Liveblog: Verizon and Motorola announce the DROID Ultra, DROID MAXX and DROID mini

posted by John V. / Jul 23, 2013, 9:22 AM

Liveblog: Verizon and Motorola announce the DROID Ultra, DROID MAXX and DROID mini

Boot-up process initiated... Loading system resources... Start-up sequence engaged... System boot-up complete. DROID is back online.

And so, just like that, Verizon and Motorola have embarked on a new journey to pour some fresh oil over the beloved DROID line-up of Android smartphones. Getting their engines going for the first time, a bunch of new handsets are expected to get revealed today at the joint event held by the nation's leading carrier and the world's not-so-leading device manufacturer. What we expect the companies to introduce are the DROID Ultra, DROID MAXX and DROID mini - three brand new DROIDs for the numerous fans of the brand that once kickstarted the whole Android thing.

Welcome to our liveblog of the event - it's for those of you who'd like to follow its development from start to finish and be the first to know about each and every little detail.

Live event tracker

11:15	That's was a super quick announcement, so keep a watch out on the site for our hands-on. Thanks everyone!
11:09	okay folks, we're going to check them out right now
11:06
11:06	If you pre-order between now & 9/30, you get 6 months access of Google Play Music All Access
11:05
11:05	DROID Mini - $99 Ultra - $199 Maxx - $299. Pre-orders start right now. August 20th availability for all devices
11:04	Aside from the processor, no word on other specs
11:04
11:04	DROID has Ingress preloaded, the only devices to have it preloaded.
11:03
11:03	New accessories were made for this latest line of DROIDs.
11:03	DROID Command center allows you to control your media sharing.
11:02	Touchless control allows you to search from something. Active display lights up a portion of the display. Quick capture launches the cam
11:02	Motorola X8 Mobile computing system - 2 apps cores, 4 graphics cores, 1 contextual computing core, & 1 natural language core.
11:00	All products have 24% faster CPU, 100% faster GPU, and twice the RAM with all models over predecssors
10:59	And of course, the DROID MAXX is going to deliver an impressive 48 hours of battery. 8.5mm thin
10:59	DROID MAXX is 9% thinner than last year's model. Unibody design with kevlar
10:58	DROID mini shares many similar things with the DROID Ultra, just smaller form factor
10:58	Nice rear casing with the DROID Ultra. 7.18mm thin! Thinnest 4G LTE smartphone
10:58
10:58	DROID mini, DROID Ultra, and DROID mini
10:57	Rick Osterloh , senior VP of product management with Motorola Mobility is on stage to introduce the DROID Ultra
10:56
10:55	Jeff dietel is on stage giving the opening remarks. VP of marketing with Verizon
10:54	A quick intro paying homage to the DROID line
10:54	It's starting off with a video.
10:52	We are finally in people!
10:02	No sighting of any new DROIDs yet from the Verizon folks walking about, but we did see some old XYBOARDs.
10:01	Looks like we're super early for this event folks, doesn't seem like it's going to start until 12PM EST.
09:41	Hey guys, john V here as your host for today's big Verizon event. We're still waiting to get inside the venue.
09:24	Test

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20 Comments

1. Sakeem

Posts: 857; Member since: Sep 05, 2012

The wait is almost over. Been looking forward to this.

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 9:34 AM 3

2. protozeloz

Posts: 5396; Member since: Sep 16, 2010

John! :D

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 9:54 AM 3

3. SouljaBOY

Posts: 9; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

I hope It has a good camera..

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:00 AM 4

4. protozeloz

same here

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:02 AM 0

5. SouljaBOY

PhoneARENA.. Please make a review comparison of the best mid-range smartphone out there.. S4 Mini, HTC ONE mini, lumia 720, Xperia SP or Xperia ZR, LG F7.. and also if you can inlcude Motorola Droid newest mid range.. that review is going to benefit alot of mid range consumers like me.. PLS.. Looking Forward..

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:16 AM 0

13. Chris.P

Posts: 567; Member since: Jun 27, 2013

Hey, SouljaBOY. We published a review just like that a few days ago. Do a search for "The new midrange" -- you'll find all of these reviewed there, sans the Lumia 720 and Xperia SP. :)

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:36 AM 0

14. SouljaBOY

Yes we Know, We have seen that article already.. What we want is side by side comparison of the mid range phones.. Just like what you do their respective FlagShips..

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:44 AM 0

6. AppleHateBoy unregistered

Snapdragon 800 with large battery or go home!

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:20 AM 2

12. SouljaBOY

I think you always compare phones from their specs on paper.. In reality It's different.. Even S4 Pro is too much satisfying.. I have a Galaxy S4 and a Nexus 4.. but I don't see any much different in terms of their performance and speed.. both phones is more than fast enough to handle your daily task and even heavy 3D games..

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:36 AM 1

15. NexusPhan

Posts: 632; Member since: Jul 11, 2013

Try putting stock android on the GS4 and then compare.

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:50 AM 1

16. kalloud

Posts: 155; Member since: Jun 21, 2012

You own a galaxy S4 and a nexus 4? But you said that you're a mid range consumer in your comment above!

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:56 AM 1

7. Nostromo

Posts: 3; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

XYBOARDS, I'll have to look-up the SNL Verizon skit. I hope the MAXX is sporting a micro SD slot and a minimum of 32 Gigs built-in memory.

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:24 AM 0

8. vandroid

Posts: 405; Member since: Sep 04, 2012

Why aren't they posting anything

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:31 AM 1

9. KingKurogiii

Posts: 5713; Member since: Oct 23, 2011

is there anywhere to watch the announcement?

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:32 AM 1

10. Nostromo

Verizon: It's an old person's nightmare. So true, so true.

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:35 AM 0

11. sorcio46

Posts: 435; Member since: Jul 27, 2011

Please guys write 15 CET instead of 5PM CET :P

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 10:35 AM 2

17. SmartPhoneStream

Posts: 162; Member since: Jun 21, 2012

what processors do they have?

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 11:06 AM 0

18. aditya.k

Posts: 496; Member since: Mar 10, 2013

That price range! :o

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 11:08 AM 0

19. Nostromo

Next time, guys, stream this event on your 4G LTE, (that everyone touts) network. No word on a micro SD slot. Hmm.

posted on Jul 23, 2013, 11:45 AM 0

20. saiki4116

Posts: 413; Member since: Mar 31, 2011

At Last...one company made sense by not running spec race. Full HD on mobile device is just overkill. It all now comes how well Moto would have implemented X8 SOC...waiting for real world performance.. Moto stopped selling devices in India. Hope they bring it back.. :)