A Look at the New Motorola Moto G

Motorola has released its second generation Moto G phone, also known as Motorola Moto G 2014 and Motorola Moto G2. Officially, it goes by Moto G and it’s not the same phone as the Moto G (2013) or Moto X.

The new Moto G is powered by a quad-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor accompanied by 1 GB of RAM and the Adreno 305 GPU with speeds clocked at up to 450 MHz. Overall, it performs slightly better than the first model but not when it comes to completing basic tasks. Both come with 8 GB of storage, but the newer one adds a microSD slot allowing you to increase its storage capacity up to 32 GB.

Second generation Motorola Moto G specs

Featuring a larger five-inch 720 x 1280 IPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection, the Moto G supplies good viewing angles and sharp colors. The camera is 8 MP in the rear (up from 5 MP) and 2 MP for selfies (up from 1.3 MP). The volume up or down can be used as a camera shutter. Image sensing works well especially for a phone at its price point. The sacrifice comes in low light situations as it doesn’t excel there.

Motorola advertises the Moto G as water resistant. This means it has a water repellant barrier that helps protect the phone from light water exposure such as light rain, splashes, and accidental spills. In other words, avoid submerging the smartphone in water.

Although stereo speakers are a new addition, reports say it’s quieter than the previous model’s single speaker. Battery life is average by today’s smartphone standards.

The base shell is available in black and white that can be personalized with Motorola Shells and Flip Shells. Flip Shells come with a magnetic cover that turns on the display when opened and turns it off when closed. Sold separately, both shells come in a variety of colors depending on the market and availability.

The Moto G 2014 runs stock Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) that can be upgraded to the latest version of Lollipop v5.0. Motorola’s fine print says, “The device will receive at least one software update to the current KitKat 4.4.X operating system.” Included apps are Moto Assist and Motorola Migrate, both free in Google Play. So their inclusion isn’t anything special.

One of the Motorola smartphone’s biggest selling points is its pricing. It costs less than $200 without a phone service contract.

Automatic, wireless, and cloud-free Moto G and Outlook sync

As soon as you set up the phone, it’ll ask you to connect with an existing Google account, or create a new one. Considering Google developed the Android, the smartphone plays well with Google Calendar, Contacts, Email, and other Google apps. The downside of this option is that it stores your information in the cloud. If you prefer not to do that, you’re not required to sync with Google.

You can get third party software like Akruto to sync Moto G with Outlook PC. The two-way Outlook sync software for Windows automatically transfers your Outlook Calendar and Contacts to your phone and vice-versa without going through the cloud. Akruto can sync through a Wi-Fi or Internet connection. Both options are direct, secure, and cloud-free.

Unlike other Outlook sync software, AkrutoSync moves your Outlook data into the Moto G’s built-in calendar and contacts apps. You don’t to take extra steps to access your appointments and contacts. Because of this, you can use the Moto G’s integrated features. For example, you can share a contact through a text message without switching between apps and copying/pasting the info.

Microsoft Outlook compatibility

Akruto works with the following versions:

• Microsoft Outlook 2013.
• Microsoft Outlook 2010.
• Microsoft Outlook 2003.
• Microsoft Outlook 2007.
• Microsoft Outlook 2002.

Microsoft Outlook data compatibility

Akruto syncs the following data:

• Microsoft Outlook Contacts.
• Microsoft Outlook Calendar.
• Microsoft Outlook Notes.
• Microsoft Outlook Tasks.

How to sync Moto G with Outlook email

What about Outlook email? The Moto G can sync Microsoft Outlook email. To set it up on your Android smartphone, go to Settings > Accounts & Sync > Add Account > Email > Other email.

Follow the dialog boxes. If you need POP/IMAP server information, visit your email service provider’s website. Most provide this information in their Help.

How to sync Outlook calendar with Motorola Moto G

Here are the steps to sync Moto G with Outlook Contacts and Calendar using Akruto. Refer to set up Android 5.0 to sync with Outlook for screenshots. Before you start, plug your phone into a power source.

Steps for Windows PC

1. Download AkrutoSync to the computer with Outlook.
2. Select the downloaded file to install the software.
3. Select the Akruto icon to run it.
4. Select “Configure AkrutoSync” to be guided through the configuration process.

Steps for Moto G

When prompted to create an Exchange ActiveSync account on your Android phone, do the following:

1. Select the Apps icon on the Moto G to open the list of apps.
2. Select “Settings.”
3. Scroll through settings, select “More” and “Accounts.”
4. Select “Add Account.”
5. Select “Exchange.”
6. Enter the email address in AkrutoSync window on your PC. (Do not enter your real email address.)
7. Select “Manual Setup.”
8. From the “Account Setup” screen, scroll down and select “Security Type.”
9. Select the “SSL/TLS (Accept all certificates)” option from the drop-down list. (If you’ve imported AkrutoSync certificate, you can select the “SSL/TLS” option instead.)
10. Select “Next” to complete the setup.
11. Name the new account “Akruto.”
12. Select “Done.”

This should start your Outlook Contacts and Calendar sync with Android phone. Keep Wi-Fi on and the AkrutoSync window open on your PC until all data is transferred. Depending on the amount of data you have, give it a few minutes to an hour for all the data transfers,

You can try Akruto free (the full version with no limits) for seven days. To ensure you’re happy, we offer a 90-day guarantee. The trial begins as soon as you install the software. So wait until you’re ready to experience it before installing. Downloading the file will not start the trial.

Need help with the install? Contact our 24/7 support team. If you prefer our experts set up Outlook sync, ask for the Akruto Gold plan.