Category archives: motorola

 

 

Switched On: Not weaned from Windows

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Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On , a column about consumer technology. This recent announcement that Dell would not be pursuing new smartphones for the time being following the retirement of its Venue Windows Phone devices raised the spotlight on PC companies — at least those other than Apple — and why they have struggled so mightily in the US smartphone market. Virtually every major PC company, including HP , Dell , Acer , Lenovo , Toshiba and ASUS , has either passed completely on entering the domestic market or released only a handful of models without much carrier support behind them. HP, of course, made the largest investment in mobile with the purchase of an ailing developer of devices and operating systems. But even before that Palm slapped its forehead, HP had only casually flirted with smartphones, releasing a few token Windows Mobile smartphones. PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps. To be fair to these companies, the investment demands of the ultra-competitive smartphone market have proven formidable for many companies, including many, like Motorola, Nokia and RIM, that were once considered masters of the game. Even companies that have not seen such a prolonged decline, like HTC, can find the tables turned on them in the course of a financial quarter. But PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps. Continue reading Switched On: Not weaned from Windows Switched On: Not weaned from Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments

 

FCC Fridays: April 6, 2012

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We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol’ Federal Communications Commission’s site. Since we couldn’t possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we’ve gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy! Continue reading FCC Fridays: April 6, 2012 FCC Fridays: April 6, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments

 

Android 4.0 arriving for HTC Rezound today, Droid RAZR update delayed

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April 4th has come and gone, and sadly, both the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx remain without their promised bites of Ice Cream Sandwich. The latest communique from Best Buy confirms the delay, and similarly, a tweet from Motorola Mobility adds that a new release date has yet to be established. As a touch of silver lining to the otherwise gloomy news, the Best Buy crew reiterates that the HTC Rezound is set to receive Android 4.0 today — in all its Sense 3.6 mediocrity. Cross your fingers, Rezound owners: this looks to be the big day. [Thanks, VoxPCS] Android 4.0 arriving for HTC Rezound today, Droid RAZR update delayed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Droid Life | Email this | Comments

 

Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS

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We were pondering Motorola’s LapDock widget just recently, after seeing a similar Phone-becomes-PC concept based on Ubuntu . Now, due to some happy coincidence, a video has appeared on YouTube claiming to show a leaked update to LapDock’s accompanying software — Webtop 3.0 beta. This version is shown running off the Droid RAZR rather than an Atrix , and it’s now based on ICS with a customized version of the stock browser instead of Firefox. There’s a lot that’s right about turning a smartphone into the engine of a more PC-like experience, especially as docking accessories get cheaper , so hopefully this is evidence that Motorola’s software people really are about to try something new. Continue reading Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink PhoneArena , PocketNow | Revowii (YouTube) | Email this | Comments

 

Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS

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We were pondering Motorola’s LapDock widget just recently, after seeing a similar Phone-becomes-PC concept based on Ubuntu . Now, due to some happy coincidence, a video has appeared on YouTube claiming to show a leaked update to LapDock’s accompanying software — Webtop 3.0 beta. This version is shown running off the Droid RAZR rather than an Atrix , and it’s now based on ICS with a customized version of the stock browser instead of Firefox. There’s a lot that’s right about turning a smartphone into the engine of a more PC-like experience, especially as docking accessories get cheaper , so hopefully this is evidence that Motorola’s software people really are about to try something new. Continue reading Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS Motorola Webtop 3.0 beta captured on video, running off Droid RAZR with ICS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink PhoneArena , PocketNow | Revowii (YouTube) | Email this | Comments

 

Motorola GLEAM+ shimmies onto shelves, into European pockets

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There are many typographical accoutrements manufacturers can hang on existing product names to let you know that this one’s different, better . Motorola’s plumped for the humble “+” to let us know this isn’t just any Gleam, it’s a new, improved beast. So what’s changed since last time ? Well, it’s dropped a dress size first of all, measuring 0.4mm thinner than its elder sibling, and that dot-matrix style outer display now stands much taller. The main screen also jumps from 2.4- to 2.8-inches, sporting a 400 x 240, WQVGA resolution. So, if you’re a fan of the form-factor, and live in Europe (it still only has that dual band GSM radio) then you can get your mitts on it from today. PR after the break. Continue reading Motorola GLEAM+ shimmies onto shelves, into European pockets Motorola GLEAM+ shimmies onto shelves, into European pockets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments

 

Apple ready to license its nano-SIM design for free, on one not-so-nano condition

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If you hadn’t heard, there are two rival nano-SIM designs going around, but only room for one of them to become an industry standard. Nokia, Motorola and RIM sit together in one corner, and we’ve already covered why they think their design is superior. On the other side of the ring sits Apple, which has its own tactics for bringing ETSI, the European Telecoms Standards Institute, over to its way of thinking. According to a legal letter shown to FOSS Patents by a “perfectly reliable source”, Apple is prepared to license its nano-SIM design royalty-free, so long as it becomes the new standard and all other nano-SIM patent holders reciprocate the gesture. Such a gambit may not appease Cupertino’s rivals and it certainly doesn’t address their technical concerns, but it might show that Apple isn’t looking to profit out of this particular format war and is simply continuing its quest for greater clarity on FRAND licensing terms. Then again, it could all just be lawyer-speak. Apple ready to license its nano-SIM design for free, on one not-so-nano condition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | FOSS Patents | Email this | Comments

 

Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012

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Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. 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 we could find during 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! Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012 Refresh Roundup: week of March 19th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments

 

Motorola Connected Home Gateway home automation all-in-one hits the FCC with Verizon tags

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We first got our eyes on Motorola’s Connected Home Gateway home automation box during CES 2012, and now that it’s passed through the FCC it should be ready to do its all-in-one magic in real consumer’s homes sometime soon. What makes this device special is its ability to speak more than one of the various wireless home control protocols currently in use, easily connecting to, controlling and spitting out macros to make multiple things happen with a minimum of user interference or setup. Want to dim the lights, lower the temperature and turn on security cams as soon as you step outside your door? It can do that. This will all be a part of Verizon’s Z-wave based Home Monitoring and Control system at some point, if you’re still wondering what possibilities are out there, check out our CES demo video embedded after the break. Continue reading Motorola Connected Home Gateway home automation all-in-one hits the FCC with Verizon tags Motorola Connected Home Gateway home automation all-in-one hits the FCC with Verizon tags originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

 

AT&T rolls out Android 4.0 to HTC Vivid, other devices getting ICS in the 'coming months'

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Be still our beating heart. Just two weeks ago we heard Android 4.0 — that upgrade lovingly referred to as Ice Cream Sandwich — would be reaching the HTC Vivid “in the coming weeks.” We even saw the update trickle in to select devices last week without any official notice from the mother ship. AT&T’s finally ready to open the floodgates and pour the refresh out to the masses. This download in particular includes Sense 3.6 , but throws in third-party Beats Audio support — a feature that until now has only been seen in version 4.0. If you’re packing a Vivid, just make sure you’re hooked up to WiFi and head to the settings to get your download on. If it doesn’t find the update yet, you also have the option to sideload it from your computer. In the same breath, AT&T also made it known that it’s still hard at work readying ICS for several other devices, and we can expect the updates to arrive “in the coming months.” There aren’t any surprises on the list of candidates: the Motorola Atrix 4G and Atrix 2, Pantech Burst and Element and the LG Nitro are all there, as well as a litany of Samsung devices like the Note, Galaxy S II, Skyrocket, Captivate Glide and Galaxy Tab 8.9. There’s no more information yet, so the lucky owners of each one will just have to remain waiting on pins and needles for yet another undetermined number of months. Find the press release underneath. Continue reading AT&T rolls out Android 4.0 to HTC Vivid, other devices getting ICS in the ‘coming months’ AT&T rolls out Android 4.0 to HTC Vivid, other devices getting ICS in the ‘coming months’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | | Email this | Comments