Tag: motorola

Moto X Makes its Comeback With Better Specs and an Aluminium Frame

Along with the Moto G (Gen 2) and Moto 360, Motorola has just introduced the much-awaited 2nd gen Moto X. The new Moto X is bigger, bulkier and it boasts a number of new features and designs that should definitely increase X’s demand.

The new Moto X is not much bigger than the previous one, with a 5.2 inch AMOLED display and it is still protected by Gorilla Glass. Moto X 2nd gen is about 0.5 inch wider than last year’s X. However, the refreshed model sports a 1080p full HD display instead of a 720p one.

The screen takes almost all the space on the front, leaving the bare minimum for bezels. It measures 72.4mm wide by 140.8mm tall and weighs 144 grams. To give the device a premium feel, the company has added a smooth piece of aluminium wrapping the entire edge of the phone.

Motorola has kept the Moto Maker customization option alive with a new leather option for new Moto X. Additionally, Moto Maker also now lets you add metal accents to power and volume buttons, speaker grills and the Motorola logo on the back.

At the back, it has an updated 13-megapixel camera lens with 4x zoom and a ring flash. The camera has the ability to capture 4K video instead of just 1080p and it’s also got a new feature called Best Shot.

It essentially maintains a rolling photo cache in the background, constantly capturing additional shots before and after a photo is taken. An algorithm then analyzes those photos to find what it thinks is the “best shot,” filtering out blurry shots or pics of people blinking. You can choose the picture selected by the feature or the original one. Another new camera feature is the “Highlight Reel,” which essentially compiles all of your day’s photos and videos into a single video collage much like Google+ photo highlights.

As far as the hardware is concerned you won’t be disappointed. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, an Adreno 330 578MHz GPU and 2GB of RAM. It is powered by 2,300 mAh battery which Motorola claims will last a full day. The new Moto X has four microphones to help reduce background noise, and comes in a “splash guard” water repellent coating and will be available in both 16GB and 32GB variants.

One the software side, new Moto X comes with hand full of softwares same as older Moto X including Migration tool and some of the tools like Touchless Control, Active Display and Motorola Assist have been renamed in the new Moto X as Moto Actions, Moto Display and Moto Assist respectively. Another great iteration in the new Moto X is that instead of ‘OK Google’ as a voice prompt, you can customize the voice command prompt to anything you like.

The company said that they have more than 1.6 million devices stocked for Indian market which only means they will have enough stocks this time. Pricing details are not yet revealed by the company. The new Moto X will go on sale in late september along with Moto 360.

September 5, 2014
Moto G (2nd Gen) Goes on Sale Today For Rs. 12,999

Motorola has just announced two of its most anticipated smartphones : Moto X and Moto G. The company decided to stick to the previous names, keeping things simple by calling them 2nd Gen devices. The new Moto G has been launched at the price of Rs. 12,999 for 16 GB and is going on sale later today with special offers on Flipkart. The company said that last time around they sold 1.6 million devices through Flipkart for Indian customers, and this time they’ve made sure they have sufficient stock for prospective buyers.

The 2nd Gen Moto G has a 5.0-inch 720p HD IPS display made out of Corning Gorilla Glass. Other improvements to the G include two front stereo speakers and an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing one.

The new G will also now finally come with a microSD card slot, which is located underneath the back cover. It’ll still come with 16GB built-in storage, but an expandable memory slot is always nice to have. However, underneath is the same 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor and 2,070 mAh battery. The new Moto G still shoots in 720p. However, they considered going for 1080p video capability, to compete with the Xiaomi Mi3.

It’ll ship with Android 4.4 KitKat and is upgradeable to Android L as soon as it is released. It does come with a few Motorola apps like Migrate, which helps you transfer old phone contacts to the new one, and Assist, which provides a voice-activated Drive Mode when you’re on the road.

September 5, 2014
The Moto 360 is Finally Here!

We’ve spent months tracking its every move; it is the only smartwatch which promised style as well as utility. And today, amidst all the September Tech madness, Motorola revealed all the details of its most awaited wearable – the Moto 360.

It has stuck to the classic design that it promised months back. The 1.65-inch display is encased in stainless steel, the watch comes in leather straps and has Gorilla Glass protecting the screen from unwanted scratches. We’re extremely pleased with Motorola’s choice of design. Instead of going for bulk, it has stuck to the sleek style of a traditional wrist watch.

The water-proof Moto 360 is going to be a super useful wearable. Powered by Android Wear, it will give timely updates based on location, such as Weather, Time, Reminders, Location and Traffic. It has been enabled with voice control, so even when you’re driving you can easily ask for directions and traffic updates. “Ok Google” can also be used to send text messages. The watch comes with a charging dock, and the battery life is said to last a day.

Like most wearables, Moto 360 has paid attention to our health needs, and provided a heart activity app that tracks daily routine. Priced at $249.99, we’d say it’s a beautiful meddle of leather, glass and technology. Moto 360 comes in two colour variants – silver and black and will be available in India by late September.

September 5, 2014
New Leak Confirms Nexus X Specs and Reveals an Important Detail about Android L

We’ve already established the fact that Google’s upcoming Nexus device will not be called Nexus 6. Also, at this point we’re pretty certain that the device will be brought to us by Motorola. Now, popular tech blog TKTechNews has leaked some interesting information about the upcoming Nexus X. The leaked images show several AnTuTu benchmark screenshots for the handset, which also seem to reveal an important new detail about Android L.

The screenshot reveals the hardware details about the device. The leaked information is in line with the previous reports, which includes a 2K display, 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and 13-megapixel camera. As mentioned earlier, the AnTuTu app refers the device as Nexus X and the device scored 35,430 in the test.

What’s interesting is that the leaked images of the benchmark lists Android version as ‘5.0’. However, in contrast, other recent leaks had suggested that the new updated version of Android will be called LMP or Lemon Meringue Pie.

The company is yet to confirm what will be the name of the new version of Android once it will be officially launched. Considering that these images are true, this Nexus X benchmark seems to confirm what every Android fan has been waiting for Google to reveal. Android will upgrade itself from Android 4.x (used since Ice Cream Sandwich) to Android 5.x.

Another rumor surrounding the Google’s Nexus X had surfaced recently. According to the leaked Best Buy listing, the Nexus X will be available on Sprint networks for $500 with a two-year contract. The listing for the Nexus X claims that the device has a 5.9-inch Quad-HD display that has a resolution of 1440×2560, a 2.7GHz quad-core processor and the Android L operating system. Google Nexus devices were expected to get an Andoird L update sometime in October followed by Motorola handsets.

August 27, 2014
Moto ‘Skip’ is a Tiny Accessory That Will Help You Find Your Smartphone

Remember Skip? The petite accessory by Motorola that lets you bypass your phone’s lock screen entirely and “skip” the step of entering a passcode or pattern to use your phone. It was introduced last year alongside Moto X. And now, the word is Motorola is working on the second version of ‘Skip’ which is said to be more useful than its predecessor.

According to new filings at the FCC, the next version of the Skip will use Bluetooth instead of NFC and will become more mature from just being a quick access key to your smartphone. The updated version of Skip will also be capable of helping you locate your misplaced keys if the device is attached to your keychain.

It works the other way round too, double-pressing the power button will make your nearby Android phone ring so it’s easier to locate. This could prove to be of huge help if you’re one of those who always loses their phone. It is pointed out that Motorola is also working on an app which will be available for all Android devices, through which you’ll be able to see where your Skip was last connected.

When you get within the range of finding it, Skip will start beeping to help your search. According to Motorola’s user manual, the small device will last about a year on a single battery, and it relies on Bluetooth to pull off most of its functionality.

No information has been made available in terms of pricing or availability. It is said that the probabilities are high that we will see this device at the September 4th event where we expect Moto X+1 and Moto G2 to launch.

August 27, 2014
Motorola to Launch 9 More Devices in Next Four Months

Motorola are already offering quite an impressive line up. And now it seems like Motorola, has big plans for the second half of this year. A new report from PhoneArena, citing an insider source, has revealed that Motorola is planning to launch around 9 devices in next 4 months.

One of top highlight will the new Nexus smartphone along with Moto X+1, Moto G2, Moto X Play, Moto S, Droid Turbo, Droid and Droid Maxx. The reports also added that Moto 360 smartwatch will be one these devices.

The company sent out an invite to the media yesterday, mentioning only that it is going to host an event in New Delhi on September 5. It is widely expected that the company will launch the successors of Moto X and Moto G smartphones as well as Moto 360 smartwatch at the event in New Delhi.

The invite reads, “Mark 05 September on your calendar. Motorola will be holding an event in New Delhi.” Though the invite doesn’t reveal much.

The company has also been rumoured to be working on the next Nexus smartphone, with a device, codenamed Shamu recently showing up on benchmarks. According to speculations, this is the new Nexus smartphone, which comes with a Snapdragon 805 chipset and 3 GB of RAM.

The Moto G2 is expected to come with an improved 8MP rear snapper and faster processor, but the display resolution could remain the same at 1280 x 720 pixels. The improved variant of the Moto X, allegedly the Moto X + 1 is likely to come with 25 back variants during its launch.

It is speculated that the upcoming Moto X could work in sync with the Moto 360. Its circular face measures 1.5-inch LCD display and features 320×290 pixels of resolution. It also comes with a heart rate monitor and a pedometer. The Moto 360 is expected to be priced at $249 that translates to Rs. 15,100.

So get set folks, September is going to be a lot of fun.

August 22, 2014
Moto 360 Specs and Price Leaked
We have been hoping to get our hands on the Moto 360 smartwatch next month. It is said to launch on 4th September. But it seems that we don’t have to wait long to get a preview of what Motorola has in store for us.

Best Buy has gone ahead and (accidentally?) spilled the beans by releasing the device’s features and price. The big-box retailer has posted a product listing for the timepiece that appears to reveal many (though not all) of the specifications. We have seen the device and many leaks that gives us a fairly good image about what the device will look like. Up until now, the only one thing that had been alluding everyone was the price.

According to specs published on Sunday on the electronics retailer’s website, the Moto 360 will cost $250 and feature a 1.5-inch backlit LCD touch screen with a 320×290 resolution and 205 pixels per inch. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 will protect the Android-powered smartwatch’s screen.

The voice-activated smartwatch will sport an optical heart rate monitor, pedometer, and Bluetooth 4.0. It will be compatible with most devices running Android 4.3 or later versions of Google’s mobile operating system, according to Best Buy’s page.

The Moto 360’s availability is listed as “coming soon,” which we can only presume to means after Motorola officially debuts it. Google has hinted that the smartwatch will arrive at some point this summer, and Motorola will likely debut the watch at a press event on 4th September.

Specs mentioned in the product page:
- 1.5-inch backlit LCD touch screen
- 512MB of RAM
- Waterproof up to 3.3-feet for 30 minutes
- Texas Instrument processor
- Built pedometer and HR monitor
- Compatible with Android 4.3 or later
However, Product pages have been wrong in the past. The final specifications for the Moto 360 might differ slightly from what Best Buy has listed, as might the device’s final price. As such, it won’t be shocking if there are at least a few surprises left when the Moto 360 makes its official debut next month.
August 18, 2014
Motorola to Announce Moto 360, X+1 and G2 on 4th September

In case September wasn’t already exciting enough for you, Motorola has now decided to hold one of its biggest announcements of the year on September 4th. The press invite says it all, we are going to be introduced to the next Moto X, the next Moto G, the hotly anticipated Moto 360 smartwatch, and what seems to be a cool new bluetooth headset accessory at the event.

Recapping the rumoured specs of the X+1, the company’s flagship is expected to feature a 5.1” or a 5.2” Full HD 1080p display, a Snapdragon 801 chipset with a 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 12MP rear-facing shooter, and a healthy 2,900MAh battery.

One of the most anticipated wearables of the year

As for the Moto G2, the device will bump up the screen size to 5” while maintaining the 720p resolution, a Snapdragon 400 chipset with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, along with an 8MP rear camera. Once again, the device will be dual-SIM compatible. There are reports claiming the price tag to be €250, which is a bit of a disappointment considering what a bargain the original Moto G was.

The Moto 360 needs no introduction. Ever since its announcement in March this year, we’ve had a ton of leaks, revealing almost every detail there is to the watch. A beautiful metal body, a 44mm circular round dial, wireless charging, and the latest Android Wear platform. There’s not a lot more that we can ask for. The price of the watch is rumoured to be around the €249 mark, which is a bit steep when compared to its other Android Wear siblings.

The event falls right in between some of the biggest tech announcements of the year, including the Galaxy Note 4 and the iPhone 6. Along with those two, IFA Berlin also kicks off on the 4th of September. Motorola will really need these products to be special if they want to make an impact.

By Pranav Arora

August 15, 2014
Moto X+1 and Moto G2 Might Launch On 10th September

We have been waiting to get our hands of Motorola’s two new devices Moto X+1 (X2) and Moto G2. Now it looks like we can expect the devices to hit the market in September. Over the course of the last few months many rumors have pointed out that a successor to the popular Moto X called the Moto X+1 was expected and now we have a release date.

Motorola had released the Moto X full of customization options for buyers. Those included 18 different colors, accent colors, engravings, and even wood backs made from Bamboo or Walnut. However, the new Moto X2 will have all that and more, with talks of a bigger display and leather options.

According to reports, the next generation phone will feature quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, which will facilitate better multitasking and improve user experience. Motorola plans to use Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor for X+1, which currently features in HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3.

The phone is also expected to feature 32GB storage and a 5.2-inch display, which is bigger than the Moto X, which features a 4.7-inch display. Also, it is expected to fashion a 12MP rear camera with dual-LED flash and 5MP front camera.

While most the rumors have been regarding the new Moto X+1, a new exclusive report surfaced today suggesting Motorola will actually have two smartphones launching next month. The Moto X2 and a successor to Motorola’s most popular smartphone of 2013, that being the Moto G.

According to one retailer, as reported by Gottabemobile, that received details directly from a Motorola representative, the company plans to announce, and then release both the Moto X+1 as well as the Moto G2 on September 10th. This means we can expect more details and an event in which they’ll be revealed sometime in August, followed by a global launch date on September 10th.

At this point these are only rumours. However, last year the original Moto X was announced in August and arrived shortly thereafter, and we can expect the same type of announcement and rollout for this new lineup of smartphones.

August 12, 2014
#LetsTalkShop with Amit Boni from Motorola India

When Motorola departed India in haste, shutting down operations and basically calling it quits, a large chunk of Moto believers were left disheartened. Motorola was always perceived as a quality brand, the real inventor of the mobile phone and an innovation driver.

With Motorola’s global operations in trouble the company took a breather to rework strategies and work towards exciting products says Amit Boni, who now heads Motorola Mobility India’s reenergized operations.

In a very candid and exciting conversation with the man we learnt that the company has inherited a lot of traits from ex-parent Google and the business strategies going forward seem to be well in order.

Motorola really researched the Indian market before returning with its new lineup, and found the Flipkart model to be a success runner and in a price conscious market like India, a steady pricing system.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Amit Boni” author_title=”GM, Motorola Mobility India”]

We wanted to ensure our customers pay one price for our phones throughout India.

[/quote]

Amit says Motorola is keen to begin the relationship when the buyer purchases a Motorola product and will ensure that service is never an issue for the customer. The company has a strong foothold in India for service and Motorola is keen on expanding the service base.

Xiaomi is not a threat, says Amit, we are happy with competition and going forward are ready to provide a better consumer experience. This sort of competition helps us stay grounded he claims, allowing the company to know where they stand.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Amit Boni” author_title=”GM, Motorola Mobility India”]

Xiaomi’s entry in India using Flipkart is a validation of Motorola’s excellent strategy

[/quote]

Motorola wants to bring products to India as fast as they can, and they are really excited for the Moto 360. The Moto 360 will suffice in a market that has seen some disappointing products, says Amit.

While he stayed mum on future products, he smiled through our questions and demand for some exciting news.

Watch the full video below for the juicy bits and a whole list of other questions.

August 10, 2014
Rumor Roundup : All That We Know About the Moto 360

The most hotly anticipated wearable of the year, the Moto 360 smartwatch, couldn’t come soon enough. Announced way back in March, the device hasn’t exactly been Moto’s secret project with multiple demos and hands-on videos at this Google I/O this year.

But do we really know every detail about the smart watch? Here’s a rumor roundup to sum up everything we know other than the official information on Motorola’s website.

Use of Premium Materials

As Motorola and Google have made sure to point out several times now, the Moto 360, unlike its Android Wear siblings, the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live, will be crafted of premium materials, namely glass and metal. Yes, no cheap plastics here.

But is this really true? A Chinese website, G for Games, recently made claims that the Moto 360 would actually be made of plastics that mimic metal. Now, before you start frowning, we should point out that a lot of tech reviewers are claiming these rumours to be fake. But we can’t be certain until the watch officially releases.

Standard Dimensions

Ever since the announcement, Motorola has made a big deal out of how the Moto 360 will look and feel just like a regular watch. It will have a regular 44mm round dial and a leather strap that can be switched with any other strap.

However, another rumor recently surfaced that Motorola will have to increase the thickness to 13.5mm to incorporate wireless charging into the watch. This will make it considerably thicker than either of it’s siblings, the G Watch and the Gear Live, who stand at 9.95mm and 8.9mm thick, respective

Wireless Charging

In the past couple of months, this has been one of the most consistent rumors. If the Moto 360 manages to support any Qi Wireless Charger, this will be a major accomplishment for the smart watch as it will eliminate the need for proprietary charging docks.

Water Resistant

It has been confirmed by Motorola that the watch will be water resistant. However, no comment has been made on whether it will be IP67 rated or not.

Leaked Images from Mistergadget.net

Optical Heart Rate Sensor

Recent leaked pictures by Italian website Mister Gadget show the Moto 360 flaunting an optical heart rate sensor on its back. We are yet to find out how it will be implemented.

Release Date

Finally, the Moto 360 is believed to be be launching by the end of this summer. This is exciting news, as summer is just coming to an end, and we should expect the watch to be launched at an event in the near future. A very recent rumor is floating that the watch will be released this September. We wish this stands true.

The Moto 360 has definitely managed to become one of the most hotly anticipated gadgets of the year. While we all wait with baited breath for the launch event, if you haven’t already, check out this video by Motorola:

By Pranav Arora

August 7, 2014
Moto X Confirmed to Receive Google’s Android L Update

Ever since Google announced the amazing Android L back at Google I/O, everyone is keen to know which handsets will get this update first. While Google pointed out that Motorola handsets will be one of the first ones to get the update, now it seems like Moto X will be the first phone to get the Android L update.

Since the Moto X is more or less a year old in the smartphone market, it goes without saying that the Moto X will be taking the Android L route, where Android L is tipped for an October or November roll out later this year.

Google+ user Josh B. sent out a feeler question to the Moto X community on G+, asking whether the Android L update will be arriving, and VP of Product Management at Motorola, Punit Soni, confirmed the impending arrival of Android L on the Moto X.

Soni did not reveal any other details about Android L for Motorola devices, but considering that the company has updated many of its 2013 handsets to Google’s latest Android OS versions almost immediately after their respective launches, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Moto X gets the Android L soon.

August 5, 2014
Rumor : Motorola is Working on a New Nexus Device

Motorola and Google parted ways last January, but if rumors are to be believed, Motorola is working on a new Nexus device, codenamed “Shamu”, that is set to launch sometime this fall. A number of other reports have indicated that HTC has also been working on an 8.9 inch Nexus tablet for Google. It’s code-named “Volantis,” and probably has an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor and a high-resolution display, among other things.

Now it looks like a new Nexus smartphone by Motorola is also on the way, although it is said to have a near tablet-sized screen.

The reports leaked by Android Police hint that the Nexus device is a 5.9-inch device with a fingerprint sensor.

Android Police seem confident that the rumor is true. “Point are deducted simply because hardware plans can change very quickly, even when a prototype device already exists,” Android Police writes. “We are confident that Shamu is a real device under active development, and fairly confident that it is a contender for the Nexus program.”

Being that it’s a Nexus contender doesn’t mean it’ll be the device consumers will be able to buy later this year. But Motorola is apparently working on a device, which is supposed to be “targeted at major U.S. carriers, and unspecified carriers in other parts of the world,” Android Police said.

It seems unlikely that a new Nexus device would appear before this fall, which is far enough away for the plans to change. But this report somewhere takes the sword off the Nexus program, which seems to be doomed. Not only is it still in play, looks like it may have a few great devices coming down the line.

July 28, 2014
Images of the Upcoming Moto X+1 Leaked

The coming up flagship device of Motorola seems be to their worst kept secret. Earlier the phones specifications and some photos were revealed and now once again, Android Police has leaked photos of what they claim is a pre-production model of the Moto X+1.

However, the device in the picture has one distinct factor and that is the aluminum frame around the device. It is said that the silver-colored segmented ring around the phone’s sides is made of aluminum, like the HTC One family, though the metal build doesn’t extend to the front or back.

This device seems to have bigger screen than its predecessor (5.1-inch screen) with no capacitive buttons, which roughly matches various reports, along with a loudspeaker beneath the screen. The back has a Motorola logo set into the wood, in what appears to be plastic, which differs from the wood backs on the Moto X. The two white dots on either side of the circular camera module are said to be dual LED flashes. Like the Moto X, there is no MicroSD card slot.

The wooden finish rear confirms the earlier report that the flagship device will offer more than 25 customization options, including wood and leather finishes. Furthermore, earlier rumors suggest the Moto X+1 will sport bumped up specs in every respect starting with a new 5.2-inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution screen. The phone could also have a faster Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 24GB of storage. A higher spec 64GB model has also been rumored to come with a microSD card slot not found on the regular model. Camera-wise the Moto X+1 said is to feature a 12MP rear sensor coupled with a 5MP front snapper.

In general, the hardware seems to be a reasonable upgrade from the Moto X, although the leaks so far have failed to mention whether or not the device will include a natural language processor. This is the chip that enables the Moto X’s touchless voice controls, which allow you to access Google Now without even touching the phone while the screen is turned off. It was billed as one of the major features to launch with the Moto X, but it’s unclear if we’ll see the same type of functionality in the Moto X+1. Motorola is rumored to unveil the Moto X+1 in August as it did with the Moto X in 2013.

July 26, 2014
Unlock Your Motorola Device With A ‘Digital Tattoo’

This is what we love about wearable technology. They keep on trying to simplify your life even further. This time it’s Motorola’s turn, and they have teamed up with a company called VivaLnk to create a ‘digital tattoo’ that unlocks your phone when you simply tap the phone against it. Yes, it’s that simple.

Tap on the tattoo to unlock your phone without a password

Now Motorola says that an average user unlocks their device 39 times a day. Out of these, 50% find punching in their password/PIN too cumbersome, leaving their data and personal information exposed to theft and other malpractice. This was why they introduced the Motorola Skip last year. The Skip is a small clip that attached to any of your clothing, and unlocked your Moto X with a simple tap. The concept was simple, and it saved the user from the annoyance of typing in the password every time they wanted to use their phone. This ‘digital tattoo’ aims to take it a step further, using the same technology in an even simpler form.

The tattoo, as was the case with the Motorola Skip, uses Near Field Communication (NFC) to interact with your smartphone. The device recognizes it within a second, and forgoes the password entering stage to unlock your smartphone.

So basically put, the ‘digital tattoo’ is an ultra-thin NFC circuit, wrapped up in medical grade 3M adhesive that won’t harm your skin. It is also water resistant, and should be able to survive showers and exercise routines just fine.

A 10 piece pack comes with at a price of $10.

While the $10 asking price for 10 such tattoos sounds like a fair bargain, prospective buyers should keep in mind that a single piece would last you only 5 days on a stretch, so that 10 piece pack optimally lasts you around a month and a half.

Another catch is that the tattoo currently works only with the Moto X. That is understandable, because every niche product is first tested with a limited customer base. If you’ve got any other phone, you’re going to have to wait, and still waste all of 2.3 seconds fumbling in your password each time you want to use your phone.

By Pranav Arora

July 23, 2014