• I’ve used many screen covers for a variety of devices but never have I been so impressed as I continue to be by SGP products. This company is the real deal. They make insanely durable and perfectly cut screen covers that make you wonder why you ever used anything else in the past. Do yourself a huge favor and see why everyone is depending on the SGP Motorola Xoom Screen Protector Steinheil Ultra Series [Ultra Fine]

• A dependable, lightweight, and well build Bluetooth keyboard is what voters have expressed is their second choice among the best Xoom Accessories. The stock Motorola Wireless Keyboard for Motorola ATRIX and XOOM (Motorola Retail Packaging) is simply the best that they come. I’ve personally tried about 3 variations of this keyboard from other manufacturers and always end up having things go buggy or break down very quickly.

• If you already own a Motorola Xoom, you know that sometimes goofy fingers and oily fingerprints don’t translate into the most sophisticated tablet experience. A high quality stylus is an absolute must. While the price is slightly higher on this stylus that others that can be found for under $5.00, there is a reason. You can try and find out yourself, or take the Advice of thousands of Motorola Xoom owners that stand behind the Targus 3-In-1 Stylus for Apple iPad 2 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB WiFi + 3G, iPhone, iPod, Motorola Xoom, Viewsonic gTablet, Thosiba Thrive, Superpad, Samsung Galaxy, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Acer Iconia, HP Touchpad, BlackBerry Playbook stylus.

• One of the best features of the Motorola Xoom is that it has an external HDMI out that can be hooked up to your giant flat panel TV hanging on the wall and your geek chic monitors. There is nothing more rewarding than taking some high definition video of that crazy relative doing something ridiculous during the holidays and reminding him/her later that evening in front of everyone. Using the Mediabridge – High Speed Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable with Ethernet – 6ft – Motorola Droid X – HTC EVO you can also enjoy slideshows of all of the great photos and experiences that you have stored inside your Xoom.

• Want to protect that $500 (or more for early Xoom adopters) investment in Android Excellence? The OtterBox Defender Series Hybrid Case for Motorola Xoom (MOT2-XOOM1-20-E4OTR) delivers unlike any other Xoom Case can. This is the reason why it’s called the defender and also the reason that OtterBox has become the best rated and highest selling case manufacturer among all high-end tech devices.

• This Bear Motion (Trademark) 100% Real Leather Case for For Motorola Xoom 10.1 inch tablet (3G & 4G WI-FI 16 GB 32 GB 64 GB) – Xoom Case Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb Black is gaining momentum as a leader for Xoom Accessories going into late summer 2011. The stand is built very solid and has a strong heft that makes the Xoom secured in place ready for the most comfortable and efficient viewing angle. Read the reviews of why Xoom owners are flocking to this excellent Xoom Accessory.

• The Motorola Xoom already has excellent battery life but this little accessory will take that battery and enable it to be a mobile Android tablet on steroids. The New Trent iDual-Port Pack IMP50D 5000mAh External Battery Pack and Charger for iPad2, iPad, iPhone 4G, 3Gs 3G (AT&T and Verizon), iPod Touch (1G 2G 3G 4G), Motorola Droid Phones, HTC Android Phones, Blackberry, Kindle DX, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung EPIC, Nintendo, Sony PSP and much more has become very popular among many different Tablet owners for it’s highly functional ability to give you that extra amount of juice you need for the longer day commutes and trips without access to power strips. Camping anyone?

• If any of you read my experiences golfing with my Motorola Xoom,the RAM-B-166-TAB3U: RAM Suction Cup Twist Lock Mount with Tab-Tite Cradle for the Apple iPad, iPad 2, HP Slate, Lenovo LePad & Motorola XOOM is the Xoom Accessory that made it happen. For a longer review check out my post. This is also one of the Best Xoom Accessories for mounting your Xoom in your car for longer trips and commutes.

• Do you have kids or guests driving in your car that you would love to entertain but do not have a built in $1000 plus car theater package. The Tab-Master 200 Universal Headrest Mounting System (Self-Install) for All Tablets makes this possible and lets you quickly put on cartoons for the “are we there yet” moments in life.

• This popular Xoom Accessory is for the Xoom owner that is looking for that “wow” factor and wants to have a little fun. Appropriate for kids as well as adults the Tablet Arcade Suction Cup Joystick for Increased Control and Gameplay for Samsung Galaxy / iPad / Toshiba Thrive / HP Touchpad and More Touchscreen Tablets. *Includes SD Card reader lets you turn your Motorola Xoom into a virtual arcade.

I hope that you got a good sense of what some of the best selling and most popular Xoom Accessories are for 2011. The Xoom may have had a few road bumps in it’s infancy but it has a strong following and the apps, accessories, and updates are making it a stronger tablet each and every day. Let us know what your favorite Xoom Accessories are.

Also, don’t forget to check out Kindle Fire Accessories and the new Kindle Fire Tablet!

Apple is also coming out with a new tablet rumored to be called the Ipad Mini. There is sure to be many accessories coming out in the months ahead for Apple. The Ipad Mini might just be the tablet that is the most usable for everyday situations. Click here to check out some of the Ipad Mini Accessories as they are released.

The first thing that I noticed when I anxiously opened the folio case was the distinct smell of real high-quality leather. This was such a welcomed surprise as I have become used to the pleather or vinyl cases and materials that are so commonly used to imitate the real deal. The quality of the leather and grain was accented by rock solid stitching that created a very high-end feel. This is the first Xoom Accessory that I have really enjoyed opening and almost felt like a high-end wallet or watch that you would look forward to as a gift.

The Bluetooth Folio case comes with a slightly smaller keyboard than the standalone Bluetooth Motorola Xoom keyboard, almost exactly matching the dimensions of the Xoom itself. Even with this slightly smaller profile, I found that the keyboard did not feel awkward at all and had a slight concave feel that really helped me type with ease.

There is a very smart design to the built-in kickstand strap component of this case. The kickstand felt very secure and left the Xoom at the perfect viewing angle, while there was no sense of the unit tipping over backwards like I had seen in many other case/keyboard combos on the market. To achieve this solid stature, the heavy-duty leather strap is securely stitched into the leather and two burly snaps can be used to adjust the perfect viewing angle.

The fit of this Xoom Accessory is very snug at first but is exactly the right fit for the Xoom. With each additional use, the leather case seems to mold just a bit better to the shape of the device as it becomes conditioned correctly. The leather case itself is as I mentioned a very high quality and does not have any problem scratching or getting scuffed easily.

In conclusion, I think that this is the case/keyboard combination that I have been looking for through all of the available Xoom Accessories that are currently on the market. I have already used this combination very effectively in place of hauling around my much heavier laptop for quick appointments or coffee shop work. If you have been feeling a little left out from our Ipad brethren with all of the high-end luxe cases that are available, this will definitely give you that touch of elegance and sophistication that only a high-end accessory like this can do. Do yourself a favor and hit up the Xoom Accessory store link to the right for a great price on the Motorola Xoom Bluetooth Keyboard Leather Folio Case (Bulk packaged)

For other great accessories check out www.ipadminiaccessories.net
.

Golfing with my Xoom!!

While this Xoom Accessory might not be a fit for every golfer’s bag, I knew the moment I saw the RAM suction and mount it was heading straight for my Golf Cart.

You might say that the RAM Suction Cup Twist Lock Mount with Tab-Tite Cradle for Motorola Xoom is not meant for golf, but for use in your car instead. While this little baby definitely rocks when used in your car for a Xoom in vehicle media and navigation powerhouse, it also finds a great place when playing golf.

I decided to take this Xoom Accessory for a test spin when I saw it released and the great reviews that it had been given. I have been quite fond of using my Droid X in the golf cart to act as a rangefinder using the Sky-Droid app from the app market. I also use apps that tally my score, record my distance for most shots, and show trends for my rounds throughout the year.While I’m no golfing expert, these little technological morsels fill my game with just enough geek to make it even more fun!

The build of this accessory is made extremely well. It feels very solid and keeps and very tight and secure grip on the Xoom Tablet. While some suction cup mounting accessories have less than stellar suction power, this sucker acts like a leech to any smooth substrate and latches on without any mercy, exactly what I need while whipping around the course in a golf cart. I felt very confident that the Xoom was not going to fall off and break into pieces, which allowed me to focus on my game. Here is a couple tech details to look at below

• Tab-Tite Cradle Features: Support cups contain open slots to accommodate for devices of various sizes, including tablets in protective sleeves
• Back plate can support various size support cups. Spring loaded tension provides secure support for your tablet.
• Spring loaded cradle allows for quick release of your tablet. Full access to all ports.
• Material: High Strength Composite & Powder Coated Marine Grade Aluminum
• Ball Size: 1″ Rubber Ball “B” Size. Note: The “U” in the part number reflects product packaged in poly bag.

I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to slap the RAM Suction Cup Mount into place and fire up the Sky-Droid (or any other golf GPS app) and see in the beautiful Xoom display show with extreme accuracy my distance from the hole and the pin placement etc. I’ve found that not only am I more accurate, but I enjoy the game even more. I also liked that I could quick boot up the local weather and see the wind speed and weather conditions that might affect my game play.

Another use for this Xoom Accessory on the golf course is for videotaping and analyzing your swing. Many people pay local golf pros a small fortune for this kind of lesson souvenir. With the RAM Suction Cup Twist Lock Mount with Tab-Tite Cradle for Motorola Xoom the only cost is a bucket of balls and the I-Swing golf swing analyzer app. I just parked my golf cart behind my range location and using the front windshield of the golf cart, I bolted it and recorded each swing from behind. The videos looked great and I was able to go home and throw the video on the HDTV for some great detailed tweaking of my swing.

Again, this app is obviously meant for auto use but it also has some other great applications. One that my wife recently found was to bolt the Xoom using this accessory onto the fridge and watched some gourmet cooking instructional videos right from the vantage point she wanted.

All in all, the RAM suction cup for the Xoom and other compatible tablets is a solid addition to the growing list of Xoom Accessories that every Motorola fan should have in their arsenal. Let me know how your next round goes and send us some screen shots of how you tricked out your golf cart “Xoom Style”. Check out our Xoom Store for the lowest price on this Xoom Accessory Best of the Best!

For breaking Cheap PC Games daily deals and news take a look here for a great resource.

It seems like the Motorola Xoom was just released and fighting for its position as a leader in the tablet category. Low and behold the folks at Motorola couldn’t keep the secret out for long that they are planning on soon releasing a bigger, badder, Motorola Xoom2.

While the ad spot wasn’t super specific on when the Motorola Xoom 2  and it’s accessories would officially be released, the intense competition the Xoom is getting from the Ipad2 and other recent entries is sure to make them take action sooner that later. Another reason that Motorola may be chomping at the bit to get the latest Xoom to market is the July release of the HP Touchpad. This highly anticipated tablet is getting a lot of buzz through many different consumer segments and Motorola can’t afford to sit and watch another tablet take away its slice of market share.

There is always a chance that the Motorola tablet that was featured in the leaked ad is just another tablet used as a placeholder representing the power of the Verizon network, but there are many Motorola Xoom Accessories and features that make us believe it is in fact a good possibility the tablet that is shown is the Motorola Xoom 2.

Lets hope that Motorola learns a few things about how to compete in the super competitive tablet world. While many people don’t have a problem with the Motorola Xoom and the great accessories that were released in the original, they do have a problem with the poor choices for sales channels and insane pricing at first glance. With the Vizio Tablet soon to hit Wal-Mart for around $350.00, Motorola has it’s work cut out to demonstrate what kind of value they can bring to the table to be competitively priced spec for spec.

Don’t forget to check out the new and approved Xoom Accessories store to the side. We updated about 30 new Motorola Xoom Accessories and will be having some detailed video and comparative reviews of them now that there are many options for just about every accessory you are looking for. Drop us a line if there is a specific accessory you would like us to focus on or if you have any suggestions for an accessory that the Xoom is missing in our store.

The Motorola Xoom’s browsing capabilities are now complete with the launch of Adobe Flash 10.2. This crucial feature will give Xoom owners an almost genuine web experience, with the ability to watch movies (hello, Youtube!) and play games straight from the browser, instead of using apps for streaming like the iPad 2.

Adobe Flash Player for Android still doesn’t support hardware graphics acceleration -which translates to no  HD video playback yet- however 720p HD video playback will be added in a subsequent update, according to an Adobe statement to Engadget. Flash integration into the Adobe browser is also being ironed out.

Flash 10.2 is now available for free download at the Android Market.

Motorola announced today that it will release a Wi-Fi only version of the Xoom in the United States.  This Xoom will have the same specifications as the current model (of course without 3G or 4G capabilities), and will allow consumers looking for a lower entry price to buy a Xoom for $599 without any contract obligations.  Motorola says it will be available through a wider distribution channel, using commerical IT and retail distributors.

Interestingly, this model will contain a “beta” version of Adobe Flash 10.2 which will give it a competitive edge over current iPad models.

Personally, I think the 4G model is still the clear choice.  It greatly enhances the user experience and frees them from the tether of WiFi hotspots.  Plus the added cost for 4G is offset by the reduced price for the 4G model with a contract.

Ultimately users will need to decide how important 4G is for them and purchase the model that best suits his or her needs.  How about you – were you holding out for the Wi-Fi model or is 4G a critical feature?

See:  http://mediacenter.motorola.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=13842&NewsAreaId=-1 for the full press release.

A fix to the Xoom’s lack of Flash support may be just around the corner, as Motorola has just announced via Twitter that a software update will be rolled out over the air tonight in phases. This update will prepare the tablet to support Adobe Flash 10.2 and will resolve Daylight Savings Time issues. The launch date for Flash has yet to be announced, though, so keep in mind this does not mean that you will have Flash tonight. It may take a few days for the update deployment to be completed, so don’t be too alarmed if you have not received the prompt yet.

If your Xoom is unlocked/rooted, it needs to be restored to factory standards and re-locked; otherwise the device will not receive the notification.

Visit the Motorola Forums and Developer’s website for more information on this update and instructions on how to re-lock your Xoom.

(Thanks to our reader Randy for the heads up.)

Visit these sites for more info

• http://www.XoomAccessories.com
• http://www.youtube.com/xoomaccessoriescom
• http://www.youtube.com/doschott

Have a question about Android Tablets or The Motorola Xoom? Need a review on any Xoom accessories? We can provide candid, honest, and in-depth reviews on products because he is Independent.

Does your business need consulting on how to integrate this device? Perhaps your University or Health Organization could benefit from tablet devices?

Apple’s first head-to-head competitor for its iPad 2, the Motorola Xoom Android Tablet has barely hit the market and it is already one-upping Apple by announcing its tablet can soon be upgraded to 4G. In spite of its fairly hefty pricing there is no doubt the Motorola Xoom is unquestionably the best rooted Android tablet available. But Motorola’s announcement of 4G is a mixed bag of good news and bad news:

• It’s 4G – The addition of 4G LTE will allow Xoom users connect to Verizon’s ultra-fast LTE network. That means download times up to 10X faster than 3G.
• It’s Free – Motorola is offering the Xoom 4G Upgrade free to all current owners.
• The Time Factor – You have to ship your Xoom back to Motorola for the hardware  & software upgrade. The company is promising that will take up to six business days; but they are less clear about when that six days begins.  Keep in mind that 6 business days will have a weekend in between, which which means you’d be Xoom-less for a week or more.
• You should back up your data before sending your Xoom for the 4G upgrade- and reset/encrypt it if you have privacy concerns. Check out the Verizon upgrade user guide for more details.

No Upgrade if Rooted?

While there have been plenty of reports on the Web that Motorola would deem rooted Xooms unfit for upgrade, Xoom Accessories has found at the Motorola that may not be the case. According to an official statement from a  Motorola Forum Manager in their Xoom forum, “For  devices that are returned unlocked, Motorola will attempt to complete  the upgrade, but may be unable to update the software. In these cases,  the device will be returned to the consumer with just the 4G LTE modem  installed. More details on the process will be available closer to the upgrade availability”.

If you have already rooted your Xoom, you may want to re-lock the bootloader it by flashing back to the stock ROM in order to ensure your upgrade will be succesfully completed.

There is no doubt Motorola could have waited to ship the Xoom until all of the issues were resolved but marketing realities are what they are. It was important to Motorola to offer something that Apple isn’t and won’t for a while to come. 4G on a tablet is a big deal to some users and the reason they bought a Xoom. All things balanced, it is probably wisest to hold off rooting that tablet until Motorola sends it back with 4G installed. It is also good to keep in mind that rooting your device could also prevent you from utilizing new Xoom accessories that rely on 4G or Motorola/Verizon updates.

The upgrade is expected during the next quarter, and will be available for 6 months. Users may sign up for an e-mail notification to let them know when the upgrade process begins.

What do you think about Motorola’s upgrade policy? Let us know!

When you are considering a case for your Motorola Xoom, or looking for a home in Grand Forks, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re going to get when you open the package. Trying to imagine what the protective case will look like once it’s out of its box can be frustrating and, the truth is, there just aren’t that many reliable reviews readily available on the Internet. A brief paragraph listing the technical specifications of the carrying case in question isn’t going to help you much in your search for the right one for you. Fortunately for you, I have filmed my completely comprehensive, hands-on review of the Protective Portfolio Functional Flair Case.

There have been some recent reports online saying the Portfolio Case has actually scratched the Xoom while in use; which is the one thing that can turn any Xoom owner off a product. I have been using this case continuously since launch day and am happy to report there are absolutely no scratches or blemishes in my Xoom’s surface whatsoever, even after some pretty rough use. My hands-on video review also shows that this Xoom case is literally the “perfect fit” for your beloved Motorola tablet.

What’s really great about the Functional Flair Case, besides being the perfect fitting protective case, is its overall sturdiness and protective quality. As you can see from the video, it folds over your Xoom like a shell, but the case’s protective qualities extend to when the Xoom is upright on a desk and being used. In my video I shake the heck out of my desk during the review and the Xoom doesn’t budge. Even being partially fastened into the case, when shaken, the Functional Flair Case proves to be the perfect fit. Unlike some other slide-in Xoom cases, this one is meant to stay on and keep your Motorola device shielded at all times. To this end, the Functional Flair Case gives you the ability to prop up your Xoom at three different angles, depending on how far away you are sitting from it, or to just lay it flat in your lap.

While you might be sold on this particular case, especially after watching the video review of it, there are some other Xoom cases for you to conside before making your purchase. The CaseCrown Hard Case is a little bit cheaper than the Functional Flair and might be worth considering if price is your only concern. Motorola also makes a protective gel case that – just by the looks of it – doesn’t appear to be half as sturdy as the Functional Flair is. USA Gear makes a soft case that will protect your Xoom from abrasion scratches and zips up to look quite sharp. Whatever Xoom Case you end up getting, the lesson to be learned is: a hands-on review that you can see is the best way to research a product.

We will continue delivering in-depth reviews for all Xoom accessories from Motorola and other manufacturers, so stay tuned!

Hands On Demo of the Android Tablet Xoom

Here’s a re-cap article on my three Motorola Xoom tablet and case hands-on videos, written by Natalie R. Enjoy!

With all the high tech equipment, brain-power and configuring that goes into making a Motorola Xoom, you’d think they would spend just a little more time on making it easier to open, let alone turn on. Dan Schott from Xoom Accessories.com has provided several humorous video reviews of the product to show just how difficult the ostensibly simple task of opening the portfolio case and powering on a Motorola Xoom can be. You may be thinking, how difficult could it possibly be? Well, to put it briefly, the average time for completing the task was two minutes among three different people. Now I understand why they put instructions on the back of the pop-tart box. If you feel like you’re up to the challenge yourself, and don’t want to spoil the surprise of how to open and power on a Motorola Xoom, I’d advise you not to read further. However, I will send out a warning that the task has a high risk of making you feel stupid and/or highly confused.

Dan begins his first video by choosing a random stranger in a mall food court to see how they might approach this difficult challenge. Once approached, the man fumbles while trying to open the Xoom case. Finally, he opens it after approximately 30 seconds of turning, squinting, head-scratching, muttering incantations under his breath, praying, retrieving a magic key after slaying the dragon– okay, I may be exaggerating here, but you get my point. Now that he has completed his first challenge, the random man must conquer the next task of (cue Beethoven’s Fifth) turning the device on. The man struggles with this task for an entire minute until you start to wonder if only King Arthur is capable of turning on this Motorola Xoom. Finally, Dan relieves the poor man by telling him that the button is in fact, located on the back of the device.

After the first (ahem) “interesting” experiment, Dan tries the device out on another unsuspecting volunteer, Tyler. Tyler’s attempt is slightly more impressive than the previous contender. He figures out how to open the Motorola Xoom in surprisingly the same time it takes to open a cookie jar. In this Xoom demo video, Dan points out that there are no buttons on the front because it gives the Motorola Xoom a more modern and futuristic look to it that makes it appealing to consumers. Tyler almost makes a costly mistake with one of the Xoom accessories (the stylus) by removing the cap from the pen side and almost attempting to write on the screen with it. Dan then explains that the stylus that comes with the Motorola Xoom is double sided: one side is just a regular pen with a cap and the other has a soft end that is to be used to navigate on your Xoom. This Xoom accessory can be found at all major electronic stores such as Best Buy, Verizon and Amazon. Or, if you’d like to support Dan and what he does, you can even buy it through their Amazon store.

After watching Tyler struggle with the Xoom a little longer, Dan makes the recommendation to viewers that consulting the guidebook upon purchasing your Xoom may be a wise decision that will save you from a lot of the hassle witnessed in these demos. While showing off the elusive button on the back of the Xoom, Dan explains the features of the camera beside it. The Xoom comes equipped with a 720p video recorder that could act as your camcorder and home camera. It can also act as a movie player for your children. The remainder of the video mentions how convenient the Motorola Xoom is for storage and traveling because its lightweight feature makes it easy to unpack and carry around with you everywhere. The Motorola Xoom is a product you absolutely can’t miss out on. If you feel intimidated about the task of opening and turning on your Motorola Xoom, the final video should make you feel a little more confident in your attempts. However, if you’re a male, it would seem that your best option (based on these videos) would be to just ask the nearest female.

For our readers across the pond, Motorola has finally announced the price for Xoom in the United Kingdom.  The Wi-Fi only version will be £450, while T-Mobile will carry the Wi-Fi plus 3G model for €699.95. Both models will be released during the first week of April; according to retailers PC World UK and Dixons (WiFi Xoom sold exclusively at the latter) .

The pricing remains competitive with the current versions of the iPad.  However, the current release announcement made by Apple today puts some pressure on Motorola. The new  iPad 2 prices remained the same across the board in the US: $499 for 16GB,  $599 for 32GB and $699 for the 64GB WiFi models; while the 3G pricing is $629, $729, and $829 respectively.  Pricing for the UK iPad 2 has yet to be announced; but it will hit the shelves on March 25th.

What are your thoughts? Does the iPad release announcement change your purchasing plans?  What do you expect to hear in the UK regarding Xoom pricing and iPad pricing?

Check out the video blog here:

Please comment and let us know what apps you use for video conferencing  and what your experience has been.

I have a series of four photos that help show the glare issues I am writing about. Please be your own judge and post some comments if you have your own experiences to share. You will also notice the nasty fingerprints which are developing on the stock device after one day of use.

I grabbed a screen protector from the Xoom Accessories Store and it is shipping to my business as I write this.I will update this blog post with Before/After.

1)

Glare 1

2)

Glare 2

3)

Glare 3

4)

Glare 4

Please enjoy my video blog on my first look of the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom Accessories! I review box contents and give you a look at the profile and size of the zoom.

We will do more in-depth and candid reviews but it is an exciting day and we need to have some fun first!

Video Blog:

Motorola Xoom Google Talk

As promised, Xoom Accessories is bringing you the latest news on the Motorola Xoom launch day!

Verizon has decided to make a Motorola Xoom purchase even sweeter by removing the data plan sign up requirement for buying the tablet off-contract. Originally customers had to pay the $35 data plan activation fee plus $20 for a month of data. This $55 saving could go to your first Xoom accessory!

If you bought the Xoom before the policy changed and had to pay for the data plan, you can call Verizon to have the contract canceled, and the cost will be reimbursed to you.

As far as data plans go, Verizon offers several options; as you can see in the picture below. Regardless of which data plan you choose, you’ll have to pay a $35 activation fee.

Verizon made the right moved by removing the data requirement from the Xoom. We’re sure the unsubsidized option will atract more customers who want a taste of Honeycomb without being tied to a contract.

I would like to add that everyone at Best Buy; the staff was very knowledgeable and eager to help. I had a wonderful experience with Erin, a wireless consultant for Best Buy, who was able to help me with the best Xoom accessories and talked me into the geek squad black tie protection plan to keep my Xoom safe from my children!

Video Blog:

What to expect on your receipt:

Xoom Accessories Receipt

Xoom Accessories Verizon Plan List

Did you get your Xoom yet? Did you go to Verizon or Best Buy? How was your purchase experience? Let us know!

Could the Motorola Xoom truly be an iPad killer?  The question has been on the minds of many tech enthusiasts (us included!).  It has the potential to be just that; says Verizon’s Business Sales manager for the Dakotas and Minnesota, Eric Martinson.  I had the opportunity to interview my old friend and colleague tonight to hear his impressions of the Xoom, its impact on the business world, and partnership with Verizon.

Eric is in the enviable position of trying gadgets like Xoom before they reach the general public.  He has been impressed by its speed, intuitiveness, and market potential.  Eric described the Xoom is a “blank slate” with the potential to write custom apps for business and other markets.  (Calling all Honeycomb developers!)

Eric is in daily contact with companies in many industries, including manufacturing and health care.  These companies, Eric says, will begin to realize new ways that this portable technology can improve their business.  Doctors will save time and have better access to patient health information.  Manufacturers will keep closer tabs on their inventory in real time.

The Xoom is perfectly positioned to be the right technology for businesses.  With the Honeycomb and Android communities driving development, new apps for business and personal use will increase the functionality of Xoom.  This will help Xoom maintain its image of individuality – the tablet will be truly yours to change and customize to fit your needs.

“Pretty cool” – those were Eric’s first words to describe the Xoom.  No doubt that tomorrow, Feb 24, the rest of the world will echo his remarks as the general public has its first taste of Xoom.

What are your thoughts?  Post your reactions to Xoom and any videos you have unboxing tomorrow!

Motorola Xoom special gold edition and leather sleeve.

Motorola has recently announced a drawing to win a free Xoom! Not only that, this is a limited gold edition Xoom that will be given away to select Oscar nominees this weekend.

All you need to do is retweet this tweet:

http://twitter.com/#!/Motorola/status/40471237238980608

Official rules can be found here:

http://twitpic.com/42yxn7

I’m pumped for the Xoom release but the mechanic and doctor each took my Xoom $$, so I’m hoping to be one of the winners!  Best of luck and share this with your friends!

I had some time on my hands on Feb 20th; so I wondered over to Best Buy to learn more about this Motorola Xoom pre-sale. I found some Xoom educated and enthusiastic sales associates. The most important info I found out was that the manufacturer was only going to ship units out to individual stores if they had pre-sales. My best advice is to go forward with the simple pre-sale process so that you are not left empty-handed on release day- or worse, for months after release if supply is short.

I was also able to pre-order two Motorola Xoom accessories: the portfolio case and the standard dock. I went ahead with the standard dock because I will only need the speaker dock at work to annoy my cubicle mates!

The odd part of the process was the fact I had to put $50.00 down, and was then given a $50.00 gift card. My first thought at the time was, “wow, just got fifty bucks off my Xoom!”. The sales associate quickly brought me back to reality as it was just their way of showing the manufacturer that cash was put towards the device.

Stay tuned for live coverage of the Motorola Xoom launch day!

Motorola Xoom Verizon ad caption

Check out the new Motorola Xoom commercial released by Verizon Wireless. It’s pretty short, but it packs a punch. Video after the break.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H86ckBYr3mU&feature=player_embedded

What do you think? Is it better than the Super Bowl ad? Sound off in the comments area!

Well, it’s official! Verizon Wireless and Motorola have published the following press release outlining the release date and pricing for the Motorola Xoom. You may pick up your Xoom this Thursday at your nearest Verizon Wireless store for just  $599- after signing a 2- year contract with Verizon. The minimum data plan is 1GB for $20 per month; but you can choose up to 10GB of monthly data for $80. Verizon also confirmed the free 4G upgrade coming in the second quarter of 2011.

As you already knew, the device will cost $799 sans contract, but you will need to buy 1 month of data as well.

So, what version are you getting? If you’re going the Verizon way, will the minimum 1GB of data be enough for you?

Check out the full press release below and let us know your thoughts!

Motorola XOOM Tablet to be Available on the Verizon Wireless Network on Feb. 24

“Best of Show” winner at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show delivers the world’s first true tablet experience, with upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Feb. 22, 2011 – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the Feb. 24, 2011 availability of the innovative new Motorola XOOM™ tablet, which won the coveted CNET Best of Show award at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show for being “the most potentially disruptive technology.” The first device to run Google’s new Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, the Motorola XOOM will be available for purchase from Verizon Wireless for $599.99 with a new two-year customer agreement or $799.99 without a contract. Wireless 3G data service for the Motorola XOOM will begin at $20 monthly access for 1GB. The Motorola XOOM will be upgradeable to 4G LTE service at no additional charge in the second quarter of 2011.

A powerhouse in both software and hardware, the Motorola XOOM is built around a 1GHz dual-core processor and 10.1-inch widescreen HD display. The sleek, stylish design features a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chats, as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that captures video in 720p HD.

The Motorola XOOM showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience that improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization, as well as featuring the latest Google™ Mobile services. The Motorola XOOM also features full support for tabbed browsing and support for the Adobe® Flash® Player, available soon as a free download, to enjoy all the video and other rich content available on the Web. For additional information about upgrading their XOOM to 4G LTE, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Xoom4GLTEUpgrade starting Thursday, Feb. 24.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

To learn more about Motorola XOOM, visit www.verizonwireless.com/xoom.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

Motorola Xoom Shipping Without Flash?

Verizon updated its main page today with the sales information for the Motorola Xoom. They confirmed what we expected, with Feburary 24th as the product availability date with the prices that we discussed in an earlier post. What we didn’t expect from our hopeful iPad contender was the handicap of missing Flash support.

While the Motorola Xoom is still a fantastic tablet that blows all other available tablets on the market out of the water, the lack of Flash leaves some sinking expectations.  This has not been officially confirmed from the Motorola Xoom team, but Verizon seems to have the most recent product updates at this point and there is really no reason to believe they would put that disclaimer on their site if they didn’t absolutely have to do so.

The ball seems to be thrown in Adobe’s court since it is believed that the Motorola Xoom is waiting for the newest unreleased version of Flash 10.2 to get deployed. This version of Flash is tailored for tablet style devices and should boast some great improvements over what is currently available.

While it is a bummer, The Motorola Xoom still rocks right out of the box and on the 24th we’ll be unwrapping this tablet treat and getting an in-depth review of what we find. We will also be posting reviews of all of the Motorola Xoom Accessories that are available at launch. Stay tuned for any new updates!

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Well, it’s official – $799 for the Motorola Xoom, available on February 24th.  I saw it online and also in the Best Buy ad in my local paper this morning.  The internet has been abuzz with discussions on the Xoom’s pricing, release date, and of course, the accessories.  Sites from Engadget to The Huffington Post have shared articles discussing Motorola’s rationale for the seemingly steep price tag.

Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha is banking on the hardware capabilities and added value of a free 4G upgrade, saying “we feel that from the hardware and capabilities we deliver we are at least competitive and in a number of ways better”; during an interview at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Jha also announced there’s a “meaningfully cheaper”, WiFi-only Xoom in the works. “The price is set by iPad at $599 and we will be right around there” he confirmed.

What do you think?  Does the $799 price tag make sense or will it stop you from buying the Xoom?

Best Buy finally decided to bring back their Motorola Xoom page from it’s questionable hiatus. Lo and behold, the pre-order page is up and running. They won’t have a monopoly on the Motorola Madness though, as Wirefly also has the Motorola Xoom up for pre-order as well.

So, what’s the difference?

The quick answer….not much. There is the same price point and mandatory 1-month Verizon data plan activation. What is different and might be enough to sway someone to Wirefly at this point in the game is the tax-free nature of the Wirefly offering. The tax savings alone could be enough to purchase your first Xoom Accessory!

Let us know when you get that bad boy in your hands and which of he Xoom Accessories that are available at launch you decide to buy! We’ll have a breakdown of the Xoom Accessories and start to get your input on how they should be rated as well. Happy hunting…….time for me to get that sucker ordered!

Best Buy pre-order page

Wirefly pre-order page

Motorola has finally ended weeks of speculation with the reveal of the four planned Xoom tablet models to hit the market this year. From what we saw in the official specifications table, all the Xoom models will include the same 10.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) touchscreen display, 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, HDMI 1.4 output jack, 5MP rear-facing camera with auto-focus, 2MP front-facing camera and 720p HD video recording. There’s also GPS, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, USB 2.0, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, barometer and Android 3.0 Honeycomb in each Xoom version.

So what differentiates the MZ600, the MZ601, the MZ603 and the MZ604 from each other? Look at the table below and see the devil in the details:

As shown above, the only feature that will vary from one Xoom model to the next is their mobile Internet connection. The higher-end MZ600 will feature both a Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and EVDO Rev. A connection (with free 4G upgrade later on). Meanwhile, the MZ601 and MZ603, listed together, support Wi-Fi and GPRS/EDGE Class 12, HSDPA 10.1 Mbps and HSUPA 5.76 Mbps connectivity. The MZ604 model only features a Wi-Fi connection.

It is still unclear why Motorola is listing the MZ601 and MZ603 models together. But it was a smart move on their part to keep all the other features equal across the board while giving customers connectivity options.

Check out the complete Motorola Xoom specs comparison on their webpage.

What Xoom model are you planning to get? Let us know in the comments area!

Motorola Xoom User Manual Leak

Thanks to our friends over at droid life, we’ve been given the time to “actually” read the Motorola Xoom user manual before it’s launch. Now I can’t speak for you, but I always have the best intentions for reading my new gadget’s users manual, but somewhere between the paper getting ripped apart and the cellophane littering my floor, I find myself pushing buttons and juicing up the power totally losing sight of my responsible game plan to read through the manual first.

This time might just be different. With this release, I have at least a few days to enjoy the manual as my latest and favorite Motorola Xoom accessory to blow time in anticipation for launch. While there is nothing so profound in the manual that it warrants a small corner and a pot of coffee for a couple of hours, the Xoom manual does give some great insight into shortcuts for the operations and a bunch of other great insights into the Honeycomb platform.

There was nothing in the manual that specifically stated that the Motorola Xoom needed to have a one-month contract. This would at least suggest that this pricing structure may be exclusive to the notoriously greedy hands of some unmentioned big box retailers. We’ll find out once the Xoom is released to the rest of the market.

For now, I’d suggest you just download the Motorola Xoom User Manual and drop it onto your favorite hand-held device so you can have quick access to browse through the different features while waiting for the real thing to show up in the wild.

By Chad Mullin

Here’s a screen shot from Best Buy that was just taken stating the Motorola Xoom will be up for pre-order this Thursday.  While we are still concerned about the pricing confusion from the Best Buy website, this is great news for those of us that are chomping at the bit to get one in our hands.

Along with the release, it is thought that Best Buy will also feature many of the Motorola Xoom Accessories that we have seen previewed on Motorola’s official Xoom site. In the coming weeks as these products are released make sure to keep checking up on Xoom Accessories as we will have up to the minute reviews of the Motorola Xoom accessories as they are found in the wild!

Update: Best Buy has pulled the product listing from their website, which hopefully means the was price previously listed was not final. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

By Chris Moen

We’re hoping that this was some kind of editing snafu and not a last-minute price hike even more dramatic than the $799.00 price for the Motorola Xoom that we have seen floating around the web earlier this week. Let’s pray that if this price is for real, it’s before some kind of promotional discount that is applied! Stay tuned to Xoom Accessories as we will update this story as it unfolds into the morning tomorrow!

Update: Best Buy has pulled the product listing from their website, which hopefully means the was price previously listed was not final. Verizon has also removed the link to the Best Buy pre-order link. We’ll keep following this story very closely, so stay tuned.

This also corresponds to recent reports of the WiFi model of the Motorola Xoom just crossing the FCC lines en route for our viewing pleasure! Xoom Accessories will make sure to keep you posted on any more breaking Motorola Xoom news!

Check out the full-length Motorola Xoom commercial titled “Empower the People”, teased earlier this week and presented during the second quarter of the Superbowl.

So, do you love it? Hate it? Why? Share your thoughts below!

The Motorola Xoom is surely building up momentum leading to the XLV Super Bowl, as a 15- second preview of the the ad that will air during halftime has been released. As expected, the ad keeps bashing Apple and their 1984 commercial. Titled “Empower the People” and created by Anomaly New-York, the spot is set in with Motorola’s vision of a colorless Orwellian world where only the man with the Xoom stands out in a crowd of iDrones. Check out the teaser and tell us what you think!

Ochocinco tweeted his Xoom is "pretty awesome".

NFL star/Twitter personality Chad Ochocinco will be covering the XLV Super Bowl with his Motorola-sponsored Ochocinco News Network- this time from his Motorola Xoom. Ochocinco has been given early access to the Honeycomb-powered tablet, and warned Motorola over Twitter that “you won’t be getting this back!”. The player and his colleagues Darrelle Revis and Gerald McCoy were given early access to the tablet and have been flashing it in NFL events . This is a really good sign on the Xoom’s imminent release.

Motorola has been very active in pushing the Xoom, both with celebrity endorsements and events such as the invite-only Maxim party in Dallas tomorrow night, an exclusive warm-up for the Super Bowl- for which Motorola is preparing a halftime ad.

Will Motorola finally reveal the Xoom launch date this Sunday? Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Check out OCNN coverage of the Super Bowl here- and sign up to OCNN and get 25% discount off all Motorola mobile accessories from February 1 to March 15.

Latest Xoom Accessories News Update

Even though it has not been confirmed, here at Xoom Accessories we are very excited since once the product lands in our laps we can start posting comprehensive reviews of all of the accessories as they are released. We look forward to nailing down a confirmed release date to stop the gossip but until then this is very welcomed news!

Google sent a major blow in the direction of Apple yesterday at the much anticipated Honeycomb live event from their Mountain View headquarters. The excitement has been growing since the “vaporware” version of Honeycomb was on demo at this years CES.

Apple is sure to be feeling the sting  after Android 3.0′s powerful presentation running on none other than Motorola’s flagship tablet- the Motorola Xoom. The Xoom was shown running many new features to the Android Market, as well as showing off its gorgeous video capabilities. With Flash compatibility, a dual-core processor for power hungry applications and more customizable storage options in its arsenal, The Xoom seems to be poised for head-0n battle against the iPad.

To further build up its armor, Android just released a new web-based  marketplace for apps where users can purchase and upload their apps remotely to their tablets. This was one of the weak spots that many people worried could affect Android’s ability to compete against Apple. See the picture below for a taste of the new Android marketplace.

At this point, the lines are merely beginning to be drawn in the sand for the war between Android and Apple. From the sweet taste of Honeycomb running on the Motorola Xoom yesterday, I’m putting my money on Android. Xoom Accessories will continue to give updates as we get closer to to launch, which is coming in just days!

Who do you think will claim victory in the tablet wars? Share your comments below.

The Motorola Xoom was heavily featured in Google’s Android 3.0 Honeycomb conference and the hands-on session that followed. The new Android 3.0 operative system is optimized for tablets; and the Xoom will be the first tablet to be shipped with Honeycomb.

The new Honeycomb features include a richer notification system, tablet-grade Gmail with drag-and-drop features, a new camera app made specifically for tablets, video chat through Google Talk, music player with popup controls, games that properly use the dual-core power and exclusive application.

Google also rolled out the new Android Market website; where you can purchase apps and have them installed on your devices automagically thanks to over-the-air transfers. You can register several Android devices in your account.

Other important announcements included in-app-purchases available soon, and new applications like Google Body and Google Books.

Here’s Google event video just in case you missed it or would like to watch it again:

The Xoom has created quite a buzz in the technology community, and several developers said the Honeycomb performance on the Xoom outshines the current iPad- although rumors abound of an iPad 2 coming soon.

What were your favorite highlights from Google’s event? Share your thoughts in the comments area!

“It’s time for more choices” says the new ad for the Motorola Xoom, a teaser of what’s in store for the Super Bowl this Sunday. Portraying Apple as the Big Brother by way of 1984, the commercial states “2011 looks a lot like 1984″ and then promises more, choices, more flexibility and “more freedom” while showing some of the Xoom key features, such as Android Honeycomb, dual cameras and 4G speeds. The device itself is not shown in the ad and there’s still no official launch date, but the message is clear: the tablet war is on.

Enjoy the clip below and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments area!

At this year’s CES Motorola won “Best of Show” with its new Xoom device.  Since that moment the world has been searching for more news about release date and pricing.  Rumors abound:  Wi-Fi only or 3G?  What month will it be available?  How much will it cost?  No official news from Motorola…yet- although we have seen various “leaks” posted by engadget and zdnet.

Here’s what we do know so far:  during Motorola’s earnings call CEO Sanjay Jha announced that Xoom would definitely be released by end of February.  Motorola has also released a fact sheet for the Xoom which can be viewed here .

Other than that all we have are leaked screenshots stating that Verizon will price Xoom at $800 minimum and that Best Buy will release the Droid on 2/17 for $700.

Stay tuned for more news as the rumors develop and Motorola releases more information!   In the meantime, would you buy the Wi-Fi only version or is 3G a must?  Post your response in the comments below.

I hope you enjoy our content and that you learn more about Xoom and the many possible accessories and customizations possible for this fantastic device. I am excited about this new development in Tablet computing as it has been a LONG TIME coming and it took creative companies like Google and Apple to do it (Sorry Microsoft but you had several decades at this and failed).

Several of my friends have asked “what is Xoom and what does it do for me”? I think I had better answer this question first before I get into the listing of Motorola’s official accessory page.

The tablet device has been a long-time inspiration for computer enthusiasts. The thought of having a powerful device that can handle everyday tasks expected of a desktop computer was first attempted by the IBM 5100 laptop. My uncle was an IBM for engineer and I remember the dinosaur monochrome laptop he had as if it was yesterday. This device was portable had tons of storage and could be connected to a 300 baud modem!!

Ok, sorry for that little remembrance of yesteryear regarding ms-dos and 0s/2 but you have to give props to the originals of which you stand on. see http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/ for more of this.

Back to the Xoom. For non-puter-types this device will allow you to accomplish the same things you do at home on your PC such as; viewing HD video on demand, viewing and editing high resolution photos, rip through hundred of emails in no-time, and last but not least connect with family and friends in ways you never knew possible through Facebook and other social sites.

But you say, “I have a laptop that can do this”. Can you just pull up a laptop and swipe through a recent birthday party video mash-up? Can you just pull up a laptop and share your favorite chapter of the current book/magazine you are reading and share with a friend? Can you just pull up recent reviews of your product online to a customer to show real-time feedback of what your product can do for them? No, only a Tablet can do this.

The Accessories for now

Standard Dock for Xoom: This is a necessary device for your desk at home or office so that you can charge and view content in a convenient manner. There certainly are fancier ways to go about this but if you only have a couple of bucks to spare after your purchase make sure to grab this.

Wireless Keyboard: I love the pop-up keyboard on the android and have really gotten fast at swype- but seriously, I want a keyboard at my desk when I have some serious emails and work to get done. Add this to your standard dock and you will probably throw your desktop out the window.

Protective Gel Case: Warning- any case you add to a device may not allow you to dock!! You do need a case if this is a primary mobile device because buttery fingers after your morning toast is NOT an excuse to throw $700 big ones out the window. If this device will be docked at home and office, go without the case as it will be a major inconvenience to remove each time you want to dock.

Speaker Dock: Speaking of docking how about a little boom boom pow! This WILL be my first accessory for my Xoom because enjoying media w/o an acceptable volume is just not acceptable! Consider this for your home or office (cubicle peeps be careful!)

That is it for now, I have a 2-year old and 3-month old that need some TLC!!

Motorola Accessories – Official Page