The Motorola Droid Bionic is the first smartphone (superphone?) from Verizon Wireless that combines nearly every high-end spec imaginable. It has a 4.3” qHD display, dual-core CPU, 4G LTE, 8MP camera w/ 1080p video recording, Mobile Hotspot, and more! The main question is: “Does the Droid Bionic live up to the eight months of hype?” Find out after the break!

I know many people have been waiting so long for this device to finally come to Verizon Wireless. Having been given the Droid Bionic to review, I was excited to be getting back into Android after a few months of being iOS exclusive, especially a dual-core unit with the latest version of Android (Gingerbread 2.3.4) and access to the fastest 4G network out.  I will admit that my excitement for the phone has dwindled down since it was first announced back in January, but a good portion of it still remains. The device has seen a few changes, both internally and externally, since its original announcement, and while I prefer the look of the original, some changes were for the best in order to make it the capable device we have today.

Hardware and Design

As stated above, the Droid Bionic had a few changes on the hardware, externally and internally. The original design for the Bionic had a more futuristic, rounded look, as shown.

The actual design of the Droid Bionic is definitely a look expected of the Motorola Droids. The current design is essentially a Droid 3 without the keyboard. The Droid Bionic is also Verizon Wireless’s slimmest 4G handset to date, which is impressive.

The Droid Bionic features TI OMAP processor, which replaced the NVIDIA Tegra 2 found in the original design. There are also monster specs of 1GB of RAM, 16GB built-in memory, and a 16GB microSD memory card is included. There are also an 8MP camera with 1080p video recording and a VGA front-facing camera for video chat. The Droid Bionic also has a LED notification light for those who enjoy taking a quick glance to see if they have any messages waiting. The only physical buttons to be found on the device are the volume up and down buttons on the left side of the device and the power/lock button on the top, while the right side houses the micro-USB charging port and HDMI port.

The Droid Bionic features a 4.3” qHD display complemented with the nearly indestructible Gorilla Glass. The text on the device looks very sharp and provides comfortable reading. The display is VERY responsive, possibly the most responsive display I ever used on an Android handset. The lag was very minimal while scrolling and swiping through the device. The device does utilize the PenTile display, which for me was a bit of disappointment, making whites look a little less white; however, I doubt most will notice it since I’m used to using the iPhone 4’s retina display and the Droid Charge’s Super AMOLED Plus display.

Software and Performance

Software-wise, the Droid Bionic is rocking Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) with the MotoBlur UI (albeit a moderately skinned version). The MotoBlur used on this is similar to that in the Droid 3 and Motorola Photon. It doesn’t require any additional accounts (like Blur of the past) and no changes that hinder the performance of the device both speed-wise and ease-of-use. Personally, I enjoy the new Blur and how it handles moving icons and widgets around. I never found myself wanting to go to a vanilla version while using this device.  Also, since it’s Android 2.3.4, you also have support for video calling through Google Talk right out of the box, whether you’re on WiFi, 4G, or 3G.

Phone, Battery Life, and Camera

The phone quality was crisp and clear, as expected with a Motorola device, and the speakerphone was very loud and clear. For a 4G LTE device, the battery life is amazing! You can easily get a day of usage out of the device, even if you’re on 4G. I managed to get through an entire day with moderate usage downloading apps, checking email, sending texts, and making a few calls.

The Droid Bionic features an 8MP camera with dual-LED flash. The picture quality wasn’t the best with the Droid Bionic. Pictures came out a bit over-exposed and there was noticeable lag while the device focused and finally took the shot.

Conclusion

So does the Droid Bionic live up to the hype? From my experience, I would say no. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a stellar device, but having seen what the next generation of phones coming out in the coming months have to offer (Samsung Galaxy S II/Droid Prime, Samsung Note, HTC Vigor), I would recommend holding out for them.

If you wish to get a phone now, the Droid Bionic is definitely the best Android device you can currently get on Verizon Wireless. Dual-core awesomeness with 4G LTE goodness is a combination that’s hard to beat. At $299.99, it is a bit on the expensive side; however, if you’re in the market for an Android device on Verizon Wireless right now, with the latest and greatest hardware/software, it’s well worth it.

[Droid Life]

We knew it was coming, and now it is official. The sequel to one of the most popular Android devices, the Droid Incredible 2, will be available April 28th for $199. The Droid Inedible 2 improves on it’s predecessor with a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera, 4″ super LCD screen, and new 1GHZ Snapdragon processor. Hit the jump for the full release.

“DROID Incredible 2 by HTC follows in the footsteps of the popular DROID Incredible by HTC and features the Android(TM) 2.2 platform, a crisp 4-inch super LCD display, next-generation 1 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor and 3G Mobile Hotspot that can connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.  Equipped with the hallmark HTC Sense(TM) experience, DROID Incredible 2 by HTC offers advanced personalization options, consolidated email capability and unique camera effects and filters.  With its sleek, all-black design, DROIDIncredible 2 by HTC combines functionality and speed into one stylish package. DROID Incredible 2 by HTC is a global-ready Android smartphone, allowing customers to enjoy wireless voice and data service in more than 200 countries, with more than 125 with 3G speeds.”

DROID Incredible 2 by HTC Available Beginning April 28

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that DROID Incredible 2 by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, will be available beginning April 28 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online atwww.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

DROID Incredible 2 by HTC follows in the footsteps of the popular DROID Incredible by HTC and features the Android(TM) 2.2 platform, a crisp 4-inch super LCD display, next-generation 1 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor and 3G Mobile Hotspot that can connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.  Equipped with the hallmark HTC Sense(TM) experience, DROID Incredible 2 by HTC offers advanced personalization options, consolidated email capability and unique camera effects and filters.  With its sleek, all-black design, DROIDIncredible 2 by HTC combines functionality and speed into one stylish package. DROID Incredible 2 by HTC is a global-ready Android smartphone, allowing customers to enjoy wireless voice and data service in more than 200 countries, with more than 125 with 3G speeds.

Additional features include:

–  8.0-megapixel main camera with dual LED flash
–  1.3-megapixel front facing camera
–  720p HD video capture plus DLNA® to share multimedia content with a
compatible TV
–  Adobe® Flash® Player
–  SRS WOWHD(TM)  surround sound
–  Automatic face detection for more accurate pictures
–  Integrated noise-cancellation technology

Verizon Wireless customers that purchase DROID Incredible 2 by HTC will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a smartphone data package.  Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access and an unlimited smartphone data plan is $29.99 for monthly access.  Verizon Wireless customers traveling outside of the United States should contact Verizon Wireless’ global customer support team at 1-800-922-0204 before embarking on their trip to ensure their phones have the right features for global usage.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

SOURCE  Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Albert Aydin, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7513, Albert.Aydin@verizonwireless.com or HTC Public Relations, +1-425-638-7000, htcpr@wagged.com

Web Site: http://www.verizonwireless.com

This week Nic and Liz talk about all 4 US mobile carriers. Amazon, RIAA, FDA, CEOs, NPR, LTE, MTV, AOL, WiMAX, QR Codes and much much more! It’s alphabet soup and it’s all .XXX!!! Episode 17 – Banned in India starts now!

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Show Notes After the break…

The guys over at Android Spin were lucky enough to get some snaps of Verizon’s upcoming Droid Incredible 2. HTC has upped the screen size to a 4″ panel, and baked Sense UI with some Gingerbread love. This guy will definitely be a hot seller for Verizon and hopefully they won’t have supply issues that plagued the original Droid Incredible. HTC went with a Super LCD vs the OLED , so we don’t think it will be an issue.

• 4.0” Super LCD WVGA
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) w/ Sense? (Currently running Android 2.2 until launch)
• 8MP camera w/ flash
• 1.3MP front facing camera
• 1Ghz Qualcomm MSM 8655 processor
• 4GB internal storage
• 768mb of RAM
• 1450mAh battery

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Engadget has posted what is expected to be packed in the Motorola Droid 2.1 update. Here are the dirty deets:

• Looks like it’ll be based off the Android2.1-update1 build that Google put out last week on the Nexus One.
• And that means expect multitouch in the browser, to go along with the pinch-to-zoom that was enabled on the Droid for Google Maps just last week.
• Google Googles is baked into the ROM by default (also standard in Android 2.1-U1).
• The Droid’s home screen remains as is — no new rotating app thingy instead of the drawer, and no live wallpapers.
• The news and weather widget from the Nexus One will be included.