Motorola confirmed that it is rolling out a new version of Motoblur for its upcoming Android handsets. The latest version of Motorola Blur will include a new social and location-aware service from Aloqa as well as new photo sharing and media syncing components. These new features can be summarized as follows:
- Aloqa: Motorola acquired this location-based service in 2010 with the intention of integrating its push technology into Motoblur. Aloqa will track your location and identify social relationships to send relevant events, bargains, and offers to your handset. It can also provide information on places of interest. It works on an opt-in model so it will only send this context-aware data when the service is turned on.
- Connected Music: Motorola will include a connected music service that will let you buy and share music wirelessly. A social component will let you follow your friends, get music recommendations and purchase tracks on the fly. A lyric-streaming service will round out this new feature.
- Connected Gallery: the next version of Motoblur will include a connected gallery service that upload your photos and videos to Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa and more. You can upload media using this service as well as receive push notifications when new media is uploaded or friends comment on your photos or videos.
Last but not least, Motorola’s Motoblur portal will now let Blur users track and erase their devices remotely if lost or stolen. Made popular by Apple’s MobileMe Find My iPhone service, this new feature will also let you backup and restore both your data and contacts on the fly. This new and improved version of Motoblur will debut as an update for current handsets such as the Motorola Atrix 4G and Cliq2. It will also be available as the default UI for upcoming Android handsets. additional details are available in the press release on the second page.