Devices from Binatone and Hubble to appear at Pet Fair Asia
For pet owners who worry about leaving their critters, whether for a day at work or a longer, extended vacation, may be interested in some new Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices to be shown at the Pet Fair Asia conference schedule for later this week in Shanghai. Binatone, in partnership with Hubble, will be showcasing some new products from Motorola to help pet owners keep track of their furry friends.
Binatone primarily focuses on consumer electronics devices for baby, pet and family connectivity by partnering with hardware manufacturers like Motorola. Hubble is a new services and application solutions provider for IoT devices that is now partnering with Binatone to help consumers take advantage of IoT tech. Their Hubble application can be used to engage in two-way audio communication and control devices. The Hubble platform can also be used by OEMs to integrate and provide cloud-based solutions for their products.
Examples of the new products available through Binatone and Hubble include the Motorola SCOUT 2500 and SCOUT 5000 devices designed to help pet owners stay connected with their pets. The SCOUT 2500 is a basic device for monitoring a pet’s location through geo-fencing that is capable of sending a user an escape notification if the pet decides to wander off. Users who want a little more information can step up to the SCOUT 5000 with a built-in Wi-Fi camera capable of providing 4K video. The video can be live streamed to the user’s Hubble Connected app on their smartphone or tablet.
Along with the new SCOUT 2500 and SCOUT 5000 devices, other devices like the Motorola SCOUT 66, SCOUT 73 and SCOUT 85 will be on display. These devices provide similar video streaming capabilities at lower resolutions from fixed camera locations and some include other features like temperature monitoring or motion detection.
source: Binatone Global (PR)
Come comment on this article: Devices from Binatone and Hubble to appear at Pet Fair Asia
The unofficial DROID MAXX 2 makes another appearance
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Motorola and Verizon have a fairly long history of doing business together with exclusive devices. Not to say other manufacturers don’t, but the last few years has seen a bit of a shift when it comes to specific device exclusives. The latest talks on the town have pointed to a follow DROID MAXX. Simply put, the DROID MAXX 2. Personally I am happy to see naming schemes that aren’t as ridiculous as they used to be. Anyone remember the Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic 4G Touch? Anyways, the DROID MAXX 2 is looking to be a carrier branded version of the Moto X Play.
By all accounts the DROID MAXX 2 is sounding and looking like a re-branded Moto X Play. Verizon will inject the usual amount of apps and slap their name on the back plate. It will carry a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 1.65GHz Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB of RAM, 21MP camera and a 3630 mAh battery. It will launch with Android 5.1.1 on board out of the box.
CPU-Z screenshots seem to point to 8GB internal storage, but we are fairly certain that is a reporting issue on the app as the Moto X Play starts at 16GB. It would be pretty stupid of Verizon to custom order a mid-tier device and slump the storage with a 21MP camera. The 8.14 is still a bit off-putting and I can’t recall any device reporting slightly over what is actually included. If Verizon did do something to shrink the storage it should read under 8GBs in the Internal Storage field. Stranger things have happened though. The device is going under the guise of the ‘lux’ with model number xt1565.
Now we just need Verizon and Motorola to officially announce the device and offer us up some pricing and availability.
Source: Droid-Life
The post The unofficial DROID MAXX 2 makes another appearance appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Motorola DROID Maxx 2 and Turbo 2 rumors – huge batteries, unbreakable displays and more
It was a bummer to hear the Moto X Play wasn’t making it to the USA, but we kept our eyes open just in case we heard anything. After all, Motorola has a very tight relationship with Verizon, and they are always re-branding products just to be able to keep US exclusives with Big Red. Many of us had the suspicion that this would be the case with the Moto X Play, but now we have rumors to support this hypothesis (at least to a certain extent).
The guys at Phandroid have managed to dig up some details on a couple devices. This information is said to be confirmed by “several sources who have proven to be reliable in the past”. Of course, the team can’t go into too much detail about the origins of these murmurs, so we would take all of this with a grain of salt. With that said, let’s talk about these mysterious upcoming Verizon smartphones!
Motorola DROID Maxx 2
So it seems Verizon could be going for a couple DROID handsets this year. This would be the mid-range version… and yes, it’s also believed to be a re-named version of the Moto X Play.
The sources couldn’t say much about the internals. Regardless we can expect the phone to be quite similar to the original Moto X Play. The phone is pretty awesome with its Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 5.5-inch 1080p display and 21 MP camera. But likely the coolest feature is that this phone sports a 3,630 mAh battery; we sure hope that last bit doesn’t change with the launch!
The price should also be similar to that of the Moto X Play, possibly making the DROID Maxx 2 one of the best deals on Verizon’s network at only about $300. The phone is said to be launching “later this year”, so get your credit cards ready.
Motorola DROID Turbo 2
Verizon is not conforming with keeping a country-wide exclusive on the Moto X Play – they are also releasing a Motorola DROID Turbo 2 (or at least that is what these sources claim). This phone would be higher-end and come with a price tag ranging around the $600 mark.
As mentioned above, specific details on specs are scarce, but sources claim the phone will have an “unbreakable display”. Now, that’s a strong statement. A later update from Phandroid confirms this could be partly due to the POLED panel the DROID Turbo 2 will be carrying.
Wrapping up
True? False? We don’t really know, but the guys at Phandroid seem to be very positive about these rumors. We will definitely keep our eyes wide open for any details. Are you guys looking to get any of these?
Also, the Motorola DROID Turbo line is known for its outstanding battery life. If the mid-range DROID Maxx 2 will have a 3,630 mAh battery, how large will the one in the Turbo 2 be? Just curious!
The Moto X Play will come to the US as the Verizon DROID Maxx 2
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
When Motorola announced its new line-up of smartphones, there was a fair amount of surprise when the Moto X Play wasn’t announced with US availability. While the Moto X Style would make its way to the States as the Moto X Pure Edition, there was no mention of what happened to the Moto X Play – until today. According to a new report, Motorola and Verizon‘s close relationship is allegedly behind a deal that will bring the Moto X Play to the US as the Verizon DROID Maxx 2 – and of course, it’s going to be an exclusive only for Verizon.
Given the Moto X Play’s huge battery (3,630mAh), this fits right in with previous Maxx devices who have always featured larger batteries than the average device. Naturally, all that’s missing is a coat of red paint, a CDMA radio and some bloatware for good measure. But that’s not all that this report has in store – according to the rumour, Verizon will also be getting a customized version of the Moto X Style in the form of the DROID Turbo 2. This would be a similar case to the Moto X 2014 being transmuted into the much more impressive DROID Turbo, which should be a sight to behold if that turns out to be true.
So how much can you expect to pay for one of these devices? The DROID Turbo 2 will alleged come in at $600 USD, a far cry from the starting price of $399 for the Moto X Style and the price of the DROID Maxx 2 wasn’t mentioned at all – we can only hope that Verizon keeps the pricing of the Maxx 2 close to that of the Moto X Play ($299 USD). We don’t have any reason to believe any of this is untrue, so we’ll just have to wait this one out.
Source: Phandroid via Android Police
The post The Moto X Play will come to the US as the Verizon DROID Maxx 2 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Moto X Play WILL be launching in the US after all, known as the DROID Maxx 2
There was widespread dismay when Motorola announced that the cheaper Moto X Play wouldn’t be making its way to the US, and that meant missing out on that bigger 3650mAh battery too. Little did we know that Motorola had a trick up its sleeve for the US.
With the Moto X Play now available pretty much everywhere in the world except the US, it turns out Motorola will be launching the DROID Maxx 2 for Verizon Wireless in the US, which is essentially the Moto X Play renamed, and will be priced at $300.
Motorola categorically stated that the Moto X Play wouldn’t be making it to the US, so we can only assume that the DROID Maxx 2 will be exclusive to Verizon.
Will you be picking one of these up? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Phandroid
The post Moto X Play WILL be launching in the US after all, known as the DROID Maxx 2 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
New Moto 360 appears in leaked photos
As IFA 2015 approaches, we could be closer to the New Moto 360 smartwatch than we think. Recently, two new images of the upcoming smartwatch were caught on someone’s wrist while being on-board a Chicago commuter train.
According to the pictures, the smartwatch matches some of the renders we have seen. The power button also appears to have changed position in the photos making us believe this is the real deal. As previously reported, it looks like the flat tire will remain present on the new smartwatch. Motorola still hasn’t figured out how to eliminate it, but save your thoughts for after the official unveiling. Motorola is making an appearance at IFA 2015, however we may see the smartwatch announced at a private event held in Chicago later this fall.
Ever since Android Wear has first announced, it has remained mostly the same. Hopefully Motorola has something new up its sleeve. You can expect the smartwatch to come with display and performance improvements and include Google’s new interactive watch face update pre-loaded. According to recent reports, the New Moto 360 will also include lots more options such as different sizes and more.
We should know more time come this fall.
Source: Gerrit Gödecke (Google+)
Via: The Verge
Come comment on this article: New Moto 360 appears in leaked photos
Motorola Moto G (2015) review: Mid-range never felt so good
Since the company reemerged in 2013, Motorola has been trying to prove that specifications mean nothing on paper. Motorola’s portfolio was slashed and now the company offers just three phone to cover different segments — high-end, mid-range, and entry-level. The Moto G (2015) blurs those lines to an extent. Motorola has developed a phone that, when actually used, feels unlike any other mid-range device ever sold. Why is Motorola able do this? Because specifications from flagship devices made in 2013 and 2014 are beginning to be revamped and repackaged for the mid-range devices of today. And consumers can only benefit from that in both performance and price.
Motorola has gotten out of the way of users and their phones and created a comfortable, approachable, and durable device in the Moto G. This phone can actually rival some of today’s high-end devices. Maybe some will view it as Motorola’s true flagship. Sounds crazy, right? Motorola doesn’t care because it’s true. The value here goes far beyond its $179 starting price.
Note: This review was conducted with the model that has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
Design
Anyone who has ever used the Moto G (2014) will feel right at home. The Moto G now measures 142.1 x 72.4 x 6.1-11.6mm and weighs 155g. This makes the new model ever so slightly taller, wider, and thicker than its predecessor while weighing exactly the same. Nothing about increase in size poses a problem as the Moto G is still compact and light.
This year, with the latest round of hardware, Motorola makes excellent, albeit small, improvements. The rear panel is now textured with lines going across diagonally to give a better grip of the phone in one hand. Paired with the company’s signature curved design, the textured rear panel makes the Moto G extremely comfortable to hold, contouring to the shape of your hand. The curved back is met with a not-quite-metal plastic on the sides. The metallic accent, which is also around the camera, makes the Moto G seem premium despite metal not being present.
Company branding is seen on the rear’s dimple where Motorola’s logo resides. In use, that dimple is for resting your index finger.
Holding the Moto G is a relief in a world of massive displays.
Motorola takes a somewhat traditional approach when it comes to buttons and ports. Being that the Moto G utilizes Android’s on-screen buttons, the firmly-placed power and volume buttons on the right side are the only ones physically accessible. The bottom of the device offers the micro-USB port for charging and data transfer while the audio jack is placed at the top. The curved back of the Moto G could be limiting space and thus forcing the audio jack to remain above the display rather than below. Regardless, button and port placement on the Moto G is acceptable. The height of the phone is not to the point where people with small hands would have trouble reaching the power and volume buttons. Hands big and small will be all over the Moto G.
Moto Maker, the company’s customization suite, was launched first for the Moto X and expanded last year to the Moto 360. In 2015, the Moto G joins Moto Maker. Without question, this is the most customizable a mid-range device has ever been. You can match the front, back, and accent of the Moto G to any style because of how many options are available. The selection isn’t quite as plentiful nor unique as it is for the Moto X, but I guarantee that you will find something that fits.
So what can you do with the Moto G in Moto Maker?
- Front: black, white
- Back: lime, golden yellow, black, white, raspberry, cherry, navy turquoise, blue, cabernet
- Accent: lemon lime, dark chrome, light chrome, red, champagne, purple, orange, blue, black, pink
- Memory: 8GB of internal storage / 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage / 2GB of RAM
- Flip Shell: charcoal, crimson, raspberry, blue, turquoise
- Engraving: Name or short message of up to fourteen characters
Hardware
The Moto G features a 5-inch 720p HD (1280×720) LCD display, 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410, Adreno 306, 1GB or 2GB of RAM, 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for up to an additional 32GB of storage, a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, a front-facing speaker, a 2470mAh battery (non-removable), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Bands (by model):
XT1540
4G LTE (2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17)
UMTS/HSPA+ (1, 2, 4, 5)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
XT1541
4G LTE (2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17)
UMTS/HSPA+ (1, 2, 4, 5)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
XT1542, XT1543, XT1544
4G LTE (4, 7, 28)
UMTS/HSPA+ (1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHZ)
XT1548
4G LTE (2, 4, 5, 12, 17, 25, 26)
UMTS/HSPA+ (2, 4, 5)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
XT1550, XT1551
4G LTE (1, 3, 7, 8, 28)
UMTS/HSPA+ (1, 5, 8, 19)
TFD LTE (40)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHZ)
Performance
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 410 is inside the Moto G, but this little chipset manages tasks big and small. The Snapdragon 410 has four cores clocked at 1.2GHz and you can pair it with either 1GB or 2GB of RAM. Power users will jump straight for the 2GB model; however, the 1GB model should be suitable for everyone else. During my time with the Moto G, the phone was always snappy and kept around an extra gigabyte of memory in its pocket. Day-to-day activities for me include managing emails, sending around messages on Hangouts, spending free time on Twitter, and playing the occasional game of Threes. The Moto G jumps between apps without lag or slowdowns. Even though it’s not blazing fast and lighting up benchmark scores, the Moto G’s speed is pleasantly consistent.
The display may seem subpar since Full HD and Quad HD resolutions are considered standard for noteworthy phones. On the Moto G, especially with its 5-inch size, 720p works perfectly. If anything, the LCD display lacks the sharpness and vibrancy of AMOLED displays with higher resolutions. It’s still sharp, colorful, and bright indoors and outdoors.
Had Motorola gone for a Snapdragon 600 series processor and a Full HD display, the Moto G would cost north of $250, a price goes against what this phone is about.
Battery
The 2470mAh battery should provide the all-day battery life that we see hear about. Realistically, the Moto G can touch thirty-six hours of use until begging for a charge. I’ve been using the LG G4 and HTC One (M8) in recent months and both of those phones have a hard time exceeding twenty-four hours. Are those two phones more powerful than the Moto G? Sure, but let’s applaud the Moto G’s battery life for what it is.
Although it lasts nearly two days, many people will be disappointed to know that battery is non-removable. Motorola made the decision to encase the battery to help achieve the aforementioned IPX7 certification. To be honest, the consumers hell-bent on getting a removable battery are too busy badgering Samsung and HTC. The Moto G’s non-removable battery is non-issue for most.
Software
Take a look at the other companies manufacturing Android devices and none of them compare to Motorola’s software strategy. No one else gets the hell out of your way like Motorola does. The Moto G ships with an untouched version of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. While Samsung and LG include everything and the kitchen sink, Motorola uses Android in its basic form and adds lighter features.
The dedicated Moto app acts the control center for the Moto G’s unique features. Moto Assist, Moto Actions, and Moto Display are all packed into this one app. Through the phone’s various sensors, the Moto app learns from your daily habits.
Moto Assist adjusts the handling of notifications based on where a user is and what he or she is doing. Users add activities and places for the Moto G to be contextually aware of so that the phone doesn’t interrupt meetings or disturb sleep. It works by designating a time or place to activate the filter. Normally sleep from 10:30PM to 6:00AM? Don’t worry about a call putting a stop to your slumber. Need to be productive at work? You won’t be told when someone liked your Instagram photo from the night before. Worriers can enable high-priority notifications to force themselves through and alert upon arriving.
Two hand gestures, filed under Moto Actions, offer quick access to the flashlight and camera even if the phone’s display is off. Do a chopping motion twice and the dual LED flash will provide light. Similarly, twisting your wrist twice immediately launches the camera. No buttons are necessary to start taking pictures. You can say that both gestures are… handy.
Moto Display is by far my favorite thing about the software. No notification LED, no problem. Notifications, when the phone is inactive, are shown on the display. The screen lights up and you interact with app icons to decide what is done with notifications — preview, open, or dismiss. It really doesn’t have that much of an effect on battery life as the screen isn’t always on. The reason why so many people love Moto Display is because you are not left reaching for your phone every time a notification appears. Notification LEDs are ambiguous, you can never see if the notification is worth your time. On the contrary, Moto Display shows you the app icon so you can decide whether or not the notification needs to be looked at.
Regarding software updates, Motorola is easily the best; expect the Moto G to receive a software update with Android 6.0 Marshmallow in a timely manner this fall.
Camera
Mid-range devices are never applauded for their cameras. And let’s get this out of the way: Motorola’s cameras typically pale in comparison to any other company’s. We all know it. Motorola knows it, too. So a mid-range device from Motorola is bound to have an awful camera, right? Not this time around. Motorola finally made a commitment, which very much shows, to release devices that can take decent pictures. The 8MP camera from last year on the Moto G has been dropped in favor of a 13MP camera (with dual-LED flash), but an improvement in quality of this degree cannot be credited solely to raising the megapixels. Motorola either went for pricier components or tinkered with the processing.
The simple software approach taken by Motorola is also evident when using the camera. Two buttons are all Motorola thinks you’ll need. Need anything more than switching cameras and recording video? Then use the menu that slides out from the left side to alter the camera’s settings. All set? Then just tap the display to capture an image. The Moto G’s camera constantly refocuses on different subjects for you. Forget about pointing, focusing, and then shooting; that’s condensed into a single tap.
You’ll need to first go into the settings of the camera in order to start taking pictures at 13MP. By default, the Moto G is set to take pictures at 9.7MP and 16:9 aspect ratio. Reverting to the maximum 13MP changes the aspect ratio to 4:3. Both settings produce best-in-class results.
Closing
Specifications don’t matter. The Moto G performs well above what’s expected for a phone that costs less than $200. The display is accurate, the processor can endure heavy multitasking, and the camera pulls off amazing shots. Find another phone that you can say the same about. Right, the only way you could is by spending hundreds of dollars more. But by spending $179, you’re getting a phone that performs smoothly and feels like it was crafted just for you. So many inconsistencies exist between devices of any price yet the Moto G can give flagships from other companies a run for their money.
The Moto G raises the bar for mid-range devices and Motorola is once again proving that what you do is better than what you have.
Come comment on this article: Motorola Moto G (2015) review: Mid-range never felt so good
Verizon might be planning to re-brand the Motorola Moto X Play as the Motorola DROID MAXX 2
Previous rumors that the Moto X Play wouldn’t make it to the United States might not be true after all. A Motorola tipster said the company will indeed sell the Moto X Play in the United States as a Verizon exclusive. A new report says the Moto X Play will be re-branded to the DROID MAXX 2 on Verizon. Nothing is official, so take this rumor with a grain of salt.
The Moto X Play includes a 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 615 SoC backed with 2GB of RAM. Android 5.1 is pre-installed, a 21MP camera is at the back and a 5MP will be included on the front. The Moto X Play will include 32GB of internal storage and a pre-installed 3630mAh battery.
For Motorola X Play fans in the United States, there is still hope! We should find out more details in the coming weeks.
Source: Hellomotohk (Facebook)
Via GforGames
Come comment on this article: Verizon might be planning to re-brand the Motorola Moto X Play as the Motorola DROID MAXX 2
Moto 360 (2nd gen) spotted in the wild
We’ve been anticipating a next-gen Moto 360 for some time now, though earlier this month we got one of the best looks at the device to date, courtesy of a video Motorola put up on Twitter, only to take down shortly thereafter. Need even more evidence that the new 360 is on its way? Apparently the watch has been sighted a few times in the wild.
The images above and below were taken in Chicago, the home of Motorola, and show off a design that fits perfectly with all the previous leaks and hints we’ve been given. That means you can expect a new design with lugs that should make it easier to put on custom bands. It also, unfortunately, looks like the dreaded black bar is back.
As an owner of the original Moto 360, I can tell you the black bar isn’t as bad as some claim, and you do get used to it over time. That said, it seems odd that Motorola wouldn’t have come up with a better (less controversial) way of storing its ambient sensors and other components a year after the original. Then again, it’s not the only company taking this approach.
With the watch surfacing in the wild, an official announcement is likely not too far away. As for what kind of hardware we are looking at here? Aside from ditching the ancient Texas Instrument chip (or at least we hope they did…), not much else is known. It’s likely that Motorola could go with a Snapdragon here, but with Intel and other chip makers getting into the Android Wear game — anything is possible.
What do you think, excited for the next-gen Moto 360? Does the black bar’s return at all influence your potential purchasing decision?
Moto app gains customized Assist activities and places with 3.0 update
Motorola has been breaking ground with its phones the last few years, and one of the biggest ways its done this is by only adding useful features to the phone, and not messing with stock Android otherwise. With the introduction of the Moto X (2014), it placed all of these features into one app called “Moto”. That app is getting updated to version 3.0, and with it the ability to add customized Assist activities and places.
Moto Assist allows you to set automatic functions to your phone based on the time of day and your location. This includes:
Home, where you can set the phone to only bug you with important notifications, and even speak notifications out loud, Driving, which detects when your driving (based on the speed at which you’re traveling), and then do the same functions as “Home”, along with automatically playing music when a Bluetooth connection or auxiliary cord is detected, Meeting, which can automatically set your phone to quiet and auto reply to people when it detects an event in your calendar, and Sleeping, which will set your phone to quiet and keep your screen off (Moto Display included) during pre-set hours of the day/night.
Before, those options above were the only ones you could adjust or turn on. With today’s update, you can now make your own activity, or set another place to perform an action.
“Moto 3.0 adjusts to both your places and activities. It learns your home and work locations, and you can save any place and it will act appropriately there. Tell your phone to keep quiet, vibrate or talk to you depending on where you are or what you’re doing. e.g. you can save your local movie theater and choose it to automatically remain silent or vibrate while you are there.“
With the Floating Action Button (shown to the right), you can “Add Activity” or “Add your place”. Adding a new place brings up the screen to the left. Adding an activity really only sets either Meeting, Driving, or Sleeping functions, so that if you have those set already, you’ll just adjust those options.
The update is rolling out today, so be on the lookout for it in the Play Store if you have any of these devices (based on the Play Store description):
Moto X (2nd Gen.), DROID Turbo, Moto Maxx/Turbo, Moto X Pro and Moto E (2nd Gen.), Moto X (1st Gen.) and DROID Ultra.
SOURCE: Play Store
The post Moto app gains customized Assist activities and places with 3.0 update appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 