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By many accounts, the Motorola Bionic is a solid Android phone--perhaps the best Verizon LTE phone out there. But, with Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility looming, should Android fans buy a Bionic or wait to see what comes next?
Did we see there was quality in the build? How about the choice of components that use less of the most precious commodity in a mobile device, power? 4G LTE is almost not quite ready for prime-time with the power consumption seen, even just standing in a store. 3G phones do well, and 802.11A worked fine too, is this a device that will compel ownership?
Looks like a solid contender I'd be hesitant to jump into anything Motorola before we see what Google has up it's sleeve.
I would think if you really are dying for one, go ahead and do it. Google is most likely interested in the less physical aspects of Motorola mobile and will take a while to getting around to firing people that do not kowtow correctly, and promoting people who look pretty on their knees. Ultimately, by the time anybody with goggles at google sees and oportunity to seaze the construction limelight there will have been several device cycles that have already lived and died and passed megabux from consumers to manufacturers before any of their in house chefs have an oportunity to interject their DNA.
As I am sure all are painfully aware, 6 months is a long time in mobile hardware cycles. An 18 month production cycle delay a provocative invitation to a corporate funeral.
An interesting article. I wonder what nVidia has to say for themselves. Surely they are not standing around the water cooler analysing the situation "Hmm, Foot groin, foot groin, foot groin. Sorry Johnhie we dont get it yet, footgroinfootgroinfootgroin. Still testing technical detail Johnnie.
As I am sure all are painfully aware, 6 months is a long time in mobile hardware cycles. An 18 month production cycle delay a provocative invitation to a corporate funeral.
An interesting article. I wonder what nVidia has to say for themselves. Surely they are not standing around the water cooler analysing the situation "Hmm, Foot groin, foot groin, foot groin. Sorry Johnhie we dont get it yet, footgroinfootgroinfootgroin. Still testing technical detail Johnnie.
Initially, rumors were floating around the Internet about a compatibility problem with the Tegra 2 processor and LTE modems. But according to Droid Life, Nvidia wanted to set the record straight and issued the following statement:
"Tegra has no compatibility issues with LTE at all. The Tegra-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE tablet runs on Verizon???s LTE network and is a perfect example of Tegra working fine w/ 4G LTE. Tegra 2 interfaces with many types of modems via standard interfaces, including LTE. There is nothing inherently unique about LTE as far as Tegra 2 is concerned."
If combining Tegra 2 with LTE an issue, at least not for Samsung, then it makes sense that the Motorola modem is the problem.
Personally, I'm looking forward to Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 3 "Kal-El" chips. Check out this video posted back in June: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfNxbbJgSMQ
"Tegra has no compatibility issues with LTE at all. The Tegra-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE tablet runs on Verizon???s LTE network and is a perfect example of Tegra working fine w/ 4G LTE. Tegra 2 interfaces with many types of modems via standard interfaces, including LTE. There is nothing inherently unique about LTE as far as Tegra 2 is concerned."
If combining Tegra 2 with LTE an issue, at least not for Samsung, then it makes sense that the Motorola modem is the problem.
Personally, I'm looking forward to Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 3 "Kal-El" chips. Check out this video posted back in June: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfNxbbJgSMQ
How about the lack of .wav support? I can't get my exchange voicemails from the Bionic.
While popular analysts claim the fusion of Google and Motorola was mostly about IP rights I point to this device and it's improvements as an example of how that joining will benefit Google in a real, physical way. The OS is already superior. The hardware is being optimized to run that better. The market share will continue to grow. It is significant beyond legal arguments and this product proves that point.
After reading the specs for the OMAP 4430, it becomes readily apparent that this is the most advanced phone available today. No telling about tomorrow, though.
Bill, thanks for pointing us to the guys who had the gust to strip the EMI shields off. this phone is very well-put together. Something solid well worth the cost.
I only wish it had a separate keyboard, slide-out or third party.
BTW, is there a keyboard one could put on this phone to use in composing emails and instant messages?
Bill, thanks for pointing us to the guys who had the gust to strip the EMI shields off. this phone is very well-put together. Something solid well worth the cost.
I only wish it had a separate keyboard, slide-out or third party.
BTW, is there a keyboard one could put on this phone to use in composing emails and instant messages?
The Bionic supports Bluetooth so you can use it with just about any wireless keyboard that uses Bluetooth. Motorola even sells one for $70 (US).
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Wireless-Accessories/Atrix-Wireless-Keyboard-US-EN
For $100, the Motorola HD Station allows you (among other things) to connect an external, USB keyboard.
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Docking-Stations/HD-Station-for-DROID-Bionic-US-EN
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Wireless-Accessories/Atrix-Wireless-Keyboard-US-EN
For $100, the Motorola HD Station allows you (among other things) to connect an external, USB keyboard.
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Docking-Stations/HD-Station-for-DROID-Bionic-US-EN
When tomorrow turns in today, yesterday, and someday that no more important north face store in your memory, we suddenly realize that we are pushed forward by time. This is not a train in still in which you may feel forward when another train goes by. It is the truth that we've all grown up. And we become different.
Too bad I'm a broke college kid and $300 is kinda painful for me to shell out for a phone... I'll stick w/my R2D2 model till it croaks
I believe the Elpida B8064B2PB-8D-F has 1 GB of DRAM, not 8 GB as stated here (which would makes sense since the phone is advertised as having 1 GB of RAM)
The capital "B" is for Byte and the lowercase "b" is for bit. And there are 8 bits in 1 Byte. So he was correct in the specs.
Thanks for jumping in bmcmenamy.
I actually considered changing the Elpida chip's description to 1GB, instead of 8Gb, but I stuck with the numbering scheme I used in my PlayBook (which uses the same chip) teardown.
I actually considered changing the Elpida chip's description to 1GB, instead of 8Gb, but I stuck with the numbering scheme I used in my PlayBook (which uses the same chip) teardown.
Kick-Butt smartphone, BLAZING fast - Add Verizonwireless 4G, and I saw speeds approaching 12MB/SEC. WOW!!
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