Moto X (Is Out) [8.01.2013]

[Shackanaw]

Motorola Skip Unlocks Your Phone With Just a Tap:

Motorola released a tiny gadget called Motorola Skip on Friday for its new Moto X smartphone that lets you unlock the device without typing in passcodes.

...

The device can be clipped to your shirt, belt loop or anything else you keep handy, such as keys. The only downside: You must keep track of the tangible gadget, which is programmed specifically for your phone. Motorola didn't detail how the technology will work, but one can assume it will use sensors and near-field communication (NFC) technology similar to Samsung's existing TecTiles stickers.

...

Each Skip comes with three Skip dot stickers, which can be placed throughout the house, car or workplace to unlock the Moto X. The Skip will be included for free with all orders of the Moto X. Pricing for additional Skip dot stickers has not been revealed.

This is genuinely cool.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Motorola Reveals More X8 Chip Details:


Sounds like they've done a decent amount of work to ensure that the software runs as efficiently as possible. Or, they could just be vomiting up technobabble. After all, they did try to market this as an 8-core package.

Even if then, if you're on Verizon, I dont see how you would pick the X over the Ultra or the Maxx since they both have all the X's improvements and more.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Even if then, if you're on Verizon, I dont see how you would pick the X over the Ultra or the Maxx since they both have all the X's improvements and more.

The X isn't hideously ugly?

 

[hans007]

The X isn't hideously ugly?

Its also significantly smaller and easier to hold

 

[AznAnarchy99]

The X isn't hideously ugly?

Subjective. The X is way thicker IMO.

http://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/02/comparison-moto-x-vs-droid-ultra-vs-droid-maxx-vs-droid-mini/

The mini might even be a better offer at $100 if you're looking for smaller.

 

[thedosbox]

Subjective. The X is way thicker IMO.

http://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/02/comparison-moto-x-vs-droid-ultra-vs-droid-maxx-vs-droid-mini/

You do know that the Moto X back is curved right? Pretty much every reviewer has commented on how good it feels in the hand.

 

[bearxor]

That's why it's subjective.

 

[thedosbox]

That's why it's subjective.

Which bit? The curved back or the ergonomics? The former is a fact, while the latter appears to be a pretty popular opinion. I'll concede the latter may not matter to those who think glossy plastic is a good thing.

 

[lothar]

Even if then, if you're on Verizon, I dont see how you would pick the X over the Ultra or the Maxx since they both have all the X's improvements and more.

The Moto X will be customizable using MotoMaker later on, it won't have Verizon's tramp stamp all over the face of the handset, and I'm guessing there will be less bloat as well.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9241714/Chart_Moto_X_vs._Droid_Ultra?taxonomyId=15
http://blogs.computerworld.com/android/22674/moto-x-vs-droid-ultra-comparison

The biggest differences don't fit into a chart; rather, they revolve around design and user experience.

I'll be blunt: Where the Moto X is elegant, simple, and understated, the Droid Ultra is big, loud, and in your face. The soft materials and carefully crafted curves of the X are traded for a harsh, glossy plastic box that's hard on the eyes and clunky in the hands.

The Moto X has a pleasant fingertip-sized dimple on its back; the Droid Ultra has a roughly textured logo. The Moto X has virtual navigation buttons that work seamlessly with Android 4.x; the Droid Ultra has capacitive keys that create awkward usage scenarios (more on that in my upcoming review).

Factor in the scattered UI changes and extra mess of bloatware baked into the Droid Ultra, and -- well, pardon my bluntness, but the device looks kind of like a Moto X that's been vomited on by a Verizon monster.

Refuse-related analogies aside, I think the best way to sum it up is this: Using the Droid Ultra feels like using the Moto X if the phone had been designed by the Motorola of two years ago instead of the Motorola of today. It's like seeing what the Moto X -- a standout smartphone that's a delight to use -- might have been if its designers had made several stumbles along the way.

The Droid Ultra may have a bigger screen and longer battery life than its Moto X cousin, but it lacks something the Moto X possesses: finesse.

I'm also 100% sure that the Moto X won't have Amazon's app suite bloat like most Verizon "DROID" branded phones do nowadays.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/6/3298012/verizon-wireless-preload-amazon-apps-partnership
http://support.verizonwireless.com/support/faqs/FeaturesandOptionalServices/amazon-app-suite.html

So the question is...why the hell would anyone buy the DROID Ultra over the Moto X in the first place? That 0.3" screen difference is not worth sacrificing all of that IMO.

 

[Shackanaw]

Custom engraving has been put on temporary hold: From PC World and Computerworld's JR Raphael:

This just in from Motorola: Custom engraving won't be available on the Moto X at launch. During beta testing, the company determined the quality of the printing wasn't meeting its standards and decided to pull the plug on it for now.

Spokesperson tells me they hope to work out the kinks and start offering the option to consumers soon.

I'm also 100% sure that the Moto X won't have Amazon's app suite bloat like most Verizon "DROID" branded phones do nowadays.

It does appear that they have taken a conservative approach with carrier bloatware on AT&T, at least: Motorola Moto X review: Manufacturer and carrier apps | TechRadar

We actually only found two AT&T apps on our Moto X. The first is myAT&T, a clunky but decently helpful program that lets you see where you are in your billing cycle, minutes and data used and other information you might actually want.

The second is AT&T's Visual Voicemail app. It basically acts like the voicemail on an iPhone, labeling voicemail messages with contact info, and letting you pick and choose which you'd like to hear, rather than sit through them all.

 

[lothar]

It does appear that they have taken a conservative approach with carrier bloatware on AT&T, at least: Motorola Moto X review: Manufacturer and carrier apps | TechRadar

AT&T does not equal Verizon.
Moto X does not equal DROID Ultra.

It seems you skipped the word "DROID" and "VERIZON" in my post that you were responding to.
Yes, the Moto X has very little bloat. It doesn't mean however that the "DROID Ultra" won't come with junk apps from Amazon and carrier bloat like Verizon's other DROID branded phones.
/thread

 

[OBLAMA2009]

dont anybody buy this phone. they teased on this thing for a year and a half and then released something with old specs, retarded "customization" and a high price. i hope they lose a ton of money on this phone

 

[Slick5150]

dont anybody buy this phone. they teased on this thing for a year and a half and then released something with old specs, retarded "customization" and a high price. i hope they lose a ton of money on this phone

That's a really well thought out and reasoned argument! i mean, how dare they release a phone that's supposed to work well, be comfortable to hold and offer people the option to customize it or not. Bunch of asshats!

 

[OBLAMA2009]

That's a really well thought out and reasoned argument! i mean, how dare they release a phone that's supposed to work well, be comfortable to hold and offer people the option to customize it or not. Bunch of asshats!

would you really want to be stuck with this for two years with all the snapdragon 800 sheet cumming out? think how molded youll feel when they are forced to release the "s" version in november because this version isnt competitive

 

[fbrdphreak]

would you really want to be stuck with this for two years with all the snapdragon 800 sheet cumming out? think how molded youll feel when they are forced to release the "s" version in november because this version isnt competitive

As long as my phone has good battery life, smooth performance, and is reliable, I won't care. I understand some people care about specs and raw numbers, but for me the sum of the parts is more important. The S4 seems to overwhelm with its software, the One doesn't impress me, but the X has unique features that mean something to me, good size, and an overall balanced, usable package.

Also, planning to buy off contract = not stuck with for 2 years. If you're so worried about the latest specs, you're better off buying off contract and reselling every 6 months for minimal out of pocket cost on upgrades.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

look at the title of this article:

http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-800-floodgates-open-as-moto-x-loses-its-edge-21294495/

moto x would be the STUPIDEST purchasing decision you could make, and they havent even released it yet. yeah i know, its about the "overall experience", right? the difference between 600 and 800 is pretty huge. NOBODY should buy this phone!!!

 

[thedosbox]

look at the title of this article:

http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-800-floodgates-open-as-moto-x-loses-its-edge-21294495/

moto x would be the STUPIDEST purchasing decision you could make, and they havent even released it yet. yeah i know, its about the "overall experience", right? the difference between 600 and 800 is pretty huge. NOBODY should buy this phone!!!

Maybe you should look at some actual tests of the Moto X instead of following the hype, especially as android is an OS that is largely single-threaded and GPU dependent:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/08/greater-than-the-sum-of-its-specs-googles-moto-x-reviewed/3/

As for "nobody" buying the phone, do you understand how markets aren't homogeneous?

 

[Anubis]

look at the title of this article:

http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-800-floodgates-open-as-moto-x-loses-its-edge-21294495/

moto x would be the STUPIDEST purchasing decision you could make, and they havent even released it yet. yeah i know, its about the "overall experience", right? the difference between 600 and 800 is pretty huge. NOBODY should buy this phone!!!

i dont do anything on my phone that requiers the power of the 600 let alone the 800

 

[soccerballtux]

Maybe you should look at some actual tests of the Moto X instead of following the hype, especially as android is an OS that is largely single-threaded and GPU dependent:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/08/greater-than-the-sum-of-its-specs-googles-moto-x-reviewed/3/

As for "nobody" buying the phone, do you understand how markets aren't homogeneous?

dual will just get slower.
its like when people said "an overclocked e8400 is fine for now, therefor buy it"
I went with the ph2 965BE, oc'd to 4Ghz, and am still future proof because i have 4 cores not 2.

 

[openwheel]

I always prefer more "dedicated" cores than more CPU cores.

Really digging the direction Motorola is heading. They differentiate themselve from the Samsungs and HTCs. Motorola has given me the best battery life by far compare to others (iPhones, Samsung and LG in my experience), and that's way more important than quadcore or benchmark stats.

I will give the Droid Maxx or Moto X a try (depending on which one I can score at lower cost since I am on Verizon unlimited). I look forward to not having to turn the device on while driving. Bluetooth connected to BMW iDrive and total hands free operation of navigation is the way to go.

edit: one more thing about the 720p screen: lower resolution provides better performance and better battery life. I just hope the colors are decent. I don't expect AMOLED to look beautiful, but I don't want extreme colors either.

 

[fbrdphreak]

look at the title of this article:

http://www.slashgear.com/qualcomm-800-floodgates-open-as-moto-x-loses-its-edge-21294495/

moto x would be the STUPIDEST purchasing decision you could make, and they havent even released it yet. yeah i know, its about the "overall experience", right? the difference between 600 and 800 is pretty huge. NOBODY should buy this phone!!!

Thank you for sharing your infinite wisdom on the interwebs. It is due to the cohesive and convincing way that you present your information, along with all the exclamation points, that has led me to continue to do whatever the hell I want and block your completely ignorant and asinine posts.

Signed,
Everyone

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Thank you for sharing your infinite wisdom on the interwebs. It is due to the cohesive and convincing way that you present your information, along with all the exclamation points, that has led me to continue to do whatever the hell I want and block your completely ignorant and asinine posts.

Signed,
Everyone

ok dont let me keep you from getting a phone thats has hardware two cycles behind all the other manufacturers!!!!!!!

 

[NikolaeVarius]

ok dont let me keep you from getting a phone thats has hardware two cycles behind all the other manufacturers!!!!!!!

I mean, considering people still buy iPhones, I don't think people have as much as a problem with this as you think.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I mean, considering people still buy iPhones, I don't think people have as much as a problem with this as you think.

I look at people in disgust when I hear "Look, I just bought an iPhone 4"

(The 4 is free.)

But I do understand how people can't afford the latest and greatest but they wanna be the hip kid in school with an iPhone (a large majority of my schoolmates have iPhones)

 

[openwheel]

the MotoX has new silicons. I don't understand the reasoning that some say this has "old hardware".

Isn't the die size the same on the Moto X as all the new Snapdragons? Dualcore is in no way worse than quadcore.