Moto 360, iWatch: Rumored Motorola and Apple Smartwatches

Moto 360, iWatch: Rumored Motorola and Apple Smartwatches

The Moto 360 and the iWatch are some of the most anticipated smartwatch options right now, not because they’re the first of their kind, but because they offer a lot more connectivity to your smartphone and are a little more aesthetically pleasing. Today, we’re going to be comparing the two, or what we know about them so far.

The Motorola Moto 360 has been announced, but Apple hasn’t made an official announcement for the iWatch, although it’s expected they will alongside the release of the iPhone 6 on September 9th. There’s a Motorola special event scheduled for September 4th, where they will likely be announcing the Moto 360 and the Moto X+1. We may be seeing this device on shelves as soon as mid-September, if this is the case.

Despite the fact Apple hasn’t made the announcement for the iWatch just yet, it’s rumored that the device will be available anywhere from mid-September to late November. Some are even suggesting we won’t see the device until 2015. Nothing can be made fact until Apple announces the device and release date, which will hopefully happen September 9th.

Motorola’s Moto 360

Design-wise, we already know exactly what the Moto 360 looks like, but we have no idea whatsoever what it will be constructed out of. The smartwatch will be sporting a round display and will have quite a few customization options, including interchangeable bands to give your device a new look, and options for either a black or aluminum face. The customization part may be enough to woo people into picking up one of these devices, as Motorola has gone more towards a fashion statement than just a boring, old smartwatch, which is a smart move on their part.

Rumored Apple iWatch

The iWatch, on the other hand, is still a secret. It’s speculated that the device will be offered in both a square model and a circular model, and may sport a more traditional looking band. We can’t be sure of anything just yet, as Apple seems to be moving towards a more uniform look with their devices, so it may feature sleek aluminum edges and a plain black band. Supposedly, they have consulted with Tag Heur’s Vice President for advice on design, so we will see what comes of that.

With Apple’s release of their new Health app in iOS 8, we may see the iWatch going towards more of a fitness device than a watch. It’s very possible we will see some new sensors that can detect heart rate, or maybe an accurate pedometer built in, and sync that information with the app so you can more easily keep track of your workouts. Display-wise, there’s not much that we know regarding the device. Recently, there have been reports of Kobe Bryant hanging around the Apple Infinite Loop Campus, which may be a sign that he’s beta testing the device. There have also been reports of Dustin Brown beta testing the device.

Moto 360 Features

Motorola’s Moto 360 will have a ton of features that can really help with daily life, from showing notifications from your smartphone, to calendar appointments, to even displaying traffic in the area. There’s also the ability to customize the watchfaces’ UI, which is a neat little addition to the device too. The face itself is circular, just like a classic watch, and features a 1.5in display with a 320 x 290 resolution. The great thing is that there are already many apps meant for smartwatches in the Google Play Store. These apps are called Android Wear apps, and some include the Firefox browser, Audible, Evernote, and a couple of Weather apps.

Rumored Prices

Now for the deal breaker: price. The Moto 360, according to a recent leak on Best Buy, the smartwatch will be available for $250, which isn’t that bad in all reality. Although it’s about $20-$50 more than other Android Wear devices, it’s the same price as the Pebble Steel. The Apple iWatch, on the other hand, has been predicted to be priced at around $300. Keep in mind that it’s just speculation. We’ll see what truly comes of the device when it’s unveiled by Apple in mid-September.

Moto X+1 Release Date in the US: What to Expect

Moto X+1 Release Date in the US: What to Expect

The Moto X+1 launch date is confirmed for September 4th. And with just a few days left before the new Smartphone is officially announced, we want to make a few predictions and share multiple reports and rumors surrounding the Moto X+1 release date. To be more precise, the Moto X+1 release in the United States.

Way back in February all the rumors started when Motorola tweeted that a new Moto X successor would arrive later this summer, and since then buyers and fans have been waiting patiently to see what they have in store. While the phone didn’t leak nearly as much as the original Moto X in 2013, we’ve received enough details to have a good idea of what to expect regarding the release date, and the device in general.

The past two weeks have been very telling for the manufacturer, as they’ve confirmed the September 4th launch date, and multiple rumors have shed light on specs, features, and potentially when the device will launch for the United States. Prospective buyers and Motorola fans will want to know all the details, and below we’ll rundown everything we know so far.

Earlier this month Motorola sent out a rather telling invite for a September 4th event in Chicago. The teaser image showed a new Moto X, a Moto G successor (rumored as the Moto G2) the Moto 360 smartwatch, and an accessory of some type. Basically confirming two new smartphones and some accessories will all be revealed.

At that point we knew a few new devices were coming soon, but only a few light rumors suggested a Moto G2 was coming as well. We now know they’ll have a few devices on display, and it’s only a matter of a few days before we know all the details.

Moto X+1 Launch Date

The image above is the teaser sent over by Motorola, confirming four devices will be announced on September 4th. We’re not sure what the earpiece will be, but it may offer some automatic location-aware pairing to unlock the new Moto X+1, or even add to the hands-free voice controls that made the original Moto X so popular last year.

You can clearly see the other three devices in which we outlined above in the teaser. All but confirming they’ll be announcing all three come early next month. With the launch date set, now all we need is the final details, and the official release date.

That aside, below is everything we think we now regarding the Moto X+1 (or Moto X2) release date in the United States.

Moto X+1 Release Date in the U.S.

All the rumors we’ve heard thus far are pointing to a rather fast release for the new Moto X+1. In fact, last year it was announced in August and released the same month just a few weeks later, and we’re hearing the same strategy will hold true in 2014.

Reports earlier this month “confirmed from Motorola sources” a global rollout for the new Moto X+1 and Moto G2 will begin on September 10th. That would be much faster than years prior, but we’ve seen similar launch times from HTC and Apple. AT&T had a short exclusive last year, before it arrived on the rest, and the same could hold true again this year. Another report suggest the Verizon Moto X+1 won’t arrive until September 25th. This could mean AT&T will be up first again, followed by the rest, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The image above is our first actual press photo of the new Moto X+1, thanks to@evleaks. It confirms the designs we’ve seen from other leaks, as well as at least one carrier for the US. Note that while the rumor above said September 25th for Verizon, this press image shows September 17th. One week later than the 10th date floating around.

Last year the Moto X launched in the US first, and eventually other regions around the globe, but many are expecting a global launch of the new Moto X+1 in the US, UK, and more all inside of September.

U.S. Carriers

The original Moto X is still available today from an array of carriers in the United States, and that includes small regional operators as well. At this point we’ve yet to hear from any carriers, as the device isn’t official. That being said, the image above clearly confirms Verizon, and earlier today the Moto X+1 cleared the FCC for AT&T.

Buyers can expect the new Moto X+1 to launch on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, and most likely many other small region carriers. MetroPCS, Cricket, and others all eventually offered the phone. However, only the main carriers will get the customization features from MotoMaker.com.

Specs

So what will make the Moto X+1 impressive and worth buying over the Galaxy S5, LG G3, or any other smartphones available in 2014? For one, customization. And for two, it has some pretty good specs too. At least if all the leaks we’ve seen are accurate.

Along with custom colors, engravings, accent colors, wood backs, and even leather in 2014, the phone will have pretty impressive specs to make it a quality device that should last for years to come. Here’s what we’ve heard thus far.

Moto X+1 Specs

• 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080p Full HD Display
• 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core with 2GB of RAM
• 16/32GB storage with micro-SD expansion included
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat
• 12 Megapixel rear and 2.1 front cameras
• Dual front-facing speakers (aimed at the HTC One M8)
• 2,900 mAh battery
• Tons of customization options

Note the processor isn’t the latest 801 or rumored 805 like the Galaxy Note 4 will employ, but the Moto X+1 should still house a powerful quad-core processor, nearly stock Android, 2GB of RAM, and have an improved camera. The other major problem last year was battery life. In 2014 the Moto X+1 will have a 2,900 mAh battery (rumored) which is bigger than both the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 offerings, respectively.

Last but not least (pictured above) the Motorola logo on back will be a button. We’re not sure what it’s for yet, but we could see additional functions, shortcuts to launch the camera, or even a camera shutter button for selfies. The possibilities are endless.

Price

Another major factor when it comes to buying a Smartphone is the price. The Moto X was priced nearly as high as the competition, yet wasn’t as powerful of a Smartphone. Motorola eventually realized this after poor sales and lowered it to $399, which made it a pretty great price/performance purchase, especially considering all the free customization.

Currently the Moto X is $399 off-contract, and less if you sign a 2-year agreement with carriers. There has been no solid leaks revealing a price point for the Moto X+1, but a few small reports suggest it may replace the current X at the same $399 price point. If Motorola can do that while delivering a bigger, better, faster device with front facing speakers and all the options mentioned above, it should sell quite well.