Motorola’s UK Defy+ gets rugged JCB-treatment, still useless for excavating
Everyone loves diggers: Motorola’s let that natural fascination get the better of it by teaming up with digger-maker JCB to produce a ruggedized version of its Defy+ “life proof” phone. The limited-edition handset comes pre-loaded with branded-applications for the construction site including a spirit-level, theodolite, decibel meter and a DIY store locator: although we’re more interested in seeing if you can use the tough device to hammer in nails. The Gingerbread -with- Motoblur operating cellular telephone has a 1GHz processor, 2GB internal storage / 2GB microSD card (up to the usual 32GB) and a 3.7-inch Gorilla Glass display
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Motorola’s UK Defy+ gets rugged JCB-treatment, still useless for excavating
Motorola launches MOTOLUXE and DEFY MINI Android sets (video)
CES hasn’t even officially gotten underway and Motorola’s already launching not one, but two handsets for the Greater Chinese, European, and Latin American markets. First off we have the higher end of the two, the not quite new Motorola MOTOLUXE — which we’ve already seen in China as the XT615 and more recently in the hallowed halls of the FCC — packing a 4-inch display, 8 megapixel camera with flash, and a nifty lit lanyard slot on the front for email, text, and voicemail notifications.
See the original article here:
Motorola launches MOTOLUXE and DEFY MINI Android sets (video)
Mobile Miscellany: week of November 14, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here’s some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of November 14, 2011:
- Sony Ericsson has teamed up with Ingram Micro, a distributor that ships phones to Amazon, Buy.com, Best Buy and Newegg, to expand the distribution of its Android lineup in the US. The deal will include a healthy chunk of the Xperia series, including the arc S. [PRNewswire]
- Like the Motorola Defy+ but it’s just not tough enough? Check out the limited-edition JCB version of the rugged device, which adds a hardcore JCB case, a special app with handyman tools and a two-year extended warranty. And it can be yours through Clove on December 6th for £219. [TechDigest]
- Verizon introduced the LG Extrovert, a prepaid device with a slide-out four-row QWERTY, 2.8-inch WQVGA (400 x 240) touchscreen display, 2MP camera and expandable storage. It, however, lacks 3G data. It’s all yours on Verizon’s prepaid site for $110. [PhoneArena]
- Speaking of Big Red, the rugged Casio Gz’One Ravine 2 was launched this week, and can be yours for $150 with a two-year contract. [PhoneScoop]
- The BlackBerry Bold 9790, announced this week, is confirmed to show up in the UK on Vodafone and O2, likely sometime in January. [Unwired View]
- SFR is selling the ZTE Tania, but it appears to be sold as a carrier-branded Windows Phone. You can purchase it without a contract for €269, or with a two-year commitment for €9.99. [MobileTechWorld]
- Twitter for Windows Phone just got updated to be compatible with Mango. It’s meant to offer a smoother experience, but doesn’t bring any new features with it. [WMPowerUser]
- Fandango debuted a new paperless ticket system, in concert with Regal-owned theaters, which can send a scannable bar code to your phone when you want to go see a movie. The ticket-takers then simply scan the code and you’re all ready to root on Team Edward in the latest Twilight movie. Just don’t forget the popcorn. [Yahoo!]
Mobile Miscellany: week of November 14, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mobile Miscellany: week of November 7, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here’s some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of November 7, 2011:
- Motorola’s finding itself in the hot seat with the Advertising Standards Authority for its TV ads regarding the Defy (shown above). The ASA banned the ads, stating that Moto’s claims of the Defy being an indestructable phone are misleading, as evidenced by several people who’ve cracked or severely damaged their Defy due to drops or kicks. [The Register]
- The Huawei Blaze is now being sold at Phones4U for £79.95 on a PAYG plan. [Unwired View]
- How nice would it be to have a live tile on your Windows Phone that displays your current battery charge by exact percentage, instead of guessing what that small meter at the top of the screen means? If you have an unlocked WP7.5 device, head over to XDA to find out how to get one for your Start Menu. [WMPowerUser]
- Who wants some more white BlackBerry news? Bell’s likely getting ready to sell the Bold 9900 on November 24th for $170 with a three-year commitment, and Rogers is getting the aforementioned device alongside the Bold 9790 and Curve 9360 — since these were based off of leaked internal device lists, no dates or pricing were specified. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]
- More Canadian release tidbits: MobileSyrup reports that the Samsung Galaxy W will be hitting Bell shelves sometime this quarter, and Rogers should offer the Samsung Galaxy S Glide sometime soon for $150 with a three-year contract. [MobileSyrup 1, 2]
- Orange UK’s website shows the HTC Sensation XE as “coming soon.” [CoolSmartphone]
Mobile Miscellany: week of November 7, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Motorola Defy+ leaves the gym, coming this fall with slightly more muscle
You’d be hard-pressed to find many phones that look relatively stylish, are thin and light enough to carry comfortably in your pocket, and can hang out underwater for ten minutes. That’s why, we suppose, the Motorola Defy became popular worldwide; it’s difficult to build a device to be a tank without looking like one, and it’s even more tough to do it right. Naturally, when you’ve got a good thing going, it’s ideal to improve upon that model. The Motorola Defy+ aims to do just that — keep the form factor, Gorilla Glass and IP67 certification, but beef up the internal components and throw in better firmware. The new iteration — slated for a Q3 release — will house a single-core 1GHz TI OMAP 3620, Android 2.3.4 with Moto’s latest UI skin (still curiously referred to as MotoBlur) on top, and a 1700mAh battery while the rest of the specs remain the same as its predecessor. No word on specific carrier availability was given, though HelloMoto aims to launch it in Asia, Latin America, and Europe in the fall. Full press release can be found after the break.
Continue reading Motorola Defy+ leaves the gym, coming this fall with slightly more muscle
Motorola Defy+ leaves the gym, coming this fall with slightly more muscle originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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European Motorola Defy to get upgrade to Android 2.2 in Q2 2011
Motorola has announced that the European version of its rugged Defy Android smartphone (see our hands-on) will be upgraded to Android 2.2 Froyo beginning in the second quarter of 2011. Also, the XT720 (see our hands-on) will end its life on Android 2.1. As for when the U.S. version of the Defy on T-Mobile will be upgraded to Froyo? No word. [Motorola]
European Motorola Defy to get upgrade to Android 2.2 in Q2 2011 posted originally by Android Central
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T-Mobile bringing ‘affordable’ Android phones this holiday season
T-Mobile is bringing a quartet of sub-$100 phones to market in time for the holiday season. They are:
- T-Mobile Comet: Also known as the Hauwei Ideos, available Nov. 3 for $9.99 after $50 rebate and two-year contract. Also available at Target, Radio Shack and Best Buy for less than $200.
- LG Optimus T: Available Nov. 3 for $29.99 after $50 rebate and contract.
- Motorola Charm: $49.99 after $50 rebate and contract.
- Motorola Defy: $99.99 after $50 contract and rebate.
The Charm’s been out for a bit, but it’s good to finally see dates and pricing on some of the others. Full presser is after the break.
Posted originally at Android Central
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Motorola Defy to hit T-Mobile on Nov. 3
The Motorola Defy (see our hands-on here) is coming to T-Mobile on Nov. 3, according to T-Mobile USA’s official Twitter account. No price has been announced yet, and I’m not even going to venture a guess. While it may not win any beauty awards, and it’s not quite the top of the line, it seems more than capable — and the Mil-Spec toughness factor is surely going to appeal to many. The Defy ships with Android 2.1, a 5 MP shooter, a 3.7-inch capacitive screen at 480×854, Gorilla glass and the usual cadre of Wifi, Bluetooth, GPS with DNLA support tossed in for good measure.
If you weren’t lucky enough to get one from Oprah, you’ll soon have you chance at this one. [T-Mobile via Twitter]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Motorola Defy Hands On [Video]
The Motorola Defy is a semi-ruggedized Android smartphone that is the latest in a long line of Oprah-giveaways. What you’ve got is a 3.1" touchscreen behind scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass attached to a form factor that’s water and dust-resistant – down to the oversized rubber covers for the USB and headphone ports.
We dig the white-on-black looks and the exposed screws around the edges. We don’t quite dig that it’s sporting Android 2.1 instead of 2.2, but for a phone in this range it’s not a deal-breaker. It’s got a 5-megapixel camera to snap photos of your Australian adventures and DLNA to display those photos on your television. You’ll access it all through the MotoBlur skin, which didn’t appear to slow the device down too much, but even so – T-Mobile G2 this ain’t.
More photos and a demo video (which, yes, veers a little towards the pitchy) after the break!
Posted originally at Android Central
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Oprah gives away a bunch of mid-level Motorola Defy Android smartphones
Motorola and T-Mobile teased that the new Motorola Defy would be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show today, and sure enough, she gave one of the new mid-level smartphones to everyone in her audience (in addition to a trip to Australia). This isn’t the first time she’s one-upped the professional smartphone nerds; she also got the Sprint Evo 4G before everybody else. It’s good to be Oprah.
No word if she’s picking up the contract, too. (Yeah, we’re downers like that.) Watch the video after the break, if you dare. Thanks to Android Armature.
Posted originally at Android Central
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