Motorola Says Custom Moto X Orders May Not Arrive in 4 Days
The Motorola Moto X became available at AT&T; stores today, as well as online via the Moto Maker web site. Moto Maker allows AT&T; customers to custom-design their own Moto X. When first announced earlier this month, Motorola said that custom Moto X orders would arrive within four days. Now, however, Motorola has changed its tune a bit. The company took to its blog to state that high demand may delay orders. "We'll be working hard to get your customized Moto X to you as quickly as possible. We expect that because of high demand, initial shipping times may vary. But we will get that down to 4 days or less as soon as we possibly can." Phone Scoop ordered a custom Moto X and waited a full week before it was delivered. Motorola also said that the Skip, its NFC-based tap-to-unlock accessory, will be included free with the initial batch of Moto X orders. Last, Motorola said that it is doing its best to bring back the engraving feature, which it had to drop due to quality issues. The Moto X costs $199 and $249 for the 16GB and 32GB variants, respectively. It will also soon be sold by Sprint and other carriers in the U.S.
Apple Not a Fan of FCC's 700MHz Interoperability Plan
Apple has indicated that it opposes the Federal Communications Commission's mandate for interoperability in the 700MHz spectrum band. The FCC is weighing whether or not it should require all devices that use 700MHz spectrum to support all or most of the bands therein. AT&T; and Verizon Wireless operate their LTE networks in Band Class 17 and Band Class 13, respectively, and Apple's iPhone works in both. The iPhone does not, however, support Band Class 12 in which smaller, regional operators, such as U.S. Cellular, operate. Smaller carriers have banded together and requested the interoperability measures, but the FCC has yet to act upon it. Apple's lawyers recently spoke to FCC representatives about the interoperability proceedings and called them unnecessary, problematic, and cost-inducing. AT&T; also opposes the interoperability proposal. AT&T; and others point to television channel 51 as the reason behind Band Class 17's creation in the first place, citing interference problems. A handful of interested parties met with the FCC to discuss the issue last month, but the FCC has not indicated when it may make a final ruling on the matter.
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Microsoft's Ballmer to Exit Within a Year
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer plans to retire some time in the next 12 months, said the company. Microsoft's board has formed a special committee to begin a search for a successor to Ballmer, who has led the company since January 2000. Once a successor is chosen, Ballmer will step down. "There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time," said Ballmer. "We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction." Microsoft's business has changed radically during Ballmer's tenure, as computing has moved away from traditional desktop and laptops to more mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones.
Pandora to Nix Listening Limit, Updates Android App
Pandora recently announced that it will lift a time limit it imposed earlier this year. In February, it limited free listening via mobile devices to 40 hours per month. At the time, it said this was necessary to control costs. Beginning September 1, the limit will be canned. "In the 6 months since we first implemented the free mobile listening limitation, we have gained critical insights into our user population that has given us greater control of our business," said Pandora. "Because of these insights Pandora has implemented both other surgical levers to control content cost and new features that will allow for greater product usage." In addition to nixing the listening limitation, Pandora today also updated its Android application. The new version of the app includes a sleep timer that can be set to automatically turn off the music after 15, 30, or 60 minutes. The app also adds integration with NissanConnect, Nissan's in-car entertainment system.
Apple Picks Up Mass Transit Mapper Embark
Apple confirmed that it has acquired a small mapping company called Embark. Embark, which is based in Silicon Valley, creates mass transit applications for iOS devices. It covers cities such as New York, Boston, San Francisco, and others. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Apple has picked up two other mapping companies in recent months, Locationary and HopStop. The company is committed to improving Apple Maps, which launched last year.
Review: Motorola Droid Ultra for Verizon Wireless
Motorola's newest Droid for Verizon Wireless is thin, light, and sleek. It's a solid effort from Motorola, but doesn't earn top marks across the board.
Facebook Makes It Easier to Control Privacy via Mobile
Facebook today added new steps to its Facebook Login tool. Facebook Login lets people download apps and create app/user profiles with their Facebook credentials rather than set up an entirely new account/sign-in for that particular app. Facebook is now giving people more granular control over what is shared back to their Facebook page. Mobile apps using Facebook Login must now separately ask for permission to post back to Facebook. This means people can use Facebook Login and prevent those new apps from posting to their Facebook page if they so wish. Facebook said it also improved the load times of Facebook Login by 31%. The changes are being applied to all users automatically and don't require that mobile device owners take any further action.
Samsung Outs the Convoy 3 for Verizon Wireless
Samsung has published details about the Convoy 3 for Verizon Wireless. The Convoy 3 is a rugged flip phone that includes support for push-to-talk services. The phone's main features include dual color displays, dual microphones for noise cancellation, and mil-spec rating for protection from shock, dust, vibration, heat, and moisture. The Convoy 3 also has a 3.2-megapixel camera with video capture, media playback and messaging apps, and a 480MHz processor. The device supports Verizon's 3G network, but not its LTE 4G network, and Bluetooth. It also supports microSD cards up to 32GB. The Samsung Convoy 3 has not yet been announced by Verizon Wireless, nor added to its web site, where the Convoy 2 is still for sale.
Waterproof Reef Washes Up on Virgin Mobile's Shore
Virgin Mobile today announced the Reef, the company's first water-resistant smartphone. The Reef, which is made by ZTE, is certified IPX7, which means it is protected for up to 30 minutes in up to 3 feet of water. The phone has a 4.0 touch display, 1 GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture, and a 1-megapixel user-facing camera. The device runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and includes Virgin Mobile's ID packs. It runs on Virgin's 3G network and includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The Reef costs $149.99 and does not require a contract.
Verizon Adds LG Enact and LG Exalt to Lineup
Verizon Wireless today began selling two phones from LG on its web site. The LG Enact (pictured) is a sideways slider Android smartphone and the LG Exalt is a basic flip phone. Both phones are available online.
- Enact: This QWERTY-equipped smartphone features a 4-inch, 800 x 480 display; 5-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture; dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor; and LTE 4G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth 4.0. It includes a handful of LG applications, including QSlide apps and QuickMemo. The Enact costs $19.99 with a new two-year contract.
- Exalt: The Exalt is a feature phone that has a 3-inch display, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 3.0, basic web access and messaging apps, and support for microSD cards up to 32GB. The Exalt is limited to Verizon's 1X network. It costs $79.99 with a new two-year contract.
Google Now for Android Updated with More Cards
Google made its Google Now product a bit more useful today with the addition of several new cards. Google Now can provide reservation details and directions with the Car Rental card. It can serve as a digital ticket with the Concert Ticket card. Commuting should be easier to plan and check in real-time with the improved Public Transit and Commute Sharing cards. Google Now also adds the ability to set reminders for search items, adds better search options and information when watching television, and now supports NCAA football scores. The updated Google Now should be available via the Google Play Store today.
Google Updates Keep with Better Reminders
Google today updated Keep, its cloud-based note-taking and -storing app. Some of the new features added to Keep include time- and location-based notifications, thanks to integration with Google Now. It can now handle regular clock-based alarms as well as those triggered by the user's whereabouts. The app is also better at syncing notes across various devices. Google Keep is free to download from the Google Play Store.
T-Mobile Offers Uncarrier Plans to Businesses
T-Mobile today announced new service plans for its business customers that borrow some of the "Uncarrier" ideas from its consumer plans. Beginning August 26, T-Mobile's business customers will be able to choose between two new offerings, Simple Choice for Business, and Simple Choice Classic. The first, says T-Mobile, separates the cost of the plan from the cost of the device. It requires that businesses make a down payment for each device and then lets them make monthly installment payments for five or more lines. Service plans start at $20 per line per month, and include unlimited talk and text and up to 500MB of data. Plans range up to $50 per line per month for unlimited 4G data. The second plan, according to T-Mobile, is more traditional in that it bundles together the cost of the device and the plan. Customers choose the number of lines and the amount of data they want for each device. Service plans prices start at $40 per line per month for unlimited talk and text, and up to 500MB of data. T-Mobile says $70 per month buys unlimited everything. Both plans allow businesses to customize how much data is available to each line.
AT&T; Says 50 More Markets to Gain LTE By Year's End
AT&T; today announced a moderate expansion of its LTE 4G network, as well as its build-out plans for the remainder of the year. Beginning today, five new markets have access to LTE. Those markets are Ruston, La.; New Bern, N.C.; State College, Pa.; Georgetown, S.C.; and Jayuya, P.R. AT&T; also expanded the availability of LTE in the existing markets of Atlanta, Ga.; Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Shreveport, La.; Oxford, Miss.; Albany, N.Y.; and San Juan and Guayama, P.R. According to AT&T;, its LTE 4G network is now available in 370 markets across the U.S., though it didn't say how many POPs are currently covered. Further, AT&T; named 50 additional markets where it will provide LTE before the close of 2013. Some of those markets include Fairbanks, Ak.; Hawaii (Big Island); Jackson, Mich; Fargo, N.D.; and Elmira, N.Y. The company is still on track to cover 270 million POPs in more than 400 markets by the end of the year. AT&T; says its LTE 4G build-out will be functionally complete by the summer of 2014, which is about a year behind a similar benchmark reached by Verizon Wireless. AT&T;'s footprint will cover 300 million POPs by the end of 2014.
LG Intros Quad HD Display Panel for Smartphones
LG today claimed to debut an industry first: a 5.5-inch quad high-definition, in-plane switching LCD screen for smartphones. The quad HD resolution display includes 2560 x 1440 pixels, which creates a pixel density of 538 pixels per inch. The panel measures 1.21mm thick and has a 1.2mm bezel. LG claims it is the world's thinnest and slimmest display panel, slimmer even than the one used in the G2. The display also uses a Low Temperature Poly-Silicon (LTPS) substrate to allow for a brightness of 430nit. Quad HD screens are the next logical step after 1080p HD. LG says the high resolution will let smartphones display full-sized web pages with sharp text and no distortion. LG did not say when the new panel might be made available to device makers.
Quality One Wireless Makes 'Stalking Horse' Bid for PCD
Personal Communications Devices today announced that it has agreed to sell the bulk of its assets to Quality One Wireless for an undisclosed sum. In order to facilitate the transaction, PCD has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and Q1W has made an initial bid for the now-bankrupt company's assets. PCD is responsible for facilitating the relationship between handset designers, handset manufacturers, and Tier 1 carriers in the U.S. Q1W does much the same thing, but for smaller companies across a larger geographical footprint. The two companies believe that they'll be able to offer carriers and phone makers a much broader and more complete set of services once the acquisition is complete. Both firms are based in the U.S., and the deal will be subject to regulatory approval.
Improved YouTube Hitting iOS, Too
Google has begun pushing a new version of YouTube to iOS devices. It carries over the same new features recently added to the Android version, including a new user interface and playlist search.
Google Adds WebRTC to Chrome for Android
Google today made an update available to Chrome for several different platforms, including desktops and Android devices. All devices will see improved omnibox performance, which will be better at remembering browsing history. The update for Android, in particular, adds better scrolling and startup performance, and WebRTC support that will enable video conversation directly in the browser without a plugin. The update will be made available to all Chrome users over the next few days.
