The Download: The Creative Opportunities of Designing for a Round Watch

One of the things that excites us about round watches is not only the iconic, beautiful design. It’s also unleashed cool, new opportunities for software development and new experiences. So for today’s Download, our regular spotlight on software, we wanted to get a little deeper into the benefits of designing for round watches.

Though for decades designers have created software experiences for squares and rectangles (LCD monitors, mobile phones, tablets, and even TVs, to name a few), a round watch provides a new canvas. Rick Hoobler, a user interface designer for Moto 360, and I have talked about how it provides fresh experiences in a few ways:

• A smooth, sweeping experience for your eye. Rectangular form factors typically require left alignment to look good according to traditional design principles. But circular screens create a smooth, race-track like behavior that is soothing to the eye. There is no starting or stopping point. It’s fluid and elegant.
• It’s a delight to experience new technology in a classic form factor. The blend of old and new create a deeply satisfying aesthetic. The classic round shape meets brand new technology to create a design duality that feels original without trying too hard. Tableware, plates, glasses, handles—these are all classic round shapes. When we bring this to the watch, you can see things like someone’s photo that fills up the beautiful, locket-like round shape or maps with solid fields of color in a round compass shape.
• The circle is a natural shape for tracking progress. From a design perspective, it is a very compelling experience for users to be able to use sleek progress meters that track all around the edge. You can see all-day progress, instead of a tiny standard-looking chart. The heart rate monitor, for instance, easily curves in a circular shape to show how fast your heart is beating.

Hear Rick share more about what it’s like creating experiences in a round space, instead of a square one.


What else is new in software this week?

• Hot off the presses is an update to Motorola Camera that brings you a remote shutter for Android Wear watches, so you can trigger a shot from your wrist. It also brings numerous performance improvements and bug fixes across Motorola products. We’ve now had over 1 billion shots captured by Moto G users and will continue to bring improvements to our customers!
• Motorola Assist was updated with important bug fixes for Talk to Me and Drive Mode. FM Radio has been updated on Moto E and Moto G to provide lockscreen controls and to support playback to Bluetooth speakers.
• Motorola Connect and the Motorola Connect Chrome extension have been updated to improve stability and support emoji (Chrome extension).

Hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think.

Posted by Lior Ron, Product

Read more ►

The Download: #MotoTips for Your #Moto360

When we designed Moto 360, we focused on building a modern timepiece. It not only fits your look but also assists you in everyday tasks as you make your way through the day. Just like our phones, we want you to have an experience that gets better and better over time, so Wednesday we shared our first update to Moto 360.

The new update enhances our Bluetooth connectivity and adds a new message that confirms Moto 360 is charging even when the battery is depleted. We also squashed a few bugs.

There are also some simple tricks to help make the most of your Moto 360. So, for today’s Download, we’ve devoted our regular spotlight on software to #MotoTips for #Moto360.

Here are two. What are yours?

Changing and Customizing Your Watchface
Simply long press to change the face and then use Motorola Connect (don’t forget to download it here!) to customize the colors and look to your style.



Access to Settings
Holding down your button for four seconds.



Posted by Howard Shen, Product Management

Read more ►

Mark Your Calendar! Pre-Order Begins Tuesday for New Motorola Products, Moto 360 Back on Sale

Choose to beat the crowd. Starting Tuesday, September 16, pre-orders will open for some of the new Motorola products we announced earlier this month, including Moto X for AT&T, Moto X - Pure Edition, Moto Hint and Motorola Turbo Charger. All four products will be available for pre-order on motorola.com starting at 11 a.m. CT.  Shipping dates vary by product and will be provided at checkout.

Moto X for AT&T - Order the AT&T version of the new Moto X starting on Tuesday.

Moto X - Pure Edition -  The off-contract Moto X is available SIM unlocked and with an unlockable bootloader for $499.99 USD.

Moto Hint - Our discreet wireless earbud gives you complete control of your phone and allows you to access everything you need by just using your voice. It will be available for $149.99 USD.

Motorola Turbo Charger - Our fastest charger ever takes just 15 minutes on the latest Moto phones to get up to 8 more hours of battery life. It will be available for $34.99 USD.* 

Plus, we have more great news... Moto 360 will be back in stock starting Tuesday in the U.S. on motorola.com. You’ll want to hurry as quantities will be limited.

And don’t forget about our Trade In program, making it easier than ever to purchase a customized Moto X using Moto Maker. Just send in your old device, and we'll mail you a Motorola Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $300 depending upon the phone you send in. Visit motorolatradein.com to learn more.

You’ll hear more from other U.S. carrier partners soon and from our partners around the globe regarding additional Motorola product availability. For those in France, Germany and the UK, take the new Moto Maker for a spin and design your own Moto X in advance of availability at your local motorola.com site.

Our newly enhanced Moto Maker site features:

• More choice - new leather finishes, FSC-certified wood finishes and Moto X - Pure Edition
• New rendering engine - get a better feel for what your customized phone will look like with our new new photo realistic rendering engine
• New tools - now compare several designs side-by-side or start off with options curated by our designers

Choose choice and happy shopping!


*must be purchased separately due to longer pre-order time

Read more ►

The Download: Bringing Home and Drive Modes to Moto G and Moto E

We don’t know about you, but last week was a whirlwind of excitement as we shared five new products with the world. With all the activity, in this week’s Download, we wanted to highlight something for Moto G and Moto E users, so that you don’t miss it: You can now use many of the Motorola Assist features on your Moto G (1st and 2nd generations) and Moto E!

When we launched Moto X, we introduced simple but useful experiences based on the different places and situations we find ourselves in. Driving was the natural place to start. To make it happen, we used a low-power sensor hub in Moto X that constantly analyzes inputs from sensors like the accelerometer, GPS, and audio. We eventually expanded these features to Meeting mode (when you don’t want to be bothered and want an automatic message for those who are trying to get in touch), Sleep mode (letting you sleep in peace with only the people who matter getting through), and Home mode (so that your phone automatically knows when it’s home and can read your texts and callers aloud).

When we launched Moto G and Moto E, however, we thought that without the low-power sensor hub in Moto X, these types of experiences would likely not be possible. The phones had fewer microphones for speech recognition and a smaller processor. We couldn’t do it the same way.

But when Drive mode and Home mode became some of the most popularly requested updates for Moto G and Moto E, we decided to revisit. 

Challenging our own assumptions, we decided to try to create the same experiences but in a different way, relying on algorithms running on fewer microphones and no sensor hub. The team spent three months creating prototypes and writing algorithms and models that could possibly create contextual experiences for Moto G and Moto E. When the test results came back, we were optimistic. The team then spent another two months tweaking and refining the application so it could hit our quality benchmarks. We are so happy that an alternative approach could provide this requested experience to our users!

Again, we're so glad to be able to share this feature with our users. Tell us what you think. We look forward to keep working on making it better and better. 

Posted by Mark Rose, Product Management

Read more ►

Motorola Gives You the Power to Choose with New Smartphones, Wearables and Accessories

A year ago we relaunched Motorola with a very clear purpose -- to give you more meaningful choices that put you in control of your mobile experience. Today we take that promise to the next level with the introduction of the new Moto X and Moto G smartphones, Moto 360 watch, Moto Hint wireless earbud and Motorola Power Pack Micro. This dynamic new portfolio of products gives you unprecedented power to choose how your mobile technology fits into your life, with new customization options, better value and new ways to connect.

Choose the color or materials that grace the back of your phone. Choose to design your own software experience starting from pure Android. Choose to get the information you want most, either at a glance on your phone or on your wrist, or discreetly to your ear, without ever using your hands. And choose not to pay premium prices for premium experiences.

Introducing…

The new Moto X: Pure style. Pure performance. 
The new Moto X is designed with a sense of style and balance, featuring a curved metal frame, vivid 5.2” Full HD display, and authentic materials such as FSC® certified woods and genuine Horween® leather that feel great in your hand. Moto X gives you fast performance with the latest, unadulterated version of Android along with the quickest updates. Enhanced voice control lets you select a custom prompt, and use your voice to do just about anything. Plus, Moto X learns your preferences and adapts to you, making everyday interactions easier. Creating your standout style is simple through our online customization studio, Moto Maker, available in the United States and select international markets. Learn more about the new Moto X.




The new Moto G: Exceptional phone. Exceptional price.
Moto G now comes with a brilliant 5” HD display plus stereo sound to fully enjoy your videos and photos. With its all-day battery, quad-core speed, the latest Android OS, plus the ability to customize your phone with Motorola Shells, Moto G keeps up with everything you do. And all of this starting at just $179.99. Learn more about the new Moto G.



Moto 360: It’s time.
Moto 360 is a classically-designed, modern timepiece powered by Android Wear™. Comfortable, familiar, and crafted with the finest materials, Moto 360 keeps you up to date without taking you away from the moment. Glance at your wrist to see updates or just speak to get the info you need. Keep track of your steps and know your heart rate thanks to a built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor. Enjoy battery life that lasts all day, then just place Moto 360 on its wireless charging dock at night. Learn more about Moto 360.




Moto Hint: In control. Out of sight. [link to full product web page]
Moto Hint is a discreet wireless earbud designed to look good and feel great. It gives you complete control of your phone and allows you to access everything you need by just using your voice. When paired with your Moto X, you can ask questions like “What’s today’s forecast?” or get turn by turn navigation directions, all without touching or even looking at your phone. Learn more about Moto Hint.




Plus…

Power Pack Micro: Power in a Pinch.
Motorola Power Pack Micro is a portable battery that provides instant access to back-up power when you need it. Attach it to your keys or slip it into your pocket or bag. More than just a portable battery, Power Pack Micro also includes Motorola Keylink™, a phone and key finder which helps locate your phone or keys when they’ve been misplaced. Learn more about Power Pack Micro.




Global Availability and Pricing
The new Moto X will be coming to countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia starting later this month. Moto X will be available for as low as $99.99 with a new two-year customer agreement on select carriers in the US. It will be available off-contract and unlocked in the US from $499.99 on motorola.com.

The new Moto G is available starting today unlocked and off-contract for $179.99 USD on motorola.com, as well as retailers in the US. Moto G also goes on sale today in India, France, UK, Brazil, Spain, and on motorola.de in Germany. By end of year, the new Moto G will be available in more than a dozen countries and through several carrier partners around the world.

Moto 360 will be available in black leather and a limited edition gray leather with suede finish in the US today starting at noon EST for $249.99 USD on motorola.com, Google Play, and through Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com. Additionally, Moto 360 will be available in two metal options later this fall for $299.99 USD. For those who buy a Moto 360 today, there will be an option to purchase a metal band later this fall for $79.99 USD. Leather bands will also be available independently for $29.99 USD at that time.

Moto Hint will be available on motorola.com and select retailers in the US for $149.99 USD later this fall and will expand to other regions in time for the holidays.

Power Pack Micro will be available on motorola.com in the US for $39.99 starting today.


Trade In Your Phone for a New One
Our Trade In program makes it easier than ever to purchase a Moto G or customized Moto X using Moto Maker. Just send in your old device, and we'll mail you a Motorola Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $300 depending upon the phone you send in. Visit our Trade In site to learn more.

IMAGES and BROLL: Images can be found here (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video)

Read more ►

#MotoFriends: Life with Victor and Moto G in Guadalajara, Mexico

Fireworks, design work, and cereal. All in a day’s work for Victor Sahagun, whom you might recognize from our first Moto G stories video. We loved the story Victor had to share, so get to know him and his Moto G a little better as he takes his phone with him all day. “Every time I am with my friends I can capture those awesome fun moments we have.”



Posted by Noelle Chun, Social Media Team

Read more ►

#MotoFriends: Life with Harmanpreet and Moto G in Chandigarh, India

For an IT consultant in India, staying connected is number one. Moto G user Harmanpreet Singh gave us a quick glimpse into his life in Charndigarh, India. “I can watch my favorite Bollywood movies on the go,” he says.

Do you have a story? We love hearing your stories! Share them with us using the hashtag #myMotoStory

Posted by Noelle Chun, Social Media Team

Read more ►

300 Motorolans dedicate a day of service in Chicago with Motoserve

Today, nearly 300 Motorola Mobility employees are venturing out into the community to volunteer at nonprofits throughout Chicago. 

We are partnering with Chicago Cares and five local schools and nonprofit organizations to beautify and improve Chicago by crafting school murals, public gardens, community picnic tables, and more. At Motorola we aim to improve people’s lives, whether it’s through the devices we create or in how we give back to our communities through our Foundation and service.

Site projects include:

• Back of the Yards - Lara Academy: Building planter boxes, picnic tables and benches, allowing 530 students to enjoy the outdoors when school starts next week!
• Brighton Park - Shields Elementary: Giving ten classrooms a fresh look with a new coat of paint and creating a dozen inspirational murals to breathe new life into the school.
• South Shore - Rebecca K. Crown Center: Working with 30 kindergarteners on science projects and get them excited for the start of school.
• North Lawndale - MLK District Garden: Maintaining the community’s gardens by planting fruit trees and shrubs and building benches and tables.
• Englewood - Hinton Elementary: Creating a more inviting atmosphere with murals throughout the school and making updates to the school grounds.

The day’s activities are part of a robust volunteer program offered by Motorola Mobility Foundation to Motorola’s employees. The Foundation’s mission is to improve people’s lives and communities through technology. We execute our mission through the Team4Good, Motorola’s dedicated employee volunteers who drive philanthropic projects that inspire them.

See more pictures from the day's activities at our Facebook page and to stay up on our latest projects around Chicago and beyond.

Posted by Michelle Moceri, Human Resources

Read more ►

The Download: 3 Ways to Use Your Phone Faster

As a product manager for our software, I use all versions of our phones. A lot.

So I sometimes take for granted the simple things that make using my phone even more convenient. You just have to know the tricks.

Today, I’m sharing a few little shortcuts I like to use every day to make using my phone faster and accessing the things I want easier.

Hope you like these #MotoTips. Let us know if you find them useful—and we would love to hear some of your own, too!

Posted by David Schuster, Product Management

Read more ►

#MotoFriends: Miguel’s 5 tips for awesome Moto X shots

Summer moments are for savoring—which is why we love capturing them on our Moto phones!

As does Miguel R, a Moto X user from Kew Gardens, New York, on Google+. He’s beautifully captured and composed some classic summer moments—sunbursts, grassy fields, sunset-drenched lakes, and more, as you can see above. You can almost feel the warm rays on your face when you look at his photos.

So we asked Miguel for some of his favorite tips for taking photos on Moto X. Here are his top five:

1. Clean the camera lens. Sounds simple, but it’s more important than you think!
2. Set the camera to HDR mode. This will make your photo look even more vibrant. The feature works especially well for scenes without motion. 
3. Manually adjust the exposure to create the desired look. You can turn on “Control Focus and Exposure” in Camera settings. Drag the circle to highlight your subject and the focus and lighting will adjust accordingly.
4. Prop up the camera. Use two hands or find something stable to set it on.
5. Never take just one photo. Take a few to make sure you have a good selection to choose from.

Miguel’s biggest tip? “Just experiment with those things and hopefully these tips, as simple and obvious as they may seem, can help others take better photographs,” he says.

Thanks for the tips, Miguel! 

How about you? Try these tips out and let us know what you think! What are your secrets to taking a great shot on your phone?

Posted by Noelle Chun, Motorola Social Media Team

Read more ►