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Review: Verizon’s new Moto Droid Turbo 2 and Maxx 2 can’t break..free from the past

Alphabet/then Google CEO Larry Page spilled the beans on Motorola’s big product announcement way back in 2013 on an earnings call justifying the purchase of Motorola:

“Think about your device. Battery life is a challenge for most people. You shouldn’t need to carry around a charger to make it through the day. If your kid spills their drink on your tablet, the screen shouldn’t die. And when you drop your phone, it shouldn’t shatter.

“Having just seen Motorola’s upcoming products myself, I’m real excited about the potential there. In just under a year, they have accomplished a lot, and have impressive velocity and execution.”

Unfortunately, Google capitulated to Samsung and sold off the Motorola division to Lenovo early last year.  That doesn’t mean that the things Motorola was working on stopped.

In fact, there’s a very real possibility that Page was referring to a shatterproof Google-branded Moto Nexus 6, but the shatterproof technology wasn’t ready for launch…just like the fingerprint reader that also wasn’t.

Fast forward to this week and Motorola along with its Droid carrier partner Verizon debuted two new Droids, the Droid Turbo 2 and Maxx 2. I’ve been using both phones since the event and have a pretty good viewpoint on their role in the Android ecosystem.


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DROID Turbo 2 launches internationally as Moto X Force

In what is certainly the shortest press release I’ve ever seen, Motorola’s official UK handle announced what I’ve been hoping to hear ever since Verizon and Motorola announced the DROID Turbo 2 earlier this week. The device is making its way across the pond, albeit without the Verizon livery, bloatware and brand name. Internationally, the DROID Turbo 2 will be sold as the Moto X Force, and it features all the specifications that make the DROID Turbo 2 so appealing


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Verizon also offering its employees a bright red DROID Turbo 2

Right before Verizon and Motorola took the stage earlier today to show off its new Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx 2 smartphones, a red version of the former showed up on the red carrier’s website. And while we now have a clear look at everything the phone offers, it’s interesting to note nonetheless that Verizon seemingly intends to carry on with the “Employee Edition” tradition…

As is the case with the regular Droid Turbo 2, the device’s listing that popped up earlier today showed that it has a lightweight design with a Snapdragon 810 system-on-a-chip from Qualcomm, a 5.4-inch QHD display, and a couple of great 21-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras (although those are pretty standard for 2015). This particular phone seems to only be available in 64 GB.

While Verizon has already pulled the page detailing the phone, we can assume that it’s not going to be available to consumers — at least for now — anyway. It is the “Employee Edition,” after all. Be sure to read up on the regular Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx 2, and if you’re really pining for some red on your Droid, you’ll be happy to learn that you can now use Moto Maker on the Turbo 2.

Specifications compared: Moto DROID Turbo 2 vs. DROID Maxx 2

At a small and relatively short event in New York City this morning, Verizon and Motorola unveiled the latest smartphones to bear the iconic DROID brand-name. The DROID Turbo 2 and Maxx 2 both take influence from the latest series of Moto X devices, and continue the legacy of their predecessors. The Turbo 2 is the company’s shatterproof flagship, while the Maxx 2 is more moderately priced and is essentially a Verizon-branded Moto X Play.


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New DROIDs from Verizon and Motorola coming your way at 11 AM ET [Livestream]

In case you didn’t know, Verizon and Motorola are prepping to launch a couple of new Droid phones today, and they say that our “expectations will be shattered.” And while we are on the ground ourselves in New York City to find out if that turns out to be true (I’m betting against it, personally), I’m happy to report that Verizon has indeed provided a livestream if you want to tune into the action yourself.
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Samsung Pay finally available to Verizon users with a Galaxy S6/edge/edge+ or Note 5

With Verizon’s logo notably absent from the list of Samsung Pay U.S. launch partners, it had been unclear if or when the company might allow its customers to use the service. That uncertainty has now ended, with the app available to Verizon customers in the Google Play store. Customers on other carriers have been able to download the app since August.

You’ll need to have a compatible device, which currently means either a Galaxy S6/edge/edge+ or a Note 5. It is so far supported by cards from American Express, Bank of America, Citi and US Bank … 
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Verizon teases the DROID Turbo 2, will likely laud its drop-proof nature

Even before Motorola officially announced the Moto X Play and Moto X Style/Pure, the rumors surrounding the Lenovo-owned company’s new devices also included new DROIDs for Verizon. Since the launch, the evidence has been pointing towards a rebranding of the X Play as the new DROID Turbo, which perhaps explains the decision not to launch the X Play in the US.

While we’ve already seen a fairly official looking render leak, it doesn’t come more official than Verizon tweeting a teaser from its official handle. Today, the company posted a video clearly showing the design of the phone, as well as insinuating that it’ll be okay to drop on the floor, it can handle it. The tweet reads “introducing the perfect phone for imperfect people” before following up with “The new Droid is dropping soon”. Get the hint?

[tweet https://twitter.com/verizon/status/656505056116781056 align=’center’]

While the company is clearly focussing on the durability of the phone, it’ll be interesting to see how specs and performance are compromised, or if they’re not. While we don’t know a huge deal about the new DROID(s), it’s not likely to be a carbon copy of the X Play. The Moto X Play’s biggest turn-on is the huge 3,630mAh battery which can power through two days of moderate use on a full charge. In the past, the DROID Turbo and DROID Maxx series’ phones have had great batteries too, so we’re not expecting that to be any different this time around.

Verizon and Motorola will announce the new DROID phones at an event on October 27th, and we’ll be there in person to bring you coverage.

Verizon and Motorola are announcing the latest DROIDs on October 27th

Verizon and Motorola have begun sending out press invites this afternoon for an event to be held on October 27th in New York City. “Everything you expect from a phone will change,” the invite boldly claims. And clearly, the companies are planning to introduce more than one smartphone, as the invite asks members of the press to join as they unveil the newest “DROIDs”…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (unlocked) $570, Galaxy S6 Edge for Verizon $50, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 32 GB LTE GSM (unlocked): $570 shipped (Reg. $1,000) | eBay

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 32 GB on Verizon (w/ two year contract): $50 shipped | Best Buy

HTC One M9 32 GB flash on Sprint (w/ two year contract): $1 shipped | Best Buy

Daily Deals: Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard $40, Lifeproof FRĒ Power Waterproof Battery Case for iPhone 6 $100, more

More new gear from today:

Amazon Gold Box – Crucial & Lexar storage up to 65% off: Solid-State Drives 1TB $270, 500GB $140, 250GB $64, more

More deals still alive:

 

USB-C roundup: Aukey 3-Port USB Hub w/ Gigabit Ethernet $17, Aukey USB Adapter $7, more

New products & more:

The new Light digital camera uses 16 lenses (!!!) to craft the perfect picture

This clothes-folding washing machine brings first-world laziness to defcon zero

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto E w/ 1-yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text $50, HTC One M8 (unlocked) $165, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Moto E & 1-Yr FreedomPop unlimited talk-and-text: $50 shipped (Reg. $70 + plan) | FreedomPop

HTC One (M8) w/ 32 GB flash storage, 4G LTE, GSM (unlocked): $165 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

Amazon Student Days: free $5 credit w/ Gift Card purchase, SanDisk 64GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive $45, Microsoft Universal Bluetooth Keyboard $45, more

Refurb LG G3 32 GB for Verizon 32 GB: $160 shipped (Reg. $300+) | eBay

Motorola Nexus 6 Unlocked 32GB: $300 shipped (Orig. $650)

Sony announces official PlayStation 4 price drop, bundles now start at just $349

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

More new gear from today:

Handmade at Amazon launches with an eye on knocking off Etsy

  • Daily Deals: Belkin NetCam HD Camera (Refurb) $60, Epson Pro Wireless Projector $450, more
  • Prime Members: Free 4-month subscription for 3 print magazines – GQ, Wired, Health, Reader’s Digest, more
  • Games/Apps: Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster $30, Power A Moga Android controller $32, iOS freebies, more
  • The absolute best (All-Clad Master Chef) 7-Piece Stainless Cookware Set: $300 shipped
  • Retro Toys 40% off: Pictionary $13, Lincoln Logs set $18, Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots $12, more
  • Canon Refurbished DSLR Sale: T5 w/ 18-55mm/50mm Lens Kit $241 shipped (Orig. $540), much more

More deals still alive:

Headphones: Bose SoundTrue Over-Ear $100 (Reg. $120), Bluetooth Earbuds from $20, more

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Sweat Proof Headphones $90 shipped (Reg. $130), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651126504156368896 align=’center’]

New products & more:

Dyson includes air purification in its newest hot + cool bladeless fan

Ever wonder what a $130K VIZIO Ultra HDTV looks like? Now we know.

Price hike coming for few remaining Verizon customers on unlimited data plans

Verizon customers still clinging on to their grandfathered unlimited data plans will shortly face a $20 price hike. The wireless carrier confirmed to CNET that it plans to raise the price of its old unlimited plan, meaning grandfathered customers will face a monthly data plan charge of $49. The price increase will take place once each individual contract expires…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto E 2015 for Verizon $40, Wireless Laser printer $25, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Verizon Wireless Prepaid Moto E 4G w/ 8 GB flash: $40 shipped (Reg. $70) | Fry’s

Daily Deals: Pantum Wireless Mono Laser Printer $25, EnerPlex Solar Case for iPhone 5/5s $15more

USB Power Deals: KMASHI 15,000mAh USB $14 (Reg. $20), Aukey 2A Wall Charger $8 (Reg. $16), more

PS4 Destiny Taken King Limited Edition Bundle $350, Xbox One Gears of War bundle + 40″ HDTV $470 w/ .EDU, more

Roku’s new streaming media player supports 4K and finds your remote control for you

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

More new gear from today:

Beyerdynamic A200p Portable DAC Headphone Amp for iPhone/Android $160 shipped (Reg. $200)

More deals still alive:

Philips hue Lux LED Starter Kit $60 shipped (Orig. $80), 750-Lumen 9W LED Light Bulb $15 (Orig. $35)

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Sweat Proof Headphones $90 shipped (Reg. $130), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651126504156368896 align=’center’]

New products & more:

Mattel’s retro-rebooted $30 VR View-Master is now available for iOS and Android

Review: Rock Band 4 makes an old favorite come alive with refreshed gameplay, new songs & updated hardware

 

Verizon & Sony officially cancel the Xperia Z4v

Verizon took the veil off of the Sony Xperia Z4v just about 4 months ago, saying that it would be coming in the summer. That quite obviously didn’t happen even after Sony’s website proudly proclaimed that the phone would be coming on August 13th, leading most to believe that it has just been straight-up cancelled. As of today, Verizon has confirmed that to be the case: The Xperia Z4v will never see the light of day…
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Google accidentally mentions Droid Maxx 2 in Chromecast support document

Update: It’s gone.

It’s not really a matter that’s up in the air, but now the confirmation is coming straight from Google. At the time of this writing, the “Optimized devices for Android Screen casting” Chromecast support page lists the “Droid Maxx 2,” a phone that hasn’t yet been announced in any official capacity…
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Nextbit announces a Verizon-compatible version of the Robin

While we haven’t yet gotten our hands on the Nextbit Robin, it’s definitely a bit different than most of the other smartphone offerings we’ve seen this year. On top of its cloud-first features, the phone has also been popular for its design and price. Now, Nextbit has announced that the phone is supporting another carrier: Verizon.
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Verizon’s 5G tests show it to be faster than Google Fiber, could launch as early as 2017

5G could even make Google Fiber look slow …

Early tests of Verizon’s 5G technology show that it can achieve connection speeds 30-50 times faster than 4G/LTE – above the speeds offered by Google Fiber’s gigabit wired broadband. Even better, the company expects to have “some level of commercial deployment” by 2017, some three years earlier than expected, reports CNET.

To put that speed difference into perspective, the movie Guardians of the Galaxy would take around six minutes to download over a good LTE connection – while 5G would have it downloaded to your device in just 15 seconds … 
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Android Pay set to launch on September 16th according to leaked Verizon memo

According to a leaked internal Verizon Wireless memo obtained by Derek Ross of Phandroid, Google is preparing to launch its Android Pay mobile payments service on September 16th. This leak comes a couple weeks after another memo from McDonalds leaked, suggesting that the service would launch on August 26th. Clearly that launch date has been missed, but now it looks like we might have more reliable information…
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: 128GB Galaxy S6 Edge for Verizon $350, Bose SoundTrue headphones $80, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals

Galaxy S6 edge w/ 128GB storage Verizon Wireless (w/ 2-year contract): $350 shipped (Reg. $500) | Best Buy

Bose SoundTrue on-ears in black $80 (Reg. $120), Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth 4.0 $60 (Reg. $100), much more

Power Banks: Anker PowerCore 15600mAh w/ dual USB ports $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $33)KMASHI 10000mAh $9, more

Chromecast (Manufacturer Refurbished): $24 shipped (Reg. $35) | Groupon

Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB: $500 shipped w/ code DEAL80OFF (Reg. $800) | T-Mobile

Brand new LG G4 32GB 4G LTE smartphone (unlocked): $420 shipped (Reg. $550+)

HTC is offering a free $100 Google Play gift card with the purchase of an HTC One M9

VIZIO 49-inch 120Hz 4K LED Smart HDTV $600 (Reg. $720), 43-inch $548 or $528 w/ Prime (Reg. $599)

Back to school gift guide: essential tech gear every student should be using

Giveaway: Jaybird’s new X2 Bluetooth earbuds are the ultimate workout counterpart ($180 value)

More new gear from today:

Storage: WD 3TB portable HDD (multiple colors) $130 (Reg. $150), Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD $150 (Reg. $170+)

More deals still alive:

PS4 Batman or Last of Us Bundle w/ 3 mo. PS Plus, Madden 16 & another game $399 ($500+ value)

Get a free download of the AirPano Travel Book iOS app courtesy of Apple ($3 value)

New products & more:

Samsung introduces new multi-room speakers alongside an improved Android and iOS app

Sensel’s Morph is an ultra sensitive Force Touch Trackpad look-alike

Verizon launches program to activate non-Verizon iPhones and Nexus 6s to its network

Verizon has recently started allowing customers to bring non-Verizon devices its network and will activate them. The program officially began this week and Verizon confirmed to 9to5Mac that it applies to the Nexus 6, as well as Apple’s iPhone. Verizon notes, however, that the devices must be unlocked prior to being activated on its network.


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New photos of DROID Maxx 2 leak, showing striking similarity to Moto X Play

New images are circulating around the web this morning of what is purportedly Verizon‘s yet unannounced DROID Maxx 2 smartphone, believed to essentially be Motorola‘s new flagship Moto X Play rebranded for the “Big Red” carrier. Motorola has been the manufacturer behind most of Verizon’s DROID line of smartphones.


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Droid Maxx 2 back cover appears in leaked images, possible US variant of Moto X Play

Motorola’s recently announced Moto X Play isn’t coming to the United States — not with that name, at least. It’s widely believed to be coming to the states exclusively on Verizon as the Droid Maxx 2, and the widely-sourced Hellomotohk has released new images of what is purportedly the back cover of the phone.

The most notable thing about these images is how the Verizon and DROID branding blends in with the rest of the cover — Verizon tends to plaster the back of its DROID phones with prominent logos. It depends on how the covers are manufactured and at what stage these were taken off the line to be pictured, but hopefully this is what the back will look like at its consumer release.

The reason it’s believed that the Moto X Play will come to the US as a re-branded Verizon phone is due to simple pattern-matching: Motorola builds all of Verizon’s DROID line of smartphones, and save for modifications to outward appearance and features, they tend to follow Motorola’s phones closely in terms of their baseline platform. Last year’s Droid Turbo, for example, was a tuned up Moto X. And in particular the Moto X Play compromises in places where Motorola’s other recently announced phone, the X Style, doesn’t, in favor of a larger battery. The Droid Maxx is traditionally Verizon’s line targeted at those who want large batteries.

Based on the sight of two different back plate covers, it seems possible that Moto Maker or something similar will be available for this phone, but we wouldn’t get our hopes up. Nothing pictured has been confirmed by Motorola or Verizon, and could be fake.

Verizon’s HTC One M9 is receiving Android 5.1 tomorrow

Good news for owners of the HTC One M9 on Verizon: Tomorrow the Taiwanese company is pushing Android Lollipop 5.1 to the flagship device. The news comes straight from Mo Versi, HTC’s VP of Product Management:

[tweet https://twitter.com/moversi/status/634105557234769920 align=’center’]

The update includes all the standard bug fixes and operating systems improvements that are baked into 5.1 — like improved Quick Settings and the new Device Protection tool — as well as a patch for the nasty Stagefright exploit. The 3 and 7 bands have also been activated, useful for when you find yourself roaming internationally.

Keep in mind that just because it begins rolling out over-the-air tomorrow, that doesn’t mean you’ll receive it right away. It could take a few days, and just to be sure the update hasn’t reached your device yet you can check for it manually by visiting Settings > About phone > System updates.

Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S4 receives Stagefright patch, other fixes

Stagefright isn’t totally a solved issue just yet, but device manufacturers and carriers have continued work on rolling out a patch that mitigates the OS vulnerability until another one of Google’s monthly security updates. Today we get an update for Verizon’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 which includes that patch and then some.

The update, rolling out over-the-air (OTA) and first spotted by Android Police, includes nothing new at all but quite a few fixes for software bugs to go along with addressing the Stagefright vulnerability. Device carriers and manufacturers that make them have felt almost unanimously responsible for rolling out fixes for the issue due to its sheer potential for damage and ease of exploitation, to name just two reasons.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S4 on Verizon, expect to receive a notification when the update hits your device, sometime within the next few days. You can also check for it manually by visiting Settings > About phone > System updates.


Carrier Availability: Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ in the US

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ have just been announced and carriers aren’t holding back in letting us know when and where we can get hold of these new devices. The US is going to be one of the first countries to get the latest flagship phablets. Here’s where you can get them and when…


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