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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.
Moto X Play hands-on: a little G, a little X
It's fair to say that the Moto X Play is the phone that no one expected from today's big event. Think of it as something between a Moto G and a Moto X. It's got the specs of a mid-ranger like the original Moto X, but has the pop-off covers and more practical design of the Moto G line. It's actually a fairly attractive phone; a little big for my tastes, perhaps, but everything feels well-built and sturdy, even if not mind-blowingly so. In my limited time with it, the 1.7GHz Snapdragon 615 processor seemed plenty fast enough, and its 5.5-inch, 1080p display looks very pretty (although it pales in comparison to the higher-end Style's Quad HD panel). Perhaps the only thing Play owners will be able to lord over Style owners is the phone's enormous 3,630mAh battery, which Motorola claims is good for two days of use, and supports quick charging.
The Moto X Play is the Style's more affordable cousin
While we expected Motorola to refresh the Moto X and revise the best-selling Moto G, we weren't anticipating a big-screened handset for those on a budget. The new water-repellent Moto X Play is designed to be exactly that: It's powered by a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM and features a slightly smaller 5.5-inch full HD display, 21-megapixel rear-facing and 5-megapixel front-facing cameras and a whopping 3,630mAh battery that Motorola says will last around two days on a full charge. If you liked the Droid Turbo's longevity, then the Moto X Play could be your new favorite -- especially because its "TurboPower" quick-charging technology will get you back up and running in no time.
