So I have been watching the press releases from CES this week . . .

[Drachen]

. . . and I have found the winner. LOOK AT THIS


Link (http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/motorola-atrix-4g-hd-multimedia-dock-and-laptop-dock-hands-on/#disqus_thread)

Earlier today, we got a complete demo and some seat time with the Motorola Atrix 4G for AT&T at Motorola's CES event, including its HD multimedia dock and laptop dock. The phone looks similar to the Samsung Vibrant, but with a black screen bezel and a tastefully patterned matte back cover. Build quality is very good, as we'd expect from a Motorola device. The QHD (960 x 540) display is gorgeous and the phone feels ultra snappy, thanks to the dual-core processor running Froyo. In fact, despite still running preliminary firmware, we recorded a blazing 2,616 score on the Quadrant test. The power button at the top back of the Atrix 4G also serves as a fingerprint reader, and there's a dual-LED flash flanking the 5 megapixel camera. Check out the gallery below and read on for the details -- and the complete demo on video -- after the break.
Motorola Atrix 4G, HD multimedia dock, and laptop dock hands-on



The HD multimedia dock features a power connector, three USB ports, and an HDMI output, along with an infrared remote. It turns the Atrix 4G into both a multimedia center, and at desktop PC when connected to a TV / monitor and keyboard / mouse. The laptop dock features a 11.6-inch display, two USB ports, a very nice chiclet keyboard, and a comfortably-sized trackpad with two-finger scrolling. It's super thin and light, and made of a lovely mix of aluminum and plastic.The Atrix 4G docks on the back left edge of the device, behind the display.

But the most impressive part of the entire package is the software and user experience that ties it all together. The Webtop app essentially turns the Atrix 4G into a full blown PC, complete with windowed UI, an Mac OS X-like application dock, a full version of Firefox with Flash 10.1 support, a file manager, and Citrix remote desktop support (shown connected to a PC running Windows XP full screen). Better yet, the state of the Webtop app is maintained between sessions, allowing the Atrix 4G to be undocked at any time without missing a beat. It's the first solid alternative to our Continuous Client proposal. We plan to bring you more coverage as soon as possible, but in the meantime watch the video above.
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I mean, just WOW! The possibilities on this are endless. It replaces so much. Yes, I know that it won't (currently) work for gamers, but man think of the possibilities. Motorola got game!

[MannyIsGod]

That is fairly bad ass.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169785

[leemajors]

I just don't see the point of it, but I don't really want or need my phone to be a full fledged computing solution. Motorola overlays and software make me cringe in advance, and I can't imagine how much all of that costs. I also can't see businesses being all that crazy about supporting something like this in addition to everything else as an enterprise solution.

[Drachen]

That is the thing, why do they need to support "everything else"? This IS the enterprise solution. I would love to have this. Buy the laptop dock, and the phone. Go to class, take notes, etc and in two years when I want to get a new laptop, I don't have to spend the money on one. Just get a new phone and use the same laptop dock. Additionally, it replaces any digital media adapters, any google/apple TV things and as far as the Motorola overlays that isn't a problem because this phone gets rooted to vanilla froyo as soon as it is released.

[ElNono]

Sounds great. Just wish the dock would have a bigger screen. Maybe the HDMI would cover for that, but what's the max resolution through that? It'll be interesting to see the adoption of this thing and the specs in more detail.

[leemajors]

That is the thing, why do they need to support "everything else"? This IS the enterprise solution. I would love to have this. Buy the laptop dock, and the phone. Go to class, take notes, etc and in two years when I want to get a new laptop, I don't have to spend the money on one. Just get a new phone and use the same laptop dock. Additionally, it replaces any digital media adapters, any google/apple TV things and as far as the Motorola overlays that isn't a problem because this phone gets rooted to vanilla froyo as soon as it is released.

Most companies worth their salt wouldn't allow you to just root your work machine/phone. Not exactly secure. Plus, why would Motorola make a new phone compatible with their old dock when they can stick you for all new accessories/docks every time you need to upgrade?

[DJ Mbenga]

too bad its for at&t. htc really let me down when they didnt even put a dual core processor on the thunderbird. waste of a machine.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Imagine all the porn I could pump off to with that device. :wow

[leemajors]

too bad its for at&t. htc really let me down when they didnt even put a dual core processor on the thunderbird. waste of a machine.

what exactly are you doing on your phone that needs a dual core processor? :lol

[ElNono]

what exactly are you doing on your phone that needs a dual core processor? :lol

Play AAA games? Stream a movie while checking email?

Apple is going in the exact same direction. That's why they added the Grand Central Dispatch in iOS 4 (which is pretty useless unless you have multiple cores).

[Drachen]

Most companies worth their salt wouldn't allow you to just root your work machine/phone. Not exactly secure. Plus, why would Motorola make a new phone compatible with their old dock when they can stick you for all new accessories/docks every time you need to upgrade?

Ok, come on you should be able to figure this out. If there is an enterprise which is interested then all they would have to do is say "I don't want Motoblur" and they won't get Motoblur and they won't even have to root.

I was talking personally if I bought it I would root it to kill the motoblur.

As far as the dock, I am not sure if you saw it, but it was just a standard male micro usb and an hdmi connector. Those probably wont change.

I am sure the dock will be reusable.

[MannyIsGod]

It completely makes sense to have a dock like that for a portable laptop as opposed to buying a laptop. Especially if cloud computing really takes off.

[leemajors]

Ok, come on you should be able to figure this out. If there is an enterprise which is interested then all they would have to do is say "I don't want Motoblur" and they won't get Motoblur and they won't even have to root.

I was talking personally if I bought it I would root it to kill the motoblur.

As far as the dock, I am not sure if you saw it, but it was just a standard male micro usb and an hdmi connector. Those probably wont change.

I am sure the dock will be reusable.

I am just saying any cell phone manufacturer would rather you buy new accessories with every generation, maybe every other. Oh look, it's USB 3.0 now, you need a new dock to take advantage of these speeds, etc.

[leemajors]

Play AAA games? Stream a movie while checking email?

Apple is going in the exact same direction. That's why they added the Grand Central Dispatch in iOS 4 (which is pretty useless unless you have multiple cores).

If you are looking for a new phone right now, is a dual core processor what you are basing your decision on, especially if you are gonna be upgrading in 12-24 months anyway? A well optimized single core can handle anything out there atm and probably for at least another year.

[leemajors]

Ok, come on you should be able to figure this out. If there is an enterprise which is interested then all they would have to do is say "I don't want Motoblur" and they won't get Motoblur and they won't even have to root.

I was talking personally if I bought it I would root it to kill the motoblur.

As far as the dock, I am not sure if you saw it, but it was just a standard male micro usb and an hdmi connector. Those probably wont change.

I am sure the dock will be reusable.

Yeah, but people looking for enterprise solutions want to make sure they have a unified system that offers high security, and I have no idea if Motorola is equipped to offer such a solution. They have made a little bit of a comeback, but their track record with software is certainly suspect. I know Dell is considering scrapping Blackberries for their employees for their own hardware and WP7 since it is easily integrated into their current systems.

[leemajors]

Also, the Samsung Infuse and Xperia Arc look like very nice phones, provided they are rooted immediately. Overall CES looks to have been pretty bleh this year.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Yeah. I kinda felt CES wasn't going to be that much of a bang. I didn't really read of any rumblings of anything game-changing coming out leading up to this week. Who knows.

[Drachen]

Yeah CES this year is boring, its all tablets tablets tablets. I just don't see a big reason for them. That is why I like this atrix idea. It cuts down on the things I have to buy/carry. Tablets attempt to add to the those things without providing a compelling reason why I should.

The only other thing I have read about that seems cool is the almost as efficient as a wire (7% difference at low voltage, with the difference shrinking as you increase the voltage) inductive charging system that one could install in a parking lot that they used to charge a new Tesla Roadster

[ElNono]

If you are looking for a new phone right now, is a dual core processor what you are basing your decision on, especially if you are gonna be upgrading in 12-24 months anyway? A well optimized single core can handle anything out there atm and probably for at least another year.

Irrelevant. Most people base their decision on software and features, and improved hardware normally leads straight to improved software and features.
Multi-core processors is the obvious path to follow going forward for these devices, as it was for the desktop years ago.

As a developer, I can tell you that we're hitting system limitations all the time right now. The 'A well optimized single core can handle anything out there atm' is baloney. If you give us dual cores, and a faster GPU, we'll make them sweat.

[leemajors]

Irrelevant. Most people base their decision on software and features, and improved hardware normally leads straight to improved software and features.
Multi-core processors is the obvious path to follow going forward for these devices, as it was for the desktop years ago.

As a developer, I can tell you that we're hitting system limitations all the time right now. The 'A well optimized single core can handle anything out there atm' is baloney. If you give us dual cores, and a faster GPU, we'll make them sweat.

Well you would certainly know better than I. Of course it's the next thing, but at the moment I think it's kinda silly to dismiss a phone because it just has a single core processor if you like the rest of the features.

[xrayzebra]

I have a question. Can the general public get into the
CES or just vendors/buyers?

[Drachen]

That is the thing, these phones can last a lot longer now. If you buy a very powerful one today, with all of the developers hacking away it can last more than the 2 year cycle. My Hero (the model is 1.5 years old) is still going strong, running the latest software (except flash 10.1), and isn't laggy at all.

I think even more important than features is to find out which phone the developers are buying (generally the more powerful ones, but not always) and purchase that one as they will likely keep it going for a long time.

I realized this because when I got my hero, my wife got a moment, and despite better specs (at least when it comes to processor) , there were far more developers who purchased the hero, and there is therefore far more support. I mean there is no one touch root for the moment, there are maybe 10 custom roms I have found, and I have had to work to find all of that info.

The hero on the other hand is fully supported.

This is what I will end up looking for the next time I buy a phone, but I still think that these new features (the docking specifically) will make life simpler and I am excited.

[ElNono]

A 2 year cycle on the mobile market is too long. This is Moore's law all over again, but with the incentive of doing it in a portable way (very low power, relatively small form factor, etc).

Better screens, better battery life, better processors, better cameras, more/better sensors. Plenty of stuff that can be improved. While not everyone will need to be on the cutting edge, the differences will be tangible, and most likely the software will require you to upgrade at some point or another.

[leemajors]

That is the thing, these phones can last a lot longer now. If you buy a very powerful one today, with all of the developers hacking away it can last more than the 2 year cycle. My Hero (the model is 1.5 years old) is still going strong, running the latest software (except flash 10.1), and isn't laggy at all.

I think even more important than features is to find out which phone the developers are buying (generally the more powerful ones, but not always) and purchase that one as they will likely keep it going for a long time.

I realized this because when I got my hero, my wife got a moment, and despite better specs (at least when it comes to processor) , there were far more developers who purchased the hero, and there is therefore far more support. I mean there is no one touch root for the moment, there are maybe 10 custom roms I have found, and I have had to work to find all of that info.

The hero on the other hand is fully supported.

This is what I will end up looking for the next time I buy a phone, but I still think that these new features (the docking specifically) will make life simpler and I am excited.

I sold my 2 year old hacked iPhone 3G for $250 when I got my 4, paid for most of it

[BlackSwordsMan]

Any news on the psp 2? I wanna buy a psp but will wait if psp 2 is BC

[leemajors]

This looks interesting, albeit pricey as hell:

http://gizmodo.com/5726008/lenovos-u1-hybrid-hands-on-dont-fool-me-twice