Hands on with Motorola Droid 4 Pre-ICS ROM Update!

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Verizon and Motorola are notoriously slow at getting updates, which was something I knew when I bought my Droid 4. They laid out their plans for the Ice Cream Sandwich Android operating system for their various phones, which is reportedly about to start. As a preliminary step, Verizon has started seeding updates to several phones getting the ICS update in the coming weeks.

A friend at work just got the update for their Droid Razr earlier this week, and I subsequently got the one for my Droid 4. As usual, the download showed up on Android fan-sites well before most people got it pushed to their phone … in my case it was a week after I first saw it as available … another typical Motorola / Verizon experience that should prepare people for a slow ICS roll-out.

Here are the update details from Verizon:

Device Features
+ Enhanced loud call end and connect tones over Bluetooth.®
+ Power On function has been fixed.
+ Improved battery life.
+ Improvements made to reduce touch screen lockups, device
sluggishness and blank screen lockups.
+ Keypad backlight only launches when needed.

Applications & Widgets
+ Successfully receive Visual Voice Mail notifications.
+ MotoCast™ widget can be added to home screen and thumbnail view.
+ Improved text message delivery when using the Messaging application.

Network Connectivity
+ Improvements to Wi-Fi connectivity.

Early this week I complained on Facebook because I went running with my Droid at half battery, but at some point a ‘smart action’ took over to help with battery life and shut down the GPS – which was really the only system in use at the time! I have also had issues with the keyboard backlight switching on and off seemingly at will, but for the last few days it has worked as I would have expected.

But the two biggest things are that the battery life is CLEARLY improved – I never charged my phone yesterday and went for a 9 mile run this morning and still had plenty of battery by the end! Also, the ‘random slowdowns’ I would get have been completely alleviated. I can only hope this is a sign of things to come – the Droid Razr is rumored to get the ICS update in the next couple of weeks, and I hope the Droid 4 isn’t far behind!

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About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!

1 Comment on "Hands on with Motorola Droid 4 Pre-ICS ROM Update!"

  1. Glad to hear it’s working out for you.  Hope that the chart I saw the other day with ICS dates is true.  That means you get 2 updates in as many months.

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