droid
Latest
Verizon to sell $200 Droid RAZR, 16GB microSD card not included this time
The question of the day: is a 16GB microSD card worth $100? Verizon Wireless said it will sell the Droid RAZR for $200 with a two-year contract -- a $100 discount off the original price, but one that forces you to give up that complimentary 16GB microSD card. Otherwise, you'll find the same 'ol spes, including a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 16GB of internal storage, a 4.3-inch AMOLED display and LTE connectivity. The microSD slot itself will be perfectly operational and accept up to 32GB in storage, provided you bring your own card. Expect this price to go into effect next week on January 23rd. Or, you know, spend $300 after all, but on that other RAZR with 32GB of storage and 21 hours of talk time.
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 Mobility brings RAZR to Land of the Rising Sun
Motorola Mobility has announced its intentions to bring the super-thin RAZR smartphone to the shores of Japan. The handset will look very similar to the device released here in the states -- 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GB of RAM, an eight megapixel shooter with 1080p video capture and 32GB of storage -- only minus the LTE radio and Droid branding. The handset will be available in "shadow black" or "glacier white" and land on KDDI's network at an undisclosed date for an undisclosed price. The full press release awaits your scrutiny after the break.
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.
ITC preliminary ruling says Motorola's Droid series doesn't violate Apple patents
As myriad legal tussles roll on between smartphone manufacturers, Apple's suffered a knock-back by the International Trade Commission. Apple first lodged its complaint against Moto in October 2010, accusing its Droid family of violating the patents found in its own phones. This was countered by a volley of patent violation complaints from Motorola. Granted, this is still a preliminary ruling, but looks like Motorola may have won this round of legal drudgery.Update: We've added Motorola's comments on the preliminary ruling below.
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.
Verizon's Droid 4 priced up: $249 on a two-year contract (video)
This slider was still lacking its most important spec when we went hands-on, but a carrier document outed over at Droid-life fills in the blank: it lists a "minimum advertised price" of $249 on 24-month bond to VZW. Of course, we're still waiting on the second most important spec -- the release date, which hopefully won't be as futuristic as the handset's appearance. [Thanks, Uto]
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.
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.
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.
Spacetime Studios working on new mobile MMO Dark Legends
Spacetime Studios, the developer of popular mobile MMO titles Pocket Legends and Star Legends, has announced that it has begun work on a new mobile game following the Legends format. The new title, about which we know virtually nothing aside from the fact that it exists, is called Dark Legends. Ominous, right? DroidGamers reports that Spacetime Studios CEO Gary Gattis has stated that "Dark Legends will be a bit of a departure from the formula that Pocket Legends established as we innovate on lessons learned." So there's clearly a new twist to the studio's standard gameplay, but we'll just have to wait and see what that twist may be.
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.
Droid RAZR MAXX appears in Verizon Wireless inventory, details remain mysterious
Leave it to Motorola to milk the iconic RAZR branding for all it's worth. A new LTE phone has appeared in Verizon's inventory system, and dubbed the Droid RAZR MAXX, it seems to be at least a spiritual successor to the original MotoRAZR MAXX. Little else is known about the device, other than some EXIF data that hints at a similar 8 megapixel shooter. Like the variants we've seen floating around in China, could this option be sporting a 720p display? Perhaps a beefier battery? Or maybe it's just "maxxxxed" out with a few design tweaks and a slightly higher price. Place your bets while the gamblin' is good, folks. Soon enough, we're going to know what makes this one tick.
White Droid RAZR available now on Verizon for $299 on contract
Black is always the new black -- some things never change. But if you're in need of a handset to match-up with the oncoming winter tableau, a little Droid'll do ya. Verizon's white-framed, branding mash-up -- the Droid RAZR -- is available today in-stores and online for the same $299 on contract price as its austere sibling. So, you can fork over the cash to flash this awkwardly-angled device or, y'know, just hurry up and place an order for the Galaxy Nexus. Get'em while they're white hot!
SWTOR: Ten things you need to know about companions
For those of you who have never played a BioWare RPG before (or any single-player RPG, really), the concept of "companions" may initially strike you as strange. After all, in MMOs we're so used to jaunting off into the wilderness solo without some semi-intelligent NPC tagging along for the ride, so for a game to inform us that we not only will have them but will have to use them all the time may feel odd. If so, we're guessing you've never been into pet classes, either. Companions are one of the long-standing features of BioWare RPGs; they're both useful fighters who help keep you alive and persistent beings whom you get to know, develop relationships with, and affect in significant ways. In the past, BioWare companions have often been cited as the most memorable parts of the studio's games, from Baldur's Gate II's Minsc to Mass Effect 2's Mordin (to name two of my all-time favorites). Yet in MMOs, companion NPCs aren't that common, and if you're feeling a little bewildered at the thought of having one at your side at all times in Star Wars: The Old Republic, then we're here to lay out for you 10 reasons why companions are as useful as all get out -- and why you're going to love them like crazy before too long.
SWTOR: Starship operator's guide
Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of an actual, factual, interstellar starship! Or you soon will be, assuming that you're planning to play Star Wars: The Old Republic. Starships have captured the imaginations of Star Wars fans for over three decades now, as the Millennium Falcon, Luke's X-Wing, Boba Fett's Slave-1, and Knights of the Old Republic's Ebon Hawk have become geek cultural icons. It's not Star Wars without the stars, after all, which is why BioWare will be handing you the keys to your very own starship as part of your SWTOR journey. But what does that entail? There's a lot of confusion and misinformation swirling about starships, which is unfortunate. SWTOR's starships are part player housing, part combat vehicle, and part story platform, and that combination lacks an easy analogue in other MMOs. That's why you've got this handy holocron with all of the starship "must knows" to aid your initial voyage to the stars! Coordinates for the jump are plotted. Punch it, reader!
IRL: Nike+, UTStarcom PPC-6700 and the Droid Incredible
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. We have an inside joke among the Engadget staff: one of these days, we say, we'll publish IRL: The Luddite Edition. It's not that we go home to bunny-ear TVs and VCRs, though for a group of journalists trained to calculate pixels per Super AMOLED inch, we're awfully set in our ways. That, and there's nothing like brainstorming IRL ideas to make a grizzled tech editor feel a little nostalgic. That's the place Darren was in when he dug up his PPC-6700 from '06 -- and Lydia, too, who thinks about ditching Nike+, but won't. As for Billy, he's not wistful; just biding his time until he can replace his Incredible with something he really wants. So how good is good enough for a bunch of tech writers? Meet us past the break to find out.
ICS-based CyanogenMod 9: it's on track, but not for everybody
The CM9 customization for Android 4.0 has only been in the works since mid-November and already its canny creators claim to have it running on a number of devices. They say they're making the quickest progress with OMAP4, MSM8660/7x30 and Exynos-based handsets, so if you own of those you should find yourself at the top of the queue. Despite difficulties with totally new camera and graphics drivers in ICS, there should eventually be support for all CM7-compatible models going back to phones like the Nexus One, as well as the Tegra 2-powered Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Asus Transformer. There's no mention of Tegra 3, though, and bad news for owners of the original Droid: if you want a taste of ICS you'll have to leave your muddy perch and head out for an upgrade.
