Mobile Technology

Using Moto Maker to design a Moto X: A walk-through

Using Moto Maker to design a Moto X: A walk-through
One of the suggested design themes for the Moto X
One of the suggested design themes for the Moto X
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Moto Maker is the online tool for adding color to Moto X
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Moto Maker is the online tool for adding color to Moto X
Moto X is Motorola's first phone fully designed under Google's watch
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Moto X is Motorola's first phone fully designed under Google's watch
A special PIN is purchased from carriers to access Moto Maker
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A special PIN is purchased from carriers to access Moto Maker
A side view of the Moto X with its signature curve
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A side view of the Moto X with its signature curve
One of the suggested design themes for the Moto X
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One of the suggested design themes for the Moto X
One of the suggested design themes for the Moto X
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One of the suggested design themes for the Moto X
There are a few basic parts of the Moto X that can be customized
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There are a few basic parts of the Moto X that can be customized
Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
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Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
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Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
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Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
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Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
Moto Maker offers a total of 18 choices for the back plate, including these six cooler-toned options
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Moto Maker offers a total of 18 choices for the back plate, including these six cooler-toned options
Moto Maker offers a total of 18 choices for the back plate, including these five neutral options
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Moto Maker offers a total of 18 choices for the back plate, including these five neutral options
Moto Maker offers a total of 18 choices for the back plate, including these seven warmer-toned options
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Moto Maker offers a total of 18 choices for the back plate, including these seven warmer-toned options
Choose one of seven accent colors for side buttons and a ring around the rear camera lens
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Choose one of seven accent colors for side buttons and a ring around the rear camera lens
The front of the Moto X only comes in black or white
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The front of the Moto X only comes in black or white
Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
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Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
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Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
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Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
Moto Maker allows you to zoom in on key sections of your design, like the colored accents
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Moto Maker allows you to zoom in on key sections of your design, like the colored accents
Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
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Moto Maker allows you to rotate a preview of your phone's design 360 degrees
Moto Maker allows you to zoom in on key sections of your design, like the colored accents
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Moto Maker allows you to zoom in on key sections of your design, like the colored accents
Optional colored headphones from Sol Republic are also available in a number of hues at extra cost
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Optional colored headphones from Sol Republic are also available in a number of hues at extra cost
Moto Maker allows you to add a personalized message to the back of the phone
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Moto Maker allows you to add a personalized message to the back of the phone
A personalized welcome message displayed during startup is an option
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A personalized welcome message displayed during startup is an option
A limited amount of wallpapers are available to choose from
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A limited amount of wallpapers are available to choose from
Our customized "Gizmag Moto X" from the front
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Our customized "Gizmag Moto X" from the front
Our final design, front and back
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Our final design, front and back
All done
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All done
View gallery - 29 images

Earlier this month, Motorola introduced the Moto X, the company's first smartphone designed and delivered as a Google subsidiary (see my full Moto X review here). From the beginning of its marketing push for the new phone in July, Motorola has touted the Moto X as the first customizable smartphone. This week, Gizmag was given special access to create our own Moto X through the beta version of Moto Maker, Motorola's online software that will allow consumers to order, design and customize their own look for the phone.

Once the Moto X launches and Motorola begins taking orders from the public sometime in the coming weeks, Moto Maker will also be fired up online and in AT&T stores. Motorola reps told me at the Moto X unveiling that other carriers and retailers may also have Moto Maker design stations in their outlets later on, but in the beginning, it's just AT&T.;

You may be also able to order the Moto X from other carriers that don't have Moto Maker stations in-store in the beginning, though. In that case, Motorola says it'll basically sell you a card with a scratch-off code that you can use to access Moto Maker online from home and design your phone on the carrier that you bought the code from.

A special PIN is purchased from carriers to access Moto Maker
A special PIN is purchased from carriers to access Moto Maker

With all those logistical details out of the way, let's begin our tour of Moto Maker and the process of designing a Moto X.

After entering your pin code, you'll be brought to the Moto Maker dashboard, which gives you a preview of your phone and allows you to rotate it 360 degrees. Before you get started on picking colors for the front, back and accents, as well as selecting a wallpaper, startup message and optional etched message on the back, you can check out more than a dozen suggested designs.

Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes
Moto maker offers a number of suggested design themes

If you opt to dive in and pick out your own colors, you'll be able to choose from a total of 18 color choices (including five neutral tones) for the back of the phone, seven hues for accents on the side buttons and a ring around the rear camera lens, and either black or white for the front of the phone.

Choose one of seven accent colors for side buttons and a ring around the rear camera lens
Choose one of seven accent colors for side buttons and a ring around the rear camera lens

I set out to design a special Gizmag-themed phone that would be both simple and elegant and sport the same orange and white look as the site itself. I began by selecting the most pale backplate tone available, a white front and orange accents.

The process is pretty straight-forward and the ability to rotate and zoom in on the design was a nice touch, although clearly not groundbreaking in any way.

Moto Maker allows you to zoom in on key sections of your design, like the colored accents
Moto Maker allows you to zoom in on key sections of your design, like the colored accents

Next comes the option to add some sort of personalized message to the lower back of the housing. This can be a good place to put an email or other method of contact in case your phone is lost and picked up by a good Samaritan. Of course, it's also a great place for driving traffic to an emerging technology website, so our custom message simply reads "Gizmag.com."

Moto Maker allows you to add a personalized message to the back of the phone
Moto Maker allows you to add a personalized message to the back of the phone

Moto Maker also allows you to add a special welcome message that you'll see when the phone first starts up, and you can choose your own wallpaper in advance. The selection of wallpapers available on Moto Maker is surprisingly limited, but there was a nice road-styled image that seemed appropriate for Gizmag. After plugging in that last choice, we came up with this final design:

Our final design, front and back
Our final design, front and back

After finishing a look with all the personalized touches, you'll want to choose a 16 GB or 32 GB model, consider ordering accessories such as matching colored Sol Republic headphones at extra cost, and hand over the keys to your Google account so that you can get started checking your Gmail and Google Now right out of the box without having to go through the usual setup routine.

AT&T says the Moto X will be available to consumers starting August 23, with a select few who pre-register able to get their hands on one a few days before everyone else, beginning August 19. More details from AT&T can be found on the company website or in the video below.

New Moto X from Motorola | AT&T Mobile Minute

View gallery - 29 images
2 comments
2 comments
Ben Tierney
Not a bad idea, but I for one don't want to wait for my phone to come in the mail. And most people are going to cover up the back with a case anyway. I have a hard time seeing this take off.
Jared Castello
The cases that they sell on the MotoX site are clear backed.