Which Moto Mods should you buy?

These are the Moto Mods you need to consider buying along with the Moto Z smartphone.

When it comes to the Moto Z (and Verizon’s Moto Z Force Droid Edition), the phone is only half of the story. The other half is Moto Mods — the optional (but very desirable) replaceable backs. Some of them are just backs. Others add a good deal of (albeit very specific) functionality.

You don’t need to buy every Moto Mod to get the most out of the Moto Z. Hell, you don’t even have to buy any if you don’t want. You’ll get the most basic of Moto Mods in the box with the phone.

But you should at least check out the others. And we’ve gotten a chance to do exactly that. Here are the Moto Mods you need to consider.

Moto Style Shell (Starting at $14.99)

Every Moto Z — and Verizon’s Moto Z Force Droid Edition — will come with one of these Styles Shells in the box. And that’s important. While you can use the phones without one of these removable backs, you probably won’t want to. For one, the phone is less ergonomic without them, since the back will be completely flat. The other reason is that you’ll want to protect those 16 contact points for the other Moto Mods.

But moreover is that these Style Shells can give your Moto Z a different look and feel. And they’re easier to change than any other removable back we’ve ever used. But they’re also affixed so well that we haven’t had a single issue with them coming off accidentally.

Style Shells will come in at various price points, depending on what they’re made of. But they start at a mere $14.99, which is a very sweet spot indeed.

Incipio power packs ($59-89)

Moto has teamed up with Incipio for a number of power packs. Think of these as extended batteries (because they are) that are hot-swappable (they are) and can easily added in whenever you know you’re going to need some extra juice. (Because at some point you will.)

These backs also enable wireless charging, so there’s that. They way they work is that the charged battery pack will keep the phone charged. Once it’s depleted the phone’s battery will then be used. The back needs to be affixed to the phone to charge, and it does so at a trickle until the phone itself is fully charged.

We’ve also already seen branded versions of these backs from Tumi and Kate Spade. And further splitting things up is that there are wireless options available.

In any event, this is a really handy way to add more battery life to the Moto Z.

JBL SoundBoost ($79.99)

Our next favorite Moto Mod is the speaker. It adds a significant amount of size and weight to the Moto Z. But in return you get an external speaker that sounds pretty decent, is surprisingly loud, and is easier to use than Bluetooth. Plus, since it becomes a part of the phone, it’s more of an accessory and less of a big-ass speaker you’d have to also carry around.

It also serves as a bit of an extended battery, with a 1000 mAh cell built in. (Moto says you can expect 10 hours of use before the speaker drains and you start using phone battery.)

Instead of lugging a separate Bluetooth speaker with me on the road, this is what I’d take. In a heartbeat.

Moto Insta-Share Projector ($299.99)

We’ve seen companies try to make pico projectors work in the mobile space for years. Now we’re seeing another with Moto’s Insta-Share Projector. And you know what? It’s not horrible. But, unsurprisingly, it’s not inexpensive.

This is one of those places were you kind of marvel at how well these Moto Mods work. You attach the projector to the Moto Z just like any of the other Moto Mods. Then you hit the power button on the projector, point the whole thing at a big blank space, adjust the focus wheel — and that’s it. Audio is served by the front-facing speaker on the Moto Z, but you might well want to invest in an external speaker if you’re serious about using this. It’s not the highest resolution or contrast, but it does work. I could see it being a decent business expense, actually. Kids will dig it, but that’s an expensive novelty. TV is still easier and better quality. But this is sort of fun.

More to come …

And the really cool part? There will be more Moto Mods. Undoubtedly we’ll see Moto roll out its own mods — and there’s a developer program as well, which gives a path for anyone to start creating mods, and bringing them to fruition.

But for now? These are what are available, and what you’ll want to look at when buying a Moto Z.

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our Moto Z review!
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

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T-Mobile provides unlimited high-speed data for the Rio Games in Brazil

T-Mobile has announced the U.S. carrier will be rewarding Simple Choice customers with unlimited high-speed data throughout Brazil from August 1. All you need to do is activate roaming while in Brazil and you’ll be able to enjoy speeds up to 4G LTE to Skype, WhatsApp, Instagram and share special moments from not only the Olympic Games, but Brazil as a whole.

Should you be rocking a Simple Choice plan, you’ll not have to change a thing. Simply land in Rio and you’re good to go. If that weren’t enough, T-Mobile is also handing out free Galaxy S7 edge and Gear 360 bundles to families of U.S. athletes with free T-Mobile services. For more information on this promotion, be sure to check out the official T-Mobile website.

Press Release

T-Mobile Goes All In for the Games – Gives Customers Unlimited High-Speed Data and Calling in Brazil for the Rio Games

And, for families of US athletes, T-Mobile’s giving a FREE Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Samsung Gear 360 camera with FREE T-Mobile service to call, capture, share and stream every moment of the Rio games without worrying about the carriers’ outrageous roaming fees and overage penalties

Bellevue, Washington — July 21, 2016 —It happens only once every four years, so T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) is going big. This summer, no international event will be bigger than the Rio games, and more than 100,000 Americans are expected to attend in person. So, of course, T-Mobile is making it simple and easy for Un-carrier customers to share, Skype, snap and scope every moment of the summer games in Brazil, and T-Mobile CEO and president John Legere just posted a video blog sharing all the details at https://youtu.be/BjLRtwqpwcc.

Starting August 1, T-Mobile is unleashing free unlimited high-speed data throughout Brazil for its customers, so wherever they roam in Brazil this August – all month long – they’ll get the fastest available roaming speeds up to 4G LTE. And, calls within Brazil and back home to the US are free – as is texting worldwide. On top of that, the Un-carrier is giving families of U.S. athletes free T-Mobile service and a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Samsung Gear 360 camera through October, so they can capture and share every exhilarating moment of the games without worrying about extra expenses or surprise roaming charges.

“AT&T is spending millions to put their logo all over the games as the official sponsor. They introduced a new ‘Brazil plan’ last month, so their customers can foot the bill for AT&T’s VIP parties and private suites in Rio,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “That couldn’t be more different from the Un-carrier. T-Mobile is freeing customers to travel to the Rio Games and use their phones without worry.”

And the best part? Simple Choice postpaid customers don’t have to lift a finger to get these benefits. Get off the plane in Rio and your phone just works at absolutely no additional cost.

Un-leashing Athletes’ Families to Share Every Epic Moment

The Un-carrier’s going the extra mile for families of the U.S. team in Rio. T-Mobile is giving family members of U.S. athletes a free Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Samsung Gear 360 camera along with free T-Mobile service they can use throughout the Summer Games in Brazil. So, they can document and share every amazing moment as their family member competes in this incredible event.

“If a member of your family qualifies for the biggest global sporting event on the planet, your damn phone bill is the last thing you want to worry about,” said Legere. “We’re going to make it simple for our customers – and families of the U.S. team – to enjoy the games, stay connected and share every historic moment with those they care about.”

Family members of US athletes headed to Brazil can learn more at http://www.t-mobile.com/brazil or contact RoamFreeInRio@t-mobile.com to get up to two free smartphones per athlete activated with T-Mobile service ahead of the Summer Games.

We’re answering your Moto Z questions in our forums!

The lid has come off the Moto Z. The reviews have dropped. We now can share pricing and availability.

But we get it. You still have questions. Well we have answers! Phil has spent a week with both the Moto Z and the Moto Z Force on Verizon, and he’s going to spend the rest of the day answers your questions in our forums. As in, he’s not getting let out to feed until it’s all over.

So if you’ve got a burning question about either of the phones, or their Moto Mods, hit the link below and get to askin’!

Click here to ask your Moto Z question!

Buy a mod for your new Verizon Moto Z and you’ll enjoy 40% off additional mods

Update: The original announcement from Verizon indicated that it was a 20% savings, but Verizon has confirmed that you will actually save 40% on the additional mods.

Verizon has set a date as to when you’ll be able to pick up your new Moto Z and Moto Z Force, and should you be on the hunt for some mods to spice up your imminent experience be sure to take note that when picking up a mod you’ll get 40% off additional mods. This will help make it more affordable to not only pick up the battery powerhouse, but also a projector or boombox.

You can already pre-order the Moto Z Droids and available mods from Verizon directly. Should you be interested in learning more about the two handsets, the mods that can be attached to them or to find out what we make of the new hardware, be sure to check out our in-depth Moto Z and Moto Z Force review.

• Which Moto Mods should you buy?

See at Verizon

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our Moto Z review!
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

Motorola
Best Buy
Amazon

Best Buy is offering $200 off the Moto Z and a free speaker Moto Mod

Best Buy has announced a pretty awesome promotion for the Moto Z that scores you $200 off the phone as well as the speaker Moto Mod for free. This total package is valued at $280, which is a big savings on a brand new phone. Verizon has announced its own promotion that saves you 40% off a mod when purchasing the phone and mod together, but Best Buy’s offer may be better for those who don’t need multiple mods.

You can grab the Moto Z for just $1 if you sign a two-year contract or for $17.47 a month on installment billing instead of the $26 that it would normally be.

See at Best Buy

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our Moto Z review!
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

Motorola
Best Buy
Amazon

Magnets and the Moto Z: How Moto made modules work, while LG was a nonstarter

We’ve seen optional modules before, and they pretty much were a nonstarter. Here’s how Moto modules actually work in the Moto Z.

Ask anyone who’s ever played with magnets. There’s something strangely satisfying when the two pieces come together. Almost like there was no stopping them. Some invisible force working its magic.

Nerdy? Yeah. But there’s something about that effortless force, ya know? And it’s been a bit of a crapshoot over the years when it comes to magnets and mobile devices. Either they work great, keeping everything where they should be, or you end up with a mess that takes too much force to unstick.

And that brings us to magnets and the Moto Z.

Actually, let’s back up. The Moto Z is the second phone we’ve used this year that employs modular — in this case, Moto Mods — optional accessories that add some sort of functionality to the phone. And the Moto Z, at launch, has three — an extended battery, a speaker, and a pico projector. (There’s actually a fourth — the Style Shell back that comes with every phone.) To switch modules, you just break the magnetic bond on the back of the phone, and pop the new back on. The Moto Mods have chips in them that talk to a co-processor on the phone, and the two sync up seamlessly.

The Moto Z isn’t the first to try optional accessories, but it’s the first to make them work.

LG tried its hand at this sort of thing earlier in the year with the LG G5. It was a very different experience. I (and other journalists) got an early look at the LG G5 ahead of its unveiling at Mobile World Congress, in late February in Barcelona. Figuring out how to remove the modular section in the G5 was simple enough. There was a button to start the ejection process, the butt would slide out a few millimeters, and the connected battery would come with it. But I remember standing there the first time, clueless as to how the battery could come off the butt. (Hint: With a decent amount of force.)

It wasn’t overly intuitive, it wasn’t without effort — and you had to reboot the phone to get it to work. And complicating matters for those of us in the United States was that the the more compelling of the two modules — a high-definition digital-to-analog audio converter — was never made available.

The Moto Z? You remove the back with a fingernail. The Moto Mods have a convenient little slot for getting things started. Then you just pop on a new one. And by the time you flip the phone back around to get to work, the software has done its thing, and it’s ready to go. That’s not to say that the Moto Z will enjoy success with its modules that LG didn’t. That’s all but certain. It’s just that Moto has implemented them infinitely better than LG did.

Two phones. Two sets of optional accessories that add functionality to the host device.

And only one that you can use without any explanation whatsoever.

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

• Our Moto Z review!
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force will be Verizon exclusives until the fall of 2016
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

Motorola
Best Buy
Amazon

Best smartphone battery packs: Pokemon power and more

There is nothing worse than running out of battery on your phone. Well, there is, but when it happens it feels like the worst thing in the world.

Unfortunately, as advanced as smartphones have become in recent years, battery life is still something they haven’t quite nailed. Some will last most of the day, others might get you through most of the evening too, but that’s assuming you aren’t spending all your time on WhatsApp, or catching Pokemon.

Doing either of those, especially the latter will see that bar in deplete. Rapidly. The problem is, while you might be thrilled at having caught Pikachu, if you’ve missed your last train in doing so and your battery is on 2 per cent, that thrill will quickly disappear, no matter how cute he may be.

That’s where battery packs come in. They have been around for years so when it comes to your options, there are hundreds. You’ll find small ones that will fit in you pocket but only give you a small bit of extra juice, as well as larger ones that will charge your phone three times over. That’s a lot of extra Pokemon playing you could be doing.

We’ve rounded up a selection of the best battery pack options out there to make sure your phone keeps up with you. 

Click here to see the best battery packs.

ICYMI: Microscopic seascapes and riding your luggage home

Today on In Case You Missed It: A motorized, rideable piece of luggage is hitting Indiegogo on Thursday that can convert from regular bag to lazy human scooter in a jiff. To cut out people altogether, you might be interested in the video of a robot made to flip sausages in Germany. Meanwhile ocean researchers captured the first microscopic videos of coral reefs out in the wild rather than in the lab, showing coral behavior that has not previously been captured on camera.

As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

NASA releases a year-long look at the sunlit face of the Earth

The DSCOVR satellite gave us a rare glimpse of the sunlit face of the Earth in 2015. Now that it’s been orbiting the planet for over a year, its EPIC camera has finally captured enough images for a year-long time-lapse video of our home. In the past, you had to be an astronaut to get a look at the side of the Earth that’s lit up by the sun. DSCOVR changed that when it started orbiting the planet from a million miles away and taking photos of its view every two hours. The satellite is stationed between the sun and the Earth in a location that’s known as the Lagrange point 1.

The NASA-NOAA collaboration was launched aboard a SpaceX flight in February 2015 to monitor solar wind condition. It can warn us about approaching coronal mass ejections, keep an eye on the ozone layer and the state of Earth’s vegetation, and, as you can see, take awesome photos of our home. It also once captured the moon — and its shadow during an eclipse — crossing our planet on cam.

Source: NASA Goddard