Motorola Droid Bionic Release Date?

[guitarchris123]

Guys, both phone will be "locked." The HTC G2 and Desire HD were locked. However, developers found a way to permanently root the phones rather quickly, effectively unlocking them. I expect the same for the TB. The same cannot be said for newer Motorola phones (ie. X, D2G, but not OG Droid), as their security protocols are much harder to get around. HTC phones are much more hacker-friendly than Moto phones, plain and simple. There will be many more mods available for the TB than the Bionic. If you do not care to root and ROM your phone, than this is a non-issue.

The TB is not just a Verizon version of the EVO, even though they are quite similar looking. Practically every important spec on it has been updated, and they have worked out the kinks with past versions because they have been tested so much, so you should expect the TB to run super-smoothly. The only things they really share in common are a kickstand. The TB has a better processor, better screen, better camera, updated Sense, more RAM, etc. Plus it has LTE on VZW which is much better than WiMax on Sprint. People are ripping on the TB because it does not have dual core. If it did, would you all be drooling so much over the Bionic still? I doubt it. Dual core is relatively worthless at this point in the game. Operating software is not utilized to handle it, the Android platform will not support it for 2 more iterations, and game developers are not going to write separate code for it for a while yet until they become more widespread. So maybe in a year your arguments will have some credence, but until then dual core is not much of an advantage. That's why I'm getting the TB on a 1-year contract, then upgrading to a new top-of-the-line beast next year when dual core will be much more of a game changer.

 

[matthewthegreat]

Guys, both phone will be "locked." The HTC G2 and Desire HD were locked. However, developers found a way to permanently root the phones rather quickly, effectively unlocking them. I expect the same for the TB. The same cannot be said for newer Motorola phones (ie. X, D2G, but not OG Droid), as their security protocols are much harder to get around. HTC phones are much more hacker-friendly than Moto phones, plain and simple. There will be many more mods available for the TB than the Bionic. If you do not care to root and ROM your phone, than this is a non-issue.

The TB is not just a Verizon version of the EVO, even though they are quite similar looking. Practically every important spec on it has been updated, and they have worked out the kinks with past versions because they have been tested so much, so you should expect the TB to run super-smoothly. The only things they really share in common are a kickstand. The TB has a better processor, better screen, better camera, updated Sense, more RAM, etc. Plus it has LTE on VZW which is much better than WiMax on Sprint. People are ripping on the TB because it does not have dual core. If it did, would you all be drooling so much over the Bionic still? I doubt it. Dual core is relatively worthless at this point in the game. Operating software is not utilized to handle it, the Android platform will not support it for 2 more iterations, and game developers are not going to write separate code for it for a while yet until they become more widespread. So maybe in a year your arguments will have some credence, but until then dual core is not much of an advantage. That's why I'm getting the TB on a 1-year contract, then upgrading to a new top-of-the-line beast next year when dual core will be much more of a game changer.

I agree! I didn't know that it will probably be locked but I don't really care if it is or not as long as I can unlock it. Either way it comes down to personal choice and so far I like the thunderbolt.

 

[Preach2k]

Sure the bionic will be rooted but there still will be limits without the unlocked bootloader. Just take a look at the hacking sections of this forum. The droid X/2 hacking looks sad when you compare to the OG droid hacking.

If you want to hack your phone I believe the thunderbolt will be the better phone.

BTW check this out: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/htc-thunderbolt/121390-thunderbolt-vs-bionic.html

Most of that is speculation on the bionic end... Plus No one has proven that the Thunderbolt will not have an locked boot loader. If you have proof please show me. You can not put up specs on an unfinished phone. Some of the stuff he put up was incorrect but it was very well done.

True, but if it's locked I'll probably hang on to my OG droid for awhile long and hope for something better. If both have a locked bootloader and I had to choose one or the other I'd probably still take the tb because it has some features I really want that the bionic doesn't have. Speed isn't every thing you know

Remember the nice thing about android (and linux in general) is choice. If you like the bionic better then get it.

All I want is a nice Dual Core Phone on Verizon.. I like the Bionic for now. If another Dual Core comes out between now and June I will look at that also and make my choice...

 

[Preach2k]

Guys, both phone will be "locked." The HTC G2 and Desire HD were locked. However, developers found a way to permanently root the phones rather quickly, effectively unlocking them. I expect the same for the TB. The same cannot be said for newer Motorola phones (ie. X, D2G, but not OG Droid), as their security protocols are much harder to get around. HTC phones are much more hacker-friendly than Moto phones, plain and simple. There will be many more mods available for the TB than the Bionic. If you do not care to root and ROM your phone, than this is a non-issue.

The TB is not just a Verizon version of the EVO, even though they are quite similar looking. Practically every important spec on it has been updated, and they have worked out the kinks with past versions because they have been tested so much, so you should expect the TB to run super-smoothly. The only things they really share in common are a kickstand. The TB has a better processor, better screen, better camera, updated Sense, more RAM, etc. Plus it has LTE on VZW which is much better than WiMax on Sprint. People are ripping on the TB because it does not have dual core. If it did, would you all be drooling so much over the Bionic still? I doubt it. Dual core is relatively worthless at this point in the game. Operating software is not utilized to handle it, the Android platform will not support it for 2 more iterations, and game developers are not going to write separate code for it for a while yet until they become more widespread. So maybe in a year your arguments will have some credence, but until then dual core is not much of an advantage. That's why I'm getting the TB on a 1-year contract, then upgrading to a new top-of-the-line beast next year when dual core will be much more of a game changer.

Even the President of HTC when he did an interview said that it was an updated EVO4G for Verizon...


Better FFC I give you that.

Dual core is relatively worthless at this point in the game. Operating software is not utilized to handle it, the Android platform will not support it for 2 more iterations, and game developers are not going to write separate code for it for a while yet until they become more widespread.

And you know this how? Please let me know where you got this information. Please post the link. The phone is not completed!!!

Know if the Thunderbolt did come out Dual Core I will give it a Second look but still would not get it because of no HDMI Jack.. that would be a deal breaker for me. Yes I know that the TB has DLNA but the Bionic has it to... All this talk about the Lock bootloader. They said the same thing about the Droid X. Didn't it get rooted about 2 weeks after it was released. When I had my DX I would Download Movies on it and watch it on my flat screen.. I do not have an DLNA TV and I am not about to buy a gadget for HTC for about $200 to use it on my flat screen TV. or purchase a new TV anytime soon. So the HDMI Jack is Important to me...

 

[i can read]

People say dual core is worthless right now but stop and think about it... with verizon getting rid of the early upgrade you have to wait two years for a new phone so it will be worth something then. Unless you have money to buy a full price phone then more power to you

 

[guitarchris123]

Guys, both phone will be "locked." The HTC G2 and Desire HD were locked. However, developers found a way to permanently root the phones rather quickly, effectively unlocking them. I expect the same for the TB. The same cannot be said for newer Motorola phones (ie. X, D2G, but not OG Droid), as their security protocols are much harder to get around. HTC phones are much more hacker-friendly than Moto phones, plain and simple. There will be many more mods available for the TB than the Bionic. If you do not care to root and ROM your phone, than this is a non-issue.

The TB is not just a Verizon version of the EVO, even though they are quite similar looking. Practically every important spec on it has been updated, and they have worked out the kinks with past versions because they have been tested so much, so you should expect the TB to run super-smoothly. The only things they really share in common are a kickstand. The TB has a better processor, better screen, better camera, updated Sense, more RAM, etc. Plus it has LTE on VZW which is much better than WiMax on Sprint. People are ripping on the TB because it does not have dual core. If it did, would you all be drooling so much over the Bionic still? I doubt it. Dual core is relatively worthless at this point in the game. Operating software is not utilized to handle it, the Android platform will not support it for 2 more iterations, and game developers are not going to write separate code for it for a while yet until they become more widespread. So maybe in a year your arguments will have some credence, but until then dual core is not much of an advantage. That's why I'm getting the TB on a 1-year contract, then upgrading to a new top-of-the-line beast next year when dual core will be much more of a game changer.

Even the President of HTC when he did an interview said that it was an updated EVO4G for Verizon...

Better FFC I give you that.

Dual core is relatively worthless at this point in the game. Operating software is not utilized to handle it, the Android platform will not support it for 2 more iterations, and game developers are not going to write separate code for it for a while yet until they become more widespread.

And you know this how? Please let me know where you got this information. Please post the link. The phone is not completed!!!

Know if the Thunderbolt did come out Dual Core I will give it a Second look but still would not get it because of no HDMI Jack.. that would be a deal breaker for me. Yes I know that the TB has DLNA but the Bionic has it to... All this talk about the Lock bootloader. They said the same thing about the Droid X. Didn't it get rooted about 2 weeks after it was released. When I had my DX I would Download Movies on it and watch it on my flat screen.. I do not have an DLNA TV and I am not about to buy a gadget for HTC for about $200 to use it on my flat screen TV. or purchase a new TV anytime soon. So the HDMI Jack is Important to me...

Yeah, keyword "updated." You are missing my point. They did not just take the EVO and slap a Verizon nameplate on it. Yes, it is similar to the EVO, but all the important specs have been UPGRADED. Between the EVO and the TB, the TB has a better processor, better lens on rear facing camera, better front facing camera, better screen tech, newer version of Sense, more RAM, 32GB microSD included, better 4G service, integrated Skype mobile, etc. They are not even close to the same phone besides they way they look.

How do I know what? That Froyo and Gingerbread are not designed for dual core. That is a fact, look it up anywhere online. Android will not support dual core until the version AFTER Gingerbread. I think that parts of Honeycomb are being released for smartphones, possibly to take advantage of dual core, but not the whole thing. It will be many months before we see that though, because phones only have Froyo on them now, although we should see an update to Gingerbread in a month or two hopefully.

As for operating software on the phone itself, let's be honest, it's Moto's first dual core phone. It is not going to run as smoothly as something that has been around and tested and tweaked for a long time. Not even their current phones are that smooth, they tend to be laggy sometimes. This is software, not hardware. The hardware has outpaced the software.

As for the games, use common sense. Developers aren't going to write code for 2 versions of games, one to be used on single core phones, one to take advantage of dual core capabilities. Someday several months down the road when there are multiple dual core phones on multiple carriers, yes, but when the Bionic is released as [one of] the first ever, no, it won't be worth their time at first.

I don't want to be the guinea pig for the first dual core phone. There is a strong possibility that it will be underutilized and buggy at first. I know the Bionic is not finished yet, and the software will clearly be more polished than the videos we've seen of it so far. But it is still the first dual core phone for Moto so there will be issues. The TB has had several similar past versions of it come out (albeit with lower specs and capabilities), so it has been tried and tested, bugs worked out, streamlined, and will just work the way its supposed to.

Also, why don't you download movies on your computer instead of your phone and then watch them on your tv. Its faster, you can store more, and then you won't need an HDMI port on your phone or be forced to carry a cable around. Problem solved.

 

[guitarchris123]

People say dual core is worthless right now but stop and think about it... with verizon getting rid of the early upgrade you have to wait two years for a new phone so it will be worth something then. Unless you have money to buy a full price phone then more power to you

That's why I'm getting a 1-year contract on the TB, then upgrading to a dual core phone in 10-12 months when it will be worth it. HTC's should be out by then. I would never pay full price for a phone. Now if you can only do a 2-year contract, maybe the Bionic is the better option for you than the TB. I will concede that. But right now (or in a few months at release, rather), dual core is more of a marketing gimmick than something that will cause us to see a major real-world difference (at least AT FIRST). It is the wave of the future, though just not quite yet.

 

[jogo21]

People say dual core is worthless right now but stop and think about it... with verizon getting rid of the early upgrade you have to wait two years for a new phone so it will be worth something then. Unless you have money to buy a full price phone then more power to you

That's why I'm getting a 1-year contract on the TB, then upgrading to a dual core phone in 10-12 months when it will be worth it. HTC's should be out by then. I would never pay full price for a phone. Now if you can only do a 2-year contract, maybe the Bionic is the better option for you than the TB. I will concede that. But right now (or in a few months at release, rather), dual core is more of a marketing gimmick than something that will cause us to see a major real-world difference (at least AT FIRST). It is the wave of the future, though just not quite yet.

I thought dual core was also supposed to help with battery life? I do like your plan of getting it on a 1 year contract. Don't like uncertainty of release date for bionic. At this point it may be released closer to CES 2012 than 2011.

 

[kingsway8605]

The Bionic is Motos successor to the DX and will probably be released in the summer (i.e. 1 year after the DX). I would go with the Thunderbolt just because HTC doesn't lock the bootloader. There is no other reason for locking the bootloader than holding OS upgrades hostage to sell new phone models.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[guitarchris123]

I thought dual core was also supposed to help with battery life? I do like your plan of getting it on a 1 year contract. Don't like uncertainty of release date for bionic. At this point it may be released closer to CES 2012 than 2011.

You are correct, dual core supposedly will help with battery life, on the theory that each individual core will not have to work as hard, dividing up tasks, or one running programs in the background that are not currently being used. That could be the most significant advantage to dual core at this stage.

Release date is uncertain. I heard late April a while back, but more recently I have heard rumors that it won't be until June. Either way, I can't wait that long so I've decided to go with the TB.

 

[Preach2k]

The Bionic is Motos successor to the DX and will probably be released in the summer (i.e. 1 year after the DX). I would go with the Thunderbolt just because HTC doesn't lock the bootloader. There is no other reason for locking the bootloader than holding OS upgrades hostage to sell new phone models.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Where did you hear that the Thunderbolt is not Locked...
I read in this thread and from others that The HTC G2 and Desire HD are locked.. So if you are going to get a Thunderbolt you should wait and see if it is unlocked before you purchase it.

 

[guitarchris123]

The Bionic is Motos successor to the DX and will probably be released in the summer (i.e. 1 year after the DX). I would go with the Thunderbolt just because HTC doesn't lock the bootloader. There is no other reason for locking the bootloader than holding OS upgrades hostage to sell new phone models.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Where did you hear that the Thunderbolt is not Locked...
I read in this thread and from others that The HTC G2 and Desire HD are locked.. So if you are going to get a Thunderbolt you should wait and see if it is unlocked before you purchase it.

Let me repeat, pretty much all phone manufacturers will be "locking" their bootloaders from now on. No more OG Droid and Nexus goodness. This is for both security and business reasons. Now, with HTC phones developers fairly quickly find a way around the lockdown so the phone can be permanently rooted, allowing for much tweaking, control, and customization, while with Moto phones the security protocols are much harder to break. And Moto is in no way ashamed to admit this. While Moto phones CAN be rooted, you cannot do as much as with a rooted HTC phone. Go to the hacking section in here and look around at the differences between HTC phones and Moto phones and this will become clearer.

 

[kingsway8605]

The Bionic is Motos successor to the DX and will probably be released in the summer (i.e. 1 year after the DX). I would go with the Thunderbolt just because HTC doesn't lock the bootloader. There is no other reason for locking the bootloader than holding OS upgrades hostage to sell new phone models.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Where did you hear that the Thunderbolt is not Locked...
I read in this thread and from others that The HTC G2 and Desire HD are locked.. So if you are going to get a Thunderbolt you should wait and see if it is unlocked before you purchase it.

Let me repeat, pretty much all phone manufacturers will be "locking" their bootloaders from now on. No more OG Droid and Nexus goodness. This is for both security and business reasons. Now, with HTC phones developers fairly quickly find a way around the lockdown so the phone can be permanently rooted, allowing for much tweaking, control, and customization, while with Moto phones the security protocols are much harder to break. And Moto is in no way ashamed to admit this. While Moto phones CAN be rooted, you cannot do as much as with a rooted HTC phone. Go to the hacking section in here and look around at the differences between HTC phones and Moto phones and this will become clearer.

HTC is making is hard to flash custom roms, moto is making it impossible to flash custom roms, there is a difference. HTC has a long history of releasing hacker friendly phones.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[zlseth]

Uhh… I think this thread has gone completely off topic. I have been checking a thread about the release date for the Bionic and for the past few weeks, it has become a debate as to which phones can be rooted.

I'm not looking to root my phone, in fact I didn't know what a locked bootloader was until this thread came about.

All I want is to throw my Storm 1 at something. I run a program that simulates a battery pull daily and it still gets bogged down.

My patience is wearing thin. I will soon have a temporary solution, though… my boss is getting an i4 and he's going to give me his D1… that way I can wait patiently for the Bionic to come out and I can even wait to see reviews of the Bionic vs the i4 (or i5 when it comes out), the X2 (if it really exists), the TB, etc, etc…...

 

[jstafford1]

I agree...this thread is way off topic....either get back to the release date and things like that or closing this one down.

Sent from somewhere...