Saturday, April 10, 2010

 

Motorola BACKFLIP Android Phone (AT&T)

Powered by the Android OS and featuring the socially minded MOTOBLUR overlay, the Motorola BACKFLIP for AT&T features an original reverse flip design, 3.1-inch touchscreen display, spacious physical keyboard, and unique BACKTRACK touch panel located behind the screen when the device is folded open--providing you hands-free navigation of the phone without having to touch the display. It also boasts super-fast Web browsing on AT&T's 7.2 HSPA 3G technology as well as Wi-Fi networking with access to more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots.



The unique BACKFLIP features a reverse flip design, spacious keyboard and BACKTRACK touch panel (see larger image).


With MOTOBLUR, updates from Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter as well as e-mail are automatically delivered to the home screen and fed into easy-to-manage streams.
MOTOBLUR helps you to stay on top of both work and personal e-mail as well as keep tabs on all your Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pals--all automatically delivered to the customizable home screen. You can also update your status to Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter simultaneously and sync your social network contacts with your phonebook and e-mail contact lists.

With integrated Google technology, the Motorola BACKFLIP brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, GTalk instant messaging (with presence capabilities), YouTube, and Picasa. The BACKFLIP also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail.

This GPS-enabled phone can access Google Maps as well as the AT&T Navigator service for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions. The BACKFLIP comes with a 2 GB microSD memory card pre-installed, and it's compatible with optional additional cards up to 16 GB in size. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for both hands-free communication and stereo music streaming, full HTML Web browser, and up to 6 hours of talk time.

Revolutionary Design

The BACKFLIP's original design can be used in a unique tabletop multimedia mode so you can watch movies, TV shows or other streaming video on the 3.1-inch widescreen display--it's also the perfect set up for using as an alarm clock. And the BACKFLIP's full QWERTY keyboard makes sending messages fast and easy.

It also features another Motorola innovation--the BACTRACK rear navigation pad, which simulates a PC experience and makes scrolling and surfing effortless. With the rear BACKTRACK touch pad, you can flick through photos or Web pages for your friends without your fingers obscuring the home screen.

Key Features

Vital Statistics
The Motorola BACKFLIP weighs 4.7 ounces and measures 4.25 x 2.09 x 0.6 inches. Its 1400 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of talk time, and up to 324 hours (13.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's dual-band 3G network (850/1900 MHz; HSDPA/UMTS) plus 2100 MHz international 3G networks.

What's in the Box
Motorola BACKFLIP handset, rechargeable battery, charger, 2 GB microSD memory card, quick start guide, user manual

AT&T Services

High-speed data connectivity via AT&T's 3G mobile broadband data network: The dual-band 850/1900 MHz 3G network provides up to 3.6/7.2 Mbps of download speed, making it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services, and it gives you the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services.

Additionally, this phone is also compatible with 2100 MHz 3G networks found in international territories. (For use outside the United States, an AT&T international data plan is recommended.) When traveling outside the U.S., you can enjoy wireless voice coverage in more than 215 countries and wireless data coverage in more than 185 countries--as well as access ultra-fast 3G mobile broadband services in more than 100 countries.

In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it's fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

The full-featured, premium AT&T Navigator GPS navigation application includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options, and 3D moving maps (additional charges applicable). AT&T Navigator offers several other features to make your commute more enjoyable and reliable, including mobile access to Yellowpages.com. Additionally, AT&T Navigator is the only mobile phone-based GPS service that provides integrated speech recognition for address entry and points of interest search.

Learn More

The Power of Android and MOTOBLUR



Powered by the Android OS, you can customize your Motorola BACKFLIP with thousands of apps available via the Android Market.
The Motorola BACKFLIP runs the Android operating system, which provides easy access to a wide assortment of messaging tools and Google apps. With Android, you're able to richly personalize the entire theme of the Motorola BACKFLIP with new widgets, icons and wallpapers--which can be added directly on the home screen--in order to truly make it your own.

Developed by Motorola, MOTOBLUR is an innovative solution that manages and integrates communications--from work e-mail to social networking activity--on your BACKFLIP. Updates to contacts, posts, messages, photos and more are streamed together and synced from sources including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Gmail, and work and personal e-mail. MOTOBLUR automatically delivers these updates to the home screen in easy-to-view streams so there is no need to open and close different mobile applications to keep up with the latest content.

The BACKFLIP also features multitasking capabilities and one-touch access to the Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, YouTube and Picasa. Easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts is supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. e-mail and contacts are also supported by Yahoo!, Windows Live Hotmail, and other POP3 and IMAP e-mail services. It also combines instant messaging support for Google Talk, as well as AOL, Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger.

Additionally, the Android Market hosts a wide variety of unique applications, and with the Motorola BACKFLIP's one-click access to it you can find and download a wide range of innovative software applications--from games to social networking and on-the-go shopping--to personalize your phone. Here's a sampling of just some of the available applications:

Customer Review:OK,

I wanted to give 4 starts review but it is too early for me and the product to do that. So, and in order to be fair, I will give 3 starts but I'll explain all the pros and cons I have experience so far. Yes! I own one ... and had no previous smart phone myself but wife has a Blackberry and couple of coworkers iPhones and other Blackberry too.

Pros:
Good Operating system (relatively fast), bunch of free and nice applications because Android is open source, nice design, good reception (so far) and good quality of voice and sound, sturdy not not too heavy, touch screen is responsive and sensitive, free online backup of all contacts, free GPS localization in case of lost

Cons:
Because the position of the keyboard, when closed will always be facing down which I assume over the years will deteriorate the keys (speculation here), blooded with non-free/open source AT&T apps, restarted couple of times and clock crashed a few also, battery life could be better

My experience so far after 5 days of heavy use

Usage and common cellphone features
The menus and the way the Os works is really easy to understand; it will take 1 hour or less to get familiar with the location of things or how to close, open or find anything like a widget or application. We do have speakerphone, and fully integration of social networks or FB with the Address book so you will save tons of time adding numbers and contacts. Screen goes off when talking but if you move the cell away from your head, turns on I guess is because the integrated GPS accelerator; cool feature, saves some battery.

Applications and Widgets
I checked the iPhone too when checking for this one and based on what I've seen so far on the AT&T store and on friend's iPhones, I do not like the idea of specific store to get apps or having to pay all the time for simple stuff. I use Ubuntu Linux at home (the laptop I am using for this review) and after being in contact with how Open Source works I do not want to go back and continue paying for crappy software. Anyway, that is cool of Android: tons of nice apps that expand the cellphone capability. Some that I have downloaded so far, open source (free)

-Chess
-TexasHold'em (you can play online as well, lol )
-Pandora (listen radio music free, your favorite artist)
-Open Search (replace the Yahoo widget for search - personal preference but I do not like Yahoo)
-Task Killer
-Ring Toggle <-- really nice, let you switch from ring to vibrate to silent in just 1 action

Internet
Assuming you have unlimited Internet access you can start enjoining the main benefits of a smart phone once activated. Here is when some people confuse Internet speed with Os speed. There is no reason to blame the cellphone itself but if your Internet experience is not the best, is because AT&T network. On that topic, not disappointed but my UVERSE at home of course is way much faster. But, fast enough to use google map, retrieve emails, post on facebook or read news. You can also open or have 4 browser' windows which is kind of nice as well.

Cellphone layout and feeling
Like I said before, the keyboard will be exposed all the time when closed. I minimized that issue buying a keyboard and screen protector from AT&T store. I am sure you can find similar on ebay. It will protect some way the keyboard and the touch screen too. Money well spent giving the case retail price (before rebates) is about $300.00 I do also like the cellphone's feeling. Does not feel cheap, like other people say. Keys are big enough in my opinion and texting is a blast.

Minor flaws
1st day, when I tried to play around with the clock feature when semi folded and plugged, clock crashed. That happened to me several times. It could be an operating system bug or the battery saving feature interfering with the app. itself, no idea. But, did not happen again and it is not a big deal for me either.

The cellphone uses battery like crazy. If you are a Facebook or Internet addict :-) ...you will be in troubles. But for reasonable Internet usage, like 1 hr or so during the day, lunch time maybe, battery should last until end of business day. Just be sure you are not using lot of widgets or app behind scenes, that is one of the major reasons for running out of battery soon. The TaskKiller widget I mentioned above helps you on that and it is free/open source. You can also turn the screen off immediately pressing the power button once and quickly. That will NOT turns the cellphone off but the screen, saving priceless battery life.

In a short, it is a nice smart phone and great alternative for iPhones or Blackberry. I personally do not like either those, because they are not open source Os and the Blackberry Os is slower compared to Android ... go to a store, and you will see ...


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# posted by myfavouritesites @ 4:41 AM
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