Motorola Migrate gets Material Design touch ups, new transfer features

Motorola's Migrate app has been updated, adding Material Design updates and new transfer features. Migrate allows you to transfer data to your Motorola device from a number of sources, including other Android devices, iCloud, and non-smartphones, and the latest update makes that even easier.

For Android users, Motorola Migrate can now transfer the contacts from your old phone's memory to your new device. For transferring data from Apple's iCloud, the app now supports iCloud's two-factor authentication. Finally, for those transferring contact data from non-smartphones, Migrate supports the Motorola TracPhone w418 and w419, as well as a number of Motorola iDEN devices.

You can download this update for Motorola Migrate from the Google Play Store right now.

Motorola coming to China with all-new Moto X Pro in tow

Now that Lenovo has officially acquired Motorola, it looks like the purveyor of Moto X's is looking to break back into China. The company announced today that it will be coming to the country early this year with a set of three devices: the Moto X, Moto G (with LTE), and the all new Moto X Pro.

From Motorola:

With the Lenovo acquisition complete, Motorola is returning to China -- one of the world's fastest-growing smartphone markets -- in triumphant fashion, introducing three of its latest devices. The new Moto X, new Moto X Pro and new Moto G with 4G LTE will all go on sale in early 2015.

Perhaps the biggest news out of this announcement is the new Moto X Pro. The X Pro looks to be built with the same hardware as the Nexus 6, but should include Motorola's custom software additions — always a good thing.

Of course, we're already very familiar with the Moto X and Moto G. However, it looks like the latter will be the 4G LTE version with a slightly bigger battery that was spotted late last month on Motorola's Brazilian site.

As for availability, Motorola says that the Moto X will be available in early February for Chinese customers, while the Moto X Pro and Moto G should be available sometime after the Spring Festival.

Source: Motorola Blog

What is a Motorola ID?

It seems that every time you set up a phone, the manufacturer wants you to not only log into Google, but register for their own system. Acer ID, Samsung account, LG Account — and Motorola ID, which we're prompted for on our lovely Moto X or Moto G.

So, just was is this Motorola ID used for, and do you really need to use it?

Let's find out together.

Before you get the wires crossed, Motorola ID isn't just for the suite of Motorola apps, except for Motorola Connect — Motorola's method for letting you see/respond to texts and calls on the computer — and Moto Help, which is essentially a portal to the support section of the Motorola website. And the website is where your Motorola ID is key, but you may not even really remember making one. See, for most people, your Motorola ID is your Google account, which makes logging in a little easier.

Actually, a Google account is preferred, hence that little blurb under the Motorola ID login about how you can log in with a Motorola ID and then link it up to Google. Apart from the usefulness on your Moto device, it's also handy on support sites, such as the Motorola forums, where you can get help from fellow owners and Motorola staff — and where you can participate in the Motorola Feedback Network, which provides soak tests.

On your Moto X

On your Moto X, shortly after you initially set up the phone, you'll be asked in one of several staggered notifications about enabling features if you'd like to turn on the native anti-theft guards. These duplicate Android Device Manager in a lot of ways (most ways, actually), but unlike Android Device Manager, which won't prompt you for administrator access so it can wipe itself if you're ever mugged, Motorola asks for this up front so you're prepared.

Moto Help also uses your Motorola ID to help speed things along when you need to chat about what's wrong with your phone. As someone who's had to use this feature a fair bit, I can vouch for how nice it is to not have to answer 50 questions about who I am and where I am before I get down to what my problem actually is.

The last main app to use your Motorola ID is Moto Connect, which uses the Motorola ID in order to connect your phone and computer together and allow you access to your phone even when it's not right in front of you. Moto Connect will allow you to answer texts while working without switching screens every 30 seconds. It may not seem like much, but anything that helps cut down on eye strain is a blessing in my book.

On future devices

Motorola ID doesn't do too terribly much right now — though what it does is quite important — and considering most Motorola IDs are Google Accounts, we wish that there were a little more that they did. I, for instance, have been through three Moto X 2013s and am currently on a Moto X 2014, and with each device, I have to wait for it to re-learn my patterns in Moto Assist for Driving and the like. If Motorola ID were able to transfer this data, or at least part of it (the Bluetooth devices that are recognized as vehicles in Driving), I'd be a very happy camper.

So, when you get popped the question of logging in with your Motorola ID, don't panic. It's nothing invasive, and your login information is closer than you think. Is there anything else you wish it was used for? Or do you think Motorola ID has gone far enough?