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Apple's Steve Jobs: 'no one's going to buy' a big phone
In response to a question at its press conference today about whether Apple could've done anything to avoid its antenna issues with the iPhone 4, Steve took the opportunity to rip on bigger rivals, saying that making a phone so big "you can't get your hand around it" helps, but that "no one's going to buy that." We're assuming he's likely talking about the latest crop of 4-, 4.3- and 5-inch phones that include the Galaxy S series, the EVO 4G, Droid X, and Dell Streak, even going so far as to call them "Hummers" (we take it you don't ever drive a Hummer, Steve?). Though ripping on the competition is to be expected, perhaps the more interesting takeaway here is that we can't realistically expect an iPhone much bigger than the 3.5-inch display they use today -- presumably that'll all be reserved for iPad territory going forward. We personally don't mind something with a little more screen real estate -- but hey, maybe humans need to go through a few more cycles of evolutionary hand enlargement before Cupertino's willing to capitulate.
Motorola responds to Droid X bootloader controversy, says eFuse isn't there to break the phone
There's been a lot of chatter going around the interwebs in the past 24 hours about the Droid X's exceptionally well-locked bootloader -- a situation that is going to make running custom ROMs considerably more difficult (bordering on impossible) compared to your average HTC. Specifically, the culprit is said to be a technology known as eFuse -- developed by IBM several years ago -- which allows circuits to be physically altered at the silicon level on demand. Thing is, the term "eFuse" has taken on an unrelated meaning this week, with My Droid World claiming that some chip inside the Droid X is commanded to "blow the fuse" if it's unable to verify the stock bootloader, which permanently bricks the phone. It amounts to a really, really hard slap on the wrist for anyone trying to hack, say, Sense or stock Froyo onto it. Considering IBM's historically non-nefarious usage of the term "eFuse," we suspected something was amiss here, so we reached out to Motorola for an explanation. Read on to see what we got back.
Droid X available to buy now
Yes, the Droid X has joined the Kin... in being available to buy on Verizon's online Wireless store. No shock or awe here, it's a cent under two Benjamins with a two-year deal and you can give it the shopping basket treatment right now. Either that or wait in line overnight like a lovesick puppy, it's up to you. [Thanks, Nick]
Motorola Droid X gets cinematic 'See You Tomorrow' trailer (video)
Yeah, we said trailer. The Droid family has seen its fair share of atypical ads, and while this one won't tug on your heartstrings, it'll definitely captivate. Unless you're already three sheets to the wind and well on your way into an early weekend. Either way, you should really have a look after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
SanDisk's elusive 32GB microSDHC card on sale tomorrow at Verizon: $100 with a Droid X, $150 without
Oh, sure -- SanDisk's 32GB microSDHC card has been "shipping" since late March, but have you actually tried to find one? It's been a lesson in frustration for many, and while a few e-tailers have shown stock off and on, the card has generally evaded archivists who simply need an insane amount of available storage on their handset. Starting tomorrow, however, that should change. Verizon Wireless -- of all companies -- has somehow managed to become the "only retailer that offers customers the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card." We're assuming it's referring to brick and mortar retailers, but at any rate, the gem will be on sale tomorrow at VZW outlets for $149.99, or just $99.99 if you purchase one alongside Motorola's Droid X. The only trouble with that? You're stuck figuring out what to do with the 16GB microSDHC card that ships inside of the phone. Thank heavens for the Bay, right?
Droid X software update beats the phone to market
The Droid X isn't even out yet -- at least, not officially -- but that's not stopping Motorola and Verizon from putting the finishing touches on their next superphone prior to launch. All of our review units shipped either with 1.13.514 or 1.13.516, but now Moto's pushing 1.13.604 out to units in the field; we don't know what's different, but we'd assume it's a quickie (just 18MB, in fact) to patch up a few last-minute bugs. Needless to say, if you were expecting Froyo already... well, prepare to be disappointed.
Have your Droid X already? Verizon figured out how to activate it
Word on the street is that only 170 Droid X handsets have leaked out from the mothership so far, but in the off chance you're in that elite group of early early adopters, it seems Verizon has cured a snag that was preventing you from activating the phone on its network. As of Friday afternoon, it's said that "system provisions were put in place" to allow the beasts to be used the way Motorola intended, so go forth and put that crusty old V3m out of its misery. Oh, and as for the rest of you: well, keep on waiting a few more days. [Thanks, Ben R.]
Droid X already knocking on buyers' doors?
This seems to happen with virtually every hotly-anticipated device Verizon ever offers, so we can't say we're too surprised to hear rumors that Motorola's Droid X has already started showing up in customers' hands. Usually, this happens through a combination of persistence, repeated calls to customers service, and finding just the right rep who doesn't realize that he or she shouldn't be selling a particular device yet -- but in the case of the Droid X, Verizon's been teasing the launch with its @DroidLanding Twitter account, saying "you might get yours before" the official July 15 release. In other words, we think we're in the process of getting punked by some viral marketing... but hey, if you're getting punked by something, it might as well be one of the baddest-ass Android phones around.
Multitouch keyboard swiped from Droid X, hacked and color-matched for EVO 4G
One of the most compelling features of Motorola's upcoming Droid X for Verizon is the multitouch capability of the keyboard, which in theory means you can do things like press shift and a letter at the same time; in practice, it means that you can belt out a message faster. Needless to say, owners of other Android devices want it, and xda-developers members have obliged as usual, even stopping along the way to change the Droid X's red accents to green to better suit the EVO 4G's UI color palette. Once the APK is installed (you'll have to sideload it, naturally), it looks like you'll be able to select and use it just as you would any other input method on the phone. Score one for platform flexibility, and score another for hackers. [Thanks, Chris]
Engadget Podcast 203 - 07.02.2010
Robots, death, Epic Fascination, and tropicalia: genre-surfing tokenism dominates the Engadget Podcast this week. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Guest: Chris Ziegler Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Castor - Rude Boy Hear the podcast 00:02:58 - Motorola Droid X review 00:04:40 - Introducing review scorecards! 00:18:48 - Droid X ad pokes fun at iPhone 4 antenna troubles 00:26:15 - Samsung's American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait 00:26:48 - Samsung Vibrant is official on T-Mobile, coming July 21 for $200 00:26:53 - Verizon ropes in Samsung Fascinate, US Cellular gets a Galaxy S too 00:26:55 - Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview 00:27:00 - Samsung's Epic 4G for Sprint seems to live up to its name 00:30:10 - Samsung Epic 4G preview 00:42:41 - Microsoft says Kin software update is scheduled for mid-summer 00:42:45 - Kin One drops to $29, Two drops to $49, data plans remain silly expensive 00:42:50 - Microsoft Kin is dead 00:42:55 - T-Mobile kills off current Sidekicks, Kin says 'welcome to the club' 00:47:00 - What killed the Kin? 01:11:05 - Hulu Plus announced with support for iPad, iPhone, PS3, Xbox Live, and more (update) 01:15:15 - Hands-on with Hulu Plus via Samsung HDTV, iPhone and iPad 01:15:45 - Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned 01:16:00 - Hulu CEO: we're 'complementary' to cable 01:16:23 - HP / Palm buyout officially complete -- get ready for webOS printers 01:19:35 - MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance Subscribe 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 Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Motorola Droid X review
The original Droid made a powerful statement. Actually, make that statements, plural: for Motorola, it was the largest single affirmation that it was going all-in with Android (after having already released the far less memorable midrange CLIQ on T-Mobile) and that it could play in the very highest rungs of the smartphone elite. For Verizon, the Droid was the carrier's very first Android device, period -- announced to great fanfare in collaboration with Eric Schmidt and crew -- serving as a pretty spectacular exit from the Windows Mobile / BlackBerry doldrums that the carrier's smartphone lineup had historically suffered. By almost any measure, the phone went on to serve its purpose; it let customers (and potential customers) know that Verizon could release a "cool" phone, and they responded. The Droid's an unqualified success. Today, Verizon's involvement in Android has never been greater, and Motorola -- by all appearances, anyway -- seems to be on its way back from the brink. Time stops for no phone, though, and we're now halfway through 2010. Motorola's success as a competitive phone manufacturer is ultimately going to depend not on its ability to produce a single hit, but to produce a never-ending string of hits, each better than the one before it. It's a tall order -- and that's exactly where the Droid X comes into play. Featuring a 4.3-inch WVGA display, 8 megapixel camera with 720p video capture, a reworked user interface, and a significantly improved processor, this phone apes the first Droid in at least one critical aspect: its ability to immediately steal the spotlight from anything else in Verizon's lineup. Specs don't tell the whole story, though, so let's dig in and see what this beast is all about.%Gallery-96643%
Droid X ad pokes fun at iPhone 4 antenna troubles
The world of corporate cheap shots has today been enriched in its number with one supersized ad for one supersized phone. BGR reports that Motorola took out a full-page spread in the New York Times on this final day of June, which was ostensibly dedicated to promoting the positives of its mighty Droid X. But Moto has also followed in the footsteps of Nokia in making a not so subtle jab at the latest king of the smartphone realm. According to the ad, one of the most important things about the Droid X is that: "It comes with a double antenna design. The kind that allows you to hold the phone any way you like and use it just about anywhere to make crystal clear calls." Glad we got that established -- next Moto will be telling us the alarm clock on its phones works just fine too. Skip past the break for the untrimmed ad.
Engadget Podcast 202 - 06.26.2010
You know, people loved the last commercial-free Engadget podcast we did, last week. And they said we couldn't replicate its success for yet another week, so deep in the throes of summer. Well, we're here to tell you that we've done it again: a-NOTHER commercial-free rock block of Engadgety bliss: wrapping up the week with a distinct brand of humor, polish, and forward-thinking insight that only the Engadget Podcasters can deliver. Oh, and one more thing: it's free. Hear different. Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul MillerProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: jumpcatchmushroom - BulletproofHear the podcast00:01:38 - The Engadget Show - 010: Jimmy Fallon, Kudo Tsunoda, Microsoft Kinect, iPhone 4, Samsung Captivate, Droid X00:04:00 - iPhone 4 review00:04:25 - First iPhone 4 units being delivered00:04:35 - iPhone 4 launch day line watch (update: Woz in action)00:04:50 - Poll: is your iPhone 4 retina display seeing yellow spots? (update: losing bars in the hand?)00:05:08 - iPhone 4's yellow spot issue goes away with a bit of time?00:06:07 - Some iPhone 4 models dropping calls when held left-handed, including ours (Update: Apple responds)00:08:10 - The Jimmy Fallon Test: is the iPhone 4 dropping fewer calls?00:11:00 - iPhone 4 antenna woes contextualized by dude in the know00:15:42 - Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way00:20:00 - Apple: white iPhone 4 not available until second half of July, 'more challenging to manufacture than expected'00:27:20 - Hey Apple, you're holding it wrong00:30:00 - Okay, you've got an iPhone 4 -- now what?00:35:29 - Gyroscope gunning on the iPhone 4 with Eliminate: Gun Range (video)00:45:00 - iOS 4 apps: the best of what's new and updated (live updates!)00:48:25 - Motorola Droid X for Verizon official: July 15 for $20000:49:40 - Live from Verizon's Motorola Droid X event!00:52:55 - Motorola Droid X first (official) hands-on and unboxing! Update: video!00:55:00 - Droid X vs. iPhone 4... hang out!01:02:05 - Android 2.2 coming to Droid in 'late July,' Droid X in 'late August?'01:02:25 - Android 2.2 Froyo source code available todaySubscribe 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 @reckless @engadget
Motorola's Droid X up for pre-order today at Best Buy: $200, no pesky mail-in rebates
Sweatin' those iPhone 4 reception issues? Got a thing for beastlier phones? Still perturbed that your white iPhone 4 pre-order didn't exactly "work out" as expected? If you've found yourself nodding that noggin' up and down upon reading any of the above questions, you should know that Best Buy's offering pre-sales of Motorola's forthcoming Droid X starting today. The benefit, naturally, is that you can avoid Verizon's pesky $100 mail-in rebate, paying just $199.99 (plus all applicable taxes and bribes) to BB while grabbing a coveting spot in line for the next giant Android phone. Not like you needed an excuse to take a half-day today, but hey -- at least you've now got a legitimate one.
Android 2.2 coming to Droid in 'late July,' Droid X in 'late August?'
Care for some more specificity on when exactly to expect the Droid X to become even awesomer? Well, according to one "very reliable" source over at Droid Forums, we can look forward to a late August landing for Android 2.2 on the X, which will be preceded by a late July delivery on the venerable Droid. Both dates are caveated with an ominous "currently planned" proviso, so don't consider them carved in (Mile)stone, but we're liking the idea of Motorola having both its flagship devices tasting of Froyo by summer's end. There's no mention of the Droid 2, however, which may mean nothing or might suggest that handset's still a fair way away from its release. We shall see.
Droid X torn down, found to contain stuff
We've gotta tell you, looking at that belligerent red eye gracing the visage of the Droid X, we weren't entirely sure the thing wouldn't go all robot apocalypse on us if we ever tried disassembling it. Thankfully, someone else has taken that risk for us, and now we've got all sorts of nude pictures to gawk at. This teardown comes complete with some very practical how-to instructions, including the advice to use your nails to pry the case open instead of a metal screwdriver -- but only if you don't want to leave your roided-up Droid with battle scars. Hit the source link for more of the good stuff.
Swype psyched to be on Droid X, fifty total devices by the end of 2010
Love it or lump it, looks like Swype is making inroads into the mobile space. We've seen it on a few handsets already, and we know how eager the company is to get on the iPhone, but still it doesn't look like Apple's ready to bite. In the meantime, it seems that the company is more than happy to make due with the likes of HTC, Samsung, and Motorola -- the latter having gone with Swype for the Droid X. According to CEO Mike McSherry, this is the company's biggest coup yet, though certainly not the last -- he says to look for the app on some fifty phones by late 2010.
Josh and Jimmy get busy in hot 4X action (video)
iPhone 4 and Motorola's Droid X, together on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in some kind of weird erotic mashup. Gadgets, a band, celebrity impersonations, and more awkward sexual innuendo with an ex-supermodel than a nerd can shake a retina display at. Check it all out after the break.
Droid X vs. iPhone 4... hang out!
So, these aren't exactly the most similar phones ever. The Droid X has Android, a high res 4.3-inch screen, Verizon, and a hump in back. The iPhone 4 has iOS, a higher res 3.5-inch screen, and some of the slimmest smartphone dimensions ever. Sure, they're both flagship handsets for their respective teams, but we'd really rather live in a world where Droid X and iPhone 4 hang out after work for drinks than one where they stab each other in their silicon hearts. Sure, there'd be a bit of banter, but isn't there always between friends? %Gallery-96147%
Motorola Droid X first (official) hands-on and unboxing! Update: video!
Yeah, we kind of already saw this phone, but if you don't tell Motorola and Verizon, we won't. We just got our hands on an official, final Droid X at the NY launch event, and it tastes just as sweet. Here are a few notes: It's built of basically the same material as the Droid, but there's something almost kind of "taut" about the phone, where when you thwack it with a finger it resounds like a drum. The phone vibration seems to work on this same principle, giving it much less of the typical buzz (in the funky, cheap sense) you expect. There are three mics, and in video mode you can select between "scenes" based on which mic you want to use: outward facing for regular shoots, inward facing for narration. The third mic is up top for noise cancellation during calls. Yeah, there's not kickstand, but the EVO 4G really does seem chunky up against the Droid X, and the camera bulge on the latter is not annoying at all. PHYSICAL BUTTONS. You get your choice between Swype and Motorola's multitouch keyboard, which is really pretty great. We were typing at speed within a few seconds of using it. You can tell that the processor is fast, but the UI still has a jerky quality to it -- it's not totally fluid. We'd say that's more of an Android thing, though. The new version of Motoblur is much, much more attractive than before -- the widgets are sleeker, smaller, and less in your face. You can also resize them, and they rearrange themselves somewhat intelligently. Update: Video after the break! %Gallery-96133% %Gallery-96135% %Gallery-96146%
