Hasta La Gadget!

A couple of changes for Motorola this morning. First up is a new version of Moto’s Media Link iTunes sync software. Media Link version 1.5 is available now for Mac users or March for the beige box bunch. More importantly, perhaps, is a new version of Motoblur with enhanced location, messaging, music, and gallery features. The new Connected Music service features streaming lyrics and a social aspect that lets you follow the tracks your friends are listening to. Connected Gallery unites your photos and videos with your friends’ online albums from sites like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, and Picasa. Aloga, meanwhile, is a Motoblur-integrated location-triggered push platform that provides third-party publishers with information about your location, identity, and social relationships. The idea is to offer users non-intrusive information about places, events, or bargains for the “channels” they select. Look for the new Motoblur to arrive on “recently announced devices” like the Cliq 2 and Atrix 4G. Full detail in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Motorola updates Motoblur and Media Link client for Macs and PCs

Motorola updates Motoblur and Media Link client for Macs and PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On this fateful day in 2006, Engadget Mobile was born — and the world has never been the same. Of course, we never would’ve made it this far without you, our dear readers, so we wanted to give something back… and we think you’ll like what we’ve come up with.

The Motorola Aura is one of the most unique handsets ever to come out of Schaumburg, featuring a circular display covered with a 62-carat sapphire crystal along with a rear window that lets you marvel at the action of the watch movement-like swivel mechanism. At its launch in late 2008, it retailed for some $2,000 in limited quantities — and it remains a collector’s item today. It won’t out-game your iPhone or out-email your BlackBerry, of course… but as an evening or weekend phone, there’s probably not a better conversation piece out there. Want it? Read the rules and regs below!

Thanks to Motorola for providing us with the Aura!

The rules:

• Leave a comment below. Any comment will do.
• You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you’ll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
• If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you’ll be fine.
  
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. One winner will receive one Motorola Aura.
  
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
• Entries can be submitted until Sunday, February 20, 2010, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
• Full rules can be found here.

Engadget Mobile turns 5 today — help us celebrate with a Motorola Aura giveaway! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What the what?!

[Thanks, Joe and Magid]

Motorola Xoom up for pre-order at Best Buy this Thursday… for $1,199! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s little doubt that today’s smartphones are pocketable computers — they’re equally or more powerful than the desktop PCs of yesteryear — but what about dumbphones? Well, in US v. Kramer, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals just held that a Motorola Motorazr V3 fits the federal statutory definition for a computer — and quoted Woz in the opinion: “Everything has a computer in it nowadays.” Seems a bit silly to call a RAZR a computer, but courts can only interpret existing laws, not make new ones — and US law says a computer is “an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other high speed data processing device performing logical, arithmetic, or storage functions.” Because this was the first time a federal appeals court had ruled on the issue, the Eighth Circuit set a precedent that other courts are likely to follow. And yes, the court is aware such a definition may include microwaves and coffee makers, and informed Congress that it should change the law if it doesn’t like it. Regardless of whether you agree, this interpretation added some jail time for a guy who pled guilty to trying to engage in sexual activity with a minor, so the mild absurdity of it all is fine by us. Somewhere Chris Hansen is smiling.

Eighth Circuit declares RAZR a computer under federal law originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At last, the webOS-empowered TouchPad, HP’s answer to the growing tablet market. And make no mistake, it’s coming in with guns blazing — specs-wise, the slate stands up pretty well to the competition currently in play (e.g. iPad) and the other up-and-comers not quite out the gate (e.g. Motorola Xoom and BlackBerry PlayBook). Stacked side-by-side, it’s clear Apple’s entry is lacking a bit in both memory (256MB vs. 1GB for everyone else) and front-facing camera — not that we expect that to be the case for all of 2011. When it all comes down to it, what’ll set these slates apart will be the platforms and software themselves — should make for an interesting summer, no? In the meantime, for the nitty-gritty on technical specifications, venture past the break.

Continue reading HP TouchPad vs. iPad vs. Xoom vs. PlayBook: the tale of the tape

HP TouchPad vs. iPad vs. Xoom vs. PlayBook: the tale of the tape originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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