Android 3.1 Honeycomb was supposed to bring a range of new features to the Motorola Xoom, one of those was the addition of movie rentals through the Android Market.
It looks like the Verizon version of the Motorola Xoom now has this feature but the WiFi version of the Xoom doesn’t, which is quite puzzling, and Motorola have confirmed that this was intended.
The new Movies tab in the Android Market will not appear on updated Wi-Fi-only Motorola Xooms immediately after the update. Google will make that available in the near future.
What they haven’t confirmed is why the movie rental service is available in the Verizon WiFi and 3G version of the Xoom and why it isn’t available in the WiFi version.
Discrepancies Between Versions
The discrepancy between the Verizon version and the WiFi-only version of the Motorola Xoom has left many users scratching their heads. The Verizon version, which supports both WiFi and 3G, seems to have a leg up with the immediate availability of the movie rental feature. This has led to speculation about whether the delay for the WiFi-only version is due to technical issues, licensing agreements, or other undisclosed reasons.
Motorola has stated that the absence of the movie rental feature in the WiFi-only version was intentional, but they have not provided a detailed explanation. This has led to frustration among users who opted for the WiFi-only version, expecting to enjoy the same features as their Verizon counterparts.
Future Updates and Expectations
All we know is that movie rentals are expected to be added to the WiFi version shortly, although there are no details on exactly when this will arrive. The promise of a future update has left WiFi-only Xoom users in a state of anticipation. Many are hoping that the update will not only bring the movie rental feature but also address any other discrepancies between the two versions.
In the meantime, users of the WiFi-only Xoom can still enjoy other features brought by the Android 3.1 Honeycomb update. These include improved multitasking, resizable widgets, and enhanced USB connectivity. However, the absence of the movie rental feature remains a significant drawback for those who were looking forward to this particular addition.
The situation highlights the challenges that can arise when different versions of a device receive updates at different times or with different feature sets. It also underscores the importance of clear communication from manufacturers and service providers to manage user expectations.
Source Droid Life
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