We are hearing reports from readers, suggesting that Motorola is inviting DROID 4 owners to participate in a new software update soak test. No indication has been given that this will be Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), but at this point, we would be pretty surprised if it wasn’t. Motorola previously told us to expect it in Q3, and since we are sitting in the middle of the quarter, now would be the time to start testing it in preparation for rollout.

This morning, we also spent a minute cruising around Motorola D4 forums and found an “ICS Waiting Room” thread. In that thread within the last week, Moto Forums’ manager Matt, stopped by to remind everyone with a DROID 4 to be sure they have opted-in to the Motorola Feedback Network, the group that sends out invites and allows you to test new software. Could there be a bigger hint?

Cheers J!

Sprint and Motorola announced the Photon Q this morning, a device with a 5-row slideout keyboard, 1.5GHz dual-core processor (probably the Snapdragon S4), on-screen navigation keys, Ice Cream Sandwich, NFC, 1785 mAh battery, 4.3″ qHD display, an 8MP camera, and 4G LTE. Sounds decent, right? Then why wasn’t this the DROID 4?

The DROID brand, which once stood for top-of-the-line and best-of-the-best is now nothing more than a marketing gimmick on its last leg. Sure, the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX are decent phones, but the two DROID releases since those have been embarrassments. Yes, I’m talking about the DROID 4 and the DROID Incredible 4G LTE. Neither are even close to being leaders with their sub-par specs, poor screens, and cheap build qualities. There is a chance that Motorola will attempt to do us all right later this summer, and set this brand straight again. Does anyone care, though? 

One of the top selling points for Motorola’s current lineup of phones has been their Smart Actions app. For those not familiar, think of Smart Actions as an app that tries to help streamline your life, make tasks happen automatically, and potentially extend your battery life. In a lot of ways, it’s like Taskr or Setting Profiles in that it allows you to set up profiles or activities that trigger actions on your phone. Leave home for work every day at 8AM? Smart Actions may recommend that you have it automatically turn off WiFi and launch Google Maps. When you arrive at work, Smart Actions could recognize the location and toggle WiFi back on help save battery while you are away from a charger. Make sense?

We want to know if the Motorola users in the building are taking advantage of these though. Have you found any of the Smart Action recommendations to be helpful? Is your battery lasting longer? Is the app annoying? Answer the poll briefly, and then tell us which actions you have found to be most beneficial in the comments.

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Verizon is hosting a Dads and Grads sale for the next couple of weeks to celebrate the lives of recent graduates and the amazing fathers in our lives. Through this sale, you will find $100 off any 4G LTE Motorola phone, which includes both RAZRs ($99), the DROID 4 ($99) and the Bionic (free). You will also find other phones on the cheap or for free, but the Moto devices are the clear draw here.

On a related note, one of our readers spotted the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 32GB of storage for the same price as the 16GB model. If you are in the market for a tablet on contract, be sure to grab the 32GB for $429 and not the version with less storage. 

While supplies last, Amazon Wireless is hosting a deal on a few of Verizon’s more popular smart devices. When signing up on a new two-year agreement, you can score the DROID 4 for just one cent, the Rezound for a not-so-bad $50, and the DROID RAZR MAXX for an even $150. Now that we know these phones are definitely receiving some Ice Cream Sandwich love sometime this year, buying these phones on contract shouldn’t seem all that scary.

Motorola DROID 4 | HTC Rezound | DROID RAZR MAXX

Stemming from yesterday’s report that Verizon does indeed have plans this summer to update the RAZR and RAZR MAXX, Rezound, and the DROID 4 to feature global capabilities, a reader running newly leaked Ice Cream Sandwich firmware on the RAZR has basically proved just that. From what we gather, when the device receives the official ICS OTA, it will bring along the global features. When exactly can we expect it? Well, according to Motorola’s update timeline, we’re looking at a very vague “Q2 of 2012.”

Cheers TC!

We first reported this news on Friday, but Verizon has confirmed today that the DROID RAZR, RAZR MAXX, HTC Rezound, and DROID 4 will all receive updates this summer to bring them global roaming capabilities. After the update is released, all 4 of these devices will have voice service in more than 220 countries and data in more than 205:

This summer, Verizon Wireless will be updating the following 4G LTE smartphones for global use.

HTC Rezound
DROID RAZR by Motorola
DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola
DROID 4 by Motorola

Customers will see a notification on their device when the software update is available for their device. After the software update, customers will be able to take their smartphone overseas and use voice service in more than 220 countries and receive data in more than 205 countries.

No time frame other than “summer” was given, but with Ice Cream Sandwich updates on the way to all of the devices listed, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was included with them. Plus, now that stores have been asked to print new display lists that reference these new global features, it can’t be long.

Back at CES, Verizon told us that select 4G LTE devices like the LG Spectrum and DROID 4 would eventually become “global” phones thanks to international radios embedded deep inside. According to our sources, there may be more than just those two devices and the change to make them global could be happening very soon. As you can see in the info sheet for the HTC Rezound that is on display, it has a new “global feature” on the way that will give it access to use in an additional 185 countries. They aren’t stopping there though, as stores are being told to print out new info sheets for the RAZR and DROID 4 as well that include similar notes for global features.

Your LTE smartphone will soon be a world traveler.

Cheers ___!