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Droid Bionic teaser page goes live at Verizon Wireless, really just wants your email
Been waiting long enough for the Droid Bionic? Same here, as you can imagine. Although we're looking to September 8th as the official launch date of the LTE-equipped wunderphone, Verizon's teaser page just went live, reminding us of the phone's impending arrival. Will we find 1GB of RAM and a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 under the hood, or did the company figure out how play nicely with the Tegra 2? Verizon's happy to take your email address and let you know the juicy details in due time, although we're certainly hoping to beat Big Red to the punch. [Thanks, Dan]
HTC Droid Incredible 2 lightens up with new silver wardrobe
Tired of your ho-hum black original HTC Droid Incredible? Thinking of trading up for a shiny new Gingerbread model? Well, this may influence your decision a bit. Pocketnow is reporting that Verizon will soon be offering a new silver version of the HTC Droid Incredible 2 (Incredible S) to be sold alongside the original black edition. Keeping suit with many other lighter phones we've seen these days, the company chose a pretty standard two-tone design and will keep the same specs as its elder sibling. Pricing should be the same as well, although, with a number of new devices due out soon, perhaps a discount could be in order. No word yet on a release date, but keep your eyes peeled -- especially if frustrations over a lack of color choice led you to purchase one of these.
Sprint to welcome Samsung M930 and LG Optimus Black in October?
Samsung's been making a ruckus with the M930, an Android slider that hasn't even been announced yet. Soon after reporting the device was en route to Boost Mobile, we saw its subsequent appearance in the FCC. According to leaked internal docs, it turns out the Droid Charge-lookalike may very well be heading to Sprint and replacing its elder brother, the Transform. In case you only have eyes for slates, the M930 will be offered alongside the LG LS855 -- the Optimus Black -- sometime in October. For those who love two-year commitments almost as much as they love the phones, a couple new options may now be on the table for the holiday season. [Thanks, Korey]
Verizon swaps misbehaving Fascinates with phones that'll make you flip
If you're among the unfortunate handful of Verizon users whose Samsung Fascinate consistently fails to receive inbound calls after the latest update, we've got good news: Big Red is replacing these unruly handsets free of charge (and without contract extension). Now keep in mind, an in-store Verizon representative must confirm that your phone cannot properly receive calls, because telephone support agents obviously can't verify this one. Once you jump through a few hoops, however, the company will toss you a Certified Like-New Replacement of a Droid Charge, Droid Incredible 2, or Droid X2 as compensation for your plight. Sure it's used, but so is your Fascinate, so chin up -- this time, there's reason to be glad your smartphone doesn't work. [Thanks, Geremy]
Refresh Roundup: week of July 18, 2011
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 from 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! The LG Optimus 3D appears poised and ready to get Gingerbread in October. [via TheInquirer] Another device in the family, the LG Optimus One, is now being updated to Android 2.3.3 in the UK, though we haven't heard if the update has been deployed elsewhere at this point. [thanks, Aaron] CyanogenMod 7 nightlies are ready to go for the Samsung Galaxy S II. Download at your own risk, as these updates are early releases and may contain bugs. [via PhoneArena] The Motorola Droid X2 is about to undergo soak testing for a "future update." No official word on if this is Gingerbread, though it's highly speculative that minor updates wouldn't go through this type of testing. [via AndroidCentral] Speaking of the X2, it's also received its first custom ROM -- despite the bootloader still being locked -- and XDA has managed to put 2nd-init support on it as well. [via AndroidCentral and Droid-Life] A new HTC Desire HD update, 2.50.405.2, is reportedly rolling out to unbranded versions in Europe that includes a fix for WiFi issues prevalent on the device. [via AndroidCentral] Updates to the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930, 7.0.0.261, were leaked. [via n4bb] In what could be the most bizarre update rollout ever, the T-Mobile myTouch 4G is now starting a limited pilot, and will continue until "the end of the year." [via TmoNews] The Dell Streak 7 now has an unofficial update to Android 3.2 Honeycomb available. [via Netbook News]
Engadget Mobile Podcast 096 - 07.23.2011
What other technology podcast hosts would let a bunch of fruity news sink into the background as they trudge deep into the waters of new Android and MeeGo phones? We think you know the answer to that one.Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad MolenProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International)00:01:22 - Sprint readies Nexus S 4G update with improved WiMAX performance, we go hands-on (video)00:08:32 - T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide00:21:03 - Motorola Droid 3 review00:40:16 - T-Mobile G2x Gingerbread update running through employee trials, "coming soon" just got closer00:44:03 - HTC Status review00:49:42 - Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo review00:53:34 - AT&T Nexus S coming to Best Buy July 24th, available for $100 with contract01:12:28 - Sprint's Fared Adib: we made a conscious decision to scale back bloatware on smartphones01:14:23 - Motorola Triumph01:16:50 - T-Mobile unveils flexible new Value plans: unlimited talk, text, and / or data for any device01:19:45 - Fujitsu to launch first Windows Phone Mango handset in... August?01:21:55 - Nokia 'Sea Ray' WP7 handset revealed on a factory floor? (Video)01:22:25 - Nokia N9 arrives at FCC, opened up to see where all the MeeGo comes from01:24:37 - Apple outpaces Nokia in global smartphone shipments01:26:58 - AT&T 'confident' T-Mobile deal to close in Q1 2012Hear the podcastSubscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)Contact the podcastpodcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.Follow us on Twitter@tnkgrl @phonewisdom @engadgetmobile
Droid Bionic's secrecy betrayed on Amazon, by simple dock listings
We had our hands on a raw version of the Droid Bionic way back at CES, but two listings on Amazon for desktop and car docking stations, uncovered by Android Central forum posters, may give the clearest look at the phone so far. As you can see in the shot above of the desktop dock Motorola's slab appears to have a chrome ring running around the outside, while the dock itself has a 3.5mm audio out, HDMI output and USB ports. There's no price or release date listed for either accessory but if you've been lusting over the beast and its rumored specs we're figuring some quiet time with these shots is just what the doctor ordered -- check after the break for a shot of the car dock and the back of the desktop docking station.
Motorola Droid 3 review
The third installment of a trilogy is typically the most satisfying. The Empire Falls, Frodo destroys the ring, Cinderella goes back in time. (Okay, that's a stretch.) Our protagonist in this tale is the Droid 3, which bears an uncanny resemblance to its dad and granddad-- but Motorola's added a few new components and made some minor design tweaks in attempt to improve the overall experience. Are these adjustments enough to save the series? The original Droid launched with much fanfare, a device that steered Motorola back onto the path of success from its post-RAZR Hades. It had a refreshing gold-laden design that oozed elegance, top-of-the-line specs for its time, and was the pioneer that helped usher Google's mobile OS into a new era. Each new iteration has received less attention than the one before, however, and the Droid 3 experienced such a quiet launch that we blinked and almost missed it. No matter, though -- as long as the phone can speak for itself, it doesn't need the confetti to accompany it. But is the third time another charm for the Droid? Or will it be buried by other heavyweights like the Droid Bionic or Samsung Galaxy S II Function? Join us after the break to find out. %Gallery-128661%
Droid 3 disassembled by iFixit Jawas
It's time for the squeamish to avert their eyes. The latest entry in Motorola's popular Droid line has taken a trip to internet Tatooine, getting the classic teardown treatment from the folks at iFixit. As always, there were some interesting findings beneath its shiny, gadgety exterior, including a SIM card and so, so many hidden screws. More gory shots in the source link below.
Motorola XT860 4G is the Droid 3's curling loving cousin for Bell
Looks like someone took the Droid 3, slapped a new name on it, and shipped it north to our friends in Canada, but added one neat twist -- it's now rocking an extra "G." Officially known as the XT860 4G, Bell's version of Motorola's QWERTY slider comes packed with a HSPA+ radio that can handle the 850MHz, 1900MHz, and 2100MHz bands. That means not only can our ice-sweeping neighbors enjoy blazing fast mobile data, but they can roam the globe without sacrificing their deliciously speedy connection. Otherwise, you're looking at the same 4-inch, dual-core Gingerbread device that just launched here in the states. For the moment though, price and availability are still up in the syrup-scented air.
Droid 3 on sale now at Verizon Wireless
Big news for Big Red-eyed fans -- the Droid 3's finally made its dual-core, qHD, global 3G surfin' ways official at the carrier's retail outlets. You can pick this QWERTY slider up now for $199 on a two-year contract, or just go whole-hog and pay $459 with no strings attached. It's not the operator's top of the line offering, nor is it the increasingly mythical Bionic, but it should satisfy your Android needs. Click the source to order the latest in the Droid's lineage.
Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) starts rolling out to Verizon's Droid Incredible 2
Messin' with hacked ROMs? Fuhgetaboutit. HTC's Droid Incredible 2 is finally getting the Android 2.3 it has long deserved, with the luckiest of Verizon Wireless subscribers seeing the update pushed to their phones this evening. The update (coined 2.18.605.4) brings along performance improvements with mobile IM, solved Hotmail sync issues, better device connectivity, a built-in browser bookmark for the New York Times, the addition of the Wireless Charging UI and a new desktop dock app. Don't be shocked if it takes a week to get to your particular phone, but be sure to let us know how things go in comments once your turn arrives. [Thanks, Jimmy]
Motorola Droid 3 up for order, helps to usher in Verizon's new data plans
What better way to open a new era of limited, tiered data plans than to bring it on back to the QWERTY slider that had a huge part in starting the Android revolution? That phone was the original Droid and now its grandchild, the Droid 3, is out of the nursery and up for order on Verizon's page. Full-price is $459.99, but on-contract it'll set you back a quite reasonable $199.99. For that you get a 1GHz, dual-core processor, 16GB of storage, 4-inch qHD display, and an eight megapixel camera around the back. To get it you'll need one of Verizon's new data plans, which start at $10 monthly for 75MB and go on up to $80 for 10GB. Oh, sweet unlimited data, we're missing your soft embrace already. Update: We've added the official PR after the break. Looks like this one won't be making an appearance in stores until July 14th or so. %Gallery-127914% [Thanks, Wyatt and Peter]
Redesigned Droid Bionic wants to fight you, shows up in leaked Best Buy ad
Motorola has sure been taking its sweet time with the Droid Bionic. But hey -- better late than busted, right? We got some hands-on time with the LTE handset way back in January, only to get word in April that the device was going back into hiding while the company made "several enhancements." Rumors about said improvements have popped up in the meantime, and the device has made an appearance on the FCC, but Motorola hasn't done all that much talking about the upcoming smartphone. Looks like the handset may finally be getting its day in the sun -- a newly-leaked Best Buy ad offers up some familiar specs and tough-talking advertising copy, as well as the enticing and vaguely threatening promise that the Bionic is "coming soon." It's worth noting that a Droid Bionic accessory page has been live at Best Buy since February, but sadly, not even this ad gets us closer to a cemented release date.
Droid 3 leaks reveal manual, confirm July 7th and 14th release dates
The oft-leaked Motorola Droid 3 is dripping information yet again, this time over on Droid-Life where an internal flyer confirms it will be available at retail locations July 14th, with direct fulfillment orders (upgrade in-store, get the phone by mail) starting a week earlier. If that's somehow not enough, there's also a PDF copy of the manual available for download but if you watched the tutorial videos there's probably not much new information to be digested there. The one detail that continues to elude us however, is a confirmed price for Verizon's QWERTY slider w/ 1080p camera and dual core processor, but after all the early reveals we're sure you've had time to scrape together a suitable dowry.
Droid 3 accessories leaked, Moto's new slider gets wireless charging back plate and more
So, you've read the rumors, scoped out the leaks, and circled multiple dates on your calendar -- just to cover all of your Droid 3 bases. You can now add a catalog of accessories to the stack of intel for this Motorola slider, including an inductive battery door (most likely harnessing the power of Qi), and a smattering of cases and screen protectors. Also thrown in the mix is a 1930mAh extended battery so you can fuel a marathon of South Park reruns and take full advantage of the last week of unlimited data from Verizon. Although knowing about the accessories is nice, we'd prefer to find out the important stuff... ya know, like how much Big Red's new Droid will cost.
Moto mysteries abound: Droid HD posts to Flickr, new blurry cam pics
Gadget news, like dating and crate digging, is all about the thrill of the hunt. Sure, big press events where you get to manhandle the objects of your desire are fun, but give us Mr. Blurry Cam and some EXIF data any day. With that in mind, we present to you an out of focus pic of what looks like that tweaked Bionic and a reference to the Droid HD on Flickr, coming straight out of the Motorola campus in Libertyville, Illinois (since removed). Now, the two things are not necessarily related, but it's possible that the dual-core LTE handset is getting a new name to match its updated internals and redesigned exterior (though, if it's different inside, outside, and has a new name, is it really the Droid Bionic any more?). We do know that, what began life as the Targa, can capture 1080p video, which matches up nicely with the HD moniker. It's also possible that the pic taker is an as yet unseen device and our (moto)blurry friend above is simply a Bionic destined for another carrier. Either way, we're hooked -- at least until the PR hits our inbox, then it's back in the Mystery Machine.
Star Wars Operation lets you get to the bottom of the R2-D2 booster rocket debate
Let's face it kids, you weren't going to be a doctor. Time to give up on that dream. But what about the equally exciting and significantly less bloody world of droid repair? We all know that robots will soon have a major presence in our society, piloting our spaceships and mingling with our Wokiees (good luck getting into our cantinas, though), so it's probably best to get a jump on these job skills at an early age. With future job markets in mind (ones oddly similar to those experienced a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away), Hasbro is launching a new edition of the popular board game Operation, swapping out the red-nosed Cavity Sam for everyone's favorite rolling trashcan, R2-D2. The game can be pre-ordered now for $27, and it'll start shipping in September, so if you need an early-autumn kid birthday gift for under $30, this may be just the droid you're looking for.
Droid 3 headed to Best Buy on July 14th?
Red-eye alert, all ye Droid faithful! A leaked screenshot over at Droid Attic shows Motorola's worst kept secret -- the Droid 3 -- supposedly hitting Best Buy's shelves on July 14th. With all the unofficial leaks we've seen in the past few months, we have a pretty good idea of what this successor's got running under its QWERTY slider. Favoring a dual-core OMAP 4430 processor, a rear-facing 8 megapixel cam capturing video at 1080p, and baked with latest Gingerbread update, this black block of does shouldn't disappoint. Make note, VZW's new plans go into effect one week prior to this, so if you're clinging to that grandfathered plan, you can still pick this one up on-contract, and cross your toes it gets an LTE surprise. [Thanks, fuzzball]
Pocket Legends teams up with Sony for Xperia PLAY event
Spacetime Studios and Sony recently teamed up to put on a unique event inside Spacetime's Pocket Legends mobile MMO. A new press release touts the "world's first in-game mobile flash mob," which happened during this month's E3 convention in Los Angeles. Pocket Legends players took part in a "Find the Droid" competition in which an Android mascot would make its way through the game world while enterprising players gave chase. The promotion was designed to draw attention to the new Sony Xperia PLAY platform, and Spacetime gave away more than 11,000 themed vanity items during the course of the event. Pocket Legends, the world's largest mobile MMO in terms of downloads (4 million and counting), will be expanding to the Android-powered Xperia PLAY later this summer.
