Motorola Xoom: A Killer Tablet, A Messy Launch

The Motorola Xoom is out in the wild now and, yes, the Honeycomb flagship tablet is awesome. We won’t go into a detailed review here, but after sifting through the literally hundreds of Xoom reviews to hit the blogosphere today, we can sum up reviewers’ sentiment in six words: Xoom is great, don’t buy it. Of course, many Google and Android addicts are gobbling them up immediately, despite the initial shortcomings.

Motorola was obviously in a rush to get this baby out the door before the iPad 2 announcement, even if it meant a few things not working right off the bat:

• No flash yet: Flash will be arriving within a week or two via an OTA update
• Micro USB broken: This will also be fixed soon via OTA update
• No 4G LTE: This one’s the most painful, since consumers will be expected to part with their precious babies (sometime within the next three months) for an entire week while the 3G to 4G surgery is performed though a no-cost ship in/ship back program. Yikes!

Why on earth Motorola couldn’t appease the masses and release the simpler Wi-Fi-only Xoom first, and THEN release a 4G model is beyond us. This leaves many potential customers who are not interested in a Verizon contract pondering whether to pay the $200 “early adopter penalty” or to wait for the Wi-Fi-only Xoom, reportedly coming within the next month or two.

It looks like Verizon and/or Motorola has heard the consumer frustration over the whole mandatory one month minimum Verizon contract to uncripple the Wi-Fi fiasco, and waved this requirements–in most stores. We say “most stores” because many Twitterers are reporting some Best Buy stores are still requiring activation, while others are reporting walking out the door with no activation hassles. To add to the whole launch confusion, we are also seeing reports of Xooms cropping up in some Costco stores, reportedly a slightly lower pricing of $789.99. And if some rumors are correct, Costcos are selling the Xoom at $699.99 with just a one-month activation.

Don’t expect seeing any long lines for the Xoom like we did for the iPad. The high cost, lack of a Wi-Fi-only model, missing features, and wait-and-see-what’s-coming-soon attitude will keep many potential Xoomers in a holding pattern for now.

UPDATE Feb 24 5:00PM PST: We checked with local Costco (San Francisco). They refused to sell the Xoom for $789.99 without at least a one month contract. There was no other price option without a 24 month agreement.

Android 2.4 Gingerbread Coming In April

We reported a few weeks back that Gingerbread 2.3 was being nixed in favor of a 2.4 version of Gingerbread to be released in April, and it’s looking like this may indeed be the case.

The Android Community has confirmed with HTC at a pre-MMC 2011 meeting that its new range of handsets would be arriving with Android 2.4 in 2Q 2011, also to bear the Gingerbread name and bring in support for dual-core processors. We can imagine that 2.4 will also fix some nasty bugs with Gingerbread 2.3 that we reported on February 3.

Nexus One and some lucky other users of late-generation Android handsets should start seeing Gingerbread 2.4 in April, but don’t count on ever seeing 2.3–the Nexus S will most likely be the only phone to ever sport 2.3.

Motorola Xoom Manual Leaks, Reveals Honeycomb Goodness

The folks at Droid-Life have gotten their hands on the Motorola Xoom manual and posted it online for your viewing pleasure. Although sprinkled with grammatical errors and downright bizarre phrases in some spots, the manual reveals many details of both Honeycomb and the workings of the Xoom hardware.

With screenshots galore, you can get an idea of what’s to come with the UI, along with the Gmail, Maps, Books, Photos, and Music apps, to name a few. And by the looks of everything, this is one spectacular and polished package that the Android team has put together.

There is no mention of the mysteriously absent spec of the Xoom’s battery life, although the manual does have many tips and tricks related to extending battery life. We have also learned that the battery is recommended to only be replaced by Motorola.

The manual is clearly for both the 3G and the Wi-Fi-only versions of the Xoom, as it mentions “Connect via 3G (if an option) or Wi-Fi.” We know the 3G version is hitting Best Buy and possibly Costco on February 24, but still no word on when the Wi-Fi only model (now tagged at “around” $600) will hit store shelves.

Grab yourself a copy of the manual here.

Motorola Xoom: How NOT To Launch A Tablet

It could have been huge, it could have been great. But is the Motorola Xoom already a failure before it even launches?

After a whole year to reflect on how Apple strategically launched the iPad with great success and fanfare, you’d think Motorola could have gotten a few things right to drum up excitement for the Xoom–the first of the Android Honeycomb tablets. Things were clear-cut with the iPad up front: everyone knew well in advance exactly what it would cost and when it would be released. The Xoom has been on a roller coaster of rumors, projections of astronomical pricing, uncertain launch dates, and the disastrous latest revelation that buyers will be hit with a mandatory subscription to Verizon to “unlock” the Wi-Fi.

Here are a few reasons we won’t be seeing people lined up around the block to buy the Xoom:

1. A phony introduction. When the Xoom was first shown at CES, all it did was play a video of what it supposedly would do. The tech blogs immediately picked up on this and the jokes and rumors of a vaporware tablet spread like wildfire.
2. Confusion over Wi-Fi-only and carrier-subsidized models. First we heard rumors that there would be no Wi-Fi-only Xoom. Then we heard that a Wi-Fi-only version would hit the stores first. Now we’re seeing ads in Best Buy for a 3G version that will have the Wi-Fi crippled unless the user subscribes to Verizon 3G service. And, even more recently, we’re seeing a new Motorola device applying for FCC wireless approval–is this the true Wi-Fi-only Xoom? Why can’t Motorola just tell us these things?
3. Uncertain release date. First we heard February 17. Now we’re hearing February 24. Who knows?
4. The astronomical price tag. Rumors swirled over a $700 price tag–a little on the high side, but tolerable for many. Then we saw a $799 price in a Best Buy ad. That extra $100 really can sting after expecting a $700 price point. Add the mandatory Verizon subscription and you have the straw that broke the camel’s back for many outraged consumers. And it would be hard not to mention the $1199.99 price that showed up on Best Buy’s website if you want to pre-order.
5. The case of the crippled Wi-Fi. We said it before, and we’ll say it again–forcing customers into a monthly Verizon contract just to enable the Xoom’s Wi-Fi is both immoral and downright disgusting in our opinion. It is clear that very many consumers want a Wi-Fi-only Xoom and playing these games has enraged many potential Xoom fans.

We had such high hopes for the Xoom, but based on consumer sentiment in blog comments and Twitter, it’s looking like potential customers are confused and angered over the lead-up to the pioneer of the Honeycomb fleet of tablets. With the flood of Honeycomb tablets rushing to the market like a massive herd of wildebeests, many early adapters just might have the patience to see what else is on the horizon in the coming months. Maybe the product managers over at Motorola could use a few lessons from a Mr. Steve Jobs.

Gingerbread 2.3 Dead, 2.4 Coming In April

Nexus One and other handset owners (im)patiently waiting for the OTA 2.3 Gingerbread update have a lot more waiting to do. Apparently 2.3 may never hit the Nexus One or any other phone other than the Nexus S.

Android developers are on fast-track to get the 2.4 update out, currently targeted for April. The 2.4 release will still be called Gingerbread, but will add support for dual-core-designed apps on single-core devices.

It appears that Google has gotten itself into a bit of a jam with dual-core Honeycomb tablets hitting the market because app developers can’t put out apps that take advantage of two processors and also run on single-core handsets. Things will start getting messy quickly if separate tablet-specific and handset-specific versions of each app start hitting the market. So priority one is to get all Android devices on the same page.

Last week, we reported on a data disclosure vulnerability in Gingerbread 2.3 which may be also complicating the whole situation.

Google has been quiet so far on this entire versioning/forking fiasco. A Google spokesperson would only say they don’t comment on rumor or speculation. By the looks of things, however, it looks like the Android developers have their work cut out for them and hopefully things may start making more sense come April.

Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi-Only Will Require Verizon Activation

First, the rumored $699 price of the Motorola Xoom was replaced by the astronomical $799 price tag as confirmed by the ad in the Best Buy flyer. But if that doesn’t have you seeing dollar signs, it looks like the iron fist of Verizon is going to make things even worse and force buyers to subscribe to a Verizon data plan to unlock the Xoom’s Wi-Fi functionality!

A tiny footnote in the Best Buy ad states:

To activate WiFi functionality on this device, a minimum of 1 month data subscription is required.

So if you’re looking for a WiFi-only Xoom, it looks like you’ll need to activate on Verizon and be hit with an activation fee and one month of service, even if you cancel same day.

So there you have it. The first “open” and “pure Google” tablet, will ship with its Wi-Fi locked up tight until you hand over your credit card to Verizon to receive the magic key. As the February 24 release date for the Motorola Xoom approaches, it’s looking like the second coming of the Jesus Tablet is drifting farther and farther out of reach for many. After tax, a protective case, and this nonsense activation fee, the Xoom may very well have you seeing four digits on the Best Buy cash register.

Angry Birds May Be Angry But They’re Not Evil

Some astute users were left scratching their heads when reviewing the permissions for the latest Angry Birds for Android update that was asking for SMS permissions out of the blue. Why would the Angry Birds be interested in your text messages?

At first, Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, didn’t seem too sure of this change in permissions either and said it may be a mistake, but they’d look into the matter.

As it turns out, Rovio has added the ability for users to purchase “Mighty Eagle” and other content, and the payment system known as Bad Piggy Bank is made through carrier billing via SMS. Hence, the need for your SMS permissions. As Rovio states:

The Android version of Angry Birds asks for SMS permission because this mobile payment capability has been added in version 1.5.1. Angry Birds does not use the SMS functionality of the device for any other purpose than Bad Piggy Bank payments.

As of now, this new carrier payment system is only available in Finland, so it looks like the rest of the world will have to do with a lesser arsenal of birds to launch at those pigs for now.

You can read Rovio’s Angry Birds 1.5.1 release statement on the Rovio Blog.

Zinio Reader Heading to Android Soon

Zinio, the popular iPhone/iPad app that allows you to subscribe to and read hundreds of popular magazines in their pure, original format is heading to Android.

The first Android device to get the Zinio app is the Dell Streak 7 Android tablet, T-Mobile announced today, and even gave subscribers a discount code for 20% off (code: TMOBILE). Zinio will almost certainly be hitting the Motorola Xoom tablet at its launch as well.

Zinio is saying that its app will be hitting the Android Market soon for all other Android devices, or, in the words of Zinio: “Get ready. Get Set. Zinio for Android is coming soon to the Market.”

We would certainly expect that, similar to the Kindle app, existing Zinio customers will magically see all their existing subscriptions appear on whatever device is linked to an existing Zinio account.

Where’s Gingerbread?

Nexus One users have been screaming bloody hell for over a month now about their missing-in-action Gingerbread OTA update. Eric Schmidt mentioned way back on November 26, 2010 that Gingerbread would be coming within weeks while Gingerbread statues were simultaneously erected over at Google headquarters.

Google tweeted back in December that Gingerbread would be arriving on Nexus Ones “in the coming weeks.” The “coming weeks” tweet was deleted and reappeared on January 4. A month later, Nexus One owners are befuddled. So where’s Gingerbread?

It seems that some significant bugs have been popping up and re-popping up in the freshly-baked Gingerbread.

You see, a data disclosure vulnerability cropped up in Android 2.2 Froyo that was supposedly fixed in 2.3 Gingerbread. Apparently when Google was about to let the Gingerbread OTA fly, an Associate Professor with the NC State University Deportment of Computer Science by the name of Xuxian Jiang stumbled across a way around Google’s supposed patch in Gingerbread. With a stock Nexus S, Associate Professor Jiang was able to exploit 2.3′s fix and make the Nexus S do some pretty nasty things, including obtain a list of apps installed on the phone, capture the contents of the SD card–including photos, saved voicemails, etc. You can read Associate Professor Jiang’s description of the vulnerability here.

The Google Android Security Team has taken the issue seriously and is (frantically?) working on a fix.

Exactly when this will be fixed is unknown, and Google has been mum on the issue. This may explain why there hasn’t been a peep about the Gingerbread update for a month now, or nary a single Twitter @ reply to the angry throngs of antsy Nexus One owners who grow more impatient by the day.

It is likely the fix will come in the form of Gingerbread 2.3.3 and be pushed to Nexus S and Nexus One users when it is released.

So sit tight, Nexus One users. The fix is on the way…one of these days.

Android Version Forking Settled?

Android 2.3 Gingerbread on phones will apparently skip Honeycomb altogether and head straight to Ice Cream Sandwich, says a source.

Apparently the version number for Ice Cream Sandwich will be 3.1 under the branch GRI17. This will, for all intents and purposes, be a very new version with elements. It should begin making its way to handets by November 2011.

What still remains to be seen is whether Ice Cream Sandwich will be an upgrade for Honeycomb tablets, similar to how Apple brought together handsets and the iPad with iOS 4.2.