Motorola Bets on Android

Motorola has always been one of my favorite mobile phone vendors so I have felt somewhat bereft as the company has slowly fallen pray to it’s own hesitancy and miss-steps. There was a time when Moto made high status phones. I remember when the Star-Tac was the phone to own. Then the RAZR came and changed the game. It was such a monster hit that the company decided they could just keep making slight variations on the phone forever…as the industry rushed past them.

The Q line are solid phones, but there is no doubt the shift in the industry towards smartphones and away from chic feature phones left Motorola high and dry. A new direction was badly needed, but over the last year Moto has just produced more RAZR and ROKR retreads. Music and Camera phones won’t save the once proud company.

Therefore I was overjoyed to read some time ago that Motorola was moving wholeheartedly into the Googlephone camp. More information is now surfacing, like this tidbit found in Business Week…

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Motorola VC6096 - Big, Ugly, and Running WinMo 6.1

So, what we have here is a huge, dash mounted, portable Computer. The trick is that it’s going to be running Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro. The specs aren’t too much more impressive than the Dell Axim x51v, but it does have built in GPS, a big qwerty keyboard, and a 6.5″ VGA Screen.

The Integrated 3.5G GSM HSDPA should make it really easy to access data on the go with this device too. For map storage, it has a regular old SD slot for you, but the docs say that the limit for the SD slot is 2gb. Yikes.

The VC6096 all-in-one in-cab solution is designed to help transportation and logistics providers achieve cost-effective compliance, maximize driver productivity, improve safety and vehicle utilization, reduce costs and improve customer service. Built to handle the rigors of the road, the device provides drivers with the comprehensive simultaneous wireless voice and data capabilities needed to maximize operational efficiency — including wireless WAN (WWAN), wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth, GPS and telematics support. An open-platform solution, the VC6096 gives you the power of choice, allowing you to select and control the applications and peripherals that best meet your business needs.

Source: Moto via Navigadget

Here Comes the Motorola MOTO Q11

Motorola has announced that the MOTO Q11 will hit sometime in December 2008, just in time for Christmas. It will come with a 128MB Flash, 64 MB RAM, 3 MegaPixel Camera, WiFi, GPS, etc.

For mobile professionals and consumers who want a fully featured smartphone complete with a QWERTY keypad for fast messaging, easy access to email, location services and multimedia applications, the MOTO Q 11 delivers all of this at an affordable price.

A Feature-Rich Smartphone
The slim MOTO Q 11 with integrated WiFi, is ideal for people who want a high-speed connection for Internet browsing. The built-in WiFi uses Boingo Mobile to automatically connect the Q 11 to thousands of WiFi locations worldwide. Use the optimized keyboard for fast and easy messaging¹ on-the-go and the integrated GPS for navigation support for popular applications like Google Maps. Equipped with Windows Mobile 6.1, the Q 11 enables users to personalize their homescreen and synchronize all contacts, calendar items and email, just like being on a computer. When making calls, connect with compatible Bluetooth enabled stereo devices and you can keep your hands free for other tasks.

Advanced Imaging that Represents Your Style
Use the 3 megapixel camera to capture high quality photos and video and then store them on an optional memory card for easy upload to a PC or to your favorite social networking sites.

Source: Motorola via the Unwired

AT&T Motorola Q Global with Windows Mobile 6.1

This past Tuesday, AT&T and HTC released the Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM for the AT&T Tilt and two days later and revamped Motorola Q with Windows Mobile 6.1. Not a bad week, I’d say.

This is a revamped silver version of the Motorola Q that we have all learned to either love or hate, but this one is the 1st Q Variant to come with Windows Mobile 6.1 out of the box. Earlier this month, a Windows Mobile 6.1 update for the Motorola Q9h hit Motorola’s support site.

I think the silver color is nice looking. Even though I’d hate to have to buy a Q to upgrade to 6.1, for those that don’t already have a Q, $149.99 is a great price.

Here is the Press Release…
Motorola and AT&T Inc. today announced the availability of the MOTO Q Global with Windows Mobile 6.1, one of the first devices featuring the latest mobile software on sale to the public. Available exclusively to AT&T customers, the new MOTO Q Global has a bold pinstripe design with eye-catching metallic edging and a robust feature set, including Motorola’s patented CrystalTalk technology for clear calls, assisted GPS via the AT&T network for quick, accurate location fixes, and threaded SMS for chat-like texting.

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Windows Mobile 6.1 for Motorola Q9h

I’m a couple of days late on this but I’ve been canoeing on a few new lakes and streams in Maine.  So this morning I was trying to catch up on some feeds and it looks like there are some very happy Q9h users out there.  The BGR let everyone know that although there has been an unofficial update floating around, the REAL THING is now here for your pleasure. 

There are a moderate number of new features complemented by slightly improved device response and speed. The update itself is a pretty straightforward affair, though make sure you do a full back up before clicking on the “install” button.

Original link from WMExperts

You can get the ROM Download here

Motorola’s New Smartphone? Good and Ugly.

Good and Ugly? It’s good to see Moto getting back at it, but this is an ugly phone…

 Boy Genius Report is reporting that this phone will have a 6 to 8 Megapixel camera, aGPS, and a Nvidia Graphics chipset. The graphics processor is a good idea!

It looks like this thing will be a full qwerty slide, but instead of sliding out like the AT&T Tilt, it will slide down. The keyboard in this spyshot doesn’t look all that bad, but the screen size looks real weak. Hard to tell from an unconfirmed photo, but we can try.

This is a rumored phone that Boy Genius Report has speculated before on and this spy shot show that it’s not just a rumor. BGR is working on trying to get more photos.  Maybe they should tell the Moto employee leaking details to lose the chrome piping around the edge of the phones front face.

Motorola’s New Music Phone

Motorola continues to carefully pigeonhole it’s phones, releasing a new version of it’s ROKR musicphone line, the E8, for T Mobile. Personally I love the look of the device, even though music phones are not my thing in the least. The specs are as follows:

• 2 megapixel camera
• 2GB of internal storage
• MicroSD slot (up to 8GB)
• Stereo Bluetooth
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• FM radio
• "Morphing" keypad that hides certain keys depending on the phone mode.

The morphing keypad strikes me as a great feature and the sort of thing I would love to see on more and more devices, especially as multitouch screens become the norm. I love the concept of the controls of a device adapting to the usage.

Beyond that, the memory seems a bit slim for a music phone. I would have hoped for at least 8G inside before needing to turn to a microSD.

As for a tour of the device, I am happy to post a video from one of my favorite tech lifestyle sites, Shiny Shiny, in which Susi Weaser sees if the ROKR E8 can keep the beat.

 

Motorola and Kodak Redefine Mobile Imaging Experience with MOTOZINE ZN5

The MOTOZINE ZN5 combines a high-quality phone and camera experience to help content-craving consumers seize inspiration and share the content they create and love with the world.

Motorola and Kodak, announced MOTOZINE ZN5, the first product combining world-class innovation from both companies. The MOTOZINE ZN5 combines a high-quality phone and camera experience to help content-craving consumers seize inspiration and share the content they create and love with the world.

Unveiled today in Beijing at a gallery-inspired event, ZINE ZN5 delivers an easy and immersive mobile imaging experience. ZN5 is the first mobile phone to combine Motorola’s ModeShift Technology and KODAK Imaging Technology. Together, they redefine the quality, convenience and connectivity of mobile imaging devices. With KODAK EASYSHARE Software and easy access to KODAK Gallery1 or other web sharing sites,2 pictures are easily moved off the device, allowing consumers to print, share and enjoy their favorite photos whenever they want.

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Motorola has Two New Bluetooth Enabled Headsets

Motorola Keeps Consumers Connected in the Car and On the Go with Two New Bluetooth Enabled Headsets
Motorola H620 and H560 Are the Ideal Blend of Clarity and Comfort, Optimized for In-Car and on the Go Environments

Motorola, Inc. announced two new Bluetooth enabled headsets, the Motorola H620 and Motorola H560. Featuring noise reduction and echo cancellation technology and TrueComfort™ design, these new headsets are compatible with over 200 Bluetooth enabled devices from over fifteen brands. The H620 is a complete in-car solution while the H560 allows consumers to stay hands-free while on the go.
“Consumers can depend on Motorola for quality Bluetooth enabled headsets that deliver both an outstanding audio experience and comfort with style,” stated Jason Few, corporate vice president & general manager, Motorola Companion Products. “With the H620 and H560, Motorola is continuing to offer consumers hands-free solutions that fit their life, whether it’s a headset specifically designed for the car or an on the go busy lifestyle.”

Motorola Universal Bluetooth In-Car Headset H620

The first ever Motorola Bluetooth enabled headset optimized for the car, the Motorola H620 offers clear and comfortable hands-free conversations.1 Road noise will be a thing of the past with H620’s noise reduction and echo cancellation technology. In addition, the volume automatically adjusts as road noise increases to deliver clear calls for both people in the conversation.
With a dashboard headset holder and rapid in-car charger, the H620 is an ideal in-car solution. The sleek headset also supports phone voice dialing to keep users eyes on the road, Motorola’s patented TrueComfort design, EasyPair technology and a discreet three-color indicator light that enables users to check the battery level.

Motorola Universal Bluetooth Headset H560

The Motorola H560 delivers quality audio and comfort in a distinct design. The H560 improves call clarity on both sides of the conversation with noise reduction and echo cancellation technology as well as automatic volume control that increases or decreases the volume based on the noise level in the surrounding environment.
The H560 features TrueComfort design that channels clear audio directly into the ear. Multiple sizes of ear cushions ensure the best fit to create a seal that helps reduce background noise. EasyPair technology makes it simple to connect with more than 200 models of compatible Bluetooth enabled devices2, and a discreet, three-color battery indicator light enables users to check battery life.

Availability
The H620 and H560 are expected to be available in Q3 2008. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com/mediacenter.

WMExperts Reviews the Moto HT820 and I Concur

The Motorola HT 820 Stereo Bluetooth headphones have been around for over a year and I still consider them the best around. I can answer calls and rock out with “good sounds”. They are by far the best I’ve used. Now WM Experts reviewer, George Ponder, is getting a taste of them as well…

The HT820 is a solid set of headphones. Sound quality is good, connectivity is good and the headphones can double as a wireless headset for your phone. The only concern I have over these headphones is the lack of adjustability. While they fit me comfortably, my son had problems getting them to fit just right.

If you are like me and are seeking to reduce the number of wired devices you have in your life, the Motorola HT820 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones are worth considering.

Head over and give his review a look. If you are into old videos, here is my 1st look at these back in the summer of 2006. This was one of my 1st YouTube videos too.

MOTO Q 9c – It is nice, really nice!

I would never have imagines me saying that a smartphone was nice, really nice but the experience I have had with the Q9m has been nothing less than extraordinary.  The Q9c promises to enhance that experience and as of today you can get it on Verizon at a pretty good price!

The Motorola Q 9c operates on the Windows® Mobile 6 Standard OS and promises to make your life more manageable and productive. This elegantly slim smartphone is VZ Navigator capable and allows you to manage multiple Email accounts and utilize Documents To Go for Windows Mobile. It is also equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with flash, an optimized full QWERTY keyboard with trackwheel, and an expandable miniSD™ memory card slot which supports cards up to 8GB in capacity. Bluetooth Stereo Wireless Technology and BroadbandAccess Connect also add to the Q 9c’s impressive list of capabilities.

Specifications

Dimensions: 4.6″ (H) x 2.6″ (W) x 0.47″ (D)
Weight: 4.7 oz
SAR: Ear –1.30 W/kg, Body –0.51 W/kg
Battery: 1170 mAH Li–Ion
Usage Time: Up to 273 Minutes OR
Standby Time: Up to 212 Hours

Save an additional $50 with a mail–in rebate! (Rebate not reflected in price)!

Read more after the break

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GPS Navigation service now Available from AT&T

A new GPS Navigation service is now available on select AT&T wireless devices, including the new Motorola Z9, the Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q, AT&T Tilt, and BlackBerry devices (8310, 8800 and 8820).  Available as a 30 day free trial, this program is a vast improvement on TeleNav, this program features integrated speech recognition for address entry and points-of-interest searches!

For any one who is constantly on the go but sometimes not quite sure where to go or how to get there, AT&T Navigator is here to pave the way. AT&T Inc. announced today at CTIA Wireless 2008, the immediate availability of its company-branded GPS-enabled navigation service, AT&T Navigator.

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The Motorola Z9 is here ….

AT&T Inc. and Motorola, Inc. announced at CTIA Wireless 2008 that the MOTO Z9 slider handset, which is exclusive to AT&T in the U.S., will be the first phone to include AT&T Navigator, bringing the company’s Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation service to an even greater number of AT&T customers.

The MOTO Z9 is the first AT&T consumer phone to offer AT&T Navigator for turn-by-turn directions! 

Included Features

• 1.3 MP camera with 8x zoom
• AT&T Navigator and GPS support
• Stereo Bluetooth® wireless capable
• Video record, playback, and streaming
• AT&T Mobile Music with integrated MP3 player
• Cellular Video - Get news, sports, video, and more
• Picture and Video Messaging - Send photos, video and more
• Instant messaging - AOL, Yahoo!, & Windows Live
• High-speed data access via broadband 3G network
• Download ringtones, games, music and more
• microSD removable memory card capacity
• Browser for full HTML web surfing
• Advanced speech recognition
• Mobile email capabilities
• Speakerphone

Alltel’s Lime Green Motorola Q9c Coming Soon!

What’s more beautiful that a sunset over the ocean? A lime green Windows Mobile device. Yep. This device exsists. It’s the “coming soon” Altel branded, Motorola Q9c. This phone will soon be offered by Alltel, but if green is not your bag, then they will have a boring black one too.

Come on HTC, see this lime green? I want one of your sliders in the same color!

Alltel Wireless, America’s largest network, and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced that Motorola’s leading smartphone will be available in two color options, MOTO QTM 9c in licorice and MOTO QTM 9c lime, expected this summer. MOTO Q 9c and MOTO Q 9c lime provide on-the-go consumers with the tools and applications needed to keep up with their fast-paced professional and personal lives.

“MOTO Q 9c and MOTO Q 9c lime are great additions to Alltel’s portfolio of handsets,” said Brian Ullem, vice president of device strategy for Alltel Wireless. “This new generation Motorola smartphone provides customers with a powerful platform and a large suite of applications allowing convenience and productivity.”

Check the press release at Motorola.com (image source Mobile Burn)

Review: Motorola Accessories for Q9m

• Author: Jack Cook
• Vender: Motorola
• Travel Pack Price: $79.99
• Cradle Price: $29.99
• Rating: 5/5

I think that often what makes a device just that much better are the accessories that you can buy to get that little “extra” from the device. I have been fortunate to have had a slew of different devices over the years and one thing that I always liked about my first few iPAQs was the cradle that always came with it. It just made it a little nicer for your desktop to avoid some “clutter” and it was definitely a whole lot easier for that instant hookup for charging when at home.

So recently I got a hold of a Motorola Q9m which has turned my opinion of a smartphone around 180 degrees. It is an absolutely incredible device providing me with virtually every function I wanted on my “touch screen” devices but now I have those functions on a “non-touchscreen” device that has a very slim form factor. If I am only going to take one device with me, it has become my device of choice. Of course I have too many devices and having wires all over the place for charging I decided that I was going to rearrange how and where I charge my devices but I wanted to keep the Q9m near me while at my desktop. So I looked to see if there was a cradle and sure enough there was.

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