Motorola has begun the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean soak test for the Droid RAZR and the Droid RAZR MAXX. Google's influence is starting to finally show in its Motorola acquisition. The software Motorola is distributing to members of its Motorola Feedback Network takes a huge departure from past Android updates from Motorola.
It appears that Google has abolished all Motorola bloatware from the Jelly Bean update for the RAZR and RAZR MAXX.
In Motorola's change log that lists what the update entails, it adds enhancements and fixes, but it's in the changes section where we see Google's influence starting to peek through. Motorola has removed its Social Location app, MOTOACTIV, MOTORPRINT, Alarm and Timer (which has been replaced by Google Clock), and Verizon Video on Demand.
Motorola didn't stop there: it has removed popular widgets that it has been shipping on all of its RAZR smartphones. Motorola My Gallery, My MOTOCAST, My Music, Picture Slideshow, Social Location, Sticky Note, Weather and World Clock have all been given the ax. Motorola has replaced its My Galley app and My Music app with Google's stock Android Gallery app and Google Play Music app. In another sign that Google is in control, Chrome Browser will be the default browser, just as it is on all Nexus devices.
It's great to see Motorola moving away from its MotoBlur skin and the tons of Moto branded software it has been pre-installing on all of its smartphones. Motorola DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX smartphone owners will be very happy to learn this news, as running a stock version of Android with no skinning and bloatware provides a much smoother and faster UI.
The software update should be released in the near future, as long as the soak test goes smoothly — which it should, especially now that we're seeing Google flex its influence over Motorola. If this is a sign of things to come, this acquisition is going to make many Motorola DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX smartphone owners very happy.
