As initially marketed by Verizon, when first launched, the Droid 4 was not capable of roaming in countries with non-CDMA wireless networks. However, after installing the update from Android 2.3 to Android 4.0, global roaming is automatically enabled on the handsets, allowing the Droid 4 to use GSM bands and provide HSPA data connections outside the US.[4] However, LTE speeds are only available on Verizon's CDMA network. Unlike previous versions of the phone, the Droid 4 does not have a hot-swappable battery.[5]
Processor
The Droid 4 has a dual core TI OMAP processor with 1.2 GHz, updated from the Droid 3's dual core 1 GHz processor.[6]
Webtop
Similarly to the Motorola Atrix 4G, the Droid 4 had the integrated Ubuntu-based[citation needed] 'Webtop' application from Motorola. The Webtop application would launch when the phone was connected to an external display through a Laptop dock or HD multimedia dock. While in Webtop mode, the phone, operating with a similar UI to one would find on a typical Linux desktop, could run several applications on external display such as Firefox web browser, SNS clients and 'mobile view' application enabling total access of Droid 4 and its screen. In September 2011, Motorola released the source code of Webtop application at SourceForge.[7]
With the release of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Droid 4, the Webtop application was replaced with ICS's tablet mode. This allows seamless access to all of the phone's applications without moving back and forth between two user interfaces.
Updates
The Droid 4 originally came with Android 2.3 "Gingerbread" out of the box, however, Motorola gradually updated the handset to Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" and then finally to Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean". Motorola has also released regular maintenance updates from time to time.[8]
Unofficial
LineageOS support exists and is currently being maintained by the community, with LineageOS 14.1 (Android 7.1.2 "Nougat") being the latest official port for the device.[9]
As of August 2023, an ongoing effort by the Maemo Leste project to port mainline Linux to the Droid 4 supports most of the device's functionality, including voice phone calls and SMS,[10] except for the cameras.[11] The Maemo Leste project, funded through NLnet[12] and the European Commission's Next Generation Internet program,[13][14] aims to develop "An independent mobile operating system focused on trustworthiness."[15]
