Google-owned Motorola Mobility has updated their Android device support list, adding new clarity for many device owners that were stuck in limbo.
Specifically, Motorola has added the Verizon versions of the RAZR M, RAZR HD, RAZR HD MAXX, and RAZR M Developer Edition will all receive Android 4.4 KitKat. Similarly, the AT&T Atrix HD and US Cellular Electrify M will also be updated to KitKat.
Motorola also declared that the original RAZR and RAZR MAXX would not receive Android 4.2 or 4.3. They will remain on Android 4.1.2. The devices were capable of running Android 4.3 from a technical standpoint, Motorola declined to comment to PhoneNews.com on if they were technically capable of utilizing Bluetooth LE – a feature supported by Android 4.3. Also, RAZR and RAZR MAXX will not receive any of the security updates patched in Android 4.2 and 4.3.
These updates trim the list of remaining devices officially “in limbo” to the Photon Q and RAZR i XT890. As we mentioned in our previous article, there is no technical reason that the Snapdragon S4 Plus-toting Photon Q cannot run KitKat. The RAZR i’s Medfield platform, as we previously covered, has been supported by Intel to at least Android 4.2, so there is also room there for Motorola to offer at least a rollup release for the still-sold Intel-based smartphone.
The Photon Q being stuck in limbo stands out for multiple reasons. One, if it is not updated, Google-owned Motorola will be skipping over a device with nearly identical silicon and specifications to the Nexus 4 for KitKat. This would create a double-standard between Nexus and Motorola. Two, if not updated, the Android ecosystem will not have a single device running KitKat that includes a physical keyboard.
Motorola can kiss my a** . I’m running Kitkat 4.4 via CM11
on Droid Razr Maxx (XT912)
EXTREMELY P.O’ed that the Photon Q will not get updated past 4.1.2. There’s no reason at all for the shoddy treatment, which Moto is also giving to the Droid 4.
The Photon Q is essentially a Droid 4 with a faster CPU, and a lousy keyboard – or at least a lousy keyboard driver. It’s either missing keypresses or will bounce so bad I get 2 to 4 of the same character.
Another WTH?! thing with the keyboard is the ; and : keys have the wrong scan codes! They produce the angle brackets. That makes it impossible to enter an https: URL with the physical keyboard because it’s impossible to enter a colon. Can’t even type a time of day. Want to schedule a meeting at 2:30? Well you can’t type 2:30 without using the onscreen keyboard just for the colon.
Sprint customers asked for a version of the Droid 4 to upgrade from their aging Epic 4G’s and when Sprint *finally* got it they were snickering quietly “Haha, suckers!”.
Why does Sprint hate real keyboards so much?