Earlier today, Google and Motorola announced that Google would be purchasing the latter for 12.5 billion dollars. Motorola will function as a separate entity from Google but that doesn’t mean there won’t be changes. In fact, Google states that it wants to “supercharge” Android. In other words, it wants to keep making Android better and it hopes buying out Motorola will keep them on that path.
But what does this mean for Motorola devices and more specifically, its upcoming flagship device, the Motorola Droid Bionic? In my opinion, the deal could mean two things might happen.
Both good.
First though, I want to be clear, I don’t see the Droid Bionic as a whole being changed by this acquisition. It’s too far into development, it’s currently out in the wilds in its final form, battery life is said to be great, and Motorola still expects it to launch in September.
I don’t think anything will be different a launch. However, I think the future of the Droid Bionic may have been altered by this purchase, a future that suddenly seems a whole lot brighter than it did yesterday.
Potentially Awesome Thing #1
Google is not going to play favorites with Motorola phones because it’ll tick off other manufacturers like HTC and Samsung. Google even stated that Motorola will operate as a separate entity from Google.
However, you can’t dispute that this purchase will bring the companies closer together and because of that, I think that Motorola phones will be quicker to get major Android updates.
What does that mean for the Droid Bionic? Well, it means that Ice Cream Sandwich could come a whole lot faster when it’s released later this year. The point of the merger was to “supercharge” Android and I think part of that is Google wanting to get major updates out to phones not called Nexus in a much quicker fashion and the Droid Bionic could be the starting point.
Potentially Awesome Thing #2
In the past, Motorola phones have been extremely hard to customize because of precautions the manufacturer has put into place. Specifically, Moto has locked down the bootloaders on phones rendering customization nearly impossible. The practice has definitely turned plenty of people to other companies who phones possess bootloaders that can could be unlocked more easily.
Google’s Nexus device have no such issues and Motorola has even stated that it will be unlocking bootloaders in the future and I think it’s possible that this partnership could speed up the bootloader process for the Droid Bionic.
Google now has the ability to put pressure on Motorola to put this into effect and with HTC already offering an unlocking process for the HTC Sensation, it would make sense to get Motorola on that level. It wants to “supercharge” Android after all. Now, will it have an unlocked bootloader at launch? I doubt it, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it come at some point after launch.
So, I don’t see Google buying out Motorola affecting the Motorola Droid Bionic’s present condition but I could certainly see how it might work wonders for the Droid Bionic in the future.
What do you guys and gals think?
I cannot wait for this phone to come out. Luckily my contract is going out in 4 months when it will most likely be out. I hope it won’t cost a fortune!
In 4 months, it will be obsolete.
Hey dummy you dont even know what bionic will be packing.
http://www.phonedog.com/2011/08/17/motorola-droid-bionic-specs-surface-once-again/like these specs? the ones that have been known for awhile now?
but hes right.
http://www.phonedog.com/2011/08/17/motorola-droid-bionic-specs-surface-once-again/like these specs? the ones that have been known for awhile now?
but hes right.
Not obsolete just not as good
Ok then. Enlighten me. What are bionics specs. Haven’t you noticed all the experts have been mum on the specs lately.
the specs aren’t exactly secret.
the specs aren’t exactly secret.
what is screen size and resolution? mr. fookin knowitall.
We do know that most phones (And computers for that matter) are outdated quickly after they are released, however the Bionic will be a powerhouse of a phone, and it will easily withstand being “outdated” for at least a year. You are a Goof. Do you know this phone was withdrawn and re-designed so it would Not be outdated for a long time? Do you also know you are on a forum of people who Like the Bionic? Why don’t you go on over to the iPhone forum and talk about It being outdated? (Because it Will be outdated before it is ever released) No one cares about your opinions here.
You mean in 4 months it won’t make phone calls, send texts, use 4G, have Google Maps, have GMail, have Google Talk, have a front facing camera, have Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, be able to browse the internet, have mobile banking, be able to play music, download apps, play movies, record HD video, use the HDMI port, check stocks, view rss feeds, check sports scores, or be able to view documents? Well if that’s the case what is this new super phone that will emit the EMP making the Droid Bionic obsolete???
I literally laughed out loud.
hahahahahahahahahahaha
Once the deal go through it doesnt matter what they tell the media, they could do whatever they want… They could rename Motorola, google mobile if they so chose lol
Do no evil….
It will be interesting to see what Larry Page does with Sanjay Jha. Will he be in charge of the Motorola division or given a golden parachute?
I would love to know what percentage of people who have purchased Android phones have taken advantage of an unlocked bootloader when available. I would also like to know how many people have actually rooted their phones.
I think this deal could be a good deal for Motorola customers both current and especially future customers. I certainly hope that both of your potently awesome things become reality.
The only reason I didn’t root mine was because I was too worried about voiding my contract. I take my phones in to get looked at pretty often (I text much more than average, and the keys on my OG droid get bloating, and coming off), and I didn’t want to deal with un-rooting, and rooting again.
get bloated*
So does this mean wait to get a bionic or get it at launch?
I’ve touched on this before. All of this stuff can only help the Droid Bionic so I think that it’s definitely worth considering. I don’t want to recommend it until I get hands on.
I bet my life you will be recommending it!
Deal.
For me, the acquisition just solidifies my decision to go wait for the Bionic vs. with something like the Samsung GS2. I agree that Google needs to be very careful not to jeopardize their relationship with the other hardware mfrs but let’s face it, there are bound to be some advantages of going having an “all Google platform”.
Google, I have but one request: KILL MOTOBLUR!!! Motorola could differentiate itself by doing something revolutionary like being the ONLY major company to sell nothing but pure vanilla Android devices. Seriously, someone’s got to do it.
have you ever seen a social networking app/widget/all in one updating stream better than MOTO blur….i haven’t and it’s one of the reasons why i live moto. I’ve tried LG’s HTC’s and Sammy’s they all, IMHO, suck in comparison to MOTO’s social networking tool/s. and before anyone ask I”ve even purchased a few apps they still dont offer the function of moto blur at least on my x or x2 not sure about the bionic yet though…
Ok, I’ll give you that but they could offer these things as installable/uninstallable apps. Moto has apps in the Market (Droid light comes to mind) so they could easily offer these “features” as apps instead of using up space and cpu by adding it as bloat on EVERY handset.
What if someone does come out with a better AIO social networking app that you love? wouldn’t you rather be able to uninstall the one that you’re using currently, rather than having it just sit and take up space?
I shouldn’t have said that I want Google to “kill” Motoblur. What I should’ve said is that I don’t feel ANY oem should be forcing their bloat on customers. The Market is capable of filtering results based on hardware so the manufacturers should submit their “themes” and “widgets” to the Market as exclusive apps for their customers. You could have a full Blur experience if you wanted, I could stick with Vanilla and the next guy could pick and choose.
Anything to get this phone on the market already. Whatever it takes.
Does that mean my Droid will be driving my car for me sooner than later?
I’m very happy that Google has purchased Motorola. Simply because it shows incentive and intention by Google. They have been pretty quiet for a few months and I was getting a little nervous. This acquisition tells me that Google has an idea, maybe a plan. I can’t wait to see what happens because of it. I’m looking forward to consistency and and maybe a standard. I hope that it will unlock the potential that lives in Android quicker.
I agree REx, nice to have a fellow Grady Judd’ean….lol.
Ha! Cool!
Google is Skynet. (O_O)
Google is Skynet. (O_O)
Then who is John Conner… or who is Sarah Conner?
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What would be best is if Google scrapped the MotoBlur inerface all together and released it with stock Android.
What would be best is if Google scrapped the MotoBlur inerface all together and released it with stock Android.
That would be GREAT! Then there would be no real reason to root/ROM the phone because that’s the only reason people do it… To remove the skinned UI, because it Hurts the Performance of the Phone, Motorola! lol
That would be GREAT! Then there would be no real reason to root/ROM the phone because that’s the only reason people do it… To remove the skinned UI, because it Hurts the Performance of the Phone, Motorola! lol
It surprises me that Google bought Motorola, but I love both of the companies, and I was waiting for the Bionic anyway, so this has to be a GREAT merger of companies for the mobile phone enthusiast. Particularly Motorola. I don’t have an upgrade available, so I’m going to drop the money it costs for the phone flat-out and I will be smiling while I do it. Who else is buying it flat-out, or do most people just have an upgrade they are waiting for?
buying two cash one to replace my X2 and the other to replace my wifes Charge….but i have a hell of a plan unlimited talk, text data two phone w/ insurance and road side for sub 200……
potentially awsome thing number #3
No more moto blur!
Potentially awsome thing #4
Sanjay jha gets fired by google for making the damn bionic take so long to hit the market
Totally agree
Death to MotoBlur!
Um, it’ll take another year just to conclude the purchase. It will have no impact on the Bionic at all I’m afraid. And little impact on the Droid RAZR. Now the phones that come out in early 2013 maybe…