Moto Maker
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It looks like the next Moto G will work with Moto Maker
At this point, the Moto G 2015 edition is becoming one of Motorola's worst kept secrets. The latest piece of news, first reported by Evan Blass (aka @evleaks), is that the next Moto G is going to be compatible with Moto Maker for the first time -- following in the footsteps of its flagship sibling, the Moto X. A Reddit user is corroborating this info after breaking down a page on Motorola's website, which has now been pulled, revealing that people who buy the device via Moto Maker will have a variety of custom options to choose from. That includes being able to personalize the next G's front and back colors, plus choose its internal storage (up to 16GB) and memory (1 or 2GB). It also seems there won't be wood choices at launch, but that could eventually change -- we shall find out next week.
Motorola returns to China with the Moto X Pro, a repackaged Nexus 6
After Lenovo's acquisition, it's a given that Motorola Mobility would eventually be making a comeback in China; and now we have confirmation of this, along with the announcement of a new, but familiar-looking model. After the Chinese New Year holidays (so toward the end of February), the phone maker will be launching the Moto X Pro, which is basically a rehashed Nexus 6: 6-inch QHD display, 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805, front-facing stereo speakers, a 13-megapixel main camera and a 3,220mAh battery. Interestingly, the Moto X Pro will be running on pure Android, but it'll obviously be lacking Google services as per local regulations. The latest Moto X and Moto G will also be headed to China, with the former launching in early February (with Moto Maker going live after the Chinese New Year), and the latter around the same time as the Moto X Pro.
Motorola slashes £100 off the new Moto X for a limited time
While Motorola's Nexus 6 is still missing from Google Play in the UK, there are plenty of Android flagship alternatives to choose from. However, the company's hoping you'll stay close to home and pick the slightly smaller and lower-specced Moto X, especially now that it's had £100 slashed off the asking price. As part of Cyber Monday, you can pick up the 16GB model for £319.99 and the 32GB variant for £359.99, or throw in an extra £20 for one of its various leather or wood backs. To claim the discount, you'll need to fill out this registration form between 8am on December 1st and 12pm on December 2nd; Motorola will then email you a promo code, which you'll need to submit online at the checkout for Moto Maker. Each discount code expires on December 16th at 5:59am, so if you claim now there's a still a couple of weeks for you to save up the cash or think about that pre-Christmas order. Of course, if you're still on the fence it's worth reading our Moto X review, where we placed it among "the pantheon of smartphone greats."
Create your own Moto X: Moto Maker now available in the UK
Motorola's new Moto X might not be sale in the UK yet, but that isn't stopping the company from letting customers create their own designs ahead of its release. Today, for the first time, Brits can get to grips with Moto Maker, Motorola's web-based customisation tool, allowing them to choose the finish, colours, cases, storage and even engraving options for their Moto X before putting down (at least) £419.99 to buy one. Moto Maker comes to the UK with a number of additional customisations in tow, including a new leather finish (that'll cost £20 extra and adds to the traditional plastic and wooden options) and a choice to include metal accents on the power and volume buttons, speaker grilles and that big Motorola logo on the back. On the subject of storage, you'll be forced to pay an extra £40 if you want the 32GB model, as the Moto X doesn't come with a microSD slot. Currently, you can only use Moto Maker to create your bespoke design and email it to yourself, allowing you to pick it back up and apply it when the Moto X eventually goes on sale later this month.
Hello Moto: when are Motorola's new products coming to the UK?
Like many other phone makers at IFA this week, Motorola has shown its hand, introducing a new flagship and a revamped version of its highly-rated budget smartphone. It's even told us when its circular smartwatch will go on sale. It's unleashed the Moto X, Moto G and Moto 360 on the world, but when are they coming to the UK and how much will they cost? Let us explain.
Republic Wireless adds Moto Maker for customizing your Moto X
It's been a long time coming, but Motorola's Moto Maker phone-building tool has finally arrived for Republic Wireless customers. The low-cost carrier has sold the Moto X for several months already, but it's just now offering Motorola's unique customization service -- arguably one of the Moto X's biggest selling points. Starting at 9AM PT tomorrow (Tuesday), Republic Wireless customers can order the Moto X with the colors and finishes of their choice. Motorola is also throwing in a free upgrade to a wood or Bamboo backing for the first 2,000 customers who visit this link. In addition to adding Moto Maker, Republic is now offering a 32GB Moto X. Previously, customers could only order the 16GB model, which costs $300 without access to Moto Maker. With the new Moto Maker option, the 16GB version will cost $350, while doubling the storage to 32GB will set you back $400.
Moto X gets new college colors and a lower price in time for March Madness
When you've got Moto Maker, you don't always need accessories to show support for your favorite sports team. With March Madness only days away, Motorola has thrown nine new back colors and three new accents into its Moto X paint pot to create the "College Collection," a set pre-configured color combinations that'll match upwards of 40 school teams. It's no secret that Motorola's flagship is struggling to sell, so it's embarking on yet another price reduction, this time giving students the chance to snag an off-contract Moto X for just $339 (regular price $400) with a qualifying .edu email address. Incidentally, Motorola won't print your school's logo onto the back of your fresh Moto X, so you'll have to buy one of Uncommon's $35 clear cases instead -- because phones need lettermans too.
Motorola confirms Moto Maker service coming to Europe in Q2, starting in the UK and Germany (update: Mexico too)
We've seen and heard plenty from most of the main players here at MWC, but one company has remained eerily quiet until now. Motorola's situation has changed significantly in recent weeks, and that change of plans has taken attention away from hardware releases, and back onto how it plans to reinvent itself post-Google. But, there is news. Rick Osterloh, SVP Product Management has just announced that its popular Moto Maker service will be coming to Europe in Q2. First in the UK and Germany, but more countries to follow. Mark Randall, SVP Supply Chain & Operations also revealed that while its Texas plant will continue to handle the US side, they are exploring options for Europe. This could involve a mix of local sourcing, or order merging with standard orders from China. At the very least, if you weren't happy with the default color options it launched with, there's hope for you yet! Update: Moto Maker support is also heading to Mexico, also in Q2!
Motorola's modular phone prototype is almost ready, final product might be sold on Moto Maker
Sure, Moto Maker makes it easy to deck out your phone with a fresh paint job, but the company's CEO has bigger goals in mind for the customization engine. Speaking with YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Dennis Woodside envisioned a Moto Maker capable of customizing not just your smartphone's color scheme, but its functionality too. He was talking, of course, about Project Ara. "The idea is you have a skeleton that holds together a set of components and the components slide in and out," Woodside told Brownlee, explaining the modular cell phone project that was revealed in October. The CEO said that a prototype is "pretty close" to being ready, and the final product could find its way to Moto Maker. "Ara is much further out, but you can see how those two things tie together and how, as we introduce new materials into Moto Maker, we're going to pursue that theme across our product line going forward." It's a vague prediction, but it is encouraging to hear that the customization platform might eventually grow beyond its one phone trick.
Moto Maker customization for Moto X now available on all major carriers
AT&T's monopoly over personalized Moto X handsets has finally come to an end. As was predicted last week, the Moto Maker website has opened up to customers on Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. The free service allows you choose from a wide range of back plate colors, a selection of front plate colors and accent colors, to create a unique handset design that Motorola says will reach you in just four days. While there's still no sign of the wooden-style Moto X back plates, the company has added a personal engraving option and confirmed it'll begin rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat to the Moto X soon -- maybe after it unveils the Moto G on November 13th.
Verizon's Moto X customization page is online right now, not that you can use it
It's less than a day until we're expecting to see carriers other than AT&T offer customization options for the Moto X, and it looks as if Verizon's already getting its ducks in a row. One of our eagle-eyed readers has spotted that Big Red has thrown up a Moto Maker page, which should, from tomorrow, let you select various cover and button combinations for Google's new mid-ranger. Naturally, the page is currently inactive, but at least you can bookmark it ahead of tomorrow's anticipated announcement, right? [Thanks, Paul]
Moto Maker customization for Moto X may soon be available on all major carriers
Fancy as those personalized Moto X handsets may be, they've so far only been an option for customers on AT&T. If evidence from @evleaks and Android Central is to be believed, however, Motorola's special factory lines will open up to Verizon and Sprint customers this coming Monday, November 11th, and possibly today on T-Mobile. The free Moto Maker service allows you choose from a wide range of back plate colors, a couple of front plate colors and some accents colors, so that you never have to experience the world-ending embarrassment of turning up to a party where someone else is wearing the same phone. There was also meant to be a signature engraving option as part of the service, but it's running fashionably late.
AT&T to stock Moto X on August 23rd, offer in-store look at Moto Maker possibilities
Hankering for a new Moto X, are you? If you're an AT&T loyalist (or just can't figure out a way to slip out of your contract), the carrier has just published its launch details surrounding the most monumental Motorola handset in a decade. The vanilla black and white models will be available for sale starting August 23rd, with the 16GB version going for $199.99 on a two-year agreement and the 32GB variant for $249.99. (With AT&T Next, the 16GB model is available for $27 per month and the 32GB model is $32 per month.) Moto Maker shipments will begin on 8/23 as well, with a "lucky few" who registered for early access able to get their orders started on the 19th. Moreover, AT&T will be stocking Skip, and all Moto Maker orders will include a Skip gratis for a limited time. If you're curious to see what kind of crazy coloring options are at your disposal, we're told that major (but not all) AT&T retail outlets will boast a table like the one shown above -- decisions, decisions.
Building a Moto X with Moto Maker (hands-on video)
We had a walkthrough with Motorola's dedicated Moto X assembly site during the company's launch event earlier this month, but we've since had a chance to log on and build our own device, selecting front, back and accent colors with a live preview updating along the way. Not much has changed since August 1st, but considering you'll be walking out of an AT&T store with a $200 scratch-off card and a two-year contract, it's worth taking another look at what you'll find when you get home. Click past the break for our hands-on video to see what we managed to make. Update: Motorola has opted to delay the "signature" engraving, with quality issues to blame. Orders placed at launch will not include this feature.
