[Rumor] Motorola DROID Bionic Gets Cancelled

dgstorm

Editor in Chief
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
10,992
Reaction score
3,961
Location
Austin, TX
RIP_Bionic.jpg

There are some disturbing new reports right now that the Motorola Droid Bionic (codenamed Etna) has been cancelled and will not be released. The reasons cited for the demise of the superphone are actually a combination of factors. First, the phone has been plagued with battery and heat issues during its development phase. Additionally, the handshake between the CDMA, EVDO, and LTE radios was very problematic. Apparently, the Atrix experienced these same issues, but they were able to be fixed.

To further complicate the issues, the longer that Motorola delayed the release of the Bionic, the closer it would put it to the release of other more advanced phones in the third quarter, thus causing Motorola to compete with itself on its own products. Apparently, Motorola has instead decided to ramp up production on the Targa to replace the Bionic as their 4G phone.

Interestingly, this could actually end up being good news for two reasons. The first is that it is entirely possible that when Verizon actually gets the Targa, they will rename it the "Bionic" since "Targa" is just its internal codename. So, it's possible that we will still get a "Bionic", just in a different form, and a bit later than expected. Additionally, whether they name it the Bionic or not, the Targa is supposedly a much better phone. It too has a dual-core CPU, 4g LTE, and a 4.3" display, but it also has a 13MP camera and gets high praise from within Motorola testing circles. For now, we are calling this one a rumor, but several sources seem to indicate that it will probably be officially announced soon.

Source: Phonarena and MyDroidWorld
 
OP
dgstorm

dgstorm

Editor in Chief
Staff member
Premium Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
10,992
Reaction score
3,961
Location
Austin, TX

IanG

Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Messages
223
Reaction score
1
I've been seeing these rumors for a while now. I am just using a Thunderbolt as a replacement for my Droid until the Bionic comes out, but if the Bionic doesn't come out... ugh :icon_evil:
 

EFGantry

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
362
Reaction score
5
this Bionic (ie, the Atrix' cousin) doesn't appear to be coming to market. but, a Bionic will be released - it's just most likely going to be the phone we've known as the Targa, and it will be renamed as the Bionic...
 

loki993

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2010
Messages
638
Reaction score
5
Location
Michigan
It getting cancelled would explain why we havent seen any in the wild pics of it though.
 

EFGantry

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
362
Reaction score
5
there was a vague rumor (altho it appears to have been mostly wishful thinking) that the Targa might be quad core. however, once the Targa pics and rumored specs leaked, many people (including our very own and very reliable CK) concluded that it would be dual core and released Q3, since no Q4 phones had yet been leaked...
 

loki993

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2010
Messages
638
Reaction score
5
Location
Michigan
there was a vague rumor (altho it appears to have been mostly wishful thinking) that the Targa might be quad core. however, once the Targa pics and rumored specs leaked, many people (including our very own and very reliable CK) concluded that it would be dual core and released Q3, since no Q4 phones had yet been leaked...

That makes sense. Kinda like if you look up TB specs you get old rumored spec from around August that said it would be dual core.

So what are the rumored specs on the Targa now? from what the OP said its not really much different from the Bionic aside from the 13mp camera, which I honestly couldnt care less about.
 

kodiak799

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2010
Messages
6,146
Reaction score
827
aside from the 13mp camera, which I honestly couldnt care less about.

13mp is LOL funny, just like last night when I was watching CSI and the tech is using a DSLR with a huge lens to take photos from 2 feet away.
 

EFGantry

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
362
Reaction score
5
the rumored specs are largely the same. but, the rumor is that the dual core processor will be OMAP, not the Tegra 2; ffc; 12 mp camera; full HD; hdmi out; 1 gig ram (i think); 4.3" qHd screen; LTE. but the big rumor (and big differentiating factor) is that it may be a vanilla Android/pure Google device, like a Nexus device, which could mean an unlocked device...
 

MarkO

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2009
Messages
149
Reaction score
0
Well looks like I won't have to make a "decision" now.

Samsung Charge it is.
 

vzdroid13

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
142
Reaction score
0
I've been seeing these rumors for a while now. I am just using a Thunderbolt as a replacement for my Droid until the Bionic comes out, but if the Bionic doesn't come out... ugh :icon_evil:

Could you explain exactly how you are doing that?

Sent from my Droid using DroidForums
 
Top