Galaxy Tab 7.7 Hands-on

The metal chassis measures just 7.89 mm thick and tips the scales at 335g, hiding a 5,100 mAh battery in addition to a GSM/EDGE/HSPA+ modem (though it remains to be seen if the US carriers lock out voice functionality). The 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED Plus display has huge viewing angles and matches the resolution of bigger Honeycomb slates, and as we know from the Galaxy S II it’s color-rich and bright. TouchWiz arguably makes more sense on the 7.7-inch screen, pulling together the various social and multimedia content to the homescreen.

Performance – considering the software isn’t final yet – is swift, and one-handed use is simple thanks to a casing that’s thinner than Amazon’s Kindle (albeit a little heavier). Samsung reckons it’ll last for 10hrs of video playback on a single charge, though obviously we haven’t had time to test that promise. More on this great new tablet in our hands-on video!

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy Tab 7.7

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : September 01, 2011

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 7.70 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED Plus

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 7.74 Inch
• Width : 5.24 Inch
• Depth : 0.31 Inch
• Weight : 335 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Polymer

• Battery Capacity : 5100 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 3.2.x

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 65.536 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 3 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

First impressions are that it’s an oversized Galaxy S II, with pretty much identical design language. It’s obviously bigger, though not as thick as you might expect; you can still slot it neatly into a front trouser pocket, for instance. The stylus whips out of the bottom – unlike HTC’s Flyer, it gets a dedicated storage slot – and can be used to grab and annotate screenshots, write handwritten emails and messages, use handwriting-recognition (which works surprisingly well with neat cursive) and generally navigate the phone. That would be pointless if the accuracy wasn’t up to scratch, but it is: we could get fine-flowing ink and various line-widths thanks to the pressure sensitivity.

The 5.3-inch Super AMOLED HD display is, at 1280 x 800, the same resolution as Samsung’s tablet line-up, but the panel technology shows its worth with huge viewing angles and brilliant colors and detail. Colors don’t invert even when you’re looking almost side-on. At 178g and 9.65mm thick it’s a little more in the hand or pocket than the GSII but still easy to hold in a single hand, and the bigger display makes using the on-screen keyboard a particular pleasure.

Samsung’s TouchWiz-customized Android Gingerbread software isn’t finalized yet, but the Galaxy Note still put in a solid showing. The custom S Memo app works well, showing up as a sharing option in the standard Android list, and allowing you to clip photos, voice, text, handwriting and drawings; alternatively you can take a screenshot by holding down the side button on the active stylus and double-tapping the display. Crops can be freehand shapes, and eventually Samsung will release a collaborative whiteboarding app, which will allow two remote Galaxy Note owners to work together on the same page.

Galaxy Note Hands-on

Then there’s S Planner and Samsung’s other customized apps to suit the higher-resolution screen. Gone is the wood-effect UI on the Galaxy Tab, replaced by a feature-packed Filofax alternative with pinch-zooming between the various month/week/etc views and support for dragging and dropping appointments around your schedule. It works well, and the extra pixels mean less swiping and paging to find exactly what you’re looking for or get an overview of your week or month. The email app is polished too, with a split-screen view in landscape orientation that shows inbox and message preview simultaneously. Unfortunately the Gmail app is Google’s standard one.

We’re still waiting to see just how long the 2,500 mAh user-accessible battery will last, if owners of the Galaxy Note take Samsung at its word and try to replace their phone, media player, notebook and portable games device in one sweep. Similarly, Samsung’s plans for the S Pen SDK, allowing third-parties to take advantage of the stylus, will depend on how keen developers are to further customize their apps. Still, while before we might have said 5+ inches was too big for a smartphone, the Galaxy Note has us reconsidering.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy Note

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : September 01, 2011

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
• Resolution : 800x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 178 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 390 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AMR
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32.768 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• Compass

FM Radio :

NFC :

Open to Android Community’s US readers, entering is incredibly straightforward. To take part, you must:

1. Add +Vincent Nguyen (url: http://vincent.tv/+) to your Circle(s) on Google+*

2. Comment in the Android Community Archos 70 Giveaway thread with a comment tagging +Vincent Nguyen : this will count as your entry, and note that you may only enter this giveaway ONCE – all additional entries beyond your first will be deleted.

3. You are now entered into the Android Community Archos 70 giveaway!

*if you don’t already have access to Google+, send your name and email to giveaway @ slashgear.com

Rules

Giveaway begins July 25 and ends August 1, 11:59PM CST barring any complications finding a winner.

Competition is open to residents of the US over the age of 18. Family members of Archos and SlashGear/Android Community are not permitted to enter. Competition entries are only accepted via the specified Google+ Page — entries left in the comments section of this or any other post will not be recognized. One entry per person (and yes, we check).

The winners will be contacted by a SlashGear or Android Community staff member upon being selected and will be expected to respond to that staff member; they will be expected to respond within 24 hours else their prize may be forfeit and another winner selected. Editors decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winner agrees that their name and details of their entry may be used for promotional purposes by, but not limited to, Archos, SlashGear, and Android Community.

Prize consists of one Archos 70 Internet Tablet. There is no cash alternative or any other alternative for prize winners unless this prize should become unavailable, in which case SlashGear and Archos reserve the right to substitute another prize of equal or greater value.

Giveaway provided by SlashGear/Android Community. Prizing provided by Archos. Any questions regarding this giveaway should be directed to Giveaway @ SlashGear.com

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : 70 Internet Tablet

Manufactuer : Archos

Carrier : SIM-free

Announced Date : September 03, 2010

Release Date : October 25, 2010

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 7 Inch
• Resolution : 480x800
• Screen Type : TFT

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 7.91 Inch
• Width : 4.49 Inch
• Depth : 0.55 Inch
• Weight : 400 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2400 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.2.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Hardware

CPU : ARM Cortex A8

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 1

Ram : 256 MB

Internal Storage : 250 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 0.3 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 2.0

FM Radio :

NFC :

Our review unit has arrived, and we wasted no time in whipping it out on camera for some first impressions. It’s certainly derived from the T-Mobile Vibrant, with the same row of four touch-sensitive keys under the touchscreen and the same slender plastic chassis. Having used the Galaxy S II at MWC 2011 this week the 4-inch Super AMOLED doesn’t seem quite so luxurious, but it’s still impressively bright and clear.

What will make the biggest difference is the speed: both from the Froyo update, and the 4G upgrade. Android 2.2 is certainly speedier than its predecessor, though Samsung’s TouchWiz UI does muddy the experience somewhat; we still wish there was a way to turn the modifications off. We’ve also noticed a couple of inexplicable pauses in the system, as were present on the original Galaxy S family (and, indeed, on versions that have since seen updates to Froyo).

We’ll be putting the HSPA+ through its paces with some comprehensive speed tests ahead of the full Android Community review, so until then enjoy the hands-on gallery!

That’s actually more than the premium version of Angry Birds on sale in Apple’s App Store, which is a paid-app rather than ad supported.

Hardware

With a 3.7-inch screen, the DEFY slots into the mainstream of Android sizes; however the ruggedized casing means, at 59 x 107 x 13.4 mm, it’s a little chunkier in the hand. A slightly rubberized finish and two-tone plastics leave it looking somewhat retro, but the 854 x 480 display – as on the DROID 2 – is right up to date and a pleasure to use. A sheet of Gorilla Glass (video demo) keeps it safe from drops or cracks.

Ports include a microUSB and 3.5mm headphones jack, each covered with a protective rubber flap, while there are power and volume buttons but no camera shortcut. The battery cover – underneath which hides the SIM card slot and microSD card slot – is held shut with a latch that keeps it tightly fixed. Unlike the Motorola i1, the DEFY isn’t fully military-spec certified, but it’s water-resistant and rustproof.

Connectivity includes quadband GSM and triband (850/1700/2100) WCDMA, along with WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; unlike some of T-Mobile’s other recent devices, there’s no HSPA+ support. There’s also A-GPS, a digital compass, DLNA support, an ambient light sensor and an accelerometer. No 1GHz processor – instead the DEFY’s Texas Instruments OMAP 3610 chip runs at 800MHz and is paired with 512MB of RAM – but you do get 2GB of storage. On the back is a 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash.

Software

Disappointingly, the DEFY ships with Android 2.1 Eclair rather than the newer Froyo, complete with the latest iteration of MOTOBLUR. Motorola’s social networking integration is solid, but we’d still prefer to see a pure Android 2.2 install and timely updates to newer versions of the platform. As we’ve seen on other recent MOTOBLUR devices, there’s Facebook, MySpace and Twitter support, along with Photobucket and Picasa photo sharing, and Motorola provide plenty of widgets for the seven-homescreen panes.

Android 2.1 lacks the speed boost of its successor, but is still solid and usable. There’s Exchange support and the ability to use multiple Google accounts simultaneously, a universal inbox and text-to-speech, and Motorola have thrown in an FM radio as well. Amazon’s Kindle ereader app, Blockbuster OnDemand and the Swype keyboard are preloaded, and there’s TeleNav GPS support if you’re not happy with Google Maps Navigation. We had no problems with speed, either, the DEFY whipping between its homescreen panes neatly and apps loading quickly.

Camera & Multimedia

The DEFY’s 5-megapixel camera obviously isn’t the highest resolution Android snapper, but it’s a solid example. There’s a few seconds delay for the autofocus to kick in, which can lead to a few missed or blurry shots, but outdoor images are crisp and clear with good color balance and decent saturation. Indoor and low-light pictures, however, are less impressive; the LED flash is, like most of its type, only really effective within a particularly narrow range.

Sample video of Defy going for a swim

720p HD video recording has become all-but-standard in recent months, so it’s disappointing to find the DEFY’s video tops out at 640 x 480 resolution. Thanks to a 30fps frame rate the resulting clips are smooth, though there’s no in-video autofocus. It’s not bad for VGA, but it definitely falls short of what we’ve seen rivals deliver.

As for media playback, Motorola has changed the standard gallery and music apps for versions of its own, and they’re serviceable if not particularly outstanding. Like previous Motorola devices, there’s TuneWiki integration for optionally showing track lyrics on recognized files. Audio quality via the headphone socket is good, and the speaker is loud if unrefined.

The video app, meanwhile, supports H.264 and MPEG4 clips at up to 30fps, and we were impressed by the smoothness of playback. Unfortunately there’s no HDMI or other video output for hooking up an HDTV or external display.

Phone & Battery

Motorola has used its CrystalTalk PLUS audio DSP technology in the DEFY, and it shows its strengths in voice calls. Incoming and outgoing audio was clear with very little static, and the robotic effect some DSP can have was absent. Similarly the speakerphone was loud and clear, useful for the outdoor environments the DEFY is likely to be used in.

The DEFY is one of the first Android devices to support T-Mobile’s WiFi calling, though we had patchy results with the system. Audio quality was less impressive than with regular calls, though it could be useful to avoid excess roaming fees while abroad. There’s no WiFi/cellular handover, however, so if you move out of WiFi range the call will drop. Unfortunately there’s no front-facing camera for video calls.

Motorola estimate up to 400 minutes talktime from the DEFY’s 1,540 mAh battery or up to 400 hours standby. In normal use, with push-email turned on, we managed a full day of use with some browsing, calls and messaging.

Wrap-Up

As the first rugged, water-resistant smartphone that manages to also be compact and fuss-free, the Motorola DEFY leaves us surprisingly impressed. Battery life and performance are solid, though we wish Motorola had opted for Android 2.2 Froyo, and while the camera is only average it’ll produce reasonable results in the sort of outdoor environments the DEFY seems intended for.

At $100 on T-Mobile with a new, two-year agreement, it’s half the price of some other 3.7-inch Android phones but offers above-average durability and the guaranteed party trick of surviving a dunk in the pool. For many that ruggedness is overkill, but if you expect more from your smartphone and don’t like cases, the DEFY is a sensible choice.

To give the companies some credit, they’ve not simply slapped on an R2-D2 sticker like George Lucas slotting in a bounty hunter and calling it a day. Where the original DROID 2 is dark blue and black, the Star Wars edition is silver and white and has high-quality printing on the battery panel and around the camera lens panel. There’s also a stylized “R2-D2″ logo on the back of the screen section, and some discrete decoration around the touchscreen itself. If you’re not a Star Wars fan – what, really? – then you might find it all a bit garish, but short of reworking the casing with three legs and a pico-projector we’re pleased with what Motorola has delivered.

Underneath the decorative chassis, of course, is the regular Verizon DROID 2, which we reviewed some time back. That means you get the same 3.7-inch touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard (with buttons much improved over the first-gen DROID) and 5-megapixel camera. At its core it remains one of our preferred handsets if you demand a physical ‘board with your phone, but it’ll face strong competition when the T-Mobile G2 finally arrives at the beginning of October. Motorola also includes a Star Wars media dock, though they missed a trick in not making it look like R2-D2 complete with tiny legs.

As for the software, there’s Android 2.2 and the same MOTOBLUR-inspired tweaks that we felt the regular DROID 2 didn’t really need. There’s also a fair amount of exclusive Star Wars content, which will inevitably be ripped from the ROM and offered to other Android device users. Still, they round out the DROID experience well, with R2-D2 noises for your ringtones and messaging alerts, an R2-D2 clock widget and a choice of four Live Wallpapers (Blast the Probe Droid, Luke Balancing Yoda, Navigating the Asteroid Field and Watch Bespin’s Cloud City). None of it could legitimately be described as information vital to the survival of the rebellion, but it’s better than nothing.

More details on the Verizon DROID R2-D2 by Motorola in the unboxing video and hands-on gallery.

DROID R2-D2 Unboxing:

DROID R2-D2 Booting Up and Live Wallpaper:

However, unlike the unibody-style Legend, the Aria looks to another HTC device, the HD mini, for its styling.  A flush-finish fascia with only the optical trackpad protruding, together with a rubberized back cover that curves around the rear of the Aria and has punched holes to expose the hefty alloy-finish screws holding the smartphone together, it’s a distinctive design and, in the hand, surprisingly pleasant.

Inside it’s the usual mixture of WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth, along with 3G/HSDPA and a 5-megapixel camera.  Unfortunately, AT&T has omitted a flash of any kind.  Power is courtesy of a 600MHz processor, rather than the Snapdragon we’ve grown to expect, but in the absence of any extreme 3D effects in the Sense UI it’s sufficient to keep things moving nicely.  This isn’t a storming phone by any measure, but nor is it unduly sluggish.

It’s still unknown why AT&T doesn’t trust users enough to allow installation of apps outside of Android market. Get with the program AT&T — Verizon and Sprint both allow this feature, why aren’t you?

What does distinguish the AT&T Aria is its diminutive scale, and as you can see from our comparison photos the roughly 4-inch long HTC is dwarfed by other recent handsets.  It’s light, too, though we can’t help but wish that the price had gone on a diet too: expect to pay $129.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and assuming a new, two-year agreement come June 20th.

We’ll be putting the HTC Aria through its paces over the next couple of days in preparation for its full review, so until then enjoy the image gallery!

It’s no BIG secret what we’re expecting to see at the launch event – it’s got to be the DROID XTREME (duh!). There have been lots and lots of sightings around town and it appears to feature a large 4.3” capacitive touchscreen, a 1GHz Snapdragon, HDMI out, a new version of MOTOBLUR and I suspect @androids 2.2 since Adobe is present at the event and Flash 10.1 only works on the latest version of Android. Long gone are the capacitive buttons replaced by good-old physical Home, Search, Back and Menu buttons.

You can’t criticize T-Mobile’s packaging. The myTouch 3G Slide comes in a hard-body metal-effect case with rubber edging, and you get a reasonable number of accessories too: a wall charger, USB to microUSB cable (which can be used for hooking up the phone to your computer), a stereo headset with in-line music and call controls, and of course the phone itself with a printed quick-start guide.

Turn on the myTouch 3G Slide for the first time and there’s a custom quick-start wizard which walks you through setting up the homescreen. T-Mobile and HTC have modified the basic Android UI, with a combination of HTC Sense widgets and a new graphical theme, and the whole thing looks distinctive and reasonably consistent. Icons have bold borders and there are the same FriendStream, Contacts, Mail and other Sense widgets though with the new T-Mobile color scheme. Like HTC’s own-brand Android devices there are multiple Scenes – custom homescreen layouts – but the myTouch 3G Slide allows you to change them not only manually but according to time or even location.

Flipping between panes with the optical joystick is fast, despite having a 600MHz processor rather than Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon, as are screen rotations when you flick open the keyboard slide. As for the keyboard itself, the buttons feel sturdy and have a decent feel to them, though we’re still not 100-percent convinced by the offset layout. Interestingly, the default on-screen keyboard isn’t HTC’s excellent Sense layout, and lacks pop-over letter previews as you type.

The other main change is the Genius button, which triggers Android’s voice-recognition system. What’s useful is that hitting it calls up a guide page with examples of what you can say – call a specific contact or a phone number, for instance, or dictate an SMS or email – rather than expecting new users to know exactly what the system is capable of.

All in all, it’s an interesting smartphone and – with QWERTY Android handsets still a relative minority, especially from HTC – looks to be a welcome addition to T-Mobile’s line up. We’ll be putting the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide through its paces over the next few days for our full review, but until then enjoy the hands-on gallery and unboxing video!

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide unboxing video:

That seems a pretty darn reasonable price for a hardware QWERTY phone, and while the Ally’s specs – a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera and Android 2.1 – may not exactly topple any giants, it’s not off to a terrible start.  As for the hardware itself, the glass touchscreen feels reasonably responsive and the keyboard has some decent tactile feel; we’re not entirely convinced by the key layout, however, and will have to see if we can get used to it.

As for LG’s UI changes, they’re minimal in comparison to something like MOTOBLUR or HTC Sense.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing – we’ve seen that unmodified Android phones usually get OS updates quicker than their customized counterparts – but it does make for a less gripping out-of-the-box experience.

We’ll be putting the LG Ally through its paces over the next few days in preparation for the full Android Community review, so until then enjoy the hands-on gallery below, and let us know any questions you might have! Check back in a couple of days for our full review of the LG Ally for Verizon.

We weren’t joking about the deja-vu; the CLIQ XT (which will be sold as the Motorola QUENCH outside the US) has the same 3.1-inch HVGA 320 x 480 capacitive touchscreen as the DEVOUR and BACKFLIP, together with the latter’s 5-megapixel autofocus camera. There’s 3G – though here it’s support for T-Mobile USA’s 3G network, rather than Verizon or AT&T – along with WiFi b/g and Bluetooth 2.0. It also gets Motorola’s MOTOBLUR social networking system, which pulls in updates from Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other services, links them with contacts on your handset, and allows you to post updates to one or all of the networks from homescreen widgets.

Unfortunately, it’s MOTOBLUR that’s likely to blame for the CLIQ XT’s aged version of Android. With devices like the Google Nexus One and the HTC Legend – which we reviewed earlier this week – delivering Android 2.1, to launch yet another device with Android 1.5 seems increasingly unforgivable. Motorola say they’re working on an updated version of MOTOBLUR which will be compatible with 2.1, but there’s no public timescale as to its release; similarly, there’s no telling when – or if – further updates to coincide with newer versions of Android might arrive. To be fair, this is something HTC users have faced with HTC Sense, but it’s a concerning fragmentation trend in Android right now.

Even taking into account the limitations of Android 1.5, the CLIQ XT isn’t exactly a speed demon. Unchanged from the original CLIQ is the 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A chipset, something even Motorola themselves have abandoned in other recent devices. It adds up to an occasionally sluggish user experience, particularly when navigating between data-heavy apps (such as MOTOBLUR) or using the onscreen keyboard; given there’s no hardware QWERTY any more, that’s doubly frustrating.

Perhaps to assuage such annoyances, T-Mobile and Motorola have partnered with Swype to preload the company’s predictive keyboard technology onto the CLIQ XT. Rather than demanding you hunt-and-peck across the ‘board, Swype allows you to drag your finger from letter to letter, guessing at the word you were aiming for when you lift that finger from the display. We’ve already been using Swype on the Nexus One, and it works very well, certainly if speed is your number one priority. After some practice it’s possible to far outpace a regular on-screen keyboard, especially once you realize the dictionary is still capable of picking out the correct word even if your finger-accuracy isn’t 100-percent.

Non-dictionary words can be entered – and are subsequently stored – by tapping them in as usual, though we prefer the layout of other Android keyboards such as HTC’s to Swype’s. It’s also more successful with longer words; where we had ongoing problems was with shorter terms, those with apostrophes – such as “don’t” – and confusion between single and double letters in words. Meanwhile the trackpad underneath the touchscreen works as well as that on the back of the BACKFLIP, but we still found ourselves using the touchscreen more often than not.

Other changes Motorola have made include adding in pinch-zooming and Flash Lite in the browser, though their processor choice means the CLIQ XT is unlikely to see an update to full Flash. Best of all, though, is the work they’ve done on the Android media player. In its native form it’s an unloveable thing, but after Motorola have had their way there’s automatic lyric and album art downloads from Tunewiki and Internet radio streaming, along with an FM radio and YouTube support. It addresses one of the core shortcomings of Android in its present form, and lays down a challenge to Google themselves for the next release of the platform.

The 5-megapixel camera may tick all the spec sheet boxes, but performance is underwhelming. Autofocus is slow to lock, and more often than not images themselves are blurred or poorly exposed. Maximum video capture is 352 x 288 24fps, which falls short of what other recent Android handsets can manage. Meanwhile the HVGA display and the early version of the OS means there are numerous apps in the Android Market that won’t run on the CLIQ XT, though you do get the usual bevy of preloaded Google titles such as Gmail and Google Maps. Since there’s no Google Maps Navigation beta for Android 1.5 (only 1.6 and higher) if you want turn-by-turn directions then Motorola will point you in the direction of T-Mobile’s TeleNav partnership, which charges $2.99 per month (versus Google’s free alternative).

Motorola are claiming up to 6hrs talktime or 325hrs standby on a full charge, though with MOTOBLUR regularly pulling in updates you’re looking at a nightly top-up if you want to make it through the day. Shutting off the social networking features would obviously prolong the CLIQ XT, but given they’re so integral to the overall experience we’re not sure why an owner would do that (rather than, say, picking another Android device). It’s also worth noting that Android 1.5 lacks the in-depth power monitoring tools of later versions.

Given Motorola’s more recent Android phones have been spread across various networks as exclusives, you can’t exactly accuse them of flooding the market. Still, after the excellent DROID we’d like to have seen a little more imagination in their latest handsets, the CLIQ XT included. Contrasted with the HTC Legend – which, admittedly, won’t be arriving in its current European form in the US – the CLIQ XT’s chassis feels overly-plastic and under-designed. The expanse of textured battery cover (of which Motorola provide two color choices in the box) is calling out for a more inspiring treatment, and the hardware feels either underwhelming (like the HVGA resolution or lackluster chipset) or underused (like the 5-megapixel camera).

Of course, the CLIQ XT’s saving grace is likely to be its price, and while T-Mobile are yet to announce official figures we’re expecting the smartphone to come in at around $130 with a new, two-year agreement. That would put it not far short of the $150 T-Mobile are currently asking for the original CLIQ, which is obviously bulkier than the newer handset but otherwise offers much the same experience. The CLIQ XT fits reasonable in the hand and is certainly more pocketable, but it does feel a little like T-Mobile are treading water having previously led the carrier pack when it comes to Android. It’s not a bad smartphone by any measure, and its media player functionality is ahead of the game when it comes to rivals based on the same platform, but the Motorola CLIQ XT falls short of anything but mid-range, middle of the road mediocrity.

A mid-range device, the DEVOUR lacks the AMOLED display technology we’ve seen making inroads with the Nexus One and HTC Desire, but its 3.1-inch capacitive LCD panel is nonetheless bright and crisp. On top is a capacitive touch screen that’s proving as responsive as the Motorola CLIQ before it, together with three touch-sensitive buttons for Menu, Home and Back. Of particular interest is the optical trackpad, squeezed into the lower left-hand corner (when the DEVOUR is held in portrait orientation), which replaces the D-pad of previous Motorola’s. It works well, though it takes a short period to get used to; navigating can be jumpy at first, until your thumb learns the best way to use it.

The trackpad is actually better placed for using the DEVOUR with the keyboard slide open, and since it doesn’t offset the QWERTY (unlike the CLIQ and DROID) typing is a little easier. The keys are hard and slightly domed, and the layout is well spaced; however while we appreciate the full number row we would have preferred Motorola not separate the bottom letter row with the spacebar. The angled end-plates of the DEVOUR go some way to disguise the fact that it’s actually a pretty thick handset, though that’s meant there’s room for a full-sized 3.5mm headphone socket, but we wish there were better optics than a fixed-focus 3-megapixel shooter.

As for software, the DEVOUR is running Android 1.6 since Motorola haven’t yet updated their MOTOBLUR social networking suite to suit more recent versions of the platform. MOTOBLUR is unchanged from the CLIQ, which means you get a central “Happenings” widget that pulls content from the DEVOUR itself (SMS, MMS and email messages) together with updates from social networks like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. It’s one of the more comprehensive attempts to tame the increasingly hectic stream of news we deal with on a day to day basis, but there are still some obvious flaws that Motorola have left unaddressed; our perennial annoyance is that MOTOBLUR doesn’t treat Twitter “@” replies as it does Direct Messages, and so they get lost among the general feed.

Elsewhere, there’s a full HTML browser together with Google Maps Navigation, along with the regular Google apps like Gmail, and of course access to the Android Market. The battery side-loads, as does the microSD slot, and you don’t have to remove the former to slot in a card.

Where the problem might be is in the pricing and range positioning; the DEVOUR will be $99.99 at Best Buy, assuming a new contract, but the retailer are also dropping the price of the DROID to $99.99. The DEVOUR’s keyboard is arguably better than that of the DROID, but otherwise the older handset’s bigger display, better camera and newer version of Android win out.

Motorola Devour Unboxing and quick hands-on

[via Pocket-Lint]

Starting today, Nexus One users will begin to receive an over-the-air software update on their phones. This update provides some great new features, and fixes a few problems that some users might have experienced, including:

Google Goggles: this mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps: the Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:

* Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com – access your favorite places from your phone or computer
* Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history – makes it easy to search for places you’ve searched for before
* Night mode in Google Maps Navigation – automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving

Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone’s Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

In order to access the update, you will receive a message on your phone’s notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones – and most users might not receive the notification until the end of the week. We hope you enjoy these new features and look forward to your feedback.

[Via Google Nexus One board]

Enjoy the clip after the jump.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yri4qOfP8T0[/youtube]

[Via Brobert's blog]

Although the Nexus One is not mentioned by name in the invitation, it seems likely to be the star attraction.  “With the launch of the first Android-powered device just over a year ago,” Google’s invite reads, “we’ve seen how a powerful, open platform can spur mobile product innovation.  And this is just the beginning of what’s possible.”

The Google Nexus One – aka the Google Phone – is built by HTC and powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, with a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen and the usual range of wireless connectivity.  Carrier support in the US is expected to be provided by T-Mobile, who will act as “dumb pipe” while Google themselves distribute and support the hardware itself.

[via SlashGear]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBuLij0l7SU[/youtube]

On a semi-quasi related topic, Verizon asks ‘if the iDoesn’t, what does?’ My guess: Droid does. Engadget is hearing that Verizon will be kicking off a major campaign tonight during the Yankees-Angels game featuring “a different look and a whole new attitude,” calling out the “iDevice” shortcomings.

It also seems to be quick, too, though there’s no telling how close to production-status the firmware is on these demo models.  Given the CLIQ won’t land on T-Mobile USA until Q4 this year, there’s probably still some work to be done, but despite the fact that Motorola have used the same sort of 528MHz Qualcomm processor as can be found on HTC’s recent Android handsets, we had no problems with speed or responsiveness.

We’re waiting for the full hands-on image gallery of the Motorola CLIQ to finish processing, and will update with that when it’s ready.  For now, enjoy the video demos and check out this post for more detail on the CLIQ itself.

Motorola CLIQ (aka DEXT) hands-on demo:

Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR demo:

There aren’t any surprises or new info/features we can share with you that hasn’t already been written about. Existing T-Mobile customers were able to pre-order the myTouch 3G starting on July 8 requiring a 2-year service agreement. National retail availability for myTouch is planned for August 5. The price is $199.99.

Stay tune for a full review in the next few days. Thanks for taking the time to watch our unboxing video of the myTouch 3G for T-Mobile.