As a standalone device, the Motorola Atrix has good enough specs and an impressive enough design to be considered a high end product. However, possibly in an attempt to differentiate the Atrix from so many other Android smartphones currently on the Canadian market, Motorola has allowed for the device to be used as more than just a standalone product. It has done this through making the Lapdock, a device similar in size to a netbook. The Lapdock goes far beyond functioning simply as a place to dock the Atrix, instead serving as a possible netbook replacement by allowing the phone to be used as a laptop. The Atrix is completely accessible from the screen of the Lapdock, giving the user the ability to take calls or do almost anything they would normally do with the device, however in addition to this, through docking the Atrix, the user also has the ability to have a web browsing experience that is nearly identical to that of a desktop by having a full version of Firefox accessible.
While the the Lapdock does not fully replicate a netbook or desktop computer, the simple fact that it provides a larger screen and QWERTY keyboard does allow for an interesting way for the Atrix to be used. That being said, beyond it being initially cool to use one’s smartphone through a laptop, there could be an argument made that the Lapdock is more on the gimmicky side of things rather than being practical. This becomes incredibly clear when one considers the price of the Lapdock, which is currently $299.99. For this price a consumer could buy a fairly good netbook, one which would have many features and extras not found on the Lapdock. While there is something to be said for having almost all the features of your phone accessible from a laptop, one still has to dock the phone to use the Lapdock at all, and so considering one would have to have their Atrix in front of them anyway, it may be far more appealing for consumers to simply buy a netbook rather than the Lapdock, as they can enjoy all the features that come with a standalone netbook while still being able to use their phone that is right in front of them. The fact that the Atrix can be used as a Mobile WiFi Hotspot, with the ability to use up to 8 WiFi enabled devices with the phone, only further lessens the appeal of spending $299.99 on the Lapdock. It is certainly not a bad thing that Motorola has made the Lapdock available, and for certain consumers it may be a good choice, but for many it may be more practical to simply buy a netbook rather than buying the Lapdock.
Looking more at the actual smartphone itself, the Motorola Atrix has outstanding specs, with a 4 inch touch screen display, a 5 megapixel camera with a flash, WiFi, GPS, download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps according to Bell, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and 16 GB of internal memory. The phone also has a dual core processor and support for Adobe Flash. While the design of the smartphone was fairly good and the device did look great, it did have a slightly plastic like feel to it. This did not take away from it feeling like a high end product with a high build quality, and some consumers may like the more plastic like feel of the device, but for those who do not it may not be the best aspect of the Atrix for them, and is something that should be taken into consideration.
Another accessory that is available for the Motorola Atrix that is interesting to note is the Multimedia Dock. While this does allow one to connect the Atrix to a monitor, connect the Atrix to a TV, or connect peripherals such as a keyboard or mouse to the device, similarly to the Lapdock the price of the Multimedia Dock may prevent it from being a practical choice for consumers. That being said, however, it is still nice for consumers to have the option to be able to purchase the dock. Overall, the Motorola Atrix is a great device, and while accessories from Motorola such as the Lapdock and Multimedia Dock are not always the most practical purchases, largely due to their high price, the phone as a standalone product is still quite good. It is also available at a great price point ($24.95 on a three year contract on Bell in Canada). There is a video review and pictures of the device below.
Android is increasingly becoming the mobile operating system of choice among many consumers, and with there being so many different Android devices available on the market, it can be at times difficult to find the best smartphone running the OS. While certainly not perfect, the HTC Incredible S is one of the better choices for Canadian consumers looking for an excellent Android phone. One of the main reasons for this is due to the fact that it has amazing specs and a great price. The specs of the phone are such that they will fit the needs of many consumers, with the phone’s being free either through using Virgin Mobile’s SuperTab or signing a three year contract only adding to the value of the device. Again, it will not be perfect for everyone, but this higher end device simply being free on a three year contract is a large plus and something that may make it a good choice for a large amount of consumers.
Looking at the specs in detail, the HTC Incredible S has a 4 inch touch screen display, an 8 megapixel camera with a flash, network download speeds of a carrier claimed 14.4 Mbps, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and 4 GB of internal storage. It should be noted that the download speeds on either Bell or Virgin Mobile, who both carry the phone, will vary greatly depending on one’s location and may be nowhere near 14.4 Mbps, as this is simply the download speed Bell claims the phone can reach. While data speeds for many people will rarely, if ever, be this high, Virgin Mobile’s network is fairly good in a large amount of areas and most people using the cell network for browsing the web or even using YouTube will encounter an enjoyable experience. Also, while the phone’s internal storage of 4 GB is on the smaller side, Virgin Mobile does include an 8 GB microSD card with the device, which is a nice extra.
The HTC Incredible S also has a fantastic design, both feeling and looking like a very high end phone. It feels like it has a high build quality and can take a few drops, while also being very slim. Using the phone’s touch screen display for going through menus and browsing the web was easy and enjoyable, as it was very responsive. The Incredible S also has a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, which allows menus and many applications to load quickly, and helps cause navigating on web pages to be very fluid. While it would have been nice to have seen a physical QWERTY keyboard on the device, for many the virtual QWERTY will work very well. It also would have been nice to have seen the internal memory be a little higher, as while it is a positive to have an included 8 GB microSD card, this still may not be enough room for users wanting to utilize the device as a multimedia player and may cause then to have to purchase another microSD card. Still, considering the smartphone’s price (free either through using Virgin Mobile’s SuperTab or signing a three year contract on Virgin Mobile in Canada), the Incredible S is a great value as it is an affordable Android device with high end specs. There is a video review and pictures of the device below.
As a piece of hardware, the Motorola Spice is not quite the most exciting Android device on the market today. There is nothing wrong with the hardware of the phone, but it is simply a budget focused Android device with fairly good specs, and so initially it may seem like there is nothing groundbreaking with the device. The truth is, however, that the Motorola Spice, while not in itself anything new or different, represents a part of something very exciting in the Canadian wireless industry. This is because the device is running on the network of the still rather new wireless company, Mobilicity. This company, along with other new entrants like Wind Mobile, is making a significant contribution to the mobile industry in Canada in that, for the first time, it seems those who are looking for unlimited plans, and who are not wanting to lock into contracts, are truly getting a valid option. Mobilicity is now offering devices such as the Motorola Spice for a quite reasonable $189.99, without any contracts or commitments. Unlimited data, too, is priced quite well, with it being only a $10 add on to plans starting from $25. This means that for $35 a month, one could get unlimited texting, local calling, and data usage. This is something very different in the Canadian mobile space, and it is refreshing to see.
That all being said, however, Mobilicity still is far from perfect in certain areas, with network coverage being the most noticeable possible problem. In the Vancouver area, for example, Mobilicity’s network is limited to the city and surrounding suburbs. While this may not be a problem for many people, those who live even just a few hours outside of Vancouver, or other major cities, may find themselves roaming on Mobilicity in their own homes. This is a major issue in that, until the network has expanded enough to have coverage larger than just a city and its near by suburbs, widespread adoption of the carrier may be unlikely. This all could very well change in the future, but as of right now, many people will find it difficult paying money for a service that limits them to certain areas. Many other Canadian cities are also not covered by the network yet. This is understandable, considering how new the carrier is to the market, but it should cause consumers to carefully examine their coverage map to make sure there homes, and places they happen to be often, are covered. While the pricing of Mobilicity’s phones and plans is nothing like the major carriers in that it is far cheaper, there coverage is unlike the major carriers in that it is simply not as widespread. Still, for those who do not find themselves leaving a city and its major suburbs very often, the service may be a good choice. It should be noted that in most coverage areas, the network did work well. In many cases, it is not an issue of the quality of the network, but simply how many areas it is available in.
Taking a closer look at the Motorola Spice itself, the device is a budget focused Android smartphone that has a fairly good design. It is not incredibly thin and does not feel like a high end device, but given its low price point, this is understandable. It’s specs are great, with a 3 inch touch screen display, a 3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi, 3G HSDPA, and a full QWERTY keyboard. Some people may also like that the device is a vertical slider, something not seen that often with Android devices. While overall it is an outstanding value and makes for a good entry level smartphone, the speed at which Android runs on the phone may be a problem for some people. The browser, while able to load content rich sites, is often slow and not very fluid when navigating around web pages, and menus were not always easy to navigate due to the speed of Android on the device.
For those who are looking for an entry level smartphone, live in Mobilicity’s coverage area, and are willing to put up with not being able to take their phone hours out of the major city they live by, the Motorola Spice may be a good choice. It is just extremely important to ensure you are in their coverage area, and that many of the places you visit on a regular basis are in their coverage area. As the network expands, however, Mobilicity will continue to become a better option, and contract free devices and data plans may start to become a more common occurrence. There is a video review and pictures of the device below.
Although smartphones were fairly well known before the iPhone, do you think it took Apple to make…
Posted On: January 19, 2010
