Hasta La Gadget!

Last week Verizon confirmed that they would be rolling out Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for the Motorola Droid RAZR HD and Droid RAZR MAXX HD, and the good news is that according to several reports from users, it looks like the update has begun to roll out in earnest en masse. Apparently the update had begun to roll out to several users earlier this week, although it seemed to be on a small scale, perhaps as a test run to make sure that nothing major stood out before Verizon and Motorola began to push out the update to the masses. As expected, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update will introduce a variety of changes and new features to your mobile devices, such as the replacement of the Motorola Blur on-screen navigational buttons to the stock Android versions, Project Butter which should result in a smooth experience, and Google Now. According to those who have received the update, it’s about 276MB in size, which while pretty substantial shouldn’t take too long to download over WiFi or LTE. If you have received the update, let us know in the comments below on how it is treating you!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: LG Says Nexus 4 Demand Is Just Too Huge, ZTE Nubia Z5 Leaked With Full Frontal Shots,

Remember a while back we reported that Verizon employees would soon be able to get their hands on special edition models of the Droid RAZR MAXX HD, Windows Phone 8X or the DROID DNA? Well if you were hoping that some enterprising Verizon employee would put his or her model up on eBay, thanks to a leak we may know how what to expect. Pictured above appears to be the Droid RAZR MAXX HD but with a different back designed meant exclusively for Verizon employees. It features a pretty hypnotic looking design and the power button has been colored red as well, pretty nifty! Each model will be marked with the “LIMITED EDITION” text and will feature a number to indicate its limited availability, but apart from the facelift, don’t expect the internals of either handset to differ from the original. In any case we expect that these special edition handsets will appeal to collectors or to those who have the need to stand out from the crowd, so keep an eye out on eBay or Craigslist if you think that this is a handset you wouldn’t mind owning.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung ATIV Odyssey press rendering leaked, HTC Droid DNA revealed once more in alleged leaked press rendering,

Back in September, Motorola Mobility announced that some of its handsets from 2011 and later wouldn’t be making the jump to Jelly Bean. In an effort to smooth things over with exiled customers, the company pledged that it would offer a $100 rebate to those who trade up to a select Motorola smartphone. Today, the Google-owned Android maker has released a list detailing which phones qualify for this promotion. If you’re among the many who purchased a Droid 3, Droid X2 and Photon 4G, it looks like an official update to Android 4.1 is out of the question. It should be noted that this offer doesn’t affect your wireless contract’s terms and conditions (read: ETF may still apply). However, if you’re just aching to pick up a Motorola phone that released in 2012, then why not score a $100 credit for your troubles? Move past the break to see which other devices made didn’t make the cut.

Continue reading Motorola lists phones that won’t get Jelly Bean, offers $100 credit to buy a phone that will

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

Motorola lists phones that won’t get Jelly Bean, offers $100 credit to buy a phone that will originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 20:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shopping for a smartphone can be an exciting and arduous experience. Along with the promise of something new and fantastic, it brings the fear of commitment, and even worse, the prospect of saddling yourself to a lousy device for two years. Fortunately for you, Engadget spends tons of time playing with the latest gear and we’re constantly on the lookout for what’s coming next. If you’re wanting to take the pain out of shopping for a smartphone, you’ve come to the right place. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: your one-stop resource to finding the best and most exciting handsets on the market today.

Before you dive in, however, we’ve introduced a few changes to the buyer’s guide, so take a minute to prepare yourself for what’s in store. First and foremost, you’ll now find alternate selections to supplement our top picks. This should already be familiar to many of you, which is the same format we use for our seasonal gift guides. The next one is a biggie: we’ve dropped the QWERTY selection. By and large, manufacturers and carriers alike have shifted their focus away from keyboard-equipped smartphones, and you’ll rarely find more than one option on any given carrier. That said, if you still insist on the tactile experience, you’ll always find everything you need to know in our reviews. Finally, whenever possible, you’ll now find prices from Amazon Wireless, which allows us to provide you with more compelling budget selections and highlight the substantial savings that you can score by circumventing the carriers. It’s not like they need your charity, anyway.

If you’re curious to see how it all unfolded — and we know you are — join us after the break, where we round up the very best smartphones of the season.

Continue reading Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2012 edition

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, HTC, Nokia, Google, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, LG, T-Mobile

Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: fall 2012 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While company executives on both side of the divide have spoken of “firewalls” between Google and Motorola, there’s clearly some perks to being a wholly owned subsidiary. The handset maker has announced that it’ll be the first to ship smartphones with Mountain View’s Chrome for Android pre-installed. We’re expecting to see it front and center on the Droid RAZR M next week and the RAZR HD and RAZR Maxx HD later this year.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile

Motorola launching first devices with Chrome for Android pre-installed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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