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As a personal user of the DROID RAZR M, I've got to say that Motorola's 2012 line of branded DROIDs have held up remarkably well. That's due in no small part to frequent and relatively speedy updates. The latest one doesn't come with a new version of Android (they're running 4.4.2 at the moment), but it does have a few security enhancements and improvements to the default messaging app.
I used the Motorola DROID RAZR M as my primary phone for over six months. I was in between jobs, my not-so-trusty Galaxy Nexus had been smashed, and I knew from previous experience that Motorola's resurrected RAZR line had tough builds and good radios. While it was ostensibly a "budget phone," that ugly little DROID RAZR M was the most reliable Android device I had ever owned. When I got back on my feet, I skipped flagships from Samsung, LG, and HTC, and went straight for Motorola's next DROID phone.
The Moto E is Motorola's bid to dominate the low-end and developing markets, but that doesn't mean it's not worthy of attention from developers. As always with new Android phones, Motorola has posted the kernel source code for developers (and anyone else who wants to mess with it) at their official GitHub page.
If you've bought a DROID phone from Verizon and Motorola at some point in the last two generations, you've got an update coming soon. The carrier posted update materials for all 2012 and 2013 Motorola DROIDs: RAZR M, RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, Mini, Ultra, and Maxx. The older phones are getting upgraded to Android 4.4.2, while the newer DROIDs just get a stability update.
Beta tests for new software releases aren't anything new for Android phones or tablets - they're often referred to as "soak tests," especially when manufacturers and carriers are involved. According to an anonymous tipster, Motorola is instituting a new confidential test program, giving at least some users access to much earlier updated builds for Android phones. Our source says that he or she was invited to test out a KitKat 4.4.2 build for the DROID RAZR M.
Motorola is continuing its tradition of being transparent about which devices are on the docket for OTAs. The company's online tool has been updated to indicate several new devices will be joining the Android 4.4 fold.
If you're still rocking a DROID RAZR M on Verizon, get ready for a little OTA update action. This phone may be last year's news, but it's not forgotten. Well, at least not completely. No, it's not getting an update to 4.2 (let alone something newer). Instead, this is mostly a maintenance update.
The folks on the CyanogenMod team are always adding new devices to their ever-increasing list, and over the last few days they've added no less than eleven more. According to a pair of Google+ posts, there are new officially-supported phones and tablets including two Barnes & Noble Nooks, a ton of Motorola devices, and a few Samsungs thrown in for good measure. Here's the full list:
Verizon's Motorola DROID RAZR M And DROID RAZR HD Now Available In Blue
Blue makes a lot of things better - berries, rhapsodies, alternative percussion groups. Whether or not Motorola's RAZRs look better with an azure paint
Blue makes a lot of things better - berries, rhapsodies, alternative percussion groups. Whether or not Motorola's RAZRs look better with an azure paint job is something we'll leave up to you. Verizon is now selling blue versions of both the mid-range DROID RAZR M and the flagship DROID RAZR HD, though the latter is more of a trim than a full paint job. Both versions were spotted by notable tipster @evleaks about three week ago. The blue RAZRs are available for purchase online now, and should be in Verizon retail stores starting today.
Verizon Announces RAZR M Software Update (Version 98.15.66), Brings Mostly Bug Fixes
Verizon just announced a new maintenance update for the DROID RAZR M that brings various fixes to the device, including improved Wi-Fi connectivity, voice
Verizon just announced a new maintenance update for the DROID RAZR M that brings various fixes to the device, including improved Wi-Fi connectivity, voice call volume, and visual voicemail connectivity. The camera's touch-to-focus is now also better, apparently, and the camera itself will take better low-light photos. Expect the update to roll out in the next week or two. You can see the complete changelog in the image below.
If you own a RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, RAZR M, or Atrix HD, and you've been waiting for the day when sweet bootloader-unlocking goodness arrives, wait no more: Dan Rosenberg has come to the rescue yet again.
[Deal Alert] Get The Pink DROID RAZR M For Free From Best Buy Mobile (New Accounts And Upgrades)
Get The Pink DROID RAZR M For Free From Best Buy Mobile
Yesterday, Verizon welcomed the bright pink Motorola DROID RAZR M into the fold just in time for V-Day. Sure, it's essentially the same device as the existing RAZR M, but c'mon – it's pink! That's a pretty niche color, so I'm sure there are lots of Android fangirls out there who just can't wait to get their hands on this little guy. And now, they can do just that for free at Best Buy Mobile – a $50 savings over Verizon's in-store price. Considering the pink variant hasn't shown up at Amazon Wireless or Wirefly yet, Best Buy seems to be the only place running the deal so far.
It's time to call up the DROID RAZR M family and congratulate it on a new, slightly much girlier addition. Minutes ago, Verizon Wireless put up the bright pink Valentine's Day-themed variant of the 4.3" Jelly Bean-sporting device for sale on its website.
If you've got some spare holiday cash burning a hole in your pocket, now might be the time to jump on the RAZR HD deal Amazon is offering. If you pick up the device from Amazon Wireless right now, it's only going to run you $99 – no matter if you're a new customer or not. Previously the device was priced at $130, and then only if you were new to Big Red.
Update: Amazon just updated the deals and dropped many of the prices down for customers looking to upgrade. For example, the RAZR M is now also just a penny for those renewing.
Motorola promised that the Razr M would get its taste of Jelly Bean before year's end. Of course, when we hear "before year's end," it's just assumed that means December 29th or 30th. In this case, we have been pleasantly surprised, as the M's JB update is on its way out now.
If you were thinking about picking up one of Motorola's newest Android handset, maybe this will push you over the edge. Android tinkerer Dan Rosenberg has published a root exploit that should work on almost all of Motorola's recent devices including the RAZR M, Atrix HD, Photon Q, RAZR i, and the upcoming RAZR HD.
Back when Motorola announced the RAZR M, HD, and MAXX HD, they promised Jelly Bean before the end of the year. Looks like the M may be first on the list to get the update, because a leaked build (4.1.1/9.8.1Q_25/35) showed up online last night. We chose to hold off on posting, as Artem started this thread on XDA so we could get some feedback before telling users to flash a buggy or incomplete ROM. The initial reports have been good, so we feel comfortable recommending the ROM at this point.
Update: AllThingsD, reaching out to Motorola, and received the following response: