Tag Archives: DroidDna

Refresh Roundup: week of February 11th, 2013

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Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

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Verizon details Droid DNA update, hints at menu key software option

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Despite our love for the Droid DNA, it has a few flaws that are hard to ignore. Perhaps most vexing is the lack of an option to map the contextual menu button to the recent apps key. Fortunately, we're now hopeful that Verizon will remedy the situation. Big Red just posted an overview of a forthcoming software update, and among the line items, it's said that users can expect "enhanced recent apps functionality." As you can see, the wording is frustratingly vague and open to interpretation, but the fix is logical and would follow precedent from HTC. Other changes are more clearly spelled out, such as improved WiFi and hotspot connectivity, better audio quality when using a wired headset and correct timestamps for incoming messages. For a complete breakdown of what's in store, just hit up the source link.

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Source: Verizon

HTC Droid DNA vs. J Butterfly vs. Butterfly: fight!

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HTC Droid DNA vs J Butterfly vs Butterfly fly!

HTC made quite an impression when it launched the Droid DNA with Verizon a couple of months ago, and we're happy to say that its Butterfly variants on the other side of the world -- namely Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), India and China -- have achieved similar success, with some areas struggling to keep up with the surprising demand. Still, if you're in the market to pick up one of these 5-inch quad-core beauties, it's worth noting the subtle physical and technical differences between them. At HTC's Frequencies event this week, we had the rare chance to get all four (yes, four!) models side by side, so read on for our detailed comparison.

Gallery: HTC Droid DNA vs. J Butterfly vs. Butterfly for South East Asia and China: fight!

Gallery: White HTC J Butterfly vs. Droid DNA

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Bloomberg: HTC backing away from plan to build five-inch Windows Phone

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HTC backing away from plan to build a fiveinch Windows Phone

We've been fans of super-sized live tiles ever since the OG Titan came around, but maybe we can't count on HTC to push things any further. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Taiwanese manufacturer has given up on a project to create a Windows Phone with a display larger than five inches. Instead, it'll focus all its big-screened efforts on Android, much as it's already doing with the Droid DNA (shown above) and Asian Butterfly.

The reason? Well, that bit's unclear. Microsoft's mobile OS doesn't currently play nice with 1080p, which puts a limit on the pixel density of any big device -- but then there's always the potential for software updates, and besides, the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II is hardly being held back by its 720 lines. Bloomberg does mention another, more plausible reason, which is that HTC simply believes the WP market is too weak to haul a juggernaut.

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Source: Bloomberg

Verizon’s limited edition Droid DNA puts the company colors in employees’ hands

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Verizon's limited edition Droid DNA puts company colors in employees' hands

There are more perks to being a Verizon employee than just discounted phone plans -- like limited edition versions of the carrier's hottest handsets. Much like it did for the Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx, Verizon's gearing up to offer its staffers a special, red-backed version of the Droid DNA that adheres strictly to the company's signature colors. Apart from the obvious red and black cosmetic change, each phone is set to ship with a serial number denoting its exclusivity and type on the back marking it as a "Verizon Employee Limited Edition." According to DroidLife, these one-offs have already begun to enter into circulation. So, don't be surprised if you see any related listings surfacing on eBay in the near future.

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Source: DroidLife

Hack gives HTC Droid DNA the bootloader unlock that Verizon took away

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HTC Droid DNA review wrap-up

Custom ROM fans were briefly teased with the prospect of Verizon loosening its anti-modding stance when the HTC Droid DNA first arrived: in the pre-release days, the official HTCDev portal allowed unlocking the DNA's bootloader. While the carrier unfortunately clamped down and denied the option by the time the giant smartphone was in stores, that hasn't stopped Android Police and Sean Beaupre from keeping the dream alive through very unofficial means. A special backup file, a carrier ID generator app, a shell script and judicious use of ADB tweak the carrier information to trick HTCDev and let the unlock work once again. To call this a risky procedure would be an understatement, however -- venturing past a certain point raises the real possibility of bricking the device, and HTC's bootloader tool already puts limits on post-unlock support even when it's blessed by carriers. Should the urge to liberate the Droid DNA overwhelm a sense of caution (or a wait for the Deluxe), you'll find both the hack and unofficial help through the source links.

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Source: Android Police

Mobile Miscellany: week of November 19th, 2012

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Mobile Miscellany week of November 19th, 2012

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, we discovered an abundance of special edition smartphones and T-Mobile gave ten new reasons for owners of unlocked iPhones to smile. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of November 19th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of November 19th, 2012

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PSA: HTC Droid DNA now available from Verizon

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What are we thankful for on the day before Thanksgiving? How about the glut of great smartphones? Phones like HTC's Droid DNA, on sale today over at Verizon. $200 (with the obligatory two-year contract) will get you a gorgeous five-inch 1080p display, a quad-core processor, NFC and some Android Jelly Bean action. The battery life leaves a bit to be desired, however, though it'll get you through the amount of time required to cook a 20 pound turkey, at least.

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Source: Verizon

HTC Deluxe press render reportedly leaks, spreads Droid DNA worldwide

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HTC Deluxe press render reportedly leaks, spreads Droid DNA worldwide

When the HTC Droid DNA leaked out into the wild, we'd learned that the DLX codename was really shorthand for "Deluxe," a title that was also attached to non-Verizon models like the J Butterfly. If @evleaks is correct, that's because HTC fully intends to have a reference version of the Deluxe on the market: the frequent rumor source has posted what looks to be a press image of the international model. There isn't much of a surprise if you've seen the Droid DNA, as it preserves all the red trim while replacing the Verizon logo with HTC's own. Most other details are left out -- there's no release date or hardware differences to pick out -- but the image may be a clue that those of us who live outside of Japan and the US could get own 1080p phone before too long.

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HTC Deluxe press render reportedly leaks, spreads Droid DNA worldwide originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon App Suite to be pre-loaded on Verizon Android devices starting with Droid DNA

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Amazon App Suite to be pre-loaded on Verizon Android devices starting with Droid DNA

Sure, HTC and Verizon may have given us the long awaited pricing and launch date details for the Droid DNA, but it omitted one tidbit that we'd heard of before: Amazon's App Suite. Starting with the DNA, select Android devices on Big Red -- presumably those that aren't of the "Google Experience" flavor -- will come loaded with the Amazon-focused pane on their home screens. Though a handful of Verizon phones are already pre-loaded with Audible, Zappos and Amazon's MP3, Kindle and Shopping apps, the suite will roll them up into one experience for easy access. By signing in with your existing Amazon account, content ranging from Kindle novels to MP3s will be at your fingertips. In addition, the Seattle-based retailer's complete selection of products are just an impulse buy away through the app. Hit the jump to check out the mobile storefront in action.

Update: As pointed out in the comments, App Suite doesn't support Amazon video. We've updated the post accordingly.

Continue reading Amazon App Suite to be pre-loaded on Verizon Android devices starting with Droid DNA

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Amazon App Suite to be pre-loaded on Verizon Android devices starting with Droid DNA originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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