15 Hidden Moto X Features is a post by Cory Gunther from Gotta Be Mobile.
Motorola has been through a lot of changes lately, and more are coming now that the company was just sold by Google to Lenovo, but they still have an excellent smartphone in the Moto X.
Launched back in August of 2013 the Moto X has been available for about five months. With prices dropping and customization features available on all major US carriers, we figured a few helpful hints and tips sharing hidden features was in order for eager buyers or those who’ve purchased the Moto X.
Many of these are stock Android tweaks, then Motorola’s filled this phone with additional features not offered by any other smartphone manufacturer.
Most of these won’t be new to advanced users, but if you’ve just bought the Moto X, are new to Android, or just haven’t explored your new device there’s tons of goodies packed inside the X. From touchless controls, audio equalizer settings, camera shortcuts, and auto-unlock for trusted devices nearby.
The Moto X runs a nearly stock version of Android 4.4 KitKat right from Google, and has the least amount of changes and interface skins available when compared to Samsung or HTC. We have a clean version as Google intended it, but then Motorola tossed in new and useful features like never before. Some of these are explained on first setup for buyers, others aren’t, so check them all out below.
Camera Shortcuts
Since millions of smartphone owners snap photos daily with their devices, you’ll be happy to know there’s a few extremely quick and easy ways to instantly launch the camera and never miss a shot. Just like stock Android from the lockscreen when you first hit the power button a quick slide from the right edge to the left on your screen will instantly launch the camera. Alternatively, so you know this is available, there’s a camera icon on the lower right you can slide to open the camera. This works instantly, without inserting a password or PIN, and you’ll never miss that quick photo.
Burst Mode
As a reminder, a tap of the screen will instantly focus and take a photo all in one swift motion. However, if you tap and hold the screen the phone will focus and then snap as many photos as you’d like while you’re holding down. Burst mode is great for action shots, when you’re not using the HDR explained above.
Then we have one last photography tip. While shooting video a tap on the screen will capture a photo at the same time, so you’ll never miss a great photo while recording video on the 10 Megapixel “clearpixel” camera.
Lockscreen Widgets & Controls
Next is the lockscreen, which has tons of features and controls that aren’t new to Android but many users don’t know about. Simply head into settings, select security, and tap “Enable widgets” or lockscreen widgets. This will allow users to put Gmail, Twitter and Facebook widgets, weather and more all on the lockscreen. Giving you easier and quicker access to all your information.
This is disabled by default as a security concern so people can’t see a users information without unlocking a device, but once enabled there’s tons of widgets you can add by swiping to the right on the lockscreen. Not to mention apps like Dashclock from the Google Play Store which will add a host of new features.
Touchless Controls
The touchless controls feature is one of the biggest selling points for the Moto X, and it’s awesome. You’re prompted multiple times on first setup to do this, so it shouldn’t be new. However if you missed it, head into settings (gear-shaped icon) and select Touchless controls to configure.
Touchless controls lets you instantly send a text, make a call, or search Google with your voice, even when the phones display is off. It’s extremely powerful, and you’ve probably seen it before but above is a quick look and we show you how to enable it
Active Notifications
Active notifications shown above is another neat addition to the Moto X and DROID Ultra lineup that most users love once they set it up. Allowing the phone to illuminate small portions of the screen in a low-power battery saving state with quick and active notifications. A circle will dimly light up showing you have a missed call, incoming text, Twitter mention, and more. Then the screen goes back to sleep as shown in the video above. However, tap the circle and the Moto X gives you more details with the top half of the screen, which again, is a battery saving feature.
Screenshots
Taking a screenshot of what’s on a smartphone display is an easy way to share a funny message, crop a Facebook comment to share or view later, or screengrab an important email. People use screenshots for all types of things, and its very easy even though some users don’t know how to do it.
That’s it. Simply long press power and the volume-down button at the same time and you have a screen grab. Another hidden feature is also shown in the video above. Expandable notifications. They’re nothing new to Android, just like screenshots, but many users don’t know you can pinch to expand a notification.
I went from seeing the screenshot in a small box, to getting a large preview and the “share” button to send it to friends. You can do this with two fingers, or one as shown in the video. Long press and then slide to expand or close notifications of all types in the Moto X notification pulldown bar.
Moto Assist
This section has more than two hidden features, so lets get started. Moto Assist is an app built-in to the Moto X which will help assist and automate your life. Have a work meeting every Friday at 3 PM? Assist will learn that once set, and always silence your phone at 3PM on Fridays. All automatically once it learns. It’s a nice touch Motorola.
Supercharge the Keyboard
You can count this as one hidden feature or trick, but below is a video showing you five tips to type faster on Android using the stock Google Keyboard found on the Moto X. Things like gesture typing, next-word suggestions, and even text expansion support all can make you faster when it comes to typing on a smartphone.
Moto Connect
This is another app that comes pre-installed, but it’s actually useful unlike most bloatware carriers install on a new phone. Moto Connect lets you pair the phone to your PC or laptop, which will then allow a user to send and receive calls and texts on a computer using the Moto Connect Chrome Browser extension. Send texts from your PC through the Moto X.
Equalizer
Most smartphones don’t have an equalizer option to customize and tweak audio settings, but Motorola delivers that. The Moto X has fairly good speakers, and sounds great with headphones, so head into settings > sound > audio effects to improve your music.
Trusted Devices
This feature is something you’ll need to setup and control under the settings > security tab once you’ve setup a passcode, unlock PIN, or pattern. This essentially allows a user to set certain devices to be trusted, so once the phone is nearby you won’t need to use an unlock pin.