Monday, January 26, 2015
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Meet the Indiegogo "Transform the Smartphone Challenge" Finalists
For the last few months, developers and entrepreneurs have been busy sharing their ideas for creating the next generation of Moto Mods through our...
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Unlimited Possibilities: Moto Mod Innovation Goes Global
When we launched the Moto Z family of smartphones and Moto Mods, we opened up a new world of possibilities. We shared our commitment to innovation...
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Magnifying Community Impact: Moto Dedicates Music Studio in São Paulo, Brazil
Our mission: to promote the social inclusion of low-income youth in Brazil through cultural entrepreneurship. The result? “Estúdio Moto” (Moto Studio)...
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Mod the Future Visits the Big Apple: Behind the Scenes at the NYC Hackathon
What do 53 developers, 18 entrepreneurs, three designers, one surgeon and a dog named Goose have in common? These eager participants (and K9) all...
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From New Releases to Hackathons, Moto Mods Gain Momentum
Six months ago, we took a stand against incremental innovation with our Moto Z family of smartphones and Moto Mods™ – and we’ve never looked...
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Motorola Returns to China Today - It Feels Good to Be Back
Together with hundreds of fans and guests we celebrated the launch of Moto X, Moto X Pro, Moto G and Moto Hint in China. It was a thrill to have so many people welcome us back with such enthusiasm.
Working on the HR Team at Motorola for nearly 3.5 years, I’ve been lucky to be able to share my passion for the company and its mission and products. Today, I had the opportunity to see that same passion in longtime Chinese Motorola fans. Here are a few of my favorite moments.
Motorola president Rick Osterloh spoke to fans and guests about Motorola’s history in China, and how important it was to us to be back and bring our products to people here.
In the Experience Zone, fans were invited to walk through a mock Moto lab, similar to our R&D labs in Chicago.
Earlier this month, fans in China were invited to choose their top color choices for Moto X. Today, Lenovo Mobile Business Group VP Zhang Hui revealed that turquoise was the color that got the most votes, and would be sold at a special price RMB 2,999.
It’s been great to see such amazing support at today’s launch event in Beijing. Being here for the return to my home country will always be one of my fondest Motorola memories.
Posted by Nicole Zhou, HR Manager, Beijing
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Meet the Craftsman Who Made a Moto X-inspired Bluetooth Gramophone (and Win One of His Speaker Blocks!)
We sat down with Ryan to learn more about his gramophone and how he came to make it.
What inspired you to make this product?
By 2011, I started seeing more and more people with smartphones, and one thing I noticed in particular was that they were using them to play music on. My flip phone had some songs on it, but these new phones had much improved speakers on them. I would see people playing music on their phones and instead of using headphones, they would just play music through the built-in speakers in the phone. At this point my wife had already upgraded and finally convinced me to upgrade too. I was amazed at how good the little built-in speaker was. I started tinkering in my garage looking for ways to amplify the speaker that was already built into the phone.
Can you tell us about how you designed the gramophone?
I started using musical instruments to amplify the speaker. I started by chopping damaged, unplayable trumpets, trombone, and French horns and using the bells of those instruments to make acoustic speakers. I then started looking for bigger and better ways to amplify the little speaker in the phones so I started using phonographs, gramophones, and tube radio horns. It originally started out as acoustic speakers, but phone models kept changing and with the introduction of so many tablets, I knew I needed something that could accommodate everything so I redesigned them into Bluetooth speakers.
How does your gramophone work?
These work on the same principle as a megaphone. Picture a football game where the cheerleader yells into the small end of a megaphone and it is amplified out through the large end.
Why combine a vintage gramophone horn from the '20s with modern technology?
There is something so intriguing about the mixing of technologies. I think that is why the steampunk culture is growing and why record players are making such a comeback. These speakers take modern music and give them a vintage feel. It is also really cool to listen to music from that era and feel like you are hearing it how they did.
You write on Etsy about how you made the device to match your Moto X! Why did you choose walnut and white for your phone and what did you think about when making the Bluetooth speaker to match?
I have been very drawn to Danish Mid-Century Modern furniture lately. With dressers and credenzas, it has been very popular to paint the trim white to contrast the wood drawers. I was excited to see the wood options for the new Moto X. I had to get the walnut and love how the white looks with it.
When I listened to a demo of your product, it sounded like the speaker has a vintage sound to it. Are there any special acoustics incorporated into your speaker and if yes, what were they?
Yes and no. There is nothing special that I am doing to these horns. I am using these horns the same way they were used 100 years ago. It is a very simple process. Music is going into the small end and it is being amplified out the big end. I am using modern technology to get the music to the horn, but it gets that vintage sound because it is being amplified the same way it was 100 years ago.
What's your favorite thing to play through the gramophone?
Etta James's "At Last" is always a go to when I am playing one for someone for the first time, but there are plenty of modern singers that sound amazing on these. One of my favorite songs to play is Lana del Rey's Video Games and Duffy sounds awesome too.
As I think about it, my smartphone really did change my life. I started making acoustic speakers which were inspired by my new phone. I put a couple online to see what people thought. An international publication found them and included them in an article and it blew up my little shop. Two weeks after the article hit, I had a wait list over 100 people long. I was able to quit my job as a restaurant manager two years ago, and this has been my full-time job ever since.
If you’re as inspired by Ryan’s work as we are, here’s your chance to win one of the SpeakerBlocks he created. Tweet your favorite song with the hashtag #MotoTunes for the chance to win starting at 1 p.m. CT.
Posted by the Motorola Blog Team
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
10 Things To Do With Moto Hint That Might Surprise You
Editor’s Note: Emily Price is a freelance tech journalist in San Francisco. We invited her to share her experience using Moto Hint, a discreet wireless ear bud that can give you complete control over your phone.
Bluetooth headsets are typically bulky, uncomfortable and pretty dorky looking. I’ve steered clear of them for the most part, but when Motorola released Moto Hint a few months ago, I had to give it a try. When paired with my Moto X (2nd Gen.), the tiny headset is capable of doing some pretty awesome stuff. Here are a few of my favorite things to do with Hint.
Get the weather
The weather in San Francisco isn’t as easy as just knowing what season it is. One day can be warm and sunny, while the next makes you want to bundle up in your favorite winter wear. While I’m getting ready in the morning, I can ask Hint what the weather is outside and decide if I need to grab a hoodie before heading outdoors.
Listen to my schedule
My morning typically kicks off with a walk around my neighborhood with my dog. While I’m leashing him up I can have Hint give me a rundown of my schedule for the morning and find out whether I need to grab a jacket or umbrella for our stroll. By the time we’ve made it downstairs to head outside I already have a good feel for my day.
Directions while biking
If you’ve ever tried to bike and look at Google Maps for directions, you know it’s not easy. If you’re trying to bike around San Francisco and dodge taxis, street cars and enthusiastic entrepreneurs — it’s downright impossible. One of my favorite uses for Hint is getting turn-by-turn directions in my ear while biking around the city. It’s tons better than trying to bike wearing headphones (you can’t hear the road) or constantly looking down at your phone.
If you’ve ever tried to bike and look at Google Maps for directions, you know it’s not easy. If you’re trying to bike around San Francisco and dodge taxis, street cars and enthusiastic entrepreneurs — it’s downright impossible. One of my favorite uses for Hint is getting turn-by-turn directions in my ear while biking around the city. It’s tons better than trying to bike wearing headphones (you can’t hear the road) or constantly looking down at your phone.
Play some tunes
I use Hint occasionally to listen to some tunes while I’m walking my dog or heading to my next meeting. Hint pulls music from YouTube, and I’ve found myself using it to play a tune I can’t get out of my head. The week before I went to see the Generationals play in San Francisco, Hint was pumping out their tunes daily.
Quick Google searches
I work from home, which means those questions you typically ask your coworkers? I ask them out loud to no one like a crazy person. With Hint, I can ask important questions like “What day is Christmas on this year?” and get an answer back instantly, without the need to pick up my phone or open another browser window in Chrome.
Easy texting
Texting is another thing I’ve really enjoyed doing with Hint. My Moto X can be charging across the room, and I can text friends about evening plans without having to touch my phone.
Texting is another thing I’ve really enjoyed doing with Hint. My Moto X can be charging across the room, and I can text friends about evening plans without having to touch my phone.
Answer calls without finding your phone
My phone typically lives in my purse or book bag when I’m out and about. With Hint, when a call comes in I can answer it without having to dig around in my bag and figure out where my phone is.
Easy call transitions
I’ve found myself reaching for Hint quite a bit at the end of the day. Around 6pm I’m often trying to cook dinner, which also happens to be when all my friends from back home decide they want to call and chat. With Hint, I can chat with friends while keeping my hands free for chopping veggies and even place calls myself without ever touching my phone.
Post to Facebook
Posting to Facebook using your voice isn't something you're probably going to do often, but it's a pretty killer feature. One day I remembered I needed to find someone to watch my dog Tucker the following weekend while I was at a wedding. From my bike, I posted a status message on Facebook asking if any of my friends can help out with the fur ball. By the time I got home, I already had a few messages.
Remind me to buy beer
I’m a huge craft beer fan. Unfortunately, my neighborhood doesn’t have a real good place to buy some of the brews I like to drink. With Hint, I can set a reminder to pick up some of the rare stuff when I’m downtown for meetings and near some better bottle shops.
Posted by Emily Price, Special to the Motorola Blog
Friday, January 09, 2015
5 Out-Of-The Box Things You Can Do With Your New Moto 360
Step It Up
Keep track of how many steps you take each day with Moto Body on Moto 360. You can also compare those numbers at the end of each week, as well as track your progress against your weekly goal. The better you do, the harder Moto 360 will push you to take more steps by increasing your goals.
Wrist and Shout
With Moto 360 you can respond to a Google Hangout just by using your voice. Just swipe left when a message comes in, select “Reply,” and say what’s on your mind.
Say Cheese
When you open the camera on your Motorola phone, a “Take a Photo” card will appear on your Moto 360. You can set your phone up away from you and use your watch as a remote control trigger to shoot photos on your phone.
Make a Face
Moto 360 has amazing watch faces to choose from right out of the box. That said, you can make your own by using Motorola Connect on your phone and choosing the “My Design” watch face. You can choose a pic from your phone's photo gallery and customize the clock’s hands, accents, and tick marks. When you’re done, the new face will automatically sync to your Moto 360.
Block Party
If your phone is bursting at the seams with tons of cool apps, don’t worry—your Moto 360 doesn’t have to receive a notification for each one. You can choose which apps you want to see and which you’d like to hide. Simply open the Android Wear app on your phone, select “Settings,” then select “Block app notifications.” The apps you select won’t sync to your Moto 360. For some app notifications, you can even use your watch to swipe all the way to the left to block further notifications.
Posted by Lally Narwal, Product Marketing
Posted by Lally Narwal, Product Marketing
Friday, January 09, 2015
5 Tips to Make the Most of Your New Moto X
Get Comfortable with Moto Voice
Learn all of the ways that you can use your Moto X (2nd Gen.) without laying a finger on it with Moto Voice. Start with your voice prompt. Then fire up the camera by saying, “Take a Picture” to use the back camera—or “Take a Selfie” to use the front camera and count down from three for fumble-free photo fun. Or say “Good night” to turn on Sleep Mode in Motorola Assist. Android Central has a good list of more commands for Moto Voice to help you out.
Learn all of the ways that you can use your Moto X (2nd Gen.) without laying a finger on it with Moto Voice. Start with your voice prompt. Then fire up the camera by saying, “Take a Picture” to use the back camera—or “Take a Selfie” to use the front camera and count down from three for fumble-free photo fun. Or say “Good night” to turn on Sleep Mode in Motorola Assist. Android Central has a good list of more commands for Moto Voice to help you out.
Twist It for Quick Camera Access
Not that you need to shake it up but adding a twist is always helpful. Sometimes literally. You can twist your wrist to launch the camera and twist it again to use the front camera to take a selfie. Just make sure you have Quick Capture enabled within the Moto Actions settings. To get there, open the Moto app and tap the gear icon in the upper right corner. Then tap Actions and select Twist for Quick Capture. Make sure the option is checked, watch the demo, and you are good to go.
Let Motorola Assist Help
Motorola Assist will recognize when you're in a car and can read aloud text messages or even announce who is calling. You can then use your voice to tell your phone to answer the call or not. Assist will also sync with your calendar so you won’t have to worry about calls during important meetings. Just make sure you accept the meeting first. If you show as available, the call might still get through. To get started, open the Moto app and tap the gear icon in the upper right hand corner. Tap on Assist and choose your own settings for driving mode and meeting mode.
Keep Your Phone Unlocked When You Want
Use Trusted Bluetooth Devices to choose when to keep your phone unlocked for when you’re, say, in the car or using a wireless earbud like Moto Hint. To do this, pair your phone with a Bluetooth Device and select Trusted Device when prompted. If you missed the initial notification, Lollipop users can go to Settings -> Security -> Smart Lock -> Trusted Devices. (Those using KitKat can customize it in Settings -> Security & Screen Lock -> Trusted Devices -> select the Bluetooth devices for which you want to keep your phone unlocked).
Ask for Help
The easiest way to set an alarm is to simply ask. Just use your custom voice prompt followed by "Set an alarm for 6 a.m." or “Wake me up at 6 a.m.” and you're all set.
Posted by Jim Thiede, Product Marketing
Thursday, January 08, 2015
App-y New Year! Treat Yourself with 8 Wonderful Apps
As we begin 2015, here are eight must-have apps that could make your next year a little better.
Timely Alarm Clock
On cold winter days, who really wants to get out of their warm, comfy bed? Make this experience as painless as possible with Timely Alarm Clock. It’s easy to use, gorgeous to look at, and works just as well on tablets as it does on your smartphone. It even turns down the alarm volume when you pick up the device.
Elevate
We spend so much time and energy hitting the gym. Why not give your brain some love, too? Elevate is a mental workout for your brain. Through more than 25 games and personalized training exercises, you can teach yourself to focus better, process information more quickly, write and speak more effectively, improve your memory, and more. You can even track your progress and see yourself get smarter.
Feedly
Stay up to date on reading all your favorite blogs and websites with Feedly. This RSS client is robust, easy to use, and includes other plug-ins to work with services like Evernote. It also makes it a cinch to connect to your social networks so can easily connect to whatever it is you’re reading. You might even use it to discover a few new feeds to follow in the new year.
QuickPic
If you have thousands of photos spread out across various online accounts, QuickPic is your jam. It can pull photos from Picasa, Google Drive, Dropbox, Flickr, and more, so you have access to all of your photos in one central location. And, you know, if some of those photos are of a more, shall we say, incriminating than others, rest assured it’s easy to password protect them.
LastPass
Believe it or not, there are still a lot people out there who still use the password, “PASSWORD.” Don't be ashamed. That’s why LastPass exists. It’s a password management app that lets you store all of your passwords in one place, so you can use a different (and preferably stronger) password for every site without having to remember them all. And if you’re worried about keeping all of your passwords in one place, you can add multifactor authentication to ensure your passwords remain hidden and secure.
Cerberus
While you are an upstanding and model citizen, there are others who may not share your same sense of decency. Which is to say that there may come a time when you find that your mobile device has been stolen. Should that happen, Cerberus can help protect your phone. When stolen, you retain remote control of the device, allowing you to track it, wipe the memory, lock the device, and record audio. And when you get near the stolen device, you can narrow down its location (and really annoy the thief) by turning on a loud alarm on the phone—even if the device is in silent mode.
Slack
Anyone who has ever worked on a group project in school knows collaboration is hard. While Slack isn’t going to prevent someone from trying to let everybody else do the work for them, it does make it easy to communicate and collaborate with your team members, no matter where you are, by creating a central hub for messages and important files. Plus, you can break things down by workflow, so nobody is getting spammed with messages unrelated to their work.
Pushbullet
Keeping with the theme of collaboration, Pushbullet is designed to make all of your devices communicate seamlessly. With Pushbullet installed on all of your devices, you’ll be able to push data from one device to another immediately. This makes it easy to send your phone an article for you to read later, send your desktop a picture for immediate editing, or even read your text messages on your computer when you’re too lazy to get up and check your phone.
Tell us, which apps would be on your nice list? Let us know on our Facebook, Google+, or on Twitter using the hashtag #MotoAppyNewYear.
Posted by the Motorola Blog Team
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