Twitter now lets anyone send you direct messages

<img alt="Twitter now lets anyone send you direct messages" src="http://ift.tt/WEdu3i" /> <p>Twitter has introduced an optional feature that lets you receive direct messages from anyone, even users you don't follow or who don't follow you.</p> <p>Luckily the "feature" is off by default - you can turn it on in the settings menu.</p> <p>The feature is accompanied by a new "Messages" button in the <a href="http://ift.tt/1tueTKi">iOS</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1sh4T3i">Android</a> Twitter apps as well.</p> <p>Twitter first opened your inbox to direct messages from anyone in 2013, but it quickly <a href="http://ift.tt/1gnNO6W">eliminated the feature.</a></p> <p>Now it's returned, likely so the social network can try to stake a place in the burgeoning world of messaging apps - where Facebook's <a href="http://ift.tt/1GvfAcP">so-far successful</a> efforts have doubtless ruffled Twitter's feathers.</p> <p>In addition Twitter pointed out in a <a href="http://ift.tt/1DtYzdp">blog post</a> that less restricted DMing will let users communicate more easily with businesses, something we'll all be able to agree on when we no longer have to follow Comcast's support account back just to yell at it privately.</p> <p>But anyone who turns the feature on will open themselves up to private abuse from strangers to complement the public abuse many are already enduring - something Twitter still needs to address in a meaningful way, and hopefully soon.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://ift.tt/1cjltXu">Android KitKat</a> is still going strong</li> </ul> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1aLAqYK" width="1" /><br clear='all' /> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://ift.tt/1Hoyja8" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1aLAsQd" /></a><br /> <a href="http://ift.tt/1aLAsQf" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1aLAqYM" /></a><br /> <a href="http://ift.tt/1Hoyjqt" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1aLAqYO" /></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://ift.tt/1aLArf2"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1aLArf4" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1Hoylid" width="1" /><img alt="" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1Hoylif" width="1" /><br /> <br /> From <a href="http://ift.tt/yaGhNV">techradar</a><br /> <br /> from http://bit.ly/1blY9A1<br />

Twitter now lets anyone send you direct messages

Twitter has introduced an optional feature that lets you receive direct messages from anyone, even users you don't follow or who don...

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Review: UPDATED: Moto 360

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://bit.ly/16Db7GR'><img alt="Review: UPDATED: Moto 360" src="http://ift.tt/YPTUGv"/><br/><br /><h3>Introduction</h3><br /><br/><br /><p><strong>Update April 2015:</strong> The Moto 360 is now $165 (about £112, AU$217) in the US.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Likely an offer to sway would-be <a href="http://ift.tt/1JcMmNH">Apple Watch</a> buyers, the low Moto price is limited to the all black smartwatch design and the "stone" design with a silver watch body.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Google's even tacked on <a href="http://ift.tt/1KYlSWs">free shipping</a> to make the deal more enticing, not that it wasn't already.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><em>Review continued below ...</em> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><a href="http://ift.tt/1rmZ6s6">Moto 360</a> proves that smartwatches can be as fashionable as its Google Now-integrated software is functional, making it the first Android Wear watch worth strapping to your wrist.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Its circular watch face takes cues from stylish designer wristwatches with analog tickers, not square-shaped smartwatches. The very computerized-looking <a href="http://ift.tt/1cHZiNW">Pebble Steel</a>, <a href="http://ift.tt/1m2gpvw">Samsung Gear Live</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1luz4nT">LG G Watch</a> are no match for what Motorola had up its sleeve.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>There's a certain beauty to outer Moto 360 build quality too, not just its form. Its stainless steel housing and genuine leather default wristband make it appropriate for almost any occasion. It's enough to make it rank second in our <a href="http://ift.tt/1fg2RiY">best smartwatch</a> list.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The specs on the inside, however, do leave the smartwatch feeling a little hollow. Poor battery life and an underperforming processor don't do Moto 360's good looks justice. The watch's charm is shortened by its lack of longevity, but Motorola clearly shaped a winner that's more ambitious looking than the overly boxy <a href="http://ift.tt/1seQ3O2">Apple Watch</a>.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/X0PXgG" title="Moto 360 has style and substance, just not battery life or a reliable processor" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Release date and price</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 launched in the US on September 5, and it's currently on sale (but sold out) at select UK stores while on pre-order at others. Expect it to ship again with a late October release date from O2, Clove, Amazon, John Lewis and Tesco. In Australia, it's still on track for the vague fourth quarter.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Moto 360 price in the US and UK is on par with its all-metal construction and leather strap. It costs a reasonable $250 (£200, likely AU$275). That's $100 cheaper vs the entry-level Apple Watch.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>That's only a little more expensive than the extremely limited Android Wear smartwatch pickings from Samsung and LG, none of which can compare to Motorola's stylish design. Moto 360 may be cheaper than rival round smartwatch competitor <a href="http://ift.tt/WqslSk">LG G Watch R</a> too, so it's reasonably priced.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Display</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>There are few sharp-edged downsides to the Moto 360, and none of them can be found on its round, 1.56-inch LCD display. In fact, Motorola's enterprising circular screen is so attractive it instantly became the antithesis of the "smartwatches look like a miniaturized cell phone worn on your wrist" argument when Google <a href="http://ift.tt/1hCPc1D">first announced Android Wear</a> in March.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Complimenting this traditional watch appearance is Moto 360's always-on screen. It tells the time even when its backlit LCD kicks into a power-saving dimmed display mode. It shares this feature with the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch along with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. All three watches remained scratch-free during our week-long testing periods.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1rE4F99" title="Which would you rather wear? A battery-sipping Pebble Steel or stylish Moto 360?" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 further draws circles around its competition with an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the LCD brightness. It's especially convenient when you need a bright screen in sunny conditions or want to reduce battery life consumption in dark environments without having to manually adjust the setting. Walking and fiddling with a tiny touchscreen you can't even see outside is a wearables world problem that Moto 360 solves. <a href="http://ift.tt/1aFRdFt">Pebble</a> has this bonus feature sans a color-rich screen, while the colorful Galaxy Gear and G Watch do not.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>This does mean that the Moto 360 LCD isn't a full circle. Its ambient light sensor and display drivers are housed inside a blank horizon line that sits at the bottom of the watch face. While the black bar doesn't ruin the analog watch experience, the screen is cut off and it has allowed the LG G Watch R to tout itself as the first "full circle" Android Wear smartwatch. LG is hiding the components inside the outer bezel, masked with second-hand tick marks, while Motorola chose to extend the screen pixels to the edge. It's really a matter of preference.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/YPTTCv" title="We're more worried about the LCD's screen door effect than the blank horizon line" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Filling that nearly perfect circle is 205 pixels per inch with a 320 x 290 resolution. That's roughly the same resolution as the smaller Gear Live but fewer pixels vs Samsung's 278ppi. Doing the math, this means Moto 360's bigger LCD has stretched pixels and there's a noticeable "screen door effect" in a side-by-side comparison. Moto 360 also forgoes a fancy OLED screen like Samsung's smartwatches and sapphire glass like the forthcoming Apple Watch. But it's a better trade-off given the on-point price.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Hands and wrists down, Moto 360 has the best-looking smartwatch design thanks to its circular display that other smartwatches are clearly looking to mimic.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Design and comfort</h3><br /><br/><br /><p><strong>Update 3/10/2015:</strong> Moto Maker is the tool that lets users in some regions and on certain carriers customize the <a href="http://ift.tt/1Ds5jha">Moto X</a>, and now, you'll be able to use a new version of the program for your Moto 360.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Starting in March, the Moto Maker will let you design a 360 with the following options: silver, black and champagne gold casings, two sizes of leather or metal bands and 11 different default watch faces.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>You'll be able to pick your favorite configuration, seeing the watch's look update in real time - and once your custom 360 arrives you'll be able to freely exchange it for a different design if you don't like it after seeing it in person.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Review continued below ...</p><br /><br/><br /><p>There's more to the Moto 360 design than its disk-shaped display. Stainless steel surrounds the screen with very little bezel and this all-metal frame is smooth and undecorated. It's only interrupted by a microphone hole on the left and single button on the right. Stainless steel can also be found in the traditional watch clasp with an identical silver finish.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Matching that quality is a genuine leather strap made by the Chicago-based tanner Horween, the company known for being the exclusive provider of NFL footballs. The Moto 360 strap not only feels durable, the leather has been devoid of the typical stretch marks and wrinkles that, after a few fastens, so often mar other smartwatch bands including the Pebble Steel.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT4ci" title="Its stainless steel frame is going to match the forthcoming metal bands nicely" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>This also contrasts with the <a href="http://ift.tt/1m2gpvw">Samsung Gear Live</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1luz4nT">LG G Watch</a> even more because they use plastic casing and rubber straps out of the box. Motorola is making leather the default strap in the US and UK. The first colors introduced are black and gray, while an even lighter stone leather option is listed as "coming soon." Falling under the same here-but-not label are light and dark stainless steel bands that are going to cost extra $299 (likely north of £224, $299) when they launch with the watch.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>You can always upgrade to the metal straps later, as they'll be sold separately too, or add a third-party 22mm band. But be warned: Motorola doesn't guarantee all 22mm off-the-shelf bands are compatible with Moto 360. Plus, its own custom-made leather slips out of the rear of the stainless steel housing without lug ends or visible spring bars. It looks elegant, but requires patient digging in order to successfully swap out what's already a great default strap.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT5wG" title="Horween Leather Company's genuine leather strap neatly slips out the rear casing" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Even with the premium materials on-board, Moto 360 weighs 1.7 oz (49g) with its genuine leather strap. That's actually lighter than both the Samsung Gear Live at 2.1oz (59g) and LG G Watch at 2.2oz (64g).</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Motorola comes up a little light in the specs, as we look beneath the stainless steel facade.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Specifications</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Update 12/15/2014: Motorola has stated that all Moto 360 devices should now have received the <a href="http://ift.tt/1sh4T3i">Android 5.0 Lollipop update</a>, bringing all of the cool new features of Google's latest mobile operating system to its wearable.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Smartwatch specs are often considered boring because they're filled with small numbers and purposefully underperforming processors next to today's monster PC components. That's why a lot of manufacturers are quick to tout the outward appearance before hastily glossing over the lightweight internals. Moto 360 takes this to a whole new level.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>There's a Texas Instruments OMAP 3 processor making this digital smartwatch tick, and it's about four-year-old technology that can also be found in the MotoACTIV and Moto Droid X. Maybe Motorola had to burn through these 45nm chips instead of opting for the more efficient, yet capable Qualcomm-made 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 found in the <a href="http://ift.tt/1qgGYoa">LG G Watch</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1m2gpvw">Gear Live</a>.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT4sA" title="Moto 360 could have looked like the bezel-heavy prototype on the right. The horror!" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>The TI OMAP 3 translates into occasional lag when swiping through <a href="http://ift.tt/1nOdqHK">Android Wear</a> menus, almost as if you didn't apply enough pressure on the touchscreen. It's not you, though, it's the the turn-of-the-decade chip. Just as frustrating is that the watch's connection to our phone (and therefore the internet) was lost several times, more than with its Google-powered rivals.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Even with a decently sized 320mAh battery listed on the specs sheet, the inefficient Moto 360 processor taxes its - at best - day-long battery life before it shuts down. That shouldn't be. Our Samsung Gear Live ran even longer with a Super AMOLED display with a 300mAh battery. Likewise, we got a day and a half out of the LG G Watch with a 400mAh battery.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/X0PXgG" title="This is what is inside the Moto 360" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 does come with 512MB and 4GB of internal storage, exactly like the Samsung and LG watches, so the blame lies squarely on the round watch's inferior chip. It does lack the GPS capabilities being introduced with the <a href="http://ift.tt/1nWLlPz">Sony Smartwatch 3</a> later this year and offline music playback that is expected to be a part of <a href="http://ift.tt/W733II">future Android Wear</a> watches.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>However, Motorola managed to make Moto 360 somewhat workout-worthy thanks to a built-in optical heart rate sensor and pedometer neatly integrated into its first-party fitness app.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Interface, apps and fitness</h3><br /><br/><br /><p><em>Update 12/12/2014:</em> Along with <a href="http://ift.tt/1u4sVCU">two new band colors</a> - silver and the new champagne gold - <a href="http://ift.tt/1nOdqHK">Android Wear</a>has been updated with <a href="http://ift.tt/1sh4T3i">Android 5.0 Lollipop</a> meaning the Moto 360 should have some nifty new functions coming soon.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The update is focusing on <a href="http://ift.tt/1AVFtOg">watch faces</a> which you can download from the Google Play store. Designs are centered around PAC-MAN, Despicable Me, Plants vs Zombies (which you can check out below) and much, much more thanks to a new Watch Face API now available to developers.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The <a href="http://ift.tt/Vf9kCc">Android Wear app</a> has also been updated to make browsing, downloading and switching watch faces simpler - plus you can now view your apps' battery usage and storage. You can also quickly bring a card back if you've accidentally dismissed it, quickly access various settings by swiping down from the top of the screen, easily block notifications from any app directly from your watch and recently used actions now appear at the top of the list when you tap the watch face.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>New modes include Theater Mode which lets you keep the screen off and mute vibrations when you're in a dark room, and Sunlight Mode which temporarily boosts the screen to maximum brightness.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>With the update, users can add and swap out Android Wear watch faces using the companion phone app.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360" src="http://ift.tt/1wFzLlr" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360" src="http://ift.tt/1wFzLlt" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360" src="http://ift.tt/1AnM6Ie" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Original review continued below ...</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 runs the same <a href="http://ift.tt/1nOdqHK">Android Wear</a> as every other Google-powered smartwatch. It has a familiar card-based interface lifted from Google Now and <a href="http://ift.tt/11cVW2g">Google Glass</a>, and it often slides contextual information onto the screen in addition to text messages and important email. This time, however, it's all done on a circular screen.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/X0PXx4" title="Moto 360 reminded me of an upcoming flight out during a baseball game" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>The round display doesn't really change swiping up and down between different notifications and flinging them to the right to clear them. Sliding your finger left still explores the pop-ups a little more, whether you want to transition from today's weather to a full five-day forecast or access messaging options like "reply with voice," "delete" or "open on your phone."</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Most of information is actually "glanceable" with little touchscreen interaction needed. Android Wear is designed to predict what you want to know, meaning commute times to places you've searched, frequently visit and add to your calendar appointments should automatically slide into view. Same goes for friends' birthday reminders, stock data and tracking of packages. It all sits right under the current time without you needing to set anything up.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT4sH" title="Ahead of the game! I knew about the incoming storm before the grounds crew" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>That came into play when I searched for the nearby Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field after touring Motorola's headquarters. Sure enough, right before I left for the ballpark, it listed the commute time complete with traffic. When I got to the game, Moto 360 followed along in near real-time with score updates. Gray clouds gathered during the seventh inning and Moto 360 beamed me a timely severe weather alert about three minutes before rain suddenly whipped through the historic stadium. Everyone else, including the grounds crew, was caught by surprise.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/YPTUWY" title="Ahead of the game! I knew about the incoming storm before the grounds crew" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>That rain delay gave me an opportunity to test out Android Wear's voice recognition feature by saying the magic words "Okay Google" whenever the screen is active. Dictating texts messages to friends without retrieving my phone with my slippery hands made the 30 minute wait a little more Chicago bearable. When the game was officially canceled, saying "Okay Google, call a car" summoned Lyft. Uber is still missing out on the novelty of having its users summon a car sort of like Batman can do with his Batmobile.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Google's software picks up the right words most of the time, though it doesn't work well in noisy crowds or give you much time to think. A one-second pause transitions to the "sending" menu on its part and initiates frantic canceling on yours.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Apps and fitness</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 launches with a few more apps than early adopters who bought the <a href="http://ift.tt/1m2gpvw">Samsung Gear Live</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1luz4nT">LG G Watch</a> had access to on July 7. There are now 44 "featured" apps that are part of the Google Play Store's <a href="http://ift.tt/1nOdqHK">Android Wear</a> section, up from the original 35 apps.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Eat24 makes sure that food delivery is within arm's reach, Wunderlist lets you organize a better to do list and Tinder lets you swipe left and right on potential dates that you'll never actually go on. These new Moto 360 apps join existing top names like Groupon, IFTTT, All the Cooks recipes, American Airlines and Glympse.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT4sJ" title="Beam your real-time location to friends you're supposed to meet while briskly walking" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Glympse is particularly useful on a watch because it sends your location to contacts of your choosing. Meeting up with someone while you're busy walking or driving? Say "Okay Google, start Glympse" and send them your real-time GPS coordinates in an instant. They can follow you for a set period of time on their phone, taking the guessing game out of that meet-up time.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Google Maps is still one of the most useful Android Wear apps. Asking Moto 360 to "navigate to..." initiates turn-by-turn directions on the watch while starting the full route mapping on your phone. It beats having to deal with the normal phone interface that's dangerously complex and takes too many presses in order to get where you're going.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1t7Lenz" title="Google Maps on Moto 360 gives you turn-by-turn directions while your phone has more detailed navigation" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 doubles as an activity tracker, and it's a slightly better workouts companion than the Gear Live or LG G Watch. That's because Motorola goes a few pedometer steps further with a heart activity app that tracks how you're performing against daily and weekly benchmarks. My custom goals require 30 minutes of running and the watch counts down the minutes over the course of the day while also adding up all of my steps. Swiping to the left, I can then see a (hopefully) built-up streak Sunday through Saturday.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Google Fit is here too. It uses the watch's built-in pedometer and heart rate monitor whenever I ask "Ok Google, show my steps" or "Ok Google, show me my heart rate." It counts up the metrics on small-scale graphs and timelines, which isn't enough to compete with the <a href="http://ift.tt/1hgHhcA">Jawbone Up 24</a>, <a href="http://ift.tt/YELt0h">Basis Carbon Steel Edition</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/17P25QG">Fitbit Force</a>. There's also no way to see this data on a phone or tablet just yet. That may come with the <a href="http://ift.tt/12BUvrE">Android L</a> launch.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Motorola also promises more functionality in future software updates including the ability for the Moto 360 to recognize when your transition from running to cycling without your manual input. That's a rare feature among watches, and one we liked from the brainy-but-ugly <a href="http://ift.tt/YELt0h">Basis Carbon Steel</a> fitness tracker.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Compatibility and battery life</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 is compatible with all Android smartphones that run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, <a href="http://ift.tt/1cjltXu">Android 4.4 KitKat</a> and the not-yet-delicious-named <a href="http://ift.tt/TeEe8E">Android L</a> beta. The requirement is in place due to the fact that Google introduced Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy support in its July 2013 update. You'll find this is demanded by almost all modern smartwatches and fitness trackers.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Android 4.2 Jelly Bean users are out of luck as are loyal iPhone owners. Neither the <a href="http://ift.tt/189Ri8B">iPhone 5S</a> nor the flashy new <a href="http://ift.tt/1qeFpax">iPhone 6</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1ttAEHI">iPhone 6 Plus</a> can sync with the Moto 360, as much as Apple fans may envy the round smartwatch that outclass the newly unveiled <a href="http://ift.tt/WSREN7">Apple Watch</a>. So far, no <a href="http://ift.tt/1nOdqHK">Android Wear</a> watch is compatible with iPhone.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT5N8" title="Sorry, iPhone owners, Motorola's smartwatch isn't for you." width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>As for its compatibility with water, Moto 360 isn't completely waterproof, but it did receive an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. It can be worn in the shower, rain and when you sweat, and can survive one meter down for about 30 minutes before you run into trouble. Keep in mind, none of these scenarios will bode well for the default leather strap.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Our first week of Moto 360 battery life tests always gave us a few hours shy of a full day per charge. Its 320mAh battery is better than the 300mAh battery found in <a href="http://ift.tt/1m2gpvw">Samsung Gear Live</a>, yet it actually lasted less time than the Samsung's smartwatch.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Three weeks in, a Moto 360 firmware update extended the battery life and we became more diligent at turning off the screen and ambient light sensor sometimes. We didn't quite see the two days that others have reported, but the battery finally bested previous its 24-hour mark with a solid day-and-a-quarter of moderate use. Better, but still not good enough.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The <a href="http://ift.tt/1luz4nT">LG G Watch</a> leads the Android Wear lineup with a still-unacceptable day-and-a-half of battery life, and LG may retain that honor with a 410mAh battery in the <a href="http://ift.tt/1qghwhU">LG G Watch R</a>. <a href="http://ift.tt/1cHZiNW">Pebble Steel</a> and the <a href="http://ift.tt/1aFRdFt">original Pebble</a> remain the overall smartwatch kings of longevity with up to seven days between charges.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>At least there's a novel way to recharge the Moto 360. It comes with a Qi charging dock that is perfect for resting the watch on a nightstand and instantly turning it into a small bedside clock. It dims the display so that you can still see both the clock in the dark and the energy ring that completes the battery's circle of life by reaching 100%. This takes about two hours before the Moto 360 is ready for another 24-hour day.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/YPTTSX" title="Battery life is terrible, but the fancy Qi charger helps a little bit" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Our tests have found that Moto 360 is compatible with other chargers like Google's own Nexus Qi charger meant for the <a href="http://ift.tt/17C7GgZ">Nexus 5</a> smartphone and <a href="http://ift.tt/1312i1g">Nexus 7</a> tablet. The included Qi charger is small enough to tout around in a backpack, but its major drawback is that you have to remember to pack it. Spontaneous daytrips will often leave you without a way to juice it up again and, in effect, turn Moto 360 into a paperweight that can't even tell you the time of day.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>It doesn't have the more practical micro USB port that the newly announced <a href="http://ift.tt/1nWLlPz">Sony Smartwatch 3</a> is going to have, but the Moto 360 charging method is much more futuristic and cool. That better fits the stylishing theme that Motorola is going for with its watch.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Verdict</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 is the Google-powered smartwatch that early adopters have been holding out for, and it has finally started ticking. Motorola is just in time too. Less than a week after it launched, the fabled iWatch turned into the real 2015-bound <a href="http://ift.tt/WSREN7">Apple Watch</a>. The full-circle <a href="http://ift.tt/1qghwhU">LG G Watch R</a> also went into production for a fall release.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>But now that it's here, Moto 360 is the best <a href="http://ift.tt/1nOdqHK">Android Wear</a> smartwatch next to the slim pickings from Samsung and LG. Its cut-off bottom that houses the screen tech doesn't bother us, and we kind of like the fact that this pushes the pixels out to the edge in place of an ugly bezel. It's a nice effect that compliments the overall design that's fashion-forward, specs last.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT4J8" title="Moto 360 voice commands are good for sticky situations" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><h3>We liked</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360's circular display is attractive, and it outclasses every other smartwatch with more than just that thanks to its premium build. Stainless steel casing and genuine leather straps really contrast with the plastic and rubber-constructed <a href="http://ift.tt/1m2gpvw">Gear Live</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1luz4nT">G Watch</a>. The ambient light sensor, a first for an Android Wear watch, gives its almost full circle screen an edge too.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Its Qi inductive charger is leagues better than the proprietary Pogo pin chargers used by both Samsung and LG. Rounding out its attributes, Moto 360 is lighter, more comfortable and has better fitness tracking capabilities for a price that isn't much higher than its rivals.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT5Nc" title="Moto 360's second home is my wrist. Its first is this charger." width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><h3>We disliked</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>It's clear that the later-than-expected Moto 360 release date wasn't enough time to perfect the first circular Android Wear smartwatch. Battery life is often 18 to 24 hours with normal use and the LCD isn't as crisp as the Super AMOLED displays found in Samsung's never-ending lineup of smartwatches.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Texas Instruments OMAP 3 processor doesn't do it any favors either. It's underpowered in terms of performance, yet requires more actual power than the efficient Snapdragon 400 chips used by Samsung and LG. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The small Qi charging dock, while a step in the right direction, may leave you stranded without a way to charge and leave you out of luck. Completely missing the boat are envious <a href="http://ift.tt/1qeFpax">iPhone 6</a> and <a href="http://ift.tt/1ttAEHI">iPhone 6 Plus</a> owners, as even the new <a href="http://ift.tt/1gPc2WR">iOS 8</a> isn't compatible with the stylish Moto 360.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Moto 360 review" src="http://ift.tt/1qcT5Ni" title="Never miss important messages" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Final verdict</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Moto 360 has been on our wrists for a week and, unlike its short battery life, it has become an undying source of questions from tech-savvy and fashion-focused admirers alike. It's not always functional to show off to these folks. That constantly draining battery and archaic processor means the watch occasionally fails to respond. Nevertheless, its round design really does bridge the gap between geeky smartwatches and traditional watches.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>That's to be expected. Motorola's marketing team likes to tell a story about how the company asked a group of children to draw a watch. Almost every youngster drew a circular watch. It's the iconic watch design that Samsung and LG didn't tackle, and Apple Watch misses entirely. Motorola, of all companies, comes through with a real winner. It's ready for the <a href="http://ift.tt/1rNQ1sd">Apple Watch vs Moto 360</a> watch face-off.</p><br /><br/><br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1EAHkfR" width="1"/><br clear='all'/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1CFVMyh" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1EAHjbA"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1EAHkfV" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1EAHjbE"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1CFVLdE" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1EAHjbK"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1EAHjbM"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1CFVMyj"/> </a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1EAHkwj" width="1"/><img alt="" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1CFVMyl" width="1"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />From <a href="http://ift.tt/yaGhNV">techradar</a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />from http://bit.ly/1DftMUB<br/></div>

Review: UPDATED: Moto 360

Introduction Update April 2015: The Moto 360 is now $165 (about £112, AU$217) in the US. Likely an offer to sway would-be Apple Watch buye...

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In Depth: Thank Phonebloks for Google's Project Ara

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://bit.ly/16Db7GR'><img alt="In Depth: Thank Phonebloks for Google's Project Ara" src="http://bit.ly/1ansFba"/><br/><br /><h3>Pushing for change</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Google is making great strides in the modularity movement with its customizable smartphone, <a href="http://bit.ly/1FSc8Xr">Project Ara</a>. But the search giant has but one man to thank for getting the tiled phone off the ground.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Creating "a phone worth keeping" was a personal project for Helmond, Netherlands-based designer Dave Hakkens. His initiative, <a href="http://bit.ly/1ansCMr">Phonebloks</a>, shaped up as a smartphone with swappable components, but the original idea worked modules into washing machines, coffee makers and refrigerators too.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>"When I started this project, IoT [Internet of Things] was the focus. Everything will be connected, so my vision was that everything in your house would eventually be based on modules.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>I quickly realized that this was an enormous plan that felt too big, so I started to work on just the phone because not only is it smaller in scale, but it's something that we all use a lot."</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Hakkens quipped that his "big dream was a good starting point," but at the time, he had no clue that Phonebloks would be the start of an amazing journey alongside Google.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Every problem has a solution</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>The inspiration for the modularity project came from an unlikely source: a broken camera. The good news was his point-and-shoot was salvageable. The bad news? It would cost more to repair the camera than it would take just to buy a new one.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Phonebloks" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIj3d" title="Photo Credit: Phonebloks" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>This dilemma presents the crux of Hakkens' argument with Phonebloks: if tech products are built in such a way so that users could easily and affordably swap out components without any technical know-how, they'd be less likely to resort to tossing them in the garbage.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Thus, the goal of Phonebloks was twofold: to paint a crystal-clear picture of the worsening state of electronic waste around the globe and to help get a modular smartphone to market.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Based on modules, or "bloks" as Hakkens usually refers to them, the Phonebloks concept earns the slogan "a phone worth keeping" for a reason.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Phonebloks" src="http://bit.ly/1ansFbb" title="Photo Credit: Phonebloks" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Rather than being built into the phone, components like the camera and speaker are served up as individual, Lego-like modules that can be replaced should they break or if you want an upgrade. With this setup, you'll never have to throw your phone away when one part stops working.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Putting Phonebloks on blast</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>A good idea won't make it very far if no one hears about it. Fortunately for Hakkens, along with his small team, there was little trouble cooking up interest in Phonebloks.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Their introductory YouTube video scored one million views in just under a day's time. Capitalizing on this viral success, a follow-up social media campaign gained another one million supporters.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Phonebloks" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbi" title="Photo Credit: Phonebloks" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>At this point, the tech world was abuzz and even writers at TechRadar got pretty <a href="http://bit.ly/1ansFbc">excited</a>. Companies also took notice of the initiative and were eager to meet with Hakkens and the rest of the Phonebloks team to discuss plans for bringing a modular smartphone to fruition.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Of those that took interest, Phonebloks landed on <a href="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbj">Motorola</a> as the right fit to make that happen. However, Hakkens was unaware that work was already well underway in Motorola's labs on a modular smartphone before Phonebloks even entered the picture.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>"They were working on something secretly in their labs," Hakkens told me "It was very much still in the brainstorming process, but it was something that they wanted to get started on immediately. Once they saw the splash that we made with the Phonebloks video, they realized that making a modular phone would be a bigger undertaking than it seemed at first."</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Project Ara" src="http://bit.ly/1ansFbd" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>The fruits of the collaboration between the Phonebloks community and the brains at Motorola resulted in Project Ara, a vibrant, Android-powered prototype with modular architecture on full display.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>"From that point, it really became much more serious. It went public and things really started to accelerate," Hakkens said. "The people who were working on it saw that there was a need for this phone to exist. Phonebloks boosted their project from where they were to something much bigger."</p><br /><br/><br /><ul><br /><li style='list-style: none'><br/> </li><br /><li>Lead photo credit: Facebook</li><br /><li style='list-style: none'><br/> </li><br /></ul><br /><br/><br /><h3>The modular future has (sort of) arrived</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Since its unveiling in late 2013, Project Ara, now overseen by Google, has drastically improved in operability and has matured into the sleek appearance with the newest prototype, dubbed "Spiral 2".</p><br /><br/><br /><p>What's more, time has allowed for some innovative module ideas to be thought up. At Project Ara's developer conferences, established tech firms like Sennheiser and <a href="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbk">Toshiba</a> have shown off plans for jumping into the modularity ring. But the real promise comes from the developers, who are creating more out-of-the-box modules. Particularly, ones geared toward healthcare solutions.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Project Ara" src="http://bit.ly/1ansFbe" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>"It's in the interest of many to create modules aimed at healthcare. A lot of people don't really care about having a camera on their phone, but they'd rather have a blood glucose meter."</p><br /><br/><br /><p>These ideas aside, Hakkens thinks the surface of potential has barely been cracked. Because of the phone's inherent openness, however, this could quickly change.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Project Ara" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIjjv" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>"Modularity in phones right now is like the App Store when it launched," he said "At first, you couldn't possibly imagine all of the unique applications that developers would create, but … you can already see it now with companies brainstorming and producing prototype modules … This is a huge, untapped market."</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Different paths</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Phonebloks deserves recognition for building a massive amount of interest for modular smartphones. But with Project Ara, the rest of the cards are in Google's hands.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Hakkens outlined the Android maker's plan for the modular phone: "Google set a timeline of two years [from 2013-2015] to see if it's actually possible to launch a modular phone. Then, they'll do a test run somewhere to see if people understand the modular concept and see how it sticks, if it runs well, etc."</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Project Ara" src="http://bit.ly/1ansCMv" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Google is, in fact, looking to do a <a href="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbq">trial run</a> of Project Ara in Puerto Rico at some point in 2015. How that turns out will likely determine when (or if) a widespread release of the modular phone will happen.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Hakkens has been thrilled to be a part of making his dream into a reality, but he's accepted that during its transformation, the "phone worth keeping" has taken a direction he hadn't planned.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Phonebloks" src="http://bit.ly/1ansCMy" title="Photo Credit: Phonebloks" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>"The main reason that Phonebloks exists is to reduce waste, but this alone doesn't totally align with Google's interests," he said. "In the end, some of our ideas aligned, but not all of them."</p><br /><br/><br /><p>I asked Hakkens to expand on this misalignment. He offered a clue as to why Project Ara ditched the Phonebloks's eco-centric focus in favor of customization, or what Hakkens called the "sexier" pitch, that Google has pursued while building the phone "designed exclusively for 6 billion people".</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Project Ara" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbt" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>"The roots of the personalization [of Project Ara] could be because the project began at Motorola," he said. "They were primarily interested in how they could make a truly 'personal' phone. That's always been their side of the story. That's why they started the project - I just helped."</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Hakkens stays busy working on new design projects, but he and his core team are constantly collaborating with the Phonebloks community to refine their hopes for modular phone of the future.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>"One of the main things we do is give people insights, share updates and videos on our progress," he said.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Phonebloks" src="http://bit.ly/1ansCMB" title="Photo Credit: Phonebloks" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Regarding future involvement with Project Ara, Hakken stated, "We [Phonebloks] are independent from Ara, but we really like what they're doing with the homebrew community, so we are still close partners.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>In the end, we really like what they're doing regardless of whether their emphasis was on personalization or not. Either way, they are developing a modular phone."</p><br /><br/><br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbw" width="1"/><br clear='all'/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1ansFbf" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIjjC"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1ansCMC" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhbB"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1ansFbj" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhrT"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1ansFbl"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhrV"/> </a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://bit.ly/1ansFrz" width="1"/><img alt="" height="1" src="http://bit.ly/1PDIhrX" width="1"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />From <a href="http://bit.ly/1DWqmcX">techradar</a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />from http://bit.ly/1ansFrD<br/></div>

In Depth: Thank Phonebloks for Google's Project Ara

Pushing for change Google is making great strides in the modularity movement with its customizable smartphone, Project Ara . But the search ...

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