Google Buys Motorola for $12.5 Billion

Google announced Monday morning that it will buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. This coming as a shocker as Google becomes the owner of one of the 39 different manufacturers of its Android platform. A statement from Google says that "it will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem." Many don't know what to expect, but this will put a few extra patents under Google's wings, making it a stronger competitor in future patent wars. Many expect that new Android phone will be funneled through Motorola, with Vanilla software instead of MotoBlur, which many hated. Android will not be affected by this and remain open sourced, and Motorola will continue to run as a separate business, just with a parent overseeing everything this time.

Jaibreaking, Rooting, and what it means to you

When most people buy a smartphone these days, no longer are they wondering what features come with their phone, but what features their phone, although also applied t tablets, can do. This article is designed to inform you about the key to unlocking your phones potential, and the potential dangers associated with freeing your device.

How did this device movement start? A process that would forever alter the way superdevices are perceived and how these tools of the elite hackers made its way into every wannabee hackers HDD. What started out as a complex process that involved tons of code has evolved with the device, at that time, the iPhone, a device worthy of such a challenge. With some knowledge and luck, everyday people were able to free their phone, and start the illegal uproar that plagues controls devices today. Who knew that this would dictate how devices would develop in the future today. It is 100% plausible to say that jailbreaking the iPhone was one of the iPhone's greatest advantages of its time, for it appealed to the customer to do things that would make themselves proud to own such a device. Free apps would scratch the surface, for people wanted something more, personalization, a motto Google had for its upcoming mega mobile OS. More on that later. Customized icons, wallpapers, although allowed by Apple with iOS4, and others, which attracted many.

Now shifting to Android, the root of all, well roots. This mobile OS was welcoming hacker communities the way a light attracted a mosquito. Open source was Google's policy, which would not stick well with the plethora of manufacturers lined up. But back to the root. Sometimes more complicated, this allowed hackers to do what they dreamed, complete personalization. Besides the point of doing things like free tethering, something Google would put into its OS in the Froyo update,  users could literally customize their devices based on the actual OS, and soon, ports would come along, shooting once ancient phones into the 21.01st century. Using rooting tools like SuperOneClick, you would get control of your phone, back it up using TitaniumBackup, and install a new ROM via ClockWorkRecovery, apps every rooted owner has. This almost always led to a massive improvement in performance, putting the process of rooting one Android device as common as a practice of going to bed or waking up.

Fast foward to today, and you now realize how hacking your device is now a common practice, a custom, in todays world. Even Windows Phone 7 devices are starting to get bigger with unlocking your phone, just on a much smaller scale compared to Apple and Google. What does this mean for the future? Will companies stop giving in and embrace its darkside, or will the battle continue as both sides continue benefiting each other.

Entire Android Lineup of 2011 is Getting Gingerbread

When the HTC Status was released for its small time, it was the only Android device with Gingerbread on AT&T, but that is coming to an end. The carrier has confirmed that Android 2.3 will be released to the entire 2011 Android lineup, starting with the OTA of the Atrix 4G today and HTC Inspire 4G in the coming weeks. Samsung Captivate users will rejoice because they will be able to enjoy this massive upgrade as well. There are no details on the timing for everyone, but if you are using a 2011 model, relax, your time will come.

Atrix Gets Gingerbread Update (OTA Starts Today)

There's a new phone that's getting some cookie love today, with the Atrix 4G getting it's release through a manual install via the Motorola website. This wonderphone is bringing all the flavors that makes Gingerbread, well, Gingerbread, with the ability to sideload apps, finally. The update itself is 161MB, with the source link at the bottom, but what are you waiting for? Post comments about how Gingerbread tastes on the Atrix.

UPDATE: AT&T has confirmed that the Atrix 4G will be receive the update OTA also, however, you can still do it manually if you cant't wait for your Gingerbread cookie.

Via TIMN
Source Motorola