Skip to main content

Motorola To Release World's Second Modular Smartphone

Motorola will unveil two new Android smartphones this year, and like LG, it’s gone metal and modular. While the LG G5′s bottom bezel can be removed for additional add-ons, The Moto X Vertex and Moto X Vector Thin incorporates modularity into the entire back of the phone — meaning, we’ll be able to pull out the phones’ back plates and insert different ones that bring additional functionality. According to the very, very reliable Evan Blass of Venture Beat, these add-ons will be called “Amps” (LG calls them “Friends”), and Motorola already have six ready for launch. Blass says each Amp brings the following additional feature: stereo speakers, extra battery, a camera grip with optical zoom and additional flash, a wide-angle lens attachment, and a projector.
MOTO X
Official product shot of Motorola’s two new phones, leaked by HelloMotoHK.
As is the case with many Android manufacturers now, the dual-phone release includes a “premium” top-of-the-line flagship phone and a less powerful phone aimed at the mid-price market. The Vector Thin is the top dog here, with a 5.5 inch Quad HD AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 820 processor. The Vertex runs Snapdragon 625 and a “lesser” 1080p HD display. The Vector Thin also rocks a 16-megapixel camera to its smaller brother’s 13-megapixel. Both phones have fingerprint scanners on the front of the phone.
In an unusual choice, the more powerful phone is the thinner phone here, at just 5.2 millimeters thick, compared to the Vertex’s 7 millimeters. That’s because the more powerful Vector Thin has a much smaller battery (2,600 mAH) to the Vertex’s (3,500 mAH). I wonder about Motorola’s decision here, since most phone makers give the more powerful phone the bigger battery, for obvious reasons.
The holes in the back on the phone may look like speaker grills, but no, they’re connector ports to hold the modular back plates in place. Blass said Motorola has developed a magnetic system to hold the plates securely, while still leaving it easy to remove.There’s no word on pricing yet, but Android Police reports that The Moto X Vertex and the Moto X Vector Thin will be officially unveiled on June 9 at Lenovo’s Tech World event in San Francisco, so we’ll know more then. But so far, this is looking like a very exciting phone. As I’ve written before, I’m tired of every phone going for the safe iPhone clone route — any attempt to at something new should be applauded.

Comments

Readers Choice

Lead Your Team Into a Post-Pandemic World

During the Covid-19 crisis, I’ve spoken with many CEOs who have shared that a key priority for them, naturally, has been the safety and well-being of their employees. And there are many examples of inspiring actions taken by CEOs and companies in support of their employees. But as we’ve come to recognize that this crisis will last more than a few short weeks, companies are now defining their approach for the long haul. I’ve seen two crucial ideas take hold with corporate leaders. One: Given the magnitude of the shock and the challenges that this crisis represents, companies must consider the full breadth of their employees’ needs as people. Safety is essential, of course, but it’s also important to address higher-level needs such as the want for truth, stability, authentic connections, self-esteem, growth, and meaning in the context of the crisis. Two: Many CEOs have begun thinking about this crisis in three phases. They may assign different names or specific lengths to t

4 Ways Google Search Can Help You Achieve Your Marketing Goals

Google Ads Google Ad extensions are a great way to add key descriptive text without taking up space in your actual ad and improve your quality score for even better results. It’s a win-win right? Google Maps Is your business discoverable on Google Maps? For small businesses, adding detailed information and the use of strategic keywords can be helpful for a better location optimization. Google Ranks SEO is vital for moving up in Google rankings. To climb up the ladder, incorporate top keywords in page titles, meta tags and focus on consistently delivering relevant content. Backlinking If SEO is the the only strategy you have, it is the right time to change that. Start adding backlinks to your content. Quality backlinks can further increase your brand authority. 

Twenty Smart Business Buzzwords

Some words may grate on your nerves, but business leaders are still using "disrupt," "synergy" and "ideate." You should too. Spend any amount of time in a corporate environment and you'll likely notice there are some words that seem to come up on a daily basis. Certain verbiage becomes part of the  corporate culture  and soon, you may feel as if you need to use it to fit in. While they can change from one day to the next, most corporate buzzwords have a positive meaning. They're used to boost morale and motivate everyone involved in the conversation. Here are 20 of the top business buzzwords that you should make an effort to work into your vocabulary. 1. Impact Impact is a powerful word that has become a favorite of business professionals.  Grammarians argue  that the word is being used improperly, urging you to use "affect" instead, but businesses love it. 2. Corporate Synergy Half of the people who use this term likely