Motorola’s Moto Z lineup is a pretty special crop. These smartphones are known for their Moto Mods, accessories that that can be snapped onto the device via magnets and add extra functionalities.
It seems like Motorola is really counting on Mods to attract more customers towards the Moto Z family, as the company pledged to launch 12 new Mods next year. Motorola also partnered up with Indiegogo and teased a few potential upcoming Mods to give users a taste of what’s to come.
But did you know Motorola also organizes a “hackathon”? This is an event hosted by the company during which indie developers are invited to put together concepts for new Moto Mods.
This is exactly what happened last weekend in New York, where Motorola held its first “Mod the Future” hackathon. Out of all the experimental and concept Mods presented during the event, Motorola selected three which might eventually be turned into real products.
The three winning concepts include an Advanced Audio Mod featuring a digital-to-analog converter for high-definition audio ports, a Sidepad which physical gaming buttons and the so-called Bella, a beauty “assistant” which uses real-time data retrieved from your skin and the environment to deliver beauty tips. The sensors inside Bella are capable of measuring UV evels, air quality and skin elasticity levels.
Motorola showered the winners with prizes, like $5,000 in cash, a Moto Z and a Moto Mods Development Kit.
Motorola currently sells Mods capable of extending battery life, add speakers or a projector and extend the camera’s capabilities. Actually Sports Illustrated used the Moto Z and the Hassleblad mod to shoot the magazine cover for the December Issue.
For those interested in developing for Motorola, the good news is the company is hosting another hackathon in San Francisco next month between January 21 and 22. The same prizes will be awarded this time around, also.
