Hands-On with Republic Wireless and the Moto X; Surprisingly Great Setup
Republic Wireless might not be a name you have heard of, but it is a name you should pay close attention too. In the cell industry we all know the big name, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Some have their own little pre-pad spin offs, like Sprint with Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile. There are a number of others out there that will lease spectrum and devices from the big boys and let you stay off contract but have a chance at similar service. Republic Wireless is sort of like that, but with a twist.
RW leases spectrum from Sprint. Meaning that everywhere Sprint is, you have service with Republic Wireless. However, not in the traditional sense. Instead of having your cell service and data service being two separate entities, RW piggy backs off Sprint’s 3G and 4G data connections to offer you calls, texts and web surfing over a data connection. Think, Voice over Internet Provider (VoIP), except on mobile it is called Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). RW expands beyond Sprint’s coverage though, it also run on Wi-Fi. Be it your home connection, your moms house or anywhere that you have access to Wi-Fi.
The three different connection types mentioned above, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi are critical bits of information as they pertain to what sort of plan you will choose. Republic Wireless offers 4 plans based on your needs.
- The first is a $5 a month unlimited plan that will only connect and work over Wi-Fi. This would be a great way for people who spend much of their time at home, or might otherwise be immobile, who want a phone like the Moto X, but don’t need the high-cost plans associated to the larger carriers. It would also be a pretty slick community house phone.
- The second plan option is just $10 a month. This one retains the unlimited aspects on Wi-Fi, but also adds in unlimited text and calling on Sprint’s network. You will not have access to browse the web when not connected to Wi-Fi. Again, an extremely affordable solution for home bodies or even that unruly teenager.
- The third plan will set you back $25 a month. Like the previous plans you get your unlimited while on Wi-Fi, however, you also now have access to unlimited web via a 3G connection. You are limited to Sprint’s 3G speed, which usually ranges between 1.0 to 1.4 Mbps download with around 0.4 to 0.70Mbps upload. That is to be expected.
- The fourth plan is the big guns plan. Priced at $40 a month you get all you unlimited Wi-Fi but now have access to Sprint’s 4G network for your data. Typical speeds around 11 Mbps download and 4Mbps upload. You are at the mercy of what Sprint offers you in your local area for connection and speed.
Excluding the first, $5 a month plan, every other plan will offer up a hand off between Wi-Fi and Cellular data when you are coming and going. The switch is pretty quick, but there were sometimes that it took a few seconds before the conversation was picked back up. Not unusual and it is also worth noting that over the last month or so of using it I never experienced an all out dropped call during handover.
In my area, and the areas I travel the most, Sprint has pretty good coverage. There were times where I had service with my T-Mobile Xperia Z and not the Moto X and times where it was reversed. Again, not all that surprising. Republic does have a coverage check set up to see what you should be getting in the areas you will be using your device. You can toggle between 3G and 4G to see if the extra per month would even matter. I drove out to the fringes of the map in my area and still had good signal. Results are different for everyone of course, along with varying weather conditions and terrain.
The entire service is handled through a built-in app. In the app you can change your plan, change your phone number and adjust various settings like the sensitivity for when it hands off the connection to or from a Wi-Fi connection.
Where does Republic Wireless Shine?
Republic Wireless has a number of great things going for them. The monthly plans are one of the biggest. You never sign a contract and RW lets you change your plan twice a month. This is a big deal as most carriers will charge you extra to change your plan in the middle of the month, or only let you change at the beginning of your next cycle. If you happen to be home 90% of the time, like I am, I can easily see myself sporting the $10 a month plan with just calls and text when I am out and about. Most locations I go to when I am not at home have Wi-Fi anyways, but if I took a vacation or trip I could quickly open the app and toss on the 3G or 4G plan and be fine while I am gone.
When RW first started doing their thing it was with a Motorola Defy XT. While I am sure they had people sign up, it definitely wasn’t the device to really draw a crowd. The company really started to catch attention when they launched the Moto X, which is only $299 outright. They are further gaining attention with the more recent announcement that they are bringing the Moto G in April for $149. That gives the high-end users a choice and the mid-range users a choice. Covering both primary spectrum’s.
Where Republic Wireless Might Struggle
The Moto X’s big selling point is the Moto Maker. Unfortunately Republic Wireless isn’t mixed into Moto Maker. You only have white or black to choose from. I don’t think is is a HUGE issue, but a potential issue for many that would rather get a custom Moto X and spend a little more with a carrier, or other pre-paid provider, to have it.
The MVNO piggy backing on Sprint means no SIM cards. Which also means you can’t use any device you want. Even if there were SIM cards and you brought over your device, you wouldn’t be able o use it anyways because the Republic Wireless app is integrated into the software for service. Meaning, If you don’t buy their phone, you can’t connect to their service.
The integrated app that essentially is what brings you service is also something that could cause some headaches when it comes to software updates. We all know too well that carrier ‘bloatware’ is usually one of the leading causes for delayed software updates on our devices. Often times we see international devices without carrier bloat getting updates weeks, even months, before the carrier branded versions. Where they have a leg up is the fact that the Moto X is the only device they have right now. I am banking on them to be putting all their man power into making Android 4.4 available for it sooner rather than later. If Republic keeps their focus with the customer, like they have already done, and keep it going with timely software updates, then this will be a mute point. I was assured there is an update to Android 4.4 in the works, but a release time frame was unavailable.
Overall
Republic Wireless has a real shot at capturing and sustaining a good market share as is even if your only options are the Moto X and Moto G (in April). At $25 a month per line with 3G, you can have unlimited everything and that savings alone is enough for people to make the switch with confidence. I never experienced any issues with the service, and with the only alteration to it being the Republic Wireless software that is needed to make the connections, it is a small sacrifice for all that you get. Toss in the 50GB of Google Drive storage and the extremely high rated customer service and you have a real winner on your hands.
If you haven’t checked them out yet, head over to Republic Wireless’s main site and have a loo around. While you are at it, head over to the Republic Wireless G+ page and get in on the chance at a Moto G.
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Weekly Roundup: the Moto 360, Sony’s Project Morpheus, NSA transparency reports and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This is Motorola’s new Android Wear smartwatch: Moto 360
Motorola’s new wearable, the Moto 360, takes smartwatch form factor back in time (har), boasting a seriously eye-catching design and circular watchface. Powered by Google’s Android Wear, owners can utilize the power of Now from their wrists. What’s more, this isn’t the Moto 360′s only design. It’ll come in a variety of styles once it launches this summer.
Using the PlayStation 4′s virtual reality headset, Project Morpheus
Last week at GDC, Sony unveiled Project Morpheus. We got to try out the company’s VR headset, destined for the PlayStation 4 — and yes, it’s pretty awesome. Engadget’s own Ben Gilbert donned a virtual sword and took the prototype for a spin while we caught the action on camera.
The NSA may release its own transparency reports
Earlier this week, NSA general counsel Rajesh De stated that companies like Apple or Google are fully aware of its data collection practices due to its “compulsory legal process.” Now, the agency may take that claim one step further by releasing its own transparency reports.
Peter Molyneux wants more from VR than what’s available
Without failing to realize how far VR has come, Peter Molyneux told us at GDC that the tech still leaves him wanting. According to the famed game designer, it’s all about innovation, and the latest next-gen tech, like Sony’s Project Morpheus, doesn’t push the limits.
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Filed under: Misc
Motorola further details the Moto 360 smartwatch
Motorola just wrapped up its initial hangout based around the Moto 360, an Android Wear-powered smartwatch. If you didn’t have a chance to check it out, you can look for the video on YouTube.
The event itself was light on hard details and really only served to provide a quick glimpse into the device and its future. With that said, we did glean a few bits of information out of the team.
Asked whether the device would pair with other branded smartphones, Motorola replied that anything with Android 4.3 or later will work. What’s more, the watch is said to be water-resistant and features much of the know-how that goes into the Moto X and MotoActv.
“Maximum surface area while maintaining a comfortable fit”
As to whether Google Wear is designed to only work with round displays, Motorola says that the OS is built for circular and square screens. It just happens that they chose the rounded face for this model. Speaking of which, we heard multiple times that this was a conscious decision to provide the most screen and flexibility without digging into your wrist.
Motorola wants you to want to wear this first and then map the technology to it. This is not to say that Motorola did not face challenges in working with that layout. Everything done with the Moto 360 revolves around putting battery first and giving customers a pleasurable device.
For those who wonder why this doesn’t feature a microUSB port or anything that resembles a computer/phone, it’s a deliberate move. Motorola says this needs to look like a watch and feel like a redesign of the time piece, not a smaller smartphone. Oh, and if you’re wondering how this watch will charge, Motorola will detail that at a later date. Our gut tells us it’s not unlike what Qualcomm has done with the Toq.
In terms of build quality, Motorola says the Moto 360 will offer interchangeable wrist bands and feature stainless steel, leather, and other premium materials.
Unfortunately, Motorola stopped short of disclosing pricing or market availability, adding that both will be shared at a later date.
The post Motorola further details the Moto 360 smartwatch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
It’s Time: Meet Moto 360 Hangout Video Talks Design and a Little Bit More
Motorola had a live Hangout this morning at 11 a.m. PST to offer up a sneak peak and talk about design of the Moto 360 watch. I missed it unfortunately, but the video is live and available for you to watch on your own time.
If you can’t spare the 22 minutes to watch the whole thing, let’s give you a brief. It is round, it is a watch, it was built from the ground up and it is fashionable. Not surprising, they didn’t talk about any specs or pricing. They did say that battery life is a priority and power management is a big part of the Moto 360.
As for its connection ability. It will work with all Motorola smartphones, not surprised, but it will also work with any android device with Android 4.3 or newer. That is good to hear when you think about Samsung and the proprietary Gear devices.
It is water resistant, but no specifics were outlines.
On the Motorola blog a few little details were mentioned such as the Moto 360 will be available in a variety of styles globally this summer, starting with the U.S. Not that I am surprised that the U.S. will have the first chance at it, but it does let all the global on lookers know a small bit of the plans.
Moto 360 designer: ‘we wanted to hit that Whoa! mark’
In a live broadcast, designer Jim Wicks showed off a working version of the Moto 360 smartwatch and offered up a few pieces of information about his prized product and the philosophy behind its design. When asked about the inspiration for the 360′s circular design, Wicks mentioned that the shape is an iconic one that people naturally associate with time, as evidenced by the fact that nearly 80 percent of all watches sold globally are circular. “We don’t want to make consumers change for this tech,” Wicks said. “We want to make this tech map to them. With a square concept you might say ‘that’s interesting,’ but you don’t hit that ‘Whoa!’ mark. We wanted to hit that Whoa! mark.” Wicks understands that when it comes to smartwatches, fashion triumphs over functionality — and with the Moto 360, he believes that it passes the crucial test of being fashionable enough that consumers will want to buy it.
Of course, this isn’t Motorola’s first go at a watch. The Moto ACTV taught the company quite a few lessons, one of which was power management. “Our system design for ACTV is what allowed us to run it with a very small battery; and what we invented there went into the Moto X (with Active Display, touchless control and sensor integration). And a lot of the stuff you saw in the Moto X…ended up going into this watch.” While he couldn’t speak about battery life estimates, he specified that power management is a high priority for Motorola.
Wicks also believes that the Moto 360 will appeal to men and women alike. “We’re going after mass appeal by making design decisions around round,” he said. He claims that there are plenty of women who are now buying larger-faced watches, and having a customizable wristband will certainly help make it a good fit for as many people as possible: “From a comfort perspective, we’re allowing ourselves to get maximum reach, from small wrists all the way to large wrists.”
In addition to its circular design and the use of Google’s new smartwatch platform called Android Wear, we also learned that the 360 will feature interchangeable straps, water resistance and a special way of charging the device without USB, although Motorola isn’t ready to disclose any details on what that entails just yet. It’ll also be compatible with Android devices running 4.3 Jelly Bean or higher. Moto confirmed that the watch lacks a camera, a fact that likely won’t come as a disappointment to most potential buyers. Unfortunately, at the moment it also lacks a price, firm release date and word on availability, although the company indicated that it wants to eventually distribute it globally (which we take as a sign that it’ll probably be limited to the US or North America at first). Head below for the full interview.
Filed under: Wearables, Wireless, Mobile, Google
Source: Motorola (YouTube)
Daily Roundup: Sony’s ‘Project Morpheus,’ the Moto 360 smartwatch and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This is Motorola’s new Android Wear smartwatch: Moto 360
Motorola’s new wearable, the Moto 360, takes smartwatch form factor back in time (har), boasting a seriously eye-catching design and circular watchface. Powered by Google’s Android Wear, owners can utilize the power of Now from their wrists. What’s more, this isn’t the Moto 360′s only design. It’ll come in a variety of styles once it launches this summer.
‘Project Morpheus’ is Sony’s virtual reality headset for the PlayStation 4
Sony’s officially jumping into the VR realm with “Project Morpheus.” Now just a prototype, the two-part headset has a 1080p display and packs a 90-degree field of view. And though it’s still unclear how the device will work with consoles, the hardware you see above will double as a developer kit.
Google announces the Android Wear platform
Earlier today, Google unveiled Android Wear: a Nexus-like platform designed to power wearables, featuring contextual updates similar to Now and the same always-listening feature found on the Moto X. This mobile OS will focus on the smartwatch form factor for now, but Google says that’s just the beginning.
Apple’s new 8GB iPhone 5c now available worldwide
It looks like the rumors were true. An 8GB version of Apple’s iPhone 5c is available from several European carriers on multi-year contracts. And though the colorful handset has also arrived for Australia and China via Apple’s online store, we’ve yet to hear word of US availability.
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Filed under: Misc
Moto 360 Announced by Motorola; It’s Time
This morning we got to see what Google has been up to in regards to wearables with the announcement of the Android Wear platform. Int heir piece we saw a few videos, one for general use and one for developers. They also mentioned that they have been working with a number of manufacturers already. Now we are starting to get the flood of information about who is making what and a chance to see the individual manufacturers take. Not surprising, Motorola has one coming this summer dubbed the Moto 360.
As the name suggests, this one will have a round face and runs the new Android Wear OS/Software. The video provided by Motorola is pretty much useless in terms of what the specs are all about. It is round and will have a leather strap or metal strap option. You can also see the changes to the time aspect where Moto has created a more standard style analog watch face with multiple time locales. We snapped a few screenshots of the renders Moto has up on their landing page.
Feel free to head over to moto360.motorola.com for an even closer look where you can see all angles of the renders with both strap options.
Source: Motorola
Via AndroidPolice
Hardware makers swing into action with new Android Wear
In just one hour after the announcement of Google’s new Android Wear program, we already have quite a few big announcements regarding the new smartwatch OS. LG and Motorola announced their new smartwatches, while the new DevBytes video explains what Android Wear will look like to developers.
LG
LG was very quick to make noise in the space, revealing it’s alleged G Watch. There isn’t much information on the watch quite yet, but there have been some hints revealed in some of the new Android Wear videos. Users will most likely be able to wake their G Watch by saying “Okay, Google”, just like the Moto X. It will most likely be available in Q2, and will act as an entry-point for developers. Here’s a preview as to what the new watch from LG might bring.
Motorola
LG was not the only hardware manufacturer to pull the trigger already. Motorola’s announcement of the Moto 360 recently came to be, and it already looks like a nice competitor to LG’s wearable. Check out more on the Moto 360 here.
DevBytes
Along with all of the announcements today, the new Developer Preview was posted as well. It shows everybody, not only developers, the key features in how Google’s new smartwatch OS will work.
Justin Koh, a developer for Android Wear, explains that the watch’s main goal is, “Giving people the information they need, right when they need it.” Obviously this is an important factor in the new OS, and it’s nice to see Google doing it right (I’m looking at you, Galaxy Gear).
Koh explains the SDK adds functionality so if you dismiss a notification from your watch, it will also dismiss on the phone. If you’d like to take advantage of the Android Wear code, visit the webpage here.
Take a look at the new DevBytes video, previewing the features in Android Wear.
Google, LG, and Motorola went crazy with announcements today, brightening up the path for Android wearables in the future. Are you excited for what’s to come? We sure are! Let us know what you think in the comments!
Source: Google+, Android Wear
The post Hardware makers swing into action with new Android Wear appeared first on AndroidGuys.
This is Motorola’s new Android Wear smartwatch: Moto 360
LG went first, and now it’s Motorola’s turn to unveil its Android Wear smartwatch: the Moto 360. Putting an emphasis on the tried-and-true design of classic timepieces, Motorola’s crafted a smartwatch that hews closely to a more traditional, premium look. The Moto 360 boasts a circular, digital watchface powered by Android Wear that grants users access to notifications with, presumably, gestures, as the company’s official line mentions the need for a “twist of the wrist.” There’s also Google Now integration, much like on the G Watch, that’ll make checking in on the weather, sports scores or flights a hands-free affair just by saying, “Ok Google.”
From the looks of it, Moto’s made what’s arguably the sexiest smartwatch we’ve seen to date, but that image above isn’t the only form factor we’ll be seeing. When the Moto 360 launches this summer worldwide, it’ll come in a “variety of styles,” and sport leather or metallic bands. If you happen to live in the US, you’ll be getting first dibs on this Android Wear looker when it debuts.
Filed under: Wearables, Wireless, Mobile, Google
Source: Motorola
Motorola wastes no time, debuts Moto 360 smartwatch for summer
Get ready, the Android smartwatch space is about to get crowded. As if it’s not already a busy market with bands, trackers, watches, and wearables, we now have Android Wear to look forward to this year.
Not wasting any time (get it?), Motorola has already announced its first Android Wear-powered device, the Moto 360. Due this summer, the device will be offered in a variety of styles around the globe.
Moto 360 keeps you on time and up to date without taking you out of the moment or distracting you, telling you what you need to know before you know you need it through subtle alerts and notifications. With just a twist of the wrist you can see who’s emailing or calling, what time your next meeting is or a friend’s latest social post.
We’re excited about the prospects of not only Android Wear, but specifically what Motorola has in store. We like the design shown on their website but anxiously await other styles and colors.
If you’re interested in learning more about Moto 360 (and you’d better be), head to Motorola’s website to sign up for information.
The post Motorola wastes no time, debuts Moto 360 smartwatch for summer appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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