The Motorola Atrix Android 2.3 update we were promised for the UK earlier this year is very nearly here. After an initial pledge of a simultaneous roll-out with the US, months of delays led to us, as well as a forum full of irate Atrix owners, wondering when the Gingerbread goodness would be dished out. Now though, we’ve got it locked down.
We’ve confirmed with Motorola UK that the Android 2.3 update for the Motorola Atrix will now be rolled out in mid-November. That should be for unlocked phones: we’re still waiting to hear if there will be any delay for devices locked to Orange or T-Mobile. The American version of the update added support for video chat in Google Talk, a rejigged gallery, Firefox 4.o for the Webtop OS in laptop dock mode, as well as support for all the latest apps.
There’s nary a mention of the UK model Motorola Atrix, which with a qHD screen and its own laptop dock was one of the most powerful smartphones on the market when it launched in June, in Motorola’s official Android update timetable. Unsurprisingly, this has left many Moto-toting Brits frustrated – especially since a UK executive told Electricpig at launch that an Android 2.3 update would arrive in the US and UK at the same. While a precise explanation was not forthcoming, Motorola likely encountered more problems updating its Motoblur software that sits atop Android than it expected.
Said update is already available in the US, Canada, and Asian markets, but to add salt to the wound, Motorola has locked down the bootloader on the Atrix, preventing Android enthusiasts from loading up more up to date custom firmware.
Hopefully this news will keep Motorola Atrix owners sated for a while longer – at least until Ice Cream Sandwich comes along and triggers yet another wave of envy. Remember folks: never buy your phone for what it will do, rather than what it can do now.
