Motorola’s smart watch gets social with improvements

Motorola’s wearable Android, the MotoActv, may bemarketed as a fitness tracker, but with each new software update, it becomes a smarter smart watch. The company has released software upgrade version 7.2which improves tracking for golf shots, fitness zones via heart rate monitors and map views after a workout. After installing the software update, owners will also have direct access to Facebook wall posts and Twitter messages from their Bluetooth connected Android phone.

I like Motorola’s approach to this class of device because while I’ve seen and tested a number of wearable connected devices, few have delivered either a positive experience, wide range of useful features, or both. Instead of putting out a half-baked product, Motorola designed and marketed the MotoActv to fitness enthusiasts from the beginning and recently added golf functions while a few smart watch functions went along for the ride. And even those — notifications for email, text messages and caller ID — were first limited to Motorola-branded phones.

 

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Eventually, the smart watch features were extended to all Android phones, not just those made by Motorola. The company also fixed initial battery issues and at that point, I bought myself a MotoActv for my daily running: The integrated GPS provides route, elevation, pace and time. Once I realized the accelerometer could track steps, I ended up wearing the MotoActv every day, and I still do. But I haven’t been using the phone notification feature. Now that the updated device includes support for Facebook and Twitter, I may enable that feature.

I’ll also be taking full advantage of the more detailed golf tracking included in this software update. Ironically, I just played 9 holes with the watch yesterday, using it to track every shot on the course (and there were quite a few of them!). Here’s an example of the data tracking:



But I had commented to a fellow golfer during the round that I wish the MotoActv didn’t treat all putts the same: It only captures how many putts used on each hole. Lo and behold, just a day later, the new software update allows putt tracking for short, medium and long putts, making the data capture even more useful.

Interesting to me is how Motorola still isn’t positioning the MotoActv as a smart watch, although I think most would consider it one if they knew the capabilities. Then again, many people haven’t yet heard of smart watches. It’s a clever move to instead market the device as a known item — a fitness tracker — and then keep adding smartphone-assisted functions and other improvements. Motorola’s MotoActv may be the best smart watch to date; just don’t call it a smart watch!

10 Things Google Should do with Motorola

2. Do not hurt the other android venders:

 
Google came up with android and changed the market dynamic. Android devices have a huge market which keeps increasing day by day. The android platform is used by several vendors. The merger between Google and Motorola could send waves of fear in the market that Motorola would have undue advantage since it now officially belongs to the birth house of android.

 
The smart step here would be for Google to maintain a safe distance from Motorola to reassure the other vendors that there would be no undue advantage given to Motorola.


3. Use the patents wisely:

 
Google had to shell $12.5 billion for Motorola. They are now the proud owners of the 17000 Motorola patents. This is bound to come handy in this season for patent lawsuits. These patents will help Google against oracle, apple and other such companies. Google could also use these patents to improve the android platform and thus help the various android vendors.


4. Software expertise:

 
The Amazon Kindle story is known to all. They took android and gave it the Amazon touch and made kindle an instant success. Motorola also followed the same path. They took android and modified it to suit their own handsets.

 
Let us also keep in mind here that Motorola is a software genius. Their software expertise must be utilized by Google to come up with something extraordinary.

5. Utilize the talent:

 
Google acquired several valuable assets after it took over Motorola. Although the company is not doing very well at the time they were once a force to reckon with. Known for their innovative products they are home to some very talented developers.

 
Google can benefit largely if they recognize the talents in the company and shift them over.

6. Revive the Chromebook:

 
The chrome book is a personal computer running on Google Chrome OS. It is a cross between a cloud and a personal laptop. It runs on a Linux kernel and Google Chrome web browser with an integrated media player. The product received mixed reviews and it soon slipped from the consumer memory and also from Google’s priority list.

 
It is a promising product and hopefully Motorola can work to better the design and relaunch it. All they need is one successful launch and Chromebooks can be back in business.

7. Better the Motorola lineup:



Motorola was earlier known for its sleek phones and they pioneered the flip phones but made the mistake of coming up with too many handsets. The markets were flooded with too many choices for the consumers.



They must focus on fewer products to come up with better choices for the consumers. Apple follows this policy and is at the top position in the market. Hopefully Google will help Motorola make smarter choices and simplify their product list. Too much of anything is not good.




8. Avoid layoffs:

 
The market is filled with hushed rumors that layoffs are inevitable after the acquisition. When Google had taken over DoubleClick, 40 percent of their employees were laid off. Motorola employees may see the same fate. The company had recently fired 800 employees in the name of reconstruction.

 
Google does not know yet what it has taken over. They should take some time to consider the possibilities here. The search giants can utilize the talented workforce to come up with newer and better products. They certainly have the resources to do so.

9. Innovation is the key:



Motorola owned the market with its flip phones and then clam phones. Its set top box business is iconic in itself. Motorola’s legacy of being an innovator has been lost in the recent past. They could not keep up with the rapidly changing communications and electronic market.



We can expect Google to come to Motorola’s rescue and resurrect them. Google has the cash and Motorola’s investment budget can also be used to make breakthrough inventions. Google needs to bring back the innovation streak in Motorola to justify the high price they paid.




10. Stand up to Microsoft:
Motorola is currently caught in a nasty lawsuit with Microsoft over patents. Motorola has subsequently sued Microsoft in the US and European courts. Such cases usually end peacefully in patent cross-licensing deals. But this time the companies involved are not looking for settling. Motorola wants Xbox 360 and Windows 7 to be banned in US markets. Recently a judge commented in Motorola’s favor saying that 4 of their patents were being violated by Microsoft.
Google can try to be the bigger person here by letting the lawsuit go or they can take the bull at its horns. It is completely their choice.