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Motorola intros MOTOMAGX mobile Linux platform
On the same day that Palm names Wind River Systems as its preferred Linux provider, Motorola has gone and unveiled a new mobile Linux platform of its own. The "next-generation" MOTOMAGX package is supposed to "lay the foundation to deliver new levels of openness, flexibility, and support for third-party applications on Motorola mobile devices." Notably, Moto also stated that up to 60-percent of its handsets would be based on Linux "in the next few years," and announced that the MOTOROKR Z6 and RAZR2 V8 mobiles would be the first two based on the platform. Best of all, developers interested in creating applications for the MOTOMAGX platform using Java ME can get their hands dirty today by downloading the corresponding MOTODEV Studio, and be on the lookout for WebUI and "native Linux plug-ins" to be available to "select" individuals by the end of Q4.
Motorola RAZR 2 V8 hands-on
Oh fun, we finally got to fool around with a fresh n' new Motorola RAZR 2 V8 on our own time. (The last time we caught one was at its launch -- we were a little rushed and had a severe lack of decent lighting.) Unfortunately, Moto's only JUIX device-equipped RAZR 2 is the 3G-free V8 (the V9 has HSDPA, but uses their crappy Synergy interface, as does the EV-DO capable V9m), but it was nice to take it for a spin even if we couldn't get high speed data on it.Funny thing about the RAZR 2, even though the internal screen is 0.2-inches larger, it's actually the external display that seems more capacious. Also, don't laugh, our favorite part about this thing is the rear -- it's just got really nice, clean lines. The rest, well, it's a Motorola phone, so take that how you will and adjust your expectations accordingly.%Gallery-3738%
Motorola's ROKR E2 reviewed: welcome, what took you so long?
Sure, the ROKR E1 musicphone never quite lived up to the hype. Not by a long shot. Still, don't count Moto out of the musicphone game just yet. Mobile Burn got their hands on the followup ROKR E2 and come away "really happy" from the review. For starters, this "solidly built" tri-band GSM / EDGE candybar features Motorola's new JUIX (a Java / Linux mashup) user interface which Mobile Burn swoons over due its new tabbed menus and overall speed. In particular, the address book has been improved "by leaps and bounds" over other Motorola phones. Even better, the much maligned 100-song cap in iTunes is gone, as is the iTunes software. Instead, a new "integrated player" (hint: it supports RealAudio) is used to playback music loaded onto your favorite SD card -- up to 2GBs now supported. Music sounded "excellent" with adequate bass and the dedicated music controls along the side of the phone worked well. And like all good musicphones, it features a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack for use with any off-the-shelf cans, an off-line mode for listening to music on an airplane, and the ability to play music in the background while using other phone functions. The keys were a "joy to use" with good tactile feedback and the 2-inch TFT screen was found to be "really sharp and bright." With such a positive review, all we can say is this: welcome back to the game Moto.
