Bionic - 3/6 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Sep

Video: DROID BIONIC Boots Into CyanogenMod 7 For The First Time

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Bionic, Development, Motorola, Verizon Wireless

The Android dev community has a well-deserved reputation for releasing new versions of ROMs at breakneck speeds, and they're not slowing down with the newest kid on the block, the Motorola DROID BIONIC. In fact, @cvpcs has already ported CyanogenMod 7 to the device, and though he isn't ready to release it just yet, he has put out a video to whet our appetites:

Of course, since this is the very first time the BIONIC has successfully booted into CM7, there are plenty of bugs, including:

No radio connectivity
No charging
Issues with battery reporting
No audio
No camera

Regardless, this is certainly a viable first chapter in the BIONIC's ROM development, and we look forward to the continuation of the saga.

Sep

Motorola Droid Bionic Can Now Be Restored To Stock In Case Of A Brick

Posted by Ron Amadeo in Bionic, Development, Motorola, News

Did you recently do something horrible to your Droid Bionic? Tired of staring at that red Motorola logo? This freshly released recovery file will have your bionic running like new in no time.

Interestingly, Motorola has changed the recovery file format from the tried and true SBF file to the XML based FXZ file. There's isn't a huge difference between the new and old file format, but according to Brief Mobile's head honcho, Kenneth Pennington, FXZ is "more transparent and customizable." So there's that.

For the end user the process is the same as it's always been. The gist is:

install the Moto drivers
connect your Bionic to the PC
open RSD Lite
load the recovery file
flash.

Sep

[Deal Alert] Motorola Droid Bionic $175 From Wirefly For Both New Contracts And Upgrades - Today Only

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Bionic, Deals

We may have already featured the Bionic for $180 from Amazon Wireless, but that deal only applies to new contracts, so existing VZW customers are left paying nearly full price. It's always hard to get a price break while using an upgrade, as the best deals are generally reserved for customers looking to switch carriers.

However, Wirefly has a deal going right now where anyone can grab this LTE beast, for $175 (normally $250) by using coupon code BIONIC75, regardless of whether you're a new or existing customer. Of course, if you are an existing customer, you have to be eligible for upgrade, meaning you've completely fulfilled your existing agreement.

Sep

[Tip] The DROID Bionic Has FM Radio - Tune In Using The DROID 3 Radio APK

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Bionic, Tips & Tutorials

Last Updated: September 14th, 2011

If you're one of a handful of people who have been wondering whether or not the new Droid Bionic has FM Radio capabilities, the folks at Android Central forums have confirmed that it does, and that the radio APK from the Droid 3 will let you listen whenever you want. It definitely works on our review unit:

The only thing required for the APK to work is a set of headphone plugged into the phone to act as an antenna. The app does have the option to play via the rear speaker however, so you aren't constrained to a set of ear buds (technically, you just need a wire with a 3.5mm plug).

Sep

DROID BIONIC Review: This Is The Phone That The DROID X2 Should Have Been

Posted by David Ruddock in 4G, Bionic, Motorola, Phone Reviews, Reviews, Verizon Wireless

The DROID BIONIC has probably been the single most anticipated Android smartphone in the US. Since its unveiling at CES, subsequent total re-design, and sort-of-delayed release, it has been a long and winding road for Motorola's newest flagship handset. Verizon's massive marketing arm hasn't failed to promote this thing, either - walk into any Verizon store and you'll see employees garbed in BIONIC t-shirts, armed with BIONIC accessory display boxes and a tailor-made marketing spiel, ready to meet you with more LTE and dual-core madness than you can shake a stick at.

So, it's safe to say, this phone has spent extensive time in the hype machine.

Sep

And The Winner Of The Droid Bionic In The Giant Special Edition Giveaway #7 Is...

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Bionic, Contests / Giveaways

Last Updated: September 21st, 2011

With over 3800 entries from Facebook, Google+, and Twitter (in order of popularity), it's now time to conclude the 7th "special edition" giveaway and announce the winner of the brand new Droid Bionic, the lapdock, the HD docking station, and the Webtop adapter.

Before I move on to the winner, selected at random, I'd like to thank Android Stack Exchange for providing the prizes and an excellent platform for asking and getting quick answers to all your Android questions.

And now - the winner!

Unfortunately, since there is only 1 grand prize and over 3800 entries, the chance of winning one is...

Sep

Video: DROID BIONIC First Impressions

Posted by David Ruddock in 4G, Bionic, Motorola, News, Verizon Wireless, Videos

I've had the BIONIC just about 24 hours now, and that's enough time to draw a few, basic conclusions about the phone. It's not sufficient for a full review, obviously, but if you're itching to know more about how using the BIONIC is from an Android addict's perspective, you might want to check out my first impressions video.

Basically, I discuss the phone's hand feel, display, performance, and a few other less noteworthy items. It's a bit more than you'll get from walking into a Verizon store and playing with a display model for 5 minutes, but it's a lot less than what you'll see in our full (and extensive) review, which should be coming some time in the next few days.

Sep

[Update: Now $120 Off] Deal Alert: Droid Bionic Available For $179.99 ($120 off) From Amazon Wireless

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Bionic, Deals, Motorola, News

With Verizon's Droid Bionic page having just gone live, it is inevitable that deals will begin springing up. Well, the first one didn't take long.

Update: The price just dropped even further by another $20 - to $179.99. Amazon is turning up the heat!

Amazon Wireless is now offering the Bionic on a new 2-year contract for ~~$199.99~~ $179.99. That's a cool ~~$100~~ $120 off the price that Verizon is offering direct from their website. The catch is you may have to wait a few days, as the phone is currently listed as backordered, but it'll likely change very soon (the Bionic did just get released officially minutes ago).

Sep

The Droid Bionic Page Goes Live On VZW.com - Available For $299.99 With A Two-Year Contract, $589.99 Without

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Bionic, Motorola, News

For those who have been patiently waiting, the Bionic is finally upon us - VerizonWireless.com just launched the Droid Bionic page where the device can be purchased for $299.99 on a new two-year contract with free overnight shipping or $589.99 outright.

For those who may have forgotten, here are some of the specs the Droid Bionic boasts:

1GHz Dual-core processor
4.3" qHD display
Verizon 4G LTE
HDMI/Mirror mode
Remote Access
LTE hotspot capability
1080p video capture

The page also features a cool 2-minute video showcasing Bionic's features and accessories, so head over to VZW.com to check it out, and then decide for yourself if Verizon's most powerful phone to date is going to find a new home in your pocket.

Sep

Droid Bionic Accessory Roundup: Extra Stuff To Help You Rule All Machines With Style

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Bionic, News

They say that a smartphone is only as good as its accessories, and if that's the case, then the Bionic must be among the best. (Okay, they don't really say that, but everyone loves extra stuff for their phone.)

We've taken a look at what Moto has to offer in way of extras for its new flagship, and decided to put together a list for those who may be new to Motorola devices, or perhaps Android in general.