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Refresh Roundup: week of April 16th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Android 4.0 arriving for HTC Rezound today, Droid RAZR update delayed
April 4th has come and gone, and sadly, both the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx remain without their promised bites of Ice Cream Sandwich. The latest communique from Best Buy confirms the delay, and similarly, a tweet from Motorola Mobility adds that a new release date has yet to be established. As a touch of silver lining to the otherwise gloomy news, the Best Buy crew reiterates that the HTC Rezound is set to receive Android 4.0 today -- in all its Sense 3.6 mediocrity. Cross your fingers, Rezound owners: this looks to be the big day.[Thanks, VoxPCS]
Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS
We were pondering Motorola's LapDock widget just recently, after seeing a similar Phone-becomes-PC concept based on Ubuntu. Now, due to some happy coincidence, a video has appeared on YouTube claiming to show a leaked update to LapDock's accompanying software -- Webtop 3.0 beta. This version is shown running off the Droid RAZR rather than an Atrix, and it's now based on ICS with a customized version of the stock browser instead of Firefox. There's a lot that's right about turning a smartphone into the engine of a more PC-like experience, especially as docking accessories get cheaper, so hopefully this is evidence that Motorola's software people really are about to try something new.
Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx set to hit Europe and Middle East in May
While Stateside folks have been enjoying the thicker, but longer lasting RAZR Maxx for a few months now, those from across the pond have been missing out. Good news is you won't have to wait it out on the sidelines much longer, as Motorola's announced the extra juice-packing Maxx is set to make its Euro and Middle Eastern debut come next month. However, Moto wasn't clear about how much you'll have to shell out to grasp onto this Droid, or which specific countries it'll make the trip toward. Whatever it may be, let's hope it's already been fed that Ice Cream Sandwich we spotted a while back...
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: spring 2012 edition
Springtime is here. It's a season of renewal, and similarly, an ideal time to replace your aging phone with one that you'll adore. With this in mind, we give you Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide -- your one-stop resource for selecting the best handset that fits your desires and budget. This time around, we're doing things a bit differently. In addition to naming the top phones for each provider, you'll now find more comparisons across carriers. This should help you find the best possible handset -- regardless of network -- if you're willing to make the switch. Also, you'll no longer see limited-time offers as our budget picks -- they'll still get a mention, but now, only phones that commonly retail below $80 will qualify for this coveted spot. Naturally, new smartphones are always coming onto the market, so before you make your final selection, be sure to consult our reviews hub for the very latest recommendations. With that in mind, read on as we round up the best smartphones of the season.
Verizon's Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX to get Android 4.0 on April 4th, Rezound to follow on the 6th (updated)
Color us surprised to find that Best Buy is so deeply entwined with carrier / OEM plans that it would actually receive a notification that Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to select handsets, but we guess it makes sense to notify those hard-working BB Mobile representatives to what's coming down the pike. Both Android Police and TechnoBuffalo have received separate leaks confirming the news, suggesting that April 4th will be the day that the Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX get a taste of Android 4.0, and that April 6th will bring the update to HTC's Rezound. Hard to say how the rollout will be staged, but if you're considering one of Verizon's fastest and finest, at least you know when ICS is coming.Update: Judging from our tip jar, a fair number of you have received emails from Motorola about joining "an early preview of a new software" for the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx. Coincidence? We think not.[Thanks, Jason]
Refresh Roundup: week of March 5th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Droid RAZR ICS screenshots leaked, could this be the next Blur?
Last week Moto unveiled in detail its rollout plans for the mighty ICS treat that's heading towards its handsets and slates. Now, if a set of screenies is to be believed, we have a quick glimpse into what we can expect once its promised Q2 outing comes around -- at least for Big Red's RAZR variants. At first glance, the alleged Ice Cream Sandwich build isn't much different than what you'd see in its native state. That said, there are bits that would make it easy for any connoisseur to tell 'em apart, including: different icons, dialer and drop-down menu, as well as a redesigned shooter UI. Unfortunately there's no word as to when it'll legitimately hit the masses, but all you RAZR fans can see more screenshots of what Motorola may have in store at the source below.
Limited edition Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx appear, exclusive to Verizon employees?
It seems that the hard workin' folks at Verizon Wireless may soon have a special phone to call their own. That's the word from Android and Me, which reports that Big Red's staffers are being offered exclusive versions of the Droid RAZR (16GB, $99) and RAZR Maxx (32GB, $199). In addition to a distinctive red and black pattern on the handset's rear, a unique number will be engraved within the camera pod and the words 'Limited Edition' will appear next to Verizon's logo on the front. Employees will also score a free dock with their purchase and can expect the handsets to arrive in April -- which is a good indication of when these things should hit Craigslist.
How would you change the Motorola Droid RAZR?
Phones, phones, phones: the burden of autumnal launches for a raft of handsets is that it makes our post-mortem strand a little repetitive. This week's cellular telephone du-jour is Motorola's Droid RAZR, a "7.1mm thick" slab that hopes you neither notice nor mention that 10.6mm hump on the top end. Ludicrous claims about its waistline aside, it oozes materials quality, built from Gorilla Glass, Kevlar and diamond-cut aluminum. It wasn't the most comfortable to hold in our fleshy palm, but it compensated for that with great performance and LTE. Of course, that battery could have been bigger, but where would you stick it? What would you sacrifice (and you do have to sacrifice something) in order to improve this handset? Ladies and gentlemen, it's over to you.
Refresh Roundup: week of January 30, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx review
Most of today's smartphones, especially those of the LTE-enabled persuasion, have earned a bad rap for exceptionally bad battery life, with large displays and hungry radios that suck the juice out faster than a three year-old can down a CapriSun. The race to construct the thinnest phones on the market doesn't help much either, since whittling down handsets results in less space for generously sized battery packs. The Motorola Droid RAZR is currently the slimmest phone this side of the Pacific, offering a thickness of 7.1mm at its thinnest end, and the title likely won't hold for long as new phones like the Huawei Ascend P1 S aim to knock the RAZR off its throne. But at what point do we stand up and insist on adding a little extra heft for the sake of having a bigger battery? Droid RAZR review Droid RAZR Maxx available now Droid RAZR Maxx hands-on at CES Enter the Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx. A mere two months after its predecessor was released on Verizon, this new contender came around to challenge the battery life of every single next-gen phone we've ever used. Its back end has been filled out somewhat to make room for a bigger battery, but at 8.99mm, it's still slimmer than a huge number of competing handsets on the market today. So what makes the Maxx different from the RAZR? Is it worth paying $300 with a two-year commitment -- a $100 premium over its original? Read on to find out.
Motorola announces RAZR Developer Edition with unlocked bootloader for Europe, US variant on the way
Promises. You can either let technicalities get in your way of fulfilling them, or you can just find a way to keep them. Motorola, it seems, wants to do the latter. Sorta. In a new blog post, the outfit announced the Motorola RAZR Developer Edition, a fully unlockable version of the handset destined for European shores. The announcement didn't come with a release date, but pointed towards a (currently non-functional) pre-order page for the CM7 hungry. Don't fret, America -- Motorola's thinking of you as well, mentioning that a similar developer device will be available in the United States through MOTODEV, the firm's developer network. Ready to furiously refresh the pre-order page until it goes live? Check out the links below.[Thanks, Michael]
Refresh Roundup: week of January 23, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Motorola to continue pushing 'smart actions,' wants to make you look cleverer
Motorola's automated smartphone rule system first appeared on its Droid Razr; a way of sidestepping laborious menu hopping for everyday tweaks and extra functionality -- with some location-based awareness thrown in. Motorola's senior VP, Alain Mutricy, recently announced that the company plans to continue the roll-out of this smart actions system, presumably on its Razr series, which will also see further expansion this year. The VP added that Motorola will focus on its high-end hands in the US, continuing to roll-out LTE capable handsets. Moto's earnings report will arrive soon and should set the stage for whatever else its new owners are plotting for 2012.
Verizon's Droid RAZR gets violet coat of paint, price tumbles to $200 on contract
Motorola has already unveiled the RAZR's bigger, battery-savvy brother, the Maxx, but it's not yet done with the original kevlar-skinned smartphone. Yes, the RAZR will get a color palette refresh for the new year, with Verizon readying a metallic purple edition for just under $200 -- that's a hundred bucks less than what Big Red hopes you'll lay down for the newer Maxx. Like its white and black siblings, it will shed the 16GB SD card that arrived with the first issue RAZR, leaving 16GB of built-in storage. You'll be able to ogle at that puce wafer-thin profile when it arrives on January 23rd. Verizon's self-congratulatory fanfare is after the break.
Motorola planning 24-hour Droid RAZR Maxx longevity event for February 6th?
Motorola's own website has pointed to a January 26th launch for the long-awaited Droid RAZR Maxx, but it looks like February 6th is the date to really pay attention to. With battery life becoming an even more serious concern due to the proliferation of life-sucking 4G networks, it's become obvious that companies are finally placing those longevity statistics atop their priority list. Samsung itself has already promised to significantly improve battery life in its phones during 2012, and we're now hearing from a trusted source that Moto will be streaming a pretty unorthodox event in order to put its own RAZR Maxx to the test. We're told to expect a 24-hour marathon event, streamed out to the gaping masses, where the aforesaid handset will be powered on and presumably used for a full day -- it's like a David Blaine trick, but for phones. Might as well pencil in 2/6 if you're eager to see if this might actually meet your long-term demands.[Thanks, Anonymous]
Motorola Droid Razr Maxx hands-on (video)
Its showing wasn't as noteworthy as it was last year, but Motorola still at least brought a few new goodies to put on display. The latest major addition to Verizon's Droid Razr family, the Razr Maxx, was on hand, as were the white and purple variants of the original version. So what makes the $300 subsidized Maxx so different from its predecessor? Simply enough, the name is a direct reflection of the phone's battery life, as it sports a thicker (translating to a thickness of 8.99mm, a couple millimeters thicker than the original) 3,300 mAh juicepack that promises an out-of-this-world 21 hour talk time. Sadly, we didn't have 21 full hours to dedicate to testing this claim, but we did have enough time to get a few pictures and a video of the entire Droid Razr family together at last below the break. Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Motorola website points to January 26th launch for Droid RAZR Maxx
Motorola didn't provide a launch date for the Droid RAZR Maxx when it officially announced the consonant-heavy phone at CES earlier this week, but it's now filled in that little detail on its website. Assuming it's not a mistake of some sort, you can look for the latest addition to the RAZR family to be available on January 26th from both Verizon and Motorola itself. If you missed the announcement, the Maxx is mostly identical to the existing Droid RAZR, with the notable exception of a longer-lasting battery that promises 21 hours of use on a charge, and a total of 32GB of storage. It'll also set you back $100 more than the standard RAZR.
Droid Razr family gets a new addition -- his name is Maxx
We've seen it teased, prodded and leaked, but now it's officially official. Motorola's taking the Droid Razr family to the limit one more time with the Maxx. According to the company, the model retains that "impossibly thin" shape we've all come to know and love at 8.99mm, but manages to squeeze in extended battery life, giving you 21 hours on a charge. The Maxx packs 32GB of storage and will run you a cool $300 plus the requisite two-year contract.
