The Moto X has been one of the most rumored devices over the last 6 months. Since Google acquired Motorola back in May of last year, many have wondered when we would see the first smartphone from the new partnership. And then we waited. It seemed as if we would never see that day, but now the Moto X is coming...soon.
Love at First Sight
The rumor mill surrounding this phone started back in March. Vietnemese blog site, Tinhte, leaked a hands on video and photos of the device. Honestly, these images still give us the biggest peek into what this phone may have in store to date. The site also gave us some insight into the internals of the Moto X. Supposedly, it will feature a 720p display, Qualcomm SnapDragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 2,000mAh internal battery. Screen size is up for debate, but looks to be between 4.3 and 4.5 inches.
Made in the US and Knows Your Moves
Next, we had some tech talk from Motorola's top brass at tech conference, AllThingsD, in May. CEO, Dennis Woodside, stated that the Moto X is real, and it will be assembled in the United States. A large manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas will assemble the new smartphone, and touts the way the Moto X will have multiple sensors to help determine how to get through your day. I'm sure that means the standard array of gyroscopes, GPS, Bluetooth, etc., but Woodside hinted that the Moto X may have a dedicated chip to regulate battery usage.
A Google Company
Up until the Moto X sightings, Google had taken somewhat of a hands-off approach to the takeover of Motorola. However, with the launch of the X drawing close, Google has imprinted the OEM, right down to their new logo, and ad campaigns. It has also been made quite clear that the Moto X will be made available on all the major US carriers, and will not carry the Droid branding on Verizon. Eric Schmidt was recently photographed carrying a white unit at the annual Sun Valley Conference. Google is making no qualms that the X is a device that is very much born with the help of their brain-trust. They are also lending their pocket book with a $500M budget for marketing of the X.
Nokia has made a small impression with colorful phones on the Lumia line for awhile. I guess Google was taking notes. The Moto X will be offered in several custom-colored back covers, and will even have the option of personal engraving on the phone. Users will have the ability to design their phone to their liking and then have the Moto X dropped shipped directly to their homes. This PC-like approach could have quite of an effect, if successful, on the smartphone market.
Always Listening to Your Voice
Android has always had a very good voice control feature baked into the OS. With recent additions, like Google Now, Android's voice features have become some of the best in the business. It looks like the Moto X is going to step the game up a bit with always on voice commands. In the leaked video below, Canadian carrier, Rogers, takes you through waking the X simply by giving the command "OK Google Now," and then takes appropriate action similar to what we have seen with Google Glass.
What Does it Mean
The Moto X is a big move for Google, and the overall Android landscape. Samsung has all but taken control of the market share for Google's mobile OS. The company can't exactly be thrilled that one OEM has amassed such a stronghold over the Android mindshare. The acquisition of Motorola has given Google the opportunity to legitimately have an Android hardware division. The Moto X is going to have the "Google Vision" of what Android should be written all over it.
I also can't help but wonder what the success of the Moto X will hold for the Nexus program. If it sells a considerable amounts of units, Google could scrap the idea of having to partner with other OEMs to produce the true Google Experience they want. They could simply fire up the new assembly line in Fort Worth and pump out anything to their liking. However, in the same breath, Google has to be careful in not scaring away their struggling Android partners, such as HTC and LG.
The Moto X is a highly anticipated smartphone this year, and a bold venture for Google, Android, and Motorola. Google has hopes to inject new life into the Motorola brand, and stock Android. I can't wait to see it in person and watch this whole scenario play out.
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