Download the new Switched app for your iPhone

Skip to Content

AOL Tech

motorola posts

David Lynch to Text You Movies, 'Madden' Coming to Facebook

by Warren Riddle (RSS feed) — Feb 9th 2010 at 11:58AM


Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • The Mogreet mobile video firm focuses on MMS, particularly the development of text messaging and the incorporation of phone-to-phone video sharing. The company has now drafted Hollywood icon David Lynch to help share its new technology, as it has introduced a texting program through which subscribers can receive exclusive David Lynch Television Foundation video material. [From: Mashable]
  • Games like 'Mafia Wars' and 'Farmville' have exploded in popularity on Facebook, so it seems only natural that an actual video game manufacturer would want to get in on that social networking marketplace. EA is reportedly considering such a move, and all indications point toward its 'Madden' franchise as being the first title in development. [From: CNET]
  • One of the primary complaints about Google's Nexus One phone has been that the company offers inadequate tech support. Google is apparently addressing that area of need by introducing an entirely new support line that will feature (gasp!) real, live humans. [From: Engadget]
  • Foursquare, the social networking app that promotes outside, real world interaction, has partnered with Zagat to create a restaurant reward game. With the program, players can receive "foodie" badges when they dine at selected Zagat establishments. [From: The New York Times]
  • Specific details are still sketchy, but Motorola has announced that it will release the Android 2.1 upgrade for its Droid smartphone this week. Motorola's press release, which was actually issued through Facebook, said that the company will "have more information to share on other device upgrades later." [From: Engadget]
  • Somehow, the Unites States lags behind numerous other nations in terms of Internet access and speed. Google wants to help the FCC address those issues, and one of the company's policy analysts recently discussed with CNN how the nation can implement a faster, universally available Web. [From: CNN]

Tags: David Lynch, DavidLynch, droid, EA, FCC, google, madden, mms, morningxtra, Motorola, nexus one, NexusOne, top

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (0)

Cell Phones

What's the Best Android Phone on Each Carrier?

by Sean Captain (RSS feed) — Feb 5th 2010 at 2:20PM

A reader writes: These Android smartphones look pretty hot. It seems they can do everything the iPhone does, but they come in more flavors, from more companies. So what's the best one to get?

Dear Reader: The Android operating system may be the first serious competitor to the iPhone platform -- with a slick interface and tons of cool applications. Unlike Apple's tightly policed Apps Store, Google's Android Market lets you download any program written by any developer.

Read more →

Tags: android, droid eris, DroidEris, features, justtellmewhattoget, moto, motorola, motorola droid, MotorolaDroid, samsung moment, SamsungMoment, sprint, t-mobile, top, verizon

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (0)

Hands On: Motorola Backflip Debuts With Full QWERTY Keyboard

by Thomas Houston (RSS feed) — Jan 7th 2010 at 12:40PM

Motorola, riding high on the success of the Droid, yesterday officially unveiled the Backflip, an Android-based phone. Nothing too exciting on the software front, as the Backflip is currently running the Blur skin (also seen on the Cliq) on Android 1.5. With Android 2.0 already out, the phone's older OS is already looking a bit old pre-launch, but Moto promises 2.1 later in the year.

The phone's hardware, though, is an interesting alternative to many of the stock touchscreen Android phones that have been announced over the past year. Moving away from the Droid and Cliq's heavier lines, Moto opted for a sleek design for the new device. We're most excited about the full QWERTY keyboard, which doesn't slide out or open like a clamshell: Instead, the keyboard is on the outside of the phone when closed, and flips outward, reversing how flip phones usually open.

Read more →

Tags: backflip, cesmobilemedia, moto, moto blur, moto cliq, MotoBlur, MotoCliq, motorola, motorola backflip, MotorolaBackflip, top

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (0)

Cell Phones

Android and WebOS Phones Coming to AT&T

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jan 6th 2010 at 8:30PM

AT&T Announces Android and WebOS Devices
AT&T is finally getting in on the Android party, promising to soon carry handsets from Motorola, HTC, and Dell. In total, five separate devices will be launching in the first half of 2010. Among those is the Dell Mini 3, which is the company's first smartphone and has only been available in China and Brazil. The Dell is a 3G- and GPS-enabled device with a 640x360 touchscreen and a 3-megapixel flash camera. While nothing is confirmed about the Motorola handset, we suspect that the "unique form factor" device is Motorola's QWERTY-keyboard-packing Backflip.

With two down, that means we can expect three Android-powered smartphones from HTC to come to "the nation's fastest 3G network." Again, no concrete information is known, but it's not hard to guess that at least one of those devices could be the lust-worthy Nexus One.

Read more →

Tags: android, att, cescellphones, cesmobilemedia, dell, htc, Motorola, palm

Cell Phones

Motorola Reports 100K DROIDs Sold in Opening Weekend

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Nov 10th 2009 at 2:34PM

Motorola Sells 100,000 Droids Opening Weekend
It's been a very, very, very, very, long time since Motorola had a legitimate hit on its hands. In fact, ever since the release of the RAZR in 2003, the company -- which had been the driving force behind the mobile industry for 20 years -- has been steadily sliding into obsolescence. But, if sales numbers for the highly anticipated DROID are a good predictor, the company that sold the first commercially available cell phone is slowly crawling its way back into a place of significance.

In the DROID's first weekend of availability, Motorola says it sold 100,000 units. Sure, that's no iPhone (An estimated 1 million units were sold the weekend following the 3GS's launch.), but it is double of what the Palm Pre sold in its first weekend. In fact, Motorola expects to sell over 1 million Android-powered handsets (Cliq and DROID being the only models currently available) in the fourth quarter. In addition, the company's stock rose slightly due to news of the DROID's successful opening weekend. Market analyst Mark McKechnie, of Broadpoint AmTech, Inc., called the first few days "encouraging" when speaking to Bloomberg.

So, are we seeing the renaissance of this once-great handset maker? Possibly. Having gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews of the device, and boasting the power of "the network" and Google, Motorola certainly has a real contender in its corner. [From: Bloomberg, via Engadget]

Tags: android, business, droid, motorola, top

Cell Phones, Editor's Picks, Reviews, Holiday Gift Guide

Motorola DROID: The Reviews Are In

by JP Mangalindan (RSS feed) — Nov 5th 2009 at 3:50PM


Motorola's DROID may be the largest threat to Apple's stranglehold on the smartphone market to date, and for good reason. Available starting tomorrow for $199 (with a minimum $70 voice and data monthly plan), the DROID offers lots to like: a sturdy, angular, all-black design; a crystal clear, high-resolution display (854 by 480 pixels); a faster, 550MHz-rated processor; the next-generation Android 2.0 operating system from Google; a physical keyboard; and Verizon's decent call service. Overall, critics see the DROID as a huge step forward for Android-loaded phones, despite there being a few significant kinks to work out. Head after the break to see what the Web is saying:

Read more →

Tags: droid, HGG, iphone, motorola, reviewroundup, smartphone, talkingheds, top

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (3)

Cell Phones, Google

Verizon Getting Android Phones With Google Partnership

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Oct 6th 2009 at 5:57PM

Google and Verizon Partner to Bring Android to Big Red
Verizon and Google announced a new partnership that will bring Android powered devices to the cellular carrier in the coming weeks. While we knew that Android handsets were coming to Big Red, the press release suggests this partnership goes beyond Verizon slapping its branding on an HTC Hero. According to the announcement, the two companies, "plan to co-develop several Android-based devices that will be pre-loaded with innovative applications from both parties as well as third-party developers."

Google will likely be working closely with Verizon to ensure Android-based devices coming down the pipe aren't crippled. Verizon has been known in the past to disable access to features of GPS and Bluetooth. It also means there may be some exciting Verizon-specific apps coming in the future -- we're hoping for an Android app that will let you remotely control your FIOS DVR.

Read more →

Tags: android, htc hero, HtcHero, motorola, sholes, top, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless

Cell Phones

New Cell Phone Tech Could Alert You of Nearby Disasters

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Jun 10th 2009 at 7:15AM

Motorola has created a new cell phone technology that could warn users when a disaster occurs, even if most of the network is not working, according to NewScientist.

Here's how it would work: In the event of disaster, a functional cell phone outside and nearby the disaster area is alerted. Using Wi-Fi, this phone creates a peer-to-peer network with another phone and passes along the alert. The process is repeated over and over, until as many phones as possible have been alerted of the disaster.

The Emergency Alert System already uses television and radio frequencies to alert folks when disaster strikes. However, Motorola engineers believe their technology would prove much more efficient, since many folks may not have access to radio or television during a disaster. The company filed for a U.S. patent in late May, so there's no word yet on how soon this system could be in place.

Read more →

Tags: cell phone, CellPhone, disaster, emergency, motorola, p2p, patent, top, wifi

Cell Phones, iPhone

iPhone 3G Overtakes the RAZR as Best-Selling U.S. Handset

by Joshua Topolsky (RSS feed) — Nov 10th 2008 at 11:39AM


According to a report from NPD, sales of cellphones have shifted in a manner which should shock and stun even a casual observer. Apparently for the first time in years, Motorola's ubiquitous RAZR has been overtaken in consumer sales... by the iPhone 3G. This is a watershed moment for handset sales in the US, marking not only a shift away from the dominant market leader, but a turn towards more complex, full-featured devices.

The news comes hot on the heels of NPD's previous findings, which still placed the RAZR in the top spot -- though with ever-decreasing numbers. In that same report, the iPhone found itself in second place, but it appears that flagging interest in the inescapable dumbphone coupled with the recent iPhone PR blitz have put Apple's moneymaker into the top position. The news is also buoyed by recent reports that Apple has overtaken RIM as the number two smartphone vendor, and a J.D. Power study which found affection for the device waxing in the extreme.

Overall, however, handset sales fell 15 percent year-over-year, and LG managed to snag the top brand position, with two models in the top five. Still, if there already wasn't a clear indication of the market moving towards both smartphones and touchscreen devices, this should give everyone a clearer picture of both the public's wants, and the power of Cupertino's ad-men. Full PR after the break.

Read more →

Tags: apple, breaking news, BreakingNews, domestic sales, DomesticSales, iphone, iphone 3g, Iphone3g, motorola, npd, razr, sales, us sales, UsSales

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (1)

Cell Phones

Samsung No. 1 in US Cell Phone Market, Dethrones Motorola

by Chris Ziegler (RSS feed) — Nov 7th 2008 at 10:10AM


No matter how dire Motorola's situation may be, it's still been able to cling to one last title keeping it firmly entrenched in the ranks of the world's mobile manufacturing elite: US phone sales. For years, Motorola has ridden the RAZR gravy train to success on its home turf more than any other, keeping more globally relevant rivals like Nokia and LG at bay.

No longer, though -- Samsung has finally dethroned Moto, upping its share of the US market to 22.4 percent from 16.2 percent a year ago. That leaves Motorola in number two with 21.1 percent, a shocking fall from 32.7 percent in 2007. LG's knocking on the door at 20.5 percent, so unless the boys and girls in Chicago can get their Android-supportin' butts in gear on the double, we could see a drop to number three within a quarter or two.

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, business, motorola, rankings, samsung, superlatives, us

Cell Phones

Motorola Laying Off 3,000, Mostly From Handset Division

by Darren Murph (RSS feed) — Nov 2nd 2008 at 2:12PM

To be honest, we were surprised that we didn't hear this number along with the other doom and gloom professed during Motorola's Q3 earnings call, but the writing was very clearly on the wall. As part of the mentioned $800 million expenditure cut planned for 2009, 3,000 (more) of Moto's employees will be looking for work elsewhere. According to an unnamed spokeswoman, a "little over two-thirds of those layoffs [will be] in the handset division." And just think -- if Moto would only use all those hands to get an Android-powered phone out before "entirely too long from now," maybe these cuts wouldn't even be necessary. Maybe.

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, economic crisis, EconomicCrisis, economy, layoffs, motorola

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (1)

Cell Phones

Motorola Krave ZN4 Review Roundup

by Darren Murph (RSS feed) — Oct 15th 2008 at 2:07PM


We had a feeling we'd get a mixed bag of reviews as soon as we first saw the Motorola Krave ZN4 -- it's one of those love it or hate it type things, you know? In some cases, reviewers chose to focus on the positives, noting that it was cute, unique, a good music player and a phone that would last and last without a recharge. Another batch of critics couldn't hold back the whip, pointing out that it lacked Wi-Fi, packed a lackluster browser, included yawn-worthy software and offered a keyboard that was "straight-up awkward."

As expected, overall ratings hovered between just below average to just above average, and it seems this phone will be exactly what you make it out to be. Moto fans will likely have plenty to cheer about, but those without a dog in the fight may want to give the writeups below a more thorough glance before dropping $149.99 and agreeing to a super-sized 2-year commitment.

Read - PC Magazine
Read - PhoneScoop
Read - Laptop Mag
Read - DigitalTrends
Read - CNET

Tags: flip phone, FlipPhone, krave, krave zn4, KraveZn4, moto, motorola, new products, NewProducts, review, review roundup, reviewed, ReviewRoundup, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw, zn4

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (0)

Cell Phones, iPhone, Reviews, Peripherals

Hands-On With New Motorola H15 and H780 Bluetooth Headsets

by Tom Samiljan (RSS feed) — Sep 18th 2008 at 3:01PM

motorola h15

Motorola unveiled two new Bluetooth headsets today, one of which -- the H15 (pictured, above) -- is about half the size of a thumb and fits discreetly inside your ear via adjustable earbuds. Available in October for $129, the H15 is a souped-up version of the equally tiny H5 Miniblue headset that came out way back in 2006, and incorporates Motorola's CrystalTalk noise-cancellation technology and EasyPair pairing technology, which reduce outside noise on phone calls and make pairing with phones a snap, respectively. Motorola also announced the H780 Universal Bluetooth Headset, which is slightly bigger and offers more battery life (about 7 hours) than the H15 (about 4.5 hours), but only costs $99.

Both headsets also have multipoint technology, which means they can pair with two phones at once --- handy for those who like to double-fist their phones (such as this writer, who tends to carry an iPhone, for fun, in one pocket and a BlackBerry, for work, in another).

We got a chance to play around with both headsets in New York City's cavernous, echo-y, and conversation-filled Grand Central Station, as well as at our local Starbucks and on city streets, with satisfying results. Both friends we called thought we were either in a "Lincoln Town Car" or a "box" (whatever that means), even though we were walking down noisy streets. To be fair, one friend heard the church bell in the distance on one call, while another could hear the a muffled version of the roar of the cappuccino machine at Starbucks, but overall both of these headsets seemed kind to callers' ears on the other end. We also found them both to be easy to pair -- in fact, the H15 automatically goes into pairing mode when you flip out the U-shaped mic, which means never having to remember how to get a headset into pairing mode again (one of our big pet peeves that makes us easily tire of Bluetooth headsets in general).

Both the H15 and the H780 are due out in the 4th Quarter, which probably means early October since they've already started shipping to stores.

Tags: bluetooth, bluetooth headsets, BluetoothHeadsets, breaking news, BreakingNews, motorola, new products, NewProducts, phone accessories, PhoneAccessories

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (0)

Cell Phones, Cameras, Summer Fun

Motorola Announces 5-Megapixel, Wi-Fi-Enabled Camera Phone

by Chris Ziegler (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2008 at 2:14PM


Hints of Motorola's new MOTOZINE series of devices have gone back as far as last year, but yesterday marked the first time that Moto's officially spilled any beans on the goods. The headlining feature on the first model, the ZN5 candybar, lies on the backside: a 5-megapixel sensor courtesy of a partnership with Kodak, featuring autofocus, a xenon flash, image stitching, and on-device integration with Kodak Gallery.

Otherwise, you get Wi-Fi (score), Motorola's so-called "ModeShift" technology for morphing the keypad depending on device mode (a la the E8), and a run-of-the-mill quad-band GSM radio with EDGE. China's the first country to get the hookup starting next month, but Moto expects to take the ZN5 on a world tour over the course of the remainder of the year.

Tags: camera phones, cameraphones, candybar, cellphone, kodak, motorola, motozine, summernews, w-fi, zine, zn5

Cell Phones, Computers

Motorola Splits, Spins Off Mobile Phone Division

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Mar 26th 2008 at 8:37AM

Motorola Divides, Conquers?Last month came the surprising news that Motorola, a leader in the cell phone industry since its inception, was looking to cut ties and get out. It was looking for a buyer for its handset business so that the company could continue on to focus on other, presumably more profitable things. Those plans have apparently not come to fruition just yet, so the company is taking another route: spinning its mobile devices wing off into a wholly separate corporate entity.

Motorola will now be two separate and publicly traded companies. The first will be called Mobile Devices, a company focusing on cell phones and other gadgets that fit in your pocket. The other company will be Broadband and Mobility Solutions, focusing on the company's sizable business relating to home, corporate, and government networking.

What the future holds for the two companies remains to be seen, particularly given the company's recent attempts to sell the mobile wing. A sale could still be in the cards for the newly independent RAZR makers, which could mean the end of the angled M on handsets. Or, perhaps the newly liberated designers and engineers will come up with a new, even thinner phone that will take the market by storm, making the big wigs at Mobility Solutions wish their attentions had never strayed.

From Engadget

Related Links:

Tags: breaking+news, cell phones, CellPhones, motorola, top

  • Tweet this!
  • Comments (0)

Next Page →

Follow Switched on Twitter

Most Commented On

Most Emailed Stories

Deals of the Day

Our Writers

Thomas Houston

Editor-in-chief

RSS Feed

Leila Brillson

Managing Editor

RSS Feed

Lee Bains

Editor

RSS Feed

View more Writers

Features

More From Switched


Latest Reviews from CNET.com

CNET provides the latest tech news, unbiased reviews, videos, podcasts, software, and downloads, making tech products easy to find, understand and use.

Top Product Reviews

Featured Galleries

Lady Gaga at Monster
Lady Gaga at Polaroid
Geneva at Digital Experience
Motorola Backflip: Hands On
Hannspree at CES
Parrot AR.Drone
Chase Jarvis
Nathaniel Mellor
Mario Bros. Wii

 

Switched Desktop

Get the New Switched Desktop

Latest tech news, Switched mail, and more.

AOL Tech Network

Resources

Autoblog

DailyFinance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Urlesque

Fanhouse Main

WalletPop

Gadling