If you thought the DROID was pretty tight and the N1 wasn’t quite your cup of tea and were instead looking forward to the next great Android handset, it’d be in your best interest to pass on up this newly leaked Motorola “Ruth”.
According to the user profile, two of the bigger specs — the processor and the display — consist of a Qualcomm MSM7200a processor and QVGA display. They don’t seem too high end do they? The real kicker — or kick in the pants — is that this codenamed “Ruth” will ship…brand new…with Android 1.5. Mind you, even though the Ruth appears to be on the lower end of things, Android 1.5 will be over a year old by the time this device rolls around.
Releasing new hardware with old software is stupid on multiple fronts. I guess the big question is: Did Motorola have a one hit wonder with the DROID?
Android is quickly becoming “the” OS to have. While the software itself is constantly changing, the hardware too is going for a wild ride. If you don’t like the current crop of Android handsets, give it a few weeks as the market is changing that fast. For most, GSM is the way to go for Android goodness. But don’t discount CDMA too quickly as there are a few gems there as well — hello Moto Droid and Droid Eris. But many will be quick to point out that in the states at least, GSM and CDMA are not the only games in town. There is another, albeit less popular player in the mix — iDen/Nextel.
For those craving the most bleeding edge devices and fastest mobile speeds, Nextel isn’t even a thought in their minds. No matter how you slice it, the iDen network that powers Nextel is simply too old and antiquated to get steal any other carriers’ users. For those who don’t have a choice because of either corporate or coverage restraints, Nextel is the way to go. So whether by choice or by force, Nextel users now have an Android device to call their own.
The Motorola Opus One continues Motorola’s weird fascination with the iDen scene by releasing a rather ho-hum (to most, super duper to the standard Nextel affair) device. Don’t let my words and thoughts permeate your thought making process. Have a look at the spec’s for yourselves…
Home, Menu, Back, Speaker buttons are capacitive buttons with haptic feedback
2.5mm headset jack
“Enterprise email”
Flash Lite v3.1.x
The standard yet tired 528MHz workhorse processor found in pretty much every other Android phone is also present earning the “mid-range” moniker for this device. Rather meager specs aside, I’m sure Nextel users are doing a jump for joy in their corporate paid for seats this very moment, knowing that some Android love is in deed coming their way. Anyone looking to pick a few of these up — possibly even switching in the process?
To AT&T users who have been holding out for their day to claim Android and use the The Nation’s Most Reliable Network, The Nation’s Fastest Network, “Death Star” — a gsm network that happens to reside inside of the U.S — the Moto Backflip/Enzo is a slap in the face.
AT&T had to get into the Android game at some point. They’d be stupid not to. While many AT&T hopeful were no doubt looking forward to some sweet high end uber Android device, I’m sorry to say that they won’t find it here. Granted, something is better than nothing of course. Or is it?
The phone as we now know it is the Motorola Backflip/Enzo and features that oddly aligned keyboard that when closed allows the keyboard to rest on the outside of the phone — Why? (shout out to Android Central, haha) — and also comes pre-loaded chock full of AT&T specific apps, lables, and branded buttons. Oh joy.
The specs are pretty similar to the Moto CLIQ on T-Mobile and position the phone squarely as a mid-range device more geared towards tweeners ad the “younger at heart”.
Being a complete gadget nerd I realize I want every new phone to blow me away and leave me speechless. I also realize that simply isn’t how life and the market woks. WIth that said, I’m still left disappointed completely disgusted with the Backflip/Enzo. AT&T people have been waiting for over a year and what do they have to show for it — a phone that uses the going on 2-year old 528MHz Qualcomm processor, outdated Android 1.5, AT&T garb through and through, and a goofy design that leaves the keyboard exposed even when closed.
Keyboard
First we’ll backtrack a tad and visit that keyboard. Why did they design it the way they did? I get the trackball on the back. It’s actually not a bad idea. It gives back precious space on the keyboard for what needs to be there — keys. The trackball then has free reign on the backside giving a rare yet seemingly highly functional design. The flipped keyboard however is weird. If the keys aren’t resilient, broken/missing keys are going to be a big issue. The keys however are nice and big — a plus!
Android 1.5?
What the hell is it with carriers spending so much time tweaking and fixing old software and pushing it out with a prettied face as if it’s something new and exciting. MotoBLUR’s design is cool and unique. I get that. But Android 1.5? Really!? I’d really like to know who makes these decisions and how they get the positions they do. The appearance of Android 1.5 isn’t the end however. Oh no, it’s gets better worse.
AT&T *vomit* branding
One of the great things about Android is the way it gives end users, carriers included, the ability to fully customize the OS till the ends of the earth. A blessing it is, a curse it has become. In the case of the AT&T Backflip/Enzo, AT&T hasn’t left any stone unturned, any button un-AT&T-ified, or any element of the phone free of AT&T’s crap branding. The AT&T key on the keyboard reeks of econo-phone stench. It’s just like those stupid WAP web buttons that Verizon in particular is getting so much flack for at the moment — nickel-and-diming users to death. If you have any dealings or memories of past encounters with dumb/feature phones on AT&T (or any other carrier), you’re all too familiar with those carrier branded apps. You know the ones that offer an extremely limited (read: poor, poor selection) of apps and services at greatly inflated prices and all because they (the carrier) feel they’re doing you a service.
**NOT a Google exerience — Yahoo Experience sucker punches after hiding popping out of the closet
Another blunder…wait for it…wait for it…a complete lack of any Google apps except for Google Maps. **Side Note: This isn’t the first “non-Google” phone. But seeing as how MotoBLUR on the CLIQ is so tightly integrated with Google apps, the complete 180 is striking.
Along the same lines, the stratification that everyone is starting to get worried about just got a big shot of relevance with this phone. A brand spankin’ new phone launching with old everything and the enemies search engine. I swear to god AT&T ruins everything they touch.
Yahoo Search love fest
Christ, I’ve lost all hope in this piece of garbage. An OS heavily pushed, touched, cared for, and ultimately run by Google features Yahoo Search as the crowning search provider. ‘Nough said.
I’ll probably get flamed, skewered, and raked over the hot coals for poo pooing AT&T’s Android virgin. So be it. I’m calling this waste of everyone’s time for what it is. Between insults and obscenities, just think about how you’re going to feel when twenty things are trying to update in the background (since MotoBLUR is all about the social scene) on that two-year old processor. Lest we not forget how the MotoCLIQ was looked upon unfavorably because of the unrefined OS. The ultimate uber social idea is great and all. But the hardware on the CLIQ — the exact same as this phone here — had a hard time juggling so many tasks.
In the end, I come away feeling sad. Sad beyond words for the countless AT&T users whom are weeping oceans from their faces asking themselves “Why?”. Why did they wait for so long only to be let down so harshly? Can AT&T not step away from their own little world where they’re the super greatest and realize that they are not a software company nor GUI designer? Because of that, they need to learn to keep their hands off of the phone itself. It worked wonderfully on the iPhone — not a hint of AT&T crap branding except for the network indicator. Though Apple has a much larger bargaining power than Motorola. On that note, I’d also be interested to know exactly how much influence Motorola had and how much power AT&T stripped away.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Backflip/Enzo will gain a loyal following much like the socially connected CLIQ on T-Mobile. But as far as gaining anything close to the Droid-like cult following and mass hysteria — well, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell. Not one. The Moto Backflip/Enzo is a knock against Android, AT&T, and Motorola.
So AT&T users, are you now left looking ahead to the next Android device that will hopefully come sometime in 2010? Currently you’re only hope is looking at being either the Nexus One since it comes with your 3G bands and all or some completely unknown device. Ya, your options downright suck right now.
Android 2.1 is one of the most anticipated Android updates yet. For HTC Hero users even more so as they’re currently stuck at the now old as dirt 1.5/Cupcake edition making 2.1 all the more sweeter. The video above shows an HTC Hero Euro-model packing Android 2.1 w/ Sense UI. It looks hot and performs well. There’s only a few areas where some lag is noticeable. Though at this point in the game, lag shouldn’t be non-existent. But I’ll take what I can get for now. Watch the vid and leave your thoughts in the box inside. Just in case: There’s a heavy amount of techno music. I don’t mind it and actually find it catchy. Others will find it causes them to vomit organs. To each his own…
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