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Motorola Fails U.S. Xoom Owners Yet Again

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I am mystified as to how Xoom owners are putting up with all of the nonsense spewed their way from Motorola. Every single day it seems like there is another mishap and today is no different. You see, Motorola rolled out Android 3.1 to Xooms outside of the United States and lo and behold, Motorola somehow manged to infuriate Xoom owners here in the U.S.  Again.

Motorola Xoom

Here is Motorola Europe’s message on Facebook:

The 3.1 update for Motorola XOOM™ outside the U.S. has started. Owners in Europe can expect updates over the next several weeks until the roll out is complete. The 3.1 update for non-U.S. devices, in addition to many other improvements, also includes SD card activation. Release notes will be made available in each region, functionality varies by region.

See something peculiar in there? How about “includes SD card activation,” something that isn’t enabled on the Motorola Xoom here in the United States?  And now, after receiving angry responses from U.S. Xoom owners, Motorola has put the blame on someone else, Google.

Motorola Mobility’s tweet:

Google is refining the SD card solution for U.S.-based Motorola XOOM devices & we’ll share timing info as soon it’s available

Huh. Alright, fair enough, it’s essentially a Honeycomb dev device and stuff takes time but it doesn’t change the fact that this is way too slow of a process for device that is supposed to rival the iPad 2. Motorola of course fails to mention these things when it markets the Xoom to the average consumer who doesn’t know any better and spends loads of money on a tablet that is a lab rat for Moto and Google.

Funny how a 4G LTE Xoom is on the way, possibly as soon as next month.

In addition, 4G LTE, as promised, has yet to come out and Motorola has yet to give Xoom owners any sort of clairity. Oh wait, that’s right, they did send out emails to Xoom owners in regards to the 4G LTE upgrade, only they were sent in error. It’s gotten so bad, Motorola has even admitted that they are late to 4G LTE.

Droid-Life is hearing that the software update for SD card support on U.S. Xoom’s is going to come when 4G arrives so it should only be a little while before Google gets this together but it’s still just another wait that Motorola has pushed upon Xoom owners.

Again, these shenanigans along with the lack of applications on the Android Market make the current incarnation of the Xoom a very hard product to believe in. To be honest, if I owned one, I would have returned it, without any sort of hesitation at this point. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy Honeycomb, but this is a mess.

47 Comments

47 Comments

  1. LPH

    06/22/2011 at 6:15 pm

    Product upgrades and fixes are always a challenge for companies. At least someone at Motorola is tweeting.

    • Adam Mills

      06/22/2011 at 6:24 pm

      I appreciate the clairity. Would love to see the same clairity with the 4G LTE upgrade.

      • LPH

        06/22/2011 at 6:30 pm

        Agreed. It’s a rough path they are following. Hopefully they can learn from these mistakes. 

        PS. I’m glad to have not purchased the Xoom :)

    • Docon

      06/27/2011 at 10:19 pm

      Very well said, but this article makes it look like all non-US has got the update, in fact only few people in Japan have got, for all the rest, it is waiting for ‘few weeks’ again. I wish I cold return mine, but it is beyond tbe alliwed time for return, unless authorities in the UK/EU support us with this case.

  2. E2D2

    06/22/2011 at 6:20 pm

    I returned my Xoom last week. Got sick and tired of all the games from Motorola. Picked up a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, loving it.

    • Sandy

      06/22/2011 at 8:16 pm

      Not sure what u achieved by returning …. with no SD card slot, no micro USB, no HDMI out ….

      • Richardvegatcca

        06/23/2011 at 2:56 am

        there is to HDMI out and micro USB

        • Mic

          07/04/2011 at 9:05 am

          So the same functionality as the Xoom :)

    • pragueteacher

      07/19/2011 at 8:49 pm

      All this ”returning” is forcing up the price of everything. Why in god’s name do companies allow exploiters like this to return things? It’s like buying a wedding dress on a Friday, getting married in it on the Saturday and returning it on Monday because ”my husband didn’t like it”. 

  3. Janderson4795

    06/22/2011 at 7:42 pm

    cry baby

    • Adam Mills

      06/22/2011 at 8:42 pm

      You know what? You’re right. I am a cry baby and I’ll tell you why. It frustrates me that a couple of people I know plunked down $600 for this thing, locked themselves into a contract, and haven’t gotten the experience they thought they would be getting.

      The one person I know who bought a Wi-Fi Xoom? Returned it for an iPad 2. The point is, Motorola is not winning at all here. They aren’t keeping current customers happy and that means that devices are going to get returned. And on the other end, do you think people are just going to jump up and get a Xoom after hearing about all of these delays? I don’t think so.

      I might be a cry baby but if my crying can help prevent people from investing huge chunks of money into a something that in my mind is really nothing more than a Honeycomb testing ground, then I am fine with that.

      • Richardvegatcca

        06/23/2011 at 2:59 am

        i have the wifi only version and i would like to say im pretty pleased with it i mean sure it doesnt have sd card slot support just yet but thats really just about it. im patient with the apps because its still new but there are tons of android apps that work just fine on it and its a great device amd experiance

        • YourMomWasXoomed

          06/26/2011 at 11:12 pm

          I totally agree with Richard on this.. I have own two xooms that’s right 2 of them.. I bricked my first one my mistake and guess what.. it was replaced under warranty… no questions asked they even sent a fed ex envelope and the turn around time was 1 business day.. and I’m not even currently in the states.. if it were an apple device.. just short of smashing their product they don’t believe in fixing bricks.. O.o.. a extra 32 gigs I’m missing.. OMG.. my life is in shambles come on son… its the same price as the ipad2… ios has been out how long now… of course it would have a lot of bugs ironed out.. its outdated.. steve jobs hasnt come out with anything new in like.. 5 years.. he makes he products look better.. but if I wanted a giant touch.. I would have just bought the ipad.. if i wanted something that just makes my day to day life easier.. exp since I am an android phone user.. xoom ftw.. if that 32gb micro sd card meant so much to you.. why not just tiamat kernal that ish.. enjoy :) 

  4. Louis8472

    06/22/2011 at 9:28 pm

    You sound like a real another one of those apple nuts nothing beats apple!!! Whatever why don’t you just stick to your never going to have flash player ipad

    • Adam Mills

      06/23/2011 at 1:44 am

      I don’t like flash. I do like Android though.

      • Anonymous

        06/24/2011 at 1:28 pm

        I don’t like Flash either, but guess what: The people that need it can get it on their devices with Android, and not with iOS. There isn’t even a technical reason why it isn’t on iOS, its just the normal cultist crap with Jobs again. That is a huge disservice to the customer and Apple just doesn’t care. There are way better ways to get HTML5 out there than banning competing platforms. As a side note, Adobe committed to iOS -first-, and only after getting dumped by Apple did they really start cranking for Android.

        I develop web applications. Recently I tried to port an audio player from Flash to HTML5’s (not even !), and I had hell as a result. Codec hell, consistency hell, it-works-here-but-not-there hell… with Flash, it worked across the board, and the same way everywhere. Since Microsoft has been hell bent on making the web a fragmented experience (eg: You’re either on IE that does a 180 to your code, or you’re on another browser that does its job correctly) Flash and Java have been the only consistent platforms to develop on for multimedia. It is still necessary and still has a market. Hopefully, as time rolls on, both Windows and Flash will lose their usefulness and multiplatform design will dominate.

  5. Cartoondog1

    06/23/2011 at 3:36 am

    I’ve used a Compaq tablet since 2002. The unit far outlived my expectations while I awaited a worthy replacement. Even though I am not part of the Apple eco-system, With its thinner physique, portability, and connectivity, it was difficult to ignore the sirens call of the iPad. Alas I am an IT guy, and I needed a system more aligned to what I do and the clients I service.

    When the Xoom was pushed out I was disheartened by the two step roll out… and so I waited some more. Things will never be perfect and by the time they were I reckoned, a newer, more powerful imperfect tablet would be ready.

    So I after three months I took the plunge, bought the Xoom and almost never looked back. It has lived up to my expectations, with plenty of room to grow. Sure there is the occasional glitch, lack of a cheat sheet, and of course the ever elusive 4G.

    So what’s my point? Buyer’s of tablets need to have a realistic expectations in mind when buying this type of hardware. Im not sure what these remorseful reciepients were expecting!? I look forward to a better Android OS, and Motorola to get its act together hardwarewise. I give My entire Xoom experience solid a B+.

  6. Erzhan Kz

    06/23/2011 at 3:48 am

    1. Yes, Xoom is a lab rat. Something had to be, right? .
    2. Yes, Motorola didn’t deliver on what they promised (***t happens)
    3. But without lab rats, Honeycomb wouldn’t be where it is now.
    4. Xoom paved the way for all future Honeycomb tablets and even though it took the negative hit, it still remains probably the only Google device (remember I/O presentations?)
    5. I still love my Xoom.
    6. At least Motorola keeps communicating with their customers and even gave out 50% off accessories. I just got $200 worth of accessories for my Xoom for $55. (Can you beat that Apple or Samsung?)
    7. SD will come, so will 4G. (Samsung doesn’t have 4G either). There is no tablet with 4G right now.
    8. Xoom still gets and will always get updates first (Huge + for Moto).

    Was Xoom a failure in some way? Yes, of course.
    Will I return my Xoom? Hell no.

    You can thank Xoom for Apps constantly appearing on Market. Some Xoom optimized apps still don’t work on Galaxy 10.1

    • RL

      06/23/2011 at 6:39 am

      Hey! I Love my Xoom, its the strongest Tablet in my opinion that’s out. The 3.1 upgrade is superb and fast as ever. I also have the Bluetooth Keyboard as well as the extended HDMI cable connected to my Television and its awesome! The Spin doctors have been attacking the xoom since day one but in all honesty out of 10 people who own the Motorola Xoom 8 probably really LOVE IT!!!!!

    • Damian Keith82

      06/23/2011 at 11:21 am

      How did u get that accessory discount?

    • Anonymous

      06/23/2011 at 4:24 pm

      @facebook-100001026412414:disqus : You nailed it.

      OP, you can rail on Moto all you want for the things it hasn’t quite met with the Xoom yet, but anyone who bought the device and wasn’t completely ignorant knew what they were getting into. Knowing what I was getting into, I opted out of a contract and paid the full $800. Am I unhappy? I couldn’t be, its a great device with great capabilities, and will only become stronger along with the Android platform.

      I’m a developer, and thats exactly who Motorola was shooting for with their (and the industry’s) first Android tablet. Sure, they were hoping for end users as well, but tabletland is only going to get more and more competitive as time rolls on. We will see a repeat of Android (all Phones) versus iPhone, Android (all tablets) vs iPad X and you will see the same results as that battle. Android is #1 in the handset market, so you can guess where development time is going to be spent going forward… especially when the cost of entry is cheaper and you (the developer) reap more of the profit. Who traded their Xoom for iDevice X matters just as little as who traded their iDevice for any other tablet, neither is going away tomorrow.

      Best Buy, Staples, etc are advertising like crazy about “Tablets”, not “the iPad”, even when the iPad has overwhelming dominance in the arena. That tells me something, how about you?

    • Michael Delugg

      06/24/2011 at 3:02 am

      Erzhan–
      Where did you find 50% off accessories for Xoom? (Yes, I’m also waiting patiently for 4G and SD on our Xooms.

    • Wade

      06/26/2011 at 6:48 pm

      Well said. I borrow my wife’s I pad now and again and no comparison. Bought four xooms now and looking forward to SD upgrades, 4g and so on but these apple cronies whining are a joke

  7. james

    06/23/2011 at 1:26 pm

    What about the non-us xoom owners! Well over a month since the us got the updates and we are still waiting for 3.1. Quit moaning!

  8. james

    06/23/2011 at 1:26 pm

    What about the non-us xoom owners! Well over a month since the us got the updates and we are still waiting for 3.1. Quit moaning!

  9. Anonymous

    06/23/2011 at 1:43 pm

    Android Fans is your hate for Apple so strong that you will except a Piece of Android Crap, at least wait for a near finished product, you are not hurting Apple or it’s Fanbois by settling for JUNK.

    • Anonymous

      06/23/2011 at 4:27 pm

      I’d hardly call the Xoom junk. Did they rush it out the door? Yes. Is it defunct? No. Its a very stable, usable and useful piece of hardware. Got your iFan paranoid aircraft grade aluminum tin foil hat on yet?

  10. Wayne

    06/23/2011 at 1:54 pm

    I don’t know where your rant about the 3.1 update for the US is coming from.  I received the update well over a month ago, and I am in the US.

    Just what apps are you looking for?  I keep reading all these comments and “reviews” and complaints about the lack of apps, and how there are a bazillion for the iFruit.  No one ever lists which of these apps are all so important.

  11. peter

    06/23/2011 at 3:39 pm

    Stop bitching. Welcome to the technology world.

  12. Justin Malone

    06/26/2011 at 4:20 pm

    The Xoom has issues and if I could return it, I would and replace it with an iPad2. but then again i have an HTC Incredible and am due for an upgrade, If moto does not release the Bionic soon I will also buy an iPhone then I guess the circle will be complete. BTW i am typing this on my Macbook Pro. I dont want to sound like one of those people who believe apples the best thing since apple dippers I have been a strong supporter of Android for a long time but between failed promises and OS fragmentation i want something that works. I am sick of getting products that do almost what they were claimed to do. Now I will open the floor to all of those who respond to negative posts by asking and answering their own questions. 

  13. Justin Malone

    06/26/2011 at 4:20 pm

    The Xoom has issues and if I could return it, I would and replace it with an iPad2. but then again i have an HTC Incredible and am due for an upgrade, If moto does not release the Bionic soon I will also buy an iPhone then I guess the circle will be complete. BTW i am typing this on my Macbook Pro. I dont want to sound like one of those people who believe apples the best thing since apple dippers I have been a strong supporter of Android for a long time but between failed promises and OS fragmentation i want something that works. I am sick of getting products that do almost what they were claimed to do. Now I will open the floor to all of those who respond to negative posts by asking and answering their own questions. 

  14. Corkgirly02

    06/27/2011 at 10:34 pm

    Another Xoom lover sorry. I got mine the day they were released. Wi-Fi only…I use it for everything. I don’t know what you mean, lack of apps. When I first got it…yes, the market did not have a ton to offer. Everyday more is added. And the amazing thing about Android apps….they just keep getting better :-). Not to sound like an Android freak or anything, but if you really want to compare the IPAD to the Xoom…give the Xoom and Honeycomb a few years. Look at all of us in love with this product…has apple ever released anything that was perfect right out the door? There are always glitches. Motorola and Google started working together what two years ago? How long has Apple been products. Your comparisons are not fair.

    • Corkgirly02

      06/27/2011 at 10:36 pm

      *making prodcuts

    • Eviltweety_88

      06/29/2011 at 11:39 am

      No hating here…just an FYI. I’m over on “evil” AT&T for phone service, and have an Attrix 4g . I really looked at iphone4…the lack of flash was the difference. I was also waiting on Verizon for the Bionic, but decided to go with the xoom upgrade for my Verizon account instead (have a business and personal acct on 2 different networks). I sincerely say look at the Attrix4g unless you are tied to Verizon. Also do whatever you’re going to do on Verizon before the 7th of July or you’ll be stuck on the tier plan (although I’ve done fine on AT&T’s tier by using WiFi so much)

  15. Rachel Shitzner

    06/28/2011 at 5:14 pm

    My Xoom was the biggest waste of money. Honeycomb is an abomination to anything that calls itself an OS. Hell, you can’t even print without buying an app or using Google Docs. That makes it what they explain in this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCa9f8cPRbk.
    My Droid has more functionality than this crap. If I ever meet Sanja Jha, I WILL kick him in the junk, damn the consequences. His constant lies and excuses dropped my chances of recouping lost money trying to Ebay this junk.
    I can’t believe he made $16 million dollars this year from being such a snakeoil salesman.

    All of you who boast that you spent money on the Xoom and are happy with it and think that people who think this the complaints raised in this article bullshit; get some respect for yourselves and dust off your knees. The faithful that follow Steve Jobs around are more respectable.

    • Gg

      07/06/2011 at 1:27 pm

      Your a dumbass. Wah Wah

  16. m-j

    06/29/2011 at 12:09 am

    Dispite the issues with the memory card unable to read, I do love my Xoom, I wouldnt return and many of the small issues I have had I’ve either been able to get an app to fix it or find a hack, I am one of those people who does view flash based websites so having an iPad would just be a pointless waste of money.  Of course there are people who are going to love iPad, there always has been, my Xoom does the things I want it to do, is that really sooo bad? and whilst it only can read the onboard memory at this stage and cant be expanded, it was my understanding that I couldnt expand the memory at all on an iPad?

  17. WorryAboutYourself

    07/09/2011 at 11:43 pm

    Apple fanatics are funny. I absolutley love my xoom, and am completely 100% happy with it. It an amazing device you apple fans are just mad that something is out thats just as good if not better than theyre apple products. I wish people in america would worry about themselves and if someone like the xoom better than the ipad soooo what, its not your choice. You people sit around in your bubble and try andcomplain abou stuff because your lives are so miserable. Do you realize all of the horrible things that aregoing on in the world right now. Weve been at war for 9 years . Maybe you people should put your time and effort into something that really matters instead of tryhing to defend your stupid electronic device you bought.

  18. Rubenrmz

    07/12/2011 at 2:51 am

    For you Doom lovers you are just kidding your selfs, I’m not an apple fan although my wife has an ipad but I don’t use it much and yeah it doesnt have flash but who cares from what I here it’s going away anyway. I really wanted to buy a Doom lol but two of my friends purchased one and they hate it and of course returned them so now I,m thinking of buying a blackberry tablet. 

  19. Dlpenney

    07/12/2011 at 4:32 pm

    I love my XOOM for some things. It does things iPad never will.  Has Motorola failed to deliver? So far. The worst is that it can’t display multi-language websites that are beautiful on my iTouch which cost a third what the Xoom did. Android will always be betaware. I should have returned it but I felt like an idiot for buying it.

  20. Ken Cagle

    07/13/2011 at 1:11 pm

    I think the problem is early adopters of the Xoom were promised the free 4g upgrade in 90 days, a kind of reward of sorts for buying early.  I was also told that signing up on a 3g unlimited account would transfer over to the 4g account, I’m still counting on that.  The point is Motorola, Verizon, Google whomever has mislead these customers.  People seem to remember these things and protect themselves from being future victims.  Motorola is trying to make a comeback and not delivering on promises to its customers is not much of a comeback.  If I were Motorola I would get these updates made now and find some additional way to reward the early, mislead Xoom adopters. 

  21. Diespammers

    07/28/2011 at 2:08 am

    haha you totally discredit yourself with the statement towards the end “To be honost, if I owed one…”. I wish you would have started with that and I would have skipped your myopic view.

  22. Trappedatsea

    07/29/2011 at 4:58 pm

    I completely agree. If it were possible for me to get my money back I would be outta here!!!

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