Motorola is taking a run at becoming a top smartphone maker again, this time with Google backing it. In the next few weeks, the Moto X will be out on all major carriers, and the new Verizon Droid devices have just launched. To go along with these phones, Motorola has released the new Touchless Control and Skip apps. Both are free, and both will bring unique features to Moto's new phones.
The Skip app is only for the Moto X and requires additional hardware, so let's go over that one first. The Skip is a small Near Field Communication (NFC) dongle that you can buy for $20 (although, it comes free with the customized Moto X). The dongle clips onto your pocket in such a way that the Moto X is dragged across the NFC tag when you remove it from your pocket. This will instantly unlock the phone, even if you have a PIN lock on it.
The Skip app is necessary to set up your dongle and give it access to the device. The Skip app can also be configured to work with the upcoming Skip Dot, which is a smaller NFC sticker that you can place on your desk, or charging stand to unlock the phone that way. There are only a few steps to get it set up, so the $20 charge for the clip is the only barrier to entry.
Touchless Control is available to both the Moto X and the new Droids. This is the feature that brings Google Now functionality to the forefront in these devices. At any time, the trigger phrase "OK Google Now" will bring up the voice search interface. This works when you're playing a game, browsing the web, or even when the phone is asleep.
Google Now voice interactions are available on all Android devices running version 4.1 or higher, but this app makes the system incredibly convenient on the new Motorola phones. Google now understands natural language questions like "is it going to rain tomorrow?" or "where can I get some Thai food around here?"
The important angle here is that Google and Motorola have deployed the app to manage this feature in the Play Store. That means bug fixes and new content can be rolled out the the devices without a full OS update. Great news all around.