There's precisely no way to know for sure, but it looks as if the perpetual
mystery surrounding the
Motorola Shadow may be nearing its end. Just as the weekend was getting kicked off in earnest, a new Moto handset managed to get its own stamp of approval from the fine folks at the Wi-Fi Alliance, and pictures of something that might be the Shadow appeared on laptopmemo. The MB810 is said to be equipped with both 802.11b/g/n as well as a cellular data connection, though it's impossible to tell from the paperwork whether it'll be outed in GSM or CDMA form. The leaked handset at laptopmemo is said to have a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen, an eight megapixel camera with HD video capability, and a slider QWERTY keyboard. Are they the same handset, and is any of this real? We should know whether or not this guy has slipped through the cracks under another moniker in due time, but if you're anything like us, "due time" won't ever come soon enough.
[Thanks, Mittens]
posted May 2nd 2010 2:06PM
Holy shit. That's like a legit Micro HDMI port. Well props to Motorola for not requiring some bullshit proprietary cable, adapter, dock, or some otherwise anti-consumer means of being able to put "HDMI OUT" on the front of your box.
So given that this basically looks like the Droid follow up (or the Nexus Two), does that mean prices on the Droid can finally go down? I might actually stay on Verizon if their off contract price dips below $500 and I can ditch the data plan.
@kenny goo
Its not a follow up to the droid.
Engadges wrong its a slate 4.1" screen with no slider at all!
http://androidandme.com/2010/04/phones/the-motorola-shadow-re-emerges/
@kenny goo to use the Droid on Verizon you can't ditch the data plan. As a requirement, in order to have the device activated on Verizon you MUST have a data plan at all times. I bought mine at full retail as well, so I'm familiar with the situation. They even require featurephones to have the 9.99 mobile web now.
@dustinface
A contractual obligation =/= a plan with an off contract phone. If you go and take the phone into the middle of nowhere and you get absolutely no service, the phone will still function. It doesn't shut itself off when it doesn't have service, and it doesn't cut off the ability to use Wi-Fi either.
The phone doesn't need a data plan to physically function, even if you're paying for it anyway. Once you get passed the activation process, unless you're contractually obligated to be paying that $30 a month, I'm almost positive you can drop the charge from your bill.
@kenny goo the $30 monthly data plan is not optional on a smartphone on Verizon whether you pay full retail (stupid) or sign a 2 year agreement (smart-- ex. 200 for Droid + 350 etf = 550 which is still 30 less than the no contract price of 580). any Verizon smartphone model released after November 17 2008 has required feature codes tied to the esn that make it impossible to activate without having the data plan. This is true whether you are in a contract or not. The ONLY way you could have a Droid (or any smartphone newer than the omnia 1) without the data plan is to know someone really high up and get your hands on one where the esn is coded as a "test device", units typically only used internally for final field testing just before launch of the model.
@triplexcoast
If that's true I guess I'm leaving Verizon. I had a data plan in the past, and hardly got my $30 a month worth. I have mobile texts on my phone for Facebook, and I'd only be using IM, VoIP, or checking email when I'm in a Wi-Fi hotspot. Long story short, I DON'T need a data plan. I have no problem paying full retail to compensate their revenue loss, because I'm still paying less whether you think it's stupid or not.
Using T-Mobile as an example, because that's my second option, if I got the My Touch 3G on contract I'd be paying $150 upfront, and then $80 a month for 500 minutes, messaging, and data. If I bought off contract, the phone would cost me $400, but the monthly costs would only be $40 for 500 minutes and unlimited messaging. Over two years I'm still saving more than $700. Even over a year I'd still save a couple hundred dollars.
Though if T-Mobile some how changed all the IMEI codes on their phones to ESN numbers, by all means, let me know. You should probably let all the people with jailbroken iPhones using T-Mobile SIM cards know that too.
*SQUEAL!!!*
Moto needs to release this puppy ASAP...
4.1 or 4.3 Screen
HD video and the norm in now phones, simple plus a keyboard and release it to all carriers, GSM, GSM, GSM.