Verizon’s 2013 Droid line now does KitKat
Maybe it was the marketing or the battery life, or just an aggressively convincing Verizon rep — but whatever the reason, you chose a 2013 Droid over Motorola’s fine Moto X. And then, maybe you kicked yourself as you watched Verizon update the Moto X to KitKat while your handset sat neglected like the red-eyed stepchild it is. Oh chin up, because KitKat’s finally coming to the Droid line as of today. Yes, that means owners of the Droid Ultra, Maxx and Mini should start seeing that Android 4.4 update hit their devices. Although cool your jets on the System Update refreshes because it’s “being pushed out in phases.” We know the wait can be painful, but take comfort in knowing you’re almost in the clear.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Software, Mobile, Google, Verizon
Source: Verizon Wireless (Twitter)
Motorola shows how it could make smartwatches with flexible displays
Motorola has already filed for patents on both wrist-worn gadgets and flexible displays. Today, we’re seeing what happens when the company merges the two technologies. A newly published patent application has revealed a Motorola concept for a smartwatch-like device where both the screen and the shell underneath can flex in tandem. Much like a metal watch band, the chassis would be made of links; grips on each link would bend the display. It’s a simple idea, although we’re not expecting a product out of it any time soon — the company will need flexible circuits before any bendy wearables can reach its roadmap.
Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables, Google
Source: USPTO
Wired’s LED-powered Moto X ad lets you try custom colors before you buy
Designing compelling interactive ads for web is hardly a challenge for experienced marketers, but engaging print magazine readers in a similar way requires significant creativity. One method is through technology — Esquire stood out at newsstands with its attention-grabbing E Ink cover in October 2008, and Forbes turned some heads with a Microsoft ad earlier this year that integrated a functioning T-Mobile WiFi hotspot — but Wired‘s January 2014 issue shall not go without mention, thanks in no small part to a partnership with Motorola.
A trio of LEDs, a slab of plexiglass, four batteries and an array of buttons make up an interactive Moto X ad, right in the middle of the magazine. The design enables readers to “customize” a Moto X’s rear, with bright LEDs illuminating the phone in 11 different colors. Tap blue and the phone lights up blue, yellow and it’s yellow, red for red, and so on. The ad shuts off after a few seconds of inactivity, so those four lithium batteries should last you for quite some time, serving as a reminder of Moto’s accomplishment long after the smartphone is laid to rest, while boosting this issue’s appeal for collectors as well.
Digitas, the advertising agency tasked with creating the ad over the last six months, says 150,000 copies of Wired in New York and Chicago will include the interactive advertisement. It’s available on newsstands in those cities as well, so you should be able to get your hands on one even if you’re not a subscriber. It’s a costly endeavor, no doubt, but if today’s publicity is any indication, it should pay off. Take a closer look in our hands-on (and teardown) video, embedded after the break.
Filed under: Displays, Household, Wireless, Mobile, Google
Source: Motorola
Motorola now offering Bamboo back for Moto X
Moto X with Bamboo will add an additional $100 to the cost of the phone
Motorola on Tuesday announced that the long-desired wooden back plate has arrived for the Moto X smartphone. Well, in at least one option, that is.
Available through Moto Maker immediately, the Moto X can be purchased with a Bamboo back plate. And not just a wood-colored cover – real bamboo. Indeed, there will be no two backs that look alike as the real wood design is unique every time out.
Here’s the bad news… it’s not a premium price of $50 for the wood. No, it’s a full $100 difference for this luxury. What’s more, the shipping times slip considerably when you add this option. Also, quantities will be limited and may impact delivery.
Moto X with Bamboo will not ship until after the holiday season (January). Moto Maker will provide a shipping date estimate when you order.
We’re still waiting for the other options of rosewood, teak, and ebony; no word on whether those are due soon.
The post Motorola now offering Bamboo back for Moto X appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Got wood? Moto Maker does and it’ll cost you $100 extra
Motorola promised us Moto X’s made of wood many moons ago, and the day has finally arrived. Folks who like their electronics built of more… sustainable materials can head on over to the Moto Maker website and snag an X phone constructed of bamboo. The catch? (There’s always a catch.) To indulge your wooden inclinations, it’ll cost an extra $100 dollars over the standard personalized Moto X, and there’s currently a two-week wait to get one. So, you won’t be able to put it under the tree, but if you head on over to the source, you may just have it in hand to start 2014.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: Droid Life
Source: Moto Maker
On The Gadget Table: the products that defined 2013
The snow is falling, the trees are all lit up and servers everywhere are beginning to groan under the strain of last-minute shopping sprees. It’s beginning to look a lot like Gadget Table time. To celebrate the season — and put one last ribbon on the year that was — we’re bringing back an old Engadget Show favorite. We’ve dusted off the table and filled it full of some of the best and most memorable gadgets of 2013. Tablets, smartphones, video game consoles, tablets, wearables and even the occasional dongle — all are fair game. Join Brian and Dana after the break, as they take you through the year in gadgets.
On The Gadget Table:
Google Chromecast: At $35, the Chromecast is the gadget deal of the year. This little dongle and its ever-growing arsenal of compatible streaming services can turn your old HDMI-enabled set into a smart TV you control with your mobile device.
Moto X: Motorola has a knack for focusing on elements other smartphone manufacturers largely ignore. Recent models have brought ruggedness and battery life to the forefront, as other companies have raced toward ever enlarging displays. The Moto X is all about customization, thanks to Moto Maker — and thanks to a new US factory, the Google-owned phone maker can proudly display the words “assembled in the USA.”
Google Glass: If the Gadget Table is any indication, 2013 was a banner year for hardware from a company largely known for its software offerings. Google Glass wasn’t the most popular or best-received product of 2013, but in a year that saw an explosion in the popularity of wearables, the headset seemingly gave us a small glimpse into the future. Google’s still got a ways to go as far as convincing the public, but Glass’ limited exposure has managed to capture the public’s imagination.
iPad Air: 2013 likely won’t go down as one of the more innovative years in Apple’s history, but the company did prove that it can still wow us with some super-sleek hardware. The latest iPad is as thin and light as its name implies, while still packing in great battery life and snappy performance, thanks to the A7 chip. The real star of the show, however, is iOS 7, a completely revamped version of Apple’s mobile OS.
PlayStation 4: It’s still far, far too early to crown a winner in the console wars, of course, but Sony’s certainly got a bit of a head start, thanks in no small part to its $400 price point (coming in at $100 cheaper than the new Xbox). That price tag will get you a fast, powerful machine with a lovingly revamped gamepad. As for games, however, well, we’ll have to wait for 2014…
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Wearables, Sony
Motorola again teasing the wooden backs for Moto X
Motorola has taken to its social media platforms to tease the upcoming availability of the wooden back plates for its Moto X. Set to debut at some point in the future, these wooden covers are expected to come in four flavors.
Put this DIY project on hold. Trust us.
Motorola is not quite ready to let the world know the exact launch of these plates but might hope for sooner rather than later. While they’ve officially acknowledged that they are coming, Motorola has yet to provide concrete details. Rumor has it these will be a $50 premium over the normal backs for the Moto X.
The post Motorola again teasing the wooden backs for Moto X appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Moto X Touchless Control update lets you speak your unlock code
You no longer have to give up some of the Moto X’s voice commands if you want to rely on security codes. An update to the smartphone’s Touchless Control app lets you speak a PIN code to unlock the device; as long you’re not worried about eavesdroppers, you can check private messages without poking at the screen. You won’t even have to unlock the phone as often as before, since the upgrade expands the range of Google Now voice instructions that work while the handset is sleeping. You’ll need to be running Android 4.4 KitKat on your Moto X to use the improved Touchless Control, but it’s otherwise ready to download through Google Play.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: Droid-Life
Source: Google Play
Moto X gets Android 4.4 KitKat and camera enhancements on Sprint and US Cellular
Sprint and US Cellular customers with Motorola’s $199 smartphone have finally joined the KitKat party. Starting today, Moto X users can enjoy Android 4.4′s streamlined interface and Google-licious features, courtesy of an OTA update.
In other Moto X news, the company updated its camera app with manual control of the focus and exposure. Users can select “Control focus & exposure” to adjust the aforementioned settings by dragging a green bracket to the desired location. In order to cash in on the update, you’ll need to hit up the Play store via our source link below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Google
Via: PhoneArena, Droid Life
Source: Motorola, Google Play
Severe Winter Weather Is Causing Delays To Moto G And Moto X Orders
Those of you who live in the States might have noticed a bit of the white stuff (snow, that is) already falling around your area. You might also have heard that up to 62.1% of your country is currently covered in the stuff, which is almost double the snow coverage you experienced around the same time last year. An unfortunate result of this extra wintery weather is that even Motorola‘s factory way down in Fort Worth, Texas, which produces the Motorola smartphones like the Moto X and most recently the Moto G, has been affected, causing Motorola Mobility to issue this statement on Twitter earlier today:
The winter weather conditions near our Texas factory caused product delivery delays. We’re working hard to get people’s orders shipped ASAP.
— Motorola Mobility (@Motorola) December 11, 2013
Unfortunately, this does mean delays to Moto G and Moto X orders, though Motorola is trying to mitigate the situation any way they can. Although shipping dates have been thrown out of whack, they have sent an email to people who have ordered the Moto G offering a free upgrade to overnight shipping and promised to ship the device by December 17th. Looks like Motorola is trying to get everyone their devices before Christmas, but we’ll have to see how this pans out, weather permitting.
Anybody who ordered a Moto G or Moto X being affected by this shipping delay? Let us know in the comments.
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