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LineageOS is one of the most popular custom Android ROMs available, with over two million active installations. The project officially ended support for the 14.1 (Android 7.1) branch a few days ago, in preparation for LineageOS 16. The 16.0 branch is finally rolling out, and it's bringing Android 9 Pie to dozens of phones and tablets.
As we all know by now, Motorola isn't doing too well. None of its phones are standing out these days, and the Moto Z3 that debuted yesterday is just an old Moto Z2 that was never launched being used to showcase the not-yet-available 5G Moto Mod. Motorola has now confirmed via Twitter that no more Moto Z phones will be announced for the rest of 2018, which isn't entirely unexpected.
Android 8.0 Oreo rolled out to the unlocked Moto Z in May. Now, the Verizon "Droid Editions" of both the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are getting the update. It comes with all the expected Oreo goodies — picture-in-picture support, notification improvements, and the like.
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Android 8.0 Oreo is finally rolling out to unlocked Moto Z handsets with model number XT1650-03 in the United States. The release weighs in at just over 1.4GB and includes Android security patches up to March 1. It comes almost two months after Oreo started reaching Moto Z owners in Brazil.
LineageOS is the most popular custom ROM by far, and the project continues to update more devices to version 15.1 (based on Android 8.1 Oreo). Last time we covered LineageOS, the OnePlus 2, Pixel C, and Nexus 6 received Oreo. Since then, several more devices have been updated, including Google's flagship phone from 2012.
Motorola seems to be moving away from interesting and niche Moto Mods, likely due to poor sales of anything that isn't a backplate or battery. The only interesting Mod to be come out recently was the gamepad accessory, but now there's another noteworthy Mod on the horizon. The company has announced a 'Power Pack & Digital TV' mod, but it probably won't be coming to the United States.
Motorola hasn't been doing well lately. Several planned phones have seemingly been delayed or cancelled, and half of the company's engineering team in Chicago was laid off earlier this month. While Oreo has yet to be released for the company's 2016 flagship (at least beyond carrier testing), developers can now download the updated kernel source code.
Motorola has confirmed that it is laying people in its Chicago office off, though it also says "our Moto Z family will continue." Prior to this announcement, multiple people close to the company have stated that a significant portion of Moto's engineering staff in Chicago has been laid off, with a Moto Mod owner going as far as saying the "Z team in Moto was irreversibly impacted." However, Motorola says that the Moto Z line will "continue."
Motorola has been pushing Moto Mods for its Z-series phones over the last few years, but few of the Mods have been any good. Serial leaker Evan Blass just outed an upcoming Moto Mod that will most likely continue that tradition. The Motorola Virtual Viewer is billed as a Mod, but it'll probably just be another Daydream headset.
Lenovo-owned Motorola might have been onto something with its modular phone accessories for the Moto Z series, but a combination of slow development of compelling products and poor availability leaves them in a precarious position. Nevertheless, the company is pushing on with the project in 2018 and has some new Moto Mods coming soon, plus a new design competition.
Projector phones always seemed like an idea that made more sense in science fiction than in present reality, which is probably why the Galaxy Beam failed to gain much traction. Such as it is, the benefit of the Moto Mod design allows anyone with a compatible phone to add on a countless number of peculiar peripherals... one at a time. Now, at Verizon, you can get a free Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod for free when you purchase any other Moto Mod. At $300 off, it's quite the bargain.
We've seen a few discounts for the original Moto Z lately. The phone was $399.99 on Amazon back in September, and Motorola currently has it for $424.99 on its online store. Amazon and B&H now have the Moto Z for $349.99, a savings of $350 from the original MSRP, and about $100 less than what the phone usually goes for.As for specifications, this phone has a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 13MP/5MP cameras, and support for all 'Moto Mod' modular add-ons. The main downside to this phone is the battery life - the 2,600mAh battery is fairly small. There's also no headphone jack.You can buy the Moto Z at the source links below. Keep in mind that B&H doesn't collect sales tax outside of New Jersey and New York.Source: Amazon, B&H
The mass frenzy of Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales has ended, but there are still a few deals popping up for holiday shoppers. Motorola has now discounted most of its product catalog on its online store, including the Moto Z2 Play, Moto G5 Plus, Moto X4, Moto E4 Plus, and the original Moto Z.
Motorola has struggled to come up with compelling Moto Mod accessories, and its latest attempt is a partnership with Polaroid. The new Insta-Share Printer Moto Mod plugs into your Moto Z device so you can print your snapshots instantly on 2x3-inch adhesive sheets. Does that sound vaguely fun? Well, you'll pay $200 for the privilege.The Moto Z camera gains a few new capabilities with this mod attached. You can take Polaroid photos with filters and borders, then print them immediately. However, the prints come out in front of the camera, so that's going to slow you down. You can also print older shots or grab images from Facebook, Instagram and Google Photos. The photos are small, but they're also stickers. I mean, who doesn't like stickers?[EMBED_YT]https://youtu.be/O23ISH8Fd0w[/EMBED_YT]The Insta-Share Printer uses the ZINK inkless paper system from Polaroid's other mobile printers. In fact, this Mod is really just one of Polaroid's existing printers that sticks to the back of your phone. It's twice as expensive, though. The paper is spendy, too. A 20-pack of ZINK paper is $9 on Amazon.The Insta-Share Printer Moto Mod goes on sale at Verizon this week. It'll be exclusive there for a while, but the printer will launch elsewhere at a later date. Motorola is taking pre-orders and will ship them at the end of the month.Source: Motorola
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- Motorola has published a blog post confirming all the devices above, along with the as of yet unreleased Moto X4. We also forgot about the Moto Z Play Droid - whoops. We've added both to the list above.
Back in the days when the Moto X could be used with one hand and Moto Maker was a cool new thing, Motorola was one of the best manufacturers with software updates. Since their skin is so minimal, anything else would be disappointing. But Motorola is not what it once was, and it's fallen behind in terms of software support. The Lenovo-owned company has just released its update roadmap for Android 8.0 Oreo.
In light of the onslaught of 2017 phone announcements, it's fairly easy to forget about yesteryear's devices. Attempting to make us remember it (and to probably clear out inventory), Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H all have the 64GB Moto Z for $399.99, meaning that you can save $300 off of the MSRP.The Moto Z marked the first of Motorola's flagships under its new Lenovo overlord. Stepping away from the Moto X and what people loved about it, the Moto Z instead focused on mods and extreme slimness. The one in this deal still comes with decent specs, however: a 5.5" QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 13MP/5MP cameras, and a 2,600mAh battery.All three of the retailers have the phone for the same price, so take your pick. Remember that B&H doesn't collect sales tax outside of New Jersey and New York, so you might be able to save a few bucks that way.Source: Amazon, Best Buy, B&H
Android Oreo is all we've been hearing about for the past week or so, but it's important to remember that virtually every phone is still on Nougat. That includes the Moto Z and its Verizon sibling, the Moto Z Droid. Both phones have just had their 7.1.1 Nougat kernel source codes released by Motorola on GitHub.
Motorola started sending out the Android 7.1.1 update to Moto Z Play devices in the US last month, and now it's also doing the same in Brazil, for that device plus the regular Moto Z model. After carrying out soak tests in the region, the final builds are starting to slowly make their way to users of both phones.
Last year's Moto Z was an alright phone, but priced a little high considering its reliance on expensive add-on Mods. However, Amazon has a killer deal on the Moto Z right now. This phone, bundled with the Hasselblad camera mod, can be yours for $499.99. The phone by itself often retails for more than that.The official price for the Moto Z is still $699, and indeed that's what Motorola is asking. It was that much on Amazon just yesterday (although it jumps around). Today, that phone is $499.99, and for the same price, you can get the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Mod for free. That device by itself is listed on Amazon for $239.99. So, you're getting $200 off the phone's retail price, plus the free Mod.