June 2012

Features

Motorola: From the Archives

June 29, 2012 : BY Motorola

What do a DynaTAC cellular telephone, a photograph of the first Motorola facility in Chicago, and a service manual for a GoldenView television have in common?

They’re all assets in the Motorola Archives!

The Motorola Archives is a dynamic resource of knowledge that cannot be found anywhere else in the company. It is the central storage location for documents, photographs, advertisements, products and memorabilia, and more recently, digital and audiovisual materials as well.

Though it wasn’t established until 1973, the archives has the entire history of Motorola documented, starting with its founding on September 25, 1928. The archives is much more than a nostalgic look at the past. It helps drive Motorola innovation forward.

“This department is more than a closet of a few file folders.  It is a facility that is dedicated to the preservation of a rich, dynamic history that began in 1928.  I am always actively collecting, evaluating, researching and making resourses available to customers around the world, both internally and externally,” explains Lisa Solak, who manages the Motorola Mobility Archives.

Motorola Mobility Heritage Services has its own professional archivist who manages and provides access to archives collections, which start with the company’s establishment in 2011.  While the Motorola, Inc. Legacy Archives Collection documents the years between 1928 and 2010. The Legacy Archives Collection is shared by both companies and continues to acquire key materials created before the separation.

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Software & Apps

The 4th of July is right around the corner, and you know what that means: store shelves will soon be lined with back-to-school supplies and your friends will start claiming dibs on Halloween costumes. But don’t be tricked–there’s still a lot of summer left. Make the most of it by getting in touch with the great outdoors.

Whether you’re all about the beach, pine for the mountains or can’t wait to spend a night sleeping under the stars, there’s an app to help you reconnect with nature.

Camp Finder: Campgrounds

Finding campgrounds and RV parks across the United States has never been easier. This top camping app provides access to the latest information on 16,000 campgrounds and RV parks taken from CampingRoadTrip.com, a leading RV and camping travel website. See rates, amenities, photos and reviews, and get camping tips and articles, right at your fingertips.

PeakFinder

Whether you’re an adventurous climber or prefer to take in a mountain’s majestic beauty from afar, PeakFinder apps are perfect for you. They provide gorgeous 360° panoramic views of mountain ranges in various parts of the world. Individual apps are available for the Alps, USA West, USA East and Canada West.

My Beach HD

Can’t get away to the ocean or a lake? You can still get the relaxing effects of spending a warm summer day at the beach with My Beach HD, a live wallpaper app where you can customize every part of the experience–from the time of day to the waves that roll in.

The Impossible Test:  Summer

The brand new summer themed game in ‘The Impossible Test’ series, with all new summer themed questions and new physics based questions.

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Features

Empowering People through Mobile Technology

June 27, 2012 : BY Motorola

Can mobile technology help the blind?  Enable more people to purchase farm-fresh foods?  Empower citizen-scientists to reduce invasive plant and insect species? Increase high school students’ skills in math and science?  Yes.  It can do that and so much more.
Curious and creative minds at nonprofit organizations throughout the United States are asking these kinds of questions every day. And the Motorola Mobility Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Motorola Mobility, is proud to help them make their dreams a reality. Combined with other grant-making programs this year, the Motorola Mobility Foundation has provided one million dollars in funding for digital, social, and mobile technology programs that expand awareness and engagement in communities across the country.

These are just a few of the exciting programs underway:

  • Horizons for the Blind will revolutionize the way people who are blind or visually impaired shop. A mobile scanning application will give users quick and efficient access to product information on the go.
  • Thousands of low-income shoppers who rely on Food Stamps can’t use them at farmers markets.  Just Harvest Education Fund is about to change all that by equipping the Pittsburg Citi-Parks farmers markets with wireless technology to process food stamps as well as credit and debit cards; making fresh, healthy food accessible to everyone regardless of income.
  • The Adler Planetarium will develop Explorers Wanted, a location-based alternate reality game using online, social and mobile media to engage the Chicago community in astronomy through positive, personal experiences. Gamers will use a series of clues and challenges to advance the plot of an overarching story, culminating at the museum for an exclusive, final event.

This year’s largest grant was awarded to the Center for Mobile Learning at the MIT Media Lab.  The year-long collaboration between MIT and the Motorola Mobility Foundation will create a signature curriculum based on App Inventor, a simple tool for building Android applications.  It will focus on empowering young learners in the world of mobile computing by giving them the ability to create and personalize their own mobile applications.

View the complete list of this year’s Empowerment Grant winners.

The Motorola Mobility Foundation focuses its funding on education, community, health and wellness and disaster relief. For more information, on Motorola Mobility Corporate and Foundation giving, visit Motorola.com/give

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Products

Remember when you used to walk into the coffee shop, and scan for an open table next to a cute guy or gal? Ah, the good old days. Now you walk in and immediately look for a seat by an outlet, because your beepin’ phone is about to die. AGAIN.

Welcome chance encounters back into your life, with a phone that doesn’t always need to be plugged in. Get DROID RAZR MAXX and take a seat wherever you’d like.

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Products

No Tickets Here, with the MOTOROLA ELITE FLIP

June 25, 2012 : BY Motorola

Stop the road rage — and ticket fallout — before it starts with the Motorola Elite Flip Bluetooth® Headset. With a flip of the mic, you can handle Mom’s calls, or text your VBF with your voice. Two mics also help cancel out unwanted road noise, including squealing tires, honking horns and all the other sounds of summer driving fun. Now through June 29, we’re offering a driver-friendly 20% off Elite Flip as part of our Responsible Driving Month sale. Just use promo code: THUMBSUP. Happy moto-ring!

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Software & Apps

A select number of DROID RAZR by Motorola and DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola owners will start receiving the upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this week as part of our standard upgrade process; broader deployments will come over the coming days. While you wait, watch this short video highlighting some of the best new features that come with the new software.  You can also check out our “prepare and learn” pages so that you’ll be totally up to speed on all the latest features your smartphone is getting. There are plenty of videos explaining some of the coolest changes — which are all coming your way very soon.

By the way, the upgrade brings more than just Ice Cream Sandwich – it makes your DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX global ready!  They’re the first 4G LTE smartphones on the Verizon Wireless network that will be able to support voice and data service in more than 220 countries when you’re subscribed to an international plan.

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Software & Apps

Android Apps for UEFA Euro 2012

It’s not too late to catch football fever with several free Android apps for the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer tournament. Hosted by Ukraine and Poland, the tournament’s quarterfinals take place 21-24 June, followed by the semifinal matches 28-29 June and final, 1 July from Olympic Stadium in Kiev. Get live results, standings, venue information, team and player news, photo and video highlights — even red card alerts! — as you follow your favorite nations. It’s the perfect practice for the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games soccer tournament and FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Check them out: 

UEFA Euro 2012 Official App
Say no more, this is the official app of the 14th European Football Championship.

Carlsberg UEFA Euro 2012 App
Use the pub finder to find a nearby place to watch the games.

Adidas UEFA Euro 2012 Live Wallpaper
Get results as you kick, tap, and volley multiple official Tango 12 match balls directly on your home screen!

ScoreMobileFC Euro 2012 App
Dedicated football app with coverage of more than 100 leagues and competitions, including UEFA EURO 2012!

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Tips & Tricks

Tip #1: Get Down!

“Too many people shoot photos of their dog or cat looking up at them. The poor thing usually looks trapped. The key is to get down at their level. Lie on the ground if you have to.”

That’s some down and dirty advice from Chicago pet photographer Rhonda Holcomb. That’s her dog Gracie above, posing oh so gracefully.

Tip #2: Holcomb says don’t waste your time and money with a big fancy camera.

“The best pet shots I’ve ever seen were taken with smartphones. The cameras are so good now – they’re going to put me out of business.”

Looking for a new phone with a camera worthy of your best friend? You might want to focus in on the DROID RAZR MAXX by Motorola.

In addition to its all-day battery, eye-popping display, and dog slobber-proof KEVLAR® coating, the RAZR MAXX sports an excellent camera.

The camera features an 8 MP sensor, 8x digital zoom, image stabilizer, auto focus, in-camera editing tools, and 720p HD video.

Tip #3: Be ready for action.

“The best shots of pets are when they’re caught doing something,” says Holcomb.

Fortunately, the RAZR MAXX has a tool for capturing pet action: multi-shot mode. When it’s activated, press the “take photo” button and RAZR MAXX takes a series of six quick shots all in a row. That way you’re sure to get the absolute perfect shot of Buddy with his head in the garbage can.

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Features

Fasten your seatbelts! Motorola Mobility Italy and Alitalia airlines are taking off with a plan to revolutionize the way we experience travel. Hundreds of MOTOROLA XOOM™ 2 tablets will be introduced to both passengers and crew of select Alitalia flights. Here’s what to expect:

  • 720 MOTOROLA XOOM 2 tablets for in-flight entertainment:  Business and Magnifica Class passengers on mid- to long-distance flights from Italy to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Riyadh and Teheran will be given tablets to enjoy free access to a variety of online movies, music, magazines and games
  • 650 tablets for Alitalia crew:  Busy flight attendants will be able to work on the go, using customer information from Alitalia online to verify passenger lists or check seat and meal preferences
  • Alitalia airport lounges:  Tablets will be introduced in 10 Alitalia lounges, so travelers can catch up on the latest news, sports, weather and entertainment before they fly
  • Alitalia store:  A tablet demonstration area will be set up inside the Alitalia flagship store in Rome, featuring tips to get the most out of MOTOROLA XOOM 2

Read the press release, and check out the video below for more information:

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Products

Responsibility Looks Good on You

June 18, 2012 : BY Motorola

Flirting your way out of a ticket is one way to go. But it’s easier on everyone if you don’t go there. We can provide you with a safer, more productive and responsible drive — at 20% off. This week we’re featuring the Motorola Elite Sliver, a style-friendly, compact Bluetooth®-enabled headset with a 300-foot range and a case that carries it AND a 15-hour charge. It’s our way of helping you join in Responsible Driving Month and keeping you connected to the great, big world around you. Just use promo code: THUMBSUP now through June 22.

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