Introduction
The battle for a better share of mobile market is going to be lost and won not by the handset manufacturers, but by the apps and accessories they support or offer. Motorola has gone way ahead to turn its smart phone into an actual computer. Now, one can pretty well imagine the power of Motorola’s new handheld device ATRIX Lapdock. This smart phone is unique, as of now, no other cellphone functions as a laptop. Indeed it is going to change the way people think about cellphones and laptops/netbooks. Especially, business users can now carry their smart phones around with them and then fit it into a webtop application – a Lapdock or an HD Multimedia Dock. That instantaneously transforms the smartphone into a computer. Now, one can use the more popular browsers like Mozilla Firefox 3.6.15 and in some places, even Firefox 4.0.1. And, the combined system supports Adobe Flash Player. The Flash support seems much more enduring than the usual systems. Rich graphics, animations and video can be watched on the web. So, whenever one needs to create documents, media or content and edit them too, digital multimedia hub, even a netbook is there from Motorola Mobility!
What is it
Motorola ATRIX has got the right configuration to support 1GB of DDR2 system memory. It works on NVIDIA’s 1 GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor. Froyo, the popular Android version 2.2 is the platform. Then, one could expect an upgrade to the next level Gingerbread, Android version 2.3 shortly. Its graphics display system is directly supported by the processor that gives. The result: screen resolution of 960 x 540 (quarter HD) in 24-bit color is easily achieved. ATRIX only uses micro USB 2.0 and mini-HDMI ports. These allow the smartphone fit well into the Motorola Lapdock to activate it.
Key features
To enhance users’ experience of a computer-like interactive smartphone, Motoroala has developed some really nice new accessory docks. The Lapdock is one such. It has a larger screen for better viewing of documents and video streams. Everything is possible with it – send instant messages, check mail, access files and make phone calls in a seemless manner. Rest assured that none of your calls will be interrupted even if your ATRIX is removed from a dock. One only has to add any URL or web application to the dock. It allows a very fast access to the URL. Business users can ensure better workforce performance by regularly using salesforce.com, Google Docs and any HTML application or service. The full desktop browser never makes them fatigue. The QuickOffice productivity suite and the on-board Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) also come handy to them. When the singularity of life bores you, the system lets you have some good fun and that too of your own choice. The headphone jack provided with ATRIX together with 5-megapixel camera has good potential to take away that itchy feeling. Then, the phone lets you inspect a doubtful fingerprint minutely with a special sensor.
What’s innovative
This device offers features that never seen before in smart phones. The company has applied some innovative thinking to make both the mobile and Webtop apps usable at the same time. Try run the phone browser. You would be asked to specify if it would be better to use the Webtop version. Let both of them work together. That really comes handy for developers as they can check out the looks of the web pages designed by them for both desktop and mobile displays. For them, the Webtop side of thing is, apparently, based around Ubuntu Linux. However, ATRIX has to be rooted in run ADB, though, only to modify the Webtop working environment.
Price and availability
Motorola Mobility has entered into exclusive sales and distribution agreement with Orange to market ATRIX smartphone. However, the new talk of the town is also available with T-Mobile. It is offered for free on two years’ contract of £35 per month. The Lapdock costs £300. Orange business customers can purchase it bundle free on the Solo 55 tariff. The combo is rather expensive, but one could expect the docking interface to appear on other Motorola handsets. That, like iPod/iPhone docking devices, could be extended to forthcoming phones.
The up side
Motorola has used its MotoBlur user interface in the combo system. It has got smart shortcuts to the phone dialer and contacts screens. It adds extras to the notification bar at the top of the screen, such as the battery charge state, Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity signal strength. MotoBlur also supports security features so far not available to non-enterprise handset users. Now, even general users can back up their content over the air to their MotoBlur site account. They can also wipe the handset from a distance for security, if it is lost.
The down side
The keyboard feels a bit unpleasant. They come clattering in a small space. Getting used to them is a challenge. However, some users might find them less cumbersome than netbooks. While typing, one feels like disabling the trackpad so that the cursor does not disturb too much. Then, docking the ATRIX into the Lapdock is a bit fiddly. Its micro USB and mini-HDMI ports have to be aligned properly. It is going to take too much of attention. Handle it with a heavy hand and disturb the connections. Many business users have found that QuickOffice has serious limit of editing functioning. Browser performance, too, has received some criticism.
Our experience
The benefits of ATRIX is that it allows people to be ultra mobile. Its family of accessories is really enlightening.
The bottom line
Motorola ATRIX Android handset is, after all, a winner gadget of the week. It has the potential to change the way of working in groups.
