Moto X Puts Smartphone Personalization On Notice

After six years of  black and white smartphones, there is a new revolutionary trend emerging. That of the colored smartphone.

To be clear, colored consumer electronics are about as old as the industry itself. That’s because marketing executives figured out that if you portray these types of devices as more personal companion than technological marvel, you’ll likely sell more. Users love to feel empowered, they loved to know that the device they are carrying is the device that they purchased on their own terms for their needs.

The Moto X color options combine to offer over 2,000 color options.

Apple has used this to great effect with two of its iPod lines. Users were able to choose from six different color options. It was the first device that really put users in the driver’s seat of their purchase. Thousands of users likely spent a lot of time deciding what color iPod mini or iPod Nanothey wanted. Unfortunately, that was more than four years ago, and though Apple continues to offer color options on the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle, the iPhone is still black and white.

With Motorola’s announcement of the Moto X‘s almost insane 2,000 color combinations, personalization seems to have finally become a battle ground feature. So important is to Motorola that users feel like they’ve designed their personal companion that the company will even include matching headphones with every device and upload it’s lock screen photo before it arrives.

Nokia’s Lumia line has shipped five different color shades since 2011. Even serial specification king-pin HTC is looking to help its devices stand out with different colored shells as opposed to blazingly-fast processors.

It seems the smartphone has finally come of age as a consumer product. Device makers want users to feel like the device is theirs. They want buyers to know that their Moto X or Nokia Lumia 1020 is their own creation and no one else’s. For an industry that has contractual agreements forcing users to keep their smartphone longer than a year, that’s good news. For smartphone buyers it’s even better news.

Their devices are their own. Not some color choice forced upon them by a marketing executive who thought Cream looked better in bright lights. Not some blue variant that was only made available to users on specific networks.

Suddenly, personal technology is actually, personal again. For devices that cost thousands dollars over two years, that’s a win in any lighting situation.

New smartwatch is "Hot"

Following in the footsteps of the Pebble watch, a new smartwatch is seeking funding on the Kickstarter site. The Hot Watch out of Dallas, has some rather big shoes to fill as the Pebble smartwatch raised a record $10 million of crowd-sourced funding on the Kickstarter site before launching. The Hot Watch claims to have more capabilities than its competitors when it comes to some functions such as making calls, sending and receiving emails and keeping in touch with the pulse of your social networks.

Similar to the Pebble, the Hot Watch offers a 1.26 inch Sharp produced E-paper multi-touch display and a Cortex M3 processor. A secondary processor handles other chores like Bluetooth and the call controls. Speaking of Bluetooth, the watch uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to any handset that offers such connectivity. The developers of the watch say that despite this, the Hot Watch connects best with an iOS or Android flavored phone. The watch is water-resistant and will support OTAupdates.

The Hot Watch is designed in such a manner that holding it up to your ear will help amplify a call allowing you to converse in private. And if needed, you can always turn on the speakerphone. The Hot Watch is crammed with features pre-installed like a pedometer and will alert you when your phone is out of range giving you an early warning that it might be stolen.

Thanks to the SDK that is available for the watch, developers can make new faces and new apps for the watch. Calls can be answered, ignored, dialed and muted using gestures. Sensors in the watch know if you've fallen down and can't get up. The watch gives you 30 seconds to respond before calling for emergency help. And gestures can also take you from the lock screen to an active screen. For example, if you write a "D" on the lockscreen, the Hot Watch takes you to the dial screen.

On Kickstarter, with 37 days remaining for Hot Watch to reach its $150,000 funding goal, the company has raised over $60,000. The basic version of the phone is expected to retail at $169 or more but for $109 you can help fund the project and receive a Hot Watch which is expected to ship on December 23rd, just in time for the holidays.



source: HotWatch via TechCrunch

U.K. court forces Microsoft to change SkyDrive name

Microsoft SkyDrive is the name of the cloud storage feature offered by the Redmond based company and used by many Windows Phone owners. But thanks to a ruling in the U.K., Microsoft is going to have to change the name of the service. British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) successfully argued in a U.K. court that the use of the "Sky" name in SkyDrive infringed on the British broadcaster's trademark.

Microsoft has said that it will not appeal the decision, and BSkyB will allow the Redmond based software giant to continue to use the SkyDrive name while it transitions to a new one. Both sides refuse to comment on an agreement made by the two firms that includes an undisclosed payment from one of the companies to the other.

BSkyB provides various television content to British television viewers through its Sky One, Sky Sports and Sky Movies channels.

"We're glad to have resolution of this naming dispute, and will continue to deliver the great service our hundreds of millions of customers expect, providing the best way to always have your files with you."-Microsoft

source: TheVerge via WPCentral

Local news being tested for Google Now

Google is in the process of testing a local news card for Google Now. This would definitely make sense since the application is supposed to know where you are at all times while sending you timely information that is important to you based on past searches, your calendar listings and more. A beta test for the local news card is taking place inside Google.

The local news card is currently in A/B testing with feedback from those users getting the card inside Google, playing an important role in determining Google's final decision. Local news has been a niche that for one reason or another, networks and news agencies have been unable to profit in. Will it be different with Google in the Google Now format?

"One thing we’re testing right now is a very local hyper-local news card. Which is really useful—it teaches me things about my neighborhood. For example, I found out Miss Mexico came to my son’s school, I saw that [the local] Chipotle was giving out burritos, and someone was stabbed in the park near my house. It’s very, very targeted to you and your interests."-Johanna Wright, vice president of search and assist, Google

Local news in Google Now would be like having a local paper with the latest crime report and restaurant openings. The only worry that some have is that it will take away from what the service is supposed to do, which is to provide users with timely information they need when it is needed. If you haven't experienced Google Now, it is made up of cards that pop up with the current traffic information to your home (when you're out), stock quotes throughout the day, local weather, sports scores and more. It is now also available at the Apple App Store for your iPhone in addition to coming installed on Android devices running Android 4.1 or higher.

The question is, does local news belong on Google Now? Google is testing to find out the answer to that very question right now.

Screenshots from Google Now for iOS

source: Quartz via TechCrunch

Nokia planning an event on September 26th-27th, Windows tablet on the way

Although Nokia has denied having any plans to release a tablet, yesterday we saw an indication that the company is indeed working on a tablet. Now, a new leak has Nokia planning an event in New York on September 26th and the 27th, which of course has started the questions as to whether that tablet is real, and on the docket for the September event.

Nokia has said that it plans to have a major release every quarter; and, after its latest announcement for the Nokia Lumia 1020, CEO Stephen Elop did tease a "major launch" coming later this year from Nokia. When we first heard that, we automatically assumed that it would be another Lumia smartphone, because Nokia has shown no leaning towards making a tablet. But, things seem to have changed. 

According to a source for WPCentral who claims to have seen the Nokia tablet, the device is designed much like a Lumia phone with "bright colors and rounded corners", and it looked to be around 11-inches. Of course, the only real trouble with the rumor so far is that the info on the Nokia tablet that came out yesterday pointed towards a Windows RT device, and not a Windows 8 device. Maybe Nokia can bring some much needed buzz to the RT platform, and there may be something big coming to RT with the Blue update expected next month. But frankly, we'd rather see Windows 8. 

source: WPCentral

Sony Xperia Z Ultra confirmed for U.K. release September 12th, available online now

Sony's new 6.44-inch monster phablet Xperia Z Ultra (and yes, it is still somehow considered a phablet at that size and not a tablet) finally has a U.K. release date. There's still no word on the device making its way to the U.S. through an official carrier, but it is also available for purchase unlocked online right now if you're interested.

Unlocked Mobiles has outed the official release date for the device by putting up a pre-order page. The Xperia Z Ultra will be available in the U.K on September 12th, and it will cost £599.98 inc VAT and £499.98 ex VAT. That price is a bit lower than expected, but if you want the device unlocked for U.S. use right now, it will cost you a premium. Negri Electronics has the Z Ultra for sale right now. The purple model is backordered as of this writing, but you can get a black or white model for $799.50. 

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is big in every way. The focus of the specs is of course the 6.44-inch 1080p Triluminos display, and the device also packs in a Snapdragon 800 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, 2MP rear camera, all running on Android 4.2.2. 

source: Negri Electronics & Unlocked Mobiles via Android Central

Goldman Sachs: Motorola Moto X price could be $299; device costs $225 to produce

A 21 page report from trading house Goldman Sachs confirms that the price of the Motorola Moto X will start at $299 off contract. In case you were worried that the wholly owed Google subsidiary couldn't turn a profit at that price, the report further details that the cost to Motorola to build the unit is $225. The phone will launch later Thursday in New York City with a press embargo expected to expire at 3PM EDT.

According to Goldman's report, by pricing the Moto X at such an affordable 'Google Nexus 4' like price, it can make sure that the Google search engine is disseminated to a large number of the smartphone buying public without paying the rates that Apple and Samsung charge to make Google the default search engine on their phones. By pricing the Motorola Moto X at the $299 off contract price, Google is sending a message to Apple and even its partner Samsung, that it can make its own smartphones and distribute Google on its own terms.

According to the Goldman analysts who worked together on the report, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside said that using tools like the gyroscope and accelerometer will allow the phone to know when it is traveling in a car and turn on hands-free features automatically. The Moto X could also use the accelerometer, proximity sensor and camera to determine that the user is holding the phone up to his eyes in a classic photographer's pose and automatically open the camera app. Motorola has been under fire for its cameras going back to the Motorola DROID and is hoping to make a statement with the rear shooter on the Moto X.

According to the Goldman analysts, the Motorola Moto X is potentially a very important phone for Google. The analysts believe that Google pays more than 75% in Traffic Acquisition Costs (TAC) to keep Google as the default search engine on iOS devices, leaving little left for Google. Considering that iOS rpresented 60% of all mobile internet traffic in 2012, keeping Google as the default search on the iPhone and iPad is financially important for Mountain View. Google is believed to pay Samsung 10% of TAC to keep Google as the default search engine on Sammy's handsets. Since Samsung phones had a 31% global market share last year, keeping Google as the default search engine on the Korean OEM's phones is also a must for Google. If the Moto X flops, it is believed that Samsung will as for a hike in the percentage of TAC it receives from Google.

Consider though that Google pays 0% of TAC to keep its name as the default search engine on the Motorola Moto X. That means the bigger the market share that Google can win with this device, the more money it will make. Thus, keeping the price of the Moto X competitive is important to Google. As far as Apple is concerned, Goldman sees no threat right now with the Moto X launch. But in the long term, if the Google-Motorola unified approach catches on, it could spell some trouble for Apple forcing them to innovate. That is something that Apple has been failing to do lately, according to critics. As for Samsung, it could decide to push Tizen OS models harder as retaliation for Google releasing its own hardware with the Moto X.

source: GoldmanSachs via Barrons

Unlocking phones in the US on the rise since new law went into effect

Earlier this year, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act saw exemptions for unlocking mobile phones go by the wayside, making it illegal for devices purchased after January 26th to be unlocked by consumers for switching carriers or whatever.

Despite that reality, and now that more than six months has passed since the new rule went into effect, it looks like Americans are unlocking their devices at an even greater clip than before the new rules took hold, giving rise to petitions and promises of new legislation to “fix” the situation from all corners of government.

MobileUnlocked, an unlocking service based in the UK, decided to pick a random month’s worth of activity this year and compare it with the month preceding the new rules. When comparing the busy period of December 2012 with June 1 to July 1 this year, US sourced unlock code purchases have increased by over 70%.

That increase is occurring despite seeing an actual reduction in internet traffic from US-based consumers for the same periods that were compared. US traffic to MobileUnlocked is a very small percentage of its overall business, but the activity is quite telling. In December 8.45% of its traffic came from the US, dipping to a little over 7.1% in June 2013.

That tells two stories at once, it shows that some people are shying away from unlocking their devices, thus reflected in decreased traffic. On the flip-side of that coin, those that are shopping are more likely to buy the necessary unlock codes and directions so they can unlock their devices.

It is difficult to tell what the longer-term effect of these new rules will have on the market. While several politicians have promised to make changes or advocate changes to the law reversing these rules, we also know that such changes are not likely to come anytime soon. In fact, any momentum generated by the movement to make such a change might finally get traction the next time the rules are scheduled to be looked at again in 2015.

Nothing like being told you cannot do something to actually motivate people to do it.

source: MobileUnlocked

LG G2 scores nearly 30,000 on AnTuTu

Once the hoopla over the launch of the Motorola Moto X dries up, New York City will be the home to another smartphone unveiling on August 7th. That is when the LG G2 is expected to see the light of day. While theMoto X seems to have captured much more attention, there is no reason for the LG G2 not to produce drool at a mere glance of its specs. And the lack of front and side buttons could also have you looking forward to touching that uniquely placed volume rocker on the back of the handset.

The LG G2 took a spin through the AnTuTu benchmark test using the code name LG-D802 and tallied an impressive score of 29,909. The first smartphone to offer the combination of the quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 and 3GB of RAM, power users spanning the globe are going to be drawn to the device. Toss in a 5.2 inch screen, 1080 x 1920 resolution and a 13MP rear-facing snapper and we could be looking at a serious challenger in theAndroid market for the latter months of 2013 and early 2014. Android 4.2.2 is pre-installed out of the box.

The LGG2 kicks butt on the AnTuTu benchmark site

source: Techtastic (translated) via AndroidAuthority

Apple iPhone 5C camera module: 8-megapixel camera like in iPhone 5?