The Moto E - Motorola goes in a different direction

[Joelist]

Motorola just made the Moto E widely available:

http://www.motorola.com/us/home

This is really the first phone they have have released whose entire design process occurred after Lenovo bought them from Google. And it is a VERY interesting phone. Notable items:

a) Decent hardware

b) LOW pricing

c) Not bound to carriers as all phones are sold unlocked

d) Android completely unskinned - this is an AOSP build

Basically it is a good LTE phone whose whole purchase price is less than the typical 2 year contract price of most smartphones. Strategy wise this is very well thought out and speaks to the kind of hardware synergies Motorola got when Lenovo acquired it - without them making a phone this strong for such a low price would have been a fantasy.

 

[Overmind One]

Motorola just made the Moto E widely available:

http://www.motorola.com/us/home

This is really the first phone they have have released whose entire design process occurred after Lenovo bought them from Google. And it is a VERY interesting phone. Notable items:

a) Decent hardware

b) LOW pricing

c) Not bound to carriers as all phones are sold unlocked

d) Android completely unskinned - this is an AOSP build

Basically it is a good LTE phone whose whole purchase price is less than the typical 2 year contract price of most smartphones. Strategy wise this is very well thought out and speaks to the kind of hardware synergies Motorola got when Lenovo acquired it - without them making a phone this strong for such a low price would have been a fantasy.

Does it have the "always listening" so-called feature like the Moto X does? If so, there is the reason it is so low in price.

 

[Joelist]

Actually the only Moto to use that seems to be the X. Plus remember the Moto Voice app (which is what the always listening was) was essentially listening for keywords it fed into Google Now. Of course Google Now has since KitKat been able to listen all on its own.

And no such a feature would not drive down the price - they got it down by being able to leverage the vertical integration their new owner has.

 

[Joelist]

It should also be noted that this is the second version of the Moto E. The first was lower powered and lacked LTE. Indeed several tech sites mistakenly thought this version (just released) would not have a bump up in specs and still show wrong information (like the wrong amount of memory and not showing the correct SOC - Snapdragon 410).

It's of interest because this strategy of putting out a low priced and simple phone with AOSP Android and no carrier lockin could pay off for them if they can make it easily available.

 

[Overmind One]

It should also be noted that this is the second version of the Moto E. The first was lower powered and lacked LTE. Indeed several tech sites mistakenly thought this version (just released) would not have a bump up in specs and still show wrong information (like the wrong amount of memory and not showing the correct SOC - Snapdragon 410).

It's of interest because this strategy of putting out a low priced and simple phone with AOSP Android and no carrier lockin could pay off for them if they can make it easily available.

The Moto phones are the first phones which are 100% Google, which is why I will never own one. There is absolutely no reason at all that Google would want this phone to be open source, even though Android is (mostly) open source. The phone hardware is all Google-centric. It is the anti-open phone. They now have the Chromebook and the Moto and the legacy Motorola devices which can be retro-ed.

Also, you said that KitKat listens on it's own, but it does not do that unless Google Now is on. The Moto X listens even when the phone is in standby or is off, and it can be turned on by a command. It was the first 100% Google phone, and all Moto phones which come from now on will be 100% Google owned.

I have a big problem with that.

 

[Joelist]

No, I said Google Now listens. Quoting myself:

Of course Google Now has since KitKat been able to listen all on its own.

Also I have no idea what you are talking about with it being "100% Google". It's running completely unskinned Android. Also Google does not own Motorola anymore, they sold it last January.

As to the Moto X, what it specifically did was allow a set of voice commands even is the phone display was off. And the capability was easily disabled via toggle or if you wanted to totally remove the app (Moto Voice a.k.a Touchless Control) just delete the app or put a ROM on the phone. Back then Motorola had to use a special SOC to do it but nowadays any Snapdragon 800 SOC phone with KitKat or later can do the exact same thing - of course why would you want to....

 

[Overmind One]

No, I said Google Now listens. Quoting myself:

Also I have no idea what you are talking about with it being "100% Google". It's running completely unskinned Android. Also Google does not own Motorola anymore, they sold it last January.

I suspect any manufacturer or device if Raytheon or General Dynamics is interested in them (and they are). The first thing Google did with the Moto X was to include several monitoring features which are ideal for the intrusive Google infrastructure. Now, Raytheon and general Dynamics want the company and especially it's handsets. Unskinned or not, Android is 100% Google. Now, the Moto is only 80% Google

As to the Moto X, what it specifically did was allow a set of voice commands even is the phone display was off. And the capability was easily disabled via toggle or if you wanted to totally remove the app (Moto Voice a.k.a Touchless Control) just delete the app or put a ROM on the phone. Back then Motorola had to use a special SOC to do it but nowadays any Snapdragon 800 SOC phone with KitKat or later can do the exact same thing - of course why would you want to....

I still do not trust it. I will never come out in support of Google, Microsoft, Lenovo, Raytheon, general Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Apple, or any of their subsidiaries because of how they are run and their ties to the Patriot Act provisions and built in NSA functionality. Lenovo is not part of that so much, but the Motorola company they acquired was flush new with Google enhanced products.

I suppose the thickest part of the markets are going to be heavy in these companies. GD and the other large non-communications companies are the face of the US war machine. In telecom, Google and Apple and Microsoft are the face of the invasion of personal privacy and players in the enforcement of the Patriot Act when it comes to cell phone and computer communications.

Dont pay me any nevermind... I am just an advocate of staying out of the sheep pastures. Seeing first hand what the government is asking the private sector giants to include in their software and equipment is scary. I can easily understand the motivations of Edward Snowden. He did not want money, he wanted transparency and the fact is that such transparency is not only discouraged, but trying to support transparency is legally actionable under Federal law and can get you put in prison.

Suffice it to say, there is a list of products and services being offered by a short list of corporations which should NEVER be trusted.

 

[Joelist]

I don't trust them either - that is why I root and reflash phones. I just thought the concept was an interesting approach to the market - offer solid hardware unlocked at a bargain basement price. The rooting directions for this phone are already on XDA.

 

[Joelist]

Also, Raytheon and GD are interested in acquiring Motorola Solutions. They have nothing to do with phones. The part Google bought and later sold was Motorola Mobility - they are the ones who make smartphones and tablets. Two separate companies.

 

[Overmind One]

Also, Raytheon and GD are interested in acquiring Motorola Solutions. They have nothing to do with phones. The part Google bought and later sold was Motorola Mobility - they are the ones who make smartphones and tablets. Two separate companies.

They are two separate DIVISIONS of the SAME company which is why they are both called Motorola. Its like Ritz Crackers and Camel cigarettes are owned by the same company (RJR). These types of tentacles and connections are important to me. It is why I look very very deeply into them. Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions live in the same house and they are relatives, not roommates.

 

[Joelist]

Actually not.

Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions are two separate companies. That split occurred in 2011 and consisted of Mototola Solutions and Motorola Mobility - completely separate publicly traded companies.

This is Motorola Solutions:http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/Home

Their own history section even describes this event:

2011: Motorola, Inc. Separation
On January 4, 2011, Motorola, Inc. separated into two independent, publicly-traded companies: Motorola Solutions, Inc. and Motorola Mobility, Inc. Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) provided mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers. Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) made mobile cellular devices and cable video management equipment.

Motorola Mobility was an independent company for a short time then was acquired by Google in a big splash purchase:

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/google-to-buy-motorola-mobility/?_r=0

12.5 billion dollars no less.

Google then sold the cable box portion (Motorola Home) of Motorola Mobility to Arris:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/19/mo...band-unit-for-2-35b-to-double-down-on-mobile/

And finally last year Motorola Mobility was sold to Lenovo:

http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/29/technology/mobile/motorola-lenovo/index.html

So the current Motorola Mobility is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lenovo:

http://www.motorola.com/us/home

Two completely different companies that happen to have part of their name be the same. And it is Motorola Solutions that Raytheon is looking at buying:

http://channeleye.co.uk/motorola-solutions-thinks-selling-itself-is-the-solution/

 

[Overmind One]

Actually not.

Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions are two separate companies. That split occurred in 2011 and consisted of Mototola Solutions and Motorola Mobility - completely separate publicly traded companies.

This is Motorola Solutions:http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/Home

Their own history section even describes this event:

2011: Motorola, Inc. Separation
On January 4, 2011, Motorola, Inc. separated into two independent, publicly-traded companies: Motorola Solutions, Inc. and Motorola Mobility, Inc. Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) provided mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers. Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) made mobile cellular devices and cable video management equipment.

Motorola Mobility was an independent company for a short time then was acquired by Google in a big splash purchase:

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/google-to-buy-motorola-mobility/?_r=0

12.5 billion dollars no less.

Google then sold the cable box portion (Motorola Home) of Motorola Mobility to Arris:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/19/mo...band-unit-for-2-35b-to-double-down-on-mobile/

And finally last year Motorola Mobility was sold to Lenovo:

http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/29/technology/mobile/motorola-lenovo/index.html

So the current Motorola Mobility is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lenovo:

http://www.motorola.com/us/home

Two completely different companies that happen to have part of their name be the same. And it is Motorola Solutions that Raytheon is looking at buying:

http://channeleye.co.uk/motorola-solutions-thinks-selling-itself-is-the-solution/

Whatever the case, Lenovo and Motorola Mobility or whomever is responsible for selling the phones is not to be trusted. All of this is semantics. If Motorola or Lenovo are selling products, they are not to be trusted. That is about as simply as I can put it. No amount of explaining who is responsible for what is going to remove the extreme risk of buying anything from Lenovo or Motorola device. Im only playing this side of it because I have to speak out against some of the manufacturers you are fond of (because I have a dofferent perspective on them).

Lenovo is bad because they installed spyware on their new computers: http://www.npr.org/2015/02/25/388901986/lenovo-sued-over-superfish-adware It does not matter how well they build stuff, what hardware they are using or how they look. Their business ethics is what makes them a bad company not to be trusted. Motorola is to be avoided for the same thing.

What I am doing here is keeping the light shined on the connections and gymnastics these companies are doing to try and seem benevolent when they are the opposite. I will not cheerlead for them. For every benefit they offer is a doubly worse risk.

Just sayin....

Im not trying to rain on your thread. I just think it is responsible to give pros and cons when mentioning these devices, instead of just the pros. Sorry if it comes off otherwise, no harm is meant!

 

[Joelist]

I might note I started the thread about Superfish and nailed them over it. Sadly the Superfish lawsuit is highly unlikely to bear fruit as they will have a hard time proving intent especially as the determination of what Superfish could do (serve as a platform for a man in the middle attack) happened well after the software was added to their consumer (not business) preload.

Remember in the other thread I said this makes their software engineers look either malicious or stupid. To me, the second I found out it needed to install a root certificate I would have said No.

 

[Joelist]

And I guess getting embarrassed like they did yields a little (very little) fruit:

Lenovo’s Promise for a Cleaner, Safer PC
Just over a week ago, the Superfish visual discovery software preloaded onto Lenovo consumer notebooks beginning in September 2014 created concern and frustration among our customers and the security and privacy communities. We have worked with partners to create tools and update antivirus programs to eliminate Superfish software. And an automatic removal tool is available on Lenovo.com. No ThinkPads, desktops, tablets, smartphones nor any enterprise server or storage product was impacted.

Additionally, we will offer Lenovo PC users affected by this issue a free 6-month subscription to McAfee LiveSafe service (or a 6-month extension for existing subscribers). More information will be available at Lenovo.com within 7 days.

The events of last week reinforce the principle that customer experience, security and privacy must be our top priorities. With this in mind, we will significantly reduce preloaded applications. Our goal is clear: To become the leader in providing cleaner, safer PCs.

We are starting immediately, and by the time we launch our Windows 10 products, our standard image will only include the operating system and related software, software required to make hardware work well (for example, when we include unique hardware in our devices, like a 3D camera), security software and Lenovo applications. This should eliminate what our industry calls “adware” and “bloatware.” For some countries, certain applications customarily expected by users will also be included.

Lenovo will post information about ALL software we preload on our PCs that clearly explains what each application does. And we will continuously solicit feedback from our user community and industry experts to ensure we have the right applications and best user experience.

We view these actions as a starting point. We believe that these steps will make our technology better, safer and more secure.


Do I believe it? Let's wait and see. What I's like to see is all OEMs stop all preloads except for specific drivers when a particular component calls for them (like higher end video cards or chipsets). Especially stop with preloading security software (in particular Norton). And I don't even want to get into why it takes public humiliation for any movement to occur. No one likes bloatware.