Motorola and Verizon team up to give away NFL Pro Bowl tickets
Verizon has started a contest that will reward a pair of tickets to the NFL Pro Bowl game for a lucky winner. The contest involves picking which Verizon Android phone you use — only Motorola phones here, sorry fellow Droid Incredible users — and registering into the contest. It looks like you don’t have to actually have the device you pick as your "king of the gridiron" and the only entry requirement is that you be at least 13 years old. It would seem that customers on other carriers should have no problem entering.
One winner will be chosen and he or she shall receive:
- Two tickets to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Jan. 30.
- Two plane tickets.
- Two-night stay at a hotel for two rooms.
- The Motorola phone they chose when entering the contest (we would suggest shying away from the Devour)
- $125 in Verizon gift cards
The whole thing ends at midnight on Jan. 15, so anyone interested should head on past the link and register pronto. [Verizon]
Motorola and Verizon team up to give away NFL Pro Bowl tickets posted originally by Android Central
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Apple sues Motorola over multitouch on its Android smartphones
Another day, another patent lawsuit. And this time around it’s Apple suing Motorola over multitouch on nearly all its Android phones — basically everything up to and including the Droid X. In addition to the multitouch infringement claims, there’s also:
- Object-Oriented System Locator System
- Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Determining Commands by Applying Neuristics
- Method and Apparatus for Displaying and Accessing Control and Status Information in a Computer System.
- Support for Custom User-Interaction Elements in a Graphical, Event-Driven Computer System.
Needless to say, this will take a while. And, no, if Moto loses it doesn’t mean your phone will be taken away — it just means Moto will have to either change how it’s doing things — and/or pay a bucketload of money to Apple. Get the full breakdown on the suit at the source link. [Patently Apple via 9 to 5 Mac]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Verizon’s tiered data plan details leaked
We all knew it was coming, and now we have a bit of the details — and they aren’t as bad as anyone thought. As you can see above, Verizon will still be offering unlimited data to 3G smartphone customers, and they have added in a very light version that should appeal to the people who aren’t using a ton of data each month — you know, the normal people. What’s not quite as appealing is the 3G Tablet plan breakdown, but with no word from other carriers that could be as good or better than anything the other carriers are offering. The short version for what we’re told will start Oct. 28:
3G smartphone plans
- $15 per month for 150 MB
- $15 for each 150 MB of overage
- $29.99 unlimited data
3G Tablet plans
- $20 for 1 GB (with $20 per GB overage)
- $35 for 3 GB (with $10 per GB overage)
- $50 for 5 GB (with $10 per GB overage)
- $80 for 10 GB (with $10 per GB overage)
What say you? Better or worse than expected? Sound off in our Verizon forum! Thanks, anonymous tipster!
Posted originally at Android Central
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Slew of Verizon phones may see end of life in March 2011
A handful of Verizon Android smartphones appear to have their end-of-life dates hung over their heads. Phones that already have shuffled off this mortal coil are the HTC Droid Eris (June 16) and original Droid (August 6).
And a handful of phones — the Droid Incredible, LG Ally, Droid 2 and Droid X — apparently are slated for EOL on March 31, 2011. (Edit: Yes, 2011, not 2010.) That’s give the Droid Deuce a mere seven-month lifespan, which isn’t out of the question, given that the original Droid isn’t even a year old yet.
Then there’s the Motorola Devour, whose EOL date is listed as March 1, 2011. Only, we’ve already seen it listed as being under EOL, and we’d be very surprised if that March date is correct. So what does that mean? Who knows. And who knows how firm these March 2011 dates are. And either way, it’s not like your phone will stop working come next spring. [Phonedog]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Devour won’t be getting Android 2.1; Motorola updates other time lines
This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as the Motorola Devour already is listed as end-of-life, but now it officially won’t be getting an upgrade to Android 2.1. In happier news, the Backflip is slated for an update in the third quarter, and the Cliq and Cliq XT should see their updates in late Q3/early Q4.
There are a slew of other changes to Motorola’s roll-out chart, including the Milestone getting Froyo in the fourth quarter, so check it all out at the source link.
And to offer whatever consolation we can to you poor Devour owners, a present, after the break. [Motorola]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Motorola Devour rooted
Not to be outdone by it’s larger cousins, the Motorola Devour has been rooted. Using some bits and pieces from the Droid X root method, some files scoured from the web, and some good old fashioned determination, Android Central forums user bitswitch has a fairly simple method to get your Devour into the hacking game.
To be sure, this voids warranties, takes a bit of technical know-how, and probably makes puppies cry in some Verizon executive’s backyard, but if you’re rocking the Devour, give it a look. [Android Central forums] Thanks bitswitch!
Posted originally at Android Central
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First ‘official’ Droid 2 pictures decoded
We (and you) have been anxiously been awaiting the official Droid 2 announcement with a little more information about when we may actually see this device. Unfortunately, we don’t have a date or anything just yet, but a lucky reader appears to have deciphered some code that was on the Droid Does site, revealing the sequel inside a Flash file. Sure, we may have seen it a time or two or even three, but this appears to be the first official style image we have seen for the device. So, Verizon, what gives? How about an official announcement for all us eagerly waiting? [via Engadget]
Posted originally at Android Central
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Motorola Devour, original Droid reportedly nearing end-of-life
Perhaps you remember this picture of the Motorola Devour. (Take your time. You’ll find it.) This was just six months ago, when the mid-range Android phone was released on Verizon and even garnered its own Super Bowl ad. Today, it appears that the Devour and the original Droid — which isn’t even a year old — are headed for the big smartphone meetup in the sky, with Verizon listing them as being "End of life."
Now, that doesn’t mean your Droid sucks, or that it won’t be supported. In fact, in the document leaked on DroidForums, it clearly lists the two phones under "Current devices with limited or no remaining shipments from the vendor." In the case of the Droid, that’s hardly surprising, as we’re expecting its sequel anytime now.
And while the Devour hardly was a head-turner (read our full review if you want to know how we really feel about it), it’s a stark reminder of how short a lifespan phones can have. Hell, think about how many phones we’ve seen announced and/or released in the last month. Anyhoo, if you still want a Droid or Devour, better get ‘em while you still can. Or, you know, you can wait a tad and get something newer and better. [DroidForums via DroidLife]
(Oh, and just because we can, check out the Devour ad after the break.)
Posted originally at Android Central
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Motorola Devour slated for maintenance update next week
Word on the street is that Verizon’s Motorola Devour is in line for a maintenance upgrade on Monday. No, it’s not Android 2.1 or anything as sexy as that (the 2.1 update is still "under evaluation"). But here’s what you are getting:
- Improved response time when menu, home and back keys are pressed.
- Adjustments to improve the accuracy of signal strength indicators on the display.
- Stability improvements made to browser, contacts and VCAST Music apps.
- Improved incoming call performance.
- Volume keys now work when you’re in the mobile IM app.
- Fix for picture orientation on upload.
- Fix to make it easier to delete POP3 e-mail accounts.
- Changed display on the e-mail account setup.
- Change to Exchange calendar agenda view to show meeting titles
- Verizon.net e-mail accounts now auto-configure.
- Improvements to ringer, voice dialing and multimedia audio when using a headset.
- Update Google apps.
So, look for the update — version CALAND_X_01.15.08P, if you’re keeping track — next week. And be sure to let us know if it makes your life any easier. Thanks, anon!
NFL now officially available on Verizon Android smartphones
There you go, folks. If you were holding out for Verizon to officially launch its NFL service, it’s now available. All you have to do is text NFL to 8915 or go to VerizonWireless.com/nfl, and you can snag the official app.