking some really incredible numbers regarding adoption of mobile internet use over the past year -- and as we're sure he knows well, Moto's been missing out on that trend.
10:29AM "500K is a good working number" for mobile broadband. We'd like more, of course, but we'll take what we can get.
10:29AM "During the last year or so, we've seen tremendous change in the mobile industry." The biggest, he says, could be ubiquitous mobile broadband.
10:28AM Says Jha: "Good morning, everyone. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!"
10:28AM Introducing Sanjay Jha!
10:27AM jkOnTheRun's Kevin Tofel is taking the stage -- things are getting underway.
10:22AM No mood music, stylized photos projected onto the wall, or intimate lighting, but there's still an electricity in the air -- people are amped. No sign of Jha yet.
10:05AM We're seated way, way early, and it's a full (albeit small) house. We've heard rumors that there are over 200 members of the press on hand to cover this thing, so we're guessing this is big. Either that, or you're going to see one of those ultra-rare media riots -- laptops being swung like maces, notepads flying everywhere, utter bedlam.
livestream: http://www.livestream.com/gigaomtv
nice post! thx
Revealed: Why T-mobile didn't bring Hero to their network, this is exactly a MotoHero
Good thing HTC renamed the Click to Tattoo cos this keynote was going to be AWKWARD!!
I'm excited to see what it is.
Shit I was supposed to be there... I even emailed them asking for an Invite and got one... Shit lol
So much for 'save the date', eh?
OT: FU MS! No Zune HD in Europe! WTf?
http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2009/09/10/microsofts-zune-hd-not-coming-out-in-europe/
back to Android: Why do I have the feeling that Moto's devices are going to be ugly as hell ?
HVGA!
Multitasking.
Multithreaded? Are they going to announce a dual core phone?
Come on Motorola, put android in your DVR's. The phones already been done. Be an innovator!
Let's put iGuide to shame. That stupid POS. Thank f'ing god they are lifting the OEM requirements off cable card tuners.
Sholes is coming later.
MotoBlur? Hmm. Here's hoping for T-mobile.
It's more functional than Synergy.
This is kinda like Google Wave of smartphones. I hope they won't slap a huge price tag on this thing.
Sorry Moto: you're still boring as hell (and doomed btw). Yet another Android shell. And social networkin: incredible! What a surprise. UHH.
...Or STD for short..
This is replacing my G1. Yes. Unless something else comes along. It will be MINE.
T-Mobile, gay....
{sigh} I applaud tmobile for cranking out android devices. I stab Motorola in the eye for not having anything on Sholes or ATT 3G.
Wait, so the phone is the Click but the OS is called Blur/Android?
Moto FTW. Great device, great software.
It's not the first social one - I mean, Palm did it first with the Pre, then HTC with Sense.
the horizontal keyboard with the d-pad on the left is quite functional - I like the phone, but not t-mobile.
why do they gave diff names to the same phone if in a diff country? doesn't make sense.
funny how this live feed isn't nearly as bias or "yippie dooo da" as the apple feed. Bias much?
Sorry, but all these social sites are pretty lame. Like I, or anyone else, gives a rat's ass if you feel moody right now. Can't wait for your update in 10 minutes!!!
Could it be you're not the target market for this?
I can't stand Apple, but I will say, when they have a press release thing, they sack up and release that day. Everyone else, not so much.
You think anyone will remember this thing in 2-3 months?
Nice work, Engadget. Always love the live blogs when they're done right, and this one's been done right!
Just give me the sholes already! There's no way in hell I'm switching from Verizon to TMobile.
Apparently it's spelled CLIQ. You guys didn't really think it'd be a phone with a properly spelled name, from MOTO of all people, did you?
Looks like a good phone and I'm probably early but it would have been nice if the specs had include things like screen size, processor, and ram. Does the camera have a flash? Can't wait for some good pics of the device to come out as well!
Here's some stuff.
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/ci.Motorola-CLIQ-US-EN.alt
http://www.dcellphone.com/motorola-cliq-mb200-morrison-full-specifications.html
Specs not worth mentioning? Nor is price?
"Jha thinks that it has to do with a great, rich browser to start"
Does it have flash support?
"11:02AM Wow! Jha talking about Motorola's relationship with Google and Rubin: "Two drunks finding each other in a bar and realizing the other was the only solution they had." Not sure that's what he really meant."
Huh? Google's had friendships with HTC and Samsung already.
No number row!!!! Like almost every other f'in keyboarded smartphone!!!!!
Grrrraaaaaaah!!!!
Noone types lots of numbers interspersed with text?!?
no1t usu6ally. It ma1kes c8onver2sati6ons co45nfus7ing.
Where is the Motorola Sholes on Verizon ???
Please oh please let this have proper specs (ram, screen, cpu). It has the right form factor with it's vertical slide out keyb and the UI is byfar the best of pre/hero/iphone. The unified messaging and other stuff seem just awesome. look out their video at http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/ci.Motorola-CLIQ-US-EN.services
I thought i would never get a motorola phone, but if the specs are right, im definetly getting one.
a good phone on tmobile is like a ferrari with a civic motor
AGGGGHHHH!!!!
My worst f*()@*$# nightmare. All this anticipation, to hear them announce one mediocre phone, on T F'ing MOBILE?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!?!?! If I wanted a me-2 slider Android on T-Mobile with crappy coverage I could have bought that A YEAR AGO. What the hell are they thinking? So much for me buying an Android phone on Verizon this year I guess. Or AT&T. What a load of crap.
Here is the Motorola CLIQ SIMULATOR!!
http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Consumers/global/flash_content/microsites/simulator/simulator_en_US.html
Looks nice. Just hope they'll provide a downloadable video of the event.
No Sholes for the Big V? What a let down.
So, if Blur is a great COntact COntent Aggregator, does that mean you get the phone with hot COCOA?
We want sholes!
the Android robot couldn't be cuter
"large high resolution display" - 3.1" ain't large and 320 x 480 is low resolution.
ubiquitous mobile broadband?
if the cost drops to $30/ month then yes... right now at 60 per month and unemployment at 10%... I'm wondering where all the money to pay for the overpriced service is set to come from
Looks awesome .. Motorola has it Awesome DROID now withe the Android 2.0 OS. I wonder how this CLIQ will differ from the other android phones like the HTC ones ( http://www.juggle.com/htc-magic , http://www.juggle.com/htc-g1-75034547 )
I am hoping the Android OS will be available for installation on any phone. I would love to install it on my LG Incite ( http://www.juggle.com/lg-incite-ct810 )
Would love to try out this MOTO CLIQ though!