One of our readers went into his local Verizon store to pick up some accessories for his Motorola XOOM, what he didn’t expect was to find a whopping 80% discount. With Verizon and Motorola now pushing the new Xyboard tablets, it seems as if they are looking to clear space and are practically giving away old XOOM accessories. The standard dock usually sells for $50 can now be had for $10, while the HD dock with speakers and HDMI out for normally $90 can be had for $20.

Anyone looking for some accessories for their (or possibly a friend’s) XOOM should check out their local Verizon store. Christmas is just around the corner and these could be pretty awesome gifts for your XOOM loving friends, significant other or family members.

Cheers Michael!

Motorola XOOM Accessories Going For 80% Off In Verizon Stores, If You Can Find Them is a post from: Droid Life

Our friends over at AnandTech did quite the investigation on the reported signal strength issue with the Galaxy Nexus. Users were reporting numerous dropped calls and a weak 4G LTE signal – I for one have only seen higher than 3 bars once. While the signal strength was lacking, I never experienced speeds anywhere close to the level of 3G and continuously averaged 16Mbps down.

After investigating the issue, AnandTech has reported that there isn’t really any issue at all. In fact, the Galaxy Nexus (thanks to ICS) is reporting the accurate number of bars, where as non-ICS 4G LTE phones are showing three to four bars over their true amount. Additionally, when going to Settings > Menu > About Phone > Status on a non-ICS device the reported signal strength is actually 3G and not the 4G signal. In the image above, you can see that the Galaxy Nexus and DROID Charge have a very similar signal strength, however the Charge shows four bars of service while the Nexus is showing the accurate one-bar.

All in all, you should not use the signal bars to judge your 4G LTE strength. You can sleep soundly knowing that the Galaxy Nexus features the same signal strength as all of Verizon’s 4G LTE devices. Remember, Verizon is improving their 4G LTE network each month, it is a work in progress and it will only get better.

Via: AnandTech

Galaxy Nexus LTE Signal Is More Accurate Than Others, There May Be No Problem is a post from: Droid Life

The man behind Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich, Matias Duarte recently took place in a Google+ Hangout hosted by The Daily Beast. During the conversation Mr. Duarte focused on Ice Cream Sandwich and the future of the mobile operating system. The latest version of Android is incredibly polished and when compared to previous versions it is simply stunning. Unfortunately, manufacturers won’t think twice about putting custom skins on their devices and changing a user’s experience.

We have already seen early builds of these skins from Sony and Samsung, both of which bring little of the Ice Cream Sandwich joy to light. You would think the big man himself would be disappoint with the concept of OEM skins, however he isn’t. Mr. Duarte embraces the skins, even claiming that himself and the rest of the Android team have learned from them. Additionally, he mention that without the Nexus program he would be more bothered by the idea of OEM customization.

Well, it would bother me more if we didn’t have programs like the Nexus program. The idea behind the Nexus device is to do exactly that – to give consumers an option to use the baseline work that we do if they choose…the philosophy of Android, the idea that partners can customize Android if they want to, is really important to making Android successful.

With Ice Cream Sandwich, Mr. Duarte hopes OEM skins will become less-intrusive and let users experience more of a what Google intended.

I think as we see more and more of the basic UI, the basic operating system – the home screen, the notifications system – kind of meet all of the needs that the customers want, you’ll see that OEM’s invest less time trying to fill in the features maybe that were missing there and more time adding completely new features to differentiate each other. Or taking the baseline Android experience and trying to transform it to create something completely different that is more of a niche product like the Kindle Fire.

And I think that’s good; I’m excited for that future. i hope that with Ice Cream Sandwich, we’ve done a lot to deliver that baseline so that OEM’s are going to feel less like they need to fill in the holes that Android left behind and actually focus on adding value…I think with the new Asus Transformer [Prime], you’ll see that the level of customization they’ve provided on top of the base Android is much less than has been provided in the past. In fact, they even allow you to turn off all of their customizations and revert to the stock Honeycomb UI, which I think is a really cool development, too.

Lastly,  the dreaded F-word was discussed – fragmentation. As both critics and fans have pointed out, fragmentation is a major problem in the world of Android. Duarte explained that fragmentation is the “price you pay” with open-sourcing a project like Android. Manufactures can decide which version of software to run on their devices, however Google has worked with OEMs, pledging to continue to update their devices for an 18-month time period. Additionally, the OEM’s software version will be kept closer to current builds released by Google.

The idea of being able to shut off skins is something Android fans have been pleading for. Whether you are a developer or just a user looking for the pure Android experience, you shouldn’t be required to flash a custom ROM to do so. Being able to shut off the small tweaks provided from ASUS on the Transformer Prime and revert to the stock UI is a concept that should be followed by others.

Via: Androinica

Matias Duarte Talks Ice Cream Sandwich, Android Skins And Fragmentation is a post from: Droid Life

When a new device is launched it must go through the ritual of getting torn down. Whether it happens a day after the launch or a few weeks, almost every device is cracked open and examined. It is no surprise that when it comes to the Galaxy Nexus it receives the treatment only a day after its launch.

While Verizon’s Nexus may look similar to the one our friends have across the pond, it is quite different on the inside – thanks to the LTE radio. Unfortunately likes its cousin, Verizon’s variant will be quite difficult to repair if the display is cracked or damaged.

Via: ZDNet

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE Gets Cracked Open And Torn Down is a post from: Droid Life

File this one under surprising, a German court has ruled in favor of Motorola in their lawsuit with Apple. Back in April, Motorola filed two patent-infringement lawsuits against the Cupertino based company’s iOS devices. The mobile giant claimed Apple had infringed on one of their core cellular communications patents related to data packet transfer technology. If the ruling is upheld (we all know there will be an appeal), Apple will be forced to either remove the technology or pay a hefty licensing fee to Moto.

Motorola now has the option to enforce a Europe-wide iOS ban immediately, or wait until after the appeals process is through. If they opt to enforce the ban right away, Motorola must cough up $134 million bond – in case the verdict is overturned in appeal.

In less than 48 hours, Apple has been hit with three devastating court rulings. The Australian High Court ruled that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 did not infringe on any patents, a U.S. court rejected Apple’s case to ban Galaxy devices stateside and now the German courts have ruled in favor of Motorola. Is this the definition of irony?

German Court Rules in Favor of Motorola Mobility in Apple Litigation
Court grants Motorola Mobility’s requests for injunction and damages

Dec. 09, 2011

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Dec. 9, 2011 – Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) (“Motorola Mobility”) today announced that the court in Manheim, Germany (the “Court”) has ruled that Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) European sales company, Ireland-based Apple Sales International, is infringing one of Motorola Mobility’s core cellular communications patents related to data packet transfer technology (GPRS) through its sales of the iPhone and iPad devices. The Court granted Motorola Mobility’s requests for an injunction and damages.

“We are pleased with the court’s ruling. Today’s decision validates Motorola Mobility’s efforts to enforce its patents against Apple’s infringement,” said Scott Offer, senior vice president and general counsel of Motorola Mobility. “Motorola Mobility has worked hard over the years to build an industry-leading intellectual property portfolio that is respected by the telecommunications industry, and we are proud to leverage this portfolio to create differentiated innovations that enhance the user experience. We will continue to take all necessary steps to protect our intellectual property, as the Company’s patent portfolio and licensing agreements with companies both in the U.S. and around the world are critical to our business. We have been negotiating with Apple and offering them reasonable licensing terms and conditions since 2007, and will continue our efforts to resolve our global patent dispute as soon as practicable.”

Business Risks

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future actions with respect to this litigation and other future actions. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our successful protection of our intellectual property in this litigation and in other pending and future matters; and the other risks and uncertainties contained and identified in Motorola Mobility’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof Motorola Mobility does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or update the reasons that actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

Via: Gizmodo, Motorola

German Court Rules in Favor of Motorola, Possible iOS Device Ban Throughout Europe is a post from: Droid Life

Despite an onslaught of Apple lawsuits, Samsung is looking to beat the Cupertino company’s release of a retina-resolution tablet. According to a trusted source from BGR, Samsung is set to launch an 11.6-inch tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich by early next year. The device will most likely be showcased at Mobile World Congress in February.

According to the source, even though the tablet features a larger display than the Tab 10.1, the device will be “barely larger” due to a thinner bezel. The new tablet will feature an ultra high-res display at a whopping 2560 x 1600 resolution with a 2GHz dual-core Exynos 5250 processor. Samsung’s table will also feature Android Beam for easy syncing with the Galaxy Nexus (if it is released by then) and a special wireless docking mode for gaming on HDTVs, which should help Samsung compete with Apple TV, Airplay and more.

Via: BGR

Samsung To Release 11-Inch Retina-Resolution 2GHz Exynos Tablet By Next Year is a post from: Droid Life

Besides their incredible line up of smartphones and tablets, the big reason we are all on Verizon is the pure power of their network. Rarely are calls dropped, coverage is wide-spread and their 4G LTE network is blazing fast. Consumer Reports polled over 66,000 of its members on their service and customer-support experience with both standard and no-contract providers. For the second year in a row Big Red has polled the highest, with AT&T sitting at the bottom of the results. Nipping at Verizon’s heals is the nations third largest carrier, Sprint, with T-Mobile coming in third.

Survey respondents gave Verizon very good scores for both texting and data service satisfaction, as well as staff knowledge. As a Verizon customer for nearly the past 10 years, I could not be happier. The service has done nothing but expand, unfortunately so have the prices – then again you get what you pay for. Three cheers for Verizon, hip-hip-hooray.

Via: ConsumerReports

For The Second Year In A Row, Verizon Tops Consumer Reports Satisfaction Survey is a post from: Droid Life

Ten years ago Rockstar Games released the controversial and revolutionary game, Grand Theft Auto III to an eager Playstation crowd. Since then, Rockstar has continued to rock the console and PC gaming industry, and now look to do the same in the mobile landscape. A special 10 year anniversary edition of GTA3 will be hitting select Android devices December 15 for $4.99. The following devices will be supported at launch:

Android Phones: HTC Rezound, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Galaxy R, T-Mobile G2x
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive

I know what your thinking, no support for the Galaxy Nexus, DROID RAZR, or even the Bionic – crazy right? While the device list is surely lacking, a $4.99 price-tag for this game is more then pleasing. To bad it isn’t one of the $0.10 app specials.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via: RockstarGames

Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition Coming To Android December 15th is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon is prepping two new 4G LTE tablets for the month of December, an 8-inch and 10.1-inch device both to succeed the Motorola Xoom. CNET recently received some hands-on time with both devices and have confirmed that they will be marketed as the DROID XyBoard. However, both will be known as the Motorola Xoom 2 overseas.

As we have previously seen, both tablets share the same design cues as the DROID RAZR. Rather than the typical rounded edges of other tablets, the XyBoard features oddly sharp corners.

Both devices have a 1.2GHZ dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4G LTE connectivity and run Android 3.x Honeycomb. Each device also has a 5-megapixel rear-camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing one. The XyBoard is thinner than the original Xoom and features Cornings Gorilla Glass. The 10-inch Xyboard includes a stylus for business orientated users, while the smaller device is considered more media-centric with a 2.1 virtual surround sound system – subwoofer included.

There has been no official word on pricing, however we previously reported that models will start at $429. It is disappointing to see that these two flagship tablets are running last years dual-core technology and operating systems, where is the quad-core and Ice Cream Sandwich?

Via: CNET

Verizon Confirms Two New 4G DROID Tablets, XyBoard Name Is Here To Stay is a post from: Droid Life

Funny-man turned Senator, Al Franken fired off a letter to Carrier IQ on Thursday regarding the company’s questionable practices. Carrier IQ has come under question in recent weeks after Trevor Eckhart revealed a major HTC security hole which led him to Carrier IQ. The software, which comes preinstalled on many smartphones, claims to assist OEMS and carriers in tracking device performance and problems. However, it is believed that the software gives both carriers and OEMs the ability to spy on users, even tracking which numbers are dialed, message content and much more.

Sprint admitted to The Verge that the carrier does in fact use Carrier IQ, but claims it is just for analyzing network performance. Sprint says it collects “enough information to understand the customer experience with devices on our network,” but that it can’t look at the contents of messages, photos, or videos using Carrier IQ. However, the original story broke when an HTC EVO 3D was shown logging keystrokes and call information.

Senator Franken has given Carrier IQ until December 14 to answer his concerns, until then you can sleep soundly knowing Verizon doesn’t use the software.

Via: Gizmodo, TheVerge

Carrier IQ Hit With Senate Investigation, Has Until December 14 To Address Privacy Concerns is a post from: Droid Life

We would never leave Android, but it doesn’t hurt to test out how thinks might have been if we were to choose another operating system. I must admit, Microsoft has done some pretty snazzy stuff by creating a Windows Phone 7 emulator – all within your phones browser. By visiting http://aka.ms/wpdemo, you will be prompted to start a guided tour through WP7.

Your device will soon switch from Android to the Windows Phone 7 experience you see above. Every tile is functional and Microsoft has done an outstanding job with a unique marketing ploy. Additionally, at the end of the tour you have a chance to win a free Windows Phone 7 device – because they know, we all love free things.

Via: Engadget

Microsoft Lets Android Users Experience Windows Phone 7 Via The Browser is a post from: Droid Life

Winter is upon us and with that comes cold and frightful weather. On a snowy, or even a rainy day nothing beats just staying inside and watching a movie. Sure you can order one on-demand, but why would you do that when Google is offering up some of the hottest movies for just 99 cents. For the next two weeks you will no longer need to go to RedBox, as you can now watch a hit movie for the same low price of $1 from the Android Market.

At this time the promotion appears to only be available stateside, nonetheless it is a pretty good deal. Who is going to take advantage of this?

Via: Twitter

For The Next Two Weeks, 12 Of The Top Movies In Android Market Are 99 Cents is a post from: Droid Life

In this day and age of technology no one is safe from lawsuits, especially in the mobile landscape. Microsoft has sued dozens of companies, as has Apple – with Samsung, HTC, and Motorola countering the lawsuits with their own. The sad truth is that almost 99 percent of the cases involve patent infringement suits – Android took from Microsoft, Microsoft took from Android, Android took from Apple, Apple took from Android, and so on.

To defend themselves from endless lawsuits companies are purchasing other companies with extensive patent portfolios, and last July that is exactly what HTC did when it purchased S3 Graphics. The Taiwanese company has been in a bitter patent battle with Apple since the days of the Nexus One. With the $300 million acquisition of S3 Graphics, HTC filed a counter-suit claiming Apple infringed on the company’s newely acquired patents. Unfortunately, the ITC has ruled in Apple’s favor – handing HTC a significant blow.

HTC has remained optimistic stating, “while the outcome is not what we hoped for, we will review the ruling once the commission provides it and will then consider all options, including appeal.” HTC has several other cases against Apple, however with Cupertino’s recent win analyst are concerned about HTC’s S3 purchase, stating that the loss may have a long-term negative impact.

Apple and HTC will be back in court, this time in a case regarding HTC’s infringement on two of Apple’s patents, with a verdict expected December 6.

Via: Bloomberg

HTC Loses Key Patent Infringement Case Against Apple is a post from: Droid Life

Apple co-founder Steve ‘The Woz’ Wozniak stopped by the Googleplex and walked away with a Galaxy Nexus and an Ice Cream Sandwich t-shirt. Yes the man who founded Apple with Steve Jobs is currently playing with a brand spanking new Galaxy Nexus – I will let you take that in for a moment.

Ironically, Woz usually waits until release day for the newest iPhone device and tends to Segway to the front of the line. However, he is receiving a device many people want, even before it is officially announced (stateside at least). This says a lot about Android and Ice Cream Sandwich, only furthering our anticipation for the actual release of the Galaxy Nexus. Lastly I am left wondering how Steve Jobs would have felt about this? Try to keep it classy and sound off in the comments below.

Via: Google+

Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Receives The Galaxy Nexus Before You is a post from: Droid Life

With the Galaxy Nexus available in the U.K., Google has released numerous “getting started” videos on the official Google Nexus YouTube channel. The videos are your normal run-of-the-mill instructional how to’s – except for one thing, a Verizon-branded Galaxy Nexus. We have seen the device go through the FCC and we have heard countless stories regarding possible delays, nonetheless it is nice to see some more Verizon confirmation to ease those pesky stomach nerves.

Interestingly enough, you can clearly see a My Verizon Mobile app and VZ Backup Assistant installed on the device. These may not be preinstalled but a little part of me has a feeling that they may be, which takes away from the Pure Google Experience and the Nexus name. Unfortunately, a release date is still being kept under wraps.

Getting started:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Home screen walk-through:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Face unlock:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Simple multi-tasking:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Using Beam:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Camera and panorama:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Customizing favorites tray:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Creating folders:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Changing wallpapers:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The new commercial:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers Ty, Timothy, and everyone else!

Verizon-Branded Galaxy Nexus Stars In Official Google Videos, Your Guide to the Device is a post from: Droid Life