Motorola Bounce to sell as Verizon’s DROID Turbo 2
Twitter tipster @upleaks posted some news a few days ago about a Motorola smartphone codenamed Bounce that was described as a mildly ruggedized version of the Moto X Play. @upleaks is back with more news about this device, this time claiming it will be released in the U.S. by Verizon as the DROID Turbo 2. Previously the Motorola Bounce had been pegged as the DROID Maxx 2 for Verizon.
For consumers who were interested in the middle tier of Motorola’s 2015 devices, the Motorola Moto X Play, it appears Verizon will be their only option in the form of a some type of DROID device if these rumors are accurate.
source: @upleaks (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Motorola Bounce to sell as Verizon’s DROID Turbo 2
Verizon: Motorola Moto X Pure Edition will work on our network
Thinking about picking up a new Motorola Moto X Pure Edition but wondering whether it will work with Verizon’s network? Fear not, the carrier has reportedly made it clear that the smartphone will have no issues with activation.
According to a statement given to Droid Life, Verizon customers should be able to activate the unlocked handset with a service plan. Moreover, existing customers who already have a nano-SIM can simply insert it into the device.
We had hoped there would be no issue with this, of course, especially since Motorola proudly says the phone “works on on all major networks”. Then again, who knows when it comes to dealing with Verizon and its whole certification process?
If interested in ordering the unlocked handset, you can head to Motorola’s website to pick one up. What’s more, you can customize one of these through the Moto Maker with prices starting at $399.
We expect to have a review unit shortly and can’t wait to check out Motorola’s latest flagship experience. What about you? Are you anxious to try one of these for yourself?
The post Verizon: Motorola Moto X Pure Edition will work on our network appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Moto Pulse: a wonderful wireless widget
Alliteration aside (see what I did there?), I had the opportunity to spend some time with the Moto Pulse wireless headset. And let me tell you, I now want to buy a pair. Why is that, you ask? Well my friend, that’s what I’m here to do, to answer such questions!
Setup
Setup was surprisingly easy for a Bluetooth headset. Almost perpetually the first time setting up a Bluetooth device to my phone is an arduous process of turning Bluetooth on and off, searching for a device, making both visible, so on and so forth.
However, turning the Moto Pulse on and pairing to both my smartphone and laptop was an instantaneous action. I was listening to audio without any qualms.
And that, is a beautiful thing.
Usage
Again, using these headphones could not have been an easier thing to do. Any time I did struggle was because I was actually complicating things (I know, surprising).
On the right-ear cup are a myriad of buttons to control the audio from your device. Starting from the top going down, you have the power button, which also acts as the answer/end call button, then volume up/previous track, volume down/next track, and lastly play/pause button.
Usually when devices have buttons with dual purposes, it is a pain in the butt to perform the action you need. 
However, again I found that following the directions to perform an action would translate perfectly to the device. Skipping tracks, pausing sound, answering calls, everything was a seamless experience. What’s great is this seemingly works across all apps. At least the play/pause button worked with Google Play Music Joyride and YouTube. I can’t guarantee this per se, but it certainly seems hopeful.
Another great thing about these headphones is just how light they are. If it weren’t for the fact that I live in Phoenix, Arizona where the heat makes anything noticeable, I probably would have hardly noticed I had them at all. So, traveling with them was a breeze, whether it was around my neck or in my bag. A neat design choice Motorola added was that the headphone cups will turn so that the headset lays flat, making storage in a bag much better than just about any other set of headphones. I definitely preferred this method over headphones that fold in, but that might be personal preference. Add with all of this the fact that these are wireless headphones, and the Moto Pulse is the perfect set of headphones for travel.
Now one hesitation for wireless headphones is battery life. I’ll tell you straight-up, battery life is no problem for the Moto Pulse. Motorola claims 18 hours of usage for these, and yet, in some miraculous form of black magic, I’ve gotten about 24 hours of use. Generally a manufacturers claim for battery life rounds up, but for these they rounded down! Have you figured out yet why I love these so much?
Sound Quality
Now, I should front this section by saying this: I don’t necessarily consider myself an audiophile, however, I do drive my wife nuts by complaining that sound from our TV, car, etc doesn’t sound very good when she thinks it’s fine (maybe that’s just typical spousal bickering…). Point being, I don’t want audiophiles to come back with their torches and pitchforks when something I said wasn’t right.
With that out of the way, I thought the Moto Pulse sounds great. I can hear each instrument clearly, with good highs and lows. If anything, there were times where I wanted to feel the bass a bit more, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t fix with an equalizer on my phone. When listening to podcasts (with voices only), I could hear each voice crisply, and never felt as though I was missing something because I couldn’t understand someone.
So, these $60 pair of headphones isn’t going to win any audio awards necessarily, but I think 99% of the world is going to love the sound that come out of the headphones. If you need something more, then stop looking at $60 headphones!
Overall
Ask anyone I’ve been bugging the last few weeks, I love these headphones. They sound good, feel good, are easy to setup and use, have a long battery life, and travel well. Further, they look good, and have no wires!
Now I know what you’re thinking: how much do I need to spend to enjoy these great headphones? $60. Yup. When it comes to wireless headphones that work well and sound good you’re generally looking to spend over $100. The Moto Pulse? Nope. $60.
Have I mentioned I love these headphones?
The post Moto Pulse: a wonderful wireless widget appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Best Buy now selling the Nexus 6 for $350
Last week we saw Amazon drop the price of the Motorola Nexus 6 to $350. This makes sense as they’re probably trying to clear stock before the new Nexus is rumored to be announced later this month. Now we’re seeing Best Buy match Amazon.
Best Buy will normally price match Amazon prices but this is more than that. This is an official price cut to $350 instead of just a price match. We don’t know if this is a permanent deal so make sure you get yours soon if you’re interested. We still haven’t seen the Google Store drop their prices past the $499 mark. Google could be holding back on a price drop as to not tip their hand at the incoming new Nexus.
The Nexus 6 is still a very good performer and will stand up to most flagships of this year. While not as popular as it’s little brother, the Nexus 5, the device still has the advantage of a huge development community and fast updates from Google.
Source: Best Buy, Droid-Life
Nexus 6
…
The post Best Buy now selling the Nexus 6 for $350 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Android OEM strategies in 2015: which OEM’s are heading in the right direction?
The year 2015 has been a mixture of rebirth and, arguably, stagnation, depending on the OEM in question and who you ask. Some players have largely kept the same strategy, for better or worse, while others have started to plant the seeds of change with shakeups in design and software. We have to wonder, which OEMs are heading in the right direction, and which aren’t?
Before we ask that question, let’s take a look at each OEM and highlight their basic strategy for 2015 so far.
Samsung
One the biggest examples of change in 2015 can be seen in Samsung. While the company’s button layout and UI design has largely stayed the same in 2015, they have considerably evolved their design language and streamlined the software experience starting with the Samsung Galaxy S6. At the same time, they have also made some stark changes in their product philosophy with the decision to cut microSD and removable batteries from their key 2015 flagships.
Not everyone is a fan of the changes Samsung has made, but there’s no denying that people are now buzzing about Samsung in a way they simply weren’t in 2014.
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HTC
An example of a company that has done little to change their strategy this year is HTC. Despite continued hard fiscal times, HTC did little to raise the bar with its 2015 One M9 flagship. The year isn’t over just yet, and HTC may have a few cards up its sleeve, but ultimately the lack of change is probably a big surprise to fans who were hoping to see something a bit more awe-inspiring from the troubled handset maker.
Bottom-line, HTC’s reluctance for change has led to many would-be consumers dismissing the brand as a viable option in 2015.
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Motorola
Starting with the Moto X, Motorola has been firmly planted in the philosophy that experience is really what matters, not the specs or even the shiny extras. This had led to the company focusing on customization, pricing, user-friendly software, and a near-stock experience that flies.
In 2015, Motorola has kept this philosophy, while taking a few steps forward. The Moto G introduced Moto Maker support and waterproofing, while the Moto X Style (aka Moto X Pure Edition) has followed the trend of bigger QHD displays, and yet at the same time managed to cut pricing down to as little as $400 without sacrificing any of the elements that have made the Moto X series a popular choice for Android fans.
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LG
The year 2015 has been all about change for Samsung. In contrast, LG’s 2015 strategy seemingly is to see whatever Samsung is doing, and offer the opposite experience. This has meant a continued push for microSD and removable backs, the continuation of plastic bodies (though they’ve also offered premium options like the LG G4 leather back option), and, while they optimized the software, the LG UI is as feature packed as ever.
While LG is rumored to have a super-premium phone that might make some more aggressive changes when compared to the LG G4 and its earlier 2015 releases, this year LG seems content to continue largely doing the same as it has in past years.
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Sony
For the most part, Sony has followed a similar strategy as LG and HTC in 2015, namely kept things pretty status quo. While the Japanese giant did slow things down a little by only releasing the Xperia Z4 (aka Z3+ or Z4V) in select regions, the company has continued to push the same overall aesthetics and experience. That said, the latter half of 2015 has now introduced a small shift for the company.
The Xperia Z5 family largely looks the same as its predecessors, but the company did surprise the world with the first 4K smartphone, dubbed the Z5 Premium. The software experience has also become even more stock-like than in the past, retaining many of the menu choices and material design influences found in stock Android. The biggest difference is now custom icons and the presence of select Sony apps.
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The rest of the pack
These are obviously far from the only OEMs out there, though they are arguably the biggest and most popular, at least in the western world.
As an honorable mention, ZTE has made some pretty big shifts this year with the Axon, a nearly OnePlus One-priced flagship with a lot of potential. Huawei is also looking to turn its attention further to the North American market releasing at least a few US-focused devices this year, and will introduce a Nexus flagship later this month, at least if rumors prove correct.
We’ve also seen Alcatel change its direction by bringing us the Idol 3, one of the first Alcatel OneTouch devices to actually be worth our attention, due to a competition of good looks, solid hardware, and an aggressive price. And then there’s Asus, which has kept a similar direction in 2015, but taken it to a whole new level with the ZenFone 2.
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Who is heading in the right direction, who isn’t?
To be fair, the answer to that question is completely subjective. Looking at the strategies, Samsung is the OEM that has made the most aggressive changes this year, though it remains unseen if whether or not these changes will truly pay off in 2015 and beyond. Motorola has kept to its guns, while making a few refinements in its strategy that has really put the company in a good place. LG falls somewhere in the middle.
With minor changes in strategy, LG has yet to “fall on hard times”, but the LG G4 hasn’t been a runaway success either. That said, LG has the Nexus 5x and likely one other flagship coming our way before the end of the year that could help further push the company upward in market dominance. Out of the bigger OEMs, it is Sony and HTC that have disappointed the most this year. Though the two companies are both falling further down the ladder, neither seems to be making the bold moves needed to turn their perspective ships around.
What do you think, which OEMs do you feel are heading in the right direction in 2015? Which aren’t?
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Moto 360 heading to China without Google Now or Play
Google’s Android Wear platform is looking to make inroads in China with the second generation Moto 360. However, the smartwatch won’t quite be making the move with all of its features intact. Google Now and the Play Store will be notably absent from the smartwatch, as Google’s services are still banned in the country. Instead, Mobvoi, which is based in China, will be providing local search and voice recognition software for the smartwatch.
Google has had to do quite a bit of re-engineering to strip out some of its core services from Android Wear, according to David Singleton, Engineering Director for Android. As well as removing core search and app functionality from the wearable OS, subtle localization tweaks, such as changing “Ok Google” to “Ni hao Android” has also taken considerable effort.
The end result is that Android Wear remains mostly familiar, but there’s clearly some additional fragmentation to the wearable platform now, which is something that the search giants tried to avoid by preventing OEM forked versions of Android Wear. Chinese app developers will be able to install apps onto the Wear devices, which will obviously have to come from third party stores. As well as MobVoi’s voice features, Sogou will be providing the default map software for Android Wear.
“For Android Wear and wearables in general, we still feel the market is really early … There’s a real need to be able to iterate quickly.” – David Singleton, Engineering Director for Android
Google appears to be taking a major interest in the Chinese technology market once again, especially with the Huawei built Nexus on its way. Although, the company may still struggle to capitalize on widespread Android adoption in China without ready access to the majority of its services and the longer development times associated with localization. Recent sources from The Information and the Wall Street Journal suggest that Google may be planning to launch a censored Chinese version of its app store, which would certainly help Google gain some grip on Android in China.
Flipkart launching Moto X Play in India this September 14th
A new genre of devices enters the market offering near-high-end specs at very affordable price points. It’s a new step between mid-tier and high-end, so to speak. This includes phones like the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3, the ASUS Zenfone 2 and the brand new Moto X Play. Are you looking to get yourself a new handset on a budget? Those in India are in luck, as they will be seeing Motorola’s handset hit the store shelves very soon.
Flipkart has just put together a special page for the Moto X Play, which just so happens to include a countdown timer. Well, at least it did, as it seems the website has taken it down (or is it my browser? Please let us know if you see it!). Regardless, the timer suggested the phone would become available in India on September 14th, at 2 PM local time. In addition, Motorola India’s Twitter account has been teasing the phone and its 30 hours of estimated battery life time.
We really don’t need much more indication of this device coming to India soon, but many of you may still be out of the loop on the smartphone’s specifications. What is this Moto X Play all about? The phone is no bad contender. It packs a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD), a 21 MP rear camera, a 5 MP selfie shooter and Android 5.1.1. But likely the most enticing part of the hardware is the battery, which features 3,630 mAh of pure juice!
That battery size, along with the phone’s thrifty energy needs, should keep your battery going for quite a long time. Motorola estimates about 30 hours of mixed usage. We will have to give the phone a test before we pass judgement on this, but I feel like we can trust Motorola on this one.
We are not quite sure about Indian pricing on the Moto X Play just yet, but the phone is said to cost £249. That would be about $381 USD or about 25,414 Indian Rupees. As it goes with all device pricing, though, we can’t expect a direct correlation between markets. We will hear more about exact Indian costs when the phone launches, so keep an open eye on Android Authority’s homepage for more details to come!
Are any of our Indian readers looking to get a Moto X Play?
Motorola’s “shatterproof” Moto X Force could launch this December for roughly $628
Just a few weeks ago we began hearing rumors about a new smartphone from Motorola called the Moto X Force (codenamed Bounce). Featuring a 5.43-inch Quad HD “shatterproof” display, the unannounced Motorola smartphone sounds like quite the flagship so far. But how much cash might one have to pay in order to receive one of these units?
According to @upleaks, the leaker who has given us every Moto X Force rumor so far, the device will launch this December for 4,000 CNY, which is around $628 USD. In contrast, Motorola’s Moto X Style (aka Pure Edition) has just launched for the low price point of $399 off-contract. Seeing a bigger price tag associated with the Moto X Force should come as no surprise, especially given the potential bump up in specifications and features.
The latest from Motorola
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The Moto X Force is rumored to come with a “shatterproof” display, which could hint at a possible MIL-STD rating. According to other rumors, the Force could launch with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32 or 64GB of on-board storage, a 21MP rear-facing camera (likely the same sensor found in the Style), a 5MP front-facing camera and a big 3760mAh battery.
If the Moto X Force launches for upwards of $600, would you still be interested? Or would the non-shatterproof Moto X Style suffice? Tell us in the comment section below!
Customizing the Moto 360 (2015) with Moto Maker
Although the round display and stainless steel construction does make it attractive, the Moto 360 separates itself from the competition with Moto Maker customization. Motorola provides prospective buyers with tools to design their own smartwatch just as they can with the Moto X Pure Edition and Moto G (2015). The value of buying a Motorola device is greatly improved due to Moto Maker. For the Moto 360, Moto Maker allows you to change the smartwatch’s size, bezel, case, band, and watch face. Changing these pieces on other smartwatches, Android Wear or not, to this degree is impossible.
We’re going to take a look at what you can do with the Moto 360 and Moto Maker.
Head over to Motorola’s site and find the pre-order button on the Moto 360’s page. Or you can go directly to the smartwatch’s Moto Maker studio.
Before getting started, know that the base price of the Moto 360 is $299. Certain changes and additions to your configuration will increase the price.
The smartwatch shown on the left is what your smartwatch will look like throughout the process of using Moto Maker. The panel on the right is what you are able to modify. You can always check the price of your current configuration at the bottom right corner.
The Moto 360 comes in two variants, designed separately for men and women. Men are offered 42mm or 46mm sizes while women are only able to choose the former. In terms of specifications, the two sizes differ in display size/resolution and battery life. The display jumps from 1.37 inches to 1.56 inches and the battery gains an extra 100mAh on top of the 42mm’s 300mAh.
The benefit of sticking with the smaller size is that you don’t have to pay an additional $50 from the start.
Think of the bezel on the Moto 360 as the trim surrounding the display. The base bezels, which simply look like brushed stainless steel, for men and women are chamfer and peak, respectively. And the premium micro knurl and micro cut looks will set you back $20. It comes down to the look and shaping of the cut you prefer.
Men:
- Chamfer: Silver, Gold, Black
- Micro Knurl: Silver, Gold, Black
Women:
- Peak: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
- Micro Cut: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
The Moto 360’s case comes in the same colors as the bezel. The price will only increase by $30 if you choose the Gold or Rose Gold color options.
The real differentiation between your Moto 360 and the next person’s is the band. Do you choose leather? Or do you go with the more expensive metal band? If the latter, are you going to match the case and/or bezel? Testing out how the various bands look with your Moto 360 is very fun, especially because just about every combination ‘looks good’.
Men:
- Leather: Cognac, Black
- Metal: Silver, Gold, Black
Women:
- Leather: Stone Gray, Blush
- Double Wrap Leather: Blush
- Metal: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
Motorola gives you the chance to have your Moto 360 start with a particular watch face, but you will still be able to change it at any time.
Now you’re done! Motorola will show you what costs (if any) have been added to the base price of your Moto 360.
Notice two things before you complete the checkout process:
- Moto Care: Motorola offers two years of accidental damage and extended mechanical coverage for the Moto 360 for less than $50. The benefit of Moto Care is huge considering the company will immediately ship you a like-new smartwatch even before your damaged smartwatch is sent to them. Each claim has a deductible of $39.
- Pricing options: You can pay up front or spread the cost of the smartwatch over six, twelve, eighteen, or twenty-four months using a Motorola Credit Account. Depending upon your credit history and the length of the financing, Motorola will accept monthly payments until the smartwatch is paid off.
Motorola will get right to work on making your Moto 360 as soon as you enter your billing and shipping information. Motorola is working as quickly as possible to assemble phones and smartwatches, so you should expect a wait a few weeks. Different designs have different expected arrivals; however, the Moto 360’s availability seems better than the Moto X Pure Edition’s at this time. To me, getting a customized and personalized smartwatch seems very much worth the wait.
Come comment on this article: Customizing the Moto 360 (2015) with Moto Maker
Motorola scrapped a Value Tier Moto 360
Motorola recently announced its second generation Moto 360 smartwatch, which comes in classic and sport versions. New information states that a third Moto 360 Value Tier model was also in the works, but the project was cancelled before it ever entered production.
Imaan Naeem, an Industrial Designer at Motorola, has revealed that the Value Tier smartwatch was designed for the youth market and has also provided some concept images and photo-realistic renders of what the smartwatch would have looked like.
Although she didn’t share exactly what made the Value Tier 360 cheaper than the other models, a closer look at the renders reveals a plastic trim on the case, the heart rate monitor is missing, there’s a proprietary metal contact charging port rather than support for wireless charging, and the wrist band options are limited to just the NATO bands.
Although we don’t know how much this Moto 360 version would have ended up costing, the missing features and the name suggest that it would have cost quite a bit less than the new Moto 360’s $300+ price tag. The market is rather devoid of very affordable cost Android Wear devices, so such a watch may have been a good first purchase for those who are still unsure about the whole smartwatch idea. Naeem didn’t reveal why the Moto 360 Value Tier was cancelled. Perhaps Motorola simply chose the Sport option over a lower cost model?
Do you think that Motorola missed out on the opportunity to release a more cost effective smartwatch, or is the lack of features not really very appealing?
AIVAnet 