Moto Mods Development Kit: How you can create your own Moto Mod

With Moto Z and Moto Mods, we’ve opened up a new world of possibilities when it comes to what a smartphone is truly capable of doing. Moto Mods today allow you to turn your phone into a camera, movie projector or speaker, or snap on an extra battery pack when your juice gets low.

But this is just the beginning. We know there’s still so much more to be discovered. That’s why we also created the Moto Mods Development Kit (MDK), allowing you to contribute to the ecosystem and bring your own Moto Mod to life.

First introduced in the U.S., the MDK includes the same tools we’re using at Motorola to develop Moto Mods. Now, the MDK is available in China, Europe, South America and will be available in Canada on Oct. 5, giving more people around the world the opportunity to redefine the future of mobile.

Feeling inspired yet? Check out the video below to learn more about the Moto Mods Development Kit. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Visit developer.moto.com for more information.

Motorolans Give Back to Chicago during Annual ‘Motoserve’

Motorola Mobility Foundation -- Motorola’s charitable and philanthropic arm -- partnered with Chicago Cares for the third year in a row for “motoserve,” Motorola Mobility’s annual day of service in Chicago. Since 2014, motoserve volunteers have contributed nearly 5,500 hours of service through the annual event, in addition to the Foundation’s ongoing employee engagement programs.

Motorolans worked in four different neighborhoods to benefit Chicago Public Schools, senior centers and community organizations. Projects included improving school and community spaces, promoting health and wellness, distributing essential items to those in need, and more.

We’re proud of the commitment our team made to serving our local community. Some of the specific sites we focused on included:

• Austin - Lorraine Hansberry Apartments: Spent quality time with senior residents while cooking and serving a meal, played Bingo and made fleece blankets.
• Jefferson Park - Beaubien Elementary: Created and stained two planter benches, completed tile mosaics and canvas murals, and hosted a Kids Olympics in an effort to engage the students in exercise.
• Douglas - Pershing Magnet School: Hosted a science fun fair to expose the students to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and gave the school a fresh look by painting 5 colorful wall and canvas murals throughout the hallways.
• West Englewood - Earle STEM Academy: Added life to the building by painting classrooms, created wall and canvas murals, and hosted a science fair to spark students’ creativity.
• Merchandise Mart - Motorola Mobility: Assembled 900 Hygiene Kits for Breakthrough Urban Ministries and Chicago Public Schools to benefit families transitioning out of homelessness. Assembled 100 Back to School Kits for Beaubien Elementary to help students prepare for the new school year.

“Motoserve” is part of a year-round, global series of volunteer programs offered by the Motorola Mobility Foundation to Motorola’s employees. Motorola Mobility Foundation, Motorola’s charitable and philanthropic arm, enables and drives innovation to improve the communities where we live and work. The Foundation’s mission is to catalyze the innovative use of technology to improve lives and communities. It does this by leveraging employee expertise and talent, providing funding, and partnering with nonprofits, learning institutions, startups, government, corporate and civic organizations.

Click here to learn more about the Motorola Mobility Foundation.

Photos by Monica Inglot

Skip the Sevens: Choose Real Innovation

When looking for a new smartphone, sometimes brand loyalty and habit get in the way of a better, more innovative choice. This often means a “new” phone that’s not very different from the old one.

Well, we believe different is better.

On September 12 we met with a few groups of Apple loyalists - not actors - to talk about a recent announcement and their reactions. We showed them some prototypes. But we didn’t tell them they were Moto’s until later. Check out the results.

The goal of our Skip the Sevens campaign is to get you to think about what you really want from a smartphone. It’s our challenge to you. To the industry.

Moto Mods Strut Their Stuff on the Runway at NYFW 2016 with Vivienne Tam

Versatility — it’s what the new Moto Z and Moto Mods are all about. Why settle for a standard smartphone when, with just a snap, you can also have a booming JBL sound system, an on-the-go projector, or an incredible zoom lens?

This spirit of self-expression is why we’re working with the iconic and ever versatile fashion designer, Vivienne Tam, at New York Fashion Week. Recognized throughout the fashion world by her intricate, colorful designs that draw inspiration from Chinese culture, creating a unique fusion of East-meets-West styles, Vivienne’s also developed a penchant for embracing technology in her runway shows.

On September 12, we’ll integrate the new Moto Z and Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod at the debut of her new Spring / Summer 2017 collection and on the runway. Want to take a piece of Vivienne Tam home with you? Follow @Moto_USA on Twitter for the chance to win a limited edition Vivienne Tam-designed Moto Style Shell not sold in stores.

Renowned fashion photographer Nigel Barker will shoot from the front row using the Moto Z Force with Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod, and YouTuber Ingrid Nilsen will give you an exclusive backstage view including an interview with Vivienne using the Moto Z. 

Be sure to follow Ingrid Nilson’s New York Fashion Week journey with Vivienne Tam and Moto on her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube channels. Nigel Barker will also be sharing his experience at the show with the Hasselblad True Zoom on his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.

The Moto Z family and Moto Mods are available now at MotoMods.com, and the Hasselblad True Zoom will be available on September 15.