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Verizon to enable global roaming for LG Spectrum and Droid 4
VZW's latest LTE handsets don't make the best travel companions right now. Aside from getting stressed in airports and talking too much on coach trips, they also lack support for global GSM roaming. However, Big Red says it's "working on a few network enhancements" that will let the LG Spectrum and Droid 4 (shown above) work outside CDMA areas -- probably by the first half of this year. It's a nice gesture, but it also reminds us that what we're going to need in future -- full-on data roaming at LTE speeds -- will be a lot trickier to achieve.
Motorola Droid 4 hands-on (video)
Fresh out of Motorola's oven is this Verizon Droid 4. Well, when we say "fresh"... anyway. From our brief hands-on just now, there wasn't anything too surprising with the software and performance from the 1.2GHz dual-core chip, but the hardware was almost top notch. We'd safely say that the physical keyboard is by far the best in the Droid series -- each key is neatly laser cut to give that even blue glow from the keyboard back light, and the tactile feedback was reassuringly comfortable. Alas, like its predecessors, the sliding mechanism isn't spring-assisted, so it'll take first-time users some getting used to with their thumb. On the bright side, the Droid 4 is lighter than the already-obsolete Droid 3 so it's less work for the hand. Stay tuned for pricing info, and take a gander at our hands-on video after the break for the time being.
Verizon's Droid 4 finally official
We knew it was coming, and now it's here, Verizon's Droid 4. It's running Android 2.3.5 currently, but don't fret ICS fans, the fourth Droid will get the fourth version of Android in an update later. As with most phones these days, it strikes a slim profile for a QWERTY slider -- it's only half an inch thick -- but Moto managed to squeeze a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of memory underneath its 4-inch qHD display. Naturally, it runs on Verizon's LTE network, and has an 8 megapixel camera capable of 1080p video. Unfortunately, pricing remains a mystery even though the handset is scheduled to hit store shelves in the coming weeks. You'll find full PR after the break.
Motorola Droid 4 gains DLNA certification as it slides into Verizon
It should come as no surprise that Motorola's upcoming Droid 4 smartphone would carry a DLNA certification -- just like its predecessor, the Droid 3 -- but if there were ever any doubt in your mind, then wonder no more. This handsome slider destined for Verizon Wireless has just earned its media chops from the Digital Living Network Alliance, which further solidifies indications of its near-term arrival. Sure, we're definitely looking forward to Moto's latest, although perhaps we're not quite so anxious as Best Buy.
Droid 4 gets hands-on treatment, but it's simply a dummy unit
The folks over at TechnoBuffalo have just come across a rather interesting specimen -- it's a dummy unit of the forthcoming Droid 4 from Motorola. While its rumored release date has come and gone, non-functional models such as this are commonly offered to consumers in a retail setting to poke and prod to their heart's content. Nonetheless, the hands-on offers a few interesting details, such as a soft touch backside and insight into the redesigned keyboard, which is described as "the best one yet on a Droid handset." Whether we agree with that assertion will be determined come review time, but if you're interested to see the collection of up-close and personal shots with Moto's latest slider, be sure to check the source below.
Oops: Droid 4 makes an early appearance in Best Buy promo
With its backlit keys and shaved corners, it could only be the Droid 4 leading the pack of phones in this Best Buy promo shot. The slider hasn't yet reached the shop floor, but that hasn't stopped it from promoting the big box retailer's Rewards Zone offers. While Verizon has already let a festively-colored Droid RAZR and a pair of Xoom 2 Xyboard tablets out of the gates this winter, keyboard hunters have been left out in the cold. Hopefully, this snafu will translate into a release very soon.
Mobile Miscellany: week of December 19, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of December 19, 2011:
Skype for Android adds support for sharing photos, video and other files
Just in time to really annoy your family and friends with holiday greetings, Skype for Android has updated to version 2.6, bringing with it support for sharing photos, videos and other files with your contacts. Being able to quickly transfer pics of your gifts and clips of children tearing into meticulously wrapped presents to people on your buddy list is just the most notable change to the VoIP client. Plenty of other tweaks have taken place, even if they're primarily under the hood. For one, video quality has improved specifically on devices running NVIDIA's Tegra 2. A bunch more phones have also been added to the app's whitelist, including Motorola's latest super-phones the Droid RAZR and Droid 4. You can head on over to the Android Market now to get the latest Skype update.
Galaxy Nexus lands in Verizon stores December 9th, Droid 4 on the 8th (update: Nexus delayed)
We know you've been impatiently awaiting its arrival, but fear not Android fans -- the Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus is almost here... we think. A tipster sent in a shot of an internal VZW email outlining the next few weeks of launches and in-store displays. Chief amongst those is the December 8th arrival of banners, signs and other marketing materials for the world's first ICS handset. Our source reports that posters and all the relevant merch will be rolled out after close of business and the Nexus will officially go on sale December 9th. As a bonus, this also seems to confirm that the Droid 4 will be launching this Thursday. So, if you're fine with Gingerbread and have a thing for QWERTY keyboards December 8th could still be the day all your dreams come true. The rest of us will just have to wait just an extra 24 hours. [Thanks, anonymous] Update: Bad news, folks, it looks like you Big Red fans won't be getting Google's new superphone on the 9th, and unfortunately there's no word when the VZW Nexus will land. See for yourself in the screenshot after the break.
Motorola Droid 4 with LTE, Xoom 2 Media Edition with AT&T bands hit FCC
Motorola's been on a FCC-approving rampage lately, and we have two more entries to add to the mix. The first is what appears to be the QWERTY-packing Droid 4: not only does it come with Verizon's LTE band 13 and CDMA / EVDO (with GSM / EDGE / WCDMA on the side, locked to all US carriers), the docs make mention of the Droid 4's rumored 1,785mAh battery and shows test results with "slider open" and "slider closed." Also passing through the governmental agency's doors is what appears to be a GSM 3G version of the Xoom 2 Media Edition with AT&T-compatible (850 / 1900) GSM / WCDMA bands. Unlike the Xyboard that made its way through the FCC a few days ago, this one lacks LTE or CDMA / EVDO. Check out the gallery below for a few images gleaned from the docs. %Gallery-141087%
Droid 4 official pics and RAZR-with-keyboard confirming specs leak out
QWERTY-loving fans of the Droid series probably won't have to feel left out of the LTE party for much longer, as Droid-Life has uncovered some official-looking pictures and even a comparison chart of the upcoming Droid 4 and the rest of the line. The specs reveal it shares almost everything with the Droid RAZR, with the exceptions being a slightly smaller 4-inch qHD screen, ditching the Kevlar backing, and tossing in the aforementioned 5-row "edge-lit" keyboard. Hit the source link to view a more pics and the chart, which explains how we've gone from the Droid 2 last year, to the Droid 3 just a few months ago, to the Droid 4 / RAZR combo attack Motorola and Verizon could be unleashing as soon as December 8th, assuming the rumors hold true. Update: That keyboard too small for you? No worries, additional leaks reveal the Droid 4 will play nice with Motorola's Lapdock 100, Lapdock 500 Pro and a wireless keyboard packing a trackpad. Hit the second source link below for a peek at the slab's compatible accessories.
Droid 4 makes a cameo in Verizon systems, preps for its big debut
No cellphone is more closely associated with the Droid brand than, well, the Droid. The line of QWERTY sliders that truly ushered in the Android revolution hasn't changed much over the years. The aesthetics have been softened, the keyboards continuously improved and the specs have been bumped to match current gen standards. But, only six months after the Droid 3 hit shelves, it looks like Motorola and Verizon are looking to refresh the series once again. We first caught a glimpse of the redesigned Droid 4 only a few weeks ago, but it seems like the handset is closer to launch than we might have guessed. The chinless, angular LTE phone has started popping up in various Verizon systems, indicating it could arrive in as little as one month -- roughly the time between the Xoom 2 showing up in the carrier's internal databases and its expected release date. Check out one more image after the break.
Motorola Droid 4 exposed to our wandering eyes, comes with LTE in tow?
We were just a tad disappointed when the Motorola Droid 3 came out without Verizon's signature LTE logo on the back, but a mere three months later the QWERTY slider is back with a new model that should be packing 4G. The images above and below, procured by Droid-Life, show what looks to be a super-slim device with the same slight curves on the corner as the RAZR, and tapered back akin to the Droid Bionic. And, interestingly enough, it appears to be nearly complete, judging by the non-Mr. Blurrycam quality of the images and the tutorial stickers on the screen. Not only does the device appear to offer LTE, it also adds Webtop and should be compatible with the LapDock 100 and 500. Rounding out the tentative specs are a 4-inch display, spacious five-row keyboard (with number row included), 1080p HD video capture, front-facing camera and a non-removable battery. It also comes with Android 2.3.5 installed instead of Ice Cream Sandwich, something which we hope to see remedied soon after launch. Looks like we're finally close to having a high-end QWERTY option on Verizon's 4G lineup.
