Motorola is removing bloatware in a big way, keeping its current lineup of smartphones something special for Android enthusiasts. The company plans to keep the phones light and clean without stuffing them with their own software and application. In an attempt to make the phones more Android pure, Motorola has announced which of its devices will be getting the Marshmallow upgrade and also announced that it would be deleting a few of its own software.
Specifically, Motorola will be removing in-house apps and services like Moto Assist, Motorola Migrate and the Motorola Connect (Chrome extension) and won’t preload them onto devices anymore.
Here’s why this is a good thing – Bloatware takes up a lot of storage space and resources. The extra weight causes slower upgrade process. Many OEMs have taken advantage of Android’s wide scope of applications and have generally stuffed their phones with applications that not only take up space but also don’t particularly enhance user experience since most of the apps are hardly ever used.
Motorola senior VP of software engineering Seang Chau understands why the company doesn’t need to add bloatware to its phone – because if users want an extra application, they can download it from the Google Play, that likely does better than what OEMs offer.
“The release of a new Android version is a great time to take a fresh look at our signature Moto Enhancements to ensure we’re complementing Android (not competing with it),” Motorola explains. “Both of these products were valuable in their time but the world has moved on and they no longer add enough value to justify taking up space in your device.”
This is how Motorola is finding acceptance among Android fans. Not many companies out there would accept that their own services don’t actually improve the overall user experience. Motorola has come to stand out as one of the very best Android OEMs when it comes to not taking up storage space and resources with its own applications.
For existing Motorola users, here’s a full list of devices that will be getting the upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow with the deleted bloatware:
2015 Moto X Pure Edition (3rd gen)
2015 Moto X Style (3rd gen)
2015 Moto X Play
2015 Moto G (3rd gen)
2014 Moto X Pure Edition in the US (2nd gen)
2014 Moto X in Latin America, Europe and Asia2 (2nd gen)
2014 Moto G and Moto G with 4G LTE2 (2nd gen)
DROID Turbo
2014 Moto MAXX
2014 Moto Turbo
Nexus 6
The company will be releasing more information on the timing of these phone upgrades in the coming weeks.
In the midst of Chinese vendors threatening to take over Indian markets with their smartphones, Motorola India seems to be upping their game plan. This time they are creating a wider range of offline and online retailers through their distribution partner, Brightstar India for easier and wider access to their handsets.
Some of us, still prefer going to a store and examining a product before availing of it. For this lot, Motorola will for the first time make the 2nd Gen Moto E 4G LTE available off the shelf at select Airtel stores across the country. Along with this, they are also looking towards their e-shoppers and will start offering the Moto E 3G/4G LTE, September 25 onwards, on Amazon India and Snapdeal.
“Consumers are at the heart of whatever we do and we will leave no stone unturned to enhance their buying experiences.” said Mr. Amit Boni, General Manager, Motorola Mobility India.
Oh well, Motorola does seem to be on their toes this season and hopefully they continue to do so.
We saw the arrival of the awesome Moto X Play that was unveiled yesterday, and now it’s time for more good news. Our readers had asked us when the Style is going to hit Indian markets and we now have an answer.
The Moto X Style is set to test Indian markets by the second week of October, as per reliable sources. No more details about the device have been revealed but if rumours are to be believed, the Style will definitely fit in the same price bracket as the OnePlus 2.
October is just two weeks away so we won’t have to wait long for yet another Motorola phenomena that should hopefully see success, like its counterparts.
Stay tuned for more updates and information about the Moto X Play and Style.
Motorola launched the Moto X Play in India today. The smartphone packs in a lot for a starting price of Rs 18,499 for the 16 GB variant.
The Moto X Play boasts of features that are sure to excite the masses. With a 21 MP camera, 3630 mAh battery, and expandable memory up to 128 GB, the Moto X Play is definitely worth its price. Other features include a 5.5 inch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 615, and an Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU.
When comparing it to the OnePlus 2 that was released last month, we found that the Moto X Play has a lot more going for it. Take a look at the specs yourself.
Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, Micro USB, Type-C reversible connector
OS
Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop)
Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop)
Price
18499 (16 GB), 19999 (32 GB)
22,999 (16 GB), Rs 24,999 (64 GB)
As we can see above, the Moto X Play offers a lot more for a lot less. In the camera and battery department, the Moto X Play has the OnePlus 2 beat, at least on paper. Added to this is the the Moto X Play’s microSD card that allows up to 128 GB more memory, whereas the OnePlus 2 does not. The OnePlus 2 received some flak for its non-removable battery, non-expandable storage, and a regular full-HD display. However, the OnePlus 2 comes with a Snapdragon 810 processor which is far superior than the 615 in Moto X Play. While the former delivers on performance, the latter promises experience.
Both handsets are designed for comfort and offer similar resolution. However, with the Moto X Play starting at a fairly low price of Rs 18,499, and offering a variety of changeable colored back covers, the appeal is greater. Which smartphone would you choose? Let us know in the comments below.
With Motorola’s launch of the newest gen Moto X Play edition in India, the company is showing that it is keeping India’s price conscious consumer in mind. Motorola has stabbed competition from the Chinese region, with this one.
The new Moto X Play has been launched in India starting at Rs.18499 for the 16 GB variant and Rs.19999 for the 32 GB variant.
Build Quality is top notch on the new Motorola devices, with the new X built on a metal chassis and on the outside a metal rim. The front has a Gorilla Glass 3 protected display which also counters down on either side of the phone, which feels great to use and avoids the pointy edges of the metal rim from hurting your fingers. The Moto X play is ip52 rated water resistant and can easily resist splashes or basic water damage. The back panes are replaceable too, Motorola calls them “shells”, these can be bought and swapped out to give a different look or material finish to the handset. Available in wood and leather as well, it allows the user to buy the phone at a lower price than add a cover to improve the finish and aesthetics, later on.
On the inside, is a new set of hardware, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-Core chipset has been seen on a variety of handsets, it seems like a good fit for the Moto X. Supporting it is 2 GB of RAM and 16 / 32 GB storage options along with expandability via micro SD.
Interestingly the 21 MP snapper is quick and snappy, but does not support 4k video, as the chipset may not manage to moderate the heat generated during capture. 1080p video is the maximum you will get and that too only at 30fps.
The new Moto X comes with a massive 3630 mAh battery and a turbo power charger , allowing for a quick charge and giving you multiple hours of usage in just minutes of charging. Motorola seems to have found the right mix of hardware and pricing. For India’s low price market, One Plus and Xiaomi need to rethink their strategy, as Motorola’s aggressive pricing for the Moto X play while cost them some major sales.
The mid-range Moto X Play has finally arrived in India. Like other Motorola smartphones before, the X Play will be available exclusively on Flipkart starting at Rs 18,499. The Moto range for 2015 includes two variants, the Moto X Play and the Moto X Style which is scheduled to come out later this month.
While the X Style will focus on design, the X Play is built for experience. The Moto X Play will have a 21-megapixel primary camera with dual-LED flash, and a 5-megapixel front camera. The rear camera will have an auto-HDR mode, which means the camera will automatically adapt to the conditions so you won’t have to spend time adjusting the settings manually. The phone will come with a standard HD quality video with 1080p at 30fps.
What the Moto X Play boasts of is its 3630 mAh battery, which will give you plenty of juice between charges. Both the Moto X Play and the X Style will have a microSD slot expandable up to 128 GB. This is welcomed as many smartphones today refuse to come with an SD slot. Other features include a 5.5 inch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 615, and an Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU.
In terms of value for money, we think the Moto X Play packs in a lot. The camera and battery life are its main attraction and is a good choice for those who like to play a lot of games on the go and still expect to have enough battery life for the rest of the day.
The design of the X Play is pretty solid with a textured back that has a rubbery finish, which feels comfortable in your hand. The back panel can be swapped for a different coloured one depending on your mood that day. The feisty phone will be available on Flipkart from midnight onwards so the wait isn’t long either.
Watch out for the Moto X Play hands on video and more information about it, today.
Twitter is always afloat with rumours about the upcoming gadgets, so obviously one of the many profiles had revealed that the Moto X Force would be launched in the Unites States as the Droid Turbo 2. This phone will apparently go on sale exclusively on Verizon.
However, new leaks from @upleaks has now provided us with a launch date for the above mentioned device too. The Droid Turbo 2 is expected to be launched sometime in October while the international variant, called the Moto X Force will be launched in December. The International launch is only for China and Europe, as of now.
So, mark this date on your calender if you’re a Moto X fan, till then, here are a couple of other details we know about the upcoming handset- it could come with a 5.43 inch QHD display, Snapdragon 810 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32/54GB storage, 21MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, and finally it is expected to be fuelled by a 3,760mAh battery.
Motorola has made it clear that its new Moto X Play smartphone is headed to India soon. Motorola tweeted two pictures of the new Moto X smartphone with captions highlighting the battery and camera features.
One tweet said, “Tired of those hazy memories? Get hitched with a perfect partner with a 21MP rear camera. #XOMotoX,” while the other had this caption, “No more getting dumped by your phone. Your perfect partner is coming with 30 hours of battery backup. #XOMotoX” The 30 hours battery is a feature of the Moto X Play.
The Moto X Play is the cheaper and smaller screen version of the Moto X Style. It comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD screen at 403 ppi with Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 615 Octa-core CPU clocked at 1.7 GHz with Adreno 405 at 550 MHz GPU. It also has a Natural Language Processor, Contextual Computing Processor like the Moto X Style.
The Moto X Play has 2GB RAM and 16 or 32GB storage space options (upto 128GB microSD card supported).
The battery in the Moto X Play is at 3630 mAh, which Motorola says give up to to 30 hours usage. This version of the Moto X is water-resistant as well. The rear camera is 21 megapixel with a f /2.0 aperture and the front camera is 5 megapixel.
Motorola launched two versions of the Moto X phone: Moto X Style which has a bigger 5.7-inch QHD screen and Moto X Play. Since this week all attention is on Apple and YU, Motorola may consider a launch date slated for next week.
The Moto 360 2015 version was just unveiled at the IFA Berlin event and we have hands-on visuals for it. But before that let us take some time to describe what you are about to see.
Motorola has not just revealed one watch, its an entire ‘collection’ inspired by all the latest fall trends. This time we have a couple of options when it comes to the straps, as compared to the first Moto 360’s boring black band. This time the Moto 360 comes in two models, three sizes and up to 300 different ways to customize your Moto 360.
The Moto 360 2015 comes in two versions – a women’s version, and a sport version with an on-board GPS and outdoor readable display. The device is still round in shape with the men’s version coming in two variant sizes – 46mm and 42mm. While the women’s version, is obviously thinner and also comes in two variants – 42mm and 16mm strap mounts.
Another convenience available in the new Moto 360, that wasn’t available in the first edition, is the fact that now the smartwear comes with standard lugs that are fused to the outside of the watches making it easier to swap bands. The Motorola bands also have release pins even in the metal link bracelets.
There are different colours available for it too; the men’s version is said to come in silver, gold, and black, while the women’s version will have silver, gold, or a new rose gold color option.
In respect to the battery power and processor, Motorola has upgraded its device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. They have also further improved the battery life and say that the 46mm watch will last up to two days between charges, while the 42 mm watch will be able to last about a day and a half. You can charge your watch on the wireless dock which you’ll get along with the watch.
The new Moto 360 will be available for pre-order from the Motorola’s website starting today and will begin shipping in a couple of weeks. The Moto Sport, however will be available later in the year. The prices for these products will range between $299.99 to $429.99 (Rs. 19,000-Rs. 28,000 approx.). The pictures below should help you decide, whether you want this new smart wear or not.
Motorola has outed the name of its newest smartphone -Moto X Force. Yes, boys and girls, that’s going to be the name of the phone we until very recently were referring to as ‘Bounce’. Along with the official name, we also have a leaked image of the device soon to be made available for retail.
Leaked image of the new Moto X Force. Source: @upleaks
It has been tagged as “shatterproof” by Motorola thereby suggesting a military MIL-STD rating of some sort. Being water and dust resistant through an IP factor is one of the other features it is equipped with. The smartphone boasts of Snapdragon 810 chip from Qualcomm, 3GB of RAM, 32 or 64GB of storage, as well as a 3,760 mAh battery, which, let us remind you, is bigger than that of the Moto X Play. The screen will be of a 5.43-inch QHD kind, and the rear camera will be the same 21 MP as in the other two Moto X-branded devices launched earlier this year. All these features along with a 5 MP front camera to go with it all, is what Moto X has to offer.
So Motorola has released a new Moto 360 smart watch at the IFA Berlin event this year. Here’s us breaking it down for you and comparing it to its predecessor, as best as we can.
The Moto 360, when released, was one of the few Android smartwatches with a round display. This smart-wear had its own set of problems, for example – the round display cut out the corners of the content and the battery life seemed short. However, the second problem was fixed soon enough. Overall, the Moto 360 seemed like a ‘nice’ smartwatch, just like any other – it could respond to your voice with voice control, you could send texts just by saying “Ok Google”, you could check the weather, and even ask for directions.
The device could also be used as a health monitor and came with a Pedometer and Optical heart rate monitor (PPG). It had a display of 1.56-inch LCD with 320 x 290 resolution (205ppi) protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It came with an IP67 rated water resistance and a 320 mAh battery which now lasts a lot longer since the update.
Here is our hands-on video, to give you an idea of what the Moto 360 was like, so that you can vividly see the difference in the second generation that we’re about to describe to you:
Now, what we’re really excited to talk about today, is the Moto 360 second-gen version that was just unveiled at the IFA Berlin event. What’s different about it? Well firstly, it’s not just one watch, its an entire ‘collection’ that has been released. This year Motorola has clearly been very influenced by the fashion world and all the latest trends within the design industry. So, it’s come up with two models, three sizes and up to 300 different ways to customize your Moto 360.
The Moto 360 comes in two sizes – a women’s version, and a sport version with an on-board GPS and outdoor readable display. The device is still round in shape with the men’s version coming in two variant sizes – 46mm and 42mm. While the women’s version, is obviously thinner and also comes in two variants – 42mm and 16mm strap mounts.
Another convenience available in the new Moto 360, that wasn’t available in the first edition, is the fact that now the smartwear comes with standard lugs that are fused to the outside of the watches making it easier to swap bands. The Motorola bands also have release pins even in the metal link bracelets.
Other than the size and range, there have been very subtle changes to the new design, such as – a re-positioning of the button to the 2 o’clock position and one can even customize the finish of the small bezel that surrounds the display. There are different colours available for it too; the men’s version is said to come in silver, gold, and black, while the women’s version will have silver, gold, or a new rose gold color option. The straps can also be changed between the new leather, metal, and double wrap designs.
In respect to the battery power and processor, Motorola has upgraded its device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. They have also further improved the battery life and say that the 46mm watch will last up to two days between charges, while the 42 mm watch will be able to last about a day and a half. You can charge your watch on the wireless dock which you’ll get along with the watch.
This lovely device will be available for pre-order from the Motorola’s website starting today and will begin shipping in a couple of weeks. The Moto Sport, however will be available later in the year. The prices for these products will range between $299.99 to $429.99 (Rs. 19,000-Rs. 28,000 approx.)
So, basically, the new Moto 360 is an upgraded, very cool, stylish and round version of the first Moto 360. Oh! and also a little more expensive. Check it out soon.
Motorola recently Tweeted a video hinting at the potential successor of the Moto 360 smartwatch that had hit the markets last year. Poised for a tentative release next week, expectations and hopes are high to see the Moto 360 (2nd Generation) at IFA Berlin this year.
This new model of the smart watch is marked by a change in the position of the crown. From the previous three o’clock of Moto 360 it has moved to two o’clock.
The three o’clock position of the crown of Moto 360The two o’clock position of the crown.
This video however is not the first bit of leaked information regarding Moto 360 (2nd Gen). Speculations have been thriving from as early as March when a picture was posted on HelloMotoHK page on Facebook.
A travel case showing components of a round watch with multiple straps.
The new smart watch is expect to have better display than its predecessor. The numbers being thrown around are that of a 360 x 360 display.
Droid Life discovered that a Motorola filing for a smartwatch-like wireless charging device has passed through the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). This filing could be for the upcoming Moto 360. The last time a Motorola smartwatch product was submitted to the FCC, it was shortly before the Moto 360 was released. All eyes are now set on IFA Berlin this year. Will they, won’t they?
Motorola has taken its previous Moto X Style a step ahead with its latest addition to the tech industry. Codenamed Moto Bounce, this new gadget offers a 5.43-inch QHD (1440×2560 pixels) resolution display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, 3GB of RAM and Adreno 430 GPU are some of its other interesting features.
If this wasn’t enough, a 5-megapixel front-camera is coupled with a 21 megapixel rear camera. The Bounce further blows away your mind with an in-built storage of 32GB and 64GB.The gadget is swanky enough to also boast of a 3,760mAh battery capacity. If speculations are to be believed, this would make it one of the´high capacity smartphone batteries in the market.
The tweet which shared the image @upleaks on Twitter also tagged Bounce as “shatterproof”, indicating an MIL-STD rating. Slated for release in December this year, this little gizmo is inarguably one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Lenovo has reported a rather gloomy fiscal report this year, regarding its PC and smartphone businesses. With the company struggling to keep up its numbers in the market it has decided to lay off about 10% of the company’s employees from its non-manufacturing sector.
Lenovo’s reported revenue is $10.7 billion, which is still lower than the $11.29 billion forecast. It has also been reported that Lenovo’s net income is 5% lower as compared to last year. This situation has led Lenovo to lay off 3,200 people and a total of 5% of Lenovo’s 60,000 staff.
The justification of this move, is to keep the company afloat and running. However, the interesting bit is, that Lenovo is also planning to use the profits earned to restructure the mobile business. It has plans to rethink its handsets and have only a few signature models.
Hence, Lenovo has asked Motorola to take charge of its mobile division. Reports also suggest that Lenovo’s CEO has written a letter to the employees urging them to better the company’s mobile business group and thinks that, with Motorola in charge of the mobile division and Lenovo in charge of the PC division, both companies should be able to bring Lenovo to the forefront, once again.
The new Moto G for 2015 is the hero for Motorola. With a whole spew of upgrades, the new Moto G is ready to take on the market. With little change in design and price, the customer is left asking for a lot more.
Overview
The new Moto G is available in two variants; a cheaper one priced at Rs. 11,999 comes with 8GB storage and 1 GB of RAM, whereas, a slightly expensive one at Rs 12,999 comes with 16 GB of storage and 2 GB of RAM. You also have a whole variety of covers that you can buy and swap with your current cover.
Build Quality and Design
Design wise you have a whole lot of differences starting with the back of the new Moto G, all the way to the front. It’s more rounded and has silver accents, which add to the premium look and feel of the device. The long cut in the back panel houses the camera equipment and the panel has a new reassuring texture.
Build is superior when compared to the last gen of the Moto G. With the IPX7 rating, the new Moto G can also withstand 3 ft (1 M) of water immersion. This makes the phone one of kind in this price bracket and also the second device only after the Apple Watch to have this rating.
The plastic shells are high quality and swappable, which mean you can easily replace the back if damaged. The new Moto G also has Gorilla glass and a new solid structured frame that makes it a big winner in the build department.
Hardware
No hardware does not get a big boost, but you do get an improved camera, a slightly faster and more stable chipset and that is just about it. USB On the go is easily available, you also have micro SD card slots for expandability and two hardware options; 1 GB RAM + 8 GB Storage or 2 GB RAM + 16 GB Storage both of which support expandability and are separated only by a Rs. 1000 price difference.
The Moto G Gen 3 is more of a balanced smartphone. You won’t get a performance monster and you shouldn’t expect it to be one especially with the specifications it is packing. The 2 GB version, only slightly more expensive performs far better than the 1 GB variant. It will also bump up the onboard storage to 16 GB which would only make sense.
The User interface is fast and smooth and the stock Android helps with that to a big extent. The GPU handles multitasking and gaming with ease, although some applications tend to lag with the 1 GB variant. The 2 GB will work well for day to day usage and also with gaming.
Games work well with the 2 GB variant, as mentioned earlier. If you choose to run your games (like Asphalt 8) with higher graphics you will face some lag, mainly due to the limitations of graphics processing.
Camera and Multimedia
The 13 MP main camera is a big improvement, mix it up with the Android 5.1 camera capabilities and you get a great camera experience. Manually set up focus and exposure before you click the picture. The camera focuses quickly so you can go up close with your subjects and get a good depth of field. Images tend to be sharp and autofocus is snappy. Its a pity that the Moto G misses a proper oleophobic display, which would allow you to use the phone under water. No, you don’t have an underwater camera with the new Moto G.
No image stabalization also means that shaky hands need to beware of the induced camera shake. Video stays at 1080p and you also get some high speed capture at 720p reducing speeds to half, if needed.
The speaker is forward facing and has good audio. Despite the dual grills there is only a mono speaker. We would have liked a louder speaker, or at least a stereo speaker combo. The forward facing speaker makes the audio experience while watching video or playing games, improved.
The display is still a 1280 x 720p panel but is extremely vivid and bright. Outdoor visibility could have been better, but is very usable. The display has good viewing angles and the colours pop, so you won’t find us complaining. We did want a 1080p display and since most of the competition does offer up a 1080p display in this segment, it became a let down for us.
Phone Networks and Battery
With the inclusion of 4G networks, the Moto G adds the list of network ready phones. A major deal of Androids will join this list by the end of the year as most network players will offer 4G services.
The network performance is good and the audio quality is excellent. The connection strength is a big improvement over the last gen. phone. With the IPX7 rating, the one thing we really wanted to check was underwater calling capability. The phone does ring, but making a call is practically impossible as the display goes crazy with electric conduction the minute you unlock the screen, so your phone will randomly jump from app to app. We don’t really want to be making calls underwater, but hey, it could come in handy.
We are getting mixed reports about the battery life, some users are complaining of battery drain and others of overheating issues. However, we faced no such issues, and the phone gave us 1+ day of average use. We are expecting 4-5 hours of talk time mixed with varied use. Charge the Moto G once a day and you are good to go.
Talk Time 4G : 4.5 Hours
Internet : 7-8 hours of surfing
Music : 11 hours
Video : 5 hours
Conclusion
The Moto G (3rd Gen) is a smart upgrade from a good company. They did miss out on a few key things, a better display and a better chipset would make this the best phone for the price. However, it is a smart choice. It has the trust of a motorola handset, and the added legacy of great phones like the Moto Defy. Also the IPX7 rating, makes it the only phone in this class, with any such rating. It will be useful for those who need it.
Lastly, the swappable colour covers make sense and add personal style. Availability is easy, no flash sales and no invites. Smartphones need to be easy to buy and readily available in 2015, and the new Moto G ticks all the boxes of being a well rounded phone.
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