If you are tired of waiting for Gingerbread update on your Motorola Droid, you might want to go grab it yourself. Peter Alfonso released an updated Stock Gingerbread ROM for the Original Droid over the weekend, title GPA15. To get started follow this quick steps by Droid-life.

Step 1: Download this file and place on the root of your SD Card. (Changelog)
Step 2: Boot in Clockwork Recovery and wipe both Data and Cache.
Step 3: Using Clockwork, navigate to the .zip file and flash the ROM.

For more information visit Peter Alfonso site.

Verizon is pushing another software update for Motorola Droid, though it’s not Gingerbread but certainly a step towards it.

Big Red is updating Droid to Android 2.2.2 with FRG83G release. The update is already available OTA to stock Droid users.  FRG83G is a small 3.4MB download that once installed will fix the text messaging bug.

Motorola Droid Pro the first enterprise-ready Android 2.2 smartphone in partnership with Verizon Wireless will begin accepting pre-orders on Nov. 9, before the launch date- Nov. 18. The pricing has been fixed at $180 with two-year contract, after a $100 mail-in rebate. However, to enjoy the phone, users must subscribe to any of the Verizon’s Nationwide Talk plan that starts at $40/monthly, in addition to 3G Smartphone plan. That’s tricky, we thought so!

Look at the designed specs:

• 3.1-inch touch display over a four-row QWERTY keypad
• Adobe Flash Player 10 included
• 1GHz processor
• Support for full-push corporate e-mail including corporate directories and calendar information. Preloaded software – Quickoffice Mobile Suite, Skype mobile, Mediashare, File Manager and AuthenTech VPN client.
• Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth connectivity (first Smartphone to offer Cisco IPsec VPN connectivity for enterprise-level security)
• GSM/EDGE (Quad-band), HSDPA/HSUPA (Tri-band) for roaming
• 3G in 120+ plus countries, EVDO 3G network in US
• Media files with multiple file formats
• 5-megapixel camera with image editing tools, and video capabilities.

Motorola introduced the Droid Pro on Oct. 5, along with entry-level consumer handset- Citrus. Motorola- Verizon partnership has introduced six Android-running handsets so far. The Motorola Flipout, Bravo and Flipside – running on Android 2.1, headed for release in the South American markets via AT&T.  

The accelerating popularity of Android-based handsets has proved to be a blessing for both manufacturers and carriers. Gartner analysts forecasted in September that Android devices were likely to out-win iPhones and BlackBerry phones by the end of 2010, close behind is the Symbian as the second-largest operating system. 

[via eWeek]

Motorola is developing a brand new multimedia smartphone – Motorola Droid X SE, an updated version of Motorola Droid X flagship Android smartphone. Wondering what SE means? We speculate the abbreviation SE may stand for Special Edition, Second Edition or Silver Edition because of the front panel bordered silver frame.

What features does Motorola Droid X SE Smartphone supports?

• 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display
• Resolution of 480 x 854 pixels
•  8GB integrated flash memory
• 1.2GHz processor
• Support CDMA 800/1900 MHz 1xEV-DO rev.A

Motorola plans to sell Motorola Droid X SE in US. However, its price, release date, and availability details not yet announced. Stay Tuned we will return soon with more news on it.

[via Solid Blogger]

Motorola likes to get funky with the form factors, and the company has established the same by joining hands with top technologies- Blackberry and Verizon. Motorola’s Sanjay Jha today formally announced the Droid Pro on stage This Android phone is a portrait device with a BlackBerry-esque keyboard right below the screen, with 5- megapixel auto-focus camera, 3.1-inch display, Android 2.2, 1GHz processor and dual-mode CDMA/GSM chip for global roaming is expected to sizzle in the first week of November.

The Droid Pro on Verizon rumoured to be Venus works on Blur technology with global roaming support in over 220 countries.

The BlackBerry keyboard is swish, and fast with comparable speeds of 37WPM. The Droid Pro is paired with a responsive capacitive touchscreen and 1GHz processor that speeds through the UI.

[via Engadget]

Full keyboard

One of the features that make Motorola Droid a success was the full Qwerty keyboard. Everyone  knows that typing on full Qwerty keyboard is faster and easier than the touch screen keyboard. If you have an Android phone that comes with full Qwerty keyboard, master these shortcuts and start opening apps faster and perform other functions quicker.  You can also create your own keyboard shortcuts.

Shortcuts for opening Android apps

• Search + B: Open Browser
• Search + C: Open Contacts
• Search + E: Open E-mail
• Search + G: Open Gmail
• Search + P: Open Music
• Search + S: Open Text messaging
• Search + Y: Open YouTube

You can add or change these shortcuts through  Settings > Applications > Quick launch

Typing shortcuts

• Shift + Del: Delete the character to the right of the cursor
• Alt + Del: Delete an entire line
• Shift + Shift (press it twice): Activate caps-lock; press shift once more to exit
• Alt + Trackball-Left: Move cursor to beginning of line
• Alt + Trackball-Right: Move cursor to end of line
• Alt + Trackball-Up: Move cursor to top of page
• Alt + Trackball-Down: Move cursor to bottom of page
• Shift + Trackball-Left/Right: Highlight text for cutting or copying

Browser Short cut Keys

• Menu + J: Go back a page
• Menu + K: Go forward a page
• Menu + R: Refresh current page
• Menu + F: Find on page
• Menu + B: Open bookmarks
• Menu+ A: Add bookmarks
• Menu + S: Open social network sharing menu
• Menu + H: View browsing history
• Menu + S: Open browser settings
• Menu + D: Downloads
• Menu + G: Page info
• Menu + E: Select Text

Gmail Android Shortcuts

• R: Reply to current message
• A: Reply-all to current message
• Y: Archive message
• Menu + U: Refresh inbox
• Menu + C: Compose new e-mail
• Enter: Open an e-mail
• Alt + Trackball-Up: Jump to top of inbox
• Alt + Trackball-Down: Jump to bottom of inbox

Shortcut keys may vary from device to device. The above should work on most of android devices. Also don’t be afraid to create shortcut for your favorite apps.

The following Android phones come with full Qwerty keyboard:
Intercept (Moment 2), Droid 2, myTouch 3G Slide, FlipOut, Optimus Q,Devour, Backflip, lg Eve, Moment, DROID/Milestone, CLIQ