When the first phone with Google’s Android operating system debuted, it was a bit hard to take seriously. The hardware was bulky and cumbersome, there was very little memory and the software was still a bit rough around the edges. Android had been hyped up as the iPhone’s best competition, but lost the battle for consumer’s hearts.
That is, until now.
In just over a year since the Dream’s launch, Google has slowly built an army of Android phones. Since last summer they’ve released at least six in the United States alone. The big news coming into Vegas was the release of the Nexus One. Inevitably overshadowing Motorola’s new Android phone, the backflip.
The Backflip brings yet another form factor to the cell phone world. When closed, both the phone’s screen and keyboard are left exposed. An odd design choice at first glance, but after seeing the phone in person, I’m a bit less skeptical. It’s design lets you stand it on a table to watch videos, or just use it as a bedside alarm clock.
Anyone unhappy with the Droid’s keyboard won’t find the Backflip’s much better. It is very flat, but the keys are bigger. Motorola is clearly targeting the social media mavens of the world with the built in MotoBlur software that stresses Facebook and Twitter integration. It does have some weight to it and its slightly larger than the Droid. It’s expected to be the first Android phone on AT&T’s network, but nothing has been announced yet. The price is also still under wraps but it will be somewhere below $200.
Android is a powerful platform and I’m more and more convinced that it will surpass the iPhone over time. Not because its necessarily better, but because Google is smartly putting it on a range of devices that cater towards specific demographics. The Backflip plays into this theme, bringing all of Android’s power to a new group of people.
[...] Android Lands A Backflip [...]