The Official Motorola Blog

Friday, December 26, 2014

New Year, New You

Ah, 2015. A fresh, new start. Maybe you want to get in better shape, be more organized, or multitask better. Or maybe none of those things sound right and you just want to slow it down. It’s up to you. Here are four ideas to help you choose a new you in the New Year.

Choose to be You
Sometimes the right thing is to zig when everyone else is zagging. Don’t be afraid to strut who you really are with the dozens of colors, materials, and other personal customizations with your phone, Play around with Moto Maker and create a Moto X unique to you.

Choose to Be Healthy

There’s so much good food and good times at the holidays, but if you’re looking to the New Year to be healthier, Moto Body on Moto 360 may help you meet your goals. Effortlessly track your heart rate, activity level, and more.

Choose to Take It Easy

You’ve noticed something in the past year: your hands are always full. Enter Moto Hint, which allows you to control your phone with just your voice, so that you can give your hands a rest. And yes, you could totally talk to your phone from your exercise bike—or couch.

Choose to be Proactive
Maybe it’s Dad, an aunt or a buddy. They’re the voice of reason who always gives the sensible advice like protecting the new thing you love. Take that step and protect your new device in case the unthinkable happens and something injures your new baby.

What are your resolutions for the new year? Let us know on our Facebook, Google+, or on Twitter using the hashtag #motonewyear.

Posted by the Motorola Blog Team

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

'Twas the Night Before Moto Xmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and I, home alone.
Sat typing texts on my outdated phone.
After sending the last, I folded it closed.
Then laid my head down for a holiday doze.

As I lay sleeping, a sound in the distance.
I rushed to the door to offer assistance.
I looked all around me, and there in the snow.
A neatly wrapped box with a ribbon and bow.

I lifted the box and shook it with care.
Examined the label and read what was there.
“To Stephen, From Santa” was all that it said.
A wash of confusion, a scratch of my head.

It was then that I heard a voice from behind.
I whirled around quickly and who did I find?
A large, bearded man, I felt so perplexed.
Said the red-suited man, “How’s your new Moto X?”

I stared without speaking, with slack in my jaw.
Was I really here speaking with the Santa Claus?
“I love it so much! My mind is now blown!”
“But what have I done to deserve such a phone?”

“Well,” Santa said. “Here’s what I know.”
“You’ve made the ‘nice list’ 30 years in a row.”
“And though a good man, one fact, sad but true.”
“You’ve had the same phone since two-thousand-and-two!”

I blushed when I heard these words that he spoke.
For years now I’d been the butt of phone jokes.
Friends, family and strangers, their merciless taunts.
Now I had the smartphone that they all would want.

I turned to depart, but was stopped in my tracks.
“But first, a favor,” is what Santa asked.
“Of course!” I replied. “Just say the word.”
He pointed to X and here’s what I heard.

“That phone in your hand is my own device.”
“Which I give to you merrily, without thinking twice.”
“But the evening is young and I’ve much to do.”
“So please, would you help, and ride with me, too?”

That’s when I got it—he needed this phone.
To zip all around and bring joy to all homes.
With this I leapt up, as if by reflex.
“Let’s make Christmas happen with my Moto X!”

I mapped our long journey and spoke texts with the elves.
Took brilliant photos and selfied ourselves.
Updated Facebook to fill the news feed.
All of this running at lightning-fast speeds.

Moto Voice, Actions, Display, and Assist.
We worked through the night until nothing was missed.
I called out below toward the end of our flight.
“Moto Xmas to all, and to all, a good night!”

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

A Very Moto Holiday Playlist

Happy holidays from the Motorola family! However you choose to celebrate the holiday season this year, what we love is being able to celebrate in a way that fits you. We know that many of you use your phones to listen to music, and so in the spirit of the season, we put together a holiday playlist to play on your phones.

Take a listen to our full Spotify playlist here:

Just why do we love these songs so much? Hear from a few members of the team:

Kristin Arnold and Lexi Valasek from Consumer Research
“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey
“I have only one holiday song I like, and I like it a lot. I could listen to it on repeat forever and skip all other holiday songs (seriously, if there was radio station that played only this song on repeat from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I'd listen). Something about this song just makes me smile.”

Michelle Gatsuo from Product Management
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
“It gives me a warm feeling of holiday spirit which is playful and joyful! This pop rendition combines many traditional holiday songs into one single song. I love both bands and together the harmony of voices is absolutely outstanding.”

Lally Narwal from Product Marketing, and David Schuster from Product Management
“Chanukah Song,” Adam Sandler
“Can't go wrong with Adam. Why? For years I wondered about Harrison Ford's ethnic background. Thanks to Adam, I now know he is a 1/4 Jewish… not too shabby. It’s also a light hearted look at the holiday season and brings a smile to my face.”

Dickon Isaacs from Design
“Decoration Day” by Howlin Wolf
“I grew up in England in a house where my parents were huge fans of American jazz and blues. My dad managed the Marquee Club in London for a few years and during that time booked artists coming to the UK for the first time including Howlin Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson. Christmas was always a music-filled time at home, with this song always making it's way to the record player. Old blues, old vinyl and a warm crackling fire!”

Heather Dowdy from Product
"What Christmas Means to Me" by Stevie Wonder
“It's a classic song that always brings a smile to my face. It reminds me of all the great memories I get to make with my closest loved ones during Christmas.”

Michael Jahnke, Consumer Experience Design
“Christmas in Hollis,” RUN-DMC; “The Little Drummer Boy,” Bing Crosby; “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” Band Aid
“From a classic duet between a Legend and a Space Oddity, a surprise Christmas rap hit for the whole family, and a genuine outpouring of hope from some of the decades biggest stars… these are the songs that say the most about what the holiday season is to me.”

Happy Holidays!

Posted by the Motorola Blog Team

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

8 Nifty Ways to Get into the Holiday Spirit with Your Phone

You can admit it: You’re someone who loves everything about the holiday season. Christmas. Chanukah. Kwanzaa. All of it. You can’t get enough of the most wonderful time of the year.

Holiday lovers, we’ve got you: no matter which holiday you celebrate, your trusty phone offers a few ways to get you and yours in the holiday spirit:

SPOILER ALERT: If you’re reading this with someone who believes in Santa Claus, please tread lightly. Some of these suggestions reveal Santa’s secret identity. Please skip the first two ideas and jump right to “Bring on the Holiday Classics.”

LOL with Santa: Text with St. Nick
To believe in Santa Claus is exciting. To believe that you’re actually chatting one-on-one with the big guy— that’s enough to blow a kid’s mind. To put your little ones in touch with Santa, temporarily change the name of your significant other or a friend to “Santa Claus” in your phone’s contacts. Then, gather the kids and start a text exchange with St. Nick. Talk about gifts, reindeer, elves, Mrs. Claus, and more.

Follow Santa with the Santa Tracker App

In the days leading up to Christmas, follow Santa’s sleigh ride with the free Santa Tracker app. On Christmas Eve, you can follow him as he flies around the world. If you want even more access, upgrade so you can read Santa’s blog, watch the countdown to Christmas, send Santa letters, and get news on his whereabouts and activities.

Deck Your Device
You’ve put up the tinsel. The candles are glowing. Broken out that crazy holiday sweater. Now it’s time to add some #motocheer to your wallpaper and Moto 360! Check out Moto fan Alex Pasquarella’s website and download his amazing designs for your wallpaper and watch face, just like the design he made above.

Bring on the Holiday Classics

Whether you’re looking to bond with the entire family (or just trying to kill a few hours because you’ve run out of things to talk about), holiday movies and TV shows provide an instant activity together. You can watch with a few people huddled by the fire on your smartphone or project them onto a big screen for the whole family with Chromecast.

Send the Coolest Holiday Greeting

Add an interactive touch to any holiday by including an NFC tag to your snail-mail holiday cards. Record a video on your phone, link an NFC sticker to the video, stick it on your card, sign, seal, and drop it in the mail. Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to do it yourself.

Caroling, Caroling Through the Halls

The right music can bring out the spirit of any holiday. With Moto Stream, turn any speaker into a wireless speaker and stream your greatest holiday hits music from your smartphone (within 300 feet or so).

Instant Yuletide Log

What’s better than the now-classic yuletide log for your TV? One that you can open on your phone anytime, anywhere, of course. Choose from a wide selection uploaded on YouTube, like this one complete with the comforting sounds of a crackling fire. If it doesn’t warm your body, it will warm your heart!

Pass the Holiday Table Faux Pas
While there’s no app that will stop your weird second cousin from saying something bizarre at dinner, there are apps to help make sure your table is set beautifully and properly.

Instant Mistletoe
Gone are the days when wishful holiday romantics had to store mistletoe in their pockets. Now you can keep it in your phone. No guarantees that it will work, but we can all hope for a holiday miracle.

Posted by the Motorola Blog Team

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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Choosing a Gift that Doesn't Cost a Sleigh Load

You’ve made your list. You’ve checked it twice. And you realize you’ve bought a sleigh’s load worth of presents and it’s not exactly cheap.

So, if you’re one of those sensible people who keeps an eye on the ole bank account as you go through your list, there are other options. Here are a few ideas to mull over that will put a smile on a giftee’s face and yours, too.

Gift of Music

Well, more specifically, the ability to listen to music. Sol Republic Jax earbuds offer the sound quality of headphones that cost twice as much. Just as important, they have a flat cord and that means no tangles. Ask anyone who’s ever put a pair of headphones in a pocket or bag and tried to use them a few hours later. They’ll tell you.

No Strings Attached
Just how many gifts have you given over the years that come with a contract? Chances are few to none and for good reason. But that doesn’t mean a smartphone is out of the question. Moto E has the sharpest display in its class, can last up to 24 hours on a single charge with mixed usage and delivers quality performance. And it does all this for $129 with no strings attached. If you really want to go big, you can also throw in a colorful shell.

Practical Power
Sometimes it’s the practicality of a gift that makes it sexy. That it looks good is bonus points. Enter the P400 Universal Power Pack for phones and tablets. It may not seem sexy at first but they’ll soon be cooing about the sleekly design portable power savior when they need it.

The Centerpiece
There’s always one gift that stands out. Sometimes we get it early and sometimes it comes later. But there’s always one. Moto G (2nd gen.) is just that centerpiece. Moto G offers a variety of customizable backs and serious performance, compliments of a quad-core processor. And starting under $200 off-contract, it’s a lot of wow for the giftee without a lot of OW! for your wallet.

Posted by the Motorola Blog Team

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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

We gave a professional drone operator a new Moto X. This was the 4K goodness that happened next.

We’ve always loved the fact that our users can use their Moto X (2nd Gen.) to capture memories in Ultra HD (4K). But how could we take a step further and capture some sweet footage? Attach the phone to a drone, of course. Professional drone operator Glenn McKenna took the new Moto X out for a drive. Don’t try this at home, kids!

It’s not often that you have the chance to shoot ultra HD on a phone.

We recently had a chance to fly our aerial rig in San Francisco using the new, lightweight Moto X. Moto X (2nd Gen.) can shoot 4K video, a super high resolution format. It’s usually used for big screens, super sharp TVs, or in filmmaking when you want vibrant images with a lot of flexibility to edit.

We were really pleased with the 4K video from Moto X. The phone’s auto-exposure and auto-focus came in handy as we flew the drone to focus on light and dark areas.

We were able to edit some of the footage on a 1080 (2K) timeline and have quite a bit of wiggle room to crop the video without losing any quality. We could shoot pretty wide and still focus in on the exact images we wanted.

And since the phone weighs 1/10th of what we usually fly, our flight time was more than five times longer than with our typical DSLR camera that only shoots 1080p footage. We’d definitely recommend it for anyone who wants the ability to shoot 4K video from a device that fits in your pocket.

All in all, we captured some stunning extended footage using this lightweight phone. We were able to weave it into this video using exceptional amount of control and versatility with the ability to shoot 4K video!

Check out some of the behind-the-scenes shots from the drone shoot: