Motorola Droid Software Update Available

Various tech sites are reporting that the original Motorola Droid and the Motorola Droid X will soon begin receiving system updates.

The system updates to the Droid and Droid X will bring increased stability to the phones, along with various updates to integral features.

The Motorola Droid software update will include an update to Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, a new Gmail interface, along with a Amazon widget, News & Weather widget, and an updated Twitter app.

The Motorola Droid X software update adds stability to Android 2.2 Froyo, enhancements to Flash Player, improvements to Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, Visual Voice Mail, MP3 playback support, the Weather widget, video playback, along with other minor tweaks.

According to instructions provided by Verizon, your Droid’s battery needs to be charged to at least 40% of capacity.

The Motorola Droid will notify you when the system update is available. Press “Install Now” to begin installation.

The Motorola Droid will power off, turn back on, and the update will begin.

Check out Verizon’s complete instructions on updating the Motorola Droid here.

How to download and install the Droid X software update

You can choose to either find the update and install it now, or you will be automatically notified of the system update later.

Follow these easy steps to manually initiate the software upgrade on your Droid X:

1. Tap Menu from the main menu/homescreen
2. Tap on Settings
3. Tap About Phone
4. Tap System updates
5. Tap Download (downloading the system update could take 10-60 minutes)
6. Tap Install Now
7. Tap OK when the software installation has finished

If you’d prefer to wait to have the Droid X automatically update itself, tap Install when you’re informed the System Update is ready. Then click Install Now once the system update has downloaded.

To view Verizon’s instructions on updating your Motorola Droid X, read the PDF provided here.

Google Buzz is the new socially integrated Google product that brings together multiple internet services–Picasa, Twitter, Flickr, Gmail, Google Reader, and Google Chat—on one page for the Gmail user.

Google has designed Buzz to be a direct competitor with other social platforms such as Facebook and MySpace.

While the service was only launched Wednesday, February 9^th, it already counts 150+ million users as part of its social network.

Though Buzz will not overtake Facebook in popularity anytime soon, it is a pragmatic and easy service for staying in touch.

At this time, the Motorola Droid Android 2.0 powered device is one of the few smartphones able to use Buzz.  Phones using older versions of Android, including the Droid Eris and upcoming Devour will soon have the capability of connecting to Buzz, as well.

With the Droid’s built in GPS, users will be able to post location-tagged messages and photos using Buzz.  Of course, messaging and updating status-messages will also be available while you’re on-the-go.

To learn more about Google Buzz, including how to use it on your Android device, visit http://www.google.com/buzz.

For those of you looking to try out the latest Droid mod, why not try HTC’s Sense UI on your Droid?

You will need to root your Droid first, have Android 2.0 or 2.0.1, then follow the instructions here.

Be careful. There are multiple steps that you must follow accurately. Failure to do so may result in the bricking of your Droid.

Watch the clip below to view the available wallpapers:

Of course, you must jailbreak your Droid (see instructions to jailbreak your Droid here) in order to do so.

Once you’ve successfully rooted your Droid, you’re going to have to install Android 2.1.

And when Android 2.1 is up and running, follow these instructions to install the great-looking animated wallpapers!

Programmers have figured out how to “jailbreak” the Motorola Droid.

What does this mean?  With the right instructions, anyone can gain access to the Droid‘s file-system.

So programming applications that aren’t condoned by either Verizon or Google is now possible.  There is much speculation that an intrepid programmer will figure out how to introduce multi-touch to the Droid.

It is possible to “root” or “jailbreak” your Droid yourself, but be forewarned: if not done correctly, you run the risk of “bricking” your phone, i.e., having a useless Droid.

Also, jailbreaking your Droid voids your warranty.
If you feel up to the challenge, you can follow the steps to jailbreak your Droid here.