A complete guide to the Motorola Atrix, a phone + laptop

We go in-depth with the Motorola Atrix phone and laptop docking peripheral at CES. It's one of our favorite new products of the show. Check it out!

CES has been full of tablet PCs and 3D devices, but few of them really stand out or solve a problem. Will TV shows like The Office truly get more exciting with a foot of depth added to them? I’m not so sure. With the Atrix, however, Motorola has gone and invented a new product entirely, one that is both exciting and potentially useful.

The Atrix is really two devices: It’s a high-end dual-core 4G Android phone, and it’s a laptop computer. By snapping the phone into the back of a new laptop dock, it powers a full-size screen and keyboard with a modified Android (Linux) display made to resemble a desktop computer.

First, the phone. For a phone to also run a laptop, one needs some horsepower. From what we saw, the Atrix has some impressive specs. The Android 2.2 device is powered by Nvidia’s 1GHz Tegra 2 AP20H dual-core processor (one of the first dual-core phones) and has an impressive 1 GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, a powerful 1930 mAh battery, a 540×960 4-inch multitouch screen with gorilla glass (scratch and shatter resistant), a VGA front-facing camera, a 5MP rear camera that can record 720p video, and a proximity sensor for auto-turn-off.

The shot above shows another unique feature of the Atrix: it’s biometric fingerprint reader. The power button on the top rear of the unit doubles as the sensor, meaning that if someone that isn’t you tries to turn on your phone, it just won’t work. It would be a good security feature for those of you who (like me) tend to accidentally leave your phone in Las Vegas cabs when attending CES conventions.

The Atrix is also capable of 4G speeds, but is only being sold on AT&T in the United States, which may hurt its potential, considering the vitriol some have toward AT&T’s network and the success Motorola has had with its Android devices on Verizon Wireless. Verizon recently launched its own 4G network, but Motorola’s Atrix was not one of the 10 new 4G devices announced. The 4G Droid Bionic will launch on Verizon.

Motorola has been pushing its docking solutions since the original Droid launched on Verizon more than a year ago. Like the original Droid, the Atrix will have have a Navigation dock for autos and a clock stand. However, the company is now introducing a new dock that effectively turns the Atrix into a thin laptop that resembles a Macbook Air. The peripheral is little more than a 15 (or so) inch screen and island-style keyboard with a built-in 8-10 hour battery. The phone connects via Micro USB and Micro HDMI connections on the side of the phone.

When docked into the rear of the laptop shell, the Atrix is charged by the dock and powers the device. Though the resolution seemed somewhat low, a split screen on the laptop shows the phone display and has space for some app shortcuts along the bottom (similar to Mac OS X) and app windows in the screen. Motorola is calling this the “Webtop” display mode. This form-factor is a Motorola modification of the standard Android OS, or may be powered separately by a Moto version of Linux. Our unit had shortcuts to a folder/directory navigator for browsing files, QuickOffice, and Mozilla Firefox. A big make-or-break for the Atrix will be how many other apps are available for the desktop client, how usable they are, and how easy they are to obtain. As it stands, the device appeared to be fairly competent as a Web browser and seemed good for most netbook-like light applications and uses.

Using the clock dock, the Atrix also has a desktop mode, for those hoping to plug the phone into a full monitor and keyboard (picture). The desktop version works identically to the laptop UI, from what we can tell.

Motorola representatives told us that when you undock your phone, it will suspend and hold all of your desktop apps and browser windows until you reconnect, making it possible to undock and redock without having to start your work over. If the phone is turned off between dockings, the apps will have to restart, but the Atrix will save your browser windows and docs before shutting off.

The unit also has some interesting multitasking features. Since the phone still has a window inside of the Webtop display, you can make calls using the speakerphone or a bluetooth headset, and do almost anything else you normally do on your phone. You can also open up Android apps and run them in full-screen. I’d imagine if the Atrix gets Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) at some point, most apps will already have a widescreen tablet display mode to them, making a unit like this all the more usable. With a button click, you can swap between open Webtop and phone applications on the fly (seen above).

No modern consumer product would be complete without a custom, odd looking media player, and the Atrix is no exception. A pretty looking series of domino-ish icons let you experience any pictures video, and music available on the device. We watched some sample videos on the device, which rendered quickly and looked great.

The Atrix is a great first attempt at merging the worlds of PC and smartphones. Unlike tablets, which are better suited as consumption devices, the Atrix should appeal to those who still need or prefer a full keyboard and mouse to create content. With a built-in charger and long battery life, it will also be a great device for long flights and those on the go. The dock is fairly thin and well-built with what appears to be an aluminum shell and solid island-style keyboard.

The question is, will consumers embrace a new desktop interface? Though Android has taken off, the desktop world is still owned by Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Like Google Chrome, Motorola is attempting to introduce a new operating system into a very mature market. If applications aren’t easy to find and download and the platform isn’t open enough, it will likely be rejected after the “wow” factor wears off.

The other looming question is how much it will cost. If the phone already costs between $200 and $300 with a 2-year AT&T contract, how much will the extra dock cost? If it’s much more than $100, I can’t imagine it becoming a mainstream success. Low-end laptops and netbooks cost about $400 and up. If Motorola can’t beat or get close to that price, it’s hard to see many consumers choosing the Atrix as a desktop solution. There’s also the problem of bandwidth. It’s already easy to blow through AT&T’s $25 2GB data plan and with a full desktop client, many users will constantly encounter overages. Hopefully AT&T will address this and adapt plans, especially on its 4G network.

Still, the Atrix is my favorite new product out of CES so far. It has the potential to be a game-changing product and if it succeeds, we could see some very cool updates in the years to come. Hopefully Motorola will fully support the device.

Below is a long 9 minute demo we got from a Motorola executive. I apologize about the length, but was too fascinated to stop recording. Fair warning, the audio is a bit faint and I am no professional photographer. Thanks to our own Greg Mombert for the photos seen above.

Trackback URL: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/a-complete-guide-to-the-motorola-atrix-the-only-phone-laptop/trackback/

Complete impressions of the Motorola Xoom tablet, the first real iPad competitor

Motorola unveiled its Xoom tablet just a few days ago. Below is our first impressions of the new Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet, perhaps the first true competitor to the iPad.

The iPad has made tablets a hot commodity at CES this year. There are dozens of tablets on the show floor and, with the exception of a few highlights like the BlackBerry PlayBook, most of them are fairly forgettable. The Motorola Xoom, the first tablet to run Google’s new Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) OS, joins the PlayBook as one of the standout tablets at CES.

The unit itself feels as sturdy and well constructed as the iPad, but is actually a bit larger. It has a 10.1-inch widescreen display with a 1280×800 pixel display (slightly higher than the iPad’s 1024×768 pixel display). Like the new Atrix phone, the device is running a on the 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor and has a full gigabyte of DDR2 RAM. In addition, it has 32GB of internal storage, a 2MP front-facing camera, a micro HDMI port, a 5MP rear camera with a dual LED flash, and the ability to support 4G LTE speeds with an upgrade later this year. It is a Verizon exclusive device at this time, but Motorola representatives wouldn’t deny the possible addition of more carriers in the future.

The Xoom is a bit thicker than the iPad, but has a solid feel. The 10.1-inch form feels a lot more useful than the smaller 7-inch sizes offered by some tablets like the PlayBook, but size may be a personal preference. The Xoom also has a rubberized back on it that helps alleviate the fear of it slipping out of your hands at any moment.

Like the PlayBook, the Xoom is running a new operating system. The device was chosen by Google to debut its first version of Android built to run on touch tablet computers. Though weren’t able to spend too much time with the device, we walked away very impressed by our first look at Android 3.0 and Motorola’s integration of the operating system. The menus and speed of screen rotation are very snappy.

One of the new features of Honeycomb is the new way the main navigation buttons are displayed. Instead of having permanently lit buttons on one section of the device (even the iPad has a physical button), the Home, Menu, and Back buttons are now built into the lower left of the software. This is particularly nice with a tablet because many users will tilt it on its side or hold it vertically. Having hard-mounted buttons would limit the ease of use when turning the tablet around. The menu buttons minimize to a few pixels in thickness when unused. touching them makes them larger.

The homescreen has some good looking widgets and is much more flexible than the heavily gridded current Android versions like 2.2. Widgets are scrollable and you can flip between homescreens by flicking to the side or get a complete view of everything that’s running by flicking up on the device.

The media player has a gridded look to it, much like the current media players in Android devices. Motorola claims that the Xoom can run continuous video for about 10 hours before needing to charge–impressive battery life, if true, but we suspect the actual performance will be about 5-8 hours. Google’s eBook reading application will come pre-installed and Honeycomb apps will have widescreen modes so they work well on both tablets like the Xoom and smaller smartphones.

Like the iPad, the Xoom will also have 10-finger touch capabilities, which will make the on-screen keyboard much more useful. Also, it’s just fun to watch people move things around on-screen with all of their fingers. I suspect many tablets will move to a 10-finger touch in the year to come.

Like it did with the Droid smartphone in 2009, Motorola may be the first manufacturer to offer a competent alternative to Apple’s iPad. No pricing has been announced yet, but if it’s priced at lower or comparable prices to Apple’s tablet, I suspect Motorola may have a hit on its hands. I can’t say that it knocks the iPad out of the park, but it appears to match the device in most categories. We look forward to checking it out further when the Motorola Xoom hits shelves sometime in the first few months of this year.

Below is a long 6 minute demo we got from a Motorola executive. I apologize about the length, but was too fascinated to stop recording. Fair warning, the audio is a bit faint and I am no professional photographer. Thanks to our own Greg Mombert for the photos seen above.

Trackback URL: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/complete-impressions-of-the-motorola-xoom-tablet/trackback/

Motorola Unleashes an Android Onslaught

Motorola (NYSE: MOT) launched a salvo of mobile devices Wednesday at its press event at the Consumer Electronics show, including a new tablet device running Android 3.0, aka "Honeycomb."

The launch comes a day after Motorola Mobility split into its own company, a move that the market reacted favorably toward Tuesday.

In addition to the tablet, named the "Xoom," Motorola launched the Cliq 2 and Droid Bionic handsets, as well as the Atrix, which Motorola called the most powerful smartphone on the market.

Honeycomb's Big, Yeah Yeah Yeah

Expectations surrounding the Motorola tablet were running high long before this week. In December, a teaser video surfaced on the Web implying Motorola had a tablet device in store, and rumors suggested it would run the Android 3.0 operating system.

"We have seen the market for tablets grow over the last 12 months, and I've been asked many times whether we're going to enter this space," Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha told the audience.

Jha then proved the hearsay true in unveiling the Xoom. It will run Honeycomb, the first version of Android made specifically for tablet computers.

"It's been designed ground-up for the tablet," said Jha.

The 1.6-lb. Xoom features a 5 megapixel rear-mounted camera that can capture 720p HD video as well as a 2 MP front-facing camera for video chat. It runs on a dual-core chip providing a total of 2 Ghz of processing power. Its battery boasts up to 10 hours of video playback, it can run Flash 10.1, and it contains 32 GB of on-board memory. Its demensions are 9.8 by 6.6 by 0.5 inches. Diagonally, its screen measures 10.1 inches.

In terms of network compatibility, Motorola plans to first launch a 3G-compatible Xoom in the first quarter of this year, then expand the line with a 4G unit in the second quarter. However, users of the 3G version will be able to partake in 4G eventually.

"All the 3G devices will be upgradable to 4G," Jha said.

Xoom will debut with Verizon Wireless as its cellular carrier in the U.S.

Xoom shared the spotlight with another new Motorola offering: the Atrix 4G, an Android smartphone that's compatible with a range of docking accessories that enable it to transform into a desktop- or laptop-like form factor.

The phone itself features a dual-core processor that offers 2 Ghz of power, as well as 1 GB of RAM, leading Motorola to claim the Atrix is the "world's most powerful smartphone." It also features a fingerprint reader for secure and fast locking and unlocking.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the Atrix is its compatibility with several accessories that can turn it into a device more like a small laptop or desktop computer, as demonstrated by Seang Chau, VP and chief software engineer at Motorola Mobility. The company will offer a dock with USB ports and an HDMI plug, enabling the user to navigate the phone's features using a full-sized keyboard, monitor and mouse. The unit is still powered entirely by the phone, with no performance assistance from the accessories.

Another accessory will provide a laptop form factor.

Using the docking accessory, the user can interact with the phone using a desktop-like GUI, including a resizable window that mirrors the phone's standard handset GUI. Phone functionalities like the ability to make calls is integrated, and the desktop GUI was demoed running a full desktop version of Firefox as well as Flash 10.1. The Motorola Atrix laptop dock and desktop dock.

The Atrix will debut in the U.S. exclusively on AT&T (NYSE: T) in the first quarter, a departure from Motorola's traditionally close ties with Verizon, which has launched a number of flagship Motorola Android phones over the last year. With the Atrix, it appears AT&T will have a premium Android phone to offer if its partnership with Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) for exclusive U.S. rights to the iPhone comes to an end. Expectations are high that Apple's phone will officially expand to Verizon in the coming weeks.

Two other smartphones made their debut on the Motorola stage Wednesday: The Cliq 2 and the Droid Bionic.

The Cliq 2 grows from its predecessor to offer a variety of business-oriented features to its set of social functions. The 1 GHz Android phone features a slide-out keyboard with a diamond-shaped key layout, which Motorola claims facilitates easier typing. Users can customize the device to use different profiles for "home," "work" and "weekend."

The business end relates to what Motorola called "IT friendly" features for functions like security and calendaring.

The Cliq 2 comes to T-Mobile on Jan. 19.

Finally, Motorola added yet another device to its Droid family of Verizon phones with the Droid Bionic, Motorola's first 4G LTE phone. Like the Atrix, the Bionic features a dual-core processor, though it packs about half the memory at 512 Mb. The Bionic will feature 4G video chat as well as HD video capabilities.

"This device will be available in early second quarter with Verizon Wireless," Jha remarked.

Motorola gadget to make smartphones like computers

By Sinead Carew

NEW YORK | Thu Jan 6, 2011 1:17am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's dumb and it's called a lapdoc but Motorola Mobility bets consumers will want to use this gadget to make their smartphones work more like real computers and help Motorola stand out from the crowd.

The company that invented the cellphone unveiled the Atrix 4G phone, which will attach to a new type of accessory called a lapdoc -- a "dumb" device that looks like a laptop computer but does not work without the phone attached. It has a laptop size screen and a keyboard aimed at better Web browsing, video viewing and typing than on a phone.

Chief Executive Sanjay Jha told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show that he aims to develop slimmer lapdocs onto which consumers could attach multiple phones.

While consumers can use smartphones for a lot of computing activities such as web browsing, Jha said they need more than this for long emails or watching a movie on a plane.

"I like it a lot because all we've done is added accessories to our devices and added applications that change the way you can use them," Jha said. "I think we've a chance of differentiating ourselves."

After the product unveiling in a big packed room where attendees cheered and clapped after seeing the demonstration Jha said he already has plans in place to expand the line up.

"If you wait you miss the slot, so you have to commit," he said.

The No. 2 U.S. mobile provider AT&T Inc highlighted Atrix at its product showcase earlier in the day and said it would sell it at a "competitive price" starting this quarter.

MARKETING HIKE

Motorola will also try to boost sales in the new product category with a marketing splash on the Atrix and lapdoc, which are so unusual, they need to be explained more carefully to consumers than typical phones, Jha said.

But Chief Marketing Officer Bill Ogle told Reuters that while Motorola will spend "dramatically more" on marketing this year it will still be a relatively small amount versus spending on devices like Razr, its flagship phone from 2004 to 2006.

Jha said Motorola Mobility, which was newly created a day before January 4 as a spin off from Motorola Inc, would be cautious not to over-extend itself this year. The executive has revamped the company in the last two years by focusing solely on smartphones based on Google Inc's Android software.

With this in mind Jha said Motorola would not branch into new operating systems such as Windows Phone 7 from Microsoft Corp and will instead continue to focus on building Android phones for the foreseeable future.

Motorola will also keep its device lineup the same size or smaller than its 2010 range of 23 phone models, Jha said.

"We think more and more than doing fewer devices better is more important that doing lots of devices," Jha said noting that some mid-range devices made less of a financial contribution than Motorola had expected last year. He did not give details about these phones.