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Moto Xoom confirmed for Feb 24, Flash delayed until spring

updated 08:10 am EST, Mon February 21, 2011

Motorola Xoom ships February 24 without Flash


Verizon in a teaser confirmed that it was shipping the Motorola Xoom on February 24 but also revealed a disappointment for early adopters. In spite of promising Flash during its early teaser video, Motorola won't have Flash support on the Android 3.0 slate until sometime in the spring. No reason has been given for the setback, although the mobile OS is believed to have been rushed and was considered hands-off for the media until just three weeks ago.

Support for Flash on tablets has been a selling point for Android manufacturers, but its implementation has been problematic outside of Samsung's Galaxy Tab. Toshiba shipped the Folio 100 without Flash and didn't bundle it in later on. Advent Vega also had to temporarily pull Flash out. Much of the blame in either case has been blamed on optimization for the dual-core Tegra 2 processor.

The Xoom still stands as just the second viable competitor to the iPad and only the first to have a truly tablet-optimized interface. It will be faster and more feature-laden than Apple's model at first but will also face a relative lack of apps. While CNN, Pulse and others are developing Android 3.0-native apps, Android Market isn't guaranteed to start with any of these apps by the time the Xoom ships. The iPad shipped with hundreds of tablet-native apps already written and currently has tens of thousands.

The Xoom when it ships will cost $800 off-contract and will require users to pay for one month of Verizon 3G service with activation before having permission to use Wi-Fi. Motorola chief Sanjay Jha has said a Wi-Fi only version is coming and should cost roughly $600, but it won't be available until sometime later.


By Electronista Staff

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TAGS :  

industry, Verizon, Android, Motorola, Honeycomb, Xoom

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Previous Comments

  1. Foe Hammer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2005

    +4
    02/21, 08:41am | report spam | reply

    Whew!

    At least Moto will be able to blame problems with Flash in Adenoid 3.0 for the poor initial sales while they sink the rest of their money into the next version and their PR efforts into figuring out what they'll blame when that one tanks too.


    Comment buried. Show
  1. DerekMorr

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2010

    -37
    02/21, 09:15am | report spam | (3 replies) | reply

    why this hit piece?

    The iPad won't have Flash ever, so I'm not sure why the editors make such a big deal about the delay on Xoom.

    Further, who says that Honeycomb seems rushed? The authors make that claim, but never provide a source.

    It's pretty sad (and telling) that fanboy pseudo-news sites like this one have to run hit pieces mere days before the Xoom ships.

    And I await the massive rating-down the fanboys will surely bring....


  1. xmlaroux

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2010

    +6
    02/21, 09:26am | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    Runing 3.0 on my Nook Color

    I'm currently running Android 3.0 on my NC and I love it. The OS still needs some optomization for the Nook, but it is really nice. I really like the flow of the interface.

    @DerekMorr - People knock what they are scared of. And really, why be afraid? Why take this personal... I like the iPad, I like my iTouch, and I like my iPods. But I also like my Droid, and really like my Nook Color. 7" is perfect for me and my family... we like the mobility of it.

    Competition is driving Apple to make better products, and the same for Moto and Google.

    We ALL win!


  1. Rezzz

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2006

    +13
    02/21, 10:08am | report spam | reply

    Motorola

    Over-promise. Under-deliver.

    XOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


  1. prl99

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2009

    +24
    02/21, 10:16am | report spam | reply

    lack of Flash is important

    The constant rag by Apple haters is that iOS products don't contain Flash. There's a technical reason they don't and when Android products use Flash as a feature on their products in advertising, then don't deliver, it continues to show that Flash just isn't there (except is rare instances). This isn't a fanboy ragging on non-Apple products, it's someone who understands tainted advertising and the technical problems Adobe products face on any platform.

    The same thing happens you watch Apple vs. non-Apple advertising on TV. I've never seen Apple state that the images are simulated but I always see the disclaimer on non-Apple products that they are. If you can't use real images in advertising, I would wonder whether the product even works.

    Apple doesn't always deliver on what everyone thinks will be in a product but when they do announce the products specs, that's what they deliver. The same can't be said of other vendors products.


  1. nat

    Junior Member

    Joined: Mar 2002

    +8
    02/21, 10:33am | report spam | (2 replies) | reply

    po derekmor

    who says the ipad will never have flash? you? are you going to provide a source or is that just a hit post?

    when talking about why flash may not appear they point out it seems to have been rushed and only recently available. the lack of flash would seem to confirm that. i'm good at reading comprehension so if you need me again i'll be here for ya.

    it's pretty sad when posters get their pants yabbies all bundled up because they lack very basic tools of logic. i'm sure you could visit your local high school and they would let you set in on one of their debating courses.

    oh, as to not disappoint, i gave you a thumbs down. all better now?




  1. lysolman

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2005

    +9
    02/21, 10:45am | report spam | reply

    Honestly, the push is negligible

    Apple has consistently been the one pushing the rest of the industry, and not so much the other way around. Occasionally, the industry pushes Apple for specific feature sets, but from an R&D and design stand point, that arrow is almost permanently from Apple -> Industry.


  1. SunSeeker

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Apr 2001

    0
    02/21, 03:56pm | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    comment title

    what on earth is an itouch - should I want one?


  1. facebook_Justin

    Via Facebook

    Joined: Feb 2011

    -7
    02/21, 07:14pm | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    comment title

    You know what really saddens me, this is how the iPad SHOULD look. This is what I would expect from Apple, in terms of what a tablet's GUI would look like, but Motorola completely ruined it by including the Flash virus. I will never support a company that includes that pile of c*** virus on their devices, period. You wanna support Adobe and their proprietary ways Motorola? f*** you. I'll go with an iPad and it's inferior GUI before I support Adobe. It's so nice, widgets, higher resolution, the ability to CHANGE THE USER AGENT (if your reading this Apple, ADD THIS FEATURE AS ITS PISSING ME OFF SO MUCH NOT HAVING IT ON MY IPHONE). iOS is a GREAT phone os, but it is most CERTAINLY NOT SUITED FOR A TABLET. Good job on the rest of it Moto, too bad you destroyed it with the virus. Oh well.


  1. nat

    Junior Member

    Joined: Mar 2002

    +3
    02/21, 08:39pm | report spam | (1 reply) | reply

    how the ipad should look?

    facebook justin, the ipad is at v1. there was nothing before it. apple had no idea if it would be a hit or not. they were testing the waters. they were going where no one had gone before (except if you include those ms attempts and who does)

    everybody else has had a year to build on that and we don't know what ipad 2 will have.

    you're being too harsh.


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