What in the world is going on here, you might ask? It appears that Motorola Europe will be heading off this particular wagon of updates, they having a Facebook status up that confirms that their Android 3.1 Honeycomb update will include activation of their SD card support for the tablet. Of course you know that if you’ve got this tablet inside the USA on a Verizon plan, you’ve already got the update – but without the SD card bit. What blasphemous set of clicks, developers developers developers, and carriers lead to this terrifying situation?
Only the manufacturer gods know for sure. What we do know is that non-US users are the only ones that’ll be seeing this update come to them over the air in the coming days and weeks, starting today. This update brings one of two long-awaited updates to the world’s first Honeycomb tablet, the other being 4G LTE speed capability for those, again, having the tablet as carried by Verizon. There are ways of grabbing the first of these two updates that aren’t technically official, of course, but we’re always wanting the real deal to be coming asap, of course.
There’s also news incoming via some intrepid Verizon employees that the name of the XOOM may well soon be changing to XOOM 4G or XOOM LTE, both of which would lead us to believe the device’s LTE capability will be activated sooner than later.
As for the microSD card bit, you could always head back to the post entitled Motorola XOOM gets SD card activation early via Tiamac Kernel and see how that works out for you. This would be a bit of a hacking situation where you replace the software in your device via some instructions you MAY find confusing. Because these instructions could also lead to your device being busted beyond repair, we suggest you exercise utmost caution, without a doubt.
[via Motorola Euro]
I tweeted about this and actually got a reply from Motorola: “Google is refining the SD card solution for U.S.-based Motorola XOOM devices & we’ll share timing info as soon it’s available”…so, apparently, it’s Google’s fault?
not a chance in heck – it’ll be much more complicated than that, having to do with the relationship between motorola, verizon, and google
If that where the case I should be able to get the SD card fix for my Wi-Fi ONLY Xoom today. No Verizon involved with my tablet. I’m in the Googles fault camp.
I think this borders on pathetic. Although I won’t buy another Motorola product (after buying the RAZR 2 for $400) it’s insane that companies release products that clearly aren’t finished. I can’t wrap my head around it! How embarrassing for Moto.
The guys at Cyanogen can pump their own version of android out nightly, but it’s taken Moto this long just to make the MicroSD card work? Bah, just crazy.
And Motorola delivers another solid kick to the balls of their US users.
I think this has to do more with the carriers than anything
The reason the non-US Xoom is receiving SD support in the 3.1 update is because it is NOT a Google Experience Device. This means that Motorola (like Acer, ASUS and Samsung to name a few) are able to fiddle with Android before it is distributed on non-GED devices (I.E. the non-US Xoom).
The SD support introduced in the 3.1 non-US Xoom update is a “custom addition” (which in itself has drawbacks), unsupported by Google.
You in the US bought a Google Experience Device! This means you get what Google themselves provide. They’re apparently holding back SD support until the ICS release, to give their Nexus tablets the upper-hand for Christmas sales.
Your GED Xoom will receive the ICS update after that (and mine too, since I’ve flashed the US firmware onto it to give me the GED I paid for in the first place).
Trust me when I say, you’re missing out on nothing really. The downside of the non-US/non-GED Xoom is that it takes a LIFETIME to receive any updates, and Motorola are beginning to bundle their crap into them… won’t be long before Motorola Blur is a staple feature of non-US Xooms! Who wants that? I sure as hell don’t!
I have decided to scrap my xoom and go to the ipad, it is not the product but rather the company who makes it and the level of support they don’t provide. A simple answer to many questions is not difficult ignoring is not the answer!
Wait, so you didn’t get the SD card update so you’re dumping it for an iPad that will never have the possiblity of SD card support? That doesn’t make sense to me.
I’m as frustrated as anybody that I can’t use an SD card, but aside from some apps, the Xoom is still a more capable device. Even my iFanboy friends admit that they can’t do a lot of what I can, and it takes a huge amount of pride swallowing for them to do so.
But yes, it’s beyond inexcusable that we were sold on these things having SD card support coming soon and it’s still not here.
I tried the SD card on a Toshiba tablet and it doesnt work either. So it’s not the hardware, its the software…