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Motorola's software chief on talking to phones and life after Google
Between showing off three new smartphones and two seemingly random pairs of Bluetooth headphones, it's safe to say Team Motorola had a pretty busy morning. Still, we wanted even more insight into the thinking that went into the new Moto Xs, the company's push into direct sales and the future of interacting with our phones, so we tracked down SVP of Software Seang Chau to help peel back the curtain covering the meat of Motorola's machinations.
Motorola's phones: a visual history
Since 1984 Motorola has trotted out some of the most iconic and memorable mobile designs in the industry. Whether it's the StarTAC, RAZR V3 or the original Droid, Motorola consistently offers something unique through design. It even allows you to make the final call on color schemes with its more recent devices so you can create a gadget that's truly one of a kind. As the company is poised to make its next big reveal tomorrow, let's take a look at some of those notable handsets that span four decades of mobile phones. [Image: AP Photo/Christof Stache]
The Moto X and Nexus 6 have never been cheaper in the UK
Motorola's no stranger to flash sales in the UK, but its latest price drop could well be the one that clears its remaining stock ahead of a hardware refresh. Following the phone maker's two-day sale back in May, which saw it introduce healthy price cuts to the Moto X and Nexus 6, Motorola has gone even lower in an attempt to get you to buy a new phone. Third-party sites may have slashed its RRP briefly, but the company has officially cut the price of the Moto X by an impressive £166, pushing the 16GB model down to £229 and the 32GB version to £269 (with Moto Maker customisation included). The newer Nexus 6 gets an £80 reduction, meaning you'll pay £399 for 32GB and £469 for the 64GB model. It's a significant drop when you consider that you would have paid an additional £70 for the Moto X and £50 more for the Nexus 6 during last month's sale. If Motorola has piqued your interest but want a little time to think things over, it's giving you until the end of June to make your mind up.
Engadget's new buyer's guide picks: the MacBook Pro, Moto E and more!
It's been one busy month for reviews: Engadget has published seven in the past four weeks alone. That means we've got quite a few additions to our various buyer's guides. First up: the HTC One M9. No, we don't like the camera quite as much as the UltraPixel shooter on last year's M8, but on the whole, the M9 is still among the best Android handsets you can buy right now. We've also made a nod to the new and improved Moto E, which remains one of the best budget phones on the market. Meanwhile, we have not one, but several new favorite laptops. This includes the refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro (even despite its slightly less comfortable trackpad) and the much-improved Chromebook Pixel. Also, we'll soon be adding the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HP Spectre x360, both of which were still being testing as we were putting this latest guide together. Check back soon to find those listed, and stay tuned to see what else we might add -- we can tell you now we already have some more big reviews in the works.
Best Buy reveals the next Moto E gets 4G and a price cut
Motorola's tactic when launching last year's Moto E was to let it appear on Brazilian retailer FastShop for a few hours, and then whip it away as soon as people began to notice. Looks like it's another case of history repeating with the refreshed version of the low-end handset, with a listing popping up on Best Buy only to disappear shortly afterward. If the since-pulled listing can be believed, however, then the device is about to get around $30 cheaper and significantly more powerful than the 2014 vintage.
Motorola smartphone sales double in a year as Lenovo takes over
Despite a supposedly weak PC market, Lenovo does very well, thank you. It's trying to sprinkle the same golden dust on to its latest acquisition, Motorola, and appears to be succeeding. Sales for the iconic brand are up 118 percent over last year to $1.9 billion (with more than 10 million units shipped). Part of that surge happened prior to the official purchase, but nonetheless helped bump Lenovo's united mobile division 78 percent in a year -- third overall behind Samsung and Apple. Motorola also lost less money than forecast, with Lenovo suggesting it could become profitable in as little as a year, despite the fact that it has yet to go on sale in China. Lenovo confirmed in its latest financial report, however, that Moto is "soon to re-enter" its home market where Apple, for one, has fared pretty well of late.
Moto X Pure Edition gets a 64GB option
Motorola trotted out a bloatware-free version of the Moto X (2014) back in September, and now, it's getting a memory boost. The company quietly added the 64GB Pure Edition handset to its Moto Maker site where you're free to fine-tune a design before committing funds. While that tally doubles the max storage space, it's only available on the unlocked model for use on AT&T or T-Mobile, and sets you back $600 off-contract. That's $100 more than the regular Pure Edition. At any rate, folks who've clamored for more memory are finally getting an option, and one that's already rockin' the latest version of Android.
Motorola's new Droid Turbo says hello in leaked photos
Don't fret, Verizon fans: Motorola's long-running line of Droid devices hasn't petered out just yet. It's hard to miss the swirling rumors of an impending Big Red Moto X launch, but a new image obtained by HelloMotoHK lends a little credence to rumors of another Moto handset barreling down the ol' product pipeline. It's (supposedly) the Droid Turbo, yet another Verizon exclusive... and one that might have an awfully beefy slew of components lodged inside the curvaceous, textured shell you see above. Yes, fine, a spy shot of a phone's back might not get you riled up, but some reports suggest it'll pair a Quad HD display with a 2.65GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset and a 20-megapixel camera. HelloMoto's report doesn't do much to bear out all that speculation, though it does mention that the screen'll be 5.2-inches diagonal and that the Turbo will have a front-facing speaker. For what it's worth, Verizon has been getting in on the teasing lately, too: The official DroidLanding Twitter account cryptically noted that faster battery charging is a "bigger deal" a few weeks back, so we just may be on the cusp of another big announcement.
Moto 360 smartwatch on sale now for $250, metal bands coming this fall
Motorola's long-awaited smartwatch is finally ready to be released, at least in the US. After roughly five months since being unveiled, the Moto 360 is due to hit the consumer market at last, one that's been so patiently awaiting its arrival. Starting today at noon ET, those of you in the States can order your very own for $250, from Motorola's website, Google Play and Best Buy (both online and at retail stores). That's not it, though, since Motorola also revealed that its circular Android Wear watch in metallic flavors will be coming later this fall -- although those sleeker silver and black options are set to be priced for $50 more than its leather counterparts. That said, Motorola does want early adopters to feel blanketed, so it's making the metal, swappable bands available separately for $80 a piece. Across other parts of the world, meanwhile, the Moto 360 smartwatch is going to hit the UK in "early October" for £199, and Canada in the fall for $279. Your move, LG.
Motorola will unveil new smartphones and the Moto 360 on September 4th
With Samsung's Note 4 announcement on September 3rd and Apple's iPhone launch expected a few days later, September is shaping up to be a busy month when it comes to smartphone (and wearable) unveils. Motorola's just sent out invitations for its own launch in Chicago, scheduled for the day after Samsung's big event in Berlin. Of course, we don't know exactly what to expect, but given the "choose your own adventure" invite, it looks like two smartphones (perhaps the X+1 and a new G model), Moto 360 and an in-ear wearable (Bluetooth headset?) are on order.
Motorola confirms Moto Maker isn't dying, despite US factory closure
Today's revelation that Motorola is shutting down its sole American plant is an indication that its latest flagship didn't do as well as expected in the US and the costs of operating the Texas factory were simply too high to continue operations. Since the facility focused heavily on shipping Moto Maker products to US consumers, speculation arose that the feature -- which gives you the ability to customize the color and trim of your Moto X -- would die along with it. Upon reaching out to Motorola, a spokesperson confirmed to us that Moto Maker is not going away as a result of the factory's closure.
Motorola's first post-Google phone looks to be another low-end wonder
Motorola was planning a big shindig for May 13th, where it'll launch its first phone after being sold to Lenovo by Google. Unfortunately, any big surprises that were being kept for the day look to have been spoiled thanks to trigger-happy Brazilian retailer FastShop. The site has posted a full listing for the handset, and if it's genuine, then the Moto E will sit beneath the Moto G as the company's new ultra-budget device. Specs-wise, there's a 4.3-inch display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon paired with 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, a 1,980mAh battery and dual-SIM slots. On the expansion front, the microSD slot will only take cards up to 32GB, and there's a 5-megapixel camera poking out of the back. There's no word on price, but given that the Moto G retails for just under $200, we'd expect this to cost no more than a Benjamin-and-a-half. Update: Page has been pulled, but not before Google's web cache could preserve the evidence.
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.
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.
A new version of the Moto X is coming this summer
After Lenovo's recent purchase, questions immediately arose surrounding Motorola's planned device launches for 2014. In a Twitter Q&A surrounding the events at Mobile World Congress, the handset maker revealed that the next version of its popular Moto X is coming in "late summer." Unfortunately, that's about all the outfit was willing to spill for now, but we'll be curious to see how things like manufacturing play out in the coming months.
Motorola's New Year's resolution is to sell more smartphones, drops unlocked Moto X to $400
It's no secret that Motorola's flagship Moto X hasn't been a tremendous hit with consumers, and with considerable inventory likely building up, it's time to move some product. Google's smartphone arm is kicking off the new year with some aggressive new pricing. The base configured Moto X will now run you $400 without a contract or carrier affiliation, while the much-anticipated wood flavor now commands a cool $500. Moto Maker pricing remains at $100 with a new AT&T, Sprint or Verizon contract, if a two-year agreement is how you like to roll.
Moto G gets KitKat, improved camera features in the US
Given that Motorola's budget-friendly Moto G launched just last month, you would have figured the mid-range smartphone would have packed some KitKat. Sadly, it did not, but Mountain View's hardware arm began rolling out Android 4.4.2 to select owners today. If you purchased your Moto G from Amazon or on Motorola.com in the US, it's time to snag that update. Devices sold through carriers and in other regions will get some love "soon." The company's also offering up the same camera update that hit Moto X devices last week, enabling tap to focus and expose, locked exposure for panoramas and support for additional languages. Those camera enhancements will also be making their way to Droid Mini, Maxx and Ultra.
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.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Why I love Guild Wars 2's Super Adventure Box
Back in April, ArenaNet played what was arguably the greatest MMO-related April Fool's Day prank of all time when it released level designer and jumping puzzle maestro Josh Foreman's labor of love, Super Adventure Box, in Guild Wars 2. I was but a wee Massively commenter then, and I recall that my comment on the news post about that particular revelation was something to the effect of "I'm not leaving this place until they kick me out. See you all next month!" I remember this because I was only half joking, and I really did spend most of April inside Moto's palace of 8-bit wonders. I love Super Adventure Box. I don't just love it because it's retro or because I get the references or because my first foray into it left me laughing fit to kill (OK, maybe the last one). I love it because, entirely independent of GW2, it's a game I can spend a whole month playing and not get tired of it. Jump with me past the cut, and I'll tell you why.
Deck Bluetooth speaker by SOL Republic and Motorola offers 300-foot range, fits in a pocket
Remember that SOL Republic Bluetooth speaker that made a sneak appearance at Verizon's Droid event? Well, it's actually official now and the company wants to ensure its first foray into audio outside headphones is a success. Dubbed the Deck, the speaker is the result of a team-up between SOL and Motorola, with SOL providing its audio know-how and Motorola handling the wireless connectivity bit. The $200 speaker features a flat design that might fit into a pants pocket. Vertically positioned drivers and a side-facing port provide 360-degree sound, and an outdoor mode boosts the highs and cuts the lows if you need to fill open areas with sound. Additionally, deck boasts a usable range of 300 feet, a sprawling distance compared to the the usual 30-foot line-of-sight limit you'll encounter on devices like the Beats Pill and Jawbone Jambox. Its Heist setting lets up to five devices connect without needing to enable a pairing mode and, like the name suggests, any user can steal the speaker by hitting play on their device. Rounding things out, you can expect roughly 10 hours of battery life, water-resistance (via a sonically-transparent bag), speakerphone functionality and a 3.5mm input / output. Interested? It costs $200 and is up for pre-order today in yellow, blue, red and "gunmetal." Shipments are expected to begin before August is over. In the meantime, you can join us after the break for our initial impressions. %Gallery-195167%
