The Moto X is actually pretty awesome all on its own. But super nerds can be happy it’s also going to come in a baby-fresh stock-Android-having Google Play version, with zero bloatware, and available directly from Google. It’s a trend we continue to be real happy about.
The Galaxy S4 and HTC One are both available over Google Play already. And unlike those, the Moto X already runs a form of basic Android — as opposed to HTC Sense, Samsung TouchWiz or even Motorola’s old Blur and whatever the hell they called it after blur — albeit 4.2.2 instead of the new 4.3. And while these Google Play versions maybe aren’t getting Day One updates to new software, just having them around is nice enough as an option.
The Play version is necessary because carriers can still bloat up the phone, despite the fairly slim software load Moto stuck on the X. It’s probably safe to assume though that the Play X will retain the cool features like always-on Google Now recognition. No word on pricing just yet, but the word is that it’ wil be just the 16GB version when it hits. [Verge]