In April, Flipkart, the highly valued Indian e-commerce startup, looked ready to kill its mobile website. Visitors were met with a full-screen message directing them to download Flipkart’s app. The move was interpreted as foreboding for Google, which makes considerable ad dollars from e-commerce companies and prefers the mobile Web to cloistered apps.
Not so. Turns out, Flipkart was actually working with Google in the interim to launch a new mobile website, built for Google’s mobile Chrome browser, that the companies say will meld the best of the apps and mobile Web experiences. It’s launching today
For Google, the launch is a victory. The lion’s share of new Internet users will come online in emerging markets like India and on mobile devices, most likely Android ones. Yet if their online lives are relegated to apps, that denies Google the data and potential revenue streams it sees from the mobile Web. Should other companies follow Flipkart’s lead, Google will advance in its efforts to eradicate some of the distinctions between apps and the Web.
Flipkart began nudging users to its app because that was where it saw much higher engagement, said Peeyush Ranjan, its VP of engineering. Apps have benefits — a clean, contained design and offline capabilities. But they also demand frequent updates to stay current — developers submit them every couple weeks. That’s particularly tricky in countries like India where a bulk of people come online with low-end Android phones that are infrequently updated. To be current on the Web, just hit refresh.
Details about the third-generation Motorola Moto G have started to appear, as Motorola is rumoured to be looking at updating a number of handsets.
With Motorola updating products with the same name, it can get a little confusing, so we'll try and keep things clear. Motorola has used the following names: Moto G, Moto G 4G , Moto G (2014), and Moto G 4G (2015). And those last two are both considered variations of the second-generation Moto X.
Still confused? Well, for the purposes of this particular round-up, we'll refer to the newly-leaked phone as the third-generation Moto G (2015).
Keep in mind there's little information about the device at this time, but we plan to continually update this piece as more information comes to light.
Moto G (2015) release date
Motorola previously used a phased roll-out of devices. Some launched earlier in the US, although we suspect that was partly due to Moto Maker and the "Made in USA" tag. With the company now owed by Lenovo, things might be different looking at wider, co-ordinated global release.
The original Moto G was launched in November 2013, the next-gen device was launched in September 2014. These have been flanked by 4G updates as well, remember. We originally thought that IFA 2015 sat well with Moto's plans, but a report is suggesting that it might be as early as 28 July.
Brazilian website Techmundo exclusively reported that it will be landing much sooner than we expected. Keep in mind Motorola sent out formal invitations to the press for a launch event on 28 July.
There's no indication of exactly what the launches will be, with the invitation simply stating that "your relationship status is about to change", with some hugs and kisses from Motorola. But wait! Those hugs and kisses aren't just scrawls - they appear more like XGX - suggesting that we'll be seeing the Moto X and the Moto G updated.
Moto G (2015) price
The 5-inch Moto G 4G cost £159 when it launched earlier this year, making it an affordable device for consumers, and so we expect Lenovo-owned Motorola to continue offering the Moto G line at such attractive price points. It's reported to cost R$899 (that's Brazilian Real), which is about £180. That's a slight boost over the £149 the Moto G 4G currently costs, but if rumours are true, you're getting a little more phone for your money.
Moto G (2015) specs
The third-generation Moto G (2015) has the model name XT1543 as well as the codename is Osprey, according to the XDA forum, which dug up details and photos from a now-deleted YouTube video of the leaked device.
The device is said to have a 5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of storage, 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, 5-megapixel selfie camera, and a dual flash. It's suggested that there will be a 2GB RAM and 16GB storage model too.
It will also come with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and the new Messages app from Motorola as well as the Moto app (which allows you to use voice commands and more).
There might also be a microSD card slot and support for 4G. Keep in mind the original Moto G, which was announced in 2013, didn't feature 4G or a microSD card slot. In 2014, the second generation Moto G brought a larger screen and better camera, but again, no 4G (the 4G variations of those devices actually brought 4G).
So, you can expect the third-generation Moto G to boast significant camera improvements, the same screen-size as the last Moto G, the same 64-bit quad-core chip as the new Moto E, and LTE connectivity from the get-go.
More recently, Google+ users Neo Lee and Leonardo Fiaschi have found and shared a leaked video (above) of the third-generation Moto G (2015) via their profiles and are calling the device a prototype.
Also, Digitec accidentally posted (and then removed) product listings for a "3rd gen" Moto G on 21 July. The Swiss retailer claimed the upcoming phone features a 5-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, LTE, 1.7GHz quad-core chip (probably the 64-bit Snapdragon 610), and 8GB of expandable storage.
Reddit user Coconuttery also spotted information on Motorola's Moto Maker and shared it before Motorola could pull the page. The page suggested you’ll be able to get the third-generation Moto G (2015) with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage or 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.
Design and Moto Maker
It appears as though the third-generation Moto G (2015) will have a build quite similar to all the other Moto Gs. The only significant difference is that this device looks to be sporting a textured rear cover and some sort of strip that houses the upgraded snapper and dual flash.
We can also see the ergonomic dimple with Motorola's logo on the back. We're not sure if the strip setup will bring any new capabilities (like, maybe the dimple is now a power button). It might just be a design change. There have been render leaks, prototype leaks and photos appearing of what are claimed to be pre-release samples. We've also seen leaked images passed to TechnoBuffalo, giving us renders that match those leaked devices, so we're pretty sure this is the new design.
However, we're now hearing that the Moto G (2015) will have an IPx7 rating, making it water resistant. This would be something of a boost for the affordable handset, making it one of the cheapest protected phones around. Motorola is no stranger to water proofing: it has had water repellant technologies on a number of previous handsets, from the nanocoating of the Moto Razr i through to the recent Nexus 6.
In addition, according to notorious leakster Evan Blass, the Moto G will be available through Moto Maker. The website, which launched for the Moto X, allows you to personalise the design of your phone. You can pick colours for the rear panel and the camera module on the back, for instance.
The leak from Blass shows a variety of colours that'll presumably be available, but there is no indication of alternative materials like wood or leather.
Update: Reddit user Coconuttery spotted information on Motorola's Moto Maker and shared it before Motorola could pull the page. According to that leaked information, the front of the third-generation Moto G (2015) will be available in black or white (like the Moto X), while the back panel will be available in cherry, cabernet, blue, raspberry, turquoise, black, gold yellow, white, lime, or navy. Accents colours include metallic versions of blue, red, lemon lime, champagne, black, orange, violet, pink, dark chrome or light chrome.
The new Motorola Moto E smartphone is a great pick as an affordable option, but if you’re looking for something cheaper than Rs 7000, the first gen model still presents itself as a viable choice. The phone has been given a price cut in India where it’s now listed on Flipkart for just Rs 4999.
Just so you know – The Motorola Moto E first gen was launched last year at Rs 6999 which is the same amount you’d have to pay for the new 3G model. The phone from yesteryear is still a great pick mainly since the company is still supporting it with new updates.
Motorola has decided to skip on the Android 5.0 Lollipop update and bump the phone along with other devices from last year straight to version 5.1 in the near future. And as you know, the handset delivers a near-pure stock experience as you will not find any clutter or bloatware in the software.
A 4.3-inch qHD display delivers the visuals on the front, while the rear packs a 5MP camera. And on the inside, there’s a 1.2GHz dual core processor doing the hard work. The Moto E offers basic memory provisions where the internal storage is just 4GB, while the RAM is an entire gigabyte.
Head over to this link to purchase the Motorola Moto E gen 1 smartphone at Rs 4999. Flipkart is also accepting exchanges where you can get up to Rs 1000 off by trading in your old smartphone.
The Motorola Moto E 2nd gen smartphone with 4G LTE has finally been launched in India with a budget-friendly price tag of Rs 7999 attached to it. It’s available for pre-order through Flipkart and shows a tentative release date of April 23, though a PR person we spoke to said that it could be out in the market within a week’s time.
The 4G LTE version of the Motorola Moto E gen 2 will arrive earlier than expected if it does land this week. Since network operators across India are still trying to catch up to the times, we’d say that the currently available 3G variant of the phone will end up being more popular. But it’s always nice to have choice, of course.
The 2015 version of the Moto E carries a few improvements over its predecessor. While its 3G model embeds the same old Qualcomm chip, the 4G-capable handset integrates a quad core Snapdragon 410 processor. It has a bigger touchscreen of 4.5 inches instead of 4.3 inches, but disappoints by sticking to the same 960 x 540p resolution panel.
A more powerful 2390mAh battery can be found inside the 4G LTE-enabled Moto E second generation that comes with Android Lollipop out of the box, while the ROM has doubled in capacity to touch 8GB. The 5MP camera on the back which used to be a fixed focus one, now offers auto focus and even launches quickly if you twist your wrist twice.
Encased in a much sturdier frame, the new Moto E has added a front camera, though its only of the VGA type. Still, something is better than nothing for sure. The front panel has also received a face lift in the form just one speaker instead of two. Forget about swapping covers on this smartphone since Motorola has made it non-removable.
Motorola Moto E 2nd gen 4G LTE specifications list:
The black as well as white Motorola Moto E gen 2 smartphones are listed on this Flipkart page in 4G LTE as well as 3G versions. The latter variant costs Rs 1000 less than the former.
Myntra, a major Indian clothing e-store, will shut down its website on May 1 and only sell its products via its mobile apps, reports The Times of India.
About 80 percent of Myntra’s traffic and 70 percent of its sales are on mobile. The company stocks products from over 1,000 brands and reportedly clocks nearly $50 million a month in sales.
Myntra co-founder Mukesh Bansal said in February that it is “100 percent focused on mobile and [is] making all our investments on the platform going forward.”
The move might pay off for Myntra in India, where online shopper penetration is set to increase from 9 percent in 2013 to 36 percent by 202, primarily led by mobile users, according to a recent Morgan Stanley report.
Myntra launched on Android in May last year, around the around the time it was acquired for $300 million by online retailer Flipkart. The company’s iPhone app launched last September.
We were being given news every other week about the resounding demand for the Lenovo A6000 smartphone which was going out of stock in seconds through its regular flash sales. But this coming week, things will work a little differently, even as the company has announced that it will be making the device available through Flipkart freely.
From March 23 to March 25, the Lenovo A6000 will be purchasable without any registrations. All you’ll need to do is head over to Flipkart and buy the smartphone like you do with other products on the site. It’s however unclear as to how many units will be put on sale during these three days.
So far, Lenovo has been able to sell a whopping 180000 units of the handset in India. This has been possible due to its low price and its overly attractive hardware. What have helped furthermore is the Xiaomi-like flash sale model as well as the device’s Flipkart exclusively.
For those unaware, the A6000 happens to offer a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor and a 5-inch HD display. There’s moreover, an 8MP rear camera onboard, aside from a 2MP selfie snapper. The phone runs the Android 4.4 KitKat OS, but will be issued a Lollipop update in Q2 this year.
Here’s a quick glance at the specs of the Lenovo A6000:
– Display: 5-inch, 720p HD – Software: Android 4.4 KitKat (Upgradable to Lollipop) – Processor 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 410 – Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB storage (expandable up to 32GB) – Camera: 2MP front, 8MP rear – Battery: 2300mAh – Size: 70 x 141 x 8.2mm – Weight: 128gms
The no-registrations sale of the Lenovo A6000 will happen simultaneously with Flipkart’s Big App Shopping Days that are also slated to run from March 23 to March 25.
The Moto E 2nd generation which carries a price tag of Rs 6999, has been given a release date of March 10 for India. If you’re wondering why Motorola (now Lenovo) has chosen to stick to the same old cost as exiting model, we assure you that it’s not because the features are unchanged. But Xiaomi and other Chinese brands have been selling their awesomely equipped smartphones at such aggressive rates, the new Moto handset will have to struggle for attention if it asks for any more cash.
Diving straight into the matter of what’s different between the first and second generation Moto E devices, the touchscreen has been bumped up from 4.3 inches to 4.5 inches, though the same sad 960 x 540p resolution is still sticking around. If you live in India where 4G has yet to become even remotely popular, then the chipset update from a dual core Snapdragon 200 to a quad core Snapdragon 410 capable of LTE connectivity, won’t matter. Because the 3G version of the new Moto E still carries the old chip.
The two front-facing speakers on the original Moto E have made way for a single one on the top. Sitting beside it is a VGA camera which is again another noticeable change present in the successor. The rear cover of the latest iteration of this Motorola phone is now non-removable and the battery has been upgraded from 1980mAh to 2390mAh. Other fresh specs include Android Lollipop upon launch, double the ROM and a sturdier body. The 5MP back snapper has been enhanced but unfortunately, not with flash.
Motorola Moto E 2nd gen specifications at a glance:
– 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 410 chip (LTE version) – Android Lollipop OS – 4.5-inch 960 x 540p IPS display – 5MP main camera, VGA front-facing lens – 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage – 32GB microSD card support – 129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3 millimeters – 145 grams – 2390mAh battery
With only two more days left until the new Moto E 2nd generation hits Flipkart, we hope this comparison was useful to help you decide whether you want to ditch your old budget Android phone or not.
Continuing their exclusive partnership, Motorola and Flipkart are all-set to make the Moto E (2nd Gen) available in India with a starting price of Rs. 6,999. The sale would begin in the coming days.
Flipkart on late Thursday made the announcement through a tweet posted from its official account. The tweet does not give any particular schedule about the availability, but confirms that the new Moto E will be exclusively available on Flipkart.
Though, Motorola unveiled the 4G and 3G variants of the Moto E (2nd Gen) earlier this week, the Indian market is expected to first get the 3G (dual-SIM) variant which a price tag of Rs. 6,999. This is the same price tag at which the companylaunched the first-generation of the Moto E in India in May last year.
Earlier this month, Flipkart reduced the price of the original Moto E to Rs. 5,999 and introduced an exchange offer to give further Rs. 1,000 discount on the reduced price.
The Moto E (2nd Gen) features an all-new 4.5-inch qHD IPS display and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor along with 1GB of RAM. There is 8GB internal storage which can be expanded up to 32GB and a 2,390mAh battery. The smartphone sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system out of the box.
Alongside new upgrades on the specifications front, Motorola has provided some of its proprietary software tweaks on the Moto E (2nd Gen) to make it closer to its Moto X flagship. These tweaks include active display and Quick Capture feature among others.
While announcing the launch of its offline customer stores, Motorola has put speculations on sales figures to rest, revealing that it sold around 3 million Moto series phones in India till date. The news comes via a tweet sent out by the company’s Twitter account through which it has been posting updates about its press event in Bangalore.
The Moto G, X, and E as well as the 2014 versions of the first two handsets we’ve mentioned have been released in the country so far. Motorola’s press conference in Bangalore was being held to announce the launch of ‘customer experience zones’ in the city. It’s being said that more metros across India will soon be welcoming these service centers too.
By the looks of it, Motorola is getting ready for another shot at competing with rivals by setting up such zones seeing as poor customer care support is one of the major grievances voiced by people. Even Xiaomi which is enjoying a good run in India at present, witnesses its Facebook page being bombarded with complaints about after-sales services.
Of course, since Flipkart has exclusive rights over selling the Moto smartphones on these shores, you won’t be able to buy any of the handsets in the lineup from the customer experience zones. That’s a pity though, since the fastest way for those who want to grab a device after test driving it would be to purchase it then and there.
Still, Motorola doesn’t seem too disturbed by the idea of possibly losing a potential buyer because of this. It probably has to do with the fact that its phones offer such good value for money, people would still flock online to pick one up. After all, Flipkart has managed to push out 3 million Moto devices within 10 months.
Google's flagship phablet, the Nexus 6, has been listed in India by Flipkart without any price or availability. Also, the Google Play India page for the Nexus 6 doesn't have any information regarding the release so far, though Nexus 9 page had recently listed the tablet with a 'Coming Soon' tag and price of Rs. 28,900.
The Flipkart listing of the 32GB variant of the Google Nexus 6 notes that the device is 'Coming Soon', and it is still uncertain whether the Nexus 6 will be listed by other e-commerce sites in the future or if it will only be available via Google Play and Flipkart in India.
In tge US, a factory unlocked Google Nexus 6 with 32GB storage on Google Play costs $649 (approximately Rs. 40,000) and the 64GB variant costs $699 (approximately Rs. 43,000). The device will also be available separately via carriers in the US like AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon, each of which will announce their own pricing.
In the meanwhile, over in Europe, the Nexus 6 was reportedly set to go up for pre-orders starting Monday, November 3, but a Dutch website reports pre-orders will be delayed to November 18. The report also notes that the 32GB Nexus 6 is expected to be priced at EUR 569 (approximately Rs. 44,000), and 64GB at EUR 649 (approximately Rs. 50,000).
On the specifications front, the Google Nexus 6 comes with a 5.96-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) display with a 493ppi pixel density; a 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor; 3GB of RAM; 32GB and 64GB internal storage options; a 13-megapixel rear camera; a 2-megapixel front camera; a 3220mAh battery, and Android 5.0 Lollipop.
For Google, the launch is a victory. The lion’s share of new Internet users will come online in emerging markets like India and on mobile devices, most likely Android ones. Yet if their online lives are relegated to apps, that denies Google the data and potential revenue streams it sees from the mobile Web. Should other companies follow Flipkart’s lead, Google will advance in its efforts to eradicate some of the distinctions between apps and the Web.
.jpg)
