It also packs in many of the latest browser tricks like multiple pages, word search, copy and paste. And while there's no Flash support, you can watch YouTube without any problems using the onboard app, so it's not a great loss. All in all, it's a very satisfying web package.
Sample Shots
Click for a full-resolution image
For media playback the screen is deliciously sharp and it can handle H.264, H.263 and MPEG 4 formats. Onscreen controls are basic and there are no options to adapt widescreen movie clips to the screen's dimensions. Youtube videos fill the screen, however, and generally look just about as good as they can.
There's the usual Android simple but intuitive interface for music, which is perfectly fine, and you can download others from the Market if you prefer. It can play AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, AMR NB, MIDI, MP3 and WAV tracks. A useful addition is a link that allows you to touch on an artist's name to search for additional content from them on the web. Our sample didn't arrive with headphones – though shop-bought versions will – but the 3.5mm jack plug allows you to easily add your own, as does the stereo Bluetooth capability.
Getting video and music onto the Dext is fairly straightforward too, using the new Motorola Media Link syncing software. This bears more than a passing resemblance to the grey livery of the media software of a certain fruit-themed manufacturer.
The 5Mp camera takes about five seconds to launch by pressing the shutter button and another three to take a pic – so it's not great for quick snaps. It has autofocus and geo-tagging, but there aren't many options available on screen. Pressing the menu button just brings up icons for gallery, camcorder and settings.
Click for a full-resolution image
There's no timer, multishot or panorama options, just a choice of resolutions, a few colour effects, picture quality and white balance settings. It's very much a snapper rather than an attempt at a proper camera, but picture quality isn't bad, and it's certainly a step up from what you'll find on HTC's devices.
COMMENTS
@boony
Thanks for the info Boony. I checked today and MarkSpace, the makers of The Missing Sync, is planning to release a program that will sync the Android with a Mac. I used their program to sync a nokia n75 and a mac a couple years back, and it worked really well. I think Motorola would lure over lots of mac users, that may or may not have an iPhone, if they would develop a native mac app for syncing. Or better, if Apple would distribute the iPhone through other carriers other than AT&T here in the U.S.
@ngcomputing
Hi ngc - I have been using the DEXT for around 3 weeks now. I am also a Mac user, but alas Motorola do not have native support for it in the shape of calender syncing etc. You can plug the USB cable in and drag files to and fro, but syncing etc is currently a no no. Moto do offer windows support, which to be fair is pretty darned good.
On the other side, if you are a social media fiend (I use it to keep in touch with a whole bunch of old army buddies), then MotoBlur rocks. If you need syncing - stick with IPhone or other device that is Mac compatible, or dare I say it - buy a cheap win7 pc
Good luck with your choice of handset though.
JB posting AC
@ AC 13:26
As well as the other comments, if you're getting this phone you might want to download Locale from the market, which allows you to turn on/off 3G, Google syncing, wifi, etc based on time of day, location, etc. For example, I have my HTC magic set to use Wifi only when I'm at home - as soon as I arrive home wifi is fired up, but when I'm more than 500 yards from my flat the wifi switches off.
This means max connectivity, with minimum battery usage. I also use it for things like having my phone auto-switch to vibrate while at work. You can also have the phone automagically control the screen brightness and timeout (e.g., I have mine longer/brighter when I'm in the office, because I'm never more than 50 yards from a blackberry charger (which my Magic can use).
Also worth looking at is the Power Manager app, which adds additional battery usage cleverness, and is <ronseal>
I've had one for a week...
... and it's rather nice.
<twopenneth>
The battery life is about 4 days if you remember to turn off the WIFI but still have email/facebook synchronising on 3G. You can set it to 2G only and switch off the account synchronising. It supports IMAP email quite nicely too.
I like that I can vaguely keep up with friends on facebook without going to the website, I'm not a big fan, but quite of few of my friends (and strangely, my parents) seem to be.
I'm very pleased with it.
</twopenneth>
This is just the curtain-raiser
early reports on Moto's NEXT Android phone, the Droid, suggest it's a league further ahead of the Dext
