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Verizon links a Moto Z3 to its 5G network in a 'world's first'
Verizon, Motorola, Qualcomm and Samsung announced that they've achieved the world's first 5G data transmission to a smartphone using a "commercial 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) network." How'd they do it? Using a Moto Z3 with a 5G Moto Mod attached, which is scheduled to become available when its service for phones starts in 2019. Verizon kicked in the spectrum and network, Samsung made the radio, Motorola obviously built the phone and it's Qualcomm's Snapdragon X50 5G modem inside that little backpack. Instead of downloading the latest Overwatch or Fortnite patch, they tested the link with a video call and internet browsing. Currently, Verizon's 5G service is available only in a few cities, pushing broadband for home internet but many providers are racing to launch services. AT&T has said its 5G network will be ready to go live this month, while Sprint and LG have said they'll try to be first to launch a phone next year. While Intel gets its 5G modem technology together Qualcomm has a head start there, and has said it expects a couple waves of flagship phones launching in 2019.
Motorola isn't giving up on its smartphone Mods just yet
Not long before the second-generation Moto Z flagship was released, Motorola made a clear promise: its Moto Mod accessories would absolutely work for three generations of devices. With the Z3 Play and Z3 officially out there now, that's three generations accounted for -- the company made good on its word. As a result, some -- myself included -- sort of assumed that Moto would give up on its Mods entirely once that obligation had been met.
Despite layoffs, Motorola says Moto Z line is alive and well
There were rumors this week of a 50 percent reduction in Motorola's Chicago workforce and that the Moto Z line was finished. Given that we're still hearing about upcoming products for Moto Z phones like a VR headset Moto Mod, the news is confusing at the least. We reached out to parent company Lenovo, and a spokesperson confirmed that while there have been some layoffs, both rumors are incorrect.
Motorola's 2018 lineup may include an iPhone X lookalike
Someone might have just spoiled Motorola's 2018 in a big way. Droid Life has posted a trio of leaks which, if accurate, hint at some big changes to the Lenovo brand's smartphone lineup. The headliner would be the Moto X5, and it's not hard to see why: the device reportedly includes a 5.9-inch, 18:9 aspect ratio display with an iPhone X-style notch. There's no visible fingerprint reader, for that matter, so the X5 is either relying on face detection (the dual front cameras could help with this) or has a fingerprint reader tucked under the screen.
Motorola's new Mod is a snap-on Polaroid photo printer
Motorola's Mods have been wide-ranging attempts to trick out your smartphone with sizeable gadgets, from a 360-degree camera to a standalone speaker with Amazon Alexa. Their next one might be more appealing to casual Moto Z smartphone owners: A Polaroid-brand printer case for the Moto Z that pumps out photos.
Motorola's newest mod puts an Alexa speaker on your phone
Ever wanted to have an Amazon Echo speaker with you wherever you are, rather than relying on your phone's built-in voice assistant? Motorola is betting you do. As promised, it's releasing an Alexa-powered Moto Mod (the Moto Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa, to be exact) that slaps an Echo-like device on the back of compatible phones like the Moto Z2 Force or Z Play. The key, as you might guess, is that it delivers that across-the-room voice control in a way your phone can't by itself.
Moto’s chunky gamepad arrives August 25th
Motorola has announced the release date and price of its gamepad Moto Mod. On sale August 25th, the attachment costs $80 and is only available through Verizon.
Upcoming Moto Mod could add a 360-degree camera to your phone
Motorola's Moto Z Mods have quite a bit of promise to turn your phone into pretty much anything, including a gamepad, a walkie-talkie, and even a mobile Alexa station. The company has been pushing these pretty hard lately, holding hackathons that produced some pretty innovative add-ons and promising at least 12 of these new peripherals each year. At a small event in Ghana, West Africa, Motorola showed off a few new Mods, including a 360-degree camera, two Marshall-branded audio Mods and a DirecTV Mod, which seems to come with a Chromecast-like HDMI stick to plug into your HDTV. The presentation also included a DSLR Mod, along with a rotatable, GoPro-style action cam Mod.
Moto focused on slimming down for the Z2 Play
If you liked the original Z Play for its low price and compatibility with Moto Mods, you'll probably dig the pending follow up, Motorola's Z2 Play. They pretty much look the same, minus the shape of one of the buttons. If you expected the original's long battery life, however, the sequel might disappoint you. According to a review of some marketing material by VentureBeat's Evan Blass, the new Moto Z2 Play might be thinner than its predecessor yet more underpowered when it comes to battery life. The original Z Play has a 3510mAh battery in it, while the Z2 could come with a lowly 3000mAh pack, according to VentureBeat.
The next wave of Moto Mods turn your phone into a gamepad
Motorola is teaming up with Amazon for an Alexa smartphone mod, but that's just one of a several new hardware add-ons set to become available for compatible Moto phones. The next wave includes a Moto-made battery extender (rather than the third-party options that are already on sale); a new charging adapter that connects to mods, allowing charge them separately from the phone; and a wireless charging back for even more juice options. Finally, there's a gamepad that packs in four speakers, lights and some preloaded games. Even more intriguing, however, were the concept accessories also on display at MWC this weekend.
Motorola and Amazon will bake Alexa into Moto Mods and phones
You just can't stop Alexa. According to Amazon and Motorola representatives here at Mobile World Congress, the two companies have teamed up to explore ways to bring Amazon's voice-controlled assistant onto Motorola hardware. Amazon's Jon Kirk took the stage at a press event to run through a very short concept video in which a Moto phone was connected to a Harman Kardon-made speaker Mod that doubled as an Amazon Echo.
Moto Z hackathons create more interesting Mods than Motorola
The modular Moto Z was the tool of choice at the latest Motorola hackathon in San Francisco this past weekend. Developers and entrepreneurs took on the task of hacking the mobile phone with a variety of other hardware to come up with innovative add-ons. While available mods are thought of as too high-priced and non-essential, competitions like these show off some intriguing potential.
Motorola is thirsty for new Moto Mods
Motorola's dream of a slick, modular smartphone is struggling to take off. The base handset is perfectly capable, but the ecosystem of Moto Mods is still pretty sparse. After its launch accessories, we've seen a Hasselblad attachment and little else. To solve the problem, Motorola is teaming up with Verizon and Indiegogo for a new developer competition. The challenge is simple: Create the best Moto Mod out there. If the Moto team likes your work, you'll be invited to a hackathon and encouraged to set up a crowdfunding campaign. Finalists will pitch at Motorola's headquarters in Chicago for "a shot at funding" and distribution in Verizon stores.
Moto Z's Hasselblad camera add-on surfaces in fresh photos
When Motorola and Lenovo unveiled the Moto Z, they unveiled a host of MotoMods... except for one. Where was that camera add-on we'd seen in leaks? Apparently, it's still coming -- and it might be more than you were expecting. Moto G3 has come across community photos showing that the camera module is not only Hasselblad-branded as anticipated, but packs a 10X optical zoom lens. There aren't any clues as to the sensor, alas, but we suspect that this is more likely to be a point-and-shoot quality (maybe mirrorless) sensor given the size, rather than Hasselblad's signature medium format. You'll be taking better photos than you would with the stock camera, then, but we wouldn't count on magazine-quality Instagram shots.
Snap-on 'MotoMods' make the Moto Z more interesting
Google isn't the only company working on modular smartphones. Following on the heels of the LG G5 and Google's "Project Ara" concept, Motorola today unveiled its new Moto Z flagship, which makes use of various modular accessories. These add-ons, collectively dubbed MotoMods, snap onto the handset using a quartet of magnets and draw their power/data through a 6Gbps multi-pin connection. There will be three Mods available at launch: a projector, "party speaker" and an external battery.
