Database Develop

[Q] How do you guys like your Moto X?

I have been debating buying a Moto X for some time. I keep missing the Dev edition before it sells out (twice now) and I have really been having a hard time with this. I'd like to know what your overall impressions are as well as your input on some various features.
For background, I'm currently using the G2, which I like very much, but the Touchless control, active notificaitons, Moto Connect, Trusted BT devices, and Moto assist features are a big draw for me.
So my questions:
How do you feel about the build quality (overall as well as any defects with your device)?
Do you like the screen? Anyone coming from a 1080p device feel that they are kind of missing out?
Touchless control - Do you use it and if so, do you find it useful?
Active notifications - Do you like this feature more than a dedicated LED? Do you find that you miss notifications or that the screen doesn't come on when you'd like?
Moto Connect - Anyone using this regularly? Does it work well?
Trusted BT Devices - Is anyone using this to bypass pin lock on a corporate account? If so, what device are you using (Pebble smartwatch, jawbone, etc) and how is it working for you?
Moto Assist - How is that feature working for you? Do you find it indespensible, or just nice to have?
Camera (post update) - Anyone with the camera update care to elaborate on how you feel about the X as a camera now?
I know that's a lot of questions. You don't have to answer them all. Just weigh in where you have input. I have read all the reviews and I'm trying to gather some real world commentary on these features and the device as a whole before I pull the trigger.
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

Build quality is excellent in my opinion. Coming from a HTC ONE I don't miss 1080p one bit especially with the gained battery life from a lower resolution screen. Motorola connect is my favorite feature so far. I've never had an issue with it. Active display is a game changer. Overall it's the best device I've used to date. You won't regret getting one.
Sent from my all black Moto X

capathy21 said:
Build quality is excellent in my opinion. Coming from a HTC ONE I don't miss 1080p one bit especially with the gained battery life from a lower resolution screen. Motorola connect is my favorite feature so far. I've never had an issue with it. Active display is a game changer. Overall it's the best device I've used to date. You won't regret getting one.
Sent from my all black Moto X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Motorola connect a lot too and it is one of my favorite features. but for some reason it doesn't like my contacts and contact pictures. for most of my conversations it only shows the phone number. I don't know why. some of the contacts display picture and name. others just display the number.

1. perfect
2. cant tell the difference, like the video rendering better than what ive seen to date on any android
3. very useful, im doing all my texts and calling without using my hands
4. love this one, cant go back now to not having it
5. downloaded the chrome extension, great
6. not using this
7. use it for driving, plays pandora when i start driving without touching anything
8. happy now, happier in "very soon" as motorola stated today
9. dont wait, get it, its a GREAT phone

gammite said:
I use Motorola connect a lot too and it is one of my favorite features. but for some reason it doesn't like my contacts and contact pictures. for most of my conversations it only shows the phone number. I don't know why. some of the contacts display picture and name. others just display the number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine used to show only numbers on most contacts and names on a few. The last few days it seems to have been corrected lately as I'm seeing all of my contact names. I did swap out my first x(white) for the black one and when I set up moto connect on the new one the contact names now show. Maybe if you delete and re add the chrome extension it would work? Just guessing though.
Sent from my all black Moto X

capathy21 said:
Mine used to show only numbers on most contacts and names on a few. The last few days it seems to have been corrected lately as I'm seeing all of my contact names. I did swap out my first x(white) for the black one and when I set up moto connect on the new one the contact names now show. Maybe if you delete and re add the chrome extension it would work? Just guessing though.
Sent from my all black Moto X
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Click to collapse
Does Motorola Connect use much battery?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - now Free

austriak said:
Does Motorola Connect use much battery?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - now Free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe it uses a lot of battery. It didn't on mine. I started using moto connect but it seems still in its beta stages. If you like moto connect I might suggest trying the mightytext app. They have been doing the text from computer stuff for a lot longer. I was using it previously and switched back to this until moto connect becomes more reliable. The contacts sometimes appear for some people. i had it both ways. Reinstalling at one point made them all appear. But I don't like the pop-out windows much.
Differences/similarities between connect and mightytext:
1. both use a chrome extension and have pop ups in the bottom right corner of your screen
2. MT pops up an individual conversation between you and the other person while I believe the connect just pulled a pop up of all of your text (this was one of my biggest issues)
3. MC lagged more with me when sending texts and then marking that it had sent texts in comparison to MT
4. MT has a webpage that has all of your text on it while MC does a pop out from the chrome extension button that when you click anything else not in the box it goes away. But you can click the pop out button there so MC will make a different window, but it seems to reload messages when it does this
5. Sometimes when viewing the texts from the chrome extension pop out and the actual pop out window in MC they didn't match
6. sometimes in MC it will show the text someone sent but not have loaded the ones I sent yet but it did eventually load. This happened especially when I sent the text manually from my phone as opposed to from my computer while using MC.
as for your other questions. I really think this phone might be a good buy because of its hardware. I feel like the development of touchless controls and other apps that may use the same hardware in the future could get huge. Other phones won't be able to do this because they don't have the low power processor. Also active notifications can become highly improved. Further there is an led light on the phone but I nor anywhere I have read has figured out how to utilize it if we decided we wanted the led light as well as active notifications. Also, the camera technology allowing better action shots isn't that great right now but it can be improved greatly over time. And finally, many of the areas that things can be improved on are more apps then big updates that will need to be released by google, so they will hopefully get to your phone faster, e.g., touchelss controls, active notifications, etc..

How do you feel about the build quality (overall as well as any defects with your device)?
Overall build quality is nice and the phone has a nice weight and feel to it.
Do you like the screen? Anyone coming from a 1080p device feel that they are kind of missing out?
Screen is fine, and more than adequate.
Touchless control - Do you use it and if so, do you find it useful?
I have only tested it but appears it could be useful
Active notifications - Do you like this feature more than a dedicated LED? Do you find that you miss notifications or that the screen doesn't come on when you'd like?
So far I like it but it is a little sensitive. Some additional controls would be nice.
Moto Connect - Anyone using this regularly? Does it work well?
On my list to test...
Trusted BT Devices - Is anyone using this to bypass pin lock on a corporate account? If so, what device are you using (Pebble smartwatch, jawbone, etc) and how is it working for you?
Trusted BT works well and is a nice feature.
Moto Assist - How is that feature working for you? Do you find it indespensible, or just nice to have?
Camera (post update) - Anyone with the camera update care to elaborate on how you feel about the X as a camera now?
Do not have the update yet.

CM11 & acDisplay / Dynamic Notifications Apps

Hey everyone,
I unlocked my boot loader, rooted, and flashed CM11 on my Moto X a couple days ago. I am only missing the Active Display feature from stock and wanted to replace it with something from the play store. I am running into a problem with both acDisplay and Dynamic Notifications apps. They both work when I get notifications, however do not work at all when set to "active mode". They should be using proximity and motion sensors to imitate how the Moto X normally operates. Does anyone know a way to get them to work similar to how they are "advertised" to work?

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your issue..
But I wanted to say, any app that mimics Active Display will take a great toll on your battery life. Active display is designed to use an extremely small amount of battery on the Moto X.... Any other app will not be so battery friendly.
This is why the majority of users stick to stock, with Xposed and Gravity Box for customization.... Or use stock based roms, that have the unique moto features in them.

i.Design said:
Hey everyone,
I unlocked my boot loader, rooted, and flashed CM11 on my Moto X a couple days ago. I am only missing the Active Display feature from stock and wanted to replace it with something from the play store. I am running into a problem with both acDisplay and Dynamic Notifications apps. They both work when I get notifications, however do not work at all when set to "active mode". They should be using proximity and motion sensors to imitate how the Moto X normally operates. Does anyone know a way to get them to work similar to how they are "advertised" to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In not seeing where either of those apps claim to use the sensors in a similar way as stock active display. Where do you see that they are advertised to do so?
Edit: scratch that. I do see that acdisplay claims to use the sensors.... Not sure why it isn't working for you.
@KJ is correct that they will use much more battery than stock AD, which takes advantage of the low voltage components of the X.

Moto Voice Response/Usefullness

I am close to pulling the trigger on the MotoX2. However, I have one lingering issue that I need help with. Because of a disability, Always On Voice Input (OK Google) is very important to me. However, I am concerned with reviewers who have characterized Moto Voice as a "hack" (sometimes unresponsive, inaccurate, and a delay when needing a "handoff" to Google Voice). One reviewer who tested OK Google with the MotoX2 and N6 described the MotoX2 as being 1.5 times slower than the "pure" Google Voice implementation on the N6.
Having now verified that disabling Moto Voice on the MotoX2 causes instant on (from screen off) to no longer function (even under Lollipop) has left me with a dilemma.
I NEED Always On OK Google, but really don't want the size of the N6. So, I'm looking for input from MotoX2 users who regularly use Always On OK Google.
In general, I want to know, have the reviewers exaggerated the problems with Moto Voice? In day to day use, is Moto Voice accurate/responsive/quick "enough" when "handoff is needed? In addition, do users feel that the other features provided (specifically by Moto Voice; not the other Moto added features) is a fair tradeoff for the inherent delay when Google Voice is needed (i.e. would you trade them for the "pure"/faster Google Voice?
Any and all inputs/impressions are greatly appreciated!

Sounds like what you've read and researched is fairly accurate. Moto Voice responds well when you're clear and direct. Don't mumble and you won't have a problem. The delay is due to the handoff to Google Search. However, you can use either Moto Voice or Google Now. Both work well. The Moto X is a fantastic device. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

As far as I know the delay comes from the hack that Moto had to implement to overcome the android limitations in the area of "always listen". Im not sure about it but my assumption is with lollipop it should be faster due to the fact that it's already built in into OS
Sent from my XT1092 using Tapatalk

I use Moto voice on daily basis. My day starts with "how's the weather today"
It is about 80% accurate, with my Indian accent. Considering that you have a better accent than i do you will be just fine.
That being said, you need to be in a fairly silent environment.
Does the delay bother me? Yes. Will it stop me from using moto voice? Heck no!
I integrated moto voice with commandr and tasker ad use about 20 tasks on regular basis so i am kind of addicted to moto voice. Apart from that i use moto voice for placing a call and texting, as a matter of fact it recognizes my friends' names(also indian) really well.
I would recommend you to go ahead and buy IF you believe you can use it a FAIRLY QUITE environment.

Thanks all for your inputs so far! Any further impressions will also be helpful!
@roaringcrown, I will be using it mostly from screen off, so I am tied to Moto Voice, as there is no support (even in Lollipop) for Always On with stock Google Voice.
@blinkin, it's my understanding that Moro Voice will still be required with Lollipop (for Always On), and hence, still the delay
@Prash8429, glad to hear it has decent accuracy even with your accent!
Thanks again to all. Looking forward to other impressions!

Moto X Voice Commands and Gesture on 3rd Party Home Launchers?
I have a quick question for user here on XDA. Can someone tell me if the 2014 Moto X Voice and Gesture command will continue to work from sleep/idle mode if I install a 3rd party home launcher? Or is this function specific to the stock launcher provided by Motorola on this phone? Thanks

twcamc said:
I have a quick question for user here on XDA. Can someone tell me if the 2014 Moto X Voice and Gesture command will continue to work from sleep/idle mode if I install a 3rd party home launcher? Or is this function specific to the stock launcher provided by Motorola on this phone? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had no issues with other launchers whatsoever.

Thanks for the update. I like the launcher I am using now and didnt want to have to stick with stock launcher just to use all the moto features...

imaginaryenemy said:
I have had no issues with other launchers whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using Nova Launcher Prime with no issues....

IR Sensors API

First off, a little background.
The first few days after buying the Moto X I found MotoDisplay a little too sensitive and, to be honest, a little annoying that it would turn on all the time, but after a while I started getting used to it and subconsciously dependent on the way it works.
A few days ago I remembered using an application on my galaxy nexus which kind of did the same thing, and so I tried replacing MotoDisplay with one of the alternatives from the playstore. I chose AcDisplay and I really liked most of it's features (it's animations are beautiful). Except it doesn't use the IR sensors.
AcDisplay being an open source project, I thought to my self "I could probably implement a feature similar to MotoDisplay's extremely sensitive wave to wake up". So I looked for examples on how to use the IR Sensors and found none. I looked for an SDK/API and found nothing. I've looked at motorola's github and none of the repositories seemed to be what I wanted.
So the question is, how can I make a program that makes use of the Moto Xs IR sensors? Are there any resources on how to use them, or is this feature closed source and I'm not supposed to use it?
Apparently, apart from the official MotoDisplay, the only other project making use of these sensors is CM12 (which I haven't tried myself), which leads me to believe that it's not as simple as using the other, more common, sensors.

bump

evilnoxx said:
First off, a little background.
The first few days after buying the Moto X I found MotoDisplay a little too sensitive and, to be honest, a little annoying that it would turn on all the time, but after a while I started getting used to it and subconsciously dependent on the way it works.
A few days ago I remembered using an application on my galaxy nexus which kind of did the same thing, and so I tried replacing MotoDisplay with one of the alternatives from the playstore. I chose AcDisplay and I really liked most of it's features (it's animations are beautiful). Except it doesn't use the IR sensors.
AcDisplay being an open source project, I thought to my self "I could probably implement a feature similar to MotoDisplay's extremely sensitive wave to wake up". So I looked for examples on how to use the IR Sensors and found none. I looked for an SDK/API and found nothing. I've looked at motorola's github and none of the repositories seemed to be what I wanted.
So the question is, how can I make a program that makes use of the Moto Xs IR sensors? Are there any resources on how to use them, or is this feature closed source and I'm not supposed to use it?
Apparently, apart from the official MotoDisplay, the only other project making use of these sensors is CM12 (which I haven't tried myself), which leads me to believe that it's not as simple as using the other, more common, sensors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can look at the CyanogenMod CMactions source code. However, you are going to have selinux problems as you need to touch the raw driver to enable wakeups.

crpalmer said:
You can look at the CyanogenMod CMactions source code. However, you are going to have selinux problems as you need to touch the raw driver to enable wakeups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That seems way to hard for me. Thank you anyway for the reply

Things I don't like so far

In order from most annoying:
Cannot whitelist k9 mail (and other things) from power saving (this is a deal breaker, I'm taking it back)
Long press to select text instead of double click (vanilla android allows both) (almost a deal breaker)
Media volume cannot be increased without acknowledging warning when BT connected
Can’t disable bixby button without samsung account
No root (needed to run webserver on 80 and change iptables)
Fingerprint sensor hard to find, hard to touch (compared to nexus 6p)
Default phone app sucks and can’t be changed
-Notifications for blocked numbers calling
-Hard to block numbers
-Hard to add recent calls to contacts (uses wrong account or something)
Volume buttons hard to find, on wrong side of phone
Samsung sms app is ugly and horrible (replaceable)
Samsung calendar app does not allow multiple default reminders (replaceable)
Lock screen time is on multiple lines with no way to change it

Thats nice. Enjoy.

swooperstar said:
bleh bleh bleh
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Click to collapse
Where is the question? Wrong forum, maybe you should tell someone who cares?

Um, what phone is this, half the things you complain about can be done by the note 8, so must be another phone. Maybe he got the wrong forum...
Sent from my Galaxy Note8 using XDA Labs

Incorrect, but whatever. Pixel2 XL coming next week to replace this samsuck. This site used to be more help less fanboy.

...more help less fan boy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not about fanboys, you didn't ask for any help, just listed complaints. No one cares about personal complaints.

lol once again the user is the problem not the device... you can do all of those things either with an app from the play store or with root. maybe stick to something more simple? try iOS.
Not sure how moving to another Android device will help you. :laugh:

Being that the OP has a total of 9, count them 9 posts and is a junior member, I'm guessing he's referring to the old days on the site when we were more help and less fanbois

Mr.Ash.Man said:
lol once again the user is the problem not the device... you can do all of those things either with an app from the play store or with root. maybe stick to something more simple? try iOS.
Not sure how moving to another Android device will help you. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is already using IOS!
Ryland

Now we know from authoritative source that volume button is on the wrong side all those years, imagine that.

There are ways to adjust pretty much all of these points. Some are android specific - assume you are new to Android??
Did you even review the phone/play with it before spending on something you have chosen to dislike? To be fair you've come to a forum where 99.9999% of people are note enthusiasts so you will be whacked with a great big stick with a post like this :silly:

Ok how do you whitelist from power saving in a way that actually works? The settings interface for that is much different than stock android and doesn't actually let stuff run all the time like it does on my 6p. k9 always says syncing disabled (and works fine on 6p with stock nougat or oreo).
How do you get double-tap to select a word in text? Works by default in stock android.
After asking twice before to confirm increase volume while BT connected, it didn't ask this last time I increased it. I guess it is magically ok now.
How do you disable bixby button without creating a samsung account? There is an app that used to work using accessibility but no longer works in latest update.
How do you get root? The rooting page itself says "2.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)" and I don't have this option.
How do you change the phone app? I tried downloading and installing one from apkmirror and got an error when installing.
How do you prevent notifications when blocked callers call?
How do you get normal time on the lock screen? Not the always on screen.

swooperstar said:
Ok how do you whitelist from power saving in a way that actually works? The settings interface for that is much different than stock android and doesn't actually let stuff run all the time like it does on my 6p. k9 always says syncing disabled (and works fine on 6p with stock nougat or oreo).
How do you get double-tap to select a word in text? Works by default in stock android.
After asking twice before to confirm increase volume while BT connected, it didn't ask this last time I increased it. I guess it is magically ok now.
How do you disable bixby button without creating a samsung account? There is an app that used to work using accessibility but no longer works in latest update.
How do you get root? The rooting page itself says "2.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)" and I don't have this option.
How do you change the phone app? I tried downloading and installing one from apkmirror and got an error when installing.
How do you prevent notifications when blocked callers call?
How do you get normal time on the lock screen? Not the always on screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A respectful suggestion if I may.
Your first post was..... confrontational? Not the way to have your teething problems answered or supported.
Many of us, in all forum's, experience teething problems. I suggest you ask questions preferably one at a time so a peer can offer you some advice.
I have yet to ask for help here and not receive it. You will find there are some amazingly smart guys and gals here who will help IF you ask a palatable question. I am afraid what you have done is cause bad feeling and that's not the way to get help with your problems. Just food for thought. :good:
Ryland

I agree with the fingerprint sensor placement, for me being left handed, I have ot align it perfectly for it to work. Luckily the iris scanner is fast.
One issue I am coming across is my phone would random reboot and some settings would be changed to stock. For example, the font size would be change to default instead of everything tiny. My quick shortcuts layouts are stock and I have to re-login into some apps.
It happened about 3 times since i got the phone the first week of September. Hopefully I'm not alone. Sucks if I am though...lol

There is no help for those issues. That is why there is no response, and why the phone is going back. I am surprised anyone can stand the samsung interface and that is why it might sound confrontational. The apps that samsung replaces default apps with are really awful.

swooperstar said:
There is no help for those issues. That is why there is no response, and why the phone is going back. I am surprised anyone can stand the samsung interface and that is why it might sound confrontational. The apps that samsung replaces default apps with are really awful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only issue or possibly even an advantage is Samsung is edging it's own ecosystem in more and more. , basically it encourages one to buy another Sammy device and stay on board with them.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

UberPishy said:
Where is the question? Wrong forum, maybe you should tell someone who cares?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I care. Thanks to the original poster for critical analysis.
Anybody can fan-boy and circlejerk, that takes no skill.
It takes skill to spot issues and courage to speak out on them.
Every phones has its issues, these do not make Note 8 useless, but buyers can more easily decide if it is for them, when they know its particular failings.

vasra said:
I care. Thanks to the original poster for critical analysis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So which of the OP's claims do you really care about, because most are false, many are non issues for the majority and a few are valid. But the point remains that they were posted in the wrong forum.

vasra said:
I care. Thanks to the original poster for critical analysis.
Anybody can fan-boy and circlejerk, that takes no skill.
It takes skill to spot issues and courage to speak out on them.
Every phones has its issues, these do not make Note 8 useless, but buyers can more easily decide if it is for them, when they know its particular failings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a critical assessment...it's a misleading one.

A few observations.
The volume button on the left side is the more ergonomic position and also makes it less likely you will drop the phone while changing volume making it an objectively better placement. The fingerprint scanner? Yeah, it's poor ergonomics at best and your complaint there is well justified.
Root is something you knew going in you wouldn't have, if it mattered you should have bought something else. I do agree in general that the trend toward taking root access from us is one I hate. That's why I bought an international version and rooted it.
The Samsung calendar app is less well featured than the stock app but it uses no resources when not used and you can always use the google app or one of the several better than stock google calendar apps on the play store. You don't get to complain about not having an app you can put on you phone in seconds which isn't even close to the best app of its kind anyways. I BTW didn't use the stock app on my 6P, didn't meet my needs.Samsung's stock SMS app is awful, IMO someone should be fired there because it falls below even a minimum level of functionality. But then while Googles does manage to get to at least a minimally functional feature set it isn't much better and both are a long way from what can be had in seconds for free that work better than either on the market. You don't get to complain about this one either though, the stock google app is a few clicks away and a few seconds will give that stock google experience if that is your preference.
Same number of clicks with Samsung to add a recent callers to contacts. Hard to do so is dismissed.
Hard to copy because you have to long press instead of double tap? Seriously? lol That's a fairly lame complaint without even taking into consideration the S-pen which opens up a whole world of options that you don't have on the 6P, one of which is using the S-Pen in the first place.
I like the default dialer and it has features which Google's does not. Regardless it can be changed as well as which dialer is the default, where did you get the idea you couldn't change dialers?
I don't have the media volume warning with my phone unless I'm on headphones, not sure why you do?
The Bixby button can be disabled, it can be disabled without signing into Samsung. Just an FYI, it can also be slaved to another function. All without root.
You can white list any app from power saver, just takes a few clicks, assuming of course you know which clicks. You have in an oblique way a real gripe here, Samsung's menus are getting better but they are still too bloated. The search menu function is your friend in pursing hard to find settings.
Who uses lock screens in this day an age? You've get bio-metrics and AOD, leaving the lock screen as an artifact of what was once the best we could do but isn't anymore. Think of it this way, I'm a pathetic old man and I've been able to understand that lockscreens are now just an extra step. Your complaint in this regard reminds me of my friends who cant handle new tech and are still trying to hang on to their flip phone.
At this point you probably think I'm busting your balls a little bit and you're right. On the other hand your complaints are largely groundless. The only real objective gripe you have is the fingerprint sensor location. Your assessment of the volume button location is subjective, not objective, and objectively is incorrect. Your complaints about the stock apps can be applied to google apps in the same way and most of which I changed on my 6P just as I have here. The impression I get is that the main problem you have is you need to learn how to shop better. There is no reason to buy a phone that does not have root if you know you want root. There is no reason to buy a phone well known for it's rather overbearing GUI and menu bloat if you know you are going to hate it. Why do that to yourself?