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Sep

Motorola Droid 2 Global Gingerbread Update Rolling Out Now

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Droid 2 Global, News

Last week, Moto and VZW started pushing the Gingerbread update to the original Droid 2, and now its global counterpart is getting the same treatment. The update officially started rolling out in phases earlier today, bringing many new features along with it:

New download manager
App and power management details
Multi-touch key-chording
Improved word selection and copy functionality
New UI and color scheme (read: new Blur)
Updated dock icons
App grouping
Increased device and SD card security
Updated calendar
Improved email and messaging
New ActiveSync email policy

You can also expect improved stability, battery life, and connectivity, as well as new bundles apps (bloatware) like Google Books, Accuweather, Amazon MP3, Blockbuster, and Flash Player 10.2.

Aug

Verizon Will Not Be Getting The Samsung Galaxy S II, Make Ready The Pitchforks And Torches

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S II, News, Verizon Wireless

Samsung has an event coming up on Monday where the US Galaxy S II will finally be announced. We've all been waiting for this beast of a phone to hit US shores for some time, but word just broke that one big name will be left out of the announcement: Verizon. That's right, folks, Big Red will not be getting the SGSII.

It's rumored that VZW will instead be getting the Samsung Stratosphere, a QWERTY-slider along the same lines as the Epic 4G, as well as the Nexus Prime. If that's the case, then I say it's a worthy tradeoff -- the Prime is going to be one device to be reckoned with.

Aug

Motorola Droid Bionic Release Date And Price Outed: September 8th For $299

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Bionic, News

We already know virtually every detail about the upcoming Droid Bionic, and now Phone Arena has snagged a photo of a VZW internal document that basically verifies the last of the rumors: release date and price. We've been hearing rumors of a September 8th date for some time now, and one look at the image shows that pretty much hits the nail on the head. The phone will come in at a minimum advertised price of $299 with a two-year contract, which has quickly become the standard pricing for all of Big Red's 4G LTE phones.

So, now we've seen it, taken a look at the specs, and found out when we can get it and how much it will be -- that pretty much covers all bases.

Aug

Verizon Wireless Expanding Its 4G LTE Market On Thursday, August 18th - Adding 15 More Cities To The Mix

Posted by Cameron Summerson in News, Verizon Wireless

It its ever-expanding conquest for mobile domination, Verizon Wireless will be turning on 4G LTE connectivity in 15 more cities across the nation, as well as expanding in 10 existing markets, on Thursday, August 18th.

In the past eight months, VZW has expanded its 4G LTE network to cover over half of the US, putting it on track to bring LTE to more than 185 million Americans by the end of the year.

Cities affected by this expansion will be:

Tucson, AZ
Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR
Bakersfield and Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, CA
Fort Collins, CO
Frederick, MD
Worcester, MA
Omaha, NE
Council Bluffs, IA
Albany, Ithaca and Syracuse, NY
Altoona and Johnstown, PA
Memphis, TN
Prova, UT

In addition to the new markets, ten existing markets will see an expanded coverage area:

Washington DC
Tampa, FL
Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Lansing, MI
New York, NY
Cincinnati and Columbus, OH
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT

If you're not one of the lucky ones getting LTE tomorrow, don't sweat it -- Big Red shows no signs of slowing down this rollout, so there's a good chance you'll be covered by year's end.

Jul

[Update: Ready To Rage?] Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S II Will Be 4G LTE Enabled, According To The VZW Support Twitter Account

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S II, News, Verizon Wireless

Update: As if we didn't all see it coming (you should see all of the @mentions we received on Twitter regarding VZWsupport's history of ignorance when this post when live), Verizon Support just tweeted that they were actually referring to the Galaxy Tab 10.1, not the Galaxy S II. One of these days, Verizon should probably consider hiring support people that actually know something about the products in which they support, instead of a group of neophytes that know as much about technology as my eighty-six year old grandmother (read: nothing).

[Thanks, @packruler!]

Here's some news that a lot of you have been waiting to hear: the Verizon branded Samsung Galaxy S II will have 4G LTE -- if the @VZWsupport Twitter account is to be believed, that is.

Jul

[Rumor] Is The Droid Bionic Launching On August 4th?

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Bionic, Droid 3, News

Well, isn't this interesting... it appears that Android Central has gotten a hold of a leaked screen with some pretty promising release dates for some highly anticipated phones, including the Motorola Droid Bionic. Let's push that one of to the side for just a moment though and address the first phone on the list: the Droid 3.

We've basically known everything there is to know about the D3 for a while. This image echoes the previously rumored July 14th release date, so I will be really surprised if we don't see the newest Droid incarnation hit the Big Red sales floor in a week-and-a-half.

Jun

[Updated: Existing Customers Can Keep Unlimited Data] Editorial: Why Verizon's Tiered Data Plans Will Punish Everyone - Not Just Heavy Data Users

Posted by David Ruddock in 4G, Carriers, Editorials, Verizon Wireless

Update: According to two separate Verizon memos intercepted by Droid-life, existing Verizon customers can keep their existing data plan pricing when renewing or upgrading. Unfortunately, as with all offers of this type, just how long it will last remains to be seen. But, given that the BIONIC is coming some time soon-ish, it seems very likely that existing Verizon customers will be able to get the device without being forced into tiered data.

This should sate a lot of potentially angry current Verizon customers, but will definitely punish those coming over from AT&T for the iPhone 5 later this year.

Jun

Droid Charge Update On The Way, But It's Not Gingerbread

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Charge (i510), News, Verizon Wireless

It looks like VZW has an update ready for the Droid Charge that should be hitting handsets pretty soon - but it's not Gingerbread. It's mostly a bug fixer, so don't expect anything too astounding to come from it, although the info on Big Red's site does make mention of improved switching between 3G and 4G LTE, which was one of the biggest gripes we had with our review unit.

Other fixes include improved battery life, improved GPS performance, an updated email folder structure, better email and calendar sync with Exchange, and a lot more.

There's no word on when this update will be hitting devices, but you can have a look here for more info.

Jun

[Unconfirmed] [Updated] Samsung Galaxy S II Coming To Verizon In July

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S II, News

Update: According to Engadget, it was just a miscommunication - the VZW spokeswoman was actually referring to the Galaxy Tab 10.1. We knew it was too good to be true.

If there's one device that a lot of us have been waiting on to hit US soil, it's the Samsung Galaxy S II. Reportedly called the Function, Attain, and Within on Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint respectively, this phone has been hotly anticipated ever since its debut at MWC back in February.

ComputerWorld has gotten unofficial word from a "Verizon spokeswoman" that this phone will be hitting Big Red sometime in July.

Jun

Editorial: That Verizon Tethering FCC Complaint? It's Not Going To Do Anything, Here's Why

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Carriers, Editorials, News, Verizon Wireless

If you've been watching the blogosphere over the last few days, you might have seen an article or two about a "complaint" filed with the FCC over Verizon's block on tethering applications in the Android Market.

The complainant's argument goes something like this: Verizon purchased the 700MHz spectrum ("block C" of the spectrum) back in 2007, and that spectrum is now used by Verizon for its 4G LTE service. That purchase, ala Google and other net neutrality lobbyists, came with one seemingly large caveat: Verizon (or AT&T, or anyone who bought in that spectrum) could not "deny, limit, or restrict" the phones using that spectrum in particular ways: phones must be carrier unlocked, able to access all parts of the web, and run any software.