From the same man that unlocked some of Motorola’s heavily guarded bootloaders, a new root method for DROID Bionic owners running the new Jelly Bean firmware has been released. Unfortunately for most of you, it is for folks running Ubuntu because due to technical reasons, a Windows version is currently impossible. 

Root is acquired by running a modified version of Motorola’s own Motoshare software and some customized files. If you fit the bill as a Bionic owner on the new firmware and have yourself a running Linux workstation, go follow the via and get your root on.

Via: Droidrzr

Cheers Jim!

Jelly Bean on DROID Bionic Root Method Released, Instructions For Those Running Ubuntu is a post from: Droid Life

We’ve heard from a handful of readers this morning who were able to update their DROID Bionic devices to official Jelly Bean. The update itself was approved by Verizon last week as build 98.72.22, so the timing for a rollout seems about right. One of our readers that received the update was not a part of the soak test either, leading us to believe that the update may be live for everyone.

To get yourself into Google Now, head into Settings>About phone>System updates and see if the update is available. The support documents for the update show it as being about 98MB in size.

If you aren’t able to pull it, a manual install is still available.

Cheers March, Josh and everyone else!

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Update Rolling Out Now! is a post from: Droid Life

On Friday, Verizon approved the much-anticipated Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.2) update for the Motorola DROID Bionic. As is typical with Motorola updates, an initial rollout of the new firmware was pushed to members of a test group to make sure that no major issues were hanging around. Thanks to that push to testers, we now have the file for anyone willing to take the plunge and manually update ahead of time. 

In order to flash the update file, you’ll have to be running stock 6.7.246, which is the last update the Bionic received. You can have root prior to updating, but will likely need to utilize the OTA Rootkeeper app in order to keep it afterwards. Reports seem to be mixed thus far on whether or not this is working, though.

In order to flash the update, download the file from below, drop it on your SD card, reboot into recovery, and then install from SD Card.

The full changelog for the update can be found here.

Update:  If the download link below is dead, be sure to head to the XDA thread.

Via:  XDA [Download Link]

Cheers Russel and Justtyn!

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Update Available for Download and Manual Install is a post from: Droid Life

The Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.2) update for the DROID Bionic has been approved by Verizon as build number 98.72.22. The update will include a number of important goodies like an immensely improved voice search, smarter notifications with actionable items, a better keyboard, and of course, Google Now. Your device should also run smoother, feature more intuitive graphics, and react quicker to touch responses thanks to Project Butter. 

Outside of new Android features, Motorola has improved voice and data connectivity (hotspot too) and calendar settings. They also removed bloatware.

A soak test of the update to members of Motorola’s Feedback Network will likely start before the mass rollout happens, so stay patient for now. Once that is complete, we’ll be sure to report back.

Update:  Verizon confirms that the update will start to roll out in phases from April 15.

The update is 98.72MB in size.

More info.

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Update Approved by Verizon as Build 98.72.22 (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

About a week after Motorola committed to a Q2 rollout for the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update of the DROID Bionic, the company has begun sending out invites for members of their Motorola Feedback Network to participate in a soak test of the new software. The invites specifically say “Jelly Bean software release,” so there isn’t any guessing to be had here.  

Hi,

Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Droid Bionic on Verizon to participate in an early preview of the new Jelly Bean software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Droid Bionic, please excuse and ignore this email.

The registration window for this soak could be extremely small — sorry about that. Please act now to take part.

Click this link – https://www.surveymonkey.com/ – to take the enrollment survey if you wish to take part. Note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola Owners’ Forums to be included. The registration window could close without notice so please respond as quickly as possible.

This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites.

Thanks. Although we expect to start soon, we ask for your patience if you register but don’t hear from us right away.

Matt
Motorola Owners’ Forums
Motorola Feedback Network

Typically, soak tests start within a couple of days after invites like these go out. Assuming the test software is bugfree and a success, Motorola and Verizon will announce the update and start pushing it out to everyone shortly thereafter.

This update for the Bionic is seemingly the last 4.1 update that I can think of for Motorola phones. We have already seen 4.1 arrive for the RAZR HD, original RAZR, and DROID 4 within the last couple of months. The Xyboards are likely still in play as tablets, but they also seem like the dirty stepchildren of the Moto family.

Cheers E, M, D, G, J, J, B, J and everyone else!

DROID Bionic Jelly Bean Soak Test Invites Go Out, the Time for Android 4.1 has Come is a post from: Droid Life

Motorola made a slight change to their DROID Bionic software news page today, one that signifies them finally settling in on a time frame for updating the device to Jelly Bean. Q2 is it. If you had hopes of receiving the update by the end of Q1, which is in 5 days, you will leave the month and quarter disappointed. I know there were rumors of the update happening in Q1, but as far as we can tell, the update page from Motorola has only said that it would receive 4.1, not when. This is the first time the update site has listed out a specific quarter.

So, Q2 means the update could arrive anywhere from April 1 through June 30. Ugh.

Via:  Motorola

Cheers Gabriel!

Motorola Commits to Updating DROID Bionic to Jelly Bean in Q2 is a post from: Droid Life

If you still like to hack on your DROID Bionic, you’ll be pleased to learn that the new Ice Cream Sandwich update (6.7.246) fastboot file has been released. Just like with old SBF files that were flashed in RSD Lite, this will allow you to recover your phone should you run into any issues. If anything, you should download for safe keeping.

We should point out that once you are running ICS 6.7.246, it is highly recommended that you never try to flash back to Gingerbread 5.9.905, as it may permanently brick your device.

Via:  Downloads | DroidRzr

Cheers Adan!

DROID Bionic ICS 6.7.246 Fastboot File Released, Tinkerers Get to Downloading is a post from: Droid Life

The long overdue Ice Cream Sandwich update for the DROID Bionic is available to all owners of the phone, today. As you know, the update has been approved as build 6.7.246 and will jump your phone to Android 4.0.4. The entire details of the update can be found here.

To pull the update yourself, head into Settings>About phone>System updates.

Cheers Josh, Matt, Brandon, Nimrodmar10, Justin, anon, and everyone else!

DROID Bionic Ice Cream Sandwich Update Available to All! is a post from: Droid Life

When Motorola first unveiled the new RAZR family at the beginning of September, they told us that they wouldn’t be able to update all of their previously released devices to Jelly Bean (Android 4.1). Since they had too large of a portfolio and would need to leave some out of the fun, they mentioned that owners of these devices would be able to buy a new Motorola phone and then trade in their old phone for $100. They posted the list of devices, this afternoon, which we have below. 

So if the list of phones on the left is of those not receiving Jelly Bean, that means that the DROID Bionic and DROID 4 somehow made the list of phones in line to get it. That’s got to feel good, right? We should also point out that sources of ours said that Motorola is targeting Q1 for Android 4.1 updates for the original RAZR and RAZR MAXX, Bionic, and D4. The RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD should see 4.1 before the end of the year.

Update:  Motorola has also made changes to their update schedule:

There you have it, folks, All of the new RAZRs will see Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) before the end of 2013. The Atrix HD, Photon Q, Electrify 2, DROID RAZR, RAZR MAXX, DROID 4, and Bionic will all receive it at some point in the future.

Via:  Motorola

Cheers Matt and Mark!

Motorola Posts List of Phones Not Receiving Jelly Bean, Confirms Which Phones Will Get the Update is a post from: Droid Life

Ahhhhh yeah, DROID Bionic owners. We know you about threw your phone through the window when Verizon announced that the LG Lucid would be receiving Ice Cream Sandwich tomorrow, before you, but they came through moments ago. The support docs for the ICS (Android 4.0.4) update for the Bionic have been uploaded, which means that it has been approved and should start to rollout any day.

The update includes all of the goodies that you would expect in ICS, like new swipe-able notifications, a more stock Android look, quick folders, new lockscreen, better multi-tasking (press and hold “Home”), and data management. Motorola also tossed in Smart Actions, improved Google Calendar sync, improved Google Play, and updated all sorts of bloatware.

The update is 368MB in size. 

More info.

DROID Bionic Ice Cream Sandwich Update Finally Approved as Build 6.7.246 is a post from: Droid Life

According to the flood of emails that just landed in our inbox, Motorola has invited DROID Bionic owners to test out a new software update. Since Moto and Verizon missed their original Ice Cream Sandwich deadline, and later told us to expect it in Q4, I’d say this is likely it. We were told last week by a source that the update would be here within 2-3 weeks.

Soak tests usually take a couple of days to start. Once they rollout to testers and are successful, the official update tends to go live a few days later.

Can you believe it?

Cheers T, M, M, and N!

DROID Bionic Soak Test Incoming, Should be Ice Cream Sandwich is a post from: Droid Life

Punit Soni has only been the VP of Product at Motorola for a few weeks and already has taken to Google+ to interact personally with current customers to try to fix some of the company’s past mistakes. One of the topics he is actively involved in includes the DROID Bionic and the fact that it still has not received its Ice Cream Sandwich update. As you all know, Motorola previously promised to the world that the update would be here in “early Q3,” however, we are now days away from the end of Q3 and the update is no where in sight. 

Soni admits that Bionic owners have “gotten a raw deal” thus far and that a new plan is being formed, but also wants it to be clear that with the new Motorola team at the top, they are doing everything they can to eliminate situations like this from ever happening:

We have a plan for Bionic. I am currently solidifying things to ensure we can publish it, commit and follow up. I think you guys have gotten a raw deal and we could do way better. But you are one of the top few things I worry about when I look at Upgrades.

The Google+ thread of his that we have linked below continues on for quite some time and is filled with Soni’s responses to all sorts of customers. One comment of his that stood out was the thought that his team now knows to “take your complaints seriously” and that in the future, they will be transparent and stand next to upgrade timelines:

Again..I totally understand how you feel. And this should never happen. I am not going to throw out the argument “we just got here”. We are taking responsibility for this. And we will engage with you, listen carefully to your concerns and most importantly, try to FIX things.
So we are doing that. My team knows to take your complaints seriously, we are working hard to update the Upgrades timeline pages to reflect the right data, and then we WILL stand next to those timings and will meet them. As far as what is in our control, we will be transparent and we will commit to your happiness.

Keep the feedback coming.

I suggest you take up Soni on his offer to provide more feedback. With a new CEO and other execs at the top from Google, Motorola is wanting to change to be better after years of pain. It all starts with listening to passionate consumers like you.

Via:  Google+

Cheers Lambo!

Motorola’s Punit Soni: Bionic Owners Have “Gotten a Raw Deal,” New Motorola Will Try to “Fix Things” is a post from: Droid Life

If for some reason, you still find yourself in need of a Motorola Lapdock and own a DROID Bionic, then look no further than today’s deal over at DailySteals. Since Motorola has essentially killed the Lapdock now that former CEO Sanjay Jha is no longer in control, you’ll probably find fire sales like this all over the internet. In fact, Verizon is willing to part with them for $50 if you can find a store with any in stock.

I personally cannot stand the Lapdock. I own both the Bionic and RAZR versions and have found them to be completely unusable for long periods of time. The idea may have been good on paper, but the execution, like many Motorola products over the last couple of years, was terrible. But again, if for some reason you can’t move on in life without having owned a Lapdock, today is your day.

Buy.

Cheers to everyone who sent this!

DROID Bionic Lapdocks Available Today Through DailySteals for $60 is a post from: Droid Life

To no one’s surprise, Motorola mentioned on Twitter today that older devices such as the DROID Bionic, DROID 3, and DROID X2, will not be a part of the unlocking program that they launched at the end of last week. At least they are currently not in the plan. The only devices on the list of participants, includes the newly launched Photon Q (which we unlocked), the European RAZR Developer Edition, and the XOOM.

They didn’t mention anything about the DROID RAZR, but it would surprise the hell out of me to see anything but new devices receive the unlock treatment. At this point, you should probably focus your attention on getting the RAZR HD unlocked.

Via:  Twitter

Moto Unlock Tool Not Coming to Older Devices Like the Bionic or DROID 3 is a post from: Droid Life

The first CM10 Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) ROM for the DROID Bionic has been made available by developer dhacker29. It’s definitely an “alpha” build with things like the camera not working, but if you had already grown bored with Ice Cream Sandwich, then this is your next step. These alpha ROMs are usually just for tinkerers and testers, so proceed with caution.

Via:  Twitter | Download

Cheers Cole!

DROID Bionic Receives CM10 Alpha Build is a post from: Droid Life