Motorola Updates Atrix 4G to Gingerbread 2.3.4

Filed under News by Kenneth Pennington on July 22, 2011 at 4:34 PM

Android 2.3.4 for Motorola Atrix

Motorola Atrix 4G owners on the AT&T network are receiving one of those golden notifications today: “New Software Update Available!” AT&T and Motorola are finalizing the Gingerbread 2.3.4 build that was leaked not long ago. The build was soak tested earlier this week by Motorola’s team of public experimenters. It includes a full Android 2.3.4 upgrade with Google Talk video chat capabilities. Motorola’s upgraded the build numbers from 4.1.83 to 4.5.91 along the way.

If you’re on an Atrix 4G and you’d like to update from Android 2.2.2 Froyo to 2.3.4 Gingerbread, simply navigate to your Settings application, click “About phone,” and then click “System updates.” Check out the official update page here on Motorola’s website. (More on the update after the break.)

We stated a while back that Gingerbread would come in July, so this over-the-air update comes as no shock. What is shocking is that Motorola and AT&T seemed to remove the bootloader unlock-ability from later Gingerbread builds. When we first announced that a Gingerbread build allowed “fastboot oem unlock,” we maintained that this capability would exist in the final builds of Gingerbread. After all, why take the time to build-in that functionality if you’re going to strip it out when you’re done? It appears that only Gingerbread updates to 2.3.3 allowed users to unlock their bootloaders. When Motorola moved towards the final builds (2.3.4), they re-disabled “fastboot oem unlock.” We’re not entirely sure what’s going on with this situation.

Motorola promised to move towards unlocked devices in late 2011, but they added a small disclaimer in their statement. According to Motorola, not all of the blame belongs to manufacturers. “Carriers and operators” apparently have a voice in the phone’s bootloader situation, too.

“It is our intention to enable the unlockable/relockable bootloader currently found on Motorola XOOM across our portfolio of devices starting in late 2011, where carriers and operators will allow it.”

So, it’s entirely possible that Motorola intended to unlock the Atrix’s bootloader, but then their plans were thwarted by AT&T. Or, maybe Motorola meant to keep bootloader unlock-ability to themselves for their developer and beta testers? Maybe Motorola was testing bootloader unlock functionality for a possible future unlock update on the Atrix and/or other phones?

We may never find out. Fortunately, Atrix users can have Gingerbread and an unlocked bootloader, still. Due to parts from the leaked Gingerbread builds, Atrix users can unlock their devices, and then figure out a way to safely flash Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. But, be warned! If you flash the over-the-air update.zip file, you will never be able to use Motorola’s RSD Lite tool to SBF restore if you break your device.

Anonymous

so the leaked update few weeks back turns out to be the official update after all. if i understand this.
Dr_os

To confirm, no currently known way to unlock the BL if the OTA is accepted?
Jimn2tdi

Downloading it now…
http://briefmobile.com Kenneth Pennington

You can unlock the bootloader, but you lose your ability to flash SBF files freely without the risk of a brick.
Dr_os

Thanks Ken. The article reads like you can only unlock with 2.3.3. Good to know there will still be a way to unlock the phone for those that jumped at the OTA
http://briefmobile.com Kenneth Pennington

The article states correctly that you can only unlock with a 2.3.3 build. Having said that, there is a hack (labeled “Pudding”) that allows you to gain “fastboot oem unlock” from any starting point.
charleebeane

Im currently running gingerblur on my 2..2.2. If I do the auto update for gingerbread will I lose the gingerblur theme and will the att bloatware reappear?
http://briefmobile.com Kenneth Pennington

Yes. You will fail the update if you try to flash over GingerBlur. You need to SBF to stock 1.8.3. Alternatively, check out this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=15537492
charleebeane

I realy love the gingerblur. In your opinion Kenneth do you think the update is worth it? I enjoy the non att stuff, HDMI mirroring, and the 1080p camera. If I do the update can I ever go back to gingerblur? Do I need to backup before the update? Does the update have 1080p and HDMI mirroring? Thanks Kenneth for all you do!
http://briefmobile.com Kenneth Pennington

Those things will take a while to get updated for Gingerbread. Rest assured… we will have some sweet custom ROMs out very soon for Gingerbread users.
http://twitter.com/iTechDude21 Ryan K.

Do you know of any way to get free mobile hotspot/tethering on the new update? The APN doesn’t seem to be working for me.
Calvin Breseman

Im rooted and having problems with the ota update. I don’t care about keeping my root or anything, even though I am now. Whenever I try and install the update, an exclamation mark and a little android pop up.
http://briefmobile.com Kenneth Pennington

You need to restore to 1.8.3.
Calvin Breseman

Could you please explain how I would do that? Thanks in advance
Bellspear00

모토로라 시발년들아 진저브레드 언제 해줄래 ㅡㅡ 어? 존나 아트릭스 산거 후회되네 ㅅㅂ 구글
넥서스s나 살껄 뭐한다고 아트릭스 사가지고ㅡㅡ 삼성좀 본받아라ㅡㅡ 삼성 봐라 옴니아 사건 이후에
지금 사후관리 얼마나 잘해주고 있냐ㅡㅡ 제발좀 본받아 ㅡㅡ
Bellspear00

니들이 이렇게 늦게 해주니까 넥서스s한태 맨날 비교 당하잔아 ㅡㅡ 아트릭스가 cpu랑 램이 넥서스s보다 딱 2배 좋은데 넥서스s보다 더느려 ㅡㅡ 뭐냐 이게 참
Bellspear00

아 참고로 SAMSUNG은 갤럭시시리즈 전기종 다 진저브레드 업글 됬다 ㅡㅡ 에효 제발 삼성 반만 딸아가줘
내친구들도 모토쿼티 모토로이 디파이 쓰는 녀석들이 많은데 물로 친구들이 모토로라 폰써서
나도 아트릭스를 샀음 ㅡㅡ 암튼 친구들이 모토로라 사후관리 쓰레기라고 왜 아트릭스 한기종만
진저브레드 업그레이드를 해주냐고 하면서 ㅡㅡ 글고 모토로라 니들 예전에는 엄청 잘나 갔자나?
폰만 좋은거 만들면 뭐하냐ㅡㅡ 업데이트를 해주라고 니들도 삼성 처럼 해봐 쫌!!!!!
Bellspear00

글고 학교에서 친구들 한태 매일 욕들은다 울반에 스마트폰 쓰는 놈들이 많은데 14명정도 된다
그대 아이폰이나 갤s2 쓰는 놈들이 와가지고는 이런다 어이 아트릭스 걸레 이런다 참나;;
둘다 하는말 진저브레드는 언제 해준다디? 진짜 내가 올린글중에 거짓말 하나 없다 ㅡㅡ
Bellspear00

모토로라 진짜 이참에 업데이트 같은거 잘해줘서 기업 신용도를 높여봐 제발 ㅠㅠ !!!
Mark

Hey Ken, do you have an SBF file you can post so we can flash back to stock to get the gingerbread update?
Daniel Solano

well im now whit the unoficial update whit the unlocked bootloader, will you guys upload de complete version for us? i want the img’s files.
Daniel Solano

i can’t obtain the oficial OTA update because im on the unlocked bootloader? right?
Atrix User

i have the official update, but i cannot unlock my bootloader… is this the reason why?
Nick Morello

You can still install a safe version of the official ROM (no custom changes, modifications, enhancements, etc) by going here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1163342

You’ll need the unlocked bootloader of course, but there really isn’t any reason not to go ahead and do that, hm?
Ltdanno360

so what do i do on gingerblur 4.5 att us version
RM89

So is it just as easy to root the new update? And still go about it as in this link [ROOT GINGERBREAD WITH THIS PROCEDURE - (IF YOU HAD ROOT BEFORE GB, CLEAR YOUR SUPERUSER APP DATA)] that links to another BriefMobile page..?
I’m new to rooting and Android, just double checking before I go ahead with the basic technique listed there…
Thanks guys!
Lemme know if it’s smooth sailing…
RM89

Oops, link is: http://briefmobile.com/motorola-atrix-4g-root
osseo-mom

My daughter and I both have the Atrix and this morning she accidentally clicked “yes” or “Ok” to download the new OS. Her Atrix powered down, and we could not get it to turn back on. I had to pull the back off and take out teh battery. THe unit powered back on, and she does not like the new user interface at all. Interestingly, I have not received the notification to download the new OS. Is there a way for her to go back to 2.2.2 (which is what the device came with).
Delacruzj48

i flashed the leaked 2.3.4 from this website..is there anyway to get the official 2.3.4 OTA ?
Delacruzj48

so kenneth i’m pretty much screwed eh? would it be possible to flash the alien rom over the leaked 2.3.4 then?
http://www.facebook.com/rufus.xavier Rufus Xavier

Now that the Motorola Atrix 4G has moved to Android 2.3.4 (notice it
is 2.3.4 and not 2.3.3 like the other unfortunate upgrades), it is back
as the top phone in AT&T lineup. Next time you try one at the
AT&T store you will want to give up your HTC, LG, and Sumsung phones
immediately. Sorry, but that happened to me, and I don’t regret it at
all! The phone now blasts off into orbit with the dual core processor! Too bad for those who rooted their phones!
Aadg

너같이 무식한 초딩들때문에 우리나라가 욕먹는거다

WHAT'S HOT