Motorola Moto X

MicroVision has had a long relationship with Motorola.... Motorola is also now part of Lenovo.

This looks particularly promising and we don't have long to wait.

From VentureBeat

Just like last year, Motorola is preparing multiple Android handsets to be sold under the flagship Moto X brand, a person who was briefed on the plans told VentureBeat.

The two all-metal phones look similar enough that images of them — leaked yesterday by HelloMotoHK on Google+ — were widely reported to be of a single device. While there are many internal and external differences between the so-called Vertex (pictured left) and Vector Thin (pictured right), they share one important attribute: compatibility with an ecosystem of modular, swappable backplates that endow the phones with significant additional functionality.

Modular done right

The bigger story here starts with those 16 holes seen on the back of the white Vertex, above. While they’ve been written off in some coverage as speaker ports, they are actually connection pins that allow modular backplates to be snapped onto either handset.

Motorola has at least six modules, called “Amps,” planned for launch, including a simple colored backplate that ships free with both handsets. The more interesting ones will be, of course, sold separately, both from Moto as well as third-party manufacturers. The first-party modules available at launch allegedly include stereo speakers; a battery pack; a camera grip with flash and optical zoom; a pico projector; and a rugged cover with wide angle lens attachment.

While pricing and release details aren’t yet known for the Moto X pair (nor their likely doppelgängers on Verizon, the Droid Turbo 3 and Droid Maxx 3), the date on the renders, August 24, may prove significant. [Update: Droid-Life is reporting that these will launch on June 9th at Lenovo Tech World.]