Motorola Mobility Inc: Unlock all smartphone bootloaders

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Why must Google buy Motorola? China!

It's undeniable the biggest reason why Google must buy Motorola is the big telecommunication related patent portfolio owned by the mobile phone maker. However, there is another reason why this deal is important to the growth of Google.

Android is free, period. Google does not make a dime from Android when a smartphone maker adopts its mobile OS. Google has said many times that it intends to make money back from Android from increased web search activities, which in turn brings profit to its web advertising business. It sounds great, except that Google search is not available in Mainland China. Yes, even if every single smartphone sold in China is powered by Android, Google will not make a single penny there. At the same times, it does not look like Google plans to change its Do No Evil strategy and allow China to censor its web search.

So, how can Google profit from the mobile market in China? How about making smartphones? Motorola has been doing business in China for a long long times. It is a well-known brand among Chinese. By making smartphones through Motorola, Google can earn cash from Android through a totally different strategy.

The more we look at the deal, the more we can appreciate the smartness of Google ... let's hope that they really do not plan to be evil!

Google to Acquire Motorola

This piece of news will definitely be one of the top 10 news of the year in the technology industry. I can only say that it was a bombshell to me when I woke up reading it. For a moment, I thought I was seeing an April Fool joke. Then the news sank in and you know what, it's an Android fan's early Christmas gift. Needless to say, it shows again that Google is a company of calculation. Looking back to the whole Nortel saga now, it's hard not to see that the patent axis of evil led by Apple and Microsoft had just spent $4.5 billion hoping to use it against the Android platform, but ended up getting a overpriced portfolio. As everyone knows, Motorola, being the very first maker of a commercial cellular phone, has a jaw-dropping sized patent portfolio. Given that Motorola is one of the pioneer telecommunication company, it's not difficult to imagine that a large portion of its patent portfolio are closely related in making a smartphone. I recalled reading a comment from an user on a Technology Blog (sorry, I forgot which one) saying that Google can now sue Apple for ... making a call. It's a joke, but it highlight the deep root of Motorola -- it's simply one of the oldest telecommunication hardware maker in the world. As always, it's the math that counts. Official Google Blog: Supercharging Android: Google to Acquire Motorola ...: "Since its launch in November 2007, Android has not only dramatically increased consumer choice but also improved the entire mobile experien..."

(UPDATED) Sony Ericsson announces new generation of Xperia Mini and Mini Pro smartphones -- Engadget

With all the bad press going around Sony's PlayStation Network security problems, I think we should re-direct our attention to one rare bright spot among Sony's products/services -- its 2011 Android smartphones. It's the only major Android smartphone maker that is capable of launching all its new headset in Android 2.3. Given how bad their first Android attempt was, I think Sony Ericsson deserves a lot of credits for their improvement. HTC, Samsung and Motorola, LISTEN, you guys were the market leader when it comes to Android smartphone, but it's unforgivable for you all to launch any Froyo phones today, almost 6 months after Gingerbread was released. The Thunderbolt, the Droid Incredible 2, and the Droid Charge should all be a Gingerbread phone when they are launched. Well, at least Motorola seems to be listening and hopefully, when the Bionic comes out, it's running Gingerbread. UPDATE: Yes, I didn't mention any examples from Motorola. That's not because they don't have any new non-Gingerbread phone launch. Quite the contrary, they dare to release a Eclair (Android 2.1) phone TODAY. I am not even going to name it here -- that would be free promotion for them. It's the new Sprint iDEN phone running Eclair, if you are curious. Sony Ericsson announces new generation of Xperia Mini and Mini Pro smartphones -- Engadget: "

Motorola Considering its Own Smartphone OS, Android “Shooting itself in the foot”? - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

Motorola is considering its own smartphone OS? While I am shocked to hear this, I am actually not that surprised they are that dumb. It really could happen. Look, they created the Droid, which is stock Android w/o a locked bootloader and this one small device literally brought Moto back to life single-handedly. A sane person would just keep what made the Droid so successful and added new things to it. Instead, they took away the stock OS, locked the bootloader -- they really DO think that the Droid's success is because of THEMSELVES, not Google, not Android.

Motorola Considering its Own Smartphone OS, Android “Shooting itself in the foot”? - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

'Hummer' handsets now account for 24 percent of US smartphone sales, prove Steve Jobs wrong -- Engadget

These days, only the most brainless Apple fanboys would think that their phones are perfect. I am not surprised that Steve Jobs comment about the Hummer handsets are proven wrong. Look, people age. When people age, their visions worsen. At that stage, the size of a pixel is *more* important than the number of pixels. Therefore, higher pixel density is not the only thing that counts. Yes, Apple fanboys will say their Rectal DisplayRetina Display is the greatest invention of the century, but if your eyes are not in the optimal condition, it only means you are looking at a smaller pixel. 'Hummer' handsets now account for 24 percent of US smartphone sales, prove Steve Jobs wrong -- Engadget: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Motorola Droid 3 to feature OMAP4, Motorola Targa to be first phone with quad-core NVIDIA Kal-El? – Android and Me

Oh, Moto, how much I hate you? Just when I am above to give up on you, and consider moving to HTC later this year, you make another attempt to lure me back.

The Droid 3

The Droid Targa

Now, I have no interest at the X2, but the Droid 3 and Droid Targa? The Targa is my favorite among the 3 phones (my contract is up for renewal mid-Nov, so it's perfect timing for me.) However, I need to wait and see if the bootloader is locked and/or encrypted.

Motorola Droid 3 to feature OMAP4, Motorola Targa to be first phone with quad-core NVIDIA Kal-El? – Android and Me: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Motorola Xoom Flash Player: Game Playing Hand On -- Clear HD

Playing a game using the leaked Flash Player on a Motorola Xoom.

8.9" Samsung Honeycomb Tablet

Among the 3 top Android tablet makers (Motorola, LG, and Samsung -- IMO, without a Honeycomb tablet, HTC is not going to achieve much with the Flyer), I am most attracted by the yet-to-be-announced 8.9" tablet from Samsung. I have a Nook Color and I love its size. A ~10" tablet, no matter how light it is, is not for single-hand handling. I always want the Nook Color's screen to be a bit bigger, but not so big that it rivals the Xoom or iPad. A ~8.9" tablet will be perfect for me. Pixel density is not a BIG issue to me. Sure, I can't stand for a 800 x 600 resolution, but something similar to the Nook Color is sufficient. A slightly bigger physical size, however, can make it easier to read small text.

Anyway, no one knows for sure if Samsung really will come up with a 8.9" tablet. May be it will surprise us with a 8", AND a 9"?

Xoom Unboxing

Unboxed a Xoom today. I can't say I don't like it, but there is one thing that really pissed me off. For $800, Motorola didn't even bother to put in a plastic bag, which would cost them, may be 2 cents? Yes, it's covered with a plastic sheet, but it's covered with fingerprints!

Oh, the box's cover wasn't even taped (and it's very loose.)



Anyway, this tablet is still by far the best tablet experience one would get -- move away, iPad.