Motorola Confirms Android 5.1 Soak Test For Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen.)

Motorola’s David Schuster says that Android 5.1 update soak tests are now underway for the Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen.). He goes on to say that so long as the Verizon Moto X (2nd Gen.)’s test goes smoothly, Motorola will make the update available to more users next week.

Source: David Schuster via Google+

Moto X+1 Spotted On MotoMaker

A few weeks back rumors surfaced that Motorola Mobility was working on a device called the Moto X+1. While we're still haven't officially heard word from Motorola, Lenovo, or Google at this point in regards to the Moto X+1, recently the mysterious device was spotted in Motorola’s MotoMaker.

Motorola has since removed the listing, but not before a screenshot was captured (pictured above). Motorola Mobility however has recently announced that it will be hosting a press event on May 13th where it will unveil its next smartphone. Hopefully Motorola, Lenovo, or Google (whatever they're calling themselves these days... lol) will shed some light on the dark spot that has been the Moto X+1.

Motorola Announces Moto X "College Collection"

Motorola announced today on its blog that its releasing a new “College Collection” of customization options through Moto Maker that will allow those purchasing a Moto X to apply custom school colors and logos for a long list of schools in the US. It’s also offering a discount on the device for students. 

Included in the collection is nine new back colors, three new accent colors, as well as school logos and team names for 40 schools. The logos are actually printed on clear cases from Uncommon rather than on the device itself. You’ll have to select from one of the preconfigured color and school combination.

Motorola is currently offering the Moto X for $399 off-contract, students can get it for $339 by registering at Motorola.com/college using a valid .edu emails address. You can find out more and check out the full College Collection source link below. Motorola says its also looking into adding more schools in the future.

Source: Motorola blog, College Collection Moto Maker

Verizon Moto X Owners Now Receiving Android 4.4.2 Soak Test Update

Those who are using a Moto X on Verizon and participating in the soak test, software updates went out today (I've just received mine, see the screen shot below). This would be the first update since the jump to Android 4.4.

Motorola has been pretty good about quickly releasing the soak test and official updates, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular users recently received there soak test invites quickly followed by an official Android 4.4.2 update. If you aren't part of the Motorola Feedback Network to get in on the soak tests, don't worry, your update should be heading out soon provided the soak test goes according to plan.

Verizon Moto X Owners Receiving Soak Test Invitations

Those who are using a Moto X on Verizon soak test software update invites went out today (I received mine just a few days ago, however no software push as of now). This would be the first update since the jump to Android 4.4.

Motorola has been pretty good about quickly releasing the soak test, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellukar users recently received there soak test invites quickly followed by an official Android 4.4.2 update. If you aren't part of the Motorola Feedback Network to get in on the soak tests, don't worry, your update should be heading out soon provided the soak test goes according to plan.

Sprint Moto X Owners Receiving Soak Test Invitations

Those who are using a Moto X on Sprint soak test software update invites went out today (I received mine, even though I now have a Moto X on Verizon now). This would be the first update since the jump to Android 4.4.

Motorola has been pretty good about quickly releasing the soak test, T-Mobile users recently received there soak test invites quickly followed by an official Android 4.4.2 update. If you aren't part of the Motorola Feedback Network to get in on the soak tests, don't worry, your update should be heading out soon provided the soak test goes according to plan.

Lenovo Acquires Google's Motorola Unit For $2.9 Billion

Google announced on Wednesday that it has sold its Motorola smartphone business to PC manufacturer Lenovo for $2.9 billion.

Google closed its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola in 2012. Taking into account Google's $2.4 billion sale of the Motorola Home division to Arris in December of that year, that's still a $7.2 billion difference.

The loss represents a rare black mark on Google's otherwise impressive history of high-profile acquisitions, which includes YouTube, AdSense and Android. Motorola currently makes the Moto X and Moto G smartphones as well as the Droid Ultra on Verizon Wireless.

The buy will likely strengthen Lenovo's position in the smartphone market and pick up its presence especially in North America and Latin America.

Google will retain majority ownership of Motorola's Mobility patent portfolio one of the key reasons for the initial acquisition but Lenovo will receive a license to this and gain about 2,000 patent assets. Lenovo will not be getting its advanced research unit, which recently launched an open hardware platform for building modular smartphones.

“Lenovo has the expertise and track record to scale Motorola Mobility into a major player within the Android ecosystem," Google CEO Larry Page said in a press release. "This move will enable Google to devote our energy to driving innovation across the Android ecosystem, for the benefit of smartphone users everywhere."

Page further detailed in an official Google blog post it acquired the division in 2012 to fuel the Android ecosystem by creating a stronger patent portfolio for Google.

"But the smartphone market is super competitive, and to thrive it helps to be all-in when it comes to making mobile devices," he added. "It’s why we believe that Motorola will be better served by Lenovo which has a rapidly growing smartphone business and is the largest and fastest growing PC manufacturer in the world."

Page warned, however, that the move doesn't signal a larger shift away from hardware efforts.

"The dynamics and maturity of the wearable and home markets, for example, are very different from that of the mobile industry," he said. "We’re excited by the opportunities to build amazing new products for users within these emerging ecosystems."

Source: Lenovo

Motorola Hosting Hour Long $100 Off Sale On Moto X Devices, January 27th

Motorola announced a new sale that is set to take place next Monday on January 27. The deal will only last a single hour online, beginning at 3pm EST and ending at 4pm EST. During that time frame, you can grab an off contract Moto X for $100 off of the full retail price $299 for the 16GB model and $349 for the 32GB model.

Motorola stated if you miss the $100 off fire sale on Monday, Moto X phones will remain at $70 off of the full contract price until Valentine’s Day in February.

Source: Motorola

Motorola Assist Updated With Text By Voice While Driving

Today, Motorola's Assist app on the Google Play Store has been updated with a few new features. Assist can determine your actions, such as driving, sleeping, and perform a pre-specificed command.

Until today, the app could only read you the text messages you received while driving. With the newest update you can now reply to texts while driving by speaking to the phone. Once the text is read to you, you will have the ability to read a response to the app. 

In addition, Assist can also launch your music player of choice when it notices you are driving.

The update is available on the Google Play Store. Motorola Assist is only compatible with Verizon Wireless' most recent Droid line-up, as well as the Moto X.

Source: Google Play Store

Win A Motorola Moto X And One Year Of Free Service Courtesy Of Republic Wireless

Republic is offering a specially designed Motorola Moto X for $299. The phone is made to handle hybrid calling. For $99, you can buy a beta version of the Motorola DEFY XT that is water, dust, and scratch resistant.

Now to the contest. There are three ways to enter... On Twitter, follow Republic Wireless and send a tweet to @RepublicWirelss. Make sure you use the hashtag #MotoXGiveaway and tweet the reason why you want to win the phone and the service. Those who members of the Republic Wireless community can send an email to contest@republicwireless.com, and include your community username. Or go to Republic's Facebook page to enter.

Entries are accepted until 11:59pm EST on January 12th. Each method of entering (email, Facebook or Twitter) will have one winner who will receive the phone and the service. Now here is the thing about the free service. The winner will get 12 months of the $10 a month service which gives you unlimited talk and text over a cell network and Wi-Fi, and unlimited data over Wi-Fi only.

#MotoXGiveaway


Source: Republic Wireless entry page

Motorola Teases Wood Back For Moto X

Motorola is yet again teasing the wood backing for the Moto X. Advising followers to “Put this DIY project on hold. Trust us” with an image of wood back, we can only hope Motorola has plans to push this out in the coming days.

Moto X Hits Sprint Stores Tomorrow For $199

Sprint will begin carrying the Moto X smartphone beginning tomorrow (Friday, September 6th), the company announced today. The phone will come in either black or white, and it will cost $199 from Sprint.

Improved customization for the Moto X is available via AT&T, but Sprint says that it will support Moto Maker in the coming months.

Sprint says that customers that switch to Sprint (and port their phone number) from another carrier will get the phone for $99.

Moto X Officially Arrives On Verizon August 29th

Verizon announced via Twitter this afternoon that the Moto X will officially arrive online, August 29, for $199 on-contract. Yes, that would be this Thursday. The device will then arrive in stores over the coming weeks. We’ve reported this as the current target date a handful of times now, so we’re glad to finally have it set in stone.

As most of you already know, the Moto X will be available in both black and white models, with MotoMaker customization coming further down the road. AT&T currently has the off-contract or full retail price set at $579 for the 16GB version. AT&T currently has an exclusive deal on the 32GB version as far as we know.

Source: @VZWnews

Meet The Moto X Developer Edition

Punit Soni (Motorola’s VP of Product Management) told us that we were “days” away from the arrival of Developer Editions and other carrier models of the Moto X. Yesterday, Motorola updated their Moto X “ways to buy” page, showing off the new Developer Edition, which will sport a black front panel coupled with a white woven rear back plate. The render of the phone also shows the words “DEVELOPER EDITION” engraved on the bottom. 

The page mentions that the dev edition will “have a look all its own,” meaning the two-tone color scheme is something different than what you’ll find in carrier models. Now, once MotoMaker is fully opened up or should you buy a Moto X card from AT&T, you could essentially build a similar looking device.

The listing also confirms 32GB of storage and an unlockable bootloader. No price is listed just yet, but since the AT&T 32GB model runs $629, I’d be surprised if it was lower.

Source: Motorola

Moto X With T-Mobile Compatibility Hits FCC

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. 

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-Mobile 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.