Motorola Announces MotoACTV, Touchscreen Fitness Music Player

Motorola has announced of a new square shaped music player with fitness tracking performance functionalities. Looks and sounds familiar? Looks like Motorola wants to bank in on Apple's success with its iPod Nano. Hey, we're not judging here. The more choices out there the better! Motorola's new MotoACTV is first and foremost a fitness-focused device before it's a music player with things like heart monitoring through the optional $179 Motorola SF700 wireless sport headphones and $99 Motorola SF500 wired sport headphones that have built-in heart rate monitors with real-time audible readouts of your heart rate allowing you to track your performance, all without using a chest strap.

With the MotoACTV you can keep track of your ongoing fitness performance stats, including pace, distance, calories burned, and map tracking your outdoor performance with a map detailing the route covered using the built-in GPS. Automatic wireless syncing of all of your workout data is then pushed to your online account. 

The MotoACTV isn't just an iPad Nano clone despite the similarities. It's much richer in features. You'll find a 1.6" multi-touch touchscreen display with Gorilla Glass that's sweat-proof, rain-resistant and scratch-resistant that auto-adjusts for indoor or outdoor lighting. The MotoACTV supports both Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ wireless connectivity for existing and future sensors and accessories, FM radio, option to sync with the latest Android-powered smartphone to receive and control incoming calls and texts on your touchscreen and a rechargeable battery that will last you up to 5 hours for outdoor workouts due to GPS performance tracking, 10 hours indoors, and nearly two weeks on standby.

You'll be available to pre-order the Motorola MotoACTV starting today in 8GB and 16GB models for $249 and $299, respectively. Additional accessories like the wristband aren't going to be included. Expect to get your hands on it on November 6. 

Motorola Mobility Acquired By Google

An unexpected major purchase has been announced today by Google that it has acquired Motorola Mobility, one of the biggest mobile phone maker in the world, for a mind blowing $12.5 billion. Google has plans to "supercharge" the Android ecosystem out of this purchase. Google CEO, Larry Page, had this to say:

The combination of Google and Motorola will not only supercharge Android, but will also enhance competition and offer consumers accelerating innovation, greater choice, and wonderful user experiences. I am confident that these great experiences will create huge value for shareholders. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.

Motorola Xoom WiFi Priced At $539

Droid Life posted pics of what looks like the Motorola Xoom WiFi-only model priced at $539 in a Sam's Club (Costco-like). Looks like Steve Jobs' speech was all for nothing.

Verizon & Motorola come clean (and offer fix) to .1% of Droid X users with defect

I'm impressed: it takes some serious guts to stand up and say: "Hey, we screwed up." Not: "Hey, there's nothing wrong with our phones but take a free bumper."

All jokes aside, you deserve some kudos, Verizon and Motorola.

According to both parties, one tenth of one percent (so .1%) of Droid X users are experiencing screen issues including flickering and banding.

Thankfully, Motorola's indicating that it has already fixed whatever was the culprit and no new units should ship with this issue.

If you're one of the unlucky few experiencing this issue with your Droid X, be sure to get in touch with either Verizon or Motorola-- they're looking to get your issue resolved.  And, be sure to check out the official statement below.

Verizon Wireless and Motorola are aware of a very small number of DROID X units that have experienced a flickering or banding display. Motorola has resolved the issue and is continuing to ship the phones. Any consumer who experiences a flickering or banding display should contact a Motorola customer support center or Verizon Wireless.

Via: TechTrackr

Droid 2 Is Definitely Coming!

Verizon has just had their summer catalog leaked by Boy Genius Report. But the most important thing seen in the leaked catalog is the sequel to the Motorola Droid (one of Verizon’s most popular devices), which is called the Droid 2. A device which Verizon has not offically announced.

So if this leak is true, we know the confirmed specs of the Motorola Droid 2, which are:

• 1GHz Snapdragon Processor
• 8GB memory card preinstalled
• 5 megapixel camera
• 3G Mobile Hotspot functionality
• Probably Android 2.1 with MotoBlur
• Silver Body

There’s no word on release date yet but ‘coming soon’ has to mean something.

Head over to Boy Genius Report to see the full catalog.

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Motorola Charm Announced with MOTOBLUR

 

Today, Motorola and T-Mobile have officially announced the latest phone, the Motorola Charm. It is has a portrait QWERTY which is running Android 2.1 with MOTOBLUR. Other features include a 3Mp camera and 2.8" touch screen with backtrack Navigation, much like seen on the Backflip. But if you are not familiar with the backtrack navigation, watch the video below for more details. 

Press Release:

Motorola Announces its Newest Device with MOTOBLUR™: Motorola CHARM™ 
Exclusively for T-Mobile USA, Motorola CHARM packs smartphone features and social graces into a pocketable design with Android™ 2.1 and MOTOBLURTM enhancements 

July 07, 2010 

Libertyville, Ill. — July 7, 2010 —Motorola (NYSE: MOT) today announced the upcoming availability of Motorola CHARM™, a touch screen smartphone that packs a social networking punch with Android™ 2.1, MOTOBLURTM enhancements, a compact design and a BACKTRACK™ feature that makes screen navigation even more intuitive. 

Motorola CHARM is expected to be available this summer exclusively in the U.S. for customers of T-Mobile USA, Inc. 

“Motorola strives to provide an increased customizable user experience, which is enabled by our latest enhancements to MOTOBLUR and featured on the new Motorola CHARM,” said Jean Pierre Le Cannellier, vice president, Americas Marketing, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Combine that with a compact design, easy handling and all the features you would expect from a smartphone, and we believe that CHARM with MOTOBLUR adds the social ability and workability consumers are looking for.” 

Motorola CHARM provides consumers all the features of a smartphone with the intuitive navigation of a 2.8 inch touch screen – all in a compact, pocketable design that makes messaging a snap using the combination of a full QWERTY keyboard and touch screen. The BACKTRACK navigation pad, located on the back of the smartphone directly behind the home screen, is similar to a laptop touch panel and enables an unobstructed view of the Web, texts, e-mails and news feeds. Plus, with Android 2.1 and enhanced MOTOBLUR features, CHARM offers new customization and filtering options. 

“Being social with friends and family comes naturally for T-Mobile customers, and we think mobilizing their social experiences should be effortless,” said Saj Sahay, director of product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the new Motorola CHARM and enhancements to the Android and MOTOBLUR experience, we’re bringing more social skills to our broad portfolio of Android-powered smartphones.” 

Motorola CHARM will be the first device in the U.S. to feature an enhanced version of MOTOBLUR built on Android 2.1, which syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more in easy to manage streams — from sources such as Facebook®, MySpace, Twitter™, Gmail™, work and personal e-mail. MOTOBLUR now allows for even greater customization, providing users more options to follow who and what really matters. 


MOTOBLUR filters can be selected from a single social networking account, contacts, group or messaging account so that users can select only the information they want to stream live to the Happenings and Messages widgets. Users can move and resize pre-loaded home screen widgets to personalize up to seven home screen panels for an even more custom experience. Lastly, consumers can manage their phone’s battery consumption by selecting different power modes to conserve battery. 


Contacts in MOTOBLUR are automatically synced to the phone from personal and work e-mail and social network accounts. MOTOBLUR will continue to provide convenience and peace of mind, as lost devices can be located from a secure personal information portal and even remotely erased if necessary. In addition, one user name and password brings back contacts, messages and connectivity to previously configured networks and e-mail providers. 

Last, but not least, Moto Phone Portal enables you to access and manage your phone’s data from any browser through a USB or Wi-Fi connection. Edit content and view important phone information while at home or on-the-go. Leave pictures on a friend’s PC, share a video at the local Internet café or share a presentation during an important business meeting. 

Additional features on Motorola CHARM include: 

-Adobe® Flash® enabled Web browsing experience to view most of today’s content-rich sites 
-Full suite of Google™ services including: Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™ and access to thousands of apps on Android Market™ 
-Pinch to zoom functionality and two-finger swipe to easily surf the Web and sort through photos 
-Capture sharp photos with a 3MP camera and KODAK PERFECT TOUCH technology for better, brighter pictures 
-One-touch social media uploads to Facebook®, MySpace, PicasaTM and PhotoBucket® 
-CrystalTalkTM PLUS for enhanced audio and call quality with a second microphone for increased voice quality while filtering out background noise 
-Corporate email pushed immediately to the device for instant inbox updates 

Availability 
Motorola CHARM with MOTOBLUR is expected to be available exclusively to T-Mobile USA customers this summer.

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Source Motorola