atrix - 3/4 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Mar

[Rumor] Sprint Set To Launch Versions Of Atrix And XOOM Next Month

Posted by Will Shanklin in Atrix 4G (Olympus), News, Rumors, XOOM

A pretty wild (but completely plausible) rumor has arisen that Motorola's Atrix 4G phone (along with its Webtop dock) and XOOM tablet will be launching on Sprint's network next month. There had not previously been any indication that either of these phones would be tied to any network other than their current carriers (respectively) AT&T and Verizon.

This could potentially be announced at CTIA next week, but the source specifically said that the devices would be announced next month - so perhaps Sprint is focusing more on the EVO 3D for the time being. If true, these would likely serve as the biggest Android releases on Sprint since the original HTC EVO last summer.

Mar

New Swype Beta Update Drops - Adds Atrix Support, Fixes Annoyances

Posted by Will Shanklin in Applications, News

Last Updated: March 14th, 2011

The Swype Beta for Android received an update (to version 2.29.71.20084) today and, in addition to tweaking some of the features that users found to be the most annoying, it brings support to some popular Android devices that previously had no official way of getting the popular trace keyboard.

Perhaps the biggest news from this new version is that the following display resolutions are now supported: QVGA, WQVGA, WSVGA, and qHD. Of course the Atrix has a qHD display so it should now be Swype-ready. The addition of WSVGA resolution is a little confusing, as the primary devices in this category are the Galaxy Tab and the Nook Color.

Mar

[Updated] Did AT&T Just (Sort Of) Address Capped Uploads On Atrix And Inspire?

Posted by Will Shanklin in AT&T, News, Rumors

Update: In response to a Better Business Bureau complaint against AT&T for capping upload speeds, the wireless carrier has acknowledged that HSUPA is not currently available and insists that customers "will continue to have a world class experience" (obviously dismissing the fact that some customers' experiences are far from world class).

AT&T points out that the speeds were not "capped," but are simply not HSUPA-capable. While this does accurately reflect that the carrier was not intentionally throttling data speeds, it seems to only distract from the fact that, on the customer's end, the result is the same.

They say they are currently in the process of testing HSUPA, which will enable high-speed uploads that many customers were led to believe they would have from the beginning.

Feb

Motorola To Offer Webtop Accessories For More Phones, And Gingerbread Updates Are Coming

Posted by David Ruddock in Gingerbread 2.3, Motorola, News

Last Updated: February 4th, 2012

In an investor call today, Motorola's CEO Sanjay Jha revealed two interesting tidbits: first, that the ATRIX 4G's Webtop app and accessory are going to be made available for more Motorola devices in the future, and second, that Gingerbread updates for all of Motorola's high-end Android devices are in the works.

On the former, it may be hard for some to get excited about more Webtop action, as the ATRIX 4G's has been dubbed overpriced and "gimmicky." However, it's important to realize that if Moto plans on continuing to offer Webtop accessories and software, they will also continue improving them. Rather than letting the idea die with the ATRIX 4G, it seems likely that Motorola will work to make Webtop a viable and attractive choice for smartphone users, and that means the technology will have to evolve as time goes on.

Feb

That Was Quick: The Motorola Atrix 4G Now Has Its First Custom ROM

Posted by Will Shanklin in Atrix 4G (Olympus), Development, News

If you're among the early adopters of Motorola's Atrix 4G, you can now install a custom ROM that may give you more flexibility with your snazzy new phone. Developer Design Gears' Adeo ROM is now available for download. While this may not be a ROM that will show any immediately mind-blowing changes to the typical end user, it gives you a reboot option, and more importantly, it's deodexed, which is an important first step that will allow developers and advanced users greater power to modify and replace apps APK files.

While one can install the ROM whether rooted or not, this brings some tricky caveats along with it:

you cannot do a factory reset, or you could end up bricking your prized Atrix
you cannot ever pull the battery, or risk suffering the wrath of the Atrix gods (or something like that)

A tutorial/review of the ROM has hit YouTube, courtesy of MobileTechVideos:

As you can probably tell, the direct usefulness of this one is really going to depend on your level of experience and whether you're a developer or not.

Feb

Motorola Atrix 4G Hitting RadioShack On Feb. 22 For $150, Dock For $330, On Contract

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in AT&T, Atrix 4G (Olympus), News

The Shack has officially announced the Atrix launch details via their Facebook page. The skinny: it lands in the store on February 22 for $150 with a new qualified 2-year plan. If you buy the dock at the same time, you can get it for $330, at a total cost of $480 - or $20 less than you'll pay at AT&T. I'm not looking to beat a dead horse on whether or not that price is too much, so I'm going to skip straight to the deetz:

The device is equipped with features that will blow you away:

MOTOBLUR with Android 2.2 Operating System

Adobe Flash 10

5.0 Megapixel camera with 720p video capture

4”"qHD Display with Touchscreen

1GHz dual core processor that outputs 2x 1GHz of processing speed and 1GB of RAM

4G capable speeds

The ATRIX blurs the line between smartphone and computer with the MOTOROLA LAPDOCK, available in select stores for $479.99*

The MOTOROLA LAPDOCK gives you a full Firefox browser and access to web apps just like on a PC.

Feb

Battle Of The Best: AnandTech Benchmarks 27 Devices, Including 4 Dual-Cores, 3 iPhones, An iPad, A Blackberry, And A WP7 Device

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Android OS, Atrix 4G (Olympus), Devices By Manufacturer, Galaxy S II, News, Optimus 2X (Star, p990), Optimus 3D (p920) / Thrill 4G (p925)

In what's sure to be a hit with hardware nerds, AnandTech has run a suite of benchmarks on 27 different devices. The line-up is dominated by Android, but also includes the iPhone 3GS (both on 4.1 and 4.2.1), iPhone 4, iPad, Blackberry Torch, and the WP7-powered HTC Surround. The results? Broadly speaking, Android comes out looking damn good. As for the dual cores - well, as you'd expect, they performed even better.

The hardware was all over the map, including dual-core devices such as the TI OMAP 4430-powered LG Optimus 3D, the Tegra 2-powered Optimus 2X, and the Exynos 4210-powered Samsung Galaxy S II, all the way through today's run of the mill (single core) high(er)-end devices packing A4's, Hummingbirds, Snapdragons and beyond.

Feb

AT&T Justifies Atrix Dock Price: “It Does More Than A Netbook”

Posted by Josue Alamo in AT&T, Atrix 4G (Olympus), News

AT&T’s announced pricing for the Motorola Atrix Laptop Dock left much of the community scratching their heads. $500 for a gutless laptop? Though the docking capability is innovative, many were put off and vocal of steering clear of the Atrix altogether. Forbes reached out to AT&T for some commenting and were delivered this message from VP Mike Woodward:

“With all the integration between the phone and the dock, you can do more on an Atrix than you can on a netbook,” Woodward explained. “Other devices that try to do this just give you ‘mirror mode.’”

Riiiiiiight.

I’d like to point out that the laptop dock is entirely dependent on the Atrix for function.

Feb

[Updated] AT&T Officially Reveals Release Date, Pricing Details For Motorola Atrix 4G: $200 On Contract, $500 With Laptop Dock

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in AT&T, Atrix 4G (Olympus), Motorola

We're hearing quite a bit of news about the Atrix 4G today, and from all over the web, no less. First and foremost, AT&T has officially revealed that the Atrix will go on sale March 6, for $200 with a two-year contract. Electronista is reporting that you can buy it bundled with the laptop dock for $500; if you choose to buy the phone first (for $200) and the dock at a later date, you'll still end up paying $500 for the dock (bringing your total to $700).

Update: Official press release from AT&T, which also introduces the Entertainment Access Kit, is now included below.

Jan

Motorola's Atrix 4G Promo Video Makes Me Want One Even More

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, Atrix 4G (Olympus), News, Videos

As I've said a few times previously here, I'm buying an Atrix 4G. I will be patiently waiting outside the Santa Monica AT&T store on that fateful February morning, Peet's coffee in hand, alternatively staring blankly into the store's glass and fiddling with my Nexus One. I'll probably be one of a few people there, but that's ok - I'm not a big fan of crowds.

But the battle only begins at the door. I will have to threaten (convincingly) to cancel my contract so that I can get a slightly earlier upgrade window than my agreement currently permits, (I'm not due for an upgrade until April) and pay an extra 50 dollars for the early upgrade fee.