droid x

I've been no-contract since before T-Mobile made it cool

Oh, T-Mobile has gone no-contract? Yes, this is a big step for a major national carrier, but for me, it's whoop-de-doo. I've been no-contract for a year already. Plus, I have access to that big, juicy Verizon network that lets me make calls from the middle of the mountains in New Mexico. I'm a customer of Page Plus Cellular, a company that resells Verizon's data and talk-time network. I can quit anytime, with no fear of penalties.

Now that T-Mobile got all coy and dumped the contracts, it feels a bit to me like discovering a cool underground band and then having it hit the Billboard charts and hearing its best song on a McDonald's commercial. I can't really pull off a hipper-than-thou attitude about this, though. After all, I am making some sacrifices to ride the no-contract bandwagon. Here are the pros and cons as I see them. … Read more

Android 2.3 Gingerbread comes to Droid X2

Verizon Wireless's Android lineup grew a little stronger today when the carrier began deploying 2.3 Gingerbread to the Motorola Droid X2. The 101MB software update features a number of bug fixes and general enhancements plus improvements to existing applications. As is the case with nearly all recent Verizon updates, the addition of a new Download Manager app provides a central place to handle downloads.

Other details in the 1.3.232 update include calendar enhancements, improved copy and paste, and geotagging capability for the camera app. The home screen and user experience also get a revamp with new widgets, icons, screen transitions, and home customizable tray icons.

It will be interesting to see how this software update is received by Verizon's user base considering the carrier's concerns over Motorola's recent Gingerbread updates. Less than one month ago, for example, we heard that the carrier was shelving all 2.3 updates from Motorola over issues arising with other handsets.

Indeed, a quick look at the Motorola Support forums tells us that Droid X users have been plagued with multiple issues since they updated to 2.3 last month. … Read more

CNET Roadside Assistance 022: We need new toys. (podcast)

In this episode of Roadside Assistance, we help a listener find a BMW, we got no love for Lexus, help another listener with their Droid X mounting, and we find out that we were drunk.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 022 SHOW NOTES

• LOLcars (photos)

CNET Roadside Assistance 021: Where we're old enough to drink! (podcast)

This is episode 21 of CNET Roadside Assistance for Thursday, the 14th of July 2011, the show were the Car Tech guys take a moment to field your questions and listen to your comments. We tackle a Skoda question, Antuan's love affair with a 1st Generation Miata, mounting your Droid X, and debate who likes the convertible Nissan Murano.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 021 SHOW NOTES

• LOLcars (photos)

Rumor: Verizon unhappy with Moto Gingerbread updates

According to unconfirmed reports, Verizon is unhappy with recent Gingerbread updates coming out of the Motorola camp. A source close to Droid Life has advised that the carrier is rejecting all current Android 2.3 updates from the handset maker over a growing list of bugs stemming from the recent Droid X update.

Users are reporting problems with random rebooting, Wi-Fi connectivity issues, and a general loss of functionality. Indeed, a quick glance in the Motorola support forums confirms that these are not isolated incidents, and that many of them happened prior to the 2.3 update.

Perhaps it's not a coincidence then that a Gingerbread update for the Droid 2 Global that was expected a few weeks back has yet to come. What's more, a very small number of Droid Pro users were found to have received a Gingerbread update back in late May. Though this is generally a precursor to a large-scale rollout, virtually nothing has happened in the month since.

As of today, neither Verizon nor Motorola has made any statements on the matter. While I wouldn't look for Verizon to say anything public on the subject, Moto may take to its forums to address the problems. The company has a decent track record for acknowledging and forecasting software updates, even as it pertains to shortcomings. In the meantime, a new team of developers is said to be working on Android 2.3 for the Droid X and other Verizon devices. … Read more

Hulu Plus app launches for Android

Hulu Plus has made its long-awaited debut on Android.

Launching in Google's Android Market yesterday, the new Hulu Plus app allows Android users who subscribe to the $7.99-per-month service to stream TV shows and movies directly to their mobile devices.

For now, the app supports just six Android phones--the Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid II, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix. But Hulu is promising support for more Android phones as the year progresses.

New subscribers to Hulu Plus can try the service free for one month before deciding whether to kick in … Read more

How to customize your Droid X dock icons

The Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) update gave the Droid X a new customizable dock. It now has three customizable app icons, in addition to the fixed app launcher. Here's how to get the apps you want onto the dock:

Step 1: Long press on the icon you want to change.

Step 2: Select the app or shortcut you want in the Add to Dock list.

That's it! Now you can have your most critical apps on the dock at all times.

How to silence the camera shutter on the Droid X

The camera shutter on the Droid X is loud. Candid photos of animals or sleeping babies are more challenging with a loud shutter. Unfortunately, there's no way to permanently turn off the shutter sound. You can however, silence the shutter, as needed. Here's how:

First method: Press the Power/Lock Key until the Phone options box appears, then select Silent mode. This method is good if you are already using your Droid X and want to use your camera silently.

Second method: Press the Volume Down Key until the ringer volume is at the lowest setting. This method … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 50: The show where we eat crow (Podcast)

The wraps are pull off Google's Wallet and Offers services, but should consumers be excited? The guys discuss the pros and cons Android rooting, locked bootloaders, and DRM, which triggers a friendly shouting match. As always there are plenty of upcoming and rumored phones on the horizon to drool over. And on this special 50th show, Antuan finally admits that he was wrong about something... a lot of things actually. All of that and more on this episode of Android Atlas Weekly.

Droid X to see Gingerbread on May 27

Motorola and Verizon Wireless are expected to deploy Android 2.3 to the Droid X on Friday, May 27. The Gingerbread update is rather sizable at 112MB, but it comes with a host of new features and enhancements including a new download manager app, application grouping, and an updated user interface (see our Samsung Nexus S review for the full Gingerbread features). Additionally, it should be easier to enter numbers and symbols, copy and paste text, and manage contacts.

In addition to the typical stability and general performance tweaks, Verizon has also improved upon the calendar, camera, and e-mail functions. … Read more