With the new ad, this phone is back in my "I need" section.

[jova33]

Lately I've been thinking S4 or HTC One. I'm on VZW, so I wanted to wait til the One was released to decide. I pretty much brushed off the Moto X when those leaked specs showed something less than spectacular.

But what do they mean when they say a phone designed by you? If it were just the color and memory options(16, 32, 64GB), then that wouldn't be anything new, even if there were 20 skins to choose from. What I'm hoping it means is if I want the base model with the lowest tech, I could pay $200 off contract, and then add 2 more GB of RAM +$40, better processor +$50, more internal storage +$50, higher res screen +$50, and so on.
I mean, that would be as easy as designing and ordering a PC online. I really don't think that's possible though.... if that is the case though, that would really be a game changer. They could keep the Moto X name going and in two years or so when you upgrade, just design yourself a new Moto X that's up to date.

I've been holding off getting a new phone because I wanted to see the VZW HTC One, but now, I'm really curious about this phone.

 

[SiempreTuna]

It would be really interesting to know what they mean by "designed by you" - if it did inlcude options on things like processor, screen size, battery size, having external storage etc, that could be a real game changer ..

.. but personally, I don't see it. I reckon all you'll be able to change are irrelevant details like the colour and the storage - so basically, the stuff you can already change on lots of other phones. Changing anything else would be a bit of a design challenge and TBH, while you and I might like that, I'm pretty sure it would turn off more regular consumers than it would turn on.

 

[damewolf13]

That is a very interesting concept.
How cool would that be to be able to design the perfect phone for your very own needs?
If that is how they are choosing to campaign this phone, it had better be able to live up to the hype.

 

[jova33]

You see, I don't think they'd even put "designed by you" in their advertisement if it were only cosmetic and on board storage because that's nothing new. The ad also said something about its never been done before and no one thought it was possible. So....

 

[nj02vette]

You see, I don't think they'd even put "designed by you" in their advertisement if it were only cosmetic and on board storage because that's nothing new. The ad also said something about its never been done before and no one thought it was possible. So....

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Let me first say I hope I'm wrong, and we all get our wish. But it won't.

To make millions of phones, you need to have mass assembly techniques in place, supply chains lined up, and QC/testing/packing/logistics taken care of. Lastly you need

Processors aren't pin compatible (generally), so several PCB designs. Screen sizes affect cases, so there's another variable, etc. Different modems for the various networks, etc. I could go on and on, but it's highly unlikely this could happen. It's not impossible at all, but the tradeoff is cost.

I guarantee all the options will be cosmetic, or gimicky. The root hardware will be static.

Of course I've been wrong before. Once. It happened on a Wednesday, much like today.

 

[rabidhunter]

Hey, for an affordable option, I'm all in. I don't care if all I can change the color. Just that alone is enough to hook me. I don't need all the bells and whistles, just a phone that's Android and not Pantech.

 

[jova33]

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Let me first say I hope I'm wrong, and we all get our wish. But it won't.

To make millions of phones, you need to have mass assembly techniques in place, supply chains lined up, and QC/testing/packing/logistics taken care of. Lastly you need

Processors aren't pin compatible (generally), so several PCB designs. Screen sizes affect cases, so there's another variable, etc. Different modems for the various networks, etc. I could go on and on, but it's highly unlikely this could happen. It's not impossible at all, but the tradeoff is cost.

I guarantee all the options will be cosmetic, or gimicky. The root hardware will be static.

Of course I've been wrong before. Once. It happened on a Wednesday, much like today.

Well with Google backing, Motorola can afford a loss. Google's main source of revenue is still advertisements, and any machine that will pump out ads is a win for them. Android OS is designed to put ads out there

 

[SiempreTuna]

Looks like I was wrong - latest rumour has it that "designed by you" actually only means you can pick the colour of the back - so no storage option as I'd predicted above - and then only if you buy direct from Moto ..

Maybe that "designed by you" line should be changed to "disappointing you .. unnecessarily"

 

[jova33]

Well.... It'll still be here before the HTC One lol

 

[kokiangel]

Yeah, that designed by you hype is also kinda gonna be a waste anyway since most folks will put their precious phones in a case so that pretty back/bezel won't even show! I don't see paying extra for that.

 

[Misleadb4]

Is this phone going to be called an Motorola, or Google? Since Motos going In to hibernation. Just a thought.

Can't wait to switch to this phone, unless its not worth it ofcourse.

 

[jova33]

Motorola
A Google company

Motorola is just owned by Google, it's not going anywhere

 

[The_Chief]

Is this phone going to be called an Motorola, or Google?

Motoroogle

 

[GandalfTehGray]

I am one of the few that still have unlimited data on Verizon, I was kinda dreading the day the my Gnex dies and I'd have to bite the bullet on a new phone. The way this is shaping up I think I could get by on a Moto X. Today's "mid tier" are still better than 1 year "top tier" and Android is only getting smoother.

First Motorola X Press Images Hit The Web [Updated: White And Profile]
A commenter:
The graphics score is really interesting...
Like the data from previous leaks from GFXBench, the Moto X (in its stock state) easily beats phones with Snapdragon 600 in graphic tests.
Use Pantech Vega Iron (720p, Snapdragon 600, on screen buttons) as an example:
Ice Storm Extreme:
Moto X: ~7100
Pantech Vega Iron: ~6100
Proof: http://attach.mobile01.com/att...
HTC One: ~6200
Galaxy S4: ~6000
This baby must be optimized really well, or there are other secrets....

 

[mistermojorizi]

I am one of the few that still have unlimited data on Verizon, I was kinda dreading the day the my Gnex dies and I'd have to bite the bullet on a new phone. The way this is shaping up I think I could get by on a Moto X. Today's "mid tier" are still better than 1 year "top tier" and Android is only getting smoother.

First Motorola X Press Images Hit The Web [Updated: White And Profile]
A commenter:
The graphics score is really interesting...
Like the data from previous leaks from GFXBench, the Moto X (in its stock state) easily beats phones with Snapdragon 600 in graphic tests.
Use Pantech Vega Iron (720p, Snapdragon 600, on screen buttons) as an example:
Ice Storm Extreme:
Moto X: ~7100
Pantech Vega Iron: ~6100
Proof: http://attach.mobile01.com/att...
HTC One: ~6200
Galaxy S4: ~6000
This baby must be optimized really well, or there are other secrets....

if you have more than one line, you could use it's upgrade. or transfer your upgrade to a different line (called an "alternate upgrade" or a "buddy upgrade"). then transfer the new phone to your line without losing data. if you don't have another line, you could open a dummy line and keep a dumbphone on it for something like $10 a month. Another option is to get a used or new phone of ebay/craigslist et al.

 

[GandalfTehGray]

if you have more than one line, you could use it's upgrade. or transfer your upgrade to a different line (called an "alternate upgrade" or a "buddy upgrade"). then transfer the new phone to your line without losing data. if you don't have another line, you could open a dummy line and keep a dumbphone on it for something like $10 a month. Another option is to get a used or new phone of ebay/craigslist et al.

Got my gnex from Swappa, adding a line isn't an option right now.

 

[jova33]

I've been reading about this financing program, you keep your plan and finance a new phone.

 

[GandalfTehGray]

I've been reading about this financing program, you keep your plan and finance a new phone.

From my understanding not available on unlimited But it doesn't seem to save you a lot of money either.