Motorola Xoom 2: Review of rumours, features, pictures and specs

The Motorola Xoom 2 might not be the first of the next generation of Android Honeycomb tablets but if the original Xoom is anything to go by, then there's plenty of reason to be excited still. In fact, with the first incarnation launched all those months ago, it's high time that the follow up hit the shelves of the world.
So, with Motorola Xoom 2 news upon us like an heavy suitcase, it's probably a good idea to straighten out this Google tablet device's specs and features, so that we can take a long, hard look at what the future is all about.

Motorola Xoom 2 release date
The Motorola Xoom was announced back at CES 2011 on 6 January 2011 and Pocket-lint made sure we got our hands on it the moment it saw the light of the showroom floor. That said, it wasn't until 24 February of the same year that it starting bleeping through the check-out tills of the world.
To take that back until we first got wind that a Motorola tablet was in the offing though, it's when Droid Life discovered some hidden data on 17 August 2010 describing an Android tablet referred to at the time as the Motorola Stingray. Your choice as to whether you reckon the name Xoom has more or less pizzazz.

Back to the Motorola Xoom 2 rumours and the first stories heard about such a thing turned up on 17 June 2011 when a Verizon advert aired on US TV networks showing a lady on her Verizon branded tablet that looked an awful lot like the original Xoom, only not, and with the camera in the wrong place.
The next, and this time far bigger, drop occurred on 23-26 September 2011 when both Engadget and thisismynext.com had anonymous tipsters contact them about some goings on at Motorola and just what they thought was on its way including some interesting Xoom 2 pictures. The fascinating part is the idea that there was going to be two of them - the Motorola Xoom 2 and the slightly smaller Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition.
With very similar first rumour dates in their respective years, one might bet that the Motorola Xoom 2 turns up at the same time in the calendar as the first Xoom did, i.e. CES 2012. However, with the Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich launch on 11 October 2011, any time after then could be fair game.
Motorola Xoom 2 features
The more traditional, non-Media Edition Motorola Xoom 2 features look to include a 10.1-inch screen - the same as the original, only with a more powerful engine room at work in the shape of what appears to be a Texas Instruments OMAP 4 system on a chip with a dual-core CPU at 1.2GHz and 1GB of what's described as "faster" RAM. Following the lead from those, the likely prediction would be a PowerVR SGX540 GPU much like the one found in the Amazon Kindle Fire set up but for now this is just speculation.
Physically speaking the Xoom 2 might be quite a looker too. Again, the Engadget tipster from the 23 September outlined physical details including a 9mm profile which puts it just a shade thicker than the 8.8mm - and super-thin - iPad 2. There also look to be some physical buttons on the rear of the device as well as HDMI, micro-USB and SIM card ports too.

As for the smaller tablet, the Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition features were reported on 24th September to promise an 8.2-inch, HD capable, screen with IPS for a better viewing angle and that puts it in virgin territory as far as tablet sizes go. The same leaks also point to a fairly durable piece of Gorilla glass on the front that's both got anti-glare properties as well as water-resistance to a degree. Could this be the tablet that's finally beach-friendly?
As for its more personal stats, the same rumours predict a 430g waistline with an ever-so-slightly bulkier 9.3mm frame. Thisismynext.com also reported on 24th September that Motorola might push the Media Edition's home entertainment credentials with both an IR remote and a sub-woofer built-in. Both Xoom 2 models have also been predicted to support LTE.
Motorola Xoom 2 camera
The HD label on the back of the Xoom 2 from the leaked shots on 23 September is a pretty decent clue that certainly the larger of the two Motorola tablets will be able to shoot 1080p video and it was expected, at the time, for up to 5-megapixel stills to be possible. The leaked shots also clearly show a front facing camera as well.


Motorola Xoom 2 apps and software
Naturally, it's Android all the way with the Xoom 2 and, what with Google now the the name behind the company, it really couldn't be anything else.
The first flush of stories between 23-26 September all seemed to agree that it's a case of Android 3.2 for both the Motorola Xoom 2 and the Media Edition. Keen followers of all things Android will know that 3.2 represents Honeycomb rather than Ice Cream Sandwich, although it's quite possible that the Xoom 2 tablets could come with the later version if they're launched from December onwards.

The Verizon advert on 17 June showed a Xoom 2 running Honeycomb without a UI on top, although there is a disclaimer on the footage indicating that the screen shots were simulated. At the same time, with Google behind Motorola, one might wonder whether there would be a lean towards the Xoom 2 products coming with straight Android anyway; something which looked to be supported by the leaked shots of the software of the Media Edition on 24 September.
Motorola Xoom 2 battery
The original tips said nothing of the battery life on either device.

Motorola Xoom 2 accessories
Even the early leaks from the tipsters at Engadget and Thisisthenext.com pointed towards a couple of interesting Xoom 2 accessories from the start.
Word on 24 September was that the Media Edition would come with a stylus pen as well as an optional keyboard case.

Motorola Xoom 2 pictures
The first sightings of a rather swish looking Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition turned up as frozen stills from the Verizon commercial but it wasn't until 23 September on Droid Life that we got the first dusties of the more traditional look Xoom 2. The appearance was certainly of a pre-production model complete with slightly nasty-look two-tone rear.
The following day, Engadget published a whole load more of both the Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition and even one of the siblings side by side in a family photo. Naturally, all the serial numbers and identifying marks were blanked out but what was clear was the magnesium/aluminium chassis, the rear ports and switches, the positioning of the camera and the size differences between the two.
Motorola Xoom 2 price
The Motorola Xoom 2 leak on the Verizon advert is obviously a very strong indicator that the US network is one which will be stocking at least one of these two tablets. We'll have to wait and see about the Motorola Xoom 2 price.
Naturally, things will be muddied slightly when it comes to the difference of going SIM free or on a contract and whether or not the tablets come in different storage sizes.
Motorola Xoom 2 review
Expect plenty more coverage as we get closer the release date and full and thorough Motorola Xoom 2 and Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition reviews once we've had a chance to get them into the GoAndroid's labs.

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Amazon “punches Apple hard” with $199 Kindle Fire

We’re still in a major huff about the lack of Amazon Kindle Fire action here in the UK, like a kid in a supermarket throwing a tantrum ‘cause he’s not allowed a chocolate bar. Stupid little brat. Yes, that’s us.
Anyway, Amazon investor and CEO of Betaworks, John Borthwick, is rather impressed with Amazon’s new goodies. Probably because he lives in New York and not London.

In a recent Tweet, John said: “Amazon punches Apple hard in advance of nxt week. There are two kinds of companies ...”
Of course, “nxt week” refers to Apple’s iPhone 5 unveiling, which will go down tomorrow at 6pm our time.
The latter part of John’s Tweet refers to Jeff Bezos’ letter to customers, currently taking pride of place on Amazon’s home page in the US. It reads: “There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less. Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp.”
Who’s in the first camp, Jeff? Who’s in the first camp?
Jeff’s letter concludes: “We are building premium products and offering them at non-premium prices.” You should really add: “for our customers in the US.” Not that we’re bitter, you understand.
Sob.

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Five reasons why I’m not getting an iPhone 5

With Apple’s grand unveiling just over 24 hours away, it seems only fitting that my last feature in an iPhone 5-less world should concern the Californians’ latest – and presumably greatest – smartphone. In some capacity.
Of course, we don’t know a bloody thing about it yet, so rather than retread speculative ground, I’ll explain why I’m not interested in picking up an iPhone 5. Insert: “Boo!” / “Yay!” / *nonchalant shrug* as appropriate.

Here, in no particular order, are five of the main reasons:
1. Won’t be able to get one anyway
I vividly remember the efforts one of my mates went to when the iPhone 4 first came out. After travelling dozens of miles and visiting several shops, he ultimately gave up and bought an HTC Desire instead.
I also remember the farce that followed the iPad 2’s “launch”, when it appeared online with an estimated shipping time of 4-5 weeks. Ridiculous.
We’re already hearing stories of possible production problems, and I’m not willing to waste any time trying to track down units or twiddling my thumbs for several weeks while Apple addresses its supply issues. It’s just a phone, man. Probably a pretty good one, but it is just a phone.
Of course, this is all speculation, but even if there were an abundance of iPhone 5s on shelves, I still probably wouldn’t bother. Probably. Read on.
2. Screen size
Having used an HTC Desire HD for the past few months, I really can’t imagine how I survived with the 3.5in display on my iPhone. I still use my iPod touch for iOS gaming and listening to music, and it seems reeeaaally tiny.
We’re expecting the iPhone 5 to have a 4in display, but – if anything – I’m looking to acquire more screen real estate, not sell up.
3. I love/hate Apple
I love Apple and cherish my many iDevices, but I absolutely despise the smug bastards and resent every second I spend using their junk. Cognitive dissonance, baby. I don’t think I’m alone here.
I have a MacBook, an iMac, an iPod touch, and I happily used an iPhone for years. Still, I can’t imagine going back to the iPhone, even disregarding the other points I’ve made here. Indeed, maybe it’s the overkill of Apple devices elsewhere in my flat that has me craving something different. Who knows how my brain works? Not me.
4. Samsung Google Nexus Prime
We’re really quite excited about the Samsung-developed Google Nexus Prime here at Mobot. Phil and I particularly so. Dave’s a bit of a dark horse though. I suspect he secretly wants a Nokia Sea Ray.
The latest Nexus Prime whispers suggest a 4.65in Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 2,000mAh battery, and Ice Cream Sandwich. Sounds pretty freakin’ good to us.

 

5. Windows Phone Mango

Ok, this reason is slightly tongue-in-cheek, and partly aimed at the Mobo-regulars who really don’t seem to like Windows Phone 7 for some reason, but… I reckon I’m more likely to go with something Mango flavoured than I am to pick up an iPhone 5.
Maybe it’s because I’m an Xbox man, maybe it’s the suggestion that Windows Phone will take second place in the OS race (ahem), or maybe I’m just an idiot. Yes, probably the third one.

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Amazon considering the acquisition of Palm from HP

It has been reported that Amazon could possibly be looking to acquire Palm from HP. According to a report from VentureBeat, the internet shopping giant is said to be in earnest talks with HP to buy what still remains of the franchise and its beleaguered mobile platform, WebOS.
The report cites a source which is well placed, stating that as HP is looking to do away completely with Palm, and Amazon has come up as the likeliest name in the list of prospective buyers which are likely to make the deal. The report also noted a connection between both the companies as the CEO of Palm, Jon Rubinstein, who is currently working with HP on the WebOS platform was a member of the board of directors of Amazon last year.
Rubinstein had pointed towards such a possibility of a potential partnership with Amazon in an interview back in July. He said that Amazon is an ideal partner in this regard as the company has a lot of characteristics which will help it in expanding the WebOS platform and its ecosystem. He, however, did not comment about whether there were already negotiations taking place between both the companies. During the interview, the WebOS chief from HP, Stephen DeWitt, also played up the qualities of the retail giant Amazon.
He said that Amazon has a very close relationship with its customers, which is unlike any other company in the market. He added that it helps Amazon in knowing about the preferences of its end users. A spokesperson from HP did not comment on the news, stating that the company doesn’t comment on rumors, whereas the representatives from Amazon weren’t available for a statement.
Palm was acquired by HP in April last year for a price of $1.2 billion in an attempt to gain recognition in the global mobile market. However, the company eventually struggled to get Palm’s WebOS to give decent competition to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms. The company recently discontinued both WebOS and its recently released tablet, the TouchPad, a couple of weeks ago.
HP also announced some time ago that a split of the WebOS business is underway as the software operations are going to be transferred to another part of the company and that it will not develop any more hardware based on the OS during the fourth quarter.

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LG Optimus 3D Update with 3D Conversion for Games Rolling Out Now

A while back we learned LG planned to up its 3D ante by providing a software update to their Optimus 3D that would provide tools to bring standard 2D games into the third dimension. That update, build number V10K, is rolling out now to some European Optimus 3D handsets. LG has compiled a list of compatible titles, but most games should be eligible for a run at 3D provided they are built on OpenGL (though a drop in performance may be noticed).
The update is currently only available using LG’s PC update utility, though it should eventually begin moving out over the air. For everyone else there is the XDA link below.
[via XDA]

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Leaked screens of BBM for Android surface

One of the things about Blackberry devices that is most liked by users is the Blackberry Messenger service. If you are an Android user that used to have a Blackberry that may well be the only thing you really miss from the Blackberry. Apparently, that BBM service is heading to Android devices and will let you get back on BBM if you want.

TechRadar has landed what are supposedly the first screenshots of the BBM on Android to surface. The port from Blackberry to Android has been rumored in the past, but this is the first time screen shots have surfaced. BBM for Android is expected to land in 2012. The screen shots show the BBM icon on the Android home page of the device in the photos.
The other screen shot shows the contract profile page. The source of the leaked documents also claims that the BBM will work with push notifications on Android. The legitimacy of these screens can’t be verified so we have to be a little suspicious. What do you think? Are these shots real and are you excited to see BBM come to Android?
[via TechRadar]

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ACME Installer demo shows off Android/WebOS dual-boot on HP TouchPad

There are geeks working hard out there to get Android onto the HP TouchPad that failed so brilliantly. The future of WebOS might be murky and the future of updates is something that many that own the TouchPad may be worrying about. With a port that allows Android to run on the TouchPad the little HP tablet would get a second life and more usability for the average geek. A video has landed on YouTube that shows a demo of ACME Installer with dual boot for the TouchPad.

The demo shows a geek with the ACME Installer mounting the TouchPad to a Mac and then moving some needed files over to the tablet. Once the files are over on the TouchPad, the files can be executed. To do this they create a folder called cminstall, copy a zip file over, and use the novacom program to start the ACME installer.
It doesn’t take that long to get Cyanogen 7 running on the tablet and you can swap back to WebOS whenever you want. The addition of the new OS needs only three files including the ACME installer, novacom, and cm-update payload file. The video points out that the demo doesn’t mean the ACME installer is close to release though. The Cyanogenmod was benchmarked not long ago.
Thanks for the tip Tony.




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XOOM 2 and Media Edition tablets spotted in Verizon database

Just last week we brought you news of the next version of Motrola’s XOOM tablet and its smaller 8-inch brother nicknamed “Media Edition”. Now it appears that these two tablets, code-named “Pasteur” and “Fleming” respectively, have appeared in Verizon’s Cellebrite database. Both devices are expected to debut later this year.

Both versions of the XOOM 2 feature up-to-date 4G radios and a modified tapering corner design (the better to ward off Apple’s attack lawyers). Initially it was speculated that the tablets would be running Android Honeycomb 3.2, but with Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility in its early stages, they might be fast-tracked to Ice Cream Sandwich before their release. Each uses a 5MP rear and 2MP front camera. No screen information is currently known, but based on some tipped hands-on experience, a standard 1280 x 800 resolution panel seems likely in both.
These tablets are not to be confused with the 7-inch Motorola tablet spotted earlier. That device is speculated for a November release, with the new 10-inch XOOM following in December. Of course, the presence of these XOOMs in Verizon’s database merely means that someone, somewhere is testing out new hardware. As always with tipsters, these estimates are subject to change.

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HTC Sense Security Scare – Should you be worried?

So maybe you’ve heard that HTC has a bit of a security issue on it’s hands. Should you be worried? Let us take a moment to explain the situation and asses its severity to you.
Here’s the situation. When you initially set up a Sense enabled phone you’re presented with multiple preference choices. Specifically, your preference on HTC’s right to collect data from your device is the root of the problem, in this case. When you allow HTC to collect data, you give them the right to record things like what apps you use, where and how you use them, your account names, location, and call logs. It’s no secret that apps exist in the market that collect data such as this, but that’s just the problem. It’s no secret because those apps are required to express what permissions they require. In a somewhat similar fashion you voluntarily allow HTC those permissions when you check the box but they aren’t required to be explicitly expressed because Sense is essentially the operating system, rather than just an app. Alright, so despite how all that sounds, that isn’t the problem. The problem is that HTC has failed to sandbox their collected data meaning that currently the data is potentially accessible to other apps without them having to expressly declare permissions for collecting and using it.

Is it the end of the world? For most, probably not. Nevertheless, this was an irresponsible move on HTC’s part, even if it was unintentional. Hopefully they can redeem themselves some by fixing this issue quickly. As a reminder, the security issue only affects Sense ROMS with data collection enabled. So long as you didn’t allow HTC to collect data, then the issue doesn’t affect you. Also  if you are running a custom rom like CyanogenMod then the issue doesn’t affect you. If you have a rooted Sense ROM, you can patch the vulnerability by manually removing

/system/app/HtcLoggers.apk

Again, if you allow HTC data collection and stick to quality apps, this shouldn’t be much of an issue. It’s just disheartening to think some scuzzball developer may be using your location data without consent and sending it to some random server. Purchase reputable apps to help reduce the chance of that happening to you. Lastly, so as to maybe offer you a bit of relief, the data at risk does not include types such as SMS, IMs, or passwords.
We’re all still waiting for an official response from HTC on the matter.
[via androidcentral]

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