Atrix
Latest
Bell's Motorola Atrix also has HSUPA disabled, Canadians frown upon 400kbps uploads
If you happen to reside just north of the American border, you might have heard that Canadian carrier Bell is now offering the Motorola Atrix from $169.95 on a three year commitment, all the way up to $599.95 sans contract. While this groovy smartphone is a welcomed addition for local Android fanatics, the early adopters have learned that -- much like its AT&T counterpart -- it lacks HSUPA. This is confirmed by xda-developers members who see a mere 400kpbs upload speed on their maple syrup-flavored Atrix, which is bad news for YouTube celebrities and the likes on Bell Mobility. Alas, we've yet to hear from the carrier regarding this issue, but let's just hope that the Atrix will be set free before Bell's headquarters gets taken over by furious green robots. [Thanks, Steve and @Shift3r]
Motorola Atrix docks literally and figuratively torn apart, hack enables Webtop over HDMI port
Motorola's got a fine smartphone in the Atrix 4G, but a mildly unsatisfactory pair of modular docks. Good thing, then, that you can gain the most intriguing functionality they add without buying one! Fenny of xda-developers reportedly figured out a way to modify the phone's APK files to activate Webtop mode over a standard HDMI cable -- with no dock needed as a go-between -- allowing you to experience the Atrix's PC-like functionality when connected to any HDMI-ready computer monitor or TV. Of course, you'll need a rooted and deodexed phone to give it a try, but we hear those aren't monumentally difficult to come by. While Fenny's hack could potentially make the desktop dock obsolete -- assuming you've got a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard handy -- Motorola's LapDock is still something else. It's razor-thin, it doesn't require a separate monitor, and it charges your phone. So, before you write it off entirely, you might at least want to indulge your morbid curiosity about what's inside, and thus there's a complete teardown video after the break to show you what the guts look like. Enjoy! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
LetsTalk goes out in a blaze of glory, sells Atrix 4G and Laptop Dock bundle for $250 as AT&T partnership ends
We can totally picture how this went down: AT&T appears to have made it not worth LetsTalk's time (or Wirefly's time) to sell its phones anymore, which means they're parting ways staring next month. LetsTalk -- wishing to end its AT&T relationship in the most spectacular fashion imaginable -- has elected to sell the Motorola Atrix 4G / Laptop Dock bundle for $250 on contract after rebates, essentially half of what you'll pay through AT&T directly (LetsTalk runs Walmart's wireless store portal, which we've linked). The fire sale might not fix some of the dock's flaws... but it certainly makes them a little less painful. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Josh stops by Jimmy Fallon with the Xoom, Pre 3, Veer, and TouchPad (video)
Want to get your hands on the HP Pre 3, Veer, and the TouchPad? Sadly you can't at this point, but you can see them doing their respective things in the video below. Our editor-in-chief Joshua Topolsky made another visit to Jimmy Fallon last night with a all of HP's upcoming toys, as well as the Motorola Atrix and the Xoom tablet too. It's all embedded below, so make with the clicking.
Editorial: Motorola, sort Blur out or give it up
As thoroughly as I try to review phones, the phone that I carry for personal use always teaches me things about hardware, software, workflow, and -- quite frankly -- myself that I can never learn from a transient device that's merely passing through my home (and pocket) for a few short days. This week, I purchased a Motorola Atrix 4G to replace my aging (I kid, I kid) Nexus S, and let's just put it this way: it's been a rollercoaster of emotions ever since.
Motorola Atrix 4G Laptop Dock demo units have multitouch trackpads -- but yours doesn't
We were crestfallen to discover that our review unit of the Laptop Dock for Moto's Atrix 4G didn't have multitouch capability, making scrolling a rather old-fashioned affair -- and considering that a desktop build of Firefox figures prominently into Webtop's capabilities, scrolling is something you'll be doing quite a bit of. Well, this is where it gets weird: a number of people on xda-developers are discussing the fact that in-store demo units of the Laptop Dock seem to mysteriously have multitouch added in, and at least one poster notes that a Motorola rep that visited his local store a while back had multitouch working as well. That means one of three things: either these units are physically different hardware, they're running a prerelease firmware upgrade, or they've got a feature that was pulled at the last minute, possibly because it didn't work very well. Unfortunately, the latter seems plausible because Motorola has indicated to us that the Laptop Dock's hardware doesn't support multitouch and it's not something we can expect to be added in down the road -- but we can hope. [Thanks, Caleb]
Motorola Atrix 4G gets the teardown treatment, fourth G nowhere to be found
If our review of the Atrix left you hungering for more, you can now feast your eyes on the guts of Motorola's new Android powerhouse. Thanks to the folks at iFixit, its teardown reveals a familiar range of parts -- 16GB of NAND flash, 960x540 PenTile LCD, 1GB DDR2 RAM and that beast of a NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU. What's more, is that the teardown brings to light some enticing news -- the glass panel is not glued to the LCD. This allows for the clumsy to not have to spend the extra dough if they crack the glass (which is usually affixed to the display). Hit the source link if you've got your Atrix and are ready to dismantle the thing yourself. P.S. -- There is a Qualcomm MDM6200 HSPA+ chip inside the phone. The title is meant to be a joke in reference to misconceptions about 4G wireless technology. You can read about them here.
Motorola Atrix root found to be signed, hacking might not be so easy
That the Atrix got itself rooted before it was even available made us wonder just how... receptive it would be to the caresses of the hacker community at large. Sadly we're finding it's perhaps a bit more frigid than its friendly demeanor might have lead us to believe. User adlx.xda over at the xda-developers forums has found that the phone's system files are not encrypted, but they are signed. This will make the process of replacing them and loading custom builds and the like rather more complicated -- but surely not impossible. [Thanks, chaoslimits]
AT&T Motorola Atrix 4G now on sale, $149.99 at Amazon or RadioShack (update: $129.99 at Walmart)
The hotly reviewed and already rooted Atrix 4G is now on sale at AT&T. As expected, the privilege of buying direct from the carrier will set you back $199.99 with a two-year contract in the range of $39.99 per month for the Nation 450 on up to $69.99 for the Nation Unlimited with another $15 per month for a 200MB DataPlus plan or $45 per month for a Data Pro 4GB + tethering plan. Or shop on over to Amazon (or RadioShack) who lists the same HSPA+ device for $50 less with a 24-hour ship time. Remember, if you just have to have the laptop dock then you'd best do it now while it's offered with the handset in a $499 bundle (after $100 mail-in rebate and purchase of the Data Pro plan with tethering add-on) -- the same laptop dock purchased separately will cost you $499.99. No, really. Update: Walmart is offering the Atrix 4G handset for a measly $129.99 for those of you activating a new account before Thursday. [Thanks, Zizo and Hoodean]
Motorola Atrix 4G already rooted, and it's not even out yet
If you thought the lack of root on the Atrix 4G was going to save you a couple hundred bucks next week... well, we hate to break the bad news, but you're going to need to find another excuse not to buy it (more on that in a second). Long story short, the phone's already been rooted by a gentleman over on the ever-resourceful xda-developers forums, which means you can do all the normal things that require root access like enabling the standard Froyo mobile hotspot feature, using root apps like Titanium Backup (pictured above), and generally looking 1337 compared to your friends locked up in their walled gardens. Now, the bad news: the bootloader remains firmly locked and presumably encrypted given Moto's track record, so custom kernels are still just a dream -- but hey, where there's a will, there's a way. Keep the faith! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
The Engadget Show - 018: GM's Micky Bly, Watson researcher David Gondek, EN-V demo, Atrix 4G
Humans, allow us to present the latest episode of The Engadget Show -- you won't want to miss it. First up, Josh and Tim Stevens sit down with GM's chief electrical engineer Micky Bly for a frank conversation on the future of automotive technology, chatting about everything from networked vehicles (with a surprise visit from the unmistakable EN-V prototype), electric cars, advancing smartphone integration, and a world without stoplights. Then, Micky announces and demos Chevy's new MyLink infotainment system, in a world-first, Engadget Show-exclusive look at the new technology. Fresh off a resounding victory over mankind, IBM's Watson researcher David Gondek joins Josh and Paul for a breakdown of Watson's Jeopardy domination and an in-depth conversation about machine-learning, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and the meaning of love. Last up, Josh, Paul, and Nilay bust out the Motorola Atrix 4G and break down the week in news, including Nokia's Windows Phone announcement, the rise of Honeycomb tablets, and everything worth talking about from Mobile World Congress. This is one you absolutely should not miss. What are you waiting for? Watch it now! Hit up the video stream after the break or download the show in HD below! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Special guests: Micky Bly, David Gondek Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm Executive Producer: Joshua Fruhlinger Edited by: Danny Madden Music by: Note! Visuals by: Batsly Adams Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec Taped live at SIR Stage37 Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 018 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 018 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) / The Engadget Show - 018 (Small) Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (MP4). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (MP4). [RSS MP4] Add the Engadget Show feed (MP4) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. [HD RSS] Get the Engadget Show delivered automatically in HD. [iPad RSS] Get the Engadget Show in iPad-friendly adaptive format.
Motorola Atrix 4G pegged for February 21st pre-order delivery
Current pre-orders appear to be looking at early March delivery, but AT&T has gone on record saying that folks that elected to pre-order the mighty Motorola Atrix 4G by the 17th will receive it on the 21st of February -- next Monday -- and if they chose to have their unit sent to a store, they'll be able to get it there on the 21st as well. The rest of us will need to check out the store on the 22nd and hope for the best. We've gotten confirmation from a tipster that his pre-order has shipped with a scheduled delivery on Monday, so it's looking like they're on time. Who's standing in line next Tuesday? [Thanks, Shaun C.]
RadioShack offers Atrix 4G for $150 on launch day, undercutting AT&T?
We'd heard rumors that Motorola's Atrix 4G would cost $150, but after AT&T priced the handset at $200 we figured they were all for naught. The Shack begs to differ: it's just revealed it will sell the modular Tegra 2 superphone on February 22nd for that original $150 price. That's with a two-year contract, of course, and a data plan on top, but that means you'll shave $50 off the sum AT&T is asking, or $20 off the combo deal with the (somewhat disappointing) laptop dock. Still, if history's any judge, we don't expect savings like this to be exclusive to RadioShack for long. [Thanks, Andrew F.]
It's official: Motorola pushes up Atrix 4G launch to Feb. 22
And there you have it, kids: the rumored in-store date for the Atrix 4G has become a reality, with pre-orders shipping on February 21 and handsets finding their giddy new owners as soon as February 22.
Motorola pushes up Atrix 4G launch to Feb. 22, shoves Xoom pre-sales back to Feb. 20th?
The best laid plans of Motorola may be in disarray, as we hear the device manufacturer is shuffling release dates for its hottest new Android devices. Supposedly, AT&T customer service reps are getting the above message in their inbox, which suggests the modular Atrix 4G smartphone may arrive more than a week earlier than planned, while a Best Buy memo (image after the break) pegs Xoom tablet pre-sales for February 20th, three days after the date originally communicated. Still, we haven't heard anything to suggest that the Xoom won't be 100 percent ready for purchase on February 24th, so you should be just fine saving your eight Benjamins for then. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola Atrix 4G review
<div style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/motorola/atrix-4g-review/"><img alt="" border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/atrix60057.jpg" vspace="4"/></a></div> It's finally here -- our <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Atrix4G/">Atrix 4G</a> review! We know you've waited and wondered, and we've finally had enough time with the phone, laptop dock, HD / desktop dock, and all the accessories to give you a proper take on this utterly unique smartphone. Did we say smartphone? Really that's not quite right, because the dual-core-CPU-sporting device actually does quadruple duty as a laptop, set top box, desktop computer, and... well, it works as a smartphone too. The Atrix 4G, which sports a 4-inch, 960 x 540 display, HSPA+ data, and a slew of other juicy specs is absolutely the first of its kind -- a multi-use device intended to replace your netbook (and maybe more) via its <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Webtop/">Webtop</a> environment. But can a phone be powerful enough to become your laptop or hub of your home theater? Is Motorola's new phone set to be the king of the Android heap, or just another face in the crowd? All these questions (and more) will be answered in our full review... which you can read after the break!<br /> %Gallery-116636%
Motorola updates Motoblur and Media Link client for Macs and PCs
A couple of changes for Motorola this morning. First up is a new version of Moto's Media Link iTunes sync software. Media Link version 1.5 is available now for Mac users or March for the beige box bunch. More importantly, perhaps, is a new version of Motoblur with enhanced location, messaging, music, and gallery features. The new Connected Music service features streaming lyrics and a social aspect that lets you follow the tracks your friends are listening to. Connected Gallery unites your photos and videos with your friends' online albums from sites like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, and Picasa. Aloga, meanwhile, is a Motoblur-integrated location-triggered push platform that provides third-party publishers with information about your location, identity, and social relationships. The idea is to offer users non-intrusive information about places, events, or bargains for the "channels" they select. Look for the new Motoblur to arrive on "recently announced devices" like the Cliq 2 and Atrix 4G. Full detail in the press release after the break.
Motorola Atrix 4G pre-orders begin at AT&T
March 6th is the official street date, but you can lay down your money for Motorola's modular smartphone right now, as the Atrix 4G and its suite of incredible Webtop docks are now available for pre-order. $200 buys you the biometric HSPA+ smartphone on a two-year contract, and it'll cost you an additional $300 to turn it into a portable netbook of sorts -- though as we feared, you'll need to pay $45 a month for the DataPro 4GB + Tethering data plan (on top of your phone bill) to actually use it on the go. Another bummer is that the HD Multimedia Dock (enabling desktop-like functionality) will run $130, a good bit more than we thought we'd see it for. All in all, the Atrix is looking like quite an investment, so perhaps you'd be best served waiting for our full review. But don't let us tell you what to do with your hard-earned dough! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Looking for our Motorola Atrix 4G review?
Hey there. Yes, you. If you're looking out for the Motorola Atrix 4G review, you can check it out right here!
Engadget Podcast 231 - 02.05.2011
This podcast is so disgusting that #1 Digitimes bestselling author Paul Miller wants to take a shower. JK, not disgusting at all! Lots of cool stuff, actually. Just look at that topics list! It's a real beauty, right? We're not sure we COULD fit any more platforms into a podcast if we tried. Hang out with it. It's the Engadget Podcast, just the way you like it, with especially special guest Chris Ziegler.Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul MillerGuest: Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent WolbeMusic: Sexy Chick00:08:24 - Live from Google's Android event!00:08:37 - Android in-app purchases hands-on (video)00:08:55 - Android Market gets a web store with OTA installations, in-app purchases coming soon00:11:00 - Android Market web store hands-on00:20:47 - Motorola Xoom first benchmark: 1823 in Quadrant00:21:47 - Google shows off Fragments API for Android 3.000:25:00 - Motorola teases Xoom Super Bowl ad: '2011 looks a lot like 1984'00:36:30 - Motorola's Atrix 4G coming to AT&T on March 6th for $200, bundled with Laptop Dock for $50000:51:35 - Verizon iPhone review00:52:23 - Verizon can now throttle top five percent of bandwidth hogs, downres multimedia transfers00:53:12 - Verizon breaks first day sales record with iPhone 4 pre-orders -- in only two hours01:01:43 - Nokia, Microsoft announcing partnership next week, possibly involving Windows Phone 7?01:10:19 - Palm creating palmtop computer with detachable, dockable cellphone?01:12:15 - HP CEO: New webOS products shipping weeks after February 9 reveal, another big announcement March 1401:13:35 - Palm 'Think Beyond' teaser shows off glimpses of... something (updated with longer video)Hear the podcastSubscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)LISTEN (OGG)Contact the podcast1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @engadget @reckless @zpower
