14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone maker Motorola unveiled at the beginning of the ongoing year a new handset running under Google's Android operating system, the Motorola Backflip, which is set to make a debut on the US market on March 7 on the airwaves of AT&T, and which has already got the unboxing treatment. The new device comes with a unique form factor, as its QWERTY keyboard flips backwards, and is also the first Android-based device that will become available for purchase on AT&T.
The handset appears to be pretty interesting due to this unique form factor Motorola has packed it in, but it seems that it does not impress as much when other aspects are involved, and even the backwards-flipping QWERTY keyboard can rise some problems. The guys over at Engadget, who grabbed the phone and published a series of unboxing images, coupled with a hands-on video, say, for example, that the opening and closing of the phone cannot be done naturally with one hand.
All in all, the Motorola Backflip still look solidly built, but it seems to be slow right from the start, something that might create problems when it comes to installing a lot of applications on it. However, the phone still comes with a large amount of content from AT&T, including AllSport GPS, AT&T Maps, AT&T Music (which takes the place of the standard Music app), AT&T Navigator, AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspots, Mobile Banking, MobiTV, MusicID, Where, and Ypmobile, meant to expand its functionality.
According to Engadget: - Blur looks and feels the same as it does on the CLIQ, though the main Blur widgets -- Social Status, Messages, and Happenings -- have been moved one home screen left of the main one (we prefer this configuration anyhow). - Yahoo has replaced Google as the default search provider throughout the phone. It's crazy: the home screen widget, the browser, everything's been programmed to use Yahoo. We love us some irony, but golly, we'd prefer Google searches most of the time.
At the same time, Engadget also notes that the membrane design delivers low tactility, though the keyboard is usable enough, and states that the camera on Backflip seems better than DROID's photo snapper and on par with the one present on CLIQ. The screen is rather small, while the rear touchpad does not seem capable of making things easier. Take a look at some of the images with Backflip below, or head over to Engadget for the entire gallery.
