Motorola Moto X (2014)

Also known as Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen.), Motorola Moto X2, Motorola Moto X+1

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - for AT&T
		HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - for Europe
		HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - for T-Mobile
	4G Network	LTE 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - for AT&T
		LTE 800 / 1800 / 2600 - for Europe
		LTE 700 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - for T-Mobile
	SIM	Nano-SIM
	Announced	2014, September
	Status	Available. Released 2014, September

BODY	Dimensions	140.8 x 72.4 x 10 mm (5.54 x 2.85 x 0.39 in)
	Weight	144 g (5.08 oz)

DISPLAY	Type	AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.2 inches (~424 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	No
	Internal	16/32 GB, 2 GB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA, 42.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	v4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE
	NFC	Yes
	USB	microUSB v2.0, USB Host

CAMERA	Primary	13 MP, 4128 x 3096 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash
	Features	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR
	Video	2160p@30fps, HDR
	Secondary	2 MP, 1080p

FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to Android L
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801
	CPU	Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400
	GPU	Adreno 330
	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	HTML5
	Radio	No
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	Black, White
		- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - Google Drive (50 GB storage) - MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA player - MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player - Google Search, Maps, Gmail - YouTube, Google Talk, Picasa - Organizer - Photo viewer/editor - Document viewer - Voice memo/dial - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Li-Ion 2300 mAh battery
	Stand-by

Samsung Galaxy Pocket 2

Also known as Samsung Galaxy Pocket 2 Duos, Samsung SM-G110B, SM-G110B/DS, SM-G110H, SM-G110M

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (optional)
	3G Network	HSDPA 900 / 2100
		HSDPA 850 / 2100
	SIM	Optional Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)
	Announced	2014, September
	Status	Available. Released 2014, September

BODY	Dimensions	109.9 x 60.8 x 11.7 mm (4.33 x 2.39 x 0.46 in)
	Weight	107 g (3.77 oz)

DISPLAY	Type	TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 3.3 inches (~121 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration, MP3 ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	microSD, up to 32 GB
	Internal	4 GB, 512 MB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	Speed	HSDPA 21 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	v4.0, A2DP
	USB	microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	2 MP, 1600 x 1200 pixels
	Features	Geo-tagging
	Video	240p@15fps
	Secondary	No

FEATURES	OS	Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
	CPU	1 GHz Cortex-A7
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM
	Browser	HTML
	Radio	FM radio with RDS; recording
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
	Colors	White
		- MP3/eAAC/WAV/Flac player - MP4/H.263 player - Photo/video editor - Voice memo/dial

BATTERY		Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery
	Stand-by
	Talk time	(2G) / Up to 5 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 21 h

MISC	SAR US	1.53 W/kg (head)     1.21 W/kg (body)
	SAR EU	0.59 W/kg (head)     0.40 W/kg (body)

HTC kicks off its connected-devices strategy with the unveiling of the HTC RE camera

Today marks the beginning of a new era for HTC as the company kicks off a new connected-devices strategy with the introduction of the HTC RE camera. The rumors about the HTC RE were directionally right, the device is similar to a GoPro, capturing 16 megapixel still images and 1080p video at 30 frames per second. But HTC is positioning the HTC RE quite differently, with a focus on the general consumer for every-day life rather than an action camera intended for recording sports or extreme activities. The RE does have a slow motion mode and its waterproof construction does allow it to be used under 1 meter of water up to 30 minutes, so it could conceivably act as an alternative for someone in the market for a GoPro or one of its competitors.

The functionality of the HTC RE is pretty standard, but its design is quite unique and encourages users to hold it in their hand rather than attaching it to a bike, snowboard or helmet. HTC will have various mounting accessories for the RE, but the company really want people to use it as a replacement for your smartphone camera more than anything. The HTC RE’s shutter button is at the top of the neck, perfectly positioned to be pressed with your thumb. The device’s second button is located on the under side of the neck where your index finger sits and is user to activate slow-motion video capture.

The HTC RE and its app is compatible with all Android 4.3 devices with Bluetooth LE and will also work with iOS7 devices once the app is released. The app lets you control the settings on the RE, delivers image and video sharing options and acts as a remove viewfinder. Just as we’ve seen with HTC Zoe, HTC is trying to reach a much broader market and doesn’t want to force consumers to buy its smartphones if they want to use HTC’s connected-devices. The HTC RE will not be the last device of its kind for HTC. The company has stated that it has plans to expand its horizon in the future by moving into new categories. Don’t expecting HTC to start building TV’s or refrigerators to compete with Samsung or LG, but we would see a handful of gadgets similar to the HTC RE over the next 6-12 months.

Gallery

Specs

• 8GB microSD card (included), expandable to 128GB
• 820 mAh rechargeable battery (1,200 16MP photos; 1 hour 40 min of continuous FHD video recording)
• IP57 waterproof
• 16MP  1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
• Ultra wide angle: 146° lens (f/2.8)
• 1080p, 30fps FHD video 720p, 4x slow motion video
• BLE (Bluetooth® 4.0)
• Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n), Wi-Fi Direct
• micro-USB charging/data port
• ¼” tripod connection
• Grip sensor
• G-sensor
• Size: 96.7 x 26.5 mm
• Weight: 65.5 grams

Availability

The HTC RE will be available later his year for $199.99. HTC is partnering with Best Buy on a Best Buy Blue colored RE, but other retailers will offer the device in white and red.

As a company we don’t stand still and our devotion to innovation has seen us take smart photography in a completely new direction for our business and our customers. Once people get a RE in their hands, they won’t want to put it down. This is everybody’s opportunity to get out from behind the lens and start living in the moment again.

- Peter Chou

HTC announces that several devices will receive Eye Experience uptate

In the wake of its Double Exposure event this afternoon, HTC has announced that several of its existing devices will receive an Eye Experience camera update. Today’s event was all about cameras and along with new hardware, HTC has also launched some new software. One of those things is the Eye Experience package of software, which is an update to the existing camera application that contains Crop Me In, Photo Booth, advanced face tracking, Live Makeup and Split Capture, the last of which uses both the front and back cameras at the same time.

The update will roll out to the following devices:

• HTC One M8
• HTC One M7
• HTC One E8
• HTC One Mini 2
• HTC One Max
• HTC Desire 816
• HTC Desire 820
• HTC Butterfly 2

While the update isn’t the most earth-shattering change, it always warms our hearts to see a manufacturer keeping their phones up-to-date with software. In the meantime, we’ll have to wait for the update to come out. Specific dates weren’t given, but HTC has said that the update will be out in the coming months.

What was your favorite thing from today’s announcement?