motoblur
Latest
MOTOBLUR ported to the G1, unreleased CLIQ looks on in envy
It's unclear exactly how MOTOBLUR software might've leaked into the wild, but it's already been repurposed in the best sort of way into a G1-friendly ROM. Despite its beta status it's looking relatively snappy, but there are still some missing elements like WiFi and Bluetooth. If anything it's a testament to how portable and hackable Android is turning out to be so far, and we look forward to the ongoing improvements to Android by diverse manufacturers being disseminated far and wide -- though if Motorola had its way, it'd probably at least happen after the relevant device has hit the market. Video is after the break. [Via OnlyGizmos; thanks Annkur]
Verizon Motorola Sholes not running MOTOBLUR?
We'd been hearing rumors that the Motorola Sholes on Verizon wouldn't be running MOTOBLUR because it's to be a "Google Experience" device, and while that seemed silly at first, it certainly looks like the device Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam was waving around this morning was running stock Android. How can we tell? For starters, Blur has a different 3G icon in the menu bar, and different icons for several apps -- Calendar leaps out to us here. What's more, that certainly appears to be the default Android search box lurking back there, something that's not part of the Blur homescreen. That's definitely odd, considering how big a bet Motorola seemed to be placing on Blur as its handset differentiator -- and doubly odd since the HTC Hero Eric Schmidt was holding at the same photo op was running Sense on top of Android. We'll have to see how this one shakes out when the Sholes is actually launched, but for now we'd say those rumors are looking awfully true. [Image credit: Associated Press, under license; thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola CLIQ / DEXT exhaustively photographed, previewed
The Motorola CLIQ hasn't gone on sale yet, but that hasn't stopped a few units from leaking out here and there -- Eldar at mobile-review just posted up one of the most thorough photo previews of the chunky slider we've seen yet. Interestingly, the keyboard continues to draw mixed reviews -- while we rather liked it when we tried it out, m-r says it's just "okay" and that the five-way rocker "wasn't very handy." We'll have to use this thing a while for ourselves before we make up our minds, but for now, we'd direct you to the read link for a ton more photos. [Thanks, MrArgie]
Motorola CLIQ coming to T-Mobile next month for $200 on contract
Counting down the moments with your besties until T-Mobile USA opens up the pre-order page for Motorola's first-ever Android device? Might as well do something more productive in the meanwhile, particularly since the aforesaid carrier has just announced plans to charge $199.99 for the CLIQ on a two-year agreement. Without a doubt, that's quite a bit more than the $0.00 we gently expected (okay, not really) it to run, but it's pretty much par for the course these days. Existing T-Mobile customers that are interested in getting ahold of this thing (in Titanium or Winter White) early can pre-order one from October 19th through November 1st, while newcomers and procrastinators can get theirs in-store starting on November 2nd. So -- you in, or what?
Motorola impresses with pre-loaded apps list for CLIQ
October 19th may be under a month away, but that's still an eternity in "waiting years." Thankfully, Motorola has posted up a handy guide that spells out exactly what kind of pre-loaded software comes with the CLIQ, and we've got to say -- the list is fairly impressive. For starters, users will get access to LastFM, an array of Google features, Yahoo! Mail (funny, real funny), Digg, Mint, Facebook, Twitter, Travel Channel, MTV and Amazon's MP3 Store. On top of all that, Moto's throwing in QuickOffice -- a piece that demands $9.99 on the iPhone -- as well as TeleNav Navigator, which has also found itself on a few other Android-based smartphones over the centuries. Hit the read link for the full list, but only if you don't mind the tease.[Via Phandroid]
Motorola CLIQ promotional material surfaces, confirms October 19th pre-order start
Can you feel it? Can you feel Motorola rushing back to relevance? If you're still in need of a bit more encouragement, have a gander at this. What you're looking at is official T-Mobile USA promotional material for the upcoming CLIQ, and interestingly enough, the whole brochure is in the shape of the phone it's advertising. You won't learn much from flipping through the pages (though the screengrabs are appreciated), but you will notice that pre-orders are set officially begin on October 19th -- just like we knew they would. You know, when it shows up as free on contract.
Switched On: How Motorola's CLIQ could start to drag
Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. For many celebrities, 2009 continues to be a year of endings, but at least two handset pioneers have pinned their hopes on rebirths this year. Following Palm's return to its roots with a homegrown operating system earlier this year, Motorola has committed to a new smartphone direction with Android and its BLUR social contact architecture. Motorola's first announced Android device, the CLIQ, is less distinctive than Palm's Pre or Pixi, but advances the horizontal keyboard slider form factor that provided a successful launchpad for the T-Mobile G1. With high-volume competitors Samsung and LG also planning to release Android devices and HTC marrying Android to its Sense user interface, though, Motorola has incentive to differentiate with software. All smartphones must decide where they want to integrate and where they want to provide a platform for innovation. RIM, for example, has integrated what is still the best e-mail management application into the BlackBerry (although its lack of HTML email and IMAP support are real drawbacks these days) and Apple has integrated both its own Safari browser as well as services such as Google Maps. But now companies such as Palm and Motorola are integrating social networks, and that could have some downsides.
Motorola looking to bring Android to 'all the US operators'
T-Mobile doesn't get to have all the fun with the CLIQ -- we know with some certainty that the Sholes is destined to bring Motorola's Android push to Verizon, and if CEO Sanjay Jha has anything to say about it, the fun doesn't stop there. Speaking at an analyst conference, Jha mentioned yesterday that his company is "in talks with all large operators in the US," meaning that Cellular South and Cincinnati Bell are probably out of luck in the short term -- but AT&T and Sprint are likely getting the full-court press to sign up for a MOTOBLUR-powered phone or two as we speak. The US (and really, the entire world) is still fairly Android-starved with only a small handful of big-name models actually circulating in retail, so another manufacturer actively trying to get carriers on board isn't going to hurt -- and considering Moto's impetus to turn big profits on the double, we bet these guys are putting on some slick, convincing, promise-filled presentations in the boardrooms.
Motorola CLIQ: first hands-on impressions (update: with video)
The wait's killing us for a proper hands-on with this thing, but we just had a chance to very briefly touch -- yes, touch -- the CLIQ as we wandered the show (and ran into tnkgrl in the process). Here's what we can tell you: Despite the MSM7201a core, the UI is definitely faster than any factory ROM we've used before on any Android device. A good test of this is to quickly swipe open the app drawer -- the action's smooth on the CLIQ, whereas most Magic ROMs would stutter. The screen is glass capacitive, and it feels that way. There's no "give" like you've got on a G1 or Magic, for example. Expanding on the glass screen, the device feels absolutely fantastic overall. Through Motorola's thick and thin, you've got to admit that the company has a reputation for building ridiculously rock-solid phones, and we're pleased to say that the trend is continuing with the CLIQ. Pictures don't do it justice -- the white model looks particularly cheap at a glance -- but in the hand, it feels like it's fashioned from a solid block of metal. The camera button has a focus detent, which makes it a heck of a lot easier to properly harness the power of your 5 megapixel autofocus optics. The jury's still out on photo quality, but it seems promising and focusing is relatively quick (though our disappointment in QVGA 24fps video still runs pretty deep). This probably blew Google's mind, but MOTOBLUR has five home screen panels along with a small indicator similar to the iPhone's to show you which one you're currently on. Who knew that someone might want more than three? [Yes, we know HTC's bringing additional panels to the table in Sense as well -- thing is, stock Android doesn't, which a majority of Android phones in circulation still run. It'd be nice to see Google take something like this into the trunk in Donut or Eclair. -Ed.] The keyboard feels great. Truly stellar, actually -- and we don't think there's much room for complaints about layout, unless you're really into the dedicated horizontal number row. We'll have more thoughts this evening once we've spent more quality time... you know, "clicking" with the CLIQ. Sorry. Update: More screenshots of CLIQ and MOTOBLUR UI, including the back panel designs and some comparison shots. Interesting to note that the keyboard aspect of the device is just slightly thinner than the iPhone 3GS. Update 2: Now with more video!
Motorola CLIQ: first hands-on impressions
The wait's killing us for a proper hands-on with this thing, but we just had a chance to very briefly touch -- yes, touch -- the CLIQ as we wandered the show (and ran into tnkgrl in the process). Here's what we can tell you: Despite the MSM7201a core, the UI is definitely faster than any factory ROM we've used before on any Android device. A good test of this is to quickly swipe open the app drawer -- the action's smooth on the CLIQ, whereas most Magic ROMs would stutter. The screen is glass capacitive, and it feels that way. There's no "give" like you've got on a G1 or Magic, for example. Expanding on the glass screen, the device feels absolutely fantastic overall. Through Motorola's thick and thin, you've got to admit that the company has a reputation for building ridiculously rock-solid phones, and we're pleased to say that the trend is continuing with the CLIQ. Pictures don't do it justice -- the white model looks particularly cheap at a glance -- but in the hand, it feels like it's fashioned from a solid block of metal. The camera button has a focus detent, which makes it a heck of a lot easier to properly harness the power of your 5 megapixel autofocus optics. The jury's still out on photo quality, but it seems promising and focusing is relatively quick (though our disappointment in QVGA 24fps video still runs pretty deep). This probably blew Google's mind, but MOTOBLUR has five home screen panels along with a small indicator similar to the iPhone's to show you which one you're currently on. Who knew that someone might want more than three? [Yes, we know HTC's bringing additional panels to the table in Sense as well -- thing is, stock Android doesn't, which a majority of Android phones in circulation still run. It'd be nice to see Google take something like this into the trunk in Donut or Eclair. -Ed.] The keyboard feels great. Truly stellar, actually -- and we don't think there's much room for complaints about layout, unless you're really into the dedicated horizontal number row. We'll have more thoughts this evening once we've spent more quality time... you know, "clicking" with the CLIQ. Sorry. Update: More screenshots of CLIQ and MOTOBLUR UI, including the back panel designs and some comparison shots. Interesting to note that the keyboard aspect of the device is just slightly thinner than the iPhone 3GS. Update 2: Now with more video!
Motorola CLIQ listed for free on contract at T-Mobile, $400 straight-up
We'll caution you -- this could all just be one big misunderstanding (or a case of the fat fingered admin), but Motorola's newly launched CLIQ is currently listed for $0.00 on contract over at T-Mobile (and $399.99 with no strings attached). Available in both Winter White and Midnight Titanium, the outfit's first-ever Android phone can't actually be added to one's cart (trust us, we tried... repeatedly), but if these figures are right, we can surely say that the barrier to entry on higher-end smartphones will soon be demolished. Giddy yet?Update: Aw, seems like someone on the other end already caught wind of the slip-up and yanked it. So, can we take that as confirmation?%Gallery-72491%
Video: Motorola CLIQ gets demoed in detail
CLIQs are pretty hard to come by in the wake of Motorola's big announcement today, but we flagged down an all-too-nice rep who showed off the phone's major talking points. Though it's got the same old Qualcomm MSM7201a beating in its chest that we've found in countless other Android and WinMo phones -- not anything thoroughly modern like Snapdragon -- we're feeling cautiously optimistic that MOTOBLUR is snappier in day-to-day use than HTC's competing Sense. The built-in widgets Motorola is supplying look top-notch with a ton of spit and polish (seemingly without sacrificing speed or usability), so all told, we think Moto's been really cranking this year baking this platform to a golden crisp. Follow the break for the epic demo, and pay special attention to the white model when the rep pulls it out -- the back was supposed to be stylized Morse code that reads "I love Friday nights," but apparently they ran out of space, so it's now just random dots on a cover. At least it still looks cool, though, and that's the important thing.
Motorola CLIQ finds a home on T-Mobile's website
Lookie here! Those who thought Motorola was messing around with the revitalization of itself best take notice, as the company's CLIQ -- which was literally just announced moments ago -- has already surfaced on T-Mobile USA's website. At least initially, T-Mob will be the exclusive carrier for the phone in America, and it'll be shipping in both black and white. Sadly, there's no clues yet as to when it'll launch and how much it'll set you back, but feel free to hit that read link if you're interested in subscribing to updates.[Thanks, Micah]
Motorola CLIQ runs Android, headed to T-Mobile
Motorola just announced its first Android handset, the CLIQ, which is headed to T-Mobile by the fourth quarter, or in time for the holidays. As you'd expect, it runs the new MOTOBLUR Android skin, and Moto's calling it "the first phone with social skills" to highlight the social networking integration. It'll come in two colors, Winter White and Titanium, and have a 3.1-inch 320 x 480 screen, 3G, WiFi, and a five megapixel camera that'll also shoots 24fps video. Internationally, the CLIQ will be known as the DEXT, and it'll be on Orange, Telefonica, and America Movil. It will also be far less ugly than we all expected from those Morisson leaks. %Gallery-72460%
Motorola introduces the MOTOBLUR Android skin
As expected, Motorola just introduced its Android strategy at the Mobilize conference, and it's based around a skin called Blur -- or MOTOBLUR if you're feeling cute. It's built around social networking, and it features live widgets that integrate Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, MySpace, Yahoo, Last.fm and more. Like Palm's Synergy, Blur aggregates all your contacts into a single address book, but it shows you recent status updates along with photos when contacts call you -- very slick. There's also remote wipe and GPS tracking like MobileMe.%Gallery-72455%
