Motorola Droid 2.1 Delays

As you may have heard the Motorola DROID’s 2.1 update has been delayed to a TBD date. I will be sure to keep posted on this. On my daily phone I will wait for the OTA, while on my other (I got it from the Chicago GTUG) DROID I will download the update and install it manually. You can get manual installation instructions via Android and Me.

[Via http://randomguyweird.com]

Leaked slide points to March 17th launch, $99 price for Motorola CLIQ XT

Motorola already said that its new CLIQ XT Android phone would be available sometime this month when it let us get our hands on the phone last week, but it unfortunately didn’t get very specific about an actual date or a price. If this seemingly authentic slide obtained by TmoToday is any indication, however, it looks like the Blur-skinned handset will hit retail on March 17th (tomorrow), and run $99 on a two-year contract (or $199 for a year). That places it right in line with the current pricing of the original CLIQ, which would seem to be prime for a price drop if it’s sticking around.

[Via http://vladsim.wordpress.com]

HCL, Motorola join hands for radio connectivity projects

HCL and Motorola have inked an agreement to jointly bid for next-generation secured radio connectivity projects in India which several of the state government and police departments are now planning to implement. The two companies feel the potential deal pipeline for such projects will be in excess of Rs 1,000 crore over the next two years.

This comes inline with the HCL-Motorola combine winning the Rs 100-crore contract to implement a secured radio network for the Delhi government ahead of the up-coming Commonwealth Games.

HCL and Motorola aim to benefit from each other’s respective specialisation in system integration and communication technology.

HCL and Motorola has already bid for the tender floated by Daman police and is also in talks with Bangalore police.The Economic Times

[Via http://ivgpartners.wordpress.com]

Motorola offers some help for the borked Cliq update

If that borked update for the Motorola Cliq has kept you up nights, there’s some relief in sight. The guys and gals at These Are The Droids got Moto to acknowledge there’s been an issue, and a workaround has been identified. Said Moto:

Last week, the CLIQ 1.3.18 over-the-air software update began rolling out to consumers. While the vast majority of updates were successful, a very small number of consumers reported a date error and found that, after factory resetting their device, their phone was not functioning properly. We have identified a workaround solution for these consumer

Turns out there it was an issue with the over-the-air nature of the update. And if you’re having issues, you can re-update through the SD card using these instructions. Good luck, and let us know how things worked out. [These are the Droids]

http://www.androidcentral.com/motorola-offers-some-help-borked-cliq-update

[Via http://fonehack.wordpress.com]

Motorola Devour goes hands-on, hits Best Buy for $99 this week

We’ve got Motorola’s latest Blur handset in hand, Devour-ing ill-advised puns like it’s a full time job. We’ll have some more in-depth impressions and a video walkthrough soon, but for now you can check out this aluminum slider in all its consumer-friendly glory in the gallery below. Here are some of our initial thoughts:

• For some reason — perhaps it’s the odd screen size to device size ratio — the device comes across as very small in pictures and video. This is not at all the case. In fact, outside of its smaller screen size, the phone is in every way equal to or larger than the Droid. It also seems a little bit heavier, but they’re certainly close in that department.
• The extruded aluminum chassis is really premium. MacBook Pro-type premium. The sliding mechanism as well is very high quality — making the Droid’s springless slide design look like a bit of a chump. There are also rubber accents on the top, bottom, and sides that give us hope that this phone would survive a hard fall much better than most of its Android competition.
• Due to the weird chassis, the batter and microSD card (8GB comes standard) are sideloaded into the device. It’s novel and secure, and you don’t have to take out the battery to swap out the microSD card, which is a major plus.
• The keyboard is pretty good, if a tad too wide. The keys are very distinct and clicky, though perhaps not quite so large that we’re comfortable with typing with the pads of our thumbs. The space bar’s odd letter-splitting location isn’t a dealbreaker, but the dedicated number row just seems silly and we really think Motorola could’ve done better in the key layout.
• The clickable optical pad (on the right side of the picture above) is just fine, though not really optimized for the Blur interface. It makes much more sense in web browsing and other parts of the Android UI — maybe even more so than a track ball.
• Though the phone is only running Android 1.6, one of the biggest 2.0 / 2.1 features has made it onto the device: Google Navigation. Interestingly, you have to download a text-to-speech voice kit from the Android Market to get it working. It’s a fairly automated process, but still feels a little “hacked on.”
• So far everything about the UI seems very snappy, particularly in comparison with our laggy experience with the Cliq. This is helped in part by the new Qualcomm MSM7627 chip under the hood, the same processor used by the Palm Pixi. Of course, the true testament to the Devour’s snappiness will be how fast it continues to be after a week or so of use without a reset and all those social network updates delivering status message drivel at a rapid clip.
• The biggest trouble this phone has is the fact that the Droid is only $50 more and includes a much better / larger / higher resolution screen, faster processor, newer Android and sexier look.

Verizon and Motorola have also at last confirmed all the leaks about the price and retail rollout: the phone goes on sale this Thursday (the 25th) for $150 at Best Buy, and will then hit Verizon stores in March for $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Buyers will also need to sign up for a Nationwide Talk plan and the $30 unlimited data package, part of Verizon’s new-ish smartphone plan restrictions — though really, you’re not going to get much done on this phone without a data plan.

Update: We got some bad information, and now have the official Best Buy pricing straight from Best Buy’s Facebook page: The Devour will retail for $99 starting on February 25th, but the Droid will also be dropped to $99, and the Droid Eris is going to be free from Big Blue. Meanwhile, Verizon is sticking to its $149 pricetag at its own stores, which involves a $100 rebate. (Thanks to everyone who pointed this out).

Via: engadget

[Via http://gadgetnolia.wordpress.com]

Laptop Buying Guide - Which Laptop Should I Buy?

Image : http://www.flickr.com

You may have spent a fortune on that brand new laptop. But technology is evolving at a fast pace, and your laptop will invariably feel old in a couple of years. It is, therefore, imperative that you buy a model you will be comfortable with for as long as you want to keep it.

Basic Laptops
Before buying a notebook make a realistic assessment of your requirements. Are you a compulsive gamer? Do you tend to watch lots of HD video on your computer? Most users have pretty limited needs that extend only to web surfing and word processing. Any laptop available in the market can meet these requirements. So there is no need to spend thousands of dollars on a high end machine. Besides cost, the other factors that need to be considered are portability and usability.

Do you travel a lot? Mobile professionals need a thin and light machine they can carry around. Netbooks are a good choice for them. These machines are incredibly popular now. They are ultraportable with 9 or 10 inch screens. Another reason behind the popularity of netbooks is their price. These are cheap computers. But buying a netbook isn’t a very bright idea if the machine is intended to be your primary computer. Compared to mainstream laptops, netbooks have much less powerful hardware. And the small screen size may strain your eyes if you use it for extended periods.

Upgrading
Upgrading a laptop isn’t totally impossible, but it isn’t very easy either. All laptops have some parts that cannot be replaced at all because they are soldered to the motherboard. Chief among the components that can’t usually be replaced are CPU and Graphics cards. There are of course some parts that can be replaced and they include hard drive and RAM.

Laptop Components
Laptop components are mini versions of their desktop counterparts. They are pricier than desktop components, but they aren’t necessarily more powerful. In fact, laptops tend to be less powerful than desktops. This is because laptop components usually run at slower speeds so as to reduce heat build-up inside the chassis.

Processor/CPU
The processor/CPU inside a computer has the greatest impact on system speeds. Intel and AMD are currently the leading CPU manufacturers. There are other chip-makers too, but they usually cater to the lower-end of the spectrum. Intel processors deliver slightly better performance than AMD processors, but they are also pricier than their AMD counterparts.

Graphics Card/GPU
The graphics card/GPU is an integral part of a gaming laptop. If you are not an avid gamer, then you don’t have to buy a laptop with a discrete GPU. But remember that having a GPU will be helpful while running photo and video editing applications and playing HD video. If you tend to play a lot of games, you should buy a laptop with a discrete ATI or NVIDIA graphics. Intel processors usually come with an integrated graphics solution such as the GMA950 or 4500MHD, but these are practically useless for playing graphics rich modern games.

RAM (Memory)
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Having sufficient RAM is extremely essential for getting good performance from your laptop. For instance, you will not be able to run multiple applications simultaneously if you do not have enough RAM. So how much RAM is necessary? Well, it depends upon your exact needs. Most netbooks come with 1GB of RAM. Higher-end models will usually have 3GB or 4GB of RAM. Laptops with 8GB and 16GB of RAM are also available at the moment. 1GB of RAM is usually sufficient if you are an average user.

Storage
How much storage space you need depends upon how you use the computer. If you only store spreadsheets and your office documents, you will not need much space. But if you use your laptop to store movies, music and photos you will need to buy a model with a large hard drive. Basic laptops usually come with 80GB or 160GB hard drives. Pricier models with 500GB or 640GB of hard drives are also available.

[Via http://bestlaptopreivews.wordpress.com]

A slew of new mobile phones/platforms announced today!

At “TKB” we focus on the MOST RELEVANT technology for the average person.  Today was the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (Spain) and the BIGGEST news was without a doubt, Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 Series!  We already gave the scoop on that HUGE announcement, but there were actually quite a few other announcements that are noteworthy.   Most of us average people prefer “less” information so it’s best to just list out the new announcements and where to find more info if you are interested:

• Nokia and Intel unite to create new Mobile OS (MeeGo) [THIS might be worthy of its own TKB review later]
• Motorola’s new MOTOROI
• Toshiba TG02
• Toshiba K01
• Nokia “Feel” app suggests activities based on your emotional state
• Dell Mini 5 with NEW Android OS
• Acer’s “Liquid e”

There were a good amount of other announcements from the MWC conference today but those are just some of the more notable!  If you want us to break down any of those articles into “easier to understand” terms, let us know in the comments section below!

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• Intel and Nokia Team Up on Mobile Software (bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
• MWC: Windows Phone 7 Series Officially Announced (ubergizmo.com)
• Toshiba’s K01 Smartphone Has a 4.1-Inch OLED Screen and QWERTY Keyboard [Toshiba] (gizmodo.com)
• Watch Live Coverage of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2010 Online (techie-buzz.com)

[Via http://techknowbabel.wordpress.com]