Motorola Xoom ICS Update: Verizon Model Getting Android 4.0 On June 4 - mobilenapps.com

Motorola Xoom(Photo: Motorola | Mobile & Apps)

Motorola Xoom tablet is all set to become the first tablet from Verizon to received Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. The official Android 4.0 ICS update will start rolling out from June 4.

The report comes directly from Verizon. The carrier tweeted (@VZWnews) on Friday that the ICS update for the 4G LTE variant of Motorola Xoom sold by Verizon will be available from June 4.

"A tasty treat for Motorola Xoom users, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade starting Monday, June 4," posted Verizon on its Twitter blog.

The update will include performance improvements to e-mail, messaging and data, along with bringing upgraded functionality like finger-swipe notification clearance and speech-to-text conversion technology. Verizon confirmed that users will be able to customize launch bar and created folder on homescreen to gain a quick access to frequently used apps.

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Android 4.0 ICS for the Xoom tablet will come with built-in photo editor app allowing users to enhance the captured photos. Technically, users will be allowed to add image effects, remove red eye defects, crop or rotate photos and few more options. Stability issues will also be addressed in the Ice Cream Sandwich update. Reportedly, the update is nearly 107MB in size.

Wi-Fi only variant of Motorola Xoom received the Ice Cream Sandwich long ago. The 4G LTE model was also meant to receive the update at that time. However, due to extended connectivity and software issues, the update got delayed for nearly two months. The tablet will be update with Android v4.0.4 MM76K build. As it took additional two months longer than Wi-Fi model for the official ICS update to reach Verizon Motorola Xoom tablet, it is expected that all the bugs will be thrown out.

Verizon also confirmed ICS upgrade for other devices too, which will be delivered in upcoming few months to various android devices including Motorola DROID Bionic, Motorola DROID Razr, HTC Thunderbolt, HTC Rhyme, HTC Rezound), LG Spectrum, LG Lucid and Samsung Galaxy tablets.

Google gets China OK for Motorola deal - Yahoo Finance

NEW YORK (AP) -- Authorities in China have approved Google Inc.'s bid to buy phone maker Motorola Mobility, clearing the way for the $12.5 billion deal to close early next week.

But Chinese regulators attached a big condition: That Google's Android operating system for mobile devices remain available to all at no cost for the next five years.

The approval brings the Internet search giant closer to sealing its biggest acquisition ever. Buying Motorola allows Google to expand into manufacturing phones, tablet computers and other consumer devices for the first time. The deal also gives Google access to more than 17,000 Motorola patents.

The Chinese government approved the deal on Saturday, Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick said. "We look forward to closing the deal," she said.

The deal was announced last August and had received all necessary regulatory approvals except in China, where Google's government relations have been strained since it moved its search engine out of the country two years ago in a dispute over censorship and computer security.

Google's Android software powers more than 250 million mobile devices made by a variety of manufacturers, including Motorola Mobility. The latest versions must be made available free of charge for the next five years, apparently in response to concerns that competition could be hurt if Google gives updated versions to Motorola Mobility and withholds them from others. Google doesn't currently charge for Android.

Google earlier had pledged to make Android available to all its mobile partners. Even if Google were to discriminate, cellphone makers still could rely on mobile software from Microsoft Corp., Research in Motion and Hewlett-Packard Co., among others.

Google prizes Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s patents as a crucial weapon in the intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and other rivals maneuvering to gain more control over smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

Earlier, the U.S. Justice Department found no evidence that Google's ownership of Motorola Mobility would lessen competition in a mobile device market that is becoming increasingly important as more people connect to the Internet on smartphones and tablet computers instead of desktop and laptop computers.

The union with Motorola Mobility will open new opportunities and pose potentially troublesome challenges for a management team that so far has concentrated on Internet search, ad sales and other software-driven online services.

Motorola Mobility's expertise in mobile devices and set-top boxes for cable TV will allow Google to play an even more influential role in shaping the future of hand-held computing and home entertainment.

The $12.5 billion price paid by Google is more than the combined amount that Google has paid for the 185 other acquisitions that it has completed since going public in 2004.

Google is based in Mountain View, California, while Motorola Mobility has its headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois.

Motorola Xoom Getting Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich From Verizon - MobileTechReview

Verizon announced that starting June 4, the Motorola XOOM will be the first Verizon Wireless tablet to begin upgrading to the latest Android OS. Here is more info:

The upgraded functionality includes speech-to-text technology and the ability to dismiss individual notifications by swiping a finger over an item. Users can also customize the new launch bar as well as create folders to access frequently used apps from the homepage.

In addition to app management and functionality improvements, the upgrade comes with a built-in photo editor allowing customers to crop and rotate photos, remove red eyes, add effects and correct levels of images.

Here is a list of devices that will get the ICS upgrade on Verizon Wireless:

HTC:

HTC ThunderBolt
DROID Incredible 2 by HTC
HTC Rhyme
HTC Rezound

Motorola:

Motorola XOOM
DROID BIONIC
DROID RAZR
DROID RAZR MAXX
DROID 4
DROID XYBOARD 8.2
DROID XYBOARD 10.1

Samsung:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

LG:

Spectrum by LG
Lucid by LG

For more info visit www.verizonwireless.com

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