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MOTOBLUR name phased out due to public feedback
The first rule of MOTOBLUR is do not talk about MOTOBLUR. Not in public at least. We got a bit of a mixed message on the matter, while discussing the newly announced Motorola Photon 4G with the company. Representatives mentioned the UI by name during our hands-on, but failed to discuss the proprietary Android skin in any press materials discussing the device. Asked what precisely is going on with the interface, a Motorola spokesperson confirmed CEO Sanjay Jha's earlier comments that the handset manufacturer is moving away from the name, adding that the decision was due in part to public feedback. Pieces of the UI's social functionality will remain present on devices, however, combined with more enterprise-focused features delivered as part of the company's purchase of 3LM. Of course, all of this not talking about MOTOBLUR certainly hasn't stopped the company from singing its praises.
Motorola leaks Xoom 2 tablet, Tracy XL watchphone, and Slimline, Zaha, Targa, and Pearl handsets
So here's the story: Pocketnow was able to snatch some screengrabs from a Motorola Mobility site redesign. The image above (and two more after the break) is what they saw. In addition to the Tracy XL homage to the Dick Tracy watchphone, we can also see the back of the Slimline handset and the front of the Zaha. The grabs also show a bit of the "Xoom 2" tablet and Pearl handset along the bottom of the screen in addition to a fleeting glimpse of the previously rumored Verizon LTE handset known as Targa. And you know what makes this all truly compelling? The fact that Motorola made Pocketnow remove the images from its site.
Droid Bionic benchmark reports PowerVR GPU, new SOC inside?
A very strange thing popped up on mobile graphic benchmarking site NenaMark the other day -- an entry for the Droid Bionic. Now, it would be very easy to fake this test, and you'd be right to be skeptical given the incomplete score and the fact that it's reporting PowerVR's SGX 540 GPU, instead of the Tegra 2 we saw at CES. But, let's not be too hasty -- we heard back in April that NVIDIA's mobile chip wasn't playing nice with Verizon's LTE. Perhaps when Motorola said it was delaying the Bionic to incorporate "several enhancements" it really meant "rebuilding the phone with a more LTE friendly CPU." Both Samsung and Texas Instruments use the SGX 540, and Moto has previously turned to TI's OMAP for the Droid, Droid 2, and Droid X. Then again, a single, suspiciously low benchmark score isn't the most convincing basis for a rumor.
Motorola Droid X2 official at $200: launching online May 19th, in stores May 26th (update: in some stores on 19th)
Motorola and Verizon have finally stopped teasing us and have made the Droid X2 official. This is a 4.3-inch Android (2.2, to be upgraded to 2.3) smartphone with a qHD screen resolution and a dual-core 1GHz processor. An 8 megapixel camera with continuous autofocus and HD video recording graces the back. The X2 will cost the usual $200 on contract and will be available to buy online tomorrow, May 19th, before making its way out to stores a week later, on May 26th. Leap past the break for the full PR. Interestingly, we've also spotted the close proximity of the USB and HDMI ports on the side of the new X2. That arrangement is reminiscent of the one on Motorola's Atrix, where the two connectors served to hook that handset up to its laptop and multimedia docks. We don't know whether the Droid X2 will fit into the accessories designed for the Atrix, but it looks sure to be strapping itself into a dock of some description in the near future. Update: NVIDIA has confirmed that its Tegra 2 chip is the heretofore unnamed 1GHz dual-core chip inside the Droid X2, which just happens to be Verizon's first dual-core smartphone. Update 2: A little birdie tells us you may be able to pick up this bad boy in person in some stores as soon as tomorrow (May 19th). Your mileage may vary, but let us know in the comments if you manage to buy one. Update 3: Sure enough, they're on shelves. Matt sent us a pic, which is after the break.
Music Beta invites now flying to Xoom owners, Google's server farms seen weeping in the distance
After 5000 music-lovin' I/O attendees warmed up Google's servers, it appears that the company has now finished its presumed installation of four zillion exabytes of new hard drive capacity. We're exaggerating, obviously, but probably not by much -- we've received a flood of tips today (as well as an invite amongst ourselves) noting that Music Beta is finally being opened up to Earthlings in the "real world." Specifically, Motorola Xoom owners. In case you've forgotten, that entitles you to free (for now) access to a cloud storage locker where 20,000 of your hits can be saved and streamed. Curious to know if it's worth the time to upload? Have a peek at our in-depth preview right here, and be sure to let us know if your invitation has come through in comments below. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor
Hey Motorola, your unannounced phone is showing. The Droid X 2 is spending this morning hanging out on the bright and airy support pages of motorola.com, though you may also spot it sneakily listed alongside some compatible accessories on vzw.com as well. Yes, the leaks are now happening from official sources, too, indicating an imminent landing for what we've confirmed to be a dual-core 1GHz Android smartphone with qHD resolution on a 4.3-inch display. Those long-rumored specs were revealed by the Droid X 2's user guide, which Moto has kindly provided at the link below. So thoughtful! [Thanks, 3vil]
Motorola promises more Atrix-like laptop docks for future phones
Motorola's Atrix 4G laptop dock was a seriously sweet concept, which is why we were so disappointed when it failed to pan out. Sounds like Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha is ready to give it another try, though -- on the company's earnings results call this past week, he told investors that Moto is planning a whole series of Lapdock devices in the second half of the year: You will see multiple devices from us in the second half launching with these capabilities, and we will expand the range of our Lapdock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both the enterprise premium tier as well as more consumer tiers. "We plan on introducing successive iterations of our Webtop software and accessories that incorporate improved productivity tools and multiple price points," he also said, echoing previous promises to include Webtop in all high-end smartphones starting this summer. Perhaps those closely spaced I/O ports on the Droid Bionic and Targa won't go to waste after all? If you simply can't wait, Sanjay claims there's also an official price drop inbound for the Atrix 4G -- AT&T will offer a bundle with the Lapdock and phone for $400 later this month.
Sprint starts selling Motorola Xoom WiFi (not WiMAX) May 8th for $600
We've gotten multiple clandestine clues that Sprint would sell the Xoom -- a calendar entry here, an accessory there -- but there was nary a confirming peep from the Now Network itself. Until today, when it announced that it would join the legion of retailers peddling the Wi-Fi version of Motorola's tablet for $599.99 on May 8th. That's right, the carrier will start selling folks the sweet Honeycomb slate soon enough, but a Xoom sans Sprint cellular data is a bit of a letdown. One question, Mr. Hesse, when will we get one with WiMAX? PR's after the break.
Motorola tests update for Atrix 4G, includes HSUPA support
Sure, AT&T set a self-imposed deadline for HSUPA support on the Atrix 4G, but it's waited until the last possible moment to turn in the completed assignment. Soon after hearing that a hack can flip the upload switch to "speedy", we learned that beta testers have been handed an over-the-air update to version 4.1.83. Motorola's site lists the changelog and vaguely mentions that the update brings "increased speed at which data can travel on the network." While such a statement implies the update will crank the HSUPA knob to 11, reports from testers are backing up the theory left, right, and center. Aside from the elephant in the room, the new update should bump the Atrix 4G to Android 2.2.2 and bring improvements to Wi-Fi, Skype, and email, along with a fix for the occasional frozen display bug. Of course without AT&T making this update widespread, and with only three days left in the month, it looks like we might have to dock points for tardiness. Follow the source link for all the nitty gritty details.
Motorola promises unlocked bootloaders for future Android phones? (update)
Android users have spoken, and maybe, just maybe, Motorola actually heard -- AusDroid claims to have a statement direct from the mobile phone manufacturer promising unlocked bootloaders later this year: We completely understand the operator requirement for security to the end user, and as well, want to support the developer communities desire to use these products as a development platform. It is our intention to enable the unlockable/relockable bootloader currently found on Motorola XOOM across our portfolio of devices starting in late 2011, where carriers and operators will allow it.Wonderfully corporate of them to pass the buck to the carriers, no? This quote comes by way of a gentleman who petitioned Moto for just such a thing, mind you, so please take it with a grain of salt, and you'll be the first to know if we get confirmation from Motorola itself. Update: AusDroid managed to get in touch with Motorola North Asia, and it sounds like we're looking at the truth -- let's see if Sanjay Jha agrees when he wakes up tomorrow morning.
Motorola XT316 introduced to FCC, won't be staying in America
The FCC spends a good chunk of private time with countless handsets, a majority of them never even making it onto American shelves. The Motorola XT316 took its turn at a meet-and-greet with the Commission, and has the paperwork to prove it. If you're shooting off blank stares in our direction right now, an explanation is in order: the XT316 is an even smaller version of the Droid Pro with a passport specifically stamped for China. Details are scant at the moment, but we do know it will be a 2.8-inch Froyo candybar with a portrait QWERTY keyboard and WCDMA 850 / 2100 bands. If you are at all intrigued by such a device, we're going to break your fragile hearts; the XT316 won't have complete 3G connectivity in the US, so it almost certainly will not be picked up by any of the major carriers.
Droid Pro update gets rolling, features microSD encryption and improvements galore
Motorola is now pushing out another update for its business Droid, replete with enhancements for the corporate-types and average joes alike. Among the most significant changes are AES256 encryption for internal storage and microSD cards, plus additional ActiveSync policies and VPN enhancements -- all certain to make your IT admins smile. Improvements don't stop there, with Moto refining voice call quality, stability, performance, and updating the Google apps. Hungry yet? The company says it's rolling out the update in phases, so check your eligibility often, because you may just be among the lucky first wave. Hey, there's nothing like a firmware update to get your week started on a positive note. Follow the source link for a full list of the new goodies. [Thanks, Tim]
Motorola bringing Froyo to Bravo, seeks guinea pigs to test it
Have you spent one too many sleepless nights clinging to your Motorola Bravo, fantasizing about Flash Player and mobile hotspots? There may not be an app (nor a pill) for that, but it seems that the devs over at Motorola's Owners' Forum are anxious to make those bouts of insomnia a part of your past. And as if that wasn't enough to take the excitement level up a notch, a pre-release version -- the final firmware check -- will be doled out to a thousand hopeful participants willing to give the Froyo update a test drive. Successful candidates will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis and selected through "valid registration responses," so we'd encourage all the dreamers out there to hustle down to the source link and follow the sign-up directions. [Thanks, Josh]
Motorola Xoom UK pricing official at £580 for 3G and £480 for WiFi-only
Motorola has now confirmed that the latest round of prices the Carphone Warehouse, PC World and other UK retailers are listing for its Xoom tablet are indeed the officially sanctioned price points for the Honeycomb slate. After being listed at £600 for the 3G model and £500 for the WiFi-only version initially, the 32GB-equipped 10-incher is now mercifully £20 cheaper, at £580 and £480 for each variant. A quick glance at Apple's online store tells us that those levies match up exactly to what a corresponding 32GB version of the iPad 2 will cost you, signaling Motorola's intent to at least be on par in terms of pricing. Stores are still showing the Xoom under a pre-order status for now, but that should be changing swiftly if Motorola wishes to live up to its promise of availability this very week.
Motorola's SocialTV app will turn your Xoom or Atrix into a communicative couch companion
Whether you look at stats or your own limitless experience, you know very well that humanity spends too much time staring at tubes, screens, and other unnatural visualizers. Motorola isn't really here to fix that ailment, but at least it's converging the uses of some of those device classes with its introduction of a SocialTV Companion Service. Designed to turn your smartphone, tablet or laptop into a, you guessed it, TV companion device, this new software serves up social networking, complimentary content, real-time chat, TV show ratings, and interactive (as opposed to what, non-interactive?) games. Basically, since you spend your TV-watching time idly browsing away on your Xoom anyway, why not fuse the two things together and "generate some incremental revenue" for your service provider in the process? We presume the new SocialTV stuff will be rolled out in app form, Moto doesn't dish up those details or give us a launch date. If only we had an app to tell us when to expect new apps to arrive.
Droid X2 reappears in the wild, still indistinguishable from Droid X
You've seen it before and now you're seeing it again. The Droid X2 that Motorola seems unwilling to announce has made another unsanctioned appearance in the wild. It's still rocking Android 2.2 and there's sadly no indication of any LTE goodness for it, but we suspect the changes that justify the 2 in its name will be happening under the hood. The 8 megapixel camera round the back comes with the same dual-LED flash array and HD Video label as the original Droid X, once again giving us no hint of what exactly Motorola's upgraded. Then again, what's the fun in knowing everything in advance?
Motorola Xoom officially landing in UK next week, still has to finalize pricing and SKUs
As much as we love our rumormongering, a good hard confirmation never goes astray around these parts, and we've just heard directly from Moto that its Xoom tablet will be arriving in the UK next week. When precisely, we don't know, but the major electronics retailers will all be playing their part -- Dixons (and its subsidiaries Currys and PC World) plus the Carphone Warehouse were specifically named. As to pricing, we've seen pretty strong indications that it'll be £500 for the WiFi-only version and £600 for the 3G-equipped one, though there's no immediate confirmation about which (or if both) will be coming next week. Either way, the important thing is that the world's first Honeycomb tablet will be on sale in some form just as soon as the next British fiscal year gets started.
HTC EVO 3D, EVO View 4G specs revealed ahead of Sprint's CTIA announce?
All signs are pointing to a Sprint blowout at CTIA next week -- and we'll be there, of course! But ahead of that, BGR's claiming a few additional details on the headline devices we scooped not long ago that Sprint should be showing for the first time at the show -- namely, the EVO 3D and EVO View 4G tablet. On the EVO 3D side, this bad boy is shaping up to be a proper EVO 4G successor with a newer 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 processor, 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D 960 x 540 display (which, like the rumored Pyramid, suggests HTC is following the qHD trend set by Motorola), a whopping 1GB of RAM, 1080p video out, 1.3 megapixel camera up front, and -- of course -- dual 5 megapixel cameras around back for stereoscopic capture. The rumor also pegs Gingerbread at launch along with 3D versions of the Blockbuster and YouTube apps to make sure users have plenty of 3D content out of the gate; that tidbit seems particularly believable considering that YouTube introduced high-quality mobile playback on the EVO 4G last year. As for the EVO View 4G, it's shaping up to be a CDMA / WiMAX remix of the Flyer -- as expected -- complete with pen input. They're also expected to confirm that the Xoom will be coming in a Sprint flavor (with WiMAX in place of Verizon's LTE, of course) and will be launching "in the coming weeks or months." Looking like it's going to be tough for any other carrier to go this deep at the show -- but hey, we invite 'em to give it a shot.
Motorola Droid 3 for Verizon breaks cover once again
Want some more Droid 3 eye candy? If you just recently bought a Droid 2, the answer is probably "no, please, no" -- but nonetheless, we've got some for you. A couple more shots of the rumored refresh have popped up on HowardForums once again, showing off a QWERTY keyboard that looks largely similar to the one it's replacing with one very, very notable exception: it's a 5-row deal this time around with what appear to be half-height keys for the numeric row. People love 5-row keyboards, so if this is legit -- and we really have no reason to doubt that it is -- that feature alone could move a lot of phones. More on this soon, we hope.
Motorola makes WiFi-only Xoom official: $599 on March 27th
Sanjay Jha and various leaks already told us as much, but here's the official word: the WiFi-only Motorola Xoom is launching on March 27th for $599. Retail availability will be truly widespread, with Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Staples and Walmart all offering up the Honeycomb tablet. Other than the omission of the 3G and 4G radios of the original Xoom, you're basically looking at an identical hardware package. That includes a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, and a 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution.
