In traditional mobile phone launch fashion, Motorola launched its new product, the DEXT mobile featuring MOTOBLUR, at the top of a very tall building in London, serving very small canapés, with a man showcasing the phone wearing very tight pants.
While Motorola lack the high-fashion edge that LG possess, they are most certainly making one killer comeback with their new DEXT with MOTOBLUR mobile phone. We were graciously invited to tonight's launch of the DEXT, and after having good play around with the phone, we're pretty damn excited about this new mobile.
So what is this DEXT and what the hell is MOTOBLUR you ask?
The DEXT is the brand spanking new mobile phone from Motorola which is powered by Google Android, exclusive to Orange, and is probably the most “social” friendly phone I’ve come across. Yes, even more than the bloody iPhone.
Why? How is that even possible?
MOTOBLUR. That’s what.
MOTOBLUR synchs contacts, blog posts, emails, photos, and messages from all of your social networks – you know the list: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, LastFM, etc, etc. It places all of your networks on a nifty little home screen, allowing you to scroll the statuses and locations of your contacts and internet friends (and, you know, Tweeple).
Motorola say that MOTOBLUR brings “the most important social connections in your life front and centre to your home screen” and emphasize that this means you’ll be able to keep up to date and in contact with those you care about (and those you stalk) both quickly and easily.
This also means that instead of logging in and out of different networks, you can choose to update all of your statuses in one go – or, alternatively – you can update your Facebook with one status and your Twitter with another, without having to log in or out of anything. You simply pick which network you want to update by using the dropbox on the touchscreen. Easy.
MOTOBLUR literally organizes everything for you, and delivers it all to your home screen via various different widgets. Whether it’s friend updates, stories, links or conversation threads, they’re all there for you, with a simple swipe of the finger, ready for action. (Even if that action is hitting the ‘ignore’ button).
And now for the techy specs. What does this phone look and feel like?
The DEXT is a bit heavier and bulkier than the iPhone, but much more sleek than a Blackberry Curve.
It has a full QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen capabilities (although no fancy multi-touch fireworks like the Chocolate BL40) plus a 5mpx camera which is easily connected to Facebook, Flickr, or social network of your choice.
The DEXT has a full HTML browser, is equipped with both 3G and WIFI, and has video speed of 24 frames per second which allows for easy upload to YouTube or Facebook .
As this is an Android phone we’re talking about, it of course comes with all of the fabulous Google Mobile Services (Talk, Maps, Mail, Voice Serach), as well as having GPS. If you’re an Applicaton Whore – never fear, there are apparently “thousands” of apps available through the Android marketplace.
If you’re concerned about storage, the phone comes with a removable 2GB MicroSD card, and supports up to 32GB MicroSD if you’re big on your videos and photographs.
This is all sounding brilliant, isn’t it?
Are you waiting for the catch?
I most certainly was. I’ve heard nothing but brilliant things about Android phones, and as I’m a big fan of Google and have loved Motorola phones I’ve owned in the past – I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
From push email, to GPS, to the fabulous possibilities courtesy of MOTOBLUR, I’m unsure where this phone goes wrong.
Even your contacts are brilliantly organized, as MOTOBLUR combine all of your contacts’ information across all of their social networks. (No need to go, “What the hell is Bob’s twitter name again. Even if you’re simply making a phone call to one of your mates, MOTOBLUR automatically updates that person’s latest statuses and profile photos.
A grand selling point for Windows Mobile has always been that if your phone gets lost or stolen, all of your information and contacts would have been backed up through Windows Live, and therefore safe. However, MOTOBLUR does this, too.
All of your log-in information, home screen customizations, email, messages and contacts are backed up on the MOTOBLUR secure server.
Even if you lose or have your phone stolen, you phone can be found using GPS and your data can be wiped remotely, protecting your privacy.
Then, once you have a replacement MOTOBLUR phone, you simply log in, and all of your information will be there and waiting.
Social networks and social media are all fantastic – but we all know from experience that accessing and organizing these networks and contacts on your mobile can be unnecessarily difficult. Motorola seem to completely understand and *get* that, as they note that today’s phone “needs to be more than just ‘smart’... it needs to be social.” Bingo.
At this point, I can’t even think of one thing I do not like about this phone.
If you’re feeling the same, you’ll be pleased to know that if you’re an Orange customer, the DEXT phone is free to those who take out a £34.26 per month, 24 month contract. Your package includes 900 any network call minutes, unlimited texts, Orange Maps and inclusive anytime internet browsing so that you don’t need to worry so much about exceeding your data allowance.
The Motorola DEXT is the first phone with MOTOBLUR, and I am officially incredibly impressed. MOTOBLUR will and should change the relationship between the Internet and mobile, and I can’t to wait to see what Motorola comes out with next.