Oh boy, let the hypebeasting begin. The @DroidLanding official promotional Twitter account behind a handful of DROID-related scavenger hunts and phone teases over the years has reactivated, sending its first Tweet since November 2011. What does this mean? Well, we don’t know for sure other than we are supposed to stand by for “further instructions.”

I smell a contest or a phone launch of some sort. We haven’t had a DROID phone from Verizon since the DROID DNA launched last year – what could this be? Something from Motorola? Something from HTC? You tell us.

Update:  Another Tweet has gone out, mentioning augmented reality in the process. We have seen scavenger hunts in the past through this account, also that used augmented reality as a way to discover hidden devices that are a part of their contests. Something is coming, it’s definitely going to be DROID branded, and will likely involve a scavenger hunt in order to win one. Stay tuned! 

Via:  @DroidLanding

New DROID Coming Soon to Verizon? @DroidLanding Twitter Reactivates Self (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

When Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside sat on stage at D11 a few weeks back, he confirmed that his company would “broadly” distribute their next wave of smartphones. With today’s FCC filing of the Motorola XT1055 headed to U.S. Cellular (LTE band 12), an XFON variant, we now have at least four variants of this phone confirmed for U.S. carriers. 

The listing helps us add another model number to an ongoing list that represents the XFON, which could very well be a part of the new Moto X line of phones. We know that the XT1060 is Verizon’s variant, XT1056 is headed to Sprint, and the XT1058 is on its way to AT&T. The only major U.S. carrier we have yet to see a filing for is T-Mobile.

As for specs, the device is expected to run on a Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz, carry 2GB RAM, 16GB of storage, 10MP rear camera, 2MP front camera, 720p display, and run Android 4.2.2. Since that sounds mid-range, we are expecting Motorola to introduce new sensors or software that can predict your every desire as it happens. Well, it’ll at least do things like turn your camera on when you pull your phone out of a pocket, but only at the precise moment you need it to happen.

We have no confirmation on a release or price, though we are expecting it to happen soon.

Via:  FCC | Blog of Mobile

Moto X “XFON” XT1055 for U.S. Cellular Stops by FCC is a post from: Droid Life

On Friday night, well-known mobile industry leaker @evleaks posted up what it believes to be the specs for Motorola’s soon-to-be-released Moto X phone. As expected, thanks to an .ini file that we obtained along with countless other leaks, these specs match up to what we mostly already know of a phone which is currently codenamed XFON, that will be powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor (MSM8960). We’re also looking at a 720p display, though the actual size has yet to be fully confirmed (likely a 4.3″). The phone will carry 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, run Android 4.2.2, sport a 10MP rear camera, and 2MP front camera. 

• 1.7GHz dual-core MSM8960 Pro processor
• 720p display
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage
• 10MP rear camera; 2MP front camera
• Android 4.2.2

While those specs are not necessarily all that impressive on paper when compared to phones like the HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4, remember that Motorola is going for something completely different with their new line of phones. CEO Dennis Woodside said in a recent interview that new Moto phones will anticipate your needs depending on the time or situation thanks to advanced sensors and other new tech. So Motorola isn’t exactly going to try and blow our minds in the spec department – they plan to impress us with experience.

Motorola has said that the Moto X phone will arrive this summer.

I have to admit that the naming scheme is becoming quite confusing at this point. We know of a phone with the codenamed XFON that has variants in the wild for AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, and believe it to be similar to the phone you are seeing at the top of this post. With that said, Woodside called the Moto X a “hero” device during his interview at D11, yet a dual-core phone isn’t necessarily what we would consider to be “hero” material. Moto X could simply be the branding for their new line of phones, much like how Samsung has the “Galaxy” tag.

No matter what, we are expecting this phone to arrive in the near future.

Via:  @evleaks

Cheers LiterofCola, Andrew, and Justin!

Moto X Phone Specs Leak Points to Most of What We Already Know, 10MP Camera Though is a post from: Droid Life

Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside surprised the world today, when he confirmed at D11 that his company is indeed working on a phone called Moto X that is their “hero” device for 2013. He also mentioned that from now through October, we would see a handful of devices from them that they would consider to be their new portfolio. But there was some early confusion on when this device would launch – would it be their pre-holiday device and show up closer to October? According to a press release sent out shortly after Woodside’s chat, the Moto X will be “available this summer.” To confirm that this was correct, we reached out to Motorola who replied back with “late summer.” So what could potentially be your dream Motorola device, will be available within the next few months. 

But continuing on, now that the video of Woodside’s chat is live, we’re getting extra bits of goodies. For example, during his talk he mentions that phones priced at $650 (full retail) are not going to persist. He mentions that his company doesn’t have to make a 50% mark-up on devices, so that they will be able to create high-quality phones at lower prices. They also see a major opportunity to dive into the lower-end phone market (could be the XFON).

Here is his quote confirming that the Moto X is real. The rest of his interview is live here.

Press release from this afternoon:

Moto X: The First Smartphone Assembled in the USA

There are more than 130 million smartphones in use in the USA today and not one of them was assembled here…until now.

May 28, 2013 

Today at the AllThingsD conference Dennis Woodside revealed how we are reinventing Motorola through a portfolio of products starting with Moto X, a new flagship smartphone that will be designed, engineered and assembled in the USA. We’re not talking about just a handful of units either — available this summer, every Moto X sold in the USA will be assembled in Fort Worth, Texas, making it the first smartphone ever assembled domestically.

There were a few reasons why we decided to do this. There are several business advantages to having our Illinois and California-based designers and engineers much closer to our factory. For instance, we’ll be able to iterate on design much faster, create a leaner supply chain, respond much more quickly to purchasing trends and demands, and deliver devices to people here much more quickly. And as a part of Google we’re being encouraged to take big bets on things that make a difference.

We still have a network of global operations, and that won’t change. Our global manufacturing partner remains Flextronics and we’ll continue to assemble devices locally in China and Brazil. But Flextronics is busy looking for people for the new Fort Worth facility now. If you’re interested, we encourage you to check the available positions and apply.

This is an incredibly exciting time to be in the mobile device industry. Our role in inventing the mobile phone is well known. We’re happy to be shaping its future as well.

Moto X Phone Will Arrive Late Summer is a post from: Droid Life

Dennis Woodside, Motorola’s new CEO, just confirmed in an interview at D11 that they are indeed making a phone called Moto X. He said that the phone will be the first smartphone built in the U.S. “We’re building it in Texas,” Woodside mentioned during his sitdown. They are going to employee about 2,000 people outside of Forth Worth at a 500,000 square foot facility to make the magic happen. 

This is their “hero device,” and it’s going to be “broadly distributed.” Between now and October, Motorola is going to launch a handful of devices though, but way down from the massive portfolio of years past.

Woodside even claimed to have one of the phones with him on stage, though he said he wasn’t able to show it. But should he have decided to pull it out, he mentioned that with new sensors, that the phone anticipates your needs. For example, it would recognize that he took it out from his pants and potentially wake itself or activate a service.

When asked if he was confident in whether or not Motorola could actually move the needle with new products, Woodside said that the “products we are going to ship throughout the fall. They are unlike other things out there.”

While this is mostly an assumption on my part, the first of the handful of devices he mentioned will be the XFON (XT1056, XT1058, and XT1060) that has popped up in pictures, in benchmarks and at the FCC. It will be a mid-to-low range device that will be distributed everywhere at an incredibly low price. Then during the holidays, we’ll see the hero device.

Update:  According to Motorola, the Moto X will arrive in late summer.

Thoughts? What’s up Bionic?

Via:  AllThingsD

Motorola CEO Confirms the Moto X Phone, Will Build It in Texas (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

Remember the Motorola device by the codename XT1060 that we reported as likely being Verizon’s variant of the XFON? It cruised through the FCC today, sporting Verizon’s LTE band 13 and CDMA frequencies. It also supports GSM bands as well, so the device can probably be taken overseas on a global roaming journey, like many of Big Red’s current lineup. No other information immediately stuck out to us from the filing other than WiFi of 802.11/a/b/g/n/AC, but this does indeed confirm the phone’s existence and the model number. 

So now we have the XT1060 headed to Verizon, XT1056 on its way to Sprint, and the XT1058 headed to AT&T. Now we just need T-Mobile’s to stop off at the FCC and we’ll be primed for a multi-carrier simultaneous launch. How does mid-June sound? Rumors, just rumors.

Mid-range phone or not, we should all be interested in whatever it is that Motorola has cooked up for a mid-year launch. Even if the specs disappoint, this may be our first look at the software approach that the new Google-powered Motorola has in store for the future.

Via:  FCC | Blog of Mobile

Verizon’s Motorola XFON Hits the FCC as Model XT1060 is a post from: Droid Life

The Motorola XT1056 stopped by the FCC this week sporting Sprint’s LTE band. If we were betting men, we’d be willing to bet that this is likely the Sprint version of the “XFON” that has been spotted a number of times on its way to AT&T in both benchmarks and in pictures. The model number for AT&Ts version is XT1058, so XT1056 certainly matches up to the model number scheme, especially if the XT1060 that we reported yesterday is indeed Verizon’s variant. 

The XFON has been pretty heavily scrutinized over the last couple of weeks by readers as details for it emerge. The device looks to be sporting a 720p display and low-end dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, while the rest of the smartphone game is running quad-core Snapdragon 600 chipsets and 1080p displays. Maybe this is the last of the devices in Motorola’s pipeline that aren’t “wow” by Google’s CFO’s standards? Or maybe Motorola has some extra tricks up their sleeves that will try and prove that top-of-the-line displays and processors don’t make a smartphone great?

We will certainly be curious to see what this new smartphone of Moto’s turns out to be, as we are all wanting Motorola to make another comeback. With HTC apparently in turmoil and Samsung continuing to grow, we need another contender.

Via:  FCC | Engadget

Cheers Franklin and Scott!

Motorola XT1056 for Sprint Stops by FCC, Could be Another XFON Variant is a post from: Droid Life

Another day, another Android tablet sale somewhere on the internet. This one is different however, because today Woot! not only has deals on the Motorola XYBOARD tablets, they are new devices. Usually you will see discounted prices on tablets that have been refurbished by one company or another, but these 8.2″ and 10.1″ tablets are new and cheap.

The 16GB 8.2″ WiFi tablet is the cheapest of the bunch at $199, but if you are looking to upgrade to the LTE version it’s only 20 dollars more. If a 10.1″ tablet is more your size, $209 is what it will cost you. These are absolutely the lowest prices you will see on a new Android tablet. Granted the XYBOARD isn’t the best tablet out there (you can read our review), but for this low of price what do you think?

Buy

Woot! Selling New Motorola XYBOARDs Starting at $199 [Deal] is a post from: Droid Life

The Motorola XT1058, or better known as the “XFON,” is fully expected to launch on AT&T some time in the very near future. We’ve seen benchmarks with AT&T in the name, an FCC filing with model number that points towards AT&T bands, and pictures of the device in the wild with AT&T logos in the notification bar. But what about the other carriers? If the XT1058 is only headed to AT&T, does that mean the XFON is another AT&T exclusive or is there another model coming to carriers like Verizon? 

According to an .ini file pulled from leaked Motorola USB drivers, the XT1058 will be accompanied by a device XT1060, which appears to be the CDMA variant of the XFON. The .ini file lists out chipsets and models numbers for devices to be picked up when using Motorola’s RSD lite application. For the XT1060 we’re seeing a chipset labeled “MSM8960CDMA,” a Snapdragon 4 Pro dual-core variant, similar to what we saw in the benchmark for the XT1058. We’re assuming it’s the Pro here clocked at 1.7GHz with the Adreno 320 GPU, and not the lower-regular version with the Adreno 225 GPU.

Here is a clip from the .ini file:

////////////////////////////
This is for RSD app to create correct phone model class
[MODEL]
WIFI = f100,mz604,xoom,mz615,mz615-16,mz615-32,mz615-64,mz607,mz607-16,mz607-32,mz602
STEUMTS = mb865,me865
MSM6X55UMTS = mb632,xt605,xt626,xt621
MSM6X55CDMA = xt603
MSM8960CDMA = xt926,xt897,xt907,xt901,xt1060
MSM8960UMTS = mb886,xt923,xt925,xt905,201m,xt1058
IMC6260UMTS = xt890
////////////////////////////

So this news shouldn’t surprise anyone, since manufacturers almost always try to keep phones as similar as possible these days when launching them on multiple carriers. This just means that Verizon (or even Sprint) isn’t going to see a wild change in processor when compared to the AT&T XFON.

Cheers ___!

Verizon’s “XFON” Likely the XT1060, Also Runs a Snapdragon S4 Dual-core MSM8960 is a post from: Droid Life

Hugo Barra and Hiroshi Lockheimer sat down this afternoon with Reto Meier to talk a bit about the Android-related happenings around Google I/O this week. They didn’t reveal anything new, like the release date for Android 4.3, but when they were asked what their all-time sentimental pick for favorite device was, we couldn’t help but smile at Hugo’s answer. 

Hiroshi went with the G1, but Hugo picked a phone straight out of our past – the “OG” Motorola DROID. He even dropped a little “DROOOOOID” after mentioning it.

His pick was the DROID because of that was the time we got turn-by-turn navigation, voice search, and “all those cool things,” that helped push the platform in a big way.

We couldn’t agree more, Hugo.

Hugo Barra Picks the Motorola DROID as His All Time Sentimental Device is a post from: Droid Life

The “XFON” from Motorola is no longer much of a secret now that it has been both pictured and found cruising through the FCC. It’s the phone you are seeing above that leaked months ago, at least all signs point to that being the case. While Motorola could easily have some tricks up its sleeves for this device that will “wow” us in the end, current info from a recent GFXBench benchmark pegs this device as a mid-range Android handset. 

According to the system info of a device benchmarked with the model number XT1058 (same as the “XFON), we’re looking at a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor (MSM8960T) clocked at 1.7GHz and a 720p display. You can tell that it’s the MSM8960T rather than the MSM8960 because of the Adreno 320 GPU inside, which is the same GPU that you’ll find in devices like the Nexus 4. But yes, it’s only a dual-core processor that was released in early 2012 and not even the Snapdragon 400 (only an Adreno 305 GPU though) or 600 that Qualcomm is producing for 2013.

We’re also finding that it lacks a 1080p display thanks to the benchmark showing a resolution of 1196×720, which also suggests it will have on-screen navigation keys. But we already knew that it would. We aren’t exactly sure what size the display will drop in at, but we’ve heard both 4.0″ and 4.3″.

You can see from the benchmark that this is the Motorola “Ghost” and is headed to AT&T. “Ghost” is a codename we first reported back in mid-March along with a handful that Motorola has in the pipeline.

Last, the device tested was running Android 4.2.2.

Update:  We are seeing stories floating about which suggest it could have some super secret processor and GPU combo that will dominate all phones and Google and Motorola are simply disguising it. I hate to say it, but with a screen resolution this low, coupled with a decent GPU and processor, these numbers aren’t anything to get overly excited about. Look, the Sony Xperia SP and Xiaomi MI 2A both crush the HTC One and Galaxy S4 in an on-screen test if you take these tests to mean anything. Both are running the same processor/GPU combo as the XFON, yet likely have half the RAM. These tests clearly do not show that we have something secret going on or that the XFON is going to dominate the One or GS4 overall. Benchmarks do not tell the full story, ever.

Here is the image pulled from its FCC filing. As you can see, it’s identical to the device pictured at the top of this post.

So, mid-range, right? I’d imagine that Motorola is going to make this device insanely cheap with a processor that old and a display straight out of 2012. Standards for high-end smartphones these days have risen to 1080p displays and the latest and greatest processor for Qualcomm, two things this phone lacks.

Keep in mind while this phone may be disappointing from a spec standpoint, it’ll likely run stock Android, see updates at an incredible rate, and utilize LTE networks.

Via:  GFXBench | Techtastic

Cheers Zomer!

Specs for the Motorola “XFON” XT1058 Appear in Benchmark: 720p Display and Dual-core Snapdragon S4 Processor is a post from: Droid Life

The plot is thickening, Android fans. Tonight, FCC documents show a mysterious Motorola device, matching up in design to previous images we have seen, here and here. As far as what is in the FCC report, the only thing we can take away is that the device, model number XT1058 comes equipped with AT&T bands, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac, and NFC capability. Beyond that, nothing else. 

As mentioned, this device looks eerily familiar to the Motorola “XFON” we have seen pictured before, but of course, nothing can be certain until its made official by either AT&T or Motorola. The timing is an interesting factor, since Google I/O is just days away. Guess we will just have to remain patient.

Excited?

Via: PhoneScoop | FCC

Mystery “XFON” Motorola Device Stops by FCC, Headed to AT&T is a post from: Droid Life

Well, we didn’t see this coming today. Jelly Bean is coming to Verizon’s Motorola XOOM 4G LTE. Soak test invites are currently rolling out to those enrolled in Motorola’s feedback program, so this means we will soon see a larger roll out of the update to everyone who still owns the OG Android tablet. To clarify, this version of Jelly Bean is probably the 4.1 build and not the 4.2, which even Google has stated won’t come for the device. 

Here is the invite being sent to owners.

Hi,

Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Motorola Xoom on Verizon to participate in an early preview of a new Jelly Bean software release, and provide feedback.  If you are not currently using a Verizon Xoom, please excuse and ignore this email.

Click this link “link retracted“ to take the enrollment survey if you wish to take part. Note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola Owners’ Forums to be included. The registration window could close without notice so please respond as quickly as possible.

This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites.

Thanks — please understand that start times are always fluid. We ask for your patience if you register but don’t hear from us right away.

Matt
Motorola Owners’ Forums
Motorola Feedback Network

Who here is still rocking the XOOM?

Cheers M and J!

Soak Test Invites Arriving, Jelly Bean Coming to Verizon’s Motorola XOOM 4G LTE is a post from: Droid Life

Images just hit Twitter from the @evleaks account, showing a “blackboxed” Motorola device with signs of it headed to AT&T all over. For starters, there is the huge AT&T logo in the notification bar, as well as AT&T’s 4G LTE logo running on top. This device (what we can see of it) does sort of resemble the XT912A that was pictured back in March, but with the black box doing its job of concealing the device’s true form, it’s hard to say.

In March, we wrote up three Motorola codenames, each of which that had a chance of landing on AT&T’s network. No specs were known for certain, but one thing that the devices shared in common was that each device ran Android 4.2+.

In the shots above, it is apparent that Motorola’s toned-down Blur skin is present on the device, but other than what we can see, it’s hard be certain on any specifics.

Update:  Well, a picture of the back of the device has been uploaded. Information is extremely limited of course, but next to model, it reads “XFON AT&T.” If that doesn’t get the X Phone conspiracist folks going, I don’t know what will.

Thoughts?

Via: @evleaks

Pictures Leak of Mystery Motorola Device Headed to AT&T (Update: Back of the Device Pictured) is a post from: Droid Life

Don’t worry, we’ve seen your tips hit our inbox. We are well aware that benchmarks for devices named “Google Nexus 4 LTE” and “Google X phone” are appearing through apps like AnTuTu. We also know that both have been rumored off and on over the last couple of months as potential Google I/O launch devices. But pardon us if we aren’t buying into these benchmarks being legit or giving us any reason to call anything as “confirmed.” Let me explain. 

We’ll start first with the “Google Nexus 4 LTE,” since it’s the newest device to make internet rounds. After a couple of unconfirmed and “weird” rumors for this device floated about last week, a supposed benchmark from it is now available, leading some to report that this device along with Android 4.3 are confirmed. (Nice timing!) Funny thing is, if you actually own a Nexus 4 with stock Android (like I do), and run an AnTuTu benchmark, the device isn’t called “Google Nexus 4.” No, AnTuTu knows the name as “Nexus 4″ only. In fact, if you do an AnTuTu search for “Nexus 4,” you’ll get dozens of results back from real devices, but if you limit it to “Google Nexus 4,” you get four results of devices that may not even be the Nexus 4 (all pictured above to the left). Two are clocked properly at 1.5GHz, while the other two are are running Ice Cream Sandwich and who knows what kind of processor.

So what I’m getting at, is benchmarks can easily be faked. Toss on a custom ROM here, tweak a build.prop there, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you could trick the results into showing whatever you like. And that leads us into the next screenshot on the far right for the “Google X phone” and “Google X” running Android 5.0.1

First, we know that Motorola is working on new phones – execs from Google have admitted this time and time again. Do we know that one of them will be called the “X Phone”? No. Sure, we’ve seen a job listing for the project from Motorola with X Phone mentioned, but if anything, that’s a code name (or a troll job by Google), which typically do not show up on benchmarks. Second, it’s clear that someone tried to create these results just to stir the pot. We’ve got phones with varying processors, three different versions of Android, and one even going as far as to use the word “phone” in the name. Because phone manufacturers love to use the word “phone” in an official capacity at the end of their naming conventions. Can you imagine if HTC went with the “HTC One Phone”? You get the point.

Oh and what about the top result that shows “Android 5.0.1″? We’re pretty sure the next big release of Android is 4.3, not 5.0. You can find a handful of reports who are claiming to have seen Android 4.3 in server logs (we’ve got sightings in our analytics as well), still as Jelly Bean, but nothing on 5.0 and we’re two weeks from Google I/O. If Google were to unveil 5.0, we’d have seen some sort of trace of it by now.

In the past, we have used benchmarks to help shape stories and gather details about upcoming phones, but AnTuTu listings of a random phone name with a random version of Android is not a part of that process. If you want to find legitimate results, GLBenchmark is probably your best bet.

Motorola is indeed working on new phones, hell, we even have the real codenames for them already. But there are no signs right now that point to Google actually releasing an LTE Nexus 4. We’d love for that to happen, but anything related to it at this point is nothing but rumor. Thankfully, we are two weeks away from I/O and will find out for sure then.

Benchmarks for Nexus 4 LTE and X Phone Appear Running New Versions of Android, Probably Shouldn’t Believe Them Though is a post from: Droid Life