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SINGAPORE : It has been a while, but Motorola has finally returned to the mobile phone scene - its first Android smartphone, the Dext, was launched here last week.
Running on the older Android operating system version 1.5, the Dext packs a 3.1-inch touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera capable of video capture in H.264, and Assisted-GPS. It touts connectivity options like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and comes with a 2GB microSD card (it supports microSD cards up to 32GB) for you to immediately store your captured photos and videos.
The still camera's quality is not bad, but videos look pixelated. Audio quality in those videos, however, is good.
The highlight of the phone really lies in its Motoblur user interface platform. As its name implies, Motoblur tries to blur the boundaries among various social networks.
You only need to register once and add your multiple accounts, and Motoblur will synchronise all your emails, feeds, messages and photos from sites like Facebook, Twitter and Gmail, pushing all updates to your home screen.
Simply tap on the screen to activate a window that allows you to add the various widgets, from Facebook to weather. You can keep up to date with all the happenings around you with one glance on your home screen.
The phone's contact list is also automatically updated from your various accounts. You can choose to call, email, Twitter or Facebook your friend when you view their contact. It's pretty neat to have such options, especially when you can view your friends' current status. So, you might want to refrain from calling your wife when her Facebook status says "In a very bad mood".
Meanwhile, the competent Web browser can keep you occupied with an unlimited number of open windows. While the rendition of the websites is good, scrolling on the touchscreen interface is a little sluggish. Texting on the touchscreen is not as responsive as we would have liked, too.
But the Dext has a secret weapon. Slide it open and you get a qwerty keyboard. The display also changes to landscape mode automatically. The keyboard provides great tactile response and is a much faster way to type emails and SMSes.
Though somewhat bulky, the built of the Dext is really solid. The SIM card, microSD card and the battery are situated beneath the back cover, which might be a bother.
Also, with all that constant "pushing" of updates, the phone battery lasts a day at best.
Social media addicts might care less about these little quirks though. Get the Motorola Dext from SingTel at prices ranging from S$0 to S$348, depending on subscription plans.
- TODAY/il
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