You love smartphones, but not the contracts

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

For a limited-time, try Moto X risk free and save*

According to a recent report by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), Motorola customers are some of the most satisfied smartphone owners in the country. In fact, Moto X ranks as one of the top three smartphone brands!

The report also sheds light on the massive shift we are seeing in the wireless and mobile industry. People are happiest without a contract. The good news is that more and more carriers understand the importance of offering simple to understand, no contract wireless plans. To embrace going off-contract, we recognize the need to offer great premium smartphones at a better price so you get more bang for your buck.

With that in mind, we’re offering you the opportunity to customize and try a new Moto X for 30 days, risk free at a new off-contract price of $299** (after $50 rebate).

To try one out, simply design and order your device at motomaker.com and activate it on a no-contract plan. If you don’t love your Moto X, simply ship it back to us for free any time in the first 30 days. No hidden fees or restocking charges — and if your Moto X didn’t turn out how you envisioned, we’ll even give you one “do-over” for another shot at designing your Moto Maker creation. If you love it, keep it and get a $50 discount off the purchase price**.

As always, we want to give you the power to choose a great mobile experience, and when it comes to form and function, Moto has you covered.

Check out motorola.com/sayhellotomoto to say goodbye to contracts and Hello to Moto.

Posted by Jeff Miller, Head of North America Sales


*Say Hello to Moto valid from 6/15 - 6/29
**Requires survey response for rebate eligibility, Price will appear as $349.99 in cart. Refund to the credit card you used to make purchase will be processed 6-8 weeks after delivery.

How Moto X inspired these West Hollywood stylists

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

Spring is here and with the warm weather are endless ideas for cute looks. We’re a big believer in choosing your own style, which is why we give you the choice to customize your Moto X in a variety of different combinations, including genuine leather and wood backs. So we asked West Hollywood-based fashion experts at The Style List on Sunset Boulevard for their advice on creating a look that works.

They gave three tips:

Tip #1: Make a statement - A statement piece is a great way to define your look. It could be a skirt you love, a bold piece of jewelry—or even your phone!

Tip #2: Customize your style - It doesn’t matter what this season’s trends are—the most important thing is that you’re your own person! Make the style your own by choosing pieces and colors you love.

Tip #3: Be inspired - Look around you for inspiration to bring together your outfit or your style. Your statement piece could be a great place to start.

Want to see happens when you put these tips to work? The Style List uses customized Moto X’s as their statement pieces and put together three adorable outfits based on the phones:



Visit Moto Maker to create your own customized Moto X today.

What is Patina?

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

You might have heard the phrase in an art history class, read it in article, or even heard a friend use it describing her shoes: patina. It’s the term people use to describe what happens to an object over time. Patina has an especially beautiful effect on leather and wood—which means that your Moto X and Moto 360 become more beautiful over time.

So we turned to an expert to learn more—Nick Horween, CEO of Horween Leathers, whose family has worked in leather http://lasvegasin.blogspot.com /2015/03/design-details-getting-to-know-horween.html" target="_blank">for generations and provides the leather for our products. 

Though many different types of material patina, leather has a particular beauty when it ages.

“Horween leathers are vegetable-tanned leathers,” he said. “That means they are cured by tree barks. Because of that, the leather is very accepting of the environment: sunlight, oils, waters. Since all our leathers have an aniline finish - which means there are no pigments - nothing gets in the way of it interacting with the environment. That lets the leather patina pretty quickly.” 

Just as important is how you handle the leather. The way you touch and hold your phone, how it rubs against your pocket or when you expose it to light - all these things affect the patina. A tobacco-colored piece of leather might develop a caramel shine while black leather takes on highlights that give the leather visual depth.

To treat your leather well, be careful not to overexpose your leather. Too much sunlight can actually be harmful so leaving your Moto X baking in the sun at the beach or on the dashboard is definitely not a good idea. And moisture can lead to issues like mold so be very careful to dry your back and front if moisture does get on the phone. No need to worry about special cleaners, just wipe down with damp cloth when needed.

This is good news for people looking to develop a patina on their phone in short order. But, as Horween is quick to add, there are no short cuts. “The best you can do is just to use it.”

Photo Credit: Kevin Flynn

Design Details: Getting to know Horween, the family leather makers for Moto 360 and Moto X

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

Authenticity of materials and quality craftsmanship are at the heart of every product we make. As designers we understand the importance of what we call “Materiality.” It is a critical component to engaging people’s senses in a visceral way: the look, feel, smell and sound of materials help elevate the quality of an object. Materials can add delight and surprise to a person’s experience and remind people of positive and emotional memories when they use our products.


Every material we choose must embrace a high standard of quality, both in terms of how it looks and how it feels against your skin, so that you can choose a distinct look to fit your style.

So when it came to choosing the leathers for Moto 360 watch bands and for the back of your Moto X through Moto Maker, the details counted. We turned to Horween, a classic, family-run leather company that has been making quality leather for more than 100 years.

We sat down with owner Nick Horween, whose great great grandfather started the company in 1905. Nick answered a few key questions about Horween leather and even let us snap a few pictures around the workshop near Chicago’s Loop.

Can you give us an overview of the Horween story?
I’m a fifth-generation Horween. The company was founded in 1905 in Chicago by my great great grandfather Isadore Horween who worked at a different tannery from 1893-1905. We bought our current building in 1920. The building was a tannery before. There were many tanneries in Chicago when we purchased the property, but we’re the last tannery today. Our factory has always been family owned and operated. All of our hides are fully traceable. They come from here in the Midwest and also Toronto, Quebec, and France.

Why do you think Horween leather ages so well?
It has a lot to do with what we put in the leather. We use vegetable tannage extract made from tree barks. Just like wood, when left out in the sun, the leather darkens. Our leather also reacts well to oils from hands, which instead of breaking the material down give it more color and character.

Where is Horween Leather used?
Forty percent of our leather is used for sporting goods. It’s used for NFL Wilson footballs and NBA Spalding basketballs. About half of the players in the MLB play with Rawling gloves made from Horween leather.

Another 40% of Horween leather is used for footwear. Then 20% is used for small leather goods. One interesting fact is that all of the boots for troops in North Africa during World War II were made using Horween Leather.

Why did you decide to partner with Motorola?
When Motorola approached us, it was a new market segment for Horween, which got us really excited. Motorola has been very good at taking something like Horween leather and making it functional. It’s been a great partnership

What is the production timeline for Moto X and Moto 360 leathers?
Our leather is made completely by hand, as my family has done for generations. For Moto X and Moto 360, the leather takes a total of five to six weeks to make. This includes tanning the hides, splitting the hides to weight, and dying the hides.

What is the best way to care for Moto X and Moto 360 leathers?
Really just continue to use them regularly. If you want to clean the leather, you can simply use a damp, soft cloth to wipe it down. The natural oils in your skin and hands help take care of the rest and make your leather more beautiful and distinctive over time.

Posted by Dickon Isaacs, Design for Wearables.

Moto Maker for Moto 360: It’s time to design a watch to fit your style

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

You have a style all your own. Now, you can customize a modern watch that satisfies your personal tastes and have it delivered to your door step. Introducing Moto Maker for Moto 360.

Choose from three case finishes: dark metal, light metal or champagne gold. Then pick one of nine bands, including leather, metal, and our new mono-link design, a modern take on the classic metal band style. Complete your design by choosing one of 11 watch faces. Once you get your watch, it’s easy to swap watch faces from our collection or through Google Play.

Need some inspiration? Each watch has a personality all its own. Ever think about how you would describe yours? Here are just a few fun watch personalities that might come through with these new combinations:

Professor Hip
Light Finish Case with 22mm Cognac Leather Band

It's 20 years from tenure but this Moto 360's leather band is ready to rock with any elbow patches. It's even happy to provide notifications on the latest 17th Century Lit forums. Build your own Professor Hip.

Golden Goddess
Champagne Gold Finish Case with Cognac Leather Band

Does the champagne gold finish match a sun-kissed golden forearm? Of course it does. This watch keeps a constant eye on UV levels using its weather app—all while perfecting an impeccable watch tan line. Build your own Golden Goddess.

On-the-Go Stylist
Light Finish Case Champagne Gold Metal Band

Where “boyfriend” meets fashion trend, consider this watch your On-the-Go Stylist. It'll add that finishing touch to whatever outfits you wear throughout the day, from your morning meetings to post-dinner drinks. Build your own On-the Go Stylist.

Wheeler Dealer
Light Finish Case Dark Metal Band

This watch style says that it's here to close. It's serious and sleek and ready for some smooth talking. A quick check of the messages may mean the final detail needed to seal the deal. Build your own Wheeler Dealer.

The Modernist
Light Finish Case with Slim Champagne Gold Metal Band

It is, in a word, impeccable. It prefers simplicity and elegance in both fashion and design. It could fit into any design magazine—cultivated with clean lines and polished steel—but instead it's on your wrist. Build your own Modernist.

Feel the #Motolove With Up to $140 Off Your Purchase at Motorola.com

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

Whether you eat all the caramels first, insist on dark chocolate only or pick through candy hearts for your favorites, how you enjoy Valentine’s Day is your choice. This year, we’re choosing to spread the love with a sweet deal.

Starting next Monday, February 2 at 11am CT, we’re offering a promo code* worth $140 off your purchase of $499.99 OR $50 off your purchase of $249.99 on Motorola.com. Pick your favorite Motorola devices and accessories, such as a new Moto X (2nd Gen.) and Moto 360, add them to your cart, and purchase before February 14.

If you miss that offer, you can still get a great deal. Spend $499.99 and get $100 off, or get $35 off a purchase of $249.99 — no promotion code needed. The same exclusions below apply and you’ll still need to complete purchase by 10:59 p.m. CT on Saturday, February 14.

How do you get in on it? Simply register here. Once you enter your contact information, we’ll email you a unique, one-time-use promotion code that can be redeemed no later than Saturday, February 14th at 10:59pm CST.

Here are the details*:

• Register on Monday February 2, from 11am - 11:59pm CT for a code worth $140 off your pre-tax purchase of $499.99 OR $50 off a pre-tax purchase of $249.99.
• You must use a shipping address within the U.S. 
• On Tuesday, February 3: $100 off $499.99 OR $35 off $249.99 site-wide.
• Consumers have until until February 14 at 10:59pm CT to redeem.
• This offer excludes Nexus 6, Moto X (2nd Gen.) on Republic Wireless, and the Extended Service Plan. Limit two devices among Moto X (2nd Gen.), Moto G (2nd Gen.), Moto G 4G LTE (1st Gen.), Moto E, and Moto 360. Promotions cannot be combined.

For more deals, company news, and fun, be sure to follow us on Google+, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And in case you have questions about anything above, check out the FAQ.

Happy Valentine’s Day. Try spreading a little love around yourself with #Motolove.

Designing for Choice: The Making of the Wood-Back Moto X [VIDEO]

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

As a designer, there is this leap of faith that is hard to describe. You come up with a great idea. You know there is a need for it. And then it’s time to make it real, not only in the designing but in the engineering. The two have to come together.

When it came to designing the wood Moto X (what we now fondly know as the Natural Collection), we had to take that kind of leap. We looked to you, our consumers, for inspiration. We visited your homes and listened to your stories. You showed us what mattered to you and why.

We knew that allowing people to customize their phones with a variety of colors—bright, dark, shy, loud—their own accents, and a personalized message was an important step. But we wanted to create another choice that would make a really unique statement. Looking out into the market of black and white phones, we thought of designing something really different: a wood phone.



It was time for the leap. There were challenges to overcome to make our idea real. We had to:

• Design for uniqueness. Synthetic materials, like plastics, are purposefully created identical, so that technology like the antenna work every time. The beauty of wood is that it is a natural material, so every piece is gorgeously different. This meant we had to design the shape of the wood backs—as well as the technology inside—to work the same every time, regardless of the wood’s variation.
• Design to last. This organic material also needed to have the same durability that we create in synthetic materials. The shape and the design of both the wood backs and the casings became key to making the phone weather every day use—art as much as science.
• Design for choice. Underpinning the ability to choose a wood, leather, or color back was Moto Maker. Moto Maker is what would allow customers to choose exactly what they wanted. Beneath the clean website design was more than just code. We had to develop new software, workflows, and creative teams so people could see their designs online before ordering. Offering a personalized message on the back of the phone made it possible to create a totally one-of-a-kind device, but it also required new, automated equipment that had never been used before.

We moved into a shared space, an epicenter where all the leads could work together for the next 10 months. We were moving so fast and so fluidly that we needed to be able to tap on each other's shoulders to ask the most random (but ultimately important!) questions. Moto Maker was weaving our teams and company together in a completely new way to address the unique challenges of enabling you to choose from literally thousands of combinations.

The result?

The ability for the first time to express your style by choosing from first real wood—and now leather—phone backs, among other colors and customization. The backs are designed to be unique, just like you. The feel of the wood isn't slick and artificial. It's smooth but natural, intended to feel amazing and wear beautifully over time. It’s authentic and crafted. It’s not meant to be your standard mobile device.

As the co-creators of this phone, we’ve spent a long time designing. Now it’s your turn to design the rest. Take a leap. What Moto X are you?

Posted by Katie Morgenroth, Lead Industrial Designer

Style Speaks: An Interior Designer on Why Black is the New Black

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

Welcome to the Style Speaks Series—a moment in which we talk with experts and thinkers about what style and color really mean and what it conveys in our lives. Color is integral to how we feel, how we choose to communicate, how we choose express ourselves—and even how we choose to customize our phones! This is what these people think about color. What about you? What do you choose?

When it comes to color, Sabreen Madden is obsessed. As an interior designer and teaching assistant at Harrington College of Design, color is integral to how she creates spaces. During her day-to-day she is always thinking about color theory, color relationships, and design elements. “Everywhere I go, everything I do, every package I look at—even a box of cookies—I’m thinking about the color and design,” she said.

Black is one of Sabreen’s favorite colors. She took us around the house in Chicago she beautifully designed and shared how she thinks about what black conveys.

While she was decorating her home on Chicago’s North Side she took inspiration from raw, concrete, industrial modern spaces she saw during a trip to New York in 2009. “I realized it’s not scary. You can do one wall that’s black and pair it with white and really have an open and airy space that has these dark, dramatic moments,” she said. “I decided to just go for it.”

Sabreen said that the color black is often associated with a “gothic” stigma, but that was not her intention when she chose the paint for her industrial modern loft on Chicago’s North Side. She used black to create depth in her home.

“In my space I’m using black for design purposes,” Madden said.

 

Sabreen Madden’s husband, Terrence, built the fireplace in their industrial modern loft on Chicago’s North Side. She said the black paint around it is used intentionally as camouflage, so when a fire is burning it’s “kind of it’s own element,” she said, adding that the black paint also camouflages the television. Their dog Winnie can often be found sleeping on the fireplace’s steel hearth.

“I think black is a very sophisticated color or non-color,” Sabreen says. “I hope that when someone sees the black in my house they see it as an intentional element to enhance what’s within the space.”

Sabreen said color choice in a home is very subjective and contingent on what feeling the homeowner is attempting to convey. In her North Side home, where she used black and white as her base colors, Sabreen said she was attempting to be bold, dramatic and sophisticated, while also keeping her space personal.

“Usually when we go through the design process, we have a series of interview-type exercises to determine what a client wants in a space,” she said. “First and foremost, you want to have a functional space, and then you can talk about what kind of feeling you want. In that way, I try to get examples. If you want a light and airy feeling, what are some examples of a space that gave you a light and airy feeling? What about that space made you feel light and airy? Then we can build off of that.”

Sabreen said that if a client wanted to include black in their space, she would advise them to use it as an accent color to create some contrast. If too much black is used, she added, it can get too heavy, too dark, and can make a space look small.

“It would definitely show they are willing to take a risk,” Madden added. “Black isn’t something you see in residential design very often, but when you don’t hold back it can be very powerful and fun.”

“When you have all really light neutrals in a space, there’s nothing really to ground your eye, there’s no focus wall. Black is an absorption of all colors, so it’s not even really a color. In the bedroom I use it as a back wall to ground the bed. In another room I use it to frame the bookshelf, I also use it to emphasize the alcove.”

“You can get inspiration from anywhere, and that’s what I do now,” she says. ‘I even look at my dog, Winnie, and think about her color combinations compared to other dogs, I can’t help it.”

What colors speak to you? What do you choose? Tell us on Twitter by tagging #choosechoice. 

Posted by Noelle Chun, Blog Team

Mark Your Calendar! Pre-Order Begins Tuesday for New Motorola Products, Moto 360 Back on Sale

Moto Maker - You need to decide whether you’d prefer to have a super-sharp screen or killer battery life. The Lenovo Yoga 920 lasts hours longer than the HP, and performs better in benchmarks and games with the same CPU (although if this is thanks to the Meltdown vulnerability, the playing field is effectively levelled). lasvegas, well we have collected a lot of data from the field directly and from many other blogs so very complete his discussion here about Moto Maker, on this blog we also have to provide the latest automotive information from all the brands associated with the automobile. ok please continue reading:

Choose to beat the crowd. Starting Tuesday, September 16, pre-orders will open for some of the new Motorola products we http://lasvegasin.blogspot.com /2014/09/motorola-gives-you-power-to-choose-with.html" target="_blank">announced earlier this month, including Moto X for AT&T, Moto X - Pure Edition, Moto Hint and Motorola Turbo Charger. All four products will be available for pre-order on motorola.com starting at 11 a.m. CT.  Shipping dates vary by product and will be provided at checkout.

Moto X for AT&T - Order the AT&T version of the new Moto X starting on Tuesday.

Moto X - Pure Edition -  The off-contract Moto X is available SIM unlocked and with an unlockable bootloader for $499.99 USD.

Moto Hint - Our discreet wireless earbud gives you complete control of your phone and allows you to access everything you need by just using your voice. It will be available for $149.99 USD.

Motorola Turbo Charger - Our fastest charger ever takes just 15 minutes on the latest Moto phones to get up to 8 more hours of battery life. It will be available for $34.99 USD.* 

Plus, we have more great news... Moto 360 will be back in stock starting Tuesday in the U.S. on motorola.com. You’ll want to hurry as quantities will be limited.

And don’t forget about our Trade In program, making it easier than ever to purchase a customized Moto X using Moto Maker. Just send in your old device, and we'll mail you a Motorola Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $300 depending upon the phone you send in. Visit motorolatradein.com to learn more.

You’ll hear more from other U.S. carrier partners soon and from our partners around the globe regarding additional Motorola product availability. For those in France, Germany and the UK, take the new Moto Maker for a spin and design your own Moto X in advance of availability at your local motorola.com site.

Our newly enhanced Moto Maker site features:

• More choice - new leather finishes, FSC-certified wood finishes and Moto X - Pure Edition
• New rendering engine - get a better feel for what your customized phone will look like with our new new photo realistic rendering engine
• New tools - now compare several designs side-by-side or start off with options curated by our designers

Choose choice and happy shopping!


*must be purchased separately due to longer pre-order time