Motorola - 10/56 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Jul

Motorola MOTOACTV Updated To Version 7.10/7.11, Bring A Host Of Bug Fixes

Posted by Nate Kimmey in ACTV, News

Motorola has released yet another pair of updates for their Android-based sports watch, the MOTOACTV, bringing the version number up to either 7.10 or 7.11, depending on your model. The 7.10 update is only for devices that already have the golf features installed, while the 7.11 update is only for some versions of the 8 GB ACTV that do not have the golf features. Fortunately, you don't have to do anything to determine which update to download - simply plug your ACTV into your computer and the MOTOCAST software will download the appropriate update.

Both version of the update include the following bug fixes:

Fix “Application Force Close” in WORKOUT and NOTIFICATIONS.

Jun

Unannounced Motorola Device On Sprint Leaked: Features QWERTY Slider, ICS, And On-Screen Buttons

Posted by Nate Kimmey in News, Sprint

It seems Motorola is having a tough time keeping its upcoming releases under wraps. First, a press shot of the Dinara (believed to be the Atrix 3) was leaked, and now somebody grabbed a shot of an unannounced Motorola device heading to Sprint.

Similar to the Dinara leak, the device seems to be running a fairly light version of Motorola's custom skin. While some icons are changed it appears that the Android 4.0 launcher remains mostly intact. Also similar to the Dinara is the presence of on-screen buttons. But this unnamed phone's biggest differentiator is a sliding, 5-row QWERTY keyboard.

Jun

Motorola 'Dinara' Press Shot Leaks, Possibly Coming To AT&T As The Newest Successor In The Atrix Line

Posted by Cameron Summerson in AT&T, Leaks, News, Rumors

It seems like we've been hearing about a Motorola device headed to AT&T codenamed "Dinara" for eons now. A new press shot of this elusive device has now fallen into the hands of The Verge, and it shows a very different handset than the one sharing the same codenamed that was released in China last year.

As you can see, this device is definitely running Ice Cream Sandwich, with a seemingly tolerable version of Motoblur (or whatever they're calling it these days) slapped on top of it. It's rumored to have a 720p display, and is said to be the newest successor in the Atrix line, though we're not sure if it will be called the Atrix 3, Atrix HD, or something entirely different.

Jun

Verizon 4G Xoom Android 4.0 Update Now Rolling Out, Manual Download Available

Posted by Nate Kimmey in Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Verizon Wireless, XOOM

It's been a long time coming, particularly for the pioneer Android tablet, but the Ice Cream Sandwich update for Verizon's 4G Xoom is rolling out today as expected. The update brings the Xoom to the very latest version of Android available - 4.0.4.

An over-the-air rollout has started today, but if you are too impatient to wait for that, you have the option of installing the update manually (this method requires the use of a USB host cable):

Download the update here.
Place the file on a USB stick.
Turn off the device.
Enter Recovery by pressing Volume Down at the "M" logo, then pressing Volume Up.

Jun

MOTOACTV Updated To Software Version 1.7.2/1.7.3 – Enhanced Workout Planning, Better Accuracy In Tow

Posted by Liam Spradlin in ACTV, Motorola, News

Motorola's MOTOACTV smartwatch, which the manufacturer bills as the "world's first GPS fitness tracker with smart mp3 player, all in one," began receiving a software update yesterday, bringing the device's standard model up to version 1.7.3, while its golf-oriented counterpart ascended to version 1.7.2.

Software version 1.7.3 includes a handful of improvements, including more flexible workout planning, the ability to create dedicated heart rate zones for different activities, Facebook and Twitter viewing capabilities, easier Wi-Fi setup, and more.

The golf-centered MOTOACTV's update is largely the same, but includes (surprise) added golf functionality:

To improve game tracking, we added tee location options, more choices for ball lie marking and the ability to track the distance of your putts.

May

[Weekend Poll] Google + Motorola: A Match Made In Heaven, Or A Disaster Waiting To Happen?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Google, Motorola, Polls

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see Voice Control Apps: Future Or Fad?

A few days ago, David argued that Google's now-approved purchase of Motorola will change the Android game. Hell, that much should really be pretty obvious - they now have access to virtually every piece of the smartphone puzzle in their hands. At first thought, that seems like a good idea for reasons that are probably obvious to most people reading an Android blog: a more pure Android experience. But as David pointed out, the tie-up has unnerved Android's biggest manufacturers and may push them to explore other directions.

May

[Editorial] It's Time To Stop Complaining That Your Smartphone Isn't "Revolutionary"

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Editorials

Last Updated: July 4th, 2012

The last few years have been really exciting. Heck, the whole last decade. The explosive proliferation of broadband brought about a whole new world of possibilities for mankind, and the mobile revolution, even moreso. From about 2007 to the present, we watched as Apple and Google, as well as a host of phone manufacturers, turned the world upside down by putting powerful, location-aware, internet-connected, touchscreen mini-computers in the hands of everyday consumers for a price that is relatively affordable.

It's been five years, though, since the first iPhone came out, and nearly four years since the first Android device. Android fans, and indeed the entire tech world, is getting a little bored.

May

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX Drops To $150 On Amazon Wireless For New Customers, Still $199 For Upgrades

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Deals, News, RAZR / RAZR MAXX

Been thinking about switching over to Big Red? Amazon Wireless has a good deal for you: the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX for $150. Aside from the Galaxy Nexus, the MAXX is the only other device on VZW at the moment I feel comfortable recommending to people looking for an upgrade, and $150 is a pretty good deal.

If you want to make it an even better deal, though, you should buy it today. Why? Because Verizon will give you a $40 credit if you do. But that deal ends tomorrow, so make haste with your purchase decision. But don't be too hasty - we all end up regretting those impulse buys.

May

Google And Motorola's Shotgun Wedding Is Final - And It's Definitely Going To Change Things For Android

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Editorials, Google, Legal, Motorola, News

Today, Google announced that its acquisition of Motorola Mobility had officially closed. Make no mistake, this merger is something of a shotgun arrangement - and the offspring conceived out of wedlock is Android. So, how did we get here, two and a half years after the first DROID?

A Brief History Of Motorola And Android

Motorola was once Google's model manufacturer partner. At least in the US, it produced what was the most popular "first generation" Android smartphone, the original Motorola DROID. The OG DROID was responsible for "hooking" many people on the operating system, whether through endlessly modifying and tweaking the device, or simply for its stellar build quality and reliability (those things were little tanks), it was truly the work-horse that first brought Android into the hands of a large number of people here in the US.

May

China Approves Google's Acquisition Of Motorola, Deal Expected To Be Finalized Next Week

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Google, News

When we last heard about Google's deal to buy Motorola, the EU and the US had approved the deal. The one major market we were left waiting on is China and now, according to the Associated Press (known around here as "the other AP"), the country's regulators have given Google the green light. The deal is now expected to close next week.

The biggest asset of the deal is, of course, Motorola's 17,000+ patents. Google has already promised that it will not interfere with Motorola's dealings and continue to operate the company entirely independently. The approach would make sense in the context of rumors that Google would be expanding it Nexus line.