Hasta La Gadget!

In what is definitely a move that’s caught a lot of us by surprise, Motorola announced today that Verizon Moto X Android 4.4 update has been released. We reported yesterday that Big Red has been conducting soak tests for this update, but no one had imagined that Verizon would be the first to push this update out even when Google Play Editions of the HTC One and Galaxy S4 haven’t received the Android 4.4 KitKat update. Motorola hasn’t said when Moto X on other carriers is going to receive the update.

Verizon Moto X will jump from Android 4.2 to Android 4.4 and bring all the KitKat goodies in the process. For example, there’s an improved phone dialer which does much more than just calls, new gallery effects, color emojis, the all new Hangouts app with SMS integration, updated camera app and a whole lot of enhancements and improvements. Motorola assures us that this is just the beginning and that it will have more KitKat for Moto X news to share for other countries and carriers in the near future. Verizon is going to roll out the update in phases, so don’t freak out if the update doesn’t immediately pop up on your device. A little patience will go a long way.

Verizon Moto X Android 4.4 Update Released original content from Ubergizmo.

Motorola has been under Google’s wings for quite some time now, and it does seem as though Google has gotten some assistance from Motorola in order to sell Google’s very own Chromecast TV streaming dongle from the former’s very own web site directly. How will some of Google’s Android device manufacturing partners see this situation? It would mean that there is a fast growing level of interconnectedness between the companies, and with Motorola being a viable outlet for consumers to pick up the Chromecast dongle, apart from other outlets such as Best Buy, Amazon, and Google Play.

We have spent some time in a demo walkthrough of the Chromecast right after it was launched (not to mention covering the launch event, too). Sure, Chromecast has its fair share of advantages within the entire Google ecosystem, but it has not really become an indispensable piece of consumer electronics hardware that would require every Tom, Dick and Harry to rush out from their homes just to pick one up. This move by Google to market the Chromecast dongle on Motorola’s site does seem to resemble more of a strategic marketing move, something that those behind boardrooms will discuss more than impacting the end user. If anything, it just opens up another channel for end users to pick up the Chromecast dongle

Motorola Sells Chromecast Dongle Now original content from Ubergizmo.

Most Moto X customers are likely waiting patiently for Android 4.4 KitKat update to drop. Google has already released the update for its Nexus devices, whereas other OEMs are expected to follow suit soon. Given Motorola’s relationship with Google, its wholly owned by the latter, one might expect Motorola’s recent devices to receive the update sooner rather than later. While it has already been said that Android 4.4 for Moto X is going to be released in the coming weeks, it seems that Verizon tends to push out the update within a few weeks as well. Apparently Big Red has started soak test process for Android 4.4 Moto X update.

“Soak test” is basically a fancy term for beta test, a few users are selected by Verizon and Motorola who receive the update prior to everyone else and report back to the companies if they find any bugs or issues. A leaked screenshot point toward the possibility that the soak tests being conducted are indeed for the Android 4.4 Moto X update, which brings KitKat goodness to Motorola’s flagship. No word has been received as yet if the other carriers that offer the Moto X have begun their own processes as yet to test out Android 4.4 prior to its release. Soak tests usually take a few weeks, after which we should hopefully see a release. No official release timeframe is available at this point in time. [Image via AndroidPolice]

Verizon Begins Soak Test Process For Moto X Android 4.4 Update [Rumor] original content from Ubergizmo.

Apparently, those who happen to own the Motorola Moto G might have noticed that their brand new smartphone arrived with a glitch that has something to do with the LED notification light. Apparently, there are no controls available for the light on the Settings page. There is a little bit of information from your Google account which will arrive over the cloud to the Moto G, where your Google account could also inform your handset to restore the notification light setting from your previous handset which would then disable it on the Moto G. It is then nice to hear that there is a solution, and this particular solution does not involve any kind of hacking. Rather, it is a snap to perform, where all you need to do is to download and install the Notification Light Widget that is freely available over on the Google Play Store.

This Notification Light Widget will endow the Moto G owner with the ability to be able to control the notification light on the device directly. Other users of Android-powered devices who are on the lookout for a smartphone which will be able to let you control the LED notification light, this widget is worth checking out.

Moto G LED Notification Light Glitch original content from Ubergizmo.

Finally! Less than two months after the news that Republic Wireless, a super cheap (read: unlimited plans as low as $5/month) carrier would be getting the Moto X, arguably the best Android phone you can buy right now, the day has arrived. The confluence has occurred. The… okay, look, just go get it here.

Read more…