Leaks of the rumoured Moto X+1 surface

Since @evleaks announced he was retiring from the tech leaks game, it looks like he wanted to leave us all with a parting gift: leaked press renders of the alleged successor of the Moto X. The Moto X+1 looks like it retains the overall shape of the Moto X but it is a bit bigger than its predecessor. And there are new speaker at the top and bottom of the device. One of the renders has a Verizon logo at the back, which means the telecom company will be one of the carriers of this new rumoured device.

Source: Ubergizmo

Google starts Android 4.4.3 KitKat rollout

Google has finally begun rolling out the latest iteration of its mobile operating system to Nexus devices and a few Google Play versions of some OEMs. It’s no surprise the update arrives first to Google-owned or -managed devices. The update has shown up on Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi version), Play editions of the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One M7 and M8, and Sony Z Ultra. The Moto X for T-Mobile is also getting the update first, the Moto G bought online in the US and in retail stores in Brazil, and the Moto E bought online in the US.

This minor update will have a new interface for the dialer, new colors, as well as additional bug fixes, security patches, and overall stability improvements. It will also reportedly fix the battery drain that happens when the camera is used.

Source: CNet

Motorola to close Texas factory responsible for Moto X customization

Motorola looks like they aren’t catching a break. The tech company has confirmed with The Wall Street Journal that it will shut down its smartphone factory in Fort Worth, Texas, where the brand assembles the customized Moto X devices. They cite poor sales and high cost for the move. While the plant will be closed, Motorola still plans to make the Moto Maker customization feature available for those planning on getting the smartphone.

It was an ambitious risk for Google to build smartphones on American soil and it seems it hasn’t paid off for them. The plant previously had 3,000 employees but that was later whittled down to 700. Now, those 700 employees look like they will have to look for work elsewhere.  

Source: Cult of Android

Overview: New and improved Moto G with 4G-LTE

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The Moto G was already a decent smartphone in that it brought great performance and an almost Pure Android user experience to what was an incredibly affordable and accessible entry-level smartphone. For 2014, Motorola's moved the Moto G up a tier and made it a midrange model. Basic specs are the same, but the Moto G now sports faster 4G-LTE data speeds, the ability for expansion via a microSD card slot and some of the software refinements that were unique to the Moto X.

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