Essential Official Android Thread
"Moto X is the brand that we are most focused on," Motorola's CEO told CNET today. "And there is more to come. You will see additional products within months."
Motorola CEO calls 'Moto X' a brand, hints at more phones, cheaper phones and European plans
Motorola CEO calls 'Moto X' a brand, hints at more phones, cheaper phones and European plans
There’s so much more to touch on, like the amazing camera that seems to be so good it can stop motion for the perfect shot or the fastest Wi-Fi in a smartphone with 802.11ac, but that is going to have to wait for our full review. But in the meantime, in my limited time using and learning about this smartphone, this could be the Android phone consumers have been waiting fo
Culture clashes between Google and Motorola reportedly hindered Moto X development
Andy Rubin, who led Android operations for eight years at Google until this March, supported keeping Android as an open platform and opposed embracing Motorola more closely, people familiar with the matter said.
Some Motorola workers who had developed close relationships with Google employees while working on products before the acquisition found their emails went unreturned after the takeover, the people said.
Those tensions were felt during the development of the Moto X, which Motorola's new bosses from Google singled out to develop as its flagship device. Developers of the phone were able to work closely with other parts of Google, but when they sought help from the Android team they often received no response, people who worked there said.
There were significant concerns that the Chrome Web browser app wouldn't be able to come preinstalled on the Moto X, because developers couldn't get information they needed from Google as to how it would function on the device, said a person familiar with the project. The problems were eventually sorted out, however, and the Chrome app is the preinstalled browser on the Moto X.
Not having a strong relationship may have prevented Motorola from incorporating the latest version of Android, said two people familiar with the matter. Motorola executives say the Moto X will soon receive the software through an over-the-air upgrade. Google's Nexus, a tablet made by Google, will be the first device to ship with the new Android. It was available for pre-ordering July 30.
Rick Osterloh, Motorola's senior vice president of product management, demos some key features of the brand new phone and discuss Motorola's strategy in a competitive smartphone market.
"It's not like we were equally disadvantaged—we were more disadvantaged," one former Motorola employee said.
When Mr. Rubin stepped down as head of Android in March and was replaced by Sundar Pichai, who is also the head of Google's Chrome and Apps business, the move signaled to those inside Motorola that the relationship with the Android team would improve.
Google declined to make Mr. Rubin available for an interview. In an interview this week, Motorola CEO Mr. Woodside rejected the notion of a bad relationship between the companies under Mr. Rubin.
He chalked up Motorola's inability to get the latest version of Android on its new phone to bad timing and said it shows that the company is independent from its parent.
"The relationship is good," Mr. Woodside said. "I don't believe there were issues there."
Mr. Woodside has spent much of the past year overhauling Motorola and tying it closer to Google. About 70 Google employees have moved over to work for Motorola, taking roles in engineering, marketing and general business functions.
Steve Horowitz, Motorola's senior vice president of software engineering, was formerly a Google executive responsible for the creation of its Android operating system software. Lior Ron, a former Google product manager, helped lead the development of the Moto X.
Mr. Woodside and most of the rest of the team are based in Sunnyvale, Calif., about a 10-minute drive from Google's headquarters in Mountain View. The CEO said he doesn't expect to lay off any more employees.
Mr. Woodside, Google's top U.S. salesperson before getting his current job, acknowledged he isn't a hardware expert. To improve his knowledge, he has met with Motorola engineers who have schooled him in matters such as cellphone acoustics.
"It's been a self-education process," he said.
Andy Rubin, who led Android operations for eight years at Google until this March, supported keeping Android as an open platform and opposed embracing Motorola more closely, people familiar with the matter said.
Some Motorola workers who had developed close relationships with Google employees while working on products before the acquisition found their emails went unreturned after the takeover, the people said.
Those tensions were felt during the development of the Moto X, which Motorola's new bosses from Google singled out to develop as its flagship device. Developers of the phone were able to work closely with other parts of Google, but when they sought help from the Android team they often received no response, people who worked there said.
There were significant concerns that the Chrome Web browser app wouldn't be able to come preinstalled on the Moto X, because developers couldn't get information they needed from Google as to how it would function on the device, said a person familiar with the project. The problems were eventually sorted out, however, and the Chrome app is the preinstalled browser on the Moto X.
Not having a strong relationship may have prevented Motorola from incorporating the latest version of Android, said two people familiar with the matter. Motorola executives say the Moto X will soon receive the software through an over-the-air upgrade. Google's Nexus, a tablet made by Google, will be the first device to ship with the new Android. It was available for pre-ordering July 30.
Rick Osterloh, Motorola's senior vice president of product management, demos some key features of the brand new phone and discuss Motorola's strategy in a competitive smartphone market.
"It's not like we were equally disadvantaged—we were more disadvantaged," one former Motorola employee said.
When Mr. Rubin stepped down as head of Android in March and was replaced by Sundar Pichai, who is also the head of Google's Chrome and Apps business, the move signaled to those inside Motorola that the relationship with the Android team would improve.
Google declined to make Mr. Rubin available for an interview. In an interview this week, Motorola CEO Mr. Woodside rejected the notion of a bad relationship between the companies under Mr. Rubin.
He chalked up Motorola's inability to get the latest version of Android on its new phone to bad timing and said it shows that the company is independent from its parent.
"The relationship is good," Mr. Woodside said. "I don't believe there were issues there."
Mr. Woodside has spent much of the past year overhauling Motorola and tying it closer to Google. About 70 Google employees have moved over to work for Motorola, taking roles in engineering, marketing and general business functions.
Steve Horowitz, Motorola's senior vice president of software engineering, was formerly a Google executive responsible for the creation of its Android operating system software. Lior Ron, a former Google product manager, helped lead the development of the Moto X.
Mr. Woodside and most of the rest of the team are based in Sunnyvale, Calif., about a 10-minute drive from Google's headquarters in Mountain View. The CEO said he doesn't expect to lay off any more employees.
Mr. Woodside, Google's top U.S. salesperson before getting his current job, acknowledged he isn't a hardware expert. To improve his knowledge, he has met with Motorola engineers who have schooled him in matters such as cellphone acoustics.
"It's been a self-education process," he said.
Golayitdown
Veteran
$600 
I'll wait for the next Nexus
I'll wait for the next Nexus
Motorola Moto X first camera samples showdown
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Moto...era-samples-showdown_id45966#2-Apple-iPhone-5
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Moto...era-samples-showdown_id45966#2-Apple-iPhone-5
there's a 10 page thread on XDA devoted to the exact issue i'm having.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2381123
its a problem with the Nexus 7 and people should know about it. the multi-touch on at least some of them is messed up and it registers phantom touches in places you didn't touch it at when you do touch it.
ExodusNirvana
Change is inevitable...
Oh no no winb you're just whining and bytching there's nothing wrong with it
