Does this make you want to hit the brakes on the Bionic?

[Issemann]

I will get what phone is the best when I'm ready for an upgrade. Although my upgrade date was 7-21, I must have 4G. There are only three 4G phones currently and I think they're all horrible. I will not wait longer. Bionic will be fine for me. If not then I will sell it for major bucks and buy a different model at retail.

I agree. When upgrading, software shouldn't really be a factor. Yes, getting ICS is great, but I think the Bionic will get the update when it becomes available. What I want most is LTE, a dual-core processor and a larger screen. (I currently have a Dinc, so a 4.3" screen is fine). What concerns me the most is the screen - I've heard bad things about Pentile and there's no denying that the Sammy Super AMOLED+ is by far the better display. Having said that, my upgrade date has already past as well (30-May) and I'm just itching to get something new.

 

[TeeSquar]

Having Sanjay Jha, from Moto, saying the Bionic is "only a product" in a recent tech speech has me scratching my head. If the Bionic is supposed to be the latest and greatest Moto phone he sure didn't come off too enthusiastically.

 

[Jasper]

I will probably pre-order the bionic, unless something concrete on an ICS or Nexus device comes out before pre-orders start.

 

[clearrants]

Having Sanjay Jha, from Moto, saying the Bionic is "only a product" in a recent tech speech has me scratching my head. If the Bionic is supposed to be the latest and greatest Moto phone he sure didn't come off too enthusiastically.

He didn't say it was "only a product." He said it was "an important product, but not the only product."

This could mean any number of things, and conjecture only leads to misquotes like the one above.

 

[androidjunkie30]

Like some people were saying I'll check the bionic out but probably not get it

 

[anon(387460)]

I'm happy ICS will be backwards compatible. But lets be honest... short of hacking your phone, Motorola won't have ICS on the Bionic until... other phones get released with ICS, so that's moot.

And still, does anyone think a Nexus Prime or a purely ICS developed phone will be out in 2 months? or this year?

I will say if something truly concrete is leaked to the public of some October or November release, I'll certainly hold off on the Bionic, but I just don't see that happening.

I also don't think Google is afraid of Apple or even losing customers to the iPhone 5. And from the rumors the iPhone 5 will be nothing great and their real heater will be out next year most likely with Verizon LTE, which gives Google plenty of time to compete against Apple with a purely Google ICS phone. But then again, they're just rumors.

 

[SnydersWeb]

I'm happy ICS will be backwards compatible. But lets be honest... short of hacking your phone, Motorola won't have ICS on the Bionic until... other phones get released with ICS, so that's moot..

It depends. Least for the next 3 months (or more) this will be the flagship phone from Motorola on Verizon. To that, if ICS become all the rage then I can see where Motorola would hopefully focus on getting it onto the Bionic sooner before later. Motorola seems to do a good job of supporting their higher end devices post-release - generally I feel they have a better track record than some of the other manufacturers.

Though I do wonder much much of ICS is in the hands of people like Motorola. Realistically it could take a month or so (or longer) to get ICS onto a device. So far we've seen slipups from Motorola when it comes to Gingerbread for the DroidX so I don't see them being too hasty to do this.

If Motorola would, unlock the darn bootloaders and let the brave folks of the community have a go at it too that would be a huge bonus to the enthusiast community. Your typical user wouldn't know ICS if you jammed it up their nose and likely even care.

Bottom line I do not see this as any reason whatsoever to hold off making my purchase.. I'm dying to upgrade!

 

[Cvballa3g0]

Nope, I'm still going to buy the Bionic. I'm just waiting for Aaron(from phonedog) to do an unboxing + review of the phone. HOPEFULLY Verizon will send some review units BEFORE the phone is released.

 

[huskerkate]

I'm happy ICS will be backwards compatible. But lets be honest... short of hacking your phone, Motorola won't have ICS on the Bionic until... other phones get released with ICS, so that's moot.

And still, does anyone think a Nexus Prime or a purely ICS developed phone will be out in 2 months? or this year?

I will say if something truly concrete is leaked to the public of some October or November release, I'll certainly hold off on the Bionic, but I just don't see that happening.

I also don't think Google is afraid of Apple or even losing customers to the iPhone 5. And from the rumors the iPhone 5 will be nothing great and their real heater will be out next year most likely with Verizon LTE, which gives Google plenty of time to compete against Apple with a purely Google ICS phone. But then again, they're just rumors.

probably not 2 months, but i think yet this year is more likely than not. the first 2 Nexus devices were released within a year of each other, weren't they - Jan '10 and Dec '10??? (not trying to be a smartass - i'm just going from memory.) it stands to reason that the next one would be here before the end of '11.

 

[brownhornet]

Only thing that made me hit the brakes was going to actually look at the pentile screen on the photon. If its the same screen then im pretty much not getting it.

 

[anon(387460)]

probably not 2 months, but i think yet this year is more likely than not. the first 2 Nexus devices were released within a year of each other, weren't they - Jan '10 and Dec '10??? (not trying to be a smartass - i'm just going from memory.) it stands to reason that the next one would be here before the end of '11.

No you're right and I totally agree that if they followed that track it only stands to gain that November would be an appropriate launch. I just think maybe they were caught off guard by the new 4G LTE on Verizon, like Apple and everyone else and we're just gonna have to wait a little longer than normal to get it rolling out on a stable, long lasting phone.

I don't think Google wants to release a phone with ICS that doesn't last longer than 4 hours... Though the rumors of the Bionic going on 14 hours sound promising. I also think they may wait for 2nd Gen LTE antennas to allow for a thinner more functional design which are due to be manufactured end of 2011 for 2012 Q1 release?

Of course this is all under the stipulation that the ICS phone will be 4G LTE and made through Google first.

I just feel like everything is in a development stage and they haven't even begun manufacturing a device. And normally the manufacturer has test models a half year before a release and then the carrier has test models a couple months before release and there is not even any word on either. So we can easily assume we're 4 -6 months out from a release, imo. But then again I can be completely wrong. These are just what I understand from the process of cell phone production and release.

edit: Though if the nenamark tests on the vigor are true and it is a 1.5 ghz 720p display phone and not a tablet... that would be the best bet and I think it's the best chance to have an ICS phone this fall.. But I'm gonna follow that closely.. I think nexus is still a ways off though

 

[Pierpoint]

I'll get the Bionic when it comes out or a little bit after. And with BBM's 30-day exchange policy, If something hot comes out in October, back it goes.

 

[thefireguy286]

The only phone that would quickly see ICS is a Nexus device. Phones in the pipeline have to use what is out at time of development, hence until very recently some phones released with 2.2 before seeing a 2.3 upgrade. Even something like the Vigor would release with 2.3. It'll still be at or just after 2012 till a phone launches with it at BEST. Unlike 2.2 to 2.3, ICS is to be a major release so it may even take longer.

As for a Nexus 'Prime" there really hasn't been anything convincing to suggest at this point other than an original next-Nexus-may-have-LTE rumor that led people to think VZ, that it's even coming to VZ. Other than the general benefits of a Nexus I don't see what would make someone hit the breaks on a Bionic, especially since TI pretty much confirmed the next Nexus will have OMAP4 which we all know the Bionic will too anyway.

So we have no real hint at a timeline, IF it has LTE, IF it comes to VZ at all vs a dual core OMAP4 LTE phone coming in 3 weeks max.

I say no brakes.

 

[trailblazen]

yeah someone cut my brake lines so no stopping here. I was thinking about waiting for Nexus but the more I pondered it I really didn't see me benefiting from a nexus device at this point in my cellphone technical know-how (more of a computer guru than a phone but branching into phones) not to mention would probably be waiting a long time for it. I think that Bionic will fit the bill just fine.

 

[Joe the Insider]

It means nothing, because im pretty sure the Bionic will get ics in an OTA update.

 

[kca2000]

I guess the OS becomes less of a big deal at this point because of how slow manufacturers adopt the new versions. Seeing that its now finally becoming the norm that new phones are preloaded with ginger bread maybe the move up wont effect most phones in the pipeline.
The only phone i now see as relevant is the Nexus prime. But i also thought LTE was a good bet for the next nexus, if its going to compete with the iphone 5 directly, theres a good chance it wont need/come with it as i dont see the iphone 5 having it.
Looks like its the Bionic or bust, Thanks for all the input guys. Some of these posts really had some good points.

 

[KillerG]

I guess the OS becomes less of a big deal at this point because of how slow manufacturers adopt the new versions. Seeing that its now finally becoming the norm that new phones are preloaded with ginger bread maybe the move up wont effect most phones in the pipeline.
The only phone i now see as relevant is the Nexus prime. But i also thought LTE was a good bet for the next nexus, if its going to compete with the iphone 5 directly, theres a good chance it wont need/come with it as i dont see the iphone 5 having it.
Looks like its the Bionic or bust, Thanks for all the input guys. Some of these posts really had some good points.

We'll see the Bionic with some Ice Cream Sandwich love here pretty soon, but I'd rather them take their time fixing it up and making it look and work nice. At this point, I'd say go Bionic, it's your best bet for getting all the hardware you want, and Gingerbread is an amazing, stable Android release. As for ICS, we probably won't see any ICS loaded on anything until very late 2011, early 2012 is my guess.

yeah someone cut my brake lines so no stopping here. I was thinking about waiting for Nexus but the more I pondered it I really didn't see me benefiting from a nexus device at this point in my cellphone technical know-how (more of a computer guru than a phone but branching into phones) not to mention would probably be waiting a long time for it. I think that Bionic will fit the bill just fine.

I'm kind of the same way, just getting into this territory. I love Motorola, and they seem to have the most stable phones that don't chew the battery like candy. It should be the first LTE device with a dual core CPU, big enough battery, and the best battery life. I don't think Motorola will let this flunk, they've got too much at stake on this device.
Plus with good computer guru powers, as soon as they root/unlock the bootloader we can do whatever we want lol.

 

[swarlos]

Only thing that made me hit the brakes was going to actually look at the pentile screen on the photon. If its the same screen then im pretty much not getting it.

I actually checked out the Photon today and I really liked it. If I didn't mind not having LTE then I would probably switch in a heart beat but I can't live without that speed!

Speaking of the screen I don't see what the problem is, I thought it looked fantastic the color were very bright and vivid also very clear. The responsiveness of the phone was awesome. It makes me want the Bionic even more now.

Psh if Sprint had 4G in my area I'd be all over that phone like flies on horse crap especially with $125 port your number credit Sprint is giving right now.

 

[mjforte]

I actually checked out the Photon today and I really liked it. If I didn't mind not having LTE then I would probably switch in a heart beat but I can't live without that speed!

Speaking of the screen I don't see what the problem is, I thought it looked fantastic the color were very bright and vivid also very clear. The responsiveness of the phone was awesome. It makes me want the Bionic even more now.

Psh if Sprint had 4G in my area I'd be all over that phone like flies on horse crap especially with $125 port your number credit Sprint is giving right now.

My thoughts exactly! I checked out the Photon a couple days ago and liked it alot. I'm definitely excited for the Bionic more after playing with the Photon.

 

[kca2000]

My thoughts exactly! I checked out the Photon a couple days ago and liked it alot. I'm definitely excited for the Bionic more after playing with the Photon.

Ill have to stop by a sprint store tomorrow. I forgot these hit the shelves. Anyone use a Droid 3 and a Photon? Any comparison thoughts? I got to play with a Droid 3 a few days after it came out. Seemed like a decent phone, but no time on the photon yet.