Yesterday, Motorola executive Dennis Woodside discussed the company’s forthcoming smartphone live on stage from the D11 conference in California.

The new flagship device, the Moto X will come packed with a number of standard features, but the most interesting additions are a series of sensors that will provoke the phone to act differently depending on various contextual factors.

According to reports, the sensors will be aware of when the user is driving, and act accordingly.  The phone will also be able to understand and react to motions like the act of being taken out of a user’s pocket. The Moto X is expected to be released as early as October.

Unlike previous Motorola handsets, it should be available for a number of mobile phone carriers, ending the long standing exclusivity arrangement with Verizon Wireless.

Samsung’s Mini

For those complaining that smartphones are getting too big, Samsung has come out with a compact yet powerful version of their best selling Galaxy S4: the S4 Mini.

The device will come fitted with a 4.3″ AMOLED screen, and will weigh in at a mere 107 grams. The device is perfect for users with petite hands and can easily be carried and operated with one hand. Despite its small stature, the S4 mini still packs a punch. It will include a 1.7Ghz processor. The Mini comes with an 8MP rear facing camera, a 1.9MP front facing camera, and a brand new photo feature. Sound And Shot will store sounds and voices together as photos are taken.

Though no release date has been announced, the S4 Mini is likely to hit shelves relatively soon. It will be available  in two colors: White Frost and Black Mist.

All Roads Lead to Roaming

European Commissioner Neelie Kroes wants an end to roaming charges for mobile phones by 2014.

As Vice President in charge of the Commission’s digital agenda, Kroes addressed how roaming fees were hurting consumers in a speech to members of  Europe’s Parliament, saying, “”Whether they need it for travel, for trade, or for transactions — our people need this reform.”

For many of the European Union’s member states, daily travel to neighboring countries is a fact of life.  Roaming fees, phone calls, text messages, and data transfer rates can increase dramatically when people leave their home countries. Despite downfalls for consumers, European carriers might not be eager to adopt a plan that will eliminate a large source of their revenue.

Xbox One-Up’s Criticisms

Despite criticisms from disappointed gamers, Microsoft insists that its “entertainment console” is still committed to games. Investment for games on the Xbox One has reached the One Billion Dollar mark, which, in part, financed 15 exclusive titles for the upcoming console.

For the past 2 years Microsoft has been developing their own intellectual properties at studios located in London, Washington, Canada, and Osaka, where Microsoft is rumored to have a project underway to prove that they’re still committed to Japanese gamers.

Now that the Halo series has concluded, Microsoft is looking toward Black Tusk Studios to take charge of creating the next big franchise, and studios like Press Play and Twisted Pixel will be in charge of producing unique games for the Xbox Live Library.

To add to the hype, a report by Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer says that the Microsoft-owned Rare Studios will re-release a modern version of their best-selling game, Killer Instinct, which is sure to hit home with nostalgic console gamers.

DARPA SHMARPA – Motorola Instead!

Former DARPA head Regina Dugan now leads special projects for the Google-owned Motorola, and though she isn’t working on computerized glasses and smart watches, the devices she will be working on are sure to be quite interesting.

Her experience at DARPA should serve useful for Motorola, who seems to be focusing a great deal on security these days. Some of their projects include an electronic tattoo that can be used to authenticate users, or even a pill that can be ingested to produce a signal, effectively making the swallower’s body their password.

When asked about these developments, the head of Motorola Dennis Woodside commented, “This isn’t stuff that is going to ship anytime soon. But it is a sign of the new boldness inside Motorola.”

Google Keeping Tabs of Your Email

Google’s redesign of Gmail is a declaration of  war on inbox clutter.  The new design, which begins its rollout today, will be featured  in both the mobile and desktop versions. It aims to cut the clutter using  tabs,  which separate bulk emails from the main feed.

The news tabs are dedicated to groups such as social network messages, daily deal websites, businesses and forums. With the success of startups like Sparrow and Mailbox, which became popular by re-thinking the inbox, there has been pressure on Gmail to come up with a new approach.

There are currently five Gmail interface options that users can choose from. Gmail product manager Alex Gawley believes that the new design will be the best bet, saying,    “What we think right now is the inbox we’re rolling out tomorrow is going to be the best default option for most users.”

Smart Locks & Cellphones

A new smart lock system for your door, called August is expected to launch soon, and it will work in conjunction with your iPhone.

The system uses a low-energy Bluetooth connection to automatically lock and unlock the door as the homeowner nears.  A web dashboard and compatible app offers controls, allowing the user to share digital keys, as well as keep logs of who and when people enter your home.

“You don’t have to connect to your DSL, your Wi-Fi, nothing. It runs by itself,” designer  Ives Behar said. “Our goal with August is to really make this available to everyone, not just the techies.”

Reservations are now being taken for the August locking system, which will cost about Two Hundred Dollars each, and early adopters of the Bluetooth lock can expect to see the technology in their doors before the end of the year.

To keep up with this and much more news, don’t forget to watch us live and online on the Morning NewsDesk Show with Kristin Feledy.

photo credit: 96dpi via photopin cc
photo credit: { pranav } via photopin cc
photo credit: jurvetson via photopin cc
photo credit: chrisinplymouth via photopin cc
writing credit: Andrew E. Lowe