Motorola ATRIX 4G Hands-on

[Viva Las Espuelas]

This thing is quite the beast. Yes the camera/video isn't the greatest, yes, but that really doesn't change my opinion.
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Think that all of the high-end Android love from Motorola is only reserved for Verizon? Well, the perception is quickly going to change now that the venerable smartphone maker has announced the Motorola ATRIX 4G which is bound for AT&T packing along some beloved high-end specs that will make you gasp with joy – especially for those AT&T customers tired of seeing nothing but mid-range devices. In reality, the ATRIX 4G is actually the long rumored Motorola Olympus which is the dual-core Tegra 2 packing beast that everyone has been yearning for.

Naturally, high-end specs are all around with the Motorola ATRIX 4G with its sizable 4” qHD display that boasts a stunning resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. Looking straight at it, there's no arguing the kind of beauty and elegance it embodies as it packs plenty of crisp visuals to make your eyes gleam with joy. Moreover, there are other admirable features that will surely make you fall in love – such as 1GB of RAM, large 1,930 mAh battery, and support for faster speeds thanks to HSPA+ connectivity.



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Taking a hold of the device, it doesn't quite have that stark industrial design that made devices like the Motorola DROID (http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Motorola-DROID_id3853) and DROID X (http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Motorola-DROID-X_id4659) stand out. But nonetheless, you can gauge that there was a lot of love put into its construction and design to still catapult it to the status of other high-end devices on the market. In fact, it's surprising to find it come close to the same dimensions as the iPhone 4 (http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Apple-iPhone-4_id4586) – which is impressive when you consider that it packs a healthy sized 4” display.

Underneath all of the top notch hardware, we find the Motorola ATRIX 4G running that all too known customized MOTOBLUR skin on top of Android 2.2 Froyo. Yeah, we know what you're going to say, but we simply hope it will receive the Gingerbread treatment quickly. All in all, the dual-core Tegra 2 chipset enables the handset to fly in just about every aspect we put the device through – so literally, you won't ever have to miss a beat on anything.


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[DJ Mbenga]

too bad this thing is on at&t

[BruceBowenFan]

fuck motoblur, its great if your into social networking but damn does it get annoying.

[Nathan Explosion]

too bad this thing is on at&t

AT&T is about to upgrade their network to 4G using LTE and HPSA+ when you drop off of LTE. The phone plans may suck, but the network is promising to be the best out there.

[Nathan Explosion]

Plus, unlike Verizon and Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile allow you to both have phone calls and use data at the same time. GSM allows you to do that. CDMA doesn't.

[TIMMYD!]

fuck motoblur, its great if your into social networking but damn does it get annoying.

Not to mention how much it slows down your phone.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

AT&T is about to upgrade their network to 4G using LTE and HPSA+ when you drop off of LTE. The phone plans may suck, but the network is promising to be the best out there.
Yeah. I read that too. Hopefully they can pull it off. I'm not putting too much faith in that, but if that's the case I'm willing to have 3G speeds when I'm not in a wifi hotspot. I really wanted to leave at&t simply because they're the most expensive out there. I was kinda sold to the idea of switching over to sprint because of the EVO. It was my second choice to the iPhone. Now that this is coming to at&t, I'm staying with them and think the phone will make the sacrifice worthy.

[leemajors]

This thing looks like it may be pretty cheap, which definitely makes it more attractive - $150 plus the dock only being $60?

http://gizmodo.com/5747567/leak-motorola-atrix-4gs-dock-will-cost-just-60

[Cry Havoc]

AT&T is about to upgrade their network to 4G using LTE and HPSA+ when you drop off of LTE. The phone plans may suck, but the network is promising to be the best out there.

What, exactly, has AT&T done in the past to make you think this? There is no evidence for that. AT&T has consistently been the worst service provider in the US over the past 5-8 years. They have already re-branded their entire network 4G despite not having a single LTE network in the US yet of any size.


Plus, unlike Verizon and Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile allow you to both have phone calls and use data at the same time. GSM allows you to do that. CDMA doesn't.

You most certainly can talk and surf at the same time with 4G on CDMA.


fuck motoblur, its great if your into social networking but damn does it get annoying.

Yeah, and Motorola has problems with allowing people to root their phones, which is kind of ridiculous.

[Nathan Explosion]

You most certainly can talk and surf at the same time with 4G on CDMA.

Which isn't always available. AT&T and T-Mobile already have the leg up in that you can talk and surf, 4G or not. Very useful.

And, as I've said, San Antonio has excellent AT&T coverage imo. I would hope so considering that SBC(Cingular) and then AT&T were located here for years until recently.

I was a Cingular customer and they had great coverage in SA. I haven't seen anything different since the merger and rebranding with AT&T. The worst signal strength I have is my apartment and I think that's due to the fact that I live about 4 blocks from a radio station, and 5 minutes away from about 5 hospitals. But even then, my signal strength isn't low, just lower.

Sprint on the other had gave me tons of problems around hills, which is a problem when you live in an area where there were tons of hills to pass before going to school, work, and/or visit friends. Always dropped calls. Not to mention that Clear internet using the 4G Wimax network that Sprint uses, and it's still not available in all of San Antonio. A good majority of SA has it, but there are some areas that are slower or even lacking 4G.

[Cry Havoc]

Which isn't always available. AT&T and T-Mobile already have the leg up in that you can talk and surf, 4G or not. Very useful.

And, as I've said, San Antonio has excellent AT&T coverage imo. I would hope so considering that SBC(Cingular) and then AT&T were located here for years until recently.

I was a Cingular customer and they had great coverage in SA. I haven't seen anything different since the merger and rebranding with AT&T. The worst signal strength I have is my apartment and I think that's due to the fact that I live about 4 blocks from a radio station, and 5 minutes away from about 5 hospitals. But even then, my signal strength isn't low, just lower.

Sprint on the other had gave me tons of problems around hills, which is a problem when you live in an area where there were tons of hills to pass before going to school, work, and/or visit friends. Always dropped calls. Not to mention that Clear internet using the 4G Wimax network that Sprint uses, and it's still not available in all of San Antonio. A good majority of SA has it, but there are some areas that are slower or even lacking 4G.

Yeah, AT&T definitely has better and worse areas, but here in DC they're abysmal in certain places. Sprint almost always gives me reception unless I'm on the subway. I just have to wonder with AT&T's track record if they're going to come through like they say they will.

[DJ Mbenga]

motoblur is trash but just install laucher pro.

[BruceBowenFan]

motoblur is trash but just install laucher pro.

agreed, but if at all possible stay away from motoblur. I dont care what type of processor it has, motoblur will still make it lag.

[leemajors]

What, exactly, has AT&T done in the past to make you think this? There is no evidence for that. AT&T has consistently been the worst service provider in the US over the past 5-8 years. They have already re-branded their entire network 4G despite not having a single LTE network in the US yet of any size.



You most certainly can talk and surf at the same time with 4G on CDMA.



Yeah, and Motorola has problems with allowing people to root their phones, which is kind of ridiculous.

I think Sprint definitely has them beat in that span. I think they lost over a million customers a quarter for several years. They have only began to attract customers back within the last year or two with more attractive pricing and finally began selling decent phones. LTE isn't exactly "4G" either, it's still 3rd gen tech - LTE Advanced is, but there are no currently LTE advanced networks out there in the US.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

You most certainly can talk and surf at the same time with 4G on CDMA.

only if you use the wifi, which really wasn't implied. other than that your statement is wrong.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

This thing looks like it may be pretty cheap, which definitely makes it more attractive - $150 plus the dock only being $60?

http://gizmodo.com/5747567/leak-motorola-atrix-4gs-dock-will-cost-just-60

Nice. I was worried about the price of it. Hopefully the lower price is to get buyers. Now I just gotta find out the sturdiness of it.

[Cry Havoc]

only if you use the wifi, which really wasn't implied. other than that your statement is wrong.

So I guess the fact that I'm talking to my mother in Illinois right now and surfing Reddit + SpursTalk on my 4G phone with my wifi disabled is just a freak of science, then.

Are you seriously going to argue with me about a phone I own and use everyday? :lmao Dude, you're freaking hilarious. What the hell is wrong with you? Are you really that arrogant that you can presume to tell me what my phone can or cannot do while I'm using it?

:lmao

:lmao

:lmao

[Viva Las Espuelas]

So I guess the fact that I'm talking to my mother in Illinois right now and surfing Reddit + SpursTalk on my 4G phone with my wifi disabled is just a freak of science, then.

Are you seriously going to argue with me about a phone I own and use everyday? :lmao Dude, you're freaking hilarious. What the hell is wrong with you? Are you really that arrogant that you can presume to tell me what my phone can or cannot do while I'm using it?

:lmao

:lmao

:lmao

Sprint, right?

[Cry Havoc]

Sprint, right?

Do you know of any other carriers who have the Evo?

[Viva Las Espuelas]

<looking high and low for answer to my question. wondering why tool is being a tool. as usual. really not giving a shit, but I guess I am cuz I'm replying. golly gee>

:rolleyes

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Anyway

http://gizmodo.com/5726871/moto-atrix-preview-the-future-of-mobile-is-a-phone-thats-also-a-netbook

for those interested.

[Cry Havoc]

<looking high and low for answer to my question. wondering why tool is being a tool. as usual. really not giving a shit, but I guess I am cuz I'm replying. golly gee>

:rolleyes

lol backpedaling

lol caught trying to talk about something he doesn't know about

lol trying to get out of being completely wrong by shifting the focus away from himself

Nice try. You're still wrong and you couldn't sack up and admit it like a man, you had to go the dick route and try to insult someone to save face. :td

[lefty]

Lol Motocrapola

[Drachen]

only if you use the wifi, which really wasn't implied. other than that your statement is wrong.

Let me clear it up for you, while in the 4g coverage area and using 4g, you can talk and surf at the same time. However, unless I am mistaken, if you drive out to the hill country and switch to 3g, then you cannot talk and surf simultaneously.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Let me clear it up for you, while in the 4g coverage area and using 4g, you can talk and surf at the same time. However, unless I am mistaken, if you drive out to the hill country and switch to 3g, then you cannot talk and surf simultaneously.

Yes. Seems I left 4G out of my last statement. What I was getting at is you have to be where 4G and wifi are present to do that. Which isn't available everywhere which means you're not at liberty to do it whenever you please like you can on the AT&T network.

[Cry Havoc]

What I was getting at is you have to be where 4G and wifi are present to do that.

:bang

No, you don't.

You can call and surf the net at the same time with NO wifi signal. Period. You could be 10 miles from a router, and as long as you have 4G, you're fine to surf and make phone calls.

[Drachen]

:bang

No, you don't.

You can call and surf the net at the same time with NO wifi signal. Period. You could be 10 miles from a router, and as long as you have 4G, you're fine to surf and make phone calls.


I think in his last statement he meant to say "wifi or 4G".

[Cry Havoc]

I think in his last statement he meant to say "wifi or 4G".

:lol Well he's had a number of chances to get it right.

3G isn't available everywhere from AT&T either, so I don't know what his point is. And even if you have 3G, a lot of times it's not 4 or 5 bars (at least here in DC, there are gaps where you don't even have signal in the middle of the city), which makes surfing painfully slow anyway.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Pre-sale 2-13. $199. Release 3-6.

[leemajors]

Pre-sale 2-13. $199. Release 3-6.

they were also saying the dock would be only $300 as well. If that's the case, that is a much better deal than close to 1k.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

they were also saying the dock would be only $300 as well. If that's the case, that is a much better deal than close to 1k.

Well I read it'll be 499 with the laptop dock. I'm really not interested with that mess. $60 was speculated for the regular dock.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Yeah. Fommy has the dock for 60.

[DJ Mbenga]

wow att is gonna charge you teethering for using the dock? fail. this will fail now.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

wow att is gonna charge you teethering for using the dock? fail. this will fail now.

Huh? They're going to charge for using the dock? Aside from tethering? A buddy of mine has the EVO and says sprint charges him extra to tether. I don't think the EVO failed.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

I did a quick search and found all providers charge extra to tether, so............

Is that not the case?

[leemajors]

wow att is gonna charge you teethering for using the dock? fail. this will fail now.

Any company would. I don't think (official) tethering is free for any carrier.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Any company would. I don't think (official) tethering is free for any carrier.
exactly. I thought all of them charged. If there's one then I'd like to know, but I don't think there is.

Man, I just read about the fingerprint recognition software on this phone. Pretty nice.

[MannyIsGod]

I tether on my Samsung moment and don't pay a dime.

[MannyIsGod]

Also using the dock should in no way be considered tethering. Its simply using the same device but an output and input peripheral.

[leemajors]

I tether on my Samsung moment and don't pay a dime.

your rooted moment.

[MannyIsGod]

Yes, its rooted, but the Atrix will be rooted quickly too. In any event, like I said using a dock should in no way be considered tethering.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

That's why I asked mbenga to explain himself instead of assuming. Ahem.

[leemajors]

Also using the dock should in no way be considered tethering. Its simply using the same device but an output and input peripheral.

It's really not in a cell company's interest to see it as such.

[leemajors]

Yes, its rooted, but the Atrix will be rooted quickly too. In any event, like I said using a dock should in no way be considered tethering.

Verizon will combat that like this, and doubtless every other company will follow suit:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-iphone-verizon.html

It's lame, but expected behavior.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2379916,00.asp?tab=FullReview

[Drachen]

Its only $129 with a two year contract through walmart right now. Crazy.

[leemajors]

the root isn't quite complete yet:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/motorola-atrix-root-found-to-be-signed-hacking-might-not-be-so/

[Drachen]

the root isn't quite complete yet:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/motorola-atrix-root-found-to-be-signed-hacking-might-not-be-so/

Yeah, I saw that. I am not buying the phone, so I guess I don't mind this, but I also think that it is just a matter of time before it is complete, right?

[balli]

Only certain phones, I guess depending on how extensively they're used by corporate devs, allow you to swap kernals. I haven't looked whether this is possible on the Atrix. If it is, I'm seriously considering getting rid of my Captivate.

[leemajors]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/motorola-atrix-4g-laptop-dock-demo-units-have-multitouch-trackpa/

shitty.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

almost got this today. it's purrrrrrrrrrrdee. maybe friday.

[Clutch]

Very neat. I am extremely satisfied with my HTC Inspire 4G right now though.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Very neat. I am extremely satisfied with my HTC Inspire 4G right now though.
Somebody told me to check that one out as well. What's your experience with it? I really like the connectivity it has. No, not with the laptop. That's simply over priced and why is it an android that uses an linux OS for the laptop and equip it with Firefox? ??? Makes no sense, but that's why I'm not interested in it. I like that I can hook it up to my tv and basically use it as a computer, stream music and movies, Micro SD slot and all that. I realize this is the first generation of these multi-core phones but I want a new phone. And now!

[Xevious]

So no more carrier X is better than carrier Y bullshit. Does anybody actually own this phone? Any thoughts?

[Viva Las Espuelas]

I decided to hold out a bit longer for a new phone. Could've gotten this one a couple of times but I just didn't. I'm gonna let my contract expire(july) and probably hop over to tmobile BUT that all depends if I see that their merger, att-tmobile, will eventually go through. I haven't really been keeping up with that, so I'll have to see. If it does, my reasoning is I'll get the G2x(same guts as the atrix but half the memory), get on a cheaper plan, and be grandfathered for 2 years when the deal is approved. Maybe a long shot but if anything I'll have more phones to choose from.

[cheguevara]

just got a MAtrix.

props to Motorola. Not afraid to put some crazy features on this one. Fingerprint reader, webtop mode, lapdock mode. - which actually launch a Linux instance within the phone! ppl already hacking this so you can install your favorite flavor of Linux :wow then, the sky is the limit

Gingerbread update coming up in the next couple of weeks :D

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Did you get it from att? If so, what's the price tag on it now?

[cheguevara]

att. $50

I really wanna like this phone but after a week, I find some things pissing me off.
#1 - it gets hot as fuck. I mean radioactive when using browsing/gps/etc WTF?
#2 - battery life sucks. or maybe that's all smartphones? 1 hour of use, it's already 50%

everything else is good except for the android bugs that piss me off (music stops playing when phone goes to sleep, android email sucks, etc)

Is there anything at ATT I can exchange it with??? come out already Galaxy S2. I have 3 more weeks to exchange :pctoss

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Oh damn. That sucks outside of what you paid. Kinda disappointing too.

[MannyIsGod]

Custom ROMS will almost always improve smartphone battery life drastically but i have no idea of where to get a good one for Atrix. My phone does not ever get very hot but I also don't have a dual core. :lol

[cheguevara]

:lol

for real. Dual core + 1GB PC class RAM in this little shit. I really think I could cook and egg. If I have the time I'll make a youtube of this.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

So I don't know if it's well-known, but I know dick about this type of tech.

What's the advantage of getting a dual core phone at the moment? Outside of gaming or the ability to watch 1080p or 3D on a mini-screen(yeah, not for me), give me some reasons to choose a dual core phone now, if any.

[cheguevara]

just like PCs, new apps + OS require more CPU. you will be fine until a couple of years from now when your phone will slow to a crawl.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

So for an average user like me, there really is no reason to choose a dual core phone just yet.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

Correct.

[in2deep]

I heard this thing is getting an update with gingerbread, open bootloader and higher clocking on its cpu. It's got the NVidia Tegra which is a beast especially in games. After the update should be one of the most powerful phones out there.

[Nathan Explosion]

just like PCs, new apps + OS require more CPU. you will be fine until a couple of years from now when your phone will slow to a crawl.

Then he can make treads bitching about how his outdated phone was slowed to a crawl by a new OS, and it's the phone makers fault it happened and not his. :)

[MannyIsGod]

Then he can make treads bitching about how his outdated phone was slowed to a crawl by a new OS, and it's the phone makers fault it happened and not his. :)

Only if his cell phone company tells him to upgrade first.

[hater]

Then he can make treads bitching about how his outdated phone was slowed to a crawl by a new OS, and it's the phone makers fault it happened and not his. :)

and you still won't be able to play flash :lmao

[cheguevara]

I heard this thing is getting an update with gingerbread, open bootloader and higher clocking on its cpu. It's got the NVidia Tegra which is a beast especially in games. After the update should be one of the most powerful phones out there.

just got my gingerbread :downspin:

battery life improved 100%
heat emission decreased
photo quality improved

now it's really a top phone IMO. runs like on steroids and the fingerprint reader is way underrated feature. Don't think I could do without it anymore.