APPLE has a simple plan to turn your iPhone or iPad into a new type of MacBook that is possibly Apple’s smartest, and dumbest, computer ever.
A day after news of Samsung’s smartphone dock broke, the US Patent office has approved an Apple patent to use the smarts in the iPhone or iPad in a “dumb” MacBook dock.
Unlike the Samsung dock, which adds ports to a Samsung smartphone but no extra keyboard, the Apple idea for the iPhone and iPad is a more complete computing solution.
While some patents, by the time they are approved, show ideas that are several years old, this latest patent by Apple was only lodged about the time Apple released the iPhone 7 last year.
Apple has been granted a patent for the “Electronic Accessory Device” that would drop an iPhone into the keyboard of a MacBook-style dock, so that the iPhone screen becomes the trackpad, or in another version the iPad becomes the MacBook-style dock’s screen — unlike a real MacBook, would still be a touchscreen.
The patent, discovered by Apple Insider, isn’t just as simple as a keyboard with a hole for the iPad or iPhone.
Certainly, with the patent description of the MacBook shell as not having a processor, you’re relying on the computer power of the iOS to drive the thing. So, in that way, the device would not be dissimilar to current iPad docks like the Clamcase that adds an aluminium shell and keyboard.
But with the Apple patent, the dock would offer more.
“The accessory device, however, can provide auxiliary processing resources, such a graphical processing unit, or GPU, or other processing resources that can support the functions of the portable computing device,” the patent says.
So, the dock could boost the graphics capability, or add some needed battery power, and perhaps even include a USB-C port which, even by itself, would be something of a game changer for the iPhone.
Apple is not the first smartphone company that has played with the idea of using the smartphone as the brains of a computer-style dock.
And, just because it has a patent, it does not mean that it will become a product.
Still, if you like the idea of travelling with a really light laptop, Apple could be working on something that is just the thing.(nws)
After launching the Moto Z smartphone with Moto Mods last year, it looks like Motorola is ready with its next iteration of the premium smartphone. The company reportedly gave a sneak peek of the Moto Z (2017) at the recent MWC 2017 when it was showcasing new Mods and more recently was hinted at during Sprint's Gigabit Class LTE service display on Thursday.
One of the most notable changes seen from the images that have circulated online is the new oval shaped fingerprint sensor. Meanwhile, the form factor largely remains the same, which is expected since it has to support current and future Moto Mods. This means that you can expect the next flagship to sport a 5.5-inch display similar to last year's model. An image from the MWC event, complete with a Gamepad mod, was spotted by Android Central, while another image from the Sprint launch was tweeted by WirelessWorld editor Diana Goovaerts,With the device expected to fall in the premium category, the upcoming Moto flagship will look to boast of top-of-line specifications that include Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 SoC. The device will also look to maintain the slim metal slab design of the original.
The device that was used to showcase Sprint's Gigabit LTE service was pictured running Snapdragon 835. The alleged Moto Z (2017) smartphone was encased and covered from the edges making it difficult to confirm whether it was in fact the Moto Z (2017).
Sprint, however, did let out the the device used in the testing was of a forthcoming flagship in a release. "Motorola showcased the blazing-fast, high-bandwidth capability of a forthcoming flagship smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform with an integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem, supporting Gigabit Class LTE."The carrier also stated that it used a combination of "three-channel carrier aggregation and 60 MHz of Sprint's 2.5 GHz spectrum in combination with 4X4 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) and 256-QAM higher order modulation to achieve incredible Category 16 LTE download data speeds on a TDD network."
To recall, last year's Moto Z featured a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, and was powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM. The device was touted as the thinnest premium smartphone in the world at 5.2mm. The flagship came with 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and laser autofocus, and 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens and a front flash.(gg)
The wait is over! Starting today, Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droid Editions with Moto ModsTM are available in the U.S. on Verizon Wireless at Verizon, Best Buy, Costco and Motorola.com. Now, you can turn your phone into a movie projector or speaker, and snap on an extra battery pack when your juice gets low. You can even mix up colors and textures to switch up your style.
This is only the beginning. We are working on even more Moto Mods that we can’t wait to share with everyone soon. But we realize we can’t build this ecosystem alone. There are infinite Moto Mod possibilities out there, and we’ve only scratched the surface.
We are providing all the tools you’ll need to bring your Moto Mod idea to life.*
Through the Moto Mods Developer Program, you have the unprecedented opportunity to help build a complete ecosystem that redefines the future of mobile. The Moto Mods Development Kit (MDK) is available to purchase starting today through our exclusive global distribution and manufacturing partner, element14. The MDK includes the same tools we’re using at Motorola to develop Moto Mods.
We’d like to help jumpstart your development process by investing in your future Moto Mod. Lenovo Capital has set aside up to $1M to help bring the best Moto Mod ideas to market. To be eligible for investment funding, you must have a working prototype. All submissions will be evaluated by our Moto Mod Developer Executive Team, and the development teams with the best prototype will be eligible to pitch for investment funding from Lenovo Capital. Investments will be made on terms proposed by Lenovo Capital, and are subject to due diligence and the eligible development team meeting Lenovo Capital's investment criteria. Stay tuned for more details, including how to submit your prototype for consideration.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
*Developing with the MDK requires a Moto Z smartphone.
Smartphones should focus on meaningful technology that prioritizes the things people really care about, like capturing great pictures, having all-day battery life or being able to switch carriers when and if needed.
But according to a new survey we conducted among U.S. smartphone users, there are common misperceptions about another meaningful feature of a smartphone -- being unlocked. The majority of people we surveyed are confused about what a universally unlocked phone offers or even what, exactly, an unlocked phone is, so we created a handy infographic to explain it.
The fourth-generation Moto G is universally unlocked in the U.S., so it works on both GSM and CDMA networks and is not tied to a carrier or plan, giving you the most choice possible. No matter where life takes you - whether you want to switch carriers or travel internationally - simply insert the SIM card of your choice and activate your plan. Moto G⁴ lets you keep your options open and focus on what matters.
In the U.S., the new Moto G⁴ will be available starting at $199.99 and Moto G⁴ Plus will be available starting at $249.99 beginning July 12 at Amazon.com, Best Buy, BrandsMart, B&H, Car Toys, Fry’s, MicroCenter, Motorola.com, Sam’s Club and Walmart.com. Pre-orders begin today on motorola.com on June 28, 2016. Moto G⁴ and Moto G⁴ Plus will be available at Republic Wireless beginning July 28.
We’re taking a stand against incremental innovation in the premium smartphone category.
From the mid 1990’s to the mid 2000’s there was meaningful and frequent innovation in wireless. We saw the creation of the first flip phone, the Moto RAZR, the first QWERTY smartphone, the first app ecosystem, and of course, the first touchscreen phone.
But, since then, innovation has stagnated and is often incremental at best. Small changes in display size or megapixels make headlines, yet marginally impact overall experience to the point that new smartphones have become predictable.
The result? Limited choice, similar products and bored consumers. And that’s not fair.
We envision a world where people are not limited by what their smartphone manufacturer provides at one point in time. Instead, we believe people should be empowered to choose the capabilities of their smartphone.
Meet the new Moto Z Family with Moto Mods — transforming your smartphone in a snap!
Made from military aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel, the stunning new Moto Z is durable-yet-razor thin - just 5.2mm - and ultra-light with a 5.5” Quad HD AMOLED display. It’s also incredibly powerful packing a Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB of storage inside. You can get more space for pictures, videos and apps by adding a microSD card up to 2 TB1.
We know the perfect moment doesn’t always mean perfect conditions. That’s why Moto Z has a high-resolution 13MP camera with optical image stabilization and laser autofocus, which help you take beautiful, true-to-life pictures in any light. The front-facing 5MP camera includes a wide-angle lens, which is great for fitting friends in the picture. And, with an extra flash on the front, everybody in the groupie looks their best—even in low light.
A water-repellant coating means rain, splashes or spills won’t get in your way. Tired of fumbling your phone to switch on and sign in? With our fingerprint reader, a touch is all you need to instantly wake up your phone. And with up to 30 hours of battery2 you can go all day and well into the night without needing to stop and recharge. You’ll get up to 8 hours of power in just 15 minutes with TurboPower™ when you finally need a boost3.
Shatter all expectations — again — with the sleek, all-metal design of Moto Z Force featuring the second generation of Moto ShatterShield™ technology, guaranteeing the display won’t crack or shatter in case of a drop.
Packed with the same great features as Moto Z, it ups the game with up to 40 hours of battery life2 and our fastest TurboPower™ charging ever. Get up to 15 hours of battery life in just a 15-minute charge3. Capture crystal-clear photos in any light or setting with an industry-leading 21MP camera, featuring optical image-stabilization, phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and laser autofocus.
It’s unrivaled strength, speed, performance and protection all in one.
Welcome to the next era of mobile technology. With our all new Moto Mods, you now have the ability to transform your Moto Z into exactly what you need it to be. Like an instant party maker with the JBL® SoundBoost -- it’s really, really loud. Or, grab some popcorn and turn your phone into a 70-inch movie projector with the Moto Insta-Share Projector. Need an extra boost? The Power Pack instantly adds up to 22 hours of life to your phone3 -- and it comes in fashionable designs from partners like kate spade new york, TUMI and Incipio.
You can also match your phone to your own personal style as often as you want with Style Shells. Choose from premium materials like real wood and leather, or pick out a patterned fabric. You can swap them whenever you like.
We’ve made the connection process super-simple too. High-powered magnets connect Moto Mods to your phone so you can easily snap them together as your needs change. And since function never goes out of style, rest assured that the Moto Mods developed today are designed to work with future generations of Moto Z phones4.
Bring your ideas to life
Have a great idea for a Moto Mod? Not only are we working on more Moto Mods to add to the ecosystem, we’re also providing open architecture and the tools you need to bring your own idea to life. Through the new Moto Mods Developer Program, small developers to established enterprises will have the unprecedented opportunity to help build a complete ecosystem that maximizes innovation and redefines the future of mobile.
Need a little help with your Moto Mods idea? We’ve got you covered: The Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group (LCIG) will be setting aside seed equity funding to spur innovation on the Moto Mods platform. In addition, the LCIG has set aside $1,000,000 in equity funding for the individual or company that creates the best Moto Mods prototype by March 31, 2017.
For more info about the Moto Mods Development Kit and the certification process, visit developer.motorola.com.
How to get the Moto Z Family and Moto Mods
U.S.
Moto Z DROID™ Edition and Moto Z Force DROID™ Edition5 will be available in the U.S. this summer through our exclusive launch partner Verizon at Verizon stores, retailers such as Best Buy and on moto.com. Moto Mods announced today will be available at the same time.
Moto Z also will be available unlocked on moto.com and at various retailers this fall.
Global
Moto Z will be available worldwide beginning in September along with Moto Mods. Check your local websites for the latest information.
Images can be found here (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video).
1MicroSD card sold separately. Content with DRM restrictions may not be able to be moved to the card. 200GB is the maximum capacity currently available.
2Moto Z: 30 hours in U.S., Canada and Europe; 24 hours rest of world. All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average user profile that includes both usage and standby. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, voice, data, and other application usage patterns.
3Moto Z: 8 hours of power in 15 minutes in U.S., Canada and Europe; 7 hours of power rest of world. Power Pack: 22 hours in US and EMEA; 20 hours in ROW. Battery must be substantially depleted; charging rate slows as charging progresses. All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average mixed use profile that includes both usage and standby time on a 4G LTE network. Out-of-box settings are applied to the mixed use profile to project battery performance. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns. 4Co-branded Moto Mods may require software upgrades to maintain compatibility, contact the manufacturer for details. 5DROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm, Ltd. and its related companies. Used under license.
When it comes to smartphones, sometimes we feel let down. The things that matter most — like taking great photos at our kids’ soccer games, video chatting with mom or having all-day battery life — simply don’t live up to our expectations.
It shouldn’t be this way. Smartphones should focus on technology that prioritizes the things people really care about.
That’s how we designed the next generation of our best-selling smartphone, Moto G. And because we know people are unique and use their phones differently, we added two new members to the family: Moto G Plus and Moto G Play. Each of them has meaningful technology, so you never have to miss what matters most to you.
Want to learn more about the new Moto G family? Take a behind-the-scenes look at The Moto G Exhibit from our event in São Paulo, Brazil.
The thinner fourth-generation Moto G has a vivid 5.5” full HD display and a 13MP camera for crystal-clear, share-worthy pics. Its 3000 mAh battery and blazing-fast octacore processor will get you through afternoon video calls with family and into the evening out with friends.1 And when you finally need a battery boost, TurboPowerTM gives you six hours of power in just 15 minutes.2
You can also design your Moto G to match your style on Moto Maker or by switching up colors with interchangeable shells. All for an exceptional price.
Moto G Plus has all the features of Moto G, along with some new features designed for those who need even more from their phone. The first is an impressive camera. There’s nothing worse than missing a moment. Now you won’t. The 16MP camera on Moto G Plus has two additional rapid focus technologies, laser focus and phase detect autofocus so you always nab sharp, clear pictures, day and night. DxOMark, the trusted industry standard for camera and lens image quality ratings, has rated the Moto G Plus photo quality among the top smartphone cameras, ahead of iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and other phones that are more than twice its price.3
Tired of fumbling with your phone to switch it on and sign in? With a fingerprint reader typically found in more expensive devices, a touch is all you need to instantly wake up your phone. You can even use it to authorize purchases on the Google Play StoreTM.
Moto G Play gives you more of what you love, like fast, reliable performance of a quadcore processor. It's designed to last a full day, thanks to its 2800 mAh battery. And it boosts performance by running a pure, clutter-free version of AndroidTM. The best part? You only have to spend a little for a phone you’ll love a lot.
Global Availability
Moto G and Moto G Plus
Moto G and Moto G Plus will be available starting today in Brazil and Moto G Plus will be available starting today in India. Both versions will arrive soon in various countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Check your local websites for details and pricing.
Moto G Play
Moto G Play will be available globally starting later this summer. Stay tuned for specific availability and pricing information.
Images can be found here (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video).
1All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average user profile that includes both usage and standby. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, voice, data, and other application usage patterns.
2Battery must be substantially depleted; charging rate slows as charging progresses. All battery life claims are approximate and based on an average mixed use profile that includes both usage and standby time on a 4G LTE network. Out-of-box settings are applied to the mixed use profile to project battery performance. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network configuration, age of battery, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns.
3The comparison focuses on the "Photo" ratings only, not overall or video ratings. DxOMark Mobile is the trusted industry standard for independent image quality measurements and ratings of mobile device camera. Test results are available on www.dxomark.com and in the press. Information other than DxOMark Mobile scores is provided independently by MOTOROLA.
Here at Moto, we’re always up for collaborations with artists and designers who share our views on the power of self-expression and next level innovation. Which is why we partnered with graffiti legend and graphic designer Futura — someone who definitely shares our belief that, when it comes to expressing individual style, keep it bold, unique and true to yourself.
We recently launched Futura’s series of 30 Moto X Pure Edition smartphones at one-time-only drop event in New York City, where we teamed up with Stefan’s Head — a text message-based e-commerce brand that deals in limited edition tech, apparel and culture — to help get the word out about where and when people could get their own unique piece of mobile-meets-street art.
A small quantity of these Moto X Pure Edition phones painted by Futura may still be available — text Stefan @ 646-759-0904.
On March 22nd, more than 80 Motorolans gave back to the Sunnyvale, CA community through Motoserve -- a designated day of volunteer service. Hosted for the past two years at Motorola’s global headquarters in Chicago, we were excited to expand this event for the first time to our Sunnyvale office and have participation from our Lenovo colleagues in the area.
The Motorola Mobility Foundation -- Motorola’s charitable and philanthropic arm -- partnered with three local organizations to engage our volunteers in a day of service. Some of the projects included:
Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT): Sorting donations and assembling hands-on Activity Kits that local educators use to transform the learning experience for children.
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley: Building, decorating, and assembling two children’s playhouses from scratch, which Habitat then donates to a local family or charity. The program supports the construction of affordable housing in the community.
Baylands Park, City of Sunnyvale: Beautifying a local park through general cleanup, painting facilities, planting new trees and shrubs, and laying mulch.
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley brought the playhouse build to Motorola’s Sunnyvale office
Volunteers helped prune roses at Baylands Park
Volunteers at Baylands Park work together to clean up fallen bark and branches
Lenovo and Motorola volunteers pack STEM Activity Kits at Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT)
Tuesday’s activities were part of a year-round series of volunteer programs offered by the Motorola Mobility Foundation to Motorola’s employees. The Foundation’s mission is to catalyze the innovative use of technology to improve lives and communities. It does this by leveraging employee expertise and talent, providing funding, and partnering with nonprofits, learning institutions, startups, government, corporate and civic organizations.
Click here to learn more about the Motorola Mobility Foundation. To those that have volunteered, thank you for your time and supporting Motoserve!
