Motorola XT615 drops by the FCC

Dear Federal Communications Commission: this doesn’t get said often enough. We love you. We really love you. Whether you’re tipping us about shiny new gadgets headed for the states, slicing up wireless spectrum like a holiday ham or keeping certain carriers from merging and creating an anti-consumer megagiant, your subtle influence on the mobile industry is much appreciated by those of us in the tech blogging world. Case in point: the Motorola XT615.

This non-symmetrical phone has been spotted in China and Taiwan sporting a 9.8mm profile with a 4-inch, 854 x 480 screen, putting it in the upper end of the mid range. There’s been no word on a United States carrier just yet, but the version that the FCC is currently checking out is tuned to Radio AT&T quad-band. That probably means that the Gingerbread phone is several months away from release, if at all.
The design’s certainly unique, with a blue tabbed cutout on the glass front surrounded by white plastic. An 800mhz processor won’t fly, but it’s good enough for basic apps. The 8MP camera is pretty good for the mid-$300 unlocked price range (in China, anyway) and I’m happy to see that Motorola hasn’t completely abandoned the physical camera button.Once again, thanks, FCC – now how’s about getting rid of those annoying PDFs on your website?
[via Engadget]

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Motorola DROID 4 may release December 8th

Are you QWERTY lovers feeling left out of the superphone game as of late? Well if you’re on Verizon or intend to go there soon, you may have reason to to celebrate in a couple of weeks. According to yet another internal Verizon leak, the fourth generation of the original Motorola Droid is due Thursday, December 8th online and in retail stores. The device keeps the slider functionality of the primary DROID line, but throws in some more recent Motorola styling and Verizon LTE.

So far, the rumored and absolutely unconfirmed DROID 4 specs include a 4-inch Super AMOLED Advanced display that’s essentially a slightly smaller version of the one found on the DROID RAZR. The phone clearly shares the tapered lines found on its skinny sibling, as well as the ones spotted on the XOOM 2/XYBOARD. The keyboard remains at five rows with backlighting. ICS will have to wait, as the DROID 4 will release with Gingerbread. Processor, RAM and on-board storage are question marks at this point.
Those waiting for that other Verizon phone will no doubt note that December 8th is the latest in a long line of rumored release dates for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus’ Verizon LTE version. There’s still no official word on either phone, so we’ll simply have to wait to see if these rumors pan out. The track record so far has not been promising.
[via Droid-Life]

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Motorola DROID RAZR source code released

Android hackers and RAZR fans alike can rejoice today as Motorola has just released the source code for their new and popular DROID RAZR. It was announced back in October and became available earlier this month and now all the developers have full access to the code if needed.


As you can see in our image above the phone is still a little locked down, as usual with Motorola the bootloader is locked down quite tight. Some modders might be worried with a non-removable battery but we found out it actually does come out — it just takes some effort.
The source code will allow the full development and modding to really begin, for those that aren’t familiar and hopefully we’ll be seeing some progress for this amazingly thin and sleek phone soon. Covered in Kevlar now we just need some Ice Cream Sandwich and it’d be perfect. The DROID Bionic has some CM7 ports under way but I have a feeling most of the development community will be aiming for Android 4.0 ICS for the RAZR. We’ll be sure to update once some ROM’s start becoming available.
RAZR source code

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Motorola Razr vs Nokia Lumia 800

Nokia's Lumia 800 is the company's first Windows Phone powered smartphone, and the device looks to have it all in its toolbox. With Nokia's famed build quality, Microsoft's up and coming OS and some Carl Zeiss optics thrown in for good measure there's no doubt the Lumia 800 can hold its own in today's market.

Its adversary in this comparison is no chump though. Motorola's Razr XT910 takes all of the company's mobile nous, which has now been expanded through Google's acquisition, and adds a touch of dual-core magic, to create a device which has been generating plenty of positive press.

Which of these contenders will come out on top though?

Display
Motorola's Razr comes with some pretty impressive screen technology, in the form of a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen that operates at a resolution of 540 x 960 and offers-up a pixel density of 256PPI.

Nokia's Lumia 800 isn't terribly far behind though, with a 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, running at 480 x 800 and boasting a pixel density of 252PPI.

By now we should all be well aware of the virtues of AMOLED displays, and these two devices are all the better for their inclusion. Power demands are low, blacks are pitch, colours are vivid and your media will look brilliant.

Motorola's Razr takes the tape in this round though, simply because its Super AMOLED is brighter, offers better sunlight legibility and demands less power than its AMOLED cousin.

Winner - Motorola Razr

Power
Nokia has imbued the Lumia 800 with more power than it's ever given a device before and the performance given by the single-core 1.4GHz Scorpion CPU is, as always, impressive and dependable.

The Snapdragon chipset also features a reliable performer in the Adreno 205 GPU, which will have your games and eye-candy running perfectly.

The device features a Windows Phone standard 512MB RAM, which is by no means a hindrance, but could hamstring the device's future development.

Motorola's Razr weighs-in heavy in the running-gear stakes though, and its 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU is more than a match for the Lumia 800's single-core processor.

On top of its dual-core CPU, the Razr offers PowerVR SGX540 graphics and 1GB RAM, making it the choice du jour if you're all about the power.

Winner - Motorola Razr

Camera
Nokia's long and productive relationship with Carl Zeiss continues with the Lumia 800 and the device's 8-megapixel camera, which also benefits from auto-focus, dual-LED flash, 720P movie capture and geo-tagging, takes impressive photographs in ideal conditions.

Unfortunately the Lumia 800 falls flat when you're trying to snap impromptu shots though. It can be slow to focus and is pernickety about what it considers to be 'ideal' conditions, meaning your subject may have popped off for a brew by the time your Lumia 800 snaps your picture

Motorola's Razr has an 8-megapixel camera too, and it's performance is solid overall. The camera features an LED-flash, touch-focus, geo-tagging, face detection, image stabilisation and 1080P video capture, and the end product greatly benefits from these additions.

On top of a decent primary camera, the Razr also offers a 1.3-megapixel secondary, so you can video chat on the go, a feature that is noticeably absent in the Lumia 800.

Winner - Motorola Razr

Software
The Nokia Lumia runs on Microsoft's newly updated Windows Phone 7.5 platform, and the OS has gone from strength to strength.

In addition to the solid foundation, users now have the benefit of multitasking, Internet Explorer 9, threaded message support and a universal inbox which brings all of your email accounts into one.

The tile system has been improved too, and they now contain more live information and keep you up to date better than before.

On top of these improvements you get access to the Windows Phone Marketplace for all your app needs, and it has to be acknowledged that Microsoft has done a sterling job growing the platform in this respect.

Motorola's Razr runs on Google's erstwhile Gingerbread platform, and features all of the positive elements that made version 2.3 of Android so popular.

The OS runs smoothly, offers the user plenty of scope for customisation and improvement and, of course, allows you to access the hundreds of thousands of apps available in the Android Market.

On top of the solid Android base, you have a few unique customisations from Motorola too, such as custom screen switching and transitions, neat on-screen QWERTY and tweaked media player, not to mention a few decent widgets.

Judging either of these devices purely on their OS is an impossible task, because what pleases us may not please you, and vice-versa. But what we can say, with a good degree of certainty, is that both of these devices are fast, reliable and very easy to use.

Winner - Draw

Form & Build
Nokia Lumia 800 - 116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm, 142 g
Motorola Razr - 130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm, 127 g

Both of our contenders come from manufacturers that know how to assemble a robust, long-lasting device.

The Nokia Lumia 800 is a fine example of Nokia's handiwork. It feels balanced and comfortable in the hand, and the polycarbonate chassis looks good and will protect the device if it's dropped or whacked.

The Razr is similarly durable and, we were also pleased to note, shared the Nokia's premium feel. The device feels comfortable in the hand, and at 7.1mm thick isn't going to be a burden in anyone's pocket, making it a great choice for any lover of high-end smartphones.

Both device's feature Corning's stellar Gorilla Glass™ too, so you won't have to worry about the odd bit of key or coin damage!

Winner - Draw

As good as Nokia's Lumia 800 is (and that is pretty damn good), it isn't quite on a par with Motorola's Razr, and the XT910 has taken the win today.

Motorola's device is slim, light and performs at lightening pace thanks to its dual-core running gear, and the dependable performance of Google's OS is a huge selling point.

In fact we couldn't find much to dislike about the XT910 at all, if truth be told, especially considering it now comes with an unlocked bootloader!

Nokia has upped its game with the Lumia 800 though and the phone is a worthy entry into the esteemed list of Windows Phone 7 devices.

If you're a devotee of Microsoft's OS, or a fan of the Finnish manufacturer then you could do far worse than choosing the device as your day-to-day smartphone, and its appeal gives us confidence that Nokia is now moving in the right direction.

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Motorola DROID Receives Security Fix

The original Motorola DROID is finally getting some attention with a quick security fix update. No, this isn’t the official update to 2.3 (Gingerbread) that we had hoped for, but it’s an update none the less. These two security updates will only be available to those OG DROID users out there with a completely stock ROM, kernel, and recovery.

There is still a very strong OG DROID following over on XDA, and we should certainly see these security patches incorporated into some custom ROMs soon. For those still running stock however, click here to download the FRK76 security update. To install this be sure to rename the download to “update.zip” and place it on the root of your SD card. After powering down your DROID, reboot into recovery (by holding down the X and Power buttons). You should then select “Apply update.zip from SD Card”.
You should then be good to go! But lets be honest, if you haven’t rooted your device and are not yet running CyanogenMod 7, at least give it a chance! It’s easy and will definitely give your OG DROID the pep in its step that should have been there all along.
[via Droid Life]

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Motorola Xoom 4G LTE for $199 and more from Verizon on Black Friday

I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty more deals for Black Friday over the next few days so you’ll all just have to wait until you see something worthy, then go big and get one. My local Best Buy had 5 tents already waiting yesterday — talk about nuts. For those on Verizon or looking for a good deal they’ve just announced a few of their own and we have the details below.

Be sure and stay tuned to verizonwireless.com/black-friday for all the information once that page goes live but in the meantime check out the details and the image below thanks to DL. Verizon will be offering a few awesome devices for free or very cheap come Friday and you wont want to miss these awesome deals, especially if you’ve been waiting for some.

First off, no they don’t mention a word regarding the Galaxy Nexus (anger) so we are still waiting on that front, but you could get a DROID Incredible 2 completely free if that if your sort of thing. Here’s what we know:
–Motorola XOOM for $199 with a new contract
–Red DROID Incredible 2 for FREE (Friday only)
–Sony Xperia Play and LG Enlighten for FREE
–LG Revolution for $49.99 (Friday only)
–Double data for smartphones still going on ($30 for 4GB)
–Free activations
Nothing extremely amazing here although the Motorola Xoom will most likely be one of the first tablets to receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich so this would be a great time to snag that for just $199 — not to mention it will be the 4G LTE model. For now be sure and stay tuned right here at Android Community as I’m sure we’ll have plenty more deals all week and hopefully — hopefully details on the Galaxy Nexus.
[via DL]

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Motorola DROID XYBOARD (Xoom 2) 8.2″ Tab spotted with Verizon 4G LTE branding

We’ve seen plenty of the Motorola Xoom 2 and its smaller 8.2″ brother being called the media edition but today we have a clear image of the 8.2″ model imprinted clearly with Verizon Wireless 4G LTE. This isn’t really anything new as we figured it would obviously land on Verizon just like the original Xoom, but now we have an official picture not to mention we are hearing that absurd name is official too.

If you were like me and thought the name “Xoom” was terrible then wait to you hear the new name. They’ll officially be calling the Xoom 2′s the DROID XYBOARD — Most likely meant to evoke the term “cyborg.” Either way the name sounds a bit ridiculous if you ask me and I think a 12 year old could come up with something better. As you can see from the design if you didn’t notice from all the previous leaks, Motorola’s taken a huge direction change most likely to avoid any lawsuits and to be different from the pack. I also understand a name change given the low sales of the Xoom, but XYBOARD — really?
These new slates from Motorola have been roaming around the FCC lately and according to many sources we still expect to see some sort of launch late November or very early December. With this official press image being leaked we have a feeling the official US announcement from Motorola and Verizon will be any day now — stay tuned in an XYBOARD interests you.

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Range of DROID RAZR Cases Released by Otterbox

If for some reason the Gorilla Glass-toting, kevlar-coated Motorola Droid RAZR still doesn’t give you confidence in its durability, Otterbox has released their range of rugged cases for the device. Otterbox cases are designed with the goal of providing ultimate protection while retaining a bit of style.
Both the Commuter and Defender series are available, the former being a more lightweight and lax protection offering with the latter adding a bit more bulk but best defends huge drops and the elements. Be sure to hop over to Otterbox’s site if you’re interested.

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Motorola Stockholders Give The Greenlight For Google Merger

Motorola has just announced that 99 percent of shares voted in favor of their proposed acquisition by Google. Motorola is attempting to move quick to complete the deal but the company still faces a few more hurdles to they will have to jump over. First off, regulatory approval is still needed before anything else can happen and don’t forget the Department of Justice launching an investigation on the proposed merger, which could pose even more problems for Google and Motorola. Just don’t expect the deal to officially go through until early next year.
Motorola recently laid off 5 percent of it’s workforce in an anticipation of the Google acquisition (even thought they deny that was the reason) attempting to bring down operating costs continually hitting the company hard year after year. You can check out Motorola’s full press release down below.

Nov. 17, 2011
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. - Nov. 17, 2011 - Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) ("Motorola Mobility") today announced that at the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held today, stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed merger with Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) ("Google").
Approximately 99 percent of the shares voting at today’s Special Meeting of Stockholders voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, which represented approximately 74 percent of Motorola Mobility’s total outstanding shares of common stock as of the October 11, 2011 record date for the Special Meeting.
Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, "We are pleased and gratified by the strong support we have received from our stockholders, with more than 99 percent of the voting shares voting in support of the transaction. We look forward to working with Google to realize the significant value this combination will bring to our stockholders and all the new opportunities it will provide our dedicated employees, customers, and partners."
As previously announced on August 15, 2011, Motorola Mobility and Google entered into a definitive agreement for Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $12.5 billion. The Company previously disclosed that it expected the merger to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012. While the Company continues to work to complete the transaction as expeditiously as possible, given the schedule of regulatory filings, it currently believes that the close is expected to occur in early 2012. It is important to note however, that the merger is subject to various closing conditions, and it is possible that the failure to timely meet such conditions or other factors outside of the Company’s control could delay or prevent the Company from completing the merger altogether.
Business Risks
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, for example, the expected closing date of the transaction. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the ability of the parties to consummate the proposed transaction and the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to consummation of the proposed transaction, including the ability to secure regulatory and other approvals at all or in a timely manner; and the other risks and uncertainties contained and identified in Motorola Mobility’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof Motorola Mobility does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or update the reasons that actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

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Motorola MotoKey Social (Facebook Phone) headed to Canada

Why Motorola why? We’ve seen this phone a few times but it appears for some odd reason Motorola and Telus have decided to give this depressing idea another try. Introducing the Motorola MotoKey Social. The Motorola Facebook Phone that is destined for greatness, or something like that. Given the huge success of the HTC Status Facebook phone this just seems like a great idea. Right guys?

Maybe I’m just being mean but HTC gave the sad Status Facebook phone a whopping 46 days or so before they pulled the plug. Maybe Motorola feels they have something unique and different but it doesn’t look all that different or amazing if you ask me. Even a quad-core processor and a 4000 mAh battery couldn’t get me to buy this phone. Okay that was a bit harsh — either way here’s the details and specs:

Now I know what your thinking — where is the Android? The dedicated capacitive buttons are no where and neither is a home or navigation button standard to Android on the keyboard. Maybe that is part of the reason I’ve posted my lovely fail photo above. The official MotoKey Social specs page clearly shows Android icons all over the place so you decide. The MotoKey Social has a 2.4″ display, an unknown processor but I’m guessing 800 MHz or maybe 1 GHz, a 3 megapixel camera, and then some micro-SD support.
This beautiful phone will be $89.99 starting November 21st over at TELUS in Canada. Who’s buying?
[via UnwiredView]

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Motorola Razr vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We compare Motorola's brand new Razr smartphone with Samsung's sizable Galaxy Note handset

Motorola has just launched its latest Razr smartphone while Samsung just brought its larger Galaxy Note device to market. We pitch them against each other to see which is best.

FormMotorola’s brand new Razr represents the company’s move to a cohesive yet bold new visual style, featuring tapered edges together with a sharply angled aesthetic, which combine to make something very refreshing and distinctive.
It’s instantly recognisable and sits firmly alongside the new Motorola Xoom 2 tablets in terms of design.
It may be a grimly predictable observation but Razr really is an appropriate name here as it easily takes the title of ‘thinnest smartphone’ at 7.1mm. Other standout features include the textured Kevlar back panel, which looks rather snazzy as well as making the phone very durable, though, we perhaps wouldn't rely on it to stop bullets.
Compared with the Razr, Samsung’s Galaxy Note is an absolute beast of a handset, resembling a small tablet with its 5.3-inch screen.
Its size is sure to not meet everyone’s tastes, but despite being what some may consider a cumbersomely scaled device it still has a stylish element to its construction.
It may not be as thin as the Razr but it’s still pretty slim at 9.7mm and features a nicely textured and slightly curved back panel. Being fairly light helps a lot, too.
The front carries Samsung’s characteristic minimalist aesthetic and the screen extends close to the edges of the device, giving a thin bezel which lends a sharp, neat appearance.
As much as we like the styling of the Samsung Galaxy Note, Motorola’s Razr is a much more attention-grabbing handset visually, a factor which wins it this round.
Winner - Motorola Razr

DisplayIt is, frankly, quite difficult for most phones to beat the Samsung Galaxy Note’s vast 5.3-inch expanse of high resolution and high pixel density Gorilla Glass.
The Galaxy Note uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology for enhanced brightness and colours, along with better power efficiency than standard LCD.
The Gorilla Glass means the capacitive, multi-touch capable touchscreen won’t smash easily and at 800x1280 pixels, with a pixel density of 285 pixels-per-inch (ppi), you can be sure it will push out very clear and clean visuals on a grand scale.
Apart from this, the phone is loaded with a tailored build of Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 user interface (UI), along with gyro and accelerometer sensors that allow for screen rotation.
The customised UI enhances menus and native apps for the Galaxy Note’s extra-large screen space. This includes the addition of split screen interface boxes and allows for full screen web page and video viewing.
The other way in which the Galaxy Note has been customised is the S Pen stylus compatibility. The S Pen is a pressure sensitive stylus, lightly brushing the screen in a painting app, for example, will create a thin line while pressing harder will create a thicker stroke.
It also has some nifty in-built support such as a hold press for screenshot capture and a double tap for bringing up a Memo note over any app or screen.
A hold press outside of the Memo will take you back to the screen for as long as it’s held, allowing you to quickly switch for note taking between your note and a wep-page, for example.
The Motorola, then, is comparatively diminutive when it comes to the display.
Except that it’s not, really (still with us?). It's a good sized screen at 4.3-inches and what’s more the resolution and pixel density are pretty damn good too at 540x960 pixels and 256ppi.
Like the Galaxy Note, the Razr also uses a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch, Gorilla Glass and an accelerometer.
Make no mistake, these are both excellent displays which most users would be more than happy with.
Technically, the Galaxy Note comes out as superior thanks to its higher resolution and pixel density. We also prefer larger touchscreens so we do see that as a plus.
However, for everyone there is sure to be a cut-off point where a large screen does become impractical, regardless of its impressive stats.
For us, this isn’t the case with the Galaxy Note, but if you think a 5.3-inch device would be too unwieldy you’re going to be far better off with the Motorola Razr. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
Winner - Draw

StorageThe Razr comes with 16GB of onboard storage space and 1GB of RAM. Also, unlike its larger tablet counterparts, it has additional microSD card storage up to a further 32GB.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note has the same 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage with the lower-end option, however, you can choose the 32GB model for some ramped-up capacity. This can be extended even further thanks to 32GB microSD capability.
We’re siding with the Galaxy Note here. The Razr is no miser when it comes to storage space but Samsung’s offering is much more generous.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

Processor
Both phones are powered by an ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor but both have been setup and tweaked in slightly different ways.

Samsung’s oversized phone uses the company’s own Exynos processor that was also used to excellent effect inside the Galaxy S2 smartphone. Alongside this it boasts a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU), which is one of the best out there.

The whole thing is clocked at a hefty 1.4GHz, which is faster than the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S2.

Motorola’s Razr isn’t quite as bang up-to-date as the Galaxy Note. It’s clocked at 1.2GHz, the same as the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S2, but it runs a Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.

It’s certainly no slouch and isn’t going to break a sweat running virtually any current game or app you care to chuck at it, but it doesn’t quite have the same brute force and ‘future-proof’ quality that the Galaxy Note provides.

Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

Operating System
These are both Android phones running on version 2.3 Gingerbread, though, Motorola has confirmed the Razr will get the new 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich build in the new year.

Being a new model, it seems likely the same will happen to the Galaxy Note, though, perhaps at a slightly slower pace due to its custom S Pen and display requirements.

Gingerbread is relatively stable as Android builds go. It’s also got that signature effortless multi-tasking capability and a useful set of app management controls to keep track of system resources. On these powerful handsets it runs without breaking a sweat.

One thing it really has going for it is the abundance of apps on the Android Market, something we tend to miss on other systems other than iOS.

Apart from this, however, it’s not quite as feature-rich as more recent systems from Microsoft and Apple and we’re eagerly anticipating Ice Cream Sandwich to bump things up a notch.

There’s nothing to compare the two here as they’re both on an equal footing.

Winner - Draw

Camera
Each handset is equipped with an 8-megapixel primary camera at a 3264x2448 pixel resolution and capable of 1080p video capture.

The Motorola has a 1.2-megapixel secondary on the front, while the Samsung Galaxy Note’s secondary is rated at 2-megapixels and both allow for video calls.

Both phones have a similar line-up of camera features with LED flash, autofocus, touch focus, geo-tagging, image stabilisation and face detection. The Samsung Galaxy Note has the addition of smile detection so you don't need to press the shutter. Well, unless you don't smile, that is.

These devices are pretty evenly matched when it comes to in-built cameras and both are sure to offer a satisfactory experience. This one’s a draw.

Winner - Draw

Final ThoughtsThese are two excellent smartphones, in terms of performance, storage, display quality and camera they’ve got a lot to offer even the most demanding user.

Generally speaking, the Motorola comes out slightly behind the Galaxy Note in a few areas.

Although the processor is brilliant, it’s not quite as forward-looking as the Galaxy Note’s and the Razr also has less storage space, though, still more than enough for most people. Plus Google Music will present increased space for both in the cloud, if the service is ever launched in the UK.

We think the Razr is actually the better choice in terms of getting the most out of the conventional smartphone platform - it’s much more usable as a phone.

The Galaxy Note, much as we love it, is a very purpose-built creature and you’re probably only going to be able to overlook its inconvenient size if its quirky features are of huge benefit to your work, hobbies or lifestyle.

If so, you’re dealing with a highly rewarding and powerful smartphone, but we’d still suggest trying one out in a phone shop if possible before sealing the deal.

The bottom line is, either way, these are about as good as you can get when it comes to Android.

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Motorola Razr vs HTC Sensation XL

We're comparing Motorola's new Razr with HTC's Sensation XL this time around, but which of these super-smart Android's will come out on top?

The newest device to drop from Motorola is the Razr – a slim, smart Android-powered phone that firmly has the iPhone 4S in its sights.
But rather than worrying about the newest Apple handset, we wanted to see how the Razr stacked up against some tough Android competition. And they don't come much tougher than HTC's Sensation XL.
Will Motorola's next-gen Razr have what it takes to stand-up to HTC's brutish device? Let's find out.

Power
Motorola's Razr is powered by a Ti-OMAP 4430 chipset consisting of a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU and augmented by 1GB RAM.
The running gear on the device performs well, and you'll be hard pressed to tax it to the limit of its capability. We're pleased to see 1GB RAM installed too as it should allow the Razr to age a little more gracefully than some of its peers.
The HTC Sensation XL runs on a single-core Scorpion processor from Qualcomm, clocked to 1.5GHz, and also boasts an Adreno 205 GPU.
With its single-core CPU, the Sensation XL is definitely lacking in comparison to the Razr, but the device can still crunch data with the best of them and will run fast enough for even the most discerning tech-freak.
One concern with the Sensation XL is that the RAM hasn't been upped. It still has the same 768MB as the original Sensation, and while it isn't a massive problem, it does degrade the device's appeal and potential lastability.
Winner - Motorola Razr
Display
HTC's Sensation XL features a 4.7-inch Super LCD screen that operates at a resolution of 480x800 and offers up a pixel density of 199PPI.
Performance is solid enough from the display. It responds well and its colour reproduction is good, but it never rises beyond that.
The Motorola Razr, however, features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen that operates at a resolution of 540x960 and comes in with a much more respectable 256PPI pixel density.
The Super AMOLED is, without wanting to be too blunt, vastly superior to the S-LCD on offer in the Sensation XL.
Colours are much more real, blacks are deep, and the display also draws less power. It also benefits from a Gorilla Glass fronting, to keep it safe from scratches and scrapes.
Winner - Motorola Razr

Software
Both of these devices run on version 2.3 of Android (Gingerbread) and are all the better for it.
Obviously you'll have access to the hundreds of thousands of applications, games and customisations available in the Android Market too.
The dividing factor here is the device's custom UI, with HTC's Sensation XL offering up the tried, tested and loved Sense UI and the Razr weighing-in with its own (though we haven't been given a catchy name for it yet).
Sense UI is a good-looking, powerful addition to the Android platform and offers the user custom-widgets, social networking features and other selected apps and tweaks.
It adds a much needed layer of aesthetic quality to the Google platform and, in our book at least, is still the benchmark custom user interface in the market.
The newly designed UI that features on the Razr is nice too though, with custom widgets, unlock screen and other tweaks you'll definitely feel like you're using a cutting edge device and the addition of features like MotoCast, for streaming media, is a real boon.
Winner - HTC Sensation XL

Form

Motorola Razr - 130.7 x 68.9 x 7.1 mm, 127g
HTC Sensation XL - 132.5 x 70.7 x 9.9 mm, 162.5g

Overall the Sensation XL's vital statistics are good (even without the Cosmopolitan-style half measures). The device is thin, well-built and manages to carry off its large, lustrous screen with aplomb.

The Motorola Razr is similarly fortunate.

The device feels very solid in the hand and, uniquely for such a thin smartphone, has a nice balance when in use.

The aforementioned thinness is odd and worrying at first though, and for the more clumsy among us it may remain so but if you're careful it's a nice feature.

One thing we weren't so keen on was the profile of the Razr. When viewed in profile the device gives off the illusion of a painfully thin person wearing a crash helmet.

Materials on both devices are pleasing, with shades of metal and plastic woven together to create a premium feel (successfully on both counts).

Winner - Draw

Camera

8-megapixel sensors are the order of the day with these two competitors.

The Razr features auto-focus, LED flash, touch-focus, geo-tagging, face detection, image stabilisation and 1080P video capture.

The Sensation XL chips-in with auto-focus, dual-LED flash, geo-tagging and 720P capture.

Both devices feature near identical 1.3-megapixel secondary cameras too, for all your video conferencing needs, and both perform as you would hope.

The Motorola Razr's imagining, despite the high pixel count, is decidely noisey. The XL's on the otherhand was dramatically clearer and thus gets our vote in this aspect of the comparison, despite not being able to shoot 1080p video.

Winner - Sensation XL

It's a win for the new boy!

Motorola's Razr has snatched victory from HTC's big-screened gem, and with real voracity!

If you're in the market for a new Android device make sure you certainly look long and hard at the Motorola Razr, which looks, feels and performs well enough to be held-up against the Galaxy Nexus and Apple's iPhone 4S.

HTC's Sensation XL is, for its defeat today, still a nice smartphone. But it seems to be beleaguered by its averageness.

Come on, HTC! Let's have a device that goes above and beyond, rather than staying within sensible boundaries and parameters!

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China Gets Interesting Motorola RAZR Variants, Including One With 720p Display

Popping up at Weibo today are some interesting China-bound Motorola RAZR variants. The first is a device that takes a lot of design cues from the DROID X and X2, though its chassis does differ a beat from those devices. They’re calling it the XT928 and it looks like it has a 13 megapixel shooter, though will be the same as the Motorola RAZR in processor and display and it may even make its way stateside as the DROID X3.

The other one, the MT917, shakes things up a bit. It takes its design cues from the original RAZR, but has a 4.5 inch 720p HD display. I must say I wouldn’t have minded that version of the device on Verizon instead of the original (though the original is no less good). It also has the 13 megapixel camera that the XT928 has. Would any of you be interested in one of these variants instead of the original? [Meibo via Engadget]

Related articles

• New DROID RAZR commercial: it's only for Batman (goandroid.co.in)
• Motorola DROID RAZR rooted already, no surprise (goandroid.co.in)
• Motorola DROID RAZR Shows Off SpeedTests and Boot Animation [Video] (goandroid.co.in)
• DROID RAZR Teardown; How Did Motorola Get It So Thin? [Video] (goandroid.co.in)
• Motorola RAZR to be priced at INR 34K in India, coming soon (goandroid.co.in)

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DROID RAZR Battery is removable, If you dare

When the new Motorola DROID RAZR was first announced we all quickly learned that the battery was not removable. The back of the device was attached for good, making users unable to remove or swap the battery should they choose. This isn’t a huge issue but many weren’t happy to hear the news. Not to mention the modding and dev community relies on battery pulls somewhat often — I’ve had a few of those moments myself. Lucky for us a loyal reader has just received his shiny new DROID RAZR and tore it down himself to find that the back actually does come off, it just takes a little effort.

We have plenty of photos in the gallery below but in case you missed it the RAZR also received the iFixIt teardown treatment this morning. Sort of revealing what we now have pictures of ourselves. Only they imply you need a machete (or a Dozuki) to open the smartphone while our tipster only used his fingernail and a little bit of arm strength.
Have a look at some notes on how our tipster was able to pop the back off of his/her RAZR with just a bit of effort:

“Hi, I saw that there was an area along the top of the phone where my fingernail could fit, so I wondered if I could actually take the back off, and yes it did come off after just a bit of careful pulling around each of the edges. There are snaps along the whole perimeter as well as glue across most of the battery inside connecting it to the back panel, so you’ve got to be careful since I’m not 100% sure if any part of the back would break if you bend it too much. The back is bendable though, and the Kevlar seems to keep it shape no matter how much you bend it.
The battery underneath is taped in with electrical tape and has a plastic piece over the connector to the phone, so I don’t dare go further than this, but just so you guys know, the battery could be taken out if you really wanted to…” – Figglsticks45

In other words, it appears Motorola really doesn’t want us inside this RAZR thin phone. Our source here notes that they’ve glued the back on quite well and it took more than a few tries to get the Kevlar coated device apart. Once inside, you’ll notice the battery cover actually has rivets or snaps and will nicely click back into place just as any other battery cover. Only they’d rather users not try, apparently, as they’ve been clear in more ways than one that getting into this device will result in a warranty break by you. We didn’t see any VOID if removed stickers on the inside, but the manual had a few. We aren’t going to encourage our readers to try this but sometimes you must do what needs to be done, right?
)

Related articles

• New DROID RAZR commercial: it's only for Batman (goandroid.co.in)
• Motorola Lapdock 500 clears the FCC, spotted with the DROID RAZR (goandroid.co.in)
• Motorola DROID RAZR confirmed for November 10th retail release (goandroid.co.in)

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DROID RAZR Teardown; How Did Motorola Get It So Thin? [Video]

you’d know I was amazed by how thin the Motorola Droid RAZR was considering all the things you get inside the 4.3 inch package. Thankfully, Motorola knows how to read minds. Or Phandroid reviews. They’ve posted a video showing how they were able to get the RAZR into a 7.1mm thin and light package. Watch the video above if you’re really curious.
If for some reason you wanted Motorola to go deeper than that, iFixIt has posted their teardown of the device. These features show the process of taking it apart and putting it back together in a nice, informative gallery. See just how everything falls into place as if it were still on the manufacturers’ production line. Head over there for the full teardown. [iFixIt]

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Motorola seeking testers for special project for the Original DROID

According to Droid Life, some original Droid owners have received an odd email from the Motorola Feedback Network which usually conducts Soak tests on many current devices. The email states that they are “preparing a project” for the users of the OG Droid. No one knows what this actually mean at this point because we’re talking about a two-year old phone here. Check it out:

hanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are preparing a project for owners of the original Motorola Droid on Verizon, and would like to invite you to participate. Click this link to take a short enrollment survey for this project. Please note that you must be a member of the Motorola Owners’ Forums to take part.
If you are no longer using your original Droid and wish to update your Motorola Feedback Network profile so you can be part of projects for a different Motorola phone, please click here. If you use the same computer as previous registrations, you can update your profile. If you do not, simply re-register with your current Motorola product. To opt out of the MFN see the link at the bottom of this email.
This is a confidential project under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this project on any public sites.
Thanks — we hope to be in contact with you soon.
- Matt
Motorola Owners’ Forums
Motorola Feedback Network

We still don’t know if this is an indication of a software bump to Gingerbread or some other enhancements/bug fixes. We’ll just have to wait and see what Motorola has for the selected Original Droid enthusiasts who are probably as excited and anxious as we are. What do you guys think?
via Droid Life

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Motorola Lapdock 500 clears the FCC, spotted with the DROID RAZR

We’ve seen plenty about Motorola’s Lapdock offerings but until the recently released Lapdock 100 they were proprietary and only worked with a single device. The new Lapdock 100 and 500 will be universal and will work across all future top end Android devices from Motorola. We showed you a little about the Lapdock 100 during our Atrix 2 review but today its bigger brother the 500 has cleared the FCC and is on its way to store shelves soon.

During the Lapdock 500′s visit through the FCC it received a teardown and was even spotted with the beautiful new DROID RAZR. We have a few pictures to give you a better idea of what to expect from the new dock and there is plenty more from the filing itself. We even have some quick hands-on video of it below from the DROID RAZR launch event, check it out.

DROID Lapdock accessories video


Just like the Lapdock 100 the 500 runs Motorola’s Webtop apps, including Firefox, Facebook and tons of games and can function as a full out laptop (almost) or a phone with access to the market, your phones homescreens and more. With a webcam, additional battery life, 2 USB ports and more it gives you plenty of options that aren’t available on just a phone itself. Whether they are important enough to warrant the dock is up to you, the user.

It has a webcam, 6 rows of keys with a chick-let style keyboard and a large touchpad for controlling everything. You can see plenty in our video above as well as a few pics in the gallery below. Feel free to sift through the FCC filing for pictures of the innards of this device if that type of thing interests you. Once this larger Lapdock hits the streets I’m sure we’ll have it in for a full review so be sure and check back when the time comes.
[via Wireless Goodness]

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