You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
This is where the Moto X magic happens: a 455,000 square-foot factory in Fort Worth, Texas that formerly manufactured devices for Nokia. From start to finish, these human-manned assembly banks are where your Moto X Moto Maker creations are born, assembled, tested for quality and then shipped off. We'll have more to come from our big Texas excursion, but for now feast your eyes on this bit of mobile Americana. %Gallery-slideshow83719%
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Want the Moto X experience combined with T-Mobile's inexpensive plans? Today's your lucky day -- sort of. Motorola is now selling the promised T-Mobile version of its flagship, but only through its website at an unsubsidized $600 price. And like the Model T, you're limited to black; the company lists the white version as "coming soon." If you're not deterred by the limited purchasing options, however, you can pick up a magenta-friendly Moto X at the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, T-Mobile
Source: Motorola
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a peek of GDR 3 for Windows Phone 8, confirmation that US Cellular's Belief Project is no more and the arrival of the Moto X on two more US carriers. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of September 2nd, 2013.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
If all of the possible combos afforded by MotoMaker just aren't enough to properly outfit that Moto X handset, MAKEwithMOTO has a tool that's ready to lend a hand. During the course of some recent make-a-thons, the crew has wrangled software and 3D printing tech to further customize those shiny new phones. MAKEwithX allows those that have splurged for that Android smartphone to design and 3D print unique accessories and cases with the help of generators like Radiolaria -- furthering the user-designed motives behind the entire Moto X line. These add-ons include NFC-enabled topographic dog tags and tessellation bracelets as well as backplates and clear cases that keep that custom color visible. Output colors are said to match up with MotoMaker's accent hues. Code for many of these generators are open source and built on the Cubify platform from 3D Systems. Tagging tweets with #makewithx if you're in the northeast US (mostly between Boston and NYC) will put you in the running for a chance to construct your own creations with the MAKEwithMOTO crew. For a bit more info about the whole project, venture on to the coverage link that follows.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: MAKEwithX Hangout
If you start to see a lot more of the Moto X on Facebook in the coming days, there's a good chance that it's a result of Moto Match. The app is new to the social networking site, which presents users with a smartphone that's color coordinated with their photos -- think of it as Moto Maker for the uninspired. The service is hardly a first of its kind, and is reminiscent of a design tool called Nike PHOTOiD that taps into one's Instagram gallery. Still, to get the full experience, you'll have to try out Moto Match for yourself. Just as a head's up... if you pick an outdoor scene with green in it, don't be surprised if you get an Olive Silver model.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: @Motorola (Twitter)
Source: Motorola (Facebook)
We've already seen Google and Motorola's creation, the Moto X, land on AT&T and Verizon, and now it's time for Sprint to add the handset to its lineup. The Now Network announced today that the Moto X will be available for $199.99 with a two-year contract, though there is a limited time promotion which allows new subscribers to get the device for $100 less by way of instant credit. Sprint's going to only be offering the Moto X in woven black and white to kick things off, but the carrier did say that the Moto Maker feature is expected to be supported "in the coming months."
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Sprint
Source: Sprint
When Motorola announced it's first flagship since becoming part of Google's empire, it was to mixed response. But, if evleaks is right, as is often the case, then a forthcoming $100 price-drop could suddenly change a few minds. Currently, the customizable phone, that listens to your every word, will set you back $199 on your network of choice, so a drop to $100 on contract -- reportedly just in time for Christmas -- could see this rise up the gift lists. Oh, and those wooden covers? Our leaker claims will come with a $50 price tag, for those that want the natural look this winter.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: @evleaks (Twitter)
Motorola promised that it was making a cheaper variant of the Moto X for developing markets, and we may have received our first glimpse of it today. A Sina Weibo user claims to have a photo of interchangeable back panels for the budget smartphone, suggesting that its buyers wouldn't have to use tools like Moto Maker to get lively colors. There's nothing shown of the device itself, but the poster does mention dual SIM support. If the parts are real, though, it could just be a matter of time before leaks reveal the rest of Motorola's lower-cost handset.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Via: G 4 Games
Source: Sina Weibo (login required)