Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) With Android 5.0 Lollipop and LTE Variant Launched

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Also Read Motorola to make a ‘mysterious’ device announcement on 25 February

Finally The Motorola's 25th Big announcement is here. No one had never expected that this company can amaze us in this way. As everybody were expecting the Moto's new beast "MOTO MAXX" but again the company announced its another beast.

Motorola's publicised "exciting announcement" has been made. The company on Wednesday launched the next generation of its popular budget Moto E smartphone in two variants, the Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) and the Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) LTE. The unlocked 3G model is priced at $119.99 (approximately Rs. 7,400) and the LTE model at $149.99 (approximately Rs. 9,200).
Starting Wednesday, the new Moto E (Gen 2) and Moto E (Gen 2) LTE will begin rolling out in more than 50 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, announced Motorola in a blog post.
"We're introducing the next generation, packed with more features and functionality to give people around the world even greater access to life's possibilities - without a hefty price tag," claims the company. The company says it is also bringing some software features from its Moto X flagship, and includes Moto Display and Moto Migrate.
The new Moto E (Gen 2) and Moto E (Gen 2) LTE run Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-the-box. Both the variants support single-SIM and are identical in terms of specifications, except that the 3G variant Moto E (Gen 2) packs a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 SoC (with Adreno 302) whereas the Moto E (Gen 2) LTE features a 64-bit quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC (with Adreno 306). Both feature 1GB of RAM.

 

Upfront, the Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) and its LTE variant feature a 4.5-inch qHD (540x960 pixel) display with a pixel density of 245ppi, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection along with anti-smudge coating. The previous generation Moto E bore a 4.3-inch qHD display with a pixel density of 256ppi.

Both Moto E (Gen 2) variants pack a 5-megapixel rear camera, and this time Motorola has included an LED flash, apart bringing the much-lamented front camera onboard, in the form of a VGA (0.3-megapixel) sensor. The 8GB of built-in storage (twice that of the original Moto E) on both Moto E (Gen 2) handsets can be expanded via microSD card (up to 32GB).
(Also see: Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) vs Motorola Moto E in comparison)
Connectivity options on the Moto E (Gen 2) include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0LE, GPS/ A-GPS, GLONASS, FM radio, and Micro-USB. The handset measures 129.9x66.8x12.3mm, and weighs 145 grams. It is backed by a 2390mAh battery, significantly larger than the previous generation.
Users can choose from a Black or White base colour, with the choice interchangeable Motorola Bands (Golden Yellow, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry, Purple, Red) and Grip Shells (Golden Yellow, Charcoal, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry).

See full Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) specifications 

See full Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) LTE specifications

Also Read Motorola Moto Maxx India Launch Teased by Flipkart

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Motorola Moto Maxx India Launch Teased by Flipkart

Also Read Motorola to make a ‘mysterious’ device announcement on 25 February

Motorola India seems to be gearing up to launch its high-end Moto Maxx in India via its exclusive online retail partner, Flipkart.
The online retailer on Thursday teased the launch of the Motorola Moto Maxx in India via a tweet that read, "There's a Moto beast coming your way... exclusively on Flipkart. Stay tuned for more details. #MotoOnFlipkart."
The tweet was accompanied by an image that included taglines such as "Get your life turbocharged" and "accelerated performance, Ballistic Nylon fairing, revving in soon." The tweet is clearly referring to the Ballistic Nylon build of the Moto Maxx.
Unfortunately, there was no mention of any launch date from the online retailer; though we can expect more details to surface as the India launch closes in.
To recall, Motorola launched the Moto Maxx smartphone in November as the global variant of the Droid Turbo that is exclusive to US mobile carrier Verizon. It was priced at BRL 2,199 (approximately Rs. 48,000) for the 64GB model.
The Moto Maxx also features a layer of DuPont Kevlar fibre, and is claimed to be protected inside and out with water-repellent nano-coating. It packs a massive 3900mAh battery, the biggest amongst some of the high-end phones. The Moto Maxx also supports Motorola's Turbo Charger, a new accessory from the company stables that is said to provide 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging.

 

Other specifications of the Moto Maxx include a 5.2-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) display offering a pixel density of 565ppi; a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective layer; a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor clocked at 2.7GHz coupled with an Adreno 420 GPU and 3GB of RAM; a 21-megapixel rear autofocus camera with f/2.0 aperture and dual-LED flash, and a 2-megapixel front camera. Connectivity options on the Moto Maxx include 4G LTE with LTE Cat 4, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, and GSM/ EDGE/ HSPA+. As mentioned above, the smartphone comes only in one storage variant - 64GB.
The smartphone ran Android 4.4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box; though Motorola earlier this month started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the high-end Moto Maxx smartphone.

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Motorola to make a ‘mysterious’ device announcement on 25 February

Also Read The Best Free Browsers for Android

Motorola has reportedly sent out a mail to the press teasing an “exciting announcement” which will take place on 25th February. A box will be hand-delivered to members of the press. The Verge stated that there was no indication as to what could be in the box. They say that this could be the first major product from the company after Lenovo had acquired it back in October.

Motorla hasn’t been in the news much for the upcoming MWC event either. The mysterious announcement could either be an updated Moto 360 or any other smartphone from the company. It might be too soon to see another Moto X as of now. Motorola could possibly reveal something new altogether in the department for virtual reality.

But as yet, there is no conformation, nor any rumour whatsoever of what the device could be. The report added that the only indication Motorola has given so far is “everything you need fits inside one box.” We will only know what the company will unveil on Wednesday.

Earlier, e-commerce giant Flipkart hinted that Motorola could possibly launch the Moto Maxx in India. Flipkart had tweeted out saying, “There’s a Moto beast coming your way… exclusively on Flipkart. Stay tuned for more details.”

Its international pricing comes to roughly Rs 49,000, so this will be the most expensive Motorola phone that will sell in India.

Also Read Facebook's Internet.org Comes to India: Everything You Need to Know

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The Best Free Browsers for Android

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Also Read Facebook's Internet.org Comes to India: Everything You Need to Know

Ask people what makes a phone "smart" and you'll usually hear about apps - but for most of us, the app we use the most is still the browser. Both Google and Apple know this, and that is why both their default browsers are pretty good. Safari still rules the roost on iOS, and Google Chrome is great on Android.

Third-party alternatives are better at a few things do, such as addons, which makes them worth checking out. One shoe doesn't fit all and Android has enough alternatives available for anyone to find the browser they might need. Here are our top picks.

Google Chrome

The default browser on Android is a good enough choice for the most part. Chrome's minimalist design is appealing, and you can sync all browser data across devices and platforms - all your bookmarks and passwords are saved across devices so you don't have to set it up from scratch. The browser also features voice search and a cool data compression feature. Customisation options are a little limited, but aside from this small drawback, Chrome delivers on all counts.

Download Google Chrome

Firefox

Mozilla Firefox for Android offers a polished and smooth browsing experience and it has a vast library of addons that will please power users. These addons add a lot of flexibility to the browser, allowing you to block ads, manage your passwords, or create custom gestures for common actions such as opening new tabs. Firefox also lets you save articles for offline reading and features a wide range of customisation options.

Also Read Swatch's Android-Compatible Smartwatch Won't Require Charging: CEO

Download Firefox

Hover Browser

Hover Browser has one truly unique feature - it is a floating app. This means that it "hovers" over other apps, so you can use browse the Web while doing something else such as watching a movie or sending emails. The app did not run on an LG G3, but did work on other devices, but luckily, the G3 has a similar browser pre-installed. This is useful if you want to keep an eye on a webpage while using other apps. For example, you could work on document, while keeping cricket scores open in a corner.

Download Hover Browser

Opera Mini

Opera Mini's interface has begun to look dated but that doesn't stop us from recommending it for those with low-end phones. The app takes up less than 4MB space after installation. It offers a data compression feature and lets you reduce quality of images on websites. This will help those facing Internet connectivity issues. The full Opera browser also has these features, and a much better interface, but it takes up more resources as well.

Download Opera MiniDownload Opera

CM Browser

Also Read Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) Leaked in Images; Expected to Launch at MWC

If you're using a phone that doesn't have too much storage, then CM Browser from Cheetah Mobile - the makers of Android antivirus app CM Security - is a good, lean choice. CM Browser offers a smooth browsing experience with a clean interface, and the app is just a 1.92MB download that takes around 5MB after installation. The interface is nicer compared to Opera Mini, making it a decent alternative.

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UC Browser

UC Browser is one of the most popular Android browsers. It has some cool features that improve the browsing experience; for instance, it preloads webpages so they load quickly. It also tries to manage downloads and automatically resumes them if there is an Internet connection drop. UC Browser also integrates with Facebook to show you notifications, and has a host of in-app content like cricket scores.

Download UC Browser

These are the best browsers on Android, but there is one more that you might want to check out. Dolphin doesn't have a particular essential feature that makes it stand out, but it is a well-designed browser with some nice addons. For example, it lets you convert any webpage to PDF and even has Dropbox addon. Unlike Firefox, Dolphin's addons are on Google Play, so you'll have to install them like you install apps.

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Facebook's Internet.org Comes to India: Everything You Need to Know

Also Read Swatch's Android-Compatible Smartwatch Won't Require Charging: CEO

Reliance Communications and Facebook announced on Tuesday that the two are bringing free access to several websites for Reliance's mobile users via Internet.org. During the event, Gurdeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Business, Reliance Communications said the goal is to deliver "zero bandwidth content" and the speeds are dependent on the user's phone as well as the kind of connection they have (2G or 3G). From Reliance's end, networks in the launch circles have been strengthened and Internet.org ensures that the destination site is as light on bandwidth as possible.

At the event marking its announcement we got to check out how the service works and it left as feeling there's a lot to be desired. Here's everything you need to know about Internet.org in India.

Who is this for?

To use Internet.org you have to have to be a Reliance Communications customer in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Chennai, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, or Kerala. While all Reliance customers in these circles can use it, the target audience is people without data plans - over 70 percent of mobile phone users in India, according to Singh. The idea is that this population can either not afford Internet access or don't realise what Internet can do for them, and hence don't have a data connection. Internet.org can address both these concerns.

The company plans to roll out Internet.org to Reliance Communications users across the country in the next 90 days.



"It acts as a great lever at the point of sale, it is far more consumer friendly, network friendly, and it's a win-win for all," Singh said. Our time using Internet.org wasn't very consumer friendly, but the free access should still bring a lot of people on-board - to at least try out the Internet for the first time.

How does it work?

Also Read Motorola Moto E (Gen 2) Leaked in Images; Expected to Launch at MWC

Internet.org gives Reliance Communications customers free access to 40 sites, which includes Wikipedia and WikiHow, various news sites, some e-commerce sites, and of course, Facebook and Facebook Messenger. To access these sites for free, Reliance users need to log onto Internet.org from their phones using either Opera Mini or UC Browser for Internet.org. While these browsers come preloaded on many low-end smartphones, the kind Facebook and Reliance are targeting with Internet.org, you have to wonder how those with the stock Android browser are supposed to use the service. Reliance users can also call 1800-300-25353 (toll-free) and be greeted by a voice menu that will send the URL of the service they wish to use to their phone via SMS.

If you're on an Android device, you can also access the 'whitelisted' sites via the Internet.org app - there's no app for iOS or Windows Phone yet. If you try to access a site that isn't a partner with Internet.org, you're charged for the data used. So, for example, a Bing search can be used to look up information, but opening one of the search results will cost you money. You are given a warning before leaving free access.

If you are not a Reliance Communications customer in the above-mentioned circles, visiting Internet.org just gives you an error message, and a nudge to buy a SIM from Reliance.

Leaving free access

You are taken to a page that explicitly asks you if you want to continue browsing, warning you that you will incur charges on the data plan the phone is under currently. And if it is not on a data plan, you can purchases several packs listed on the page itself. Interestingly, while Twitter is not a partner with Internet.org, we saw a 15 day Facebook pack for Rs. 15, and a 1 day data pack for Rs. 9 which included 1GB of 2G data, and unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp.



A mixed bag of sites

As for the sites that promise free data usage, news, health and social welfare made up the biggest categories, so your need for news and malaria prevention are taken care of. Most of the categories available make a lot of sense, be it search (via Bing) or Sports (ESPN Cricinfo). What's interesting though are the choices of some of the sites themselves. For instance, there's no presence of e-commerce sites, barring Olx and Cleartrip. There is no Flipkart, Amazon, or MakeMyTrip. These may not be sites visited by the intended audience but how many people using Internet.org will buy air tickets from Cleartrip?

Internet.org has also apparently deemed that the next billion accessing the Web don't need email, and can use Facebook Messenger instead. While Facebook claims to be all for net neutrality, it's the selection of services on display that make its claims questionable.

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"I think that the principles of net neutrality are around pro-access. And the principles of Internet.org are pro-access as well," says Chris Daniels, Vice-President of Internet.org at Facebook. "The thing that we're trying to do is bring access to many more people through Internet.org. So I see that the philosophies of this and net neutrality are entirely aligned." Daniels does not agree when we say that there is a conflict here, as Facebook is essentially restricting access by offering only specific services for free.

"I don't see the conflict there actually, the net neutrality discussion today really focusses on the people who are already online," Daniels says. "And what it needs is to also do is be inclusive of the people who are not online. So bringing more people online we view as pro-access, right in line with the principles of net neutrality as well."



With Internet.org rolling out today in seven circles, and both Reliance and Facebook also keeping mum on key issues such as which parties are paying for the bandwidth.

The privilege of power brokers

In the past, Facebook has tied up with other operators such as Airtel to bring Facebook for free via 0.facebook.com. Facebook has also tied up with Airtel in regions of Africa, but for India, the company's placed its bet on Reliance.

"When Mark [Zuckerberg] was here in October we met with the team at Reliance," says Daniels, "and we found that we shared the same vision, we shared the same passion, not about just bringing people connectivity, but more importantly bringing the benefits in people's lives that connectivity can deliver."

This move puts Reliance in a very enviable position of a powerbroker for a host of Internet-driven businesses and violates net neutrality and "pro-access" that Facebook apparently believes in. Given that the people usually gravitate towards anything free - even at expense of user experience and functionality in most cases such as this - we doubt that many would complain.

For Internet.org to truly become as transformative as Facebook claims or wants, it needs to include a much wider selection of sites, and include access to its competitors. For now, its goals are not clear - for example, we asked Daniels what happens after a number of people are on-board. Is the goal to transform them into paying Internet users who access the open Web? He however stresses that the goal right now is simply to bring people access to useful content, and that these questions will be answered over time.

Also Read WhatSim Lets You Use WhatsApp for Free While Roaming Worldwide

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Swatch's Android-Compatible Smartwatch Won't Require Charging: CEO

Swatch, one of the world's biggest watchmakers, is planning to take on the upcoming Apple Watch launching its own smartwatch in roughly the same time-frame - within the next 90 days. The Apple Watch will begin shipping in April.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Swatch CEO Nick Hayek said the smartwatch would rely on NFC to connect with smartphones, and that it would be compatible with Android and Windows software. For now, there is no indication of whether the smartwatch would be compatible with iPhones.

While the specifications of the Swatch's smartwatch are still a mystery, its Chief Executive Officer Nick Hayek stated that the Internet-connected wearable would not have to be charged. This might be a huge plus point for the company, as all smartwatches from major manufacturers till date, including the upcoming Apple Watch, need to be charged separately. Some, like the Apple Watch, need to be charged daily.

Bloomberg says Swatch has much experience with smartwatch-related technology, which includes long-lasting batteries. Swatch's sub-brand Tissot has been making touchscreen watches since 1999.

Swatch is also said to be competing with Apple on the grounds of mobile payment system, Apple Pay. As per the report, Swatch is in talks with Switzerland's two largest retailers, named Migros and Coop, for its mobile payment system. However, the Cupertino firm seems to be strides ahead of its Swiss competitor, with Apple Pay having seen much adoption across retailers and banks already since its launch in September.

Rest assured, with both the tech giant and a major watchmaker releasing their smartwatches, the months of April and May will definitely be the most important months this year in the wearable-tech industry.












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