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Moto X - Designed by you. Assembled in the USA.
- Thread starter Explicitic
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Very very impressive video of the Moto X. No joke.
Everyone interested in the MX should watch it.
Still not interested with the always listening feature considering so many Google Now actions still require touch input for completion.
To my eyes this is the only Android phone with a truly coherent, inviting and up-to-date design. Which, in the history of Android phone manufacturers vs Apple, is quite a milestone achievement.
I think Google sees this phone as just a beginning. Perhaps they had to rush it out without enough time to get the truly state of the art components in place, but it doesn't matter. I think they are doing this one to evolve their brand. To begin going where ugly & geeky Android phones have never gone before.
Just look at how they're marketing it: "Feminine mystique". You think this one was meant for us geeks?
The Moto X will do just fine. Even if only to prepare the ground for the next one.
despite the likely crazy price I'm still looking at getting the north american developers edition of this device
-hopefully fully compatible with att/tmobile lte/3g including aws hspa+
-unlocked & unlockable bootloader
-doubt motomaker will come to this edition for awhile so likely ordering white
-has ability to use motorola specific features or flash the play edition rom (I don't want only the play edition rom because IMO moto's features look good)
-switching to ATT Gophone $60 Unlimited talk, text, 2gb lte
The One, S4, upcoming G2/Nexus just aren't doing it for me and I want a bigger screen than the 5s will be offering.
-hopefully fully compatible with att/tmobile lte/3g including aws hspa+
-unlocked & unlockable bootloader
-doubt motomaker will come to this edition for awhile so likely ordering white
-has ability to use motorola specific features or flash the play edition rom (I don't want only the play edition rom because IMO moto's features look good)
-switching to ATT Gophone $60 Unlimited talk, text, 2gb lte
The One, S4, upcoming G2/Nexus just aren't doing it for me and I want a bigger screen than the 5s will be offering.
This Moto X phone isn't really all that impressive, but at the same time I think I understand Google/Motorola's thinking. Honestly, when is there a diminishing return on specs? Some of these phone are so high powered that it is overkill, what do you some of you do that require a smartphone to have 2 Ghz processor and 2 GBs of RAM etc? Is it that the OS that is being used a resource hog and requires it to function smoothly or what? just curious.
I agree about over powerful specs. I realistically would keep the nexus 4 for a few more years if it had LTE. Speedwise it is perfect.
The patterned kevlar back of the MX reminds me of the Galaxy Nexus' back (but nicer, probably). Remember this fella?
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Good comparison video.
The MX is still very desirable.
It's a damn shame they're not releasing this unlocked and undercutting the competition with all configurations available for everyone. A real REAL shame. : shakes head :
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Good comparison video.
The MX is still very desirable.
It's a damn shame they're not releasing this unlocked and undercutting the competition with all configurations available for everyone. A real REAL shame. : shakes head :
onthecouchagain said:
That's the most annoying thing, Google and Mtorola could have nailed it by 1) lowering price and 2) worldwide availability.
What I do wonder however how much of the fact that it is assembled / constructed / customised in America (with US staff and wages / tax / distribution etc..) is responsible for the fact they are not able to release the MX at the same price as other mid range hardware, and are pricing it at same level as more advanced hardware built in the East.
Which Google Now actions do you use or want to use that won't require you to touch to confirm?
I'm genuinely curious.
Most of the things I use Google Now for do have the timed-bar that launches the action for me if I just let it fill up. The only time it doesn't is when I an dictating a text, but I completely understand that as I want to make sure I'm sending the right message. If the message is long, the timed-bar may not be enough time to read and correct if I need to.
But everything else, making calls, setting alarms, the timed-bar is there.
Besides, doesn't Siri require you to tap and hold the home button to launch? Isn't this also not completely hands free? The question is, do you want the none-hands-free moment to be at the beginning or at the end? And with Google Now, only certain commands will require touch input to confirm.
For many things (like asking for the weather, making calls, etc) it can be 100% hands-free all the way.
Just to remind you, I do agree that the timed-bar should be available for even more things. And on a broader scale, I do wish Google's features were consistent system-wide (the double-tap to hold to zoom in/out on Google Maps, for example), but I think you're being pretty harsh on G.Now. If anyone is serious about making gains toward a completely hands-free experience, aren't features precisely like "OK Google Now" the right step?
Or not. I don't know. Just wondering.
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CNET's review. "Early" review, I'd say:
http://reviews.cnet.com/motorola-moto-x/
I love how in these MX early reviews and impressions that are starting to trickle out, everyone is knocking Motorola for putting only 16GB storage and still pricing it at $199.
I knock them for that, too, myself.
But where is that criticism toward iPhones in the past? They're priced exactly $199 for 16GB storage? And where will it be for future iPhone reviews? Can't wait to see.
The MX is offering experience over specs at $199. Something I don't necessarily agree with. But at least I criticize both them and Apple about it (as we all know, the iPhone isn't exactly cutting edge spec-wise either each year). Let's see them call Apple out when this year's iPhone rolls around.
I knock them for that, too, myself.
But where is that criticism toward iPhones in the past? They're priced exactly $199 for 16GB storage? And where will it be for future iPhone reviews? Can't wait to see.
The MX is offering experience over specs at $199. Something I don't necessarily agree with. But at least I criticize both them and Apple about it (as we all know, the iPhone isn't exactly cutting edge spec-wise either each year). Let's see them call Apple out when this year's iPhone rolls around.
We've discussed this before.
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17580495/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17580745/
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/17580774/
The first one talks about how Google Now requires touch input for many actions.
Second one talks about how, although Siri requires holding a button to initiate, the fact that you never have to touch the screen makes it much easier to use when you can't look at the screen. Requiring touch input, note those key words, requires you to take your eyes off of everything else and look at the screen so you can see what you are touching. Using a physical button to initiate listening is far superior, although not superior to always listening. But the fact that Siri actually allows you to never look at your screen once to do many actions makes it better in many ways compared to Google Now.
But we should remember Google Now and Siri aim to accomplish different goals. Google wants Google Now to give you information quickly without. Good idea in theory, but they didn't pay much attention to consistency or how people would use it when they can't look at their phone's touch screen. And let's be honest, the most practical use of voice actions are when people, you know, have to use their voice. And if people have to use their voice, that means they can't look at their screens. Meaning many Google Now tasks will never be completed. Apple, however, aims for Siri to be more of a personal assistant. You can be driving, sitting on your desk working, or walking with a headset in and your phone in your pocket and have it create calendar events, send messages, create reminders, and much more.
I know you also mentioned that you think it is good that Google Now makes you look at your message and requires touch input. But I disagree. This requires that you stop what you are doing and pay attention to your phone. If after having it listen to you and dictate what you are doing, and then you have to read it to possibly fix any changes using the touch screen, why not just use the touch screen in the first place and eliminate the first two steps?
Your argument of it needing touch input to make sure you used the right words is an interesting one, considering Siri doesn't have this problem and easily avoids it by just reading the text to you out loud or over a headset.
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There is nothing wrong with being critical of something you use. And Google Now is something I use every now and then on my Nexus devices. And to be honest, since I got my Nexus 7 I have only touched my iPad once, and it wasn't to use Siri. So I use Google Now more than Siri. If anything this should make me heavily Google Now biased like so many blind fandroids out there. But when someone who uses Google Now more than Siri is able to point out flaws in Google Now and advantages of Siri, it seems like it should be taken a little more seriously than other people on these forums who only use Android devices and praise Google Now. An Android user praising Google Now just seems expected based on their bias.
Sure, having an always listening feature is a step in the right direction. But isn't requiring touch input a step back, essentially canceling out the first step forward?
Siri isn't necessarily hands free. But it does a good job of being eyes free. Google Now is too inconsistent to be either one.
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I suppose major point is Assembled in USA, does it explain steep price?
With this Moto X not being available in EU, it jeopardizes its success even if not launched yet...
Sounds like a US Phone for US People, failure garanteed in todays ww economy...
Yep I posted similar earlier.
I imagine if they dropped a lot of the customisation, which is all superfluous when they limit it to one carrier for an unspecified time period initially anyway.
Had they just a White & Black model, manufacturer and assembled them in China. Then likely we would have a mid range specced phone priced comparatively with other mid range hardware, wider availability globally ...
Is 'assembled in the USA' so important to USA consumers ? Samsung, Apple and others don't seem to think so.
If the end result of higher wages, taxes, distribution and logistics = an overpriced piece of hardware, with limited availability (one territory primarily) then was it worth it ?
I mean at the end of the day its Google, its not as if they are big on paying USA corporate taxes anyway
(conspiracy theory time) is the MotoX more about Google playing to the home side after recent tax avoidance outrages for USA businesses ?Did Motorola make a huge mistake?
Mid-average phone, old specs, colors, good battery life, below average screen, high price. Will consumers flock to this phone ? I really don't think so. How could Motorola make a mistake like this?....Oh, wait. Can you say "Xoom"?
Mid-average phone, old specs, colors, good battery life, below average screen, high price. Will consumers flock to this phone ? I really don't think so. How could Motorola make a mistake like this?....Oh, wait. Can you say "Xoom"?
by limiting the market for it - they are also limiting the amount of customer who 'can' flock to it - so yeah it's got an uphill struggle before it even hits the market.
By the time it does - the S4 & HTC One will likely be discounted on contracts so they are cheaper - and new phones like the 5C, 5S, Nexus 5 and such will all be right on it's heels.
Yep I posted similar earlier.
I imagine if they dropped a lot of the customisation, which is all superfluous when they limit it to one carrier for an unspecified time period initially anyway.
Had they just a White & Black model, manufacturer and assembled them in China. Then likely we would have a mid range specced phone priced comparatively with other mid range hardware, wider availability globally ...
Is 'assembled in the USA' so important to USA consumers ? Samsung, Apple and others don't seem to think so.
If the end result of higher wages, taxes, distribution and logistics = an overpriced piece of hardware, with limited availability (one territory primarily) then was it worth it ?
I mean at the end of the day its Google, its not as if they are big on paying USA corporate taxes anyway
that is smart wording on their part. I am almost certain these things are still made in china, and the custom backs are just slapped on in the US (assembled)
A quite interesting read here: We all need to stop wrongly claiming that the Moto X is a "mid-range" device
TL;DR the X8 processor has the same GPU as a Snapdragon 600 (used in S4 and One), and two companion cores which offload the workload of the main CPU and enhance multitasking as they are always ready to kick into action regardless of what the main CPU is doing. Thus - the CPU design of the X is faster than it's given credit for.
He also argues that most won't be much bothered by having a 720p display as opposed to a 1080p display, and shows that the X beats or is at least on par with both the S4 and One for GPU benchmarks, including battery life tests.
I think he makes some very good points in all. Personally I'm not exactly suffering with the 720p display on my Note 2, and if I wasn't so passionate about the 5,5" display size I would be very interested whenever the X shows up in Europe - as this is the first Android phone of which the design really has me excited all the way.
TL;DR the X8 processor has the same GPU as a Snapdragon 600 (used in S4 and One), and two companion cores which offload the workload of the main CPU and enhance multitasking as they are always ready to kick into action regardless of what the main CPU is doing. Thus - the CPU design of the X is faster than it's given credit for.
He also argues that most won't be much bothered by having a 720p display as opposed to a 1080p display, and shows that the X beats or is at least on par with both the S4 and One for GPU benchmarks, including battery life tests.
I think he makes some very good points in all. Personally I'm not exactly suffering with the 720p display on my Note 2, and if I wasn't so passionate about the 5,5" display size I would be very interested whenever the X shows up in Europe - as this is the first Android phone of which the design really has me excited all the way.
Don't disagree with much. I'm all for criticizing and improving everything.
I find MX's listening feature pretty impressive. There will now be many things that will be hands-free 100% through from beginning to end. There will be things that aren't and will require your touch input and to take your eyes off -- these will hopefully be addressed as GNow improves. I think this is certainly a step in the right direction towards hands-free. Hopefully there are plans toward eyes-free, too.
EDIT: Just read this:
Touchless Control
This debuted last week with the new Motorola Droid line for Verizon. Remember those low-power cores we mentioned a moment ago (one for natural language and one for contextual computing)? This is where they come into play. If you choose to enable it, Moto X will always be waiting for you to say "Okay Google Now." It will then sping to life to obey your voice command. That may include navigation, looking something up, making a call, sending a text or email, creating a reminder for yourself, setting an alarm, or any number of things. The coolest part is that you train it with your voice. The other guys at Giz HQ tried to wake it up by saying Okay Google Now, but no dice. It obeys only me.
For the most part it seems to work pretty well, though it did have trouble with longer commands, like adding a calendar entry with a time, date, and location. It would definitely be very handy while driving. You can even configure it to read texts to you, and to verbally confirm the things you tell it to write, so you really don't have to look at it (or touch it) at all.
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I think the GE Moto X will be the one for most of us to look out for. I'm still interested in the device, even if I don't agree with some of Moto/Google's decisions.
I'm not holding my breath for anything, but there's still a small glimmer of hope that the unlocked price will be sweet. And that there will be a 32GB version. It'd be DOA for me if the GE only offered 16GB on a non-expandable device. They'd be foolish to do that.
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MX gets more and more impressive each time I watch a video of it.
http://gizmodo.com/moto-x-hands-on-forget-specs-this-thing-is-awesome-991536492
http://gizmodo.com/moto-x-hands-on-forget-specs-this-thing-is-awesome-991536492
I love how in these MX early reviews and impressions that are starting to trickle out, everyone is knocking Motorola for putting only 16GB storage and still pricing it at $199.
I knock them for that, too, myself.
But where is that criticism toward iPhones in the past? They're priced exactly $199 for 16GB storage? And where will it be for future iPhone reviews? Can't wait to see.
The MX is offering experience over specs at $199. Something I don't necessarily agree with. But at least I criticize both them and Apple about it (as we all know, the iPhone isn't exactly cutting edge spec-wise either each year). Let's see them call Apple out when this year's iPhone rolls around.
Uhh - I've seen plenty of criticism. Plenty of people complaining about the lack of storage bumps each year. Is it enough to make people switch? No, but that doesn't mean the criticism doesn't exist - and it certainly doesn't fit into your "no one ever criticizes apple" narrative.
With the HTC One, oddly enough, leading that charge - I'm hoping this will be the year (with the cheap iPhone to help) Apple finally moves the storage up. I don't know about the 128 gb.....but at the very least, give us a 32 GB and 64 GB and let the cheap iPhone be 16 GB.
Just to take one example from the same website that I linked the early review of the MX to, CNET makes no mention of the 16GB iPhone 5 being a disadvantage or being an inappropriate spec for the $199 price (at time of release): http://www.cnet.com/iphone-5/
I'm not going to scour the entire web for iPhone 5 reviews, so I won't say such mention doesn't exist (I merely posed the question in my OP you quoted), but it just isn't a serious talking point that's often seen or heard (other than by us tech geeks on forums, of course -- definitely heard calls for higher default storage amongst us).
Agree with HTC's push of 32GB as standard. One of the few things they've done right with the One.
PS. I never said no one ever criticizes Apple. In fact, in many posts, I point to reviews (particularly Josh Topalsky's review) of the iPhone 5 finally showing some signs of honesty regarding iOS' shortcomings. Just that the 16GB storage for $199 isn't really a well voiced concern.