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Verizon NYC Droid event liveblog
It may not be the much-hyped Moto X unveiling, but today's Verizon press event will likely bring some big announcements of its own. It's been nearly a year since Motorola unveiled its trio of Razr handsets for the carrier, and it's all but certain that the company has at least a phone or two in store for us today. Will we finally get acquainted with the Droid Ultra, not to mention a Droid Maxx variant? Heck, rumors say there's also a Droid Mini on the way. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest from Verizon's event in Lincoln Center!
Verizon's NYC Droid event is today at noon ET, get your liveblog here!
It's been nearly a year since Motorola unveiled a trio of Droid Razr handsets, but all signs point to a new lineup at Verizon's NYC event today. Will we get a look at the much-rumored Droid Ultra, not to mention an updated version of the long-lasting Droid Razr Maxx? Whatever today's press conference has in store, one thing seems pretty clear: Motorola's gearing up for a change in its handset nomenclature, and you'll want to tune in to see what's in store. We'll be liveblogging the carrier's announcements starting at noon ET -- hit up this link to follow along! July 23, 2013 12:00:00 PM EDT
Motorola Droid Ultra leaks again, this time with a red, textured finish
A better look at Motorola's next Droid, the Ultra, has surfaced thanks to serial phone-revealer @evleaks. This time we're getting a clearer view of the back, decked in some familiar Verizon hues. Alongside some good hints that it'll house a high-capacity battery like the RAZR Maxx series, we'd hazard a guess that there's a kevlar finish to that red weave pattern, although we'll probably have to wait for that incoming Motorola event before we're able to clarify that. Fortunate, then, that it will all kick off with Verizon in just a few days.
Verizon to host event on July 23rd, likely involves new Droid devices
Verizon is sending out invites to the press regarding a mystery event next week. While the invite doesn't reveal which products are set to be announced, we have a pretty solid indication of what to expect: we're told that the event will involve "the next generation of one of [its] most popular family of devices." Given that the Droid is Big Red's most popular device lineup -- not to mention the fact that the rumor mill indicates a series of new Motorola-made Droids are on the way in the near future -- it's quite likely we can expect to see two or three devices decked out with Verizon's favorite brand.
First Impressions: Book of Heroes
Within the ever-changing landscape of MMOs, the mobile MMO is a peculiar beast. Not too often will you find any perfect storm of MMO features in one mobile title, but as players, we're instead forced to make do with a game that includes our favorite parts and pieces. Book of Heroes is a mobile MMO that first launched for Apple devices in November of 2011 and on Android in March of 2012. The game's developer, Venan Entertainment, has most recently produced Chapter 3: Dragonmoor, which puts the game even closer to what one might want from a "true" MMO. It's not even close to being there quite yet, but if you like raiding and battling up the leaderboards with your friends, you might just enjoy this game.
Pink Droid RAZR M, red Lumia 822 hit Verizon stores in time for Valentine's Day
Nothing says "I love you" like a red Lumia 822. Except, perhaps, a pink Droid RAZR M. We may have expected the crimson Nokia handset to make its debut in November, but V-Day seems to be an even more appropriate mark. Beginning tomorrow, you'll be able to pick up a red Nokia Lumia 822 at Verizon retail stores and on the carrier's website -- presumably at the same $50 two-year contract price. Similarly, a pink Motorola Droid RAZR M variant will be available through the same venues on Thursday -- it's currently listed at $100, with an obligatory two-year contract. So, go ahead and cancel those dinner reservations now, and grab your date a smartphone and a 24-month marriage with Verizon, instead.
PSA: HTC Droid DNA now available from Verizon
What are we thankful for on the day before Thanksgiving? How about the glut of great smartphones? Phones like HTC's Droid DNA, on sale today over at Verizon. $200 (with the obligatory two-year contract) will get you a gorgeous five-inch 1080p display, a quad-core processor, NFC and some Android Jelly Bean action. The battery life leaves a bit to be desired, however, though it'll get you through the amount of time required to cook a 20 pound turkey, at least.
HTC Droid DNA review
Guanine, adenine, thymine, cytosine... Android? The Droid DNA -- the latest addition to Verizon's Droid series -- may not contain any actual nucleotides (that we know of), but that doesn't make this HTC-made superphone any less of a powerhouse. On the contrary, we've been eyeballing this handset with eager anticipation ever since it first launched in Japan as the J Butterfly; much like its counterpart from the Land of the Rising Sun, the DNA boasts a jaw-dropping 5-inch, 1080p display. But while that may be the headliner-worthy feature, you certainly can't go wrong with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM taking charge behind the scenes, along with an ImageSense camera and other top-notch specs. In certain respects, the Droid DNA is a sneak preview of what's to come in 2013: a wave of high-performance "superphones" that take advantage of this improved resolution, and offer a long list of other top-notch features. Indeed, that's a future we could all definitely live with, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves; we've got a phone to review, after all. Is the display as tantalizing as it sounds? Will its size be a selling point or a major distraction? Should you waltz into a Verizon store on Black Friday and demand they take your hard-earned $200? Follow us after the break as we focus on the here and now.
HTC Droid DNA hands-on (video)
Welcome to the next wave of smartphone innovation: 1080p panels. At a joint launch event with Verizon in New York City today, HTC unveiled the Droid DNA, the stateside counterpart to the Japan-only J Butterfly. Made to run on Big Red's 4G LTE network and trimmed with the carrier's signature color, the 5-incher also enters the market as the OEM's first phablet effort; a direct response to Samsung's Galaxy Note. (HTC is very adamant that this is not a "phablet," partially thanks to its lack of stylus support.) But a larger footprint's not the only bleeding edge tech on hand here, as the device plays host to a quad-core S4 Pro clocked at 1.5GHz and buffered by 2GB RAM -- something we'd only seen within the Optimus G and Nexus 4 -- a 2,020mAh battery capable of Qi-compatible wireless charging, an 8-megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p video and Android Jelly Bean with Sense 4+. We had a chance to spend some time with it, so click on through for our initial take. %Gallery-170788%
Verizon confirms Droid DNA on its Droid Does portal, promises 'unboxing' on November 19th
Last we checked, there are about six days between Verizon / HTC's press event in New York City and November 19th. Which, by most counts, should be just enough time for the two companies to properly announce a phone, get it out to sales channels, and start moving 'em into the hands of consumers. HTC's Droid DNA has been leaked to death at this point, but a new mention of the product on VZW's 'Droid Does' portal all but confirms the true nature of Tuesday's event. For those willing to wait until November 19th, the carrier's promising an internet unboxing through its Google+ page -- for those who tune into our site, we'll get you one much sooner. Hit up the source if you're intrigued by intrigue, but don't go poking around for pricing or confirmed specifications.
Motorola reveals Atrix HD Developer Edition, highlights unlockable bootloader
Digging the idea of picking up an Atrix HD, but bummed about that whole "locked bootloader" situation? Problem solved. Motorola has just introduced the Atrix HD Developer Edition, which offers up the exact same specifications as the original, but allows near infinite customizations thanks to an unlockable bootloader. For the laypeople in attendance, that allows tinkerers to install custom ROMs on the phone without any additional hackeration, thus giving them to power to overhaul Android's look and feel in a major way. As of now, Moto's not talking pricing or release, but you can follow the source link to sign up for updates. (Oh, and if you're hoping for a quick turnaround, don't even think about looking at how long it took the Galaxy S III Developer Edition to finally go on sale.)
Verizon's HTC DLX may be called Droid DNA, Windows Phone 8 devices get tentative prices
Verizon is one of the more common proponents of silly Android device names, in part through its insistence on that "Droid" prefix for some hardware. When its smartphone badges practically demand a pause for breath, you know there's a problem. Android Central's purported copy of a Minimum Advertised Pricing list could show that there's hope for the carrier yet. The chart shows the HTC DLX (6435LVW) skipping the rumored Droid Incredible X name in favor of Droid DNA -- and that's it. No superlatives, no arbitrary "4G LTE" tags to remind us of the network we already know we're using. The 5-inch phone might have even been a reasonable launch, as the MAP shows a $200 contract price that would potentially take effect just before Thanksgiving. Want more? Other smartphones are on the supposedly leaked MAP list as well, primarily focusing on Windows Phone 8 gear: the as yet unconfirmed Nokia Lumia 822 shows up with a $100 price and a mid-November release window, while Verizon's take on the Windows Phone 8X is present with a $200 price and similar timing. Those who'd rather go for a Samsung phablet than HTC's aren't left out, either. The Verizon edition of the Galaxy Note II is on the list with a $300 price and availability that starts immediately -- rather convenient, that.
Droid Bionic finally gets an ICS update as everyone else moves on to Jelly Bean
After nearly a year of suffering with Gingerbread, Droid Bionic owners who haven't given up on their phone will finally be rewarded with that long-awaited ICS update; the rollout starts October 19th, according to Verizon. Those who get it will receive a new customizable launch bar, a direct access lock screen, enhanced notifications, Motorola's SmartActions app, Face Unlock, easier multitasking, and many other goodies most Android owners have enjoyed for awhile now. It looks like Motorola Mobility actually made good on some of its promises to fix the handset that has suffered a number of different problems since its launch (which itself took almost nine months from the initial announce date). However, now that Jelly Bean has taken over as the firmware of choice with no word yet if that'll come to the Droid Bionic, we wonder if it's too little, too late. Update: We've learned from the comments, Motorola's owner support forum and its own Facebook page that the company is planning on rolling out Jelly Bean to the Droid Bionic "in the coming months" so don't lose hope just yet, Bionic faithful. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola feels Droid Bionic owners' pain, promises to fix things
With a star-crossed history that includes a lengthy delay, mysterious sounds and other issues, Motorola's Droid Bionic has had a bit of a checkered past. Motorola, however, is apparently aware of Droid Bionic owners' woes and is working on a plan to make things right. At least that's what Punit Soni, VP of Product at Motorola Mobility, is promising owners of the device on his Google+ page. Faced with complaints ranging from the Bionic's locked bootloader to its delayed ICS update, a contrite Soni admitted that Droid Bionic owners got a "raw deal" and promised their feedback "will not fall on deaf ears." He then said that the company has a plan for the device and that he is "currently solidifying things to ensure we can publish it, commit and follow up." Soni did not provide specifics on what those plans are though you have to admit that the guy's candor about the Bionic's issues is refreshing. In the meantime, the phone's ICS upgrade is now slated to roll out in Q4. Bionic owners who want to add their proverbial two cents to the conversation can hit up the source link below.
Droid RAZR M and HD dev editions bring unlockable bootloaders to the Android party
Motorola just released three new consumer phones today, but the company didn't want to leave developers out in the cold, so it also quietly rolled out a pair of developer handsets. A mere $550 gets you on the list right now for a RAZR M Developer Edition set to be shipped next week direct from Moto, and you can sign up for updates on the availability of a forthcoming RAZR HD dev-friendly handset, too. Each phone will bring an unlockable bootloader and the promise of immediate software gratification, though Motorola hasn't set an availability date or price for the HD version just yet. You can get on the list for either device at the source links below.
Motorola Droid RAZR M hands-on (video)
Motorola just took the wraps of the Droid RAZR M and, we've gotta say, the slender handset is quite the looker. The 8mm-thick body is plastic and Kevlar, just like its titular predecessor, but it adds some nice visual flourishes of its own, including rivets around the rim of the device. Despite its diminutive size, it has a nice heft in the hand, though we wouldn't say it's built like a tank. Overall, the device is frighteningly similar to the Droid RAZR, right down to the lock / power key with its concentric circle pattern. Also carried over from the OG Droid RAZR is the 4.3-inch screen. That means we are looking at a qHD Super AMOLED Advanced display, rather than some fancy HD panel and still saddled with a PenTile pixel layout. It also, as we harped on in the live blog, means that Android 4.0.4 has been slathered in Motorola's own skin. Though, we'll give credit to the new Google subsidiary for scaling back on the glitz and glam and letting Ice Cream Sandwich shine through a bit. %Gallery-164433%
Motorola Droid RAZR HD hands-on: a 720p Android ICS update with 2,500mAh battery life
The curtains have finally been pulled back on Motorola's Droid RAZR HD, revealing little in the way of surprise. Abysmal attempts at secrecy aside, the Verizon-bound handset pushes the line forward with an incrementally larger 4.7-inch screen, 720p display, dual-core 1.5GHz S4 CPU and, most importantly, a 2,500mAh battery to temper LTE's juice-sapping ways. So does this less-than-wafer-thin device live up to its predecessor's legacy? Follow along after the break as we deliver our first impressions.%Gallery-164426%
Motorola announces Droid RAZR Maxx HD
Well, we weren't expecting it at today's Motorola event, but Motorola just outed a Maxx version of the Droid RAZR HD. Like its svelter sibling, the HD Maxx has a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD screen, 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, LTE, and an 8-megapixel shooter, but it upgrades the onboard storage to 32GB. And the main event with any RAZR Maxx is, of course, an upgraded 3,300mAh battery that promises up to 21 hours of talk time, 13 hours of video playback or eight hours of web browsing on LTE. Naturally, a price has to be paid for such longevous life, but at 67.9mm wide, 131.9 mm long and a mere 9.3mm thin -- less than 1mm thicker than the standard HD -- it's a relatively small one. Naturally, we don't know how much this beast will cost, but Motorola's telling us it'll be available for this holiday season. Folks looking to dig into the details even further can find them in the PR after the break and at the source below.%Gallery-164427%
Motorola aiming to upgrade all possible devices to Jelly Bean, promises to give you $100 credit if it can't
At today's keynote, Motorola head Dennis Woodside has pledged that the company will attempt to upgrade all of its new and existing Android handsets to Jelly Bean "very soon." However, for some units, the latest version of Google's mobile OS is going to be too "compromised" to use properly. In that event, it's pledging to give you $100 credit off one of its brand new handsets, which are being unveiled today. It's not given details about how you go about claiming that credit, or when the program begins, but as soon as we're told, we'll let you know.
Motorola Droid RAZR HD unveiled: 4.7-inch 720p display, ICS, dual-core S4 for Verizon (video)
It's been a day of big smartphone reveals, but Motorola's not one to let the glory shine too long upon rivals. At its press event today in New York City, the Google-owned manufacturer gave the public its first official look at the Droid RAZR HD. Unless you've been living off the grid, it's hard to find much about this announcement fresh and / or exciting, as specs, photos, tutorials, FCC docs and even sample pics have been leaking since the start of April. Surprise already blown, the handset falls in line with previous reports, running a lightly-skinned version of Android 4.0.4 (upgradeable to Jelly Bean) and bearing a 4.7-inch 720p display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 8-megapixel rear camera, NFC, as well as a massive 2,500mAh battery. So, what's changed in this RAZR refresh? Well, the phone's back may still be Kevlar-coated (in this case, it's pretty much fully wrapped), but a few cosmetic differences have been made to the Droid RAZR HD's body. For starters, its front face almost spans from edge to edge, with just a little bit of bezel surrounding that display. Dimensions-wise, it's 131.9mm tall, 67.9 mm wide and still pretty thin at 8.4mm. It's definitely a coup for design-focused consumers that prefer to have their devices appear as a sea of seamless black glass. While it'll be hanging out on Verizon's 4G network, we're still waiting on pricing -- but we're promised that it will arrive "before the holidays." Mat Smith contributed to this report.
