Motorola says goodbye to its Webtop and Lapdock

posted by Alan F. / Oct 07, 2012, 5:24 PM

Motorola says goodbye to its Webtop and Lapdock

It seems like just the other day when Motorola introduced the Motorola ATRIX 4G. At the time, Motorola dubbed it, "The world's most powerful smartphone," with its dual-core processor getting everyone worked up. Motorola even introduced the Webtop software which allowed the phone to be plugged into the lapdock accessory and be used as the brains for an 11.6 inch tablet that ran with the Firefox browser.

The Motorola ATRIX 4G and the lapdock accessory

While Asus has kept the idea alive with the Asus Padfone 2, Motorola has decided to pull the plug on the software and the accessory. When launched, it was considered a huge idea that would be the perfect way to position Android as a businessman's platform, able to turn a smartphone into a powerful tablet for the busy pinstriper on the go.

But the idea wasn't executed perfectly. The phone and lapdock accessory was priced at $500 together, and the tablet at first ran too slowly until it the software was updated. A pet project of former CEO Sanjay Jha, the Webtop software was expected to be included with every high-end Motorola handset. Motorola says the idea has become redundant with more desktop like features included on the Android OS.

Starting with the Motorola PHOTON Q 4G LTE, the Webtop software was no longer loaded on Motorola devices. That includes the Motorola DROID RAZR M and the upcoming Motorola DROID RAZR HD and Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD.

"Motorola's Webtop app helps users extend their smartphone experience to larger screens. While consumers around the world have adopted Webtop and the concept spurred a lot of innovation in the industry, the adoption has not been strong enough to justify continued resources being allocated to developing Webtop on future devices. We have also seen development of the Android operating system focus on the inclusion of more desktoplike features. Beginning with Photon Q and Droid Razr M/Droid Razr HD/Droid Razr Maxx HD, we will no longer be including Webtop on our products moving forward."-Motorola

source: CNET

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12 Comments

1. BillyG

Posts: 305; Member since: Sep 24, 2012

the only problem with it : no iOS in it.

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 5:31 PM 3

3. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

go cry to Tim Cook.

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 5:43 PM 17

11. quakan

Posts: 1419; Member since: Mar 02, 2011

Yeah it would've succeeded with iOS and Apple's marketing team....oh well.

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 9:43 PM 2

12. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

It just needed an Apple logo and people would throw money at it even if they knew nothing about it.

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 10:57 PM 8

2. PAPINYC

Posts: 2315; Member since: Jul 30, 2011

It was a great idea but, needed some work. I sold my Lapdock 100 and at least broke even; I probably wouldn't buy another, it's just too gimmicky (almost feels like it could've been an Apple product).

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 5:33 PM 10

4. theBankRobber

Posts: 682; Member since: Sep 22, 2011

Motorola could have made this a good thing, but with crazy prices and no updates it would have only failed anyway. The one for my Photon was always $200-250, it was only better to buy the Atrix version and switch the ports around to work with my phone. After I saw the leak ICS webtop app, it didn't really need the lapdock, just a HDMI cable. It doesn't matter as my Photon won't be getting ICS anyway so SCREW YOU MOTOROLA

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 5:44 PM 3

5. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

I still can't understand the idea of Lapdock... If I'm able to take an Lapdock with me then I also should be able to take an Laptop too. Then why I should take an Lapdock if I can take Laptop and Laptop will be more powerful and useful than any Lapdock...

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 5:46 PM 1

6. Nadr1212

Posts: 741; Member since: Sep 22, 2012

That. Is. SAD!!!!!!!!!

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 6:14 PM 0

7. pikapowerize

Posts: 1869; Member since: May 03, 2012

this is innovation!! to bad they will kill it! :( sad story!

posted on Oct 07, 2012, 6:35 PM 2

8. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

if this is "google" influenced.....i just hope they dont try and overdue other things in the future now that they are the owner........hopefully they execute other "adjustments" to continue to benefit the consumer rather than the company as a whole.........Consumer first, company second should continue to be the main priority........peace everyone n have a Good rest of Sunday :)