Motorola makes first Android phone
Integrates Twitter, Facebook, MySpace etc
Motorola has officially joined the Android revolution, launching its first mobile phone running the Google OS.
Dext, a Qwerty slider, offers a 3.2in touchscreen display and reasonably decent integrated 5Mp camera - images from which can be stored on Micro SD cards of up to 32GB capacity.
The phone’s lens will also happily capture video at up to 24fps, Motorola said.
Dext is well connected, in the wireless sense, with support for web browsing over a 3G connection and Wi-Fi. There’s no mention of Bluetooth among the specifications. Music fans will be able to plug their favourite headphones into Dext's 3.5mm jack, Motorola added.
Dext is Motorola's first Android-based phone
While Dext’s listed specifications don’t do much to make it stand out from the numerous other Android handsets already on the market, Motorola included one USP: Motoblur.
Described as Motorola’s “unique solution for its Android portfolio”, Motoblur is the firm’s attempt at seamlessly syncing contacts, posts, feeds, messages, emails and photos from the likes of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Gmail and LastFM.
The point? So you never miss Jack in Hastings tweeting on about the rigours of daily life or Holly from Edinburgh’s new photo post on Facebook and, well, you get the idea.
A Motoblur feature grabs feeds from Facebook, Twitter, et al
Motorola has also promised to feature Motoblur on multiple Android-powered devices in its “upcoming portfolio” – so you should probably take that as pretty conclusive evidence that the phone firm’s inked plans for more Android handsets.
Dext will be available through Orange in the UK before Christmas. A price hasn’t been announced. ®
COMMENTS
will be available through Orange...
Oh well, thats it knackered then.
Orange, that mobile network operator famed for massively affortable mobile data tariffs [not]
@AC - "Forget the iPhone" - Well, you could try, but it'll be there in your face for quite some time yet. Better get used to it before you have an angina attack. "Android will be the dominant phone OS..." a bold bet indeed, but the competition is very much more than the OS, as Symbian and WinMo are finding out. Android manufacturers will also.
@Danny 14 - You're bang on there sir. HTC Androids have paltry integrated memory and Cupcake doesn't allow for live apps on SD. Install too many and the HTC Magic (f'rinst) slows down horribly, even running single apps. WTF? why are manufacturers drip-feeding us integrated memory?
Good luck to Motorola - boo hiss to Orange for getting this, hopefully not exclusive though.
Proximity Sensor
What use is a Proximity Sensor ?
iPhone 3GS doesn't have one so it can't be of much use !
No idea on price... do I go for a 3GS this weekend or wait until 25 September ?
I had a good Moto once
quite some time back...when Nokia started to lose focus, I swapped to a Motorola device - it was fun, quick and funcky and did all the good Phone/txt stuff like Nokia used to... but then it started to show its age and Nokia started to make 'better' phones. Choice between an iPhone and an N96 - took the N96 as I had friends with iPhones and they couldnt do all kinds of things... since then new OS releases have come out to fix their phones (and no new OSs have come out to fix Nokias ;-))
anyway...I guess the point I was going to make is...it'd be good if Motorola were back into the business of making good handsets - I'll look forward to giving this un a spin
chains and anchors
Another tied release.
Sigh.
<ignores>
Gotta agree with Danny 14 here...
If there's little to no integrated memory it could be an issue (unless you're able to install apps to mem cards now, been a while since I had an android phone)
Moto have had a fair few nice looking phones in the past (if a little obscure) the only real thing letting them down for me was their sluggish OS. I quite like Android (not enough to stop me going back to the iPhone though) so have my fingers crossed for them this one takes off.
Looks pretty decent - Maybe they can replicate Palms success at coming back from the brink
