Verizon is currently hosting a “Red Hot Deal Days” event from today through May 12 (this Sunday), so if you were in the market for a new Big Red smartphone, now wouldn’t be a bad time to look. Well, assuming you aren’t interested in the Galaxy S4, since that won’t be out until May 30. But if the GS4 isn’t on your radar, you’ll find deals on the RAZR MAXX HD and regular RAZR HD, RAZR M, Incredible 4G LTE, Blackberry Z10 (hah!), and more.

The DROID line is headlining this show, with the RAZR MAXX HD at $149 on contract, RAZR HD at $49, and RAZR M and Incredible 4G LTE for free. The Samsung Galaxy S3 (16GB model) is also there for $99 on new 2-year contract.

Keep in mind that Amazon will beat almost all of these prices, starting with the RAZR MAXX HD at $99 on contract.

Via:  Verizon

Cheers Adam!

Verizon Hosting “Red Hot Deal Days” – RAZR MAXX HD for $150, RAZR M for Free, Galaxy S3 for $99 and More is a post from: Droid Life

The “maintenance” update for the Motorola DROID RAZR M that was approved by Verizon last week as build 98.15.66 started rolling out to users over the weekend. It’s not Android 4.2, but does improve WiFi connectivity, voice volume, camera features, in-call audio while using headsets, video streaming, and more.

The update is 80MB in size.

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

Cheers Rich and Adam!

DROID RAZR M Update to 98.15.66 Available Now is a post from: Droid Life

If you’re the proud owner of the RAZR M you should be excited to hear that Verizon has officially announced a small update (build 98.15.66) that will squash a few bugs with the device. This looks to be the exact same maintenance release that we saw soak testers get last week.  Not as exciting as a new version of Android, but fixing WiFi connectivity, video streaming and camera improvements are all welcome fixes.

The update is 80MB in size.

To check to see if the update is available, head into Settings>About Phone>Software updates.

More info.

DROID RAZR M Update Approved by Verizon as Build 98.15.66, It’s Just a “Maintenance” Release is a post from: Droid Life

Edge-to-edge connoisseurs, the DROID RAZR M has a new update on the horizon. According to emails sent out to members of Motorola’s Feedback Network, an early preview of a “new software release” will arrive shortly. If you were hoping for Android 4.2, I have a feeling you’ll be disappointed – the email says specifically that this is nothing more than a “maintenance release.” Still, who doesn’t love new software? Bug squashing is still fun, isn’t it?

Assuming the test kicks off within the next few days, it shouldn’t be long before the public release.

On a semi-related note, we aren’t sure if this will wipe out the bootloader exploit that Dan Rosenberg found or not. Better decide quickly if you wish to be unlocked.

And because I’m always curious, who is rockin’ a RAZR M? I, personally, still love this little phone.

Cheers J, A, and M!

DROID RAZR M Soak Test on the Way, Just a Maintenance Release is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday, Dan Rosenberg published the first Motorola bootloader unlock method in history. It was an epic moment for the rooting and development community on Android, as no one had been able to accomplish anything close to this for what seems like an eternity on a Motorola device since they started locking them down back in 2010. There was one problem though, the bootloader unlock worked on devices like the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD as long as you were rooted before you updated to Android 4.1.2. For many of you, especially those with a RAZR HD or RAZR MAXX HD who received the most recent 4.1.2 update, you were out of luck. 

Well, Dan has returned again with another present – root for Android 4.1.2 and more. This method not only works on the RAZR HD, RAZR M and Atrix HD, but it should work on a variety of Motorola devices (until Moto patches it). So for those of you who were unable to unlock bootloaders yesterday, you now have the option to.

Keep in mind there is all sorts of risk involved, namely in relation to warranties. If you unlock the bootloader of your phone, your warranty is gone.

The instructions were posted up at DroidRzr.com, but we have included them below for you as well.

Instructions:

1. Download this file to your PC.
2. Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
3. If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
4. Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
5. If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute “run.bat”. If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute “./run.sh”.

On a related note, Dan has announced that he is done trying to find exploits in Motorola devices as they have become increasingly difficult and time consuming. He urges you to consider your future purchasing decisions based upon the dev-friendliness of phones rather than waiting or expecting methods like his to be released by the community.

Via:  DroidRzr

Root Method Released for DROID RAZR HD Running Android 4.1.2, Other Devices Too is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday, news broke that Dan Rosenberg (@djrbliss) had unlocked bootloaders for a handful of Motorola devices including the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD, all of which are powered by Qualcomm chipsets. Today, he has released that same unlock tool so that you can free your phone from Motorola and Verizon’s clutches.

We should point out that you cannot re-lock the phone after using this tool (at this point), and it does indeed void your warranty. Also, Motorola can more than likely patch this in a software update, so you may want to weigh your options here before long. It’s risky from a warranty and replacement standpoint to say the least. As always, proceed with caution.

You definitely need to be rooted ahead of time, prior to using this tool. For those with a RAZR HD running Android 4.1.2 (the newest update), root has not been gained yet so you are out of luck for now. I can’t imagine that this won’t ever be rooted, but again as of today, there is no root method.

Update:  Dan released a root method for Android 4.1.2 that can be found here.

As we mentioned yesterday, this method does not work on OMAP powered phones, including the original RAZR, Bionic, and DROID 4. Do not attempt to use this on any of those phones.

Below, we have the basic instructions and notes from Dan. 

A couple of warnings:

1. You understand that using this tool will permanently, irreversibly void your device’s warranty.
2. You understand that it may not be possible to “relock” your device’s bootloader after unlocking using this tool. A side effect of this is that if you lose your device and you are not using disk encryption, a malicious party who acquires your phone may be able to extract all personal data from the device regardless of any lock screen.
3. You agree that I am in no way responsible for any damage to your device as a result of using this tool.

Instructions:

*It requires that your device has been rooted and that the “su” binary has been properly installed.

1. Download this file to your computer.
2. Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
3. If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
4. Ensure your device has been rooted and you have a working installation of “su”.
5. Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
6. If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute “run.bat”. If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute “./run.sh”.

Note – If you are interested in reading exactly how Dan managed to find this exploit (all of the technical madness), he has written up an entire post about it over at Azimuth Security.

Via:  Vulnfactory

Motorola RAZR HD, RAZR M, and Atrix HD Bootloader Unlock Released (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

This is not a joke, nor is it April Fools’ Day 2.0. Dan Rosenberg, aka @djrbliss (the man that roots all things Moto), has apparently unlocked the bootloaders of many of Motorola’s recent releases, including the RAZR HD (MAXX HD too), Atrix HD, and RAZR M. We heard this was coming down the pipeline, but he’s asked a couple of testers over at DroidRzr.com to give his method a shot. Sure enough, at least two confirmed unlocked bootloaders have happened (pictured above and below).

The method has not yet been released, but likely will before long, maybe even before the day is up. This method will not work on OMAP phones like the Bionic or original RAZR.

After years of failed attempts at cracking Motorola’s encryption, the time may have arrived. Stick with us, we’ll be following this closely. 

Update:  Our buddy Matt Groff sent over this video to show proof that his Atrix HD is indeed unlocked now. Also, we’ve been told that the public release likely won’t happen until tomorrow.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Update 2:  I’ll just leave this here.

Update 3:  The bootloader unlock tool has been released.

Via:  DroidRzr

Cheers M!

Bootloader Reportedly Unlocked on the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR M, and More (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

On Monday, we reported that Best Buy was offering an exclusive new version of the DROID RAZR M, called Platinum. The device, with its blue accents and “platinum” exterior, was met with mostly positive feedback, however, we still had yet to see what the backside looked like. Thanks to one of our fabulous readers, we have a shot of the backside which as expected, features the same kevlar backing from other versions of the RAZR M, only it has a blue accent around the camera housing.

The device can still be had for as little as $50 on-contract. And don’t forget that Best Buy is also running their $50 giftcard promo for anyone who upgrades to a new smartphone through them in 2013.

Not bad, right? 

Cheers D!

Here is the New DROID RAZR M Platinum in the Wild is a post from: Droid Life

Best Buy appears to be selling a special edition DROID RAZR M in a Platinum colorway that Verizon is not offering. This new look turns one of our favorite mid-range (our review) devices into a grey and blue-accented beauty. The blue comes via the lock switch and volume rocker, though nothing else appears to sport this new color. We don’t have a picture of the back, so we’ll assume it’s the same as the kevlar backing on the white and black versions.

If you want to pick up this special edition colorway, Best Buy is selling it for $50 on contract. 

Via:  Best Buy

Cheers Daniel!

DROID RAZR M in “Platinum” With Blue Accents Available at Best Buy is a post from: Droid Life

Remember the pink DROID RAZR M that we told you about yesterday? It’s now available! If you can withstand the 4-block long lines that are likely forming for this limited edition Valentine’s Day-inspired device, then you’ll be pleased to learn that it’ll only cost $50 on contract once you get to the front. Remember that it’s limited, which usually means collector’s item. Must have! Can’t live without! OK, I’ll stop now.

You can see the pink wonder in action below in Big Red’s newest commercial. Of course a woman is holding the phone. Sexist. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Verizon Shows Off New Pink RAZR M in Latest Commercial is a post from: Droid Life

Starting Thursday, January 24th, anyone looking for a super bright pink DROID RAZR M from Verizon is in luck. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the pink RAZR M is the same phone that they have been pushing for the past few months, but with this Droid Life-inspired exterior. We know you love us, Verizon. It has a 4.3″ qHD display, dual-core Snapdragon chip, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, and 2,000mAh battery (our full review here). 

Should we run a poll to see who will pick this device up? Maybe not? Okay then, moving on.

Via: Verizon

Verizon to Sell Pink DROID RAZR M for Valentines Day is a post from: Droid Life

Is Motorola already preparing to push out an updated RAZR M with a 4.5″ HD display? According to a rumor out of PhoneArena, though they aren’t even willing to back the info all that much, that is indeed the case. As expected with an updated device, the specs have been bumped slightly, introducing a dual-core Snapdragon 4 Plus processor, 16GB onboard storage, and a massive 3300mAh battery, all while maintaing a small candy bar edge-to-edge design.

Is it real? While that’s anyone’s guess, it certainly makes sense for Motorola to continue the edge-to-edge styling of the RAZR M, but with upgraded specs. I loved the RAZR M (our review), other than its poor display. If this phone had an HD display slipped into that body and a bit more RAM, it might have come close to earning a spot as one of our top 5 phones of the year. 

Here is the full list of rumored specs:

Design
Device type: Smart phone
OS: Android (4.1) upgradeable to Android 4.2
Form Factor: Candy Bar
Dimensions: 5.15×2.52x.035
Weight: 5.22 OZ

Display
Physical size: 4.5 inches
Resoultion: 720×1280 pixels
Pixel density: 326 ppi
Technology: TFT
Colors: 16 777 216
Touchscreen: Capacitive, Multi-touch
Features: Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Scratch-resistant glass

Battery
Talk time: 21.25 hours
Stand-by time: 15.65
Capacity: 3300 mAh
Type: Li – Polymer

Hardware
System chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960
Processor: Dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait
Graphics processor: Adreno 225
System memory: 1024 MB RAM (Dual-channel, 500 MHz) / DDR2 / 8192 MB ROM
Built-in storage: 16gb
Storage expansion: microSD, microSDHC up to 32 GB

As a side note, I have seen Motorola data sheet lists that do look similar to what has been posted above. When Motorola lays out potential devices on paper, they normally take this shape. Still, tough to tell if it’s real or not. In fact, if you want to read about a bunch of other rumored devices that were pulled from a data sheet like this, hit up this forum thread.

Either way, a RAZR M HD makes sense, so are you interested?

Via:  PhoneArena

Motorola Already Prepping a DROID RAZR M HD? is a post from: Droid Life

In 2012, we saw the Android smartphone world reach heights that I don’t imagine many predicted. On a spec front, 2012 was the year of quad-core processors, 2GB of RAM, HD displays, longer battery lives, and incredibly thin bodies. It seems like just yesterday that we were asking DL readers if they had a dual-core or single-core phone, yet here we are, with dual-core phones already becoming a thing of the past.

On a manufacturer front, 2012 was the year that Samsung proved that it really was the only big fish in a bowl full of minnows. We saw Motorola kick off its life as a Google-owned company, HTC struggle to make money even while releasing amazing phones, and LG take its turn as the face of the Nexus phone program.

In this post, I thought we’d talk a bit about all of that by listing out my top 10 phones of the year. 

1.  Samsung Galaxy S3 (review)

No surprise here, but the Galaxy S3 tops my list of phones for 2012. It was hyped as much as the next iPhone, yet it still delivered. It launched with an impressive suite of sharing capabilities that no other phone had seen, it used a big beautiful display with a body that was slim enough to feel great in hand, and with 2GB of RAM, it almost never stuttered or slowed down. But most importantly, Samsung showed the world that it has power in the mobile world by releasing one version of the phone across all carriers. As expected, though, people were quick to downplay it at launch, but over its first couple of months in stores, Samsung sold millions upon millions of units, fully cementing themselves as number 1 in the world.

2.  LG Nexus 4 (review)

The Nexus 4, Google’s latest flagship device, has seen its share of ups and downs over its short life. It was hyped up for a couple of months in a variety of leaks, was never officially unveiled thanks to a hurricane, hated on because of its lack of LTE, and criticized mightily for its glass back. But you know what, to me, it’s still the 2nd best phone you can buy. It comes in at an unbelievably reasonable price of $299 (or $349), is the ultimate stock Android device since it’s the newest Nexus, carries future-proof specs, and isn’t tied to a carrier. It may be impossible to purchase, but that may also be a sign that Google has finally figured out a winning device formula.

3.  Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (review)

When Samsung originally launched the Galaxy Note, the world was introduced to a confusing product plus one of the worst mashup words ever created in “phablet.” Was the phone a tablet or a phone or the “best of both worlds”? Surprisingly enough, that question doesn’t matter as it was a massive success. So Samsung did what any smart company would do with a successful product – launch a follow-up. The Galaxy Note 2, like the Galaxy S3, has already shipped by the millions, and may have even been the most anticipated device to launch on Verizon in some time (even over the Galaxy S3 and DROID brand). It’s too big for my liking, but you can’t argue with the impressive set of features that Samsung has built in. Also like the Galaxy S3, it blew past the competition with innovative features like multi-window, advanced S Pen technology, and camera sharing capabilities.

4.  HTC DROID DNA (review)

Verizon passed up on the HTC One X in early 2012, something we weren’t sure we could forgive them for. Thankfully, they appear to have fully redeemed themselves by launching the world’s first 1080p smartphone, the DROID DNA. The device itself is beautiful to look at, is much smaller in stature than the Note 2, is surprisingly light and thin, has the best display in the business, actually lasts throughout a full day even with a semi-small battery, and carries top-of-the-line specs that few other phones contain. At $199 on contract, it’s also somewhat of a steal. Easily the best phone HTC has created since the next phone on our list, the One X.

5.  HTC ONE X (review)

When HTC announced the One Series, which included the One X, the world was blown away. This was the new HTC, or at least one that was trying to make a comeback after a terrible end to 2011. The phone sported the best display in the business at the time, a best-in-class processor, the prettiest phone design we had ever seen, felt great in hand, was able to withstand a day’s beating on a single charge, and really set the standard for smartphones in 2012.

6.  Motorola DROID RAZR M (review)

As we approached Motorola’s big Fall event, rumors started popping up over a mysterious device with the world’s first “edge-to-edge” display. While others were willing to bet the world on it being some secret device, we knew long beforehand that it was simply the DROID RAZR M, a mid-range device headed to Verizon. I don’t want that to sound like I’m discounting the phone, as it was easily my favorite from Motorola in 2012. Since the display was so close to being edge-to-edge, it has a small footprint, yet still packs mostly top-tier specs (other than the display). It has amazing battery life and feels tiny in hand compared to the rest of the smartphones being introduced these days. But that’s not a bad thing, as the display was still big enough to allow you to consume content without sacrificing a thing. We certainly hope that “edge-to-edge” is the future.

7.  Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD (review)

This may surprise some readers, seeing the RAZR MAXX HD below the RAZR M, but this phone offered little in terms of “new.” It still rocks a massive battery that can get you through days before needing a charge, plus it comes equipped with an HD display, but it was released late enough that it was almost out of date by the time it went on sale. I’m a big fan of Motorola’s decision to slim down the skin they put on top of Android, and will never complain about their focus on battery life, but the RAZR HD needed to blow it out of the park, something it didn’t quite do.

8.  LG Optimus G (review)

The LG Optimus G was the inspiration for the Nexus 4. It sports the same processor, RAM, display, and Crystal Reflection back design, so how could it not be on this list? While glass backsides will never appeal to me, this phone was a beast the minute it came out. In fact, with its quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, it was the highest spec’d phone on the planet for a at least a month. LG also took some time to create a software suite, much like Samsung had done, to try and help the phone stand out. They definitely succeeded. It’s too bad it was limited to AT&T and Sprint, as this phone could have potentially sold well on other carriers.

9.  Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (review)

Boasting a massive 3300mAh battery while maintaining a slim profile, the original RAZR MAXX set the standard for battery life in 2012. Well, it set it and then watched as no one could match it until Motorola released the HD version of it 10 months later. We aren’t sure what kind of voodoo Motorola has working in their battery department, but we love it. They are the only phone company on the planet that has been able to make ultra-slim phones with batteries you used to only see sold separately as “extended.” The RAZR MAXX itself wasn’t all that impressive outside of its battery, but in my book, this battery was good enough to make the list.

10.  HTC One S (review)

Another original One Series phone, the HTC One S, finishes off my list of top 10 phones. With its ultra-thin body, fancy micro arc oxidation coating, and mostly top-tier set of specs, I was a big fan of this phone. Sure, it wasn’t as good as the One X, but it wasn’t supposed to be. HTC released it as an affordable mid-range phone, with a sleek profile, fun color scheme, and one of the best cameras in the business.

So there you have it, my top 10 phones of the year. I’m assuming there will be some disagreement, so let me hear it in the comments.

Top 10 Android Phones of 2012 is a post from: Droid Life

If you’re thinking about opening a line up on Verizon, the DROID RAZR M can be had for just $50 through Verizon’s new holiday “Share Everything” promotion. Currently, the RAZR M is listed for $99 through Big Red’s site, so if you were going to jump on it, you might want to give it a day or so to reflect the price change. No word on if some other devices will see a price drop, but we’ll keep you posted. 

Check out this semi-sweet TV spot for the new promotion. Although, I can’t say it really makes me jolly about tiered data.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Verizon Offers Up DROID RAZR M for $50 On Contract Through Holiday Promotion is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

With the Motorola RAZR M taking its place as the first from Moto to carry Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the ad campaign to promote it has already started. Thankfully, it’s not half bad. The spots brag about Google Now and its traffic monitoring powers, navigation re-routing in Maps, and best in the business text translations. But beyond that, they are worth a chuckle. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers E!

Motorola Promotes Jelly Bean on the RAZR M in Latest Ad Campaign is a post from: Droid Life