Yet another "goodbye Bionic" thread... - Motorola Droid Bionic

...I work in a cell phone repair shop, and a woman who had recently left Verizon came in with a DROID RAZR that she wanted to try to get SIM unlocked for pre-paid GSM. Unfortunately she had accepted the official ICS update, which kills the GSM hack (that also works on the Bionic and DROID 4). So, I traded her my Bionic (which was on the .2233 leak), after FXZ'ing to .905, GSM-hacking, and editing the build.prop to stay on WCDMA and allow APN editing (which I set up for H20 Wireless). Anyway, it was fun while it lasted. I actually sold my Thunderbolt for $150 after buying a Bionic with a bad LCD for $70 (new LCD was $55), so I've been trading-up quite nicely the past few months (might see if I can trade someone the RAZR for a G'Nex soon). Thanks to all of the developers (and cheesecake prowlers!) for everything they've done. I've learned a lot from this forum, but now it's time to head over to the RAZR forum (which needs to be split up between XT910 and XT912, btw). I know I wasn't exactly a big time player here, but just wanted to make this thread and say thanks to the people that post here.

Related

Any word if T-Mobile US will be getting the Droid/Milestone?

I've been a WM fan for years but recently a friend got the Droid on Verizon's network and I got to play with it and really liked it.
I know I can get an Euro Milestone but don't want to give up 3G speeds here in the US.
Are there any talks of getting this phone or the new updated one on TMO?
forget it man in US if you want to buy a motorola droid the only way is verizon
Yeah, it's basically Verizon's version of the iPhone (since when they released it/a short while before they released it it they made all the comments on how the Droid could do so and so and the iPhone couldn't do so and so (which of course since it's the iPhone, there's quite a few things it won't do that the droid will xD) so it's Verizon's major competition with the iPhone), chances are they won't give it up. T-Mobile gets the Nexus one though, which is a fantastic phone (with the exception of the lack of a keyboard, but you'll get used to a touch screen keyboard after a while).

4G LTE

Sprint's changing their pricing in April, so I'm jumping bandwagon to Verizon. Hopefully I wont have to wait long after I cancel with them to get a Bionic.
Anyways, something that's been haunting my curiosity is, will the 4G LTE be a switch on the phone, or will it automatically switch to 4G when it's available?
Thanks in advance,
Overstew
P.S. If you have a source, that'd be nice, too.
It's gonna kick onto 4g where ever you get the coverage. No button pushing or switches.
And you'll probably pay extra for 4G even if you can't get it in your area. Nothing like the crappy cell carriers forcing you to pay for something you can't even use.
Sent from my ERIS using Tapatalk
i would love to come over to verizon if sprint buys out tmo and tmo waives the ETF
i dont understand why the thunderbolt is getting so much more notice than the bionic... they're both set to release within a couple months of each other, but tbolt has piss poor specs, 1300mahz battery? really?
what's so bad about motorola that folks rather get a phone that's outdated spec wise?
royalsego said:
i would love to come over to verizon if sprint buys out tmo and tmo waives the ETF
i dont understand why the thunderbolt is getting so much more notice than the bionic... they're both set to release within a couple months of each other, but tbolt has piss poor specs, 1300mahz battery? really?
what's so bad about motorola that folks rather get a phone that's outdated spec wise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC is know for their generally hackable devices...Motorola has been heading in the opposite direction, and it is very possible that even though the Xoom was unlocked they may decide to lock the Bionic.
I am seriously considering a Xoom...but I am waiting and if someone can root and flash the Bionic then I will possibily get one, but unless this tech material fiasco taking place gets worse I expect something better to be releasing about the same time as the Bionic.
Something yet unannounced maybe who knows, but it would have to outspec the Bionic... > and the way this game is played, there is always something just a little better just around the corner.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
Does anyone here have or know someone who has the Thunderbolt? If so, what does the contract say about Verizon being able to to adjust your monthly rate? Or is it locked in?
Thanks
I traded in my Atrix for the thunderbolt.
I am on a family plan and the cost of the plan is the same as it was for my Dinc.
Unlimited data (soft capped still) and no special fees for 4g.
My other line has an upgrade in april i am saving for the Bionic. It will be locked down like the atrix - but the atrix is by far still the best phone i have ever used - just at&t network is atrocioius!
yes... well it took a little extra effort to unlock the tbolt... just as with the droidX I would guess the bionic will also get unlocked and rooted.. as for the OP I have not seen anything on the 4g modem for the bionic but I owned the tbolt and it does all the switching for you... infact that may have been the problem with the battery life...
I think there is at least two apps that allow you to manually turn on/off the lte modem though.
azwildfire said:
I traded in my Atrix for the thunderbolt.
I am on a family plan and the cost of the plan is the same as it was for my Dinc.
Unlimited data (soft capped still) and no special fees for 4g.
My other line has an upgrade in april i am saving for the Bionic. It will be locked down like the atrix - but the atrix is by far still the best phone i have ever used - just at&t network is atrocioius!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...but i heard that the "no special fees 4G" is for a limited time...is this true?
royalsego said:
i would love to come over to verizon if sprint buys out tmo and tmo waives the ETF
i dont understand why the thunderbolt is getting so much more notice than the bionic... they're both set to release within a couple months of each other, but tbolt has piss poor specs, 1300mahz battery? really?
what's so bad about motorola that folks rather get a phone that's outdated spec wise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm sure this has been answered already in this thread but whats so bad about moto is the locked bootloaders. While that may be a non issue for the masses its a huge issue on XDA. let's not forget the masses take their queue from us!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

Might Get a Galaxy Nexus

I have had a Droid 3 for a while now, but the lack of developer community on it has saddened me. Although I say that, I would like to really thank Hashcode and dhacker for putting so much effort into a phone that was not very friendly to developers to being with, it is not the developers fault it is more so Motorola's fault.
Anyway, the real question, so since you can get a Galaxy Nexus for about $170-$230 on Craigslist or Swappa I was thinking about just buying one, since it still has a good developer community and it could probably last me until my contract is up and it is not that expensive. I did have a question though, since the Droid 3 was 3G and Galaxy Nexus is 4G, do I have to do anything special to activate the 4G SIM in the device, or when I do my normal activation the SIM will be activated too? I guess one thing that I have to do is make sure the 4G SIM is in the device and that they did not stiff me. Also, when I do move from 3G to 4G that does not change my data plan at all, correct?
Or I could be totally wrong and the 4G is not actually a SIM, I am not really sure.
Thank you to anyone who can help me with my questions or if you have any advice at all. Also, thank you again to all the developers of the Droid 3 community you have done so much with a phone that was not very friendly to developers.
When I moved from a OG Droid to a Stratosphere (a 4G LTE slider that I ditched out of despiration for the D3) I put in the sim and called customer care to activate. LTE service uses a SIM card so yeah you'll need one...depending on the seller they may have kept their 4G SIM as one can store contacts on it. A Verizon store should be able to give you a SIM, likely for a small fee (like 10 bucks).
Will it change your plan? Nope, cause you're buying the phone without a attached contract. You should retain your unlimited data if you are grandfathered in.
Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2
Yes if you go from a 3g only phone to a 4g phone nothing changes on your plan. My wife went from a droid3 to a Droid 4 and kept her unlimited data plan. As it was explained to me by Verizon they bundle the 3g and 4g in to one. They dont charge a seperate fee for 4g. Data is data to them. So anyone who has 3g has 4g automatically if they ever get a 4g phone. It just doesn't show up on your account until you activate a 4g phone.
If you buy your phone outright your contract doesn't change. It only changes if you use your upgrade. I had a third account on my family plan that had a dumbphone on it. I used that upgrade to get my wife her droid4 then switched the phone to her line and put the dumbohone back on the other line and canceled the data package. To get a new similar card go to a Verizon corporate store and tell them you need a new similar card for your phone. They wont charge for the sim cards. They gave my wife no fuss of activating the sim on the new phone.
If you like rooting and being a flashaholic then a Google phone is for you. I have heard mixed results with the gnex having poor signal reception but its still going strong like all Google phones.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Coming from a D3 to a GN was a big change. 1. The GN has abysmal battery life. I get just over 1hr of screen on time with the 1850mah battery that came with the phone (could just be aging) 2. Leaving the keyboard was tough, Moto did a damn fine job on that.
With that said, the dev community for the GN is infinitely larger due to having absolutely no restricitons on this phone. You can't perma-brick it. All the files are there for recovery. OC'ing and frying it is just about the only way I can see that it could be killed. I can run my stable around 1700MHz, although this further kills the battery. I love the phone because of how open it is, but either the S4 or VZW One variant will most likely be my next phone, but who knows what the Moto X Phone will be like. Back to my keyboard point, Moto's hardware is almost always the best (GN is just another plasti-Samsung phone).

pageplus 3g for bionic?

hello bionic community. im coming from a sprint gnex i personally flashed to pp. a bionic is being delivered this week i grabbed on ebay for 30. i chose the bionic particularly due to the hdmi and verizon support. as pp customers are aware, pp no longer accepts flashed phones. that being said, i will not be porting my grandfathered gnex's number to assure my semi-functioning device. alas, my situation is attempting kk miui v5/v6 rom porting with full functionability which has proved impossible with my toroplus (mms fails.) my toroplus also is stuck with 1x because im not donoring, so it will become a backup device once i start deving for the bionic. i noticed @uconnpat from the gnex threads. also a pp customer. can someone verify the method -->
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2418512
this seems to good to be true, as ive flashed a few devices before to completely different carriers. as this method is only enabling 3g, i assume it could possibly prove functional. i believe some build.prop editing may be nec also. any suggestions?

[Q] Why is there no real development for the Verizon Turbo?

I am coming from my last few phones being Samsung models , the Galaxy Nexus, Note 2 and 3, and the S4. The last Motorola phone I had was a Droid Razr. I left Moto because the hardware specks started to decline, no sd-slot, no removable battery, less desirable construction. I came back due to Samsung's questionable antenna and radio package. I never really had good strong signal with Samsung though. So, Motorola finally comes out with a beast of a phone in the specs catagory, although still no sd or battery pull but my signal is amazing, reception just about everywhere. So I'm confused why is there no development for the US Verizon Turbo? To me it seems like a no brainer.
That one is easy to answer... Until a vulnerability is found and exploited and root is achieved there is no platform to develop on. That doesn't mean that there isn't anyone working on it, just that not much is going to happen until root is achieved.
Then how do we get some of the heavy hitting android minds on this thing? It really is the best specimen out there currently.
PerCompLLC said:
That one is easy to answer... Until a vulnerability is found and exploited and root is achieved there is no platform to develop on. That doesn't mean that there isn't anyone working on it, just that not much is going to happen until root is achieved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, maybe I'm being a newbie here, but I never understood the software difference between Droid Turbo and Moto Maxx that makes the last rootable and the first not. Is it just the bootloader?
You can unlock the Moto Maxx bootloader. You cannot unlock the Turbo's. Plain and simple.
DarkLey said:
I'm sorry, maybe I'm being a newbie here, but I never understood the software difference between Droid Turbo and Moto Maxx that makes the last rootable and the first not. Is it just the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two words. Unlockable bootloader.
DarkLey said:
I'm sorry, maybe I'm being a newbie here, but I never understood the software difference between Droid Turbo and Moto Maxx that makes the last rootable and the first not. Is it just the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All bootloaders can be unlocked by the manufacturer. But in the case of the Verizon variant (Droid Turbo) Verizon has asked/told Motorola to keep the bootloader locked. Ergo the need for a vulnerability - and someone who knows how to exploit it.
Everything I've been reading indicates that root for the Turbo is a long shot, since the folks that do that stuff really don't want to spend the efforts on a phone that's strictly on only one carryier, Verizon in this case.
this_is_nascar said:
Everything I've been reading indicates that root for the Turbo is a long shot, since the folks that do that stuff really don't want to spend the efforts on a phone that's strictly on only one carryier, Verizon in this case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't blame it on that. The Thunderbolt was exclusive and had root before it even was officially released.
It more boils down to that those who can do it have day jobs and probably don't have the phone nor care to have it.
adrynalyne said:
Don't blame it on that. The Thunderbolt was exclusive and had root before it even was officially released.
It more boils down to that those who can do it have day jobs and probably don't have the phone nor care to have it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said, I really don't know. I'm just repeating what I've said, however I can understand your point as well.
Are there any recognized developers that even have the phone? I know its a bad idea to purchase devices and "loan" them to developers, but I feel like we should donate a few. Something like the bounty for root, but the money funds devices ahead of time. Find a few devs that would be interested and give them the device. It would have to be no strings attached though, if the Dev had no success people couldn't demand their money back. You would know ahead of time that you were donating for the chance at root, not a guarantee. Probably would just end up being an ordeal, but we really need capable devs with the device to take a look. I feel like at this point were just waiting for another moto device to get rooted that happens to work for us.
No root, no recovery, but moto maxx its same device basic "quark" have root and recovery too, but no roms or kernel, the real problem is device dont sell in all countrys, so no devs until now.
georgiadog3 said:
I am coming from my last few phones being Samsung models , the Galaxy Nexus, Note 2 and 3, and the S4. The last Motorola phone I had was a Droid Razr. I left Moto because the hardware specks started to decline, no sd-slot, no removable battery, less desirable construction. I came back due to Samsung's questionable antenna and radio package. I never really had good strong signal with Samsung though. So, Motorola finally comes out with a beast of a phone in the specs catagory, although still no sd or battery pull but my signal is amazing, reception just about everywhere. So I'm confused why is there no development for the US Verizon Turbo? To me it seems like a no brainer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this thread isnt about sd card slot, but why not go and use a otg usb sd mount stick? Its like having a sd card.
I am guessing that since Verizon is furnishing mobile and internet to some major corporations, the corporate environment wants to have phones secure. Hence that is why they want the bootloader locked as to appeal to the major companies and sell more phones. That was the reason it was when I worked for a major company.
web_ninja said:
I am guessing that since Verizon is furnishing mobile and internet to some major corporations, the corporate environment wants to have phones secure. Hence that is why they want the bootloader locked as to appeal to the major companies and sell more phones. That was the reason it was when I worked for a major company.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not the reason. All carriers have deals like that and not all of them are locking bootloaders.
Verizon is doing it for warranty, support, and insurance reasons.
adrynalyne said:
That is not the reason. All carriers have deals like that and not all of them are locking bootloaders.
Verizon is doing it for warranty, support, and insurance reasons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am making the switch to tmobile at the end of the day today because verizon straight out is trying to over charge for stuff on the bill that shouldnt be there. No one on my account has ever used the visual voicemail paid version nor gone over usage and my fiancees line is said to be 600 dollars or more a month. Not happening. I called tmobile and talked to them for a bit, and explained to her about the bill she gave me the best deal plus with unlimited data for 70 a month. Bringing over my nexus 6. After that was all done I just randomly asked questions about locked bootloaders and root, and the lady spoken clear as day is we are not verizon or att. We support the development community (root and unlocked bootloaders), and that all devices are unlockable in that sense. Tmobile is a go to company for me. Yes some of the service is spotty but still its well worth it for having to deal with verizon since 1998. She even brought up that she is currently using an s5 with cyanogenmod. They actually allow their employees to do that stuff to their work phones as long as they know how to return to stock. Verizon you have been ok in the past but i am out.
Have a good day guys. Happy flashing
the_rooter said:
I am making the switch to tmobile at the end of the day today because verizon straight out is trying to over charge for stuff on the bill that shouldnt be there. No one on my account has ever used the visual voicemail paid version nor gone over usage and my fiancees line is said to be 600 dollars or more a month. Not happening. I called tmobile and talked to them for a bit, and explained to her about the bill she gave me the best deal plus with unlimited data for 70 a month. Bringing over my nexus 6. After that was all done I just randomly asked questions about locked bootloaders and root, and the lady spoken clear as day is we are not verizon or att. We support the development community (root and unlocked bootloaders), and that all devices are unlockable in that sense. Tmobile is a go to company for me. Yes some of the service is spotty but still its well worth it for having to deal with verizon since 1998. She even brought up that she is currently using an s5 with cyanogenmod. They actually allow their employees to do that stuff to their work phones as long as they know how to return to stock. Verizon you have been ok in the past but i am out.
Have a good day guys. Happy flashing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried T-Mobile a couple of months ago for exactly the reasons you described. I wanted to stay with them so badly but I just couldn't deal the spotty coverage. Ended up back with Verizon. Hopefully you have better luck!
the_rooter said:
I am making the switch to tmobile at the end of the day today because verizon straight out is trying to over charge for stuff on the bill that shouldnt be there. No one on my account has ever used the visual voicemail paid version nor gone over usage and my fiancees line is said to be 600 dollars or more a month. Not happening. I called tmobile and talked to them for a bit, and explained to her about the bill she gave me the best deal plus with unlimited data for 70 a month. Bringing over my nexus 6. After that was all done I just randomly asked questions about locked bootloaders and root, and the lady spoken clear as day is we are not verizon or att. We support the development community (root and unlocked bootloaders), and that all devices are unlockable in that sense. Tmobile is a go to company for me. Yes some of the service is spotty but still its well worth it for having to deal with verizon since 1998. She even brought up that she is currently using an s5 with cyanogenmod. They actually allow their employees to do that stuff to their work phones as long as they know how to return to stock. Verizon you have been ok in the past but i am out.
Have a good day guys. Happy flashing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as T-Mobile is concerned I hope you live in a better coverage area than I. Typically if you only stick to cities then your good but if your on the out skirts or in rural areas your screwed on signal. Even though the coverage map said to be strong network coverage where I lived it just wasn't so.
I happened to purchase this phone expecting the development to be near non existent. I was wanting to see if I could use a phone that was non-rooted and bootloader locked for a period of time as I have never done this before in all the years I have used smart phones.
good luck with T-Mobile though.. love what they are doing just hated the service coverage areas.....
bkeaver said:
As far as T-Mobile is concerned I hope you live in a better coverage area than I. Typically if you only stick to cities then your good but if your on the out skirts or in rural areas your screwed on signal. Even though the coverage map said to be strong network coverage where I lived it just wasn't so.
I happened to purchase this phone expecting the development to be near non existent. I was wanting to see if I could use a phone that was non-rooted and bootloader locked for a period of time as I have never done this before in all the years I have used smart phones.
good luck with T-Mobile though.. love what they are doing just hated the service coverage areas.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't switch trust me, I just switched from managing T-maybe to managing Verizon I switched all my lines and have never been happier with the choice. T-Mobile even in a metro area constantly drops calls.
kwyrt said:
I tried T-Mobile a couple of months ago for exactly the reasons you described. I wanted to stay with them so badly but I just couldn't deal the spotty coverage. Ended up back with Verizon. Hopefully you have better luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I switched as well a few months ago and the coverage was so spotty I had to switch back. Good luck though.

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