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Moto X gesture-tastic camera app makes cameo in leaked APK
We already know the camera app for the Moto X (and Droid Ultra, MAXX and Mini) will feature a minimalistic, gesture-based UI, but the clever souls over at Android Police went one step further and recently leaked an APK of the app. The file (later pulled and cached here) installs just fine on many devices but lacks some functionality. We tested it on a Nexus 4 running Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) and it worked okay, mostly. HDR and slow-motion video recording are disabled, panorama mode crashes and Quick Capture (double-twist your wrist to launch the camera) is not operational. Still, the camera UI is ultra simple -- swipe right for the settings, left for the gallery, up /down to zoom; tap to capture, and hold to take multiple shots. The resulting pictures (16:9 aspect ratio only) look pretty much like those snapped with the stock Android camera, and suffer from the same composition issues since the viewfinder crops the right edge of every image. It'll be interesting to see if any of this changes when we finally get our hands on the Moto X next week. Until then, check out the gallery of screenshots below and sound off about the APK in the comments. %Gallery-194805%
Moto X reportedly comes with Magic Glass, laminated aluminum structure
There's been a deluge of Moto X reports, and it shows no signs of stopping. We've seen the device's press shots, camera UI and benchmark results, and most recently, we've even watched the T-Mobile version waltz past the FCC. Now, we're treated to purported press images and unannounced features from Taylor Wimberly, formerly of Android and Me. According to Wimberly, a sheet of specially treated Gorilla Glass covers the phone's entire face and wraps around its sides, forming a nearly seamless gap with the rear shell. Apparently, it's special enough that Motorola will call it "Magic Glass." As another nod to the phone's toughness, he also claims a laminated aluminum structure makes its frame even stronger, despite being thin and lightweight. Check out the images to decide the report's veracity for yourself, but don't sweat it too much -- we'll be able to confirm it in a few days when the phone launches on August 1st.
Moto X with T-Mobile compatibility gets FCC approval
Despite the fact that the Moto X hasn't even been officially announced (unless you count Eric Schmidt's Idaho flaunt-fest or Dennis Woodside's D11 talk as "official"), there's a lot we already know about the device. What we haven't heard for certain yet are which carriers in the US will offer the new handset, though FCC docs and other leaks have revealed AT&T, Verizon and Sprint as likely candidates so far. Does T-Mobile fit into the mix? Whether or not the UnCarrier will really pick it up, a variant of the Motorola X known as the XT1053 has made its way through the FCC approval process with all the bands you've grown to love and use on other T-Mo devices, such as AWS HSPA+ and LTE (along with bands 2 and 17, making this theoretically compatible with AT&T as well). This is a pretty clear indicator that worst-case customers will be able to purchase an unlocked version of the device with the right frequencies in tow. Additionally, we noticed evidence that 802.11ac will also make an appearance. Have a look at the docs for yourself below, if you so desire.
Moto X's camera UI leaks, reveals swipe-driven UI and slow motion mode
We learned a few things about the Moto X's camera interface in that leaked Rogers promo video, but we didn't learn everything. Android Police is more than willing to fill in those blanks by posting screen captures that reportedly show Motorola's new camera software in action. The images suggest a stripped-down, swipe-driven UI reminiscent of a Google Play Edition phone, but with an extra bit of polish. In addition to the flick-based launching and tap-to-hold burst shooting that we've seen, the Moto X depends heavily on a hidden settings carousel with a few features above and beyond stock Android, such a slow motion mode. While the screenshots say little about the cameras themselves, it's reasonable to suspect that we'll learn more about those within a few days.
Moto X benchmarks and specs slip out, point to a fine mid-tier phone
We've already seen Motorola's rumored Moto X in press renders, photos, videos and even the hands of a Google executive; why not throw some benchmarks and specifications into the mix? Android Police is more than happy to add that grist to the rumor mill with a set of photos that reportedly show the AT&T Moto X ("Ghost") running AnTuTu and 3DMark tests. If accurate, the scores hint at a mid-range Android 4.2.2 phone whose 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro and 2GB of RAM produce good (though not great) results. The rest of the visible specs are equally middle-of-the-road -- we see a 720p screen, 16GB of built-in storage, NFC, a 10.5-megapixel rear camera and a 2.1-megapixel front shooter. The hardware alone may not tempt customers, then, but Motorola could be counting on customization and software tricks to lure more customers. We'll know the full story on August 1st.
The Weekly Roundup for 07.15.2013
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.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 15th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, Samsung added two new colors to its GS4 LTE-A lineup, Motorola teased its manufacturing facility for the upcoming Moto X and @evleaks spilled the beans on a new smartphone for Verizon. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of July 15th, 2013.
Moto X leaks in more press shots, this time in white
And the saga continues! Hot on the heels of this morning's leaked renders comes a couple more press shots of the Moto X, courtesy of @evleaks -- this time in glorious unicorn white. There's not much more to mention here other than it's a lot easier to spot the mics front and back and to get a feel for the texture that adorns the rear. It looks very much like the svelte handset Eric Schmidt recently flaunted at the annual Allen and Co media conference. Not a fan of the existing hues? Motorola's been pretty clear the phone will be available in custom colors -- we're longing for a beautiful shade of purple ourselves. With the official Moto X launch slated for Thursday August 1st, we're only days away from getting all the details, so stay tuned for more.
Moto X waves hello, again... in leaked press render
All signs suggest that the Moto X will become official on August 1st, but if snapshots and videos of the real thing aren't enough to satiate your curiosity... well, now there's a press render from @evleaks and partner site TheUnlockr. Naturally, stock Android has been key to the Moto X for some time now, but it seems that we might find subtle interface tweaks from Motorola, such as the transparent navigation bar, which is now highly visible. In all, there aren't many startling revelations in the latest leak, but one thing is for certain: the phone's face sure looks a lot cleaner now that Motorola's logo has been scrubbed away. Update: A render of the phone's right side profile has now emerged from @evleaks, which you can see in the above image. At first glance, the Moto X might appear to be a rather chunky handset, but appearances can be deceiving; if you'll recall the Eric Schmidt incident, the Moto X actually sports rather sleek curves.
The Daily Roundup for 07.19.2013
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.
Motorola schedules Moto X launch for August 1st in NYC
So when exactly will the Moto X make its formal debut? August 1st is the date, according to a Motorola teaser announcing the launch. There's been no shortage of leaks for the new flagship smartphone, which we know will be assembled in the US and will ship to customers in a variety of colors. So far, our best look at the device has come courtesy of Eric Schmidt himself, who was showing off his own sample at the Allen and Company Conference earlier this month in Sun Valley. He declined to provide any specification details, but some attendees did sneak a peek at the handset's carbon fiber-like back and sleek curves. We'll surely be back with more, live from the August 1st launch event in New York City.
Moto X's Open Mic demoed, enables voice command when screen is off (video)
Just when we're getting bored of all these static Moto X leaks, a couple of new video clips popped up to finally show off some of the software goodies. The first one appears to be a leaked Rogers promotional video (embedded after the break), in which a nice lady introduces us to a new Google Now voice command feature, which can be toggled with a custom phrase even when the screen is off (similar to a feature we've seen promised by a certain Wolfson audio chip). According to another clip uploaded by kronikbudz, said feature is called Open Mic, but there's no indication as to whether this will be exclusive to Motorola devices or whether it'll come with the next Android release. The Rogers video adds that the Moto X will provide ambient "active updates" notifications on the screen when the phone is locked, and this is pitched as a more sensible replacement for the meaningless blinking light. Later on, the same lady demonstrates how one can activate the phone's camera -- even when locked -- by simply twisting the wrist twice. We're a bit worried that this may allow accidental activations, unless the phone can detect whether it is inside a pocket or bag. Finally, the lady says the Moto X will be "exclusively" heading to Rogers this August in either black or white, thus confirming the "late Summer" window that we were previously told. Enjoy your very own exclusivity while it lasts, Mr. Schmidt! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Moto X using Verizon's network surfaces in leaked photo (updated)
What's said to be the Moto X has been breaking cover left and right, and now it's made yet another appearance. Android Central has scored a new photo of the device in question, and while it looks nearly identical to an earlier snapshot, a keen eye will notice a Verizon 4G logo sitting in the status bar. The outlet also notes that the soft navigation keys are slightly translucent like those in the previous leak, which may point to an unreleased version of Android. Paired with an internal document from Big Red that pegs the hardware for an August 23rd arrival, it looks like the Moto X is a sure bet on the carrier. Update: It bears mentioning that an unknown Moto phone we saw way back in March may be the same model. Head past the break to check out the video.
The Daily Roundup for 07.12.2013
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.
Unannounced Motorola Moto X likely spotted in the hands of Google's Eric Schmidt
During the winter, Sun Valley is known for its skiing. This time of the year, however, it's quickly becoming a tech hotspot as some of the industry's top execs gather together at the annual Allen and Co media conference. Among the attendees is Google's Eric Schmidt, who brought along a mystery Motorola phone and couldn't resist showing it off. While Schmidt couldn't "comment on the nature of this phone," according to Variety's Rachel Abrams, it certainly didn't stop him from giving everyone a sneak peek. Multiple images of the device, which appears to feature a carbon fiber-like back and sleek curves, popped up on Twitter from the likes of Gary He and Taylor Wimberly. As it doesn't match the leaked pictures of the upcoming Droid Ultra or Maxx -- but carries an uncanny resemblance to the leaks and FCC diagrams we've seen of the X already -- we're guessing this is the legendary smartphone in the flesh; and judging by Schmidt's willingness to flaunt it, it's quite likely that we won't have to wait much longer before we see even more of it. There's one more shot of the device from the top past the break.
Moto X and HTC One get August street dates on Verizon in leaked roadmap
Verizon's flagship Moto X will release on August 23rd, according to a leaked road map obtained by PhoneArena. The site also notes that Motorola's first handset built in the US gives users who order online the choice of separate colors for the back cover and trim and can also be engraved a la iPods and Zune HDs of yore; brick and mortar retail models will be standard black. The document also lists an August 1st release date for the HTC One, a phone we still have a soft spot for. We've reached out to the Big Red carrier for confirmation and will update this post accordingly should we hear back.
This week on gdgt: HX50V, Minx Air 100, and Moto X customization
Each week, our friends at gdgt go through the latest gadgets and score them to help you decide which ones to buy. Here are some of their most recent picks. Want more? Visit gdgt anytime to catch up on the latest, and subscribe to gdgt's newsletter to get a weekly roundup in your inbox.
The Daily Roundup for 07.03.2013
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.
Two mystery Motorola phones hit the FCC, likely headed for Verizon
While we're waiting (and rather impatiently, we might add) for Motorola to officially take the wraps off the Droid Ultra and Moto X, a pair of mystery devices from the company have popped up at the FCC. We can't say for sure what the Motorola XT1030 and XT1080 are, but we can tell you these unannounced devices are likely headed for Verizon here in the US. Inside both handsets you'll find support for LTE bands 4 and 13, along with EVDO Rev. A and WCDMA on 850/900/1900/2100. There's even room for NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac radios as well. The combination of practically every available wireless technology in a single handset has us pretty excited, but we're also pretty confident that inside beats a beefy Qualcomm heart. The filings reveal little else, besides the fact that the XT1080 appears to be quite a bit larger than the XT1030. Is the 1030 the briefly leaked Droid Ultra? Could the XT1080 be Big Red's variant of the Moto X? Who knows? Heck, the RAZR family is just about due for an update too. You know the drill: hit up the source if you like highly technical filings, or just sit and play the waiting game.
ABC: Moto X smartphone to ship with custom colors and engraving
We've heard few details about Motorola's upcoming flagship smartphone since the firm's CEO teased the device at D11, but a full-page advertisement in several of the country's top newspapers today hinted at customizability, which ABC News has now confirmed. According to an article on the broadcaster's website, the device will be available in different colors, with an optional engraving. And, since it's due to be manufactured in Texas, the customized device will reach American consumers within a few days of an order. Customers will be able to select colors for both the back panel and the smartphone's side trim. Additionally, you'll be prompted to upload a photo that'll be used as the device's default wallpaper. Like traditional handsets, Moto X will also be available in retail stores, according to ABC's sources, though you'll need to order online if you want a non-standard configuration. We're still waiting on specification details, pricing and availability, but if today's ads are any indication, we can expect a formal launch soon. Update: Wednesday is turning out to be a good day for Moto X leaks. Following news of customizable colors, we've just come upon a snapshot that purports to show off three of these options: teal, red and fushia. You can take a peek after the break, and we have a feeling these might be just the first of many colorful leaks to come.
