Motorola Atrix is the future!

[daneoni]

It's a cool but ultimately pointless concept in a world where tablets are set to do everything 'docking' can. That and i do not like MotoBlur...ditto for TouchWiz. Yuck.

 

[trigonometry]

Again, WP7 devices have had more units sold after 2 months of release than the iPhone 2G did in its lifetime. They have accumulated more apps in 2 months than Palm did in 3 years, and Apple/Google did during the same time span. It's an entirely new platform and is doing amazingly well despite that fact.

Just cause you hate "m$ yo" doesn't mean they'll go away.

Please back up your post with some numbers or links. Thanks.

 

[CosmoPilot]

While I believe the Atrix is a good look into the future of portables, there is a bigger problem that must be addressed.

In 2001, Steve Jobs described the transition of the personal computer into a "digital hub." Steve was absolutely right. The personal computer is now used to sync all of our other devices.

The problem over the next decade will be the management of all of these devices.

Today, we have to plug in our devices to our computers in order to sync our music, pictures, apps, and other things. There are cloud options such as MobileMe, DropBox, and Google, but those are very limiting and require various app downloads and set up procedures. However, they are all very good attempts at fixing the problems that we are beginning to have.

First off, let me say that desktops aren't going anywhere. Students still use them for writing papers and doing extensive research. Business people still use them for powerful productivity products such as Microsoft Excel. Art people still use them for photo and video editing. The large screen(s), power, and physical keyboards (at least for now) are the main selling points of these products. In the future, the large screen may be the only selling point.

I envision the desktop as a continuation device and the primary storage device for all of our devices. It absolutely is a mass storage device today, but let me continue.

Everything I do on my phone, tablet, notebook, and desktop should all be in sync at any given moment. No more partial syncs or syncs that outdated. The desktop will be the device that stores all of the information and backs it up if the user chooses to do so. This concept is slightly hard to describe, so let me use some examples and smaller concepts:

1) My experience should be uniform. I know there are many operating systems out there for both desktops and mobile devices, but there should be a way to unify the experience to that limitation. My desktop and laptop of the same operating system should give me the same experience. All programs should be available (or you can customize it and exclude programs on certain devices), all documents, icons, etc. should be organized in the same exact way. I shouldn't have to worry that my desktop contains a different version of a file than my notebook. Mobile devices will all share the same programs (if they are available), layout, and access the same exact files.

Example: I am in class and I'm taking notes on my notebook or tablet device. When I save the file, a copy should automatically be sent to my desktop and become available on all my other devices. Each save will update the file.

Example: Bookmarks, contacts, etc. should all be synced automatically and backed up on the desktop. This service is pretty much available today with very little work required through MobileMe and Google, so its a good first step.

2) Signing into a computer as a guest should allow me to use my mobile device to temporarily load my desktop. All my documents, files, and settings would appear as if it was my own computer.

3) App purchases are no longer registered to a PC. Instead, they are registered to a user. Apple is doing a great job of this with the Mac App Store and the iOS App store by linking purchases to your apple id and allowing installs on a number of devices. But, it could be pushed further by saying that when you buy an app, you have access to it on any device.

Example: I shouldn't have to buy a new version of Angry Birds for each device I own (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, etc.). I wouldn't mind paying for access on addition devices, but this should be done through in app purchases. If I decide to switch to Android tomorrow, I would have to repurchase everything. I don't know exactly how this would be implemented, but EA has been introducing Mac/Windows games on the same disc for a few years now. A tweaked digital version of this may work.


I know that a lot of people dislike the cloud, and I'm one of them. That is why is was very difficult to explain my concept without people thinking that it was all cloud based. It's not.

I believe this is the future! However, I don't believe cloud computing at this extreme will ever occur. Data needs to be secured, so I don't see how it can be physically possible to update one device and have all the other devices get synced across the globe (or across town for that matter).

As such, I see your scenario playing out via a wireless protocol, whereas all devices within a certain range of each other get updated as you suggest. In the home, all devices would be managed accordingly.

Therefore, if I had my laptop and phone with me on a business trip. I update a file on my desktop, my phone would instantly update as well because it is within range of the laptop (this also makes since, because these are the only devices I can possibly use at this moment in time). When I return home from the business trip and walk into my home...all my other devices recognize the change and get updated as well (home computer, iPads, etc.).

No cables, no settings, etc. Also, as you mentioned, each devices application should be scalable to the other. In other words, if I make a change to a file in a desktop application...it's sister app for a mobile phone should be intelligent to recognize this and make the necessary changes.

Software to the individual as opposed to the computer...is spot on! This is the next evolution!

Great Thoughts!

 

[callmemike20]

I believe this is the future! However, I don't believe cloud computing at this extreme will ever occur. Data needs to be secured, so I don't see how it can be physically possible to update one device and have all the other devices get synced across the globe (or across town for that matter).

As such, I see your scenario playing out via a wireless protocol, whereas all devices within a certain range of each other get updated as you suggest. In the home, all devices would be managed accordingly.

Therefore, if I had my laptop and phone with me on a business trip. I update a file on my desktop, my phone would instantly update as well because it is within range of the laptop (this also makes since, because these are the only devices I can possibly use at this moment in time). When I return home from the business trip and walk into my home...all my other devices recognize the change and get updated as well (home computer, iPads, etc.).

No cables, no settings, etc. Also, as you mentioned, each devices application should be scalable to the other. In other words, if I make a change to a file in a desktop application...it's sister app for a mobile phone should be intelligent to recognize this and make the necessary changes.

Software to the individual as opposed to the computer...is spot on! This is the next evolution!

Great Thoughts!

I completely agree.

Syncing devices in range would be a much better alternative. This could be done either other a home wireless network or bluetooth while on the go (unless some new technology gets developed).

 

[mKTank]

Please back up your post with some numbers or links. Thanks.

Apple sold 1 million iPhones after 2.5 months,
Microsoft sold 1.5 WP7 devices after 2 months.
At this point, Apple had zero apps, so let's start from when they started the App Store. Apple had accumulated 5000 apps after 3 months.
Microsoft reached 5000 apps after 2 months.

How about Android?

The G1 was released in October 22, 2008. Sold one million units after 6 months, vs 1.5 million WP7 devices after 2 months.

How about Android Market?

After 5 months, it had accumulated 2,300 applications. Vs. 5000 applications after 2 months with WP7.


WP7 has much stronger launch momentum than the two most dominant operating systems for smartphones. Calling it a failure is just lunacy.

 

[callmemike20]

Apple sold 1 million iPhones after 2.5 months,
Microsoft sold 1.5 WP7 devices after 2 months.
At this point, Apple had zero apps, so let's start from when they started the App Store. Apple had accumulated 5000 apps after 3 months.
Microsoft reached 5000 apps after 2 months.

How about Android?

The G1 was released in October 22, 2008. Sold one million units after 6 months, vs 1.5 million WP7 devices after 2 months.

How about Android Market?

After 5 months, it had accumulated 2,300 applications. Vs. 5000 applications after 2 months with WP7.


WP7 has much stronger launch momentum than the two most dominant operating systems for smartphones. Calling it a failure is just lunacy.

You could also argue that the industry was still in its infancy when Apple entered the market. No one really knew what it meant for the future of mobile computing. The Apple app store grew slowly because developers did not know how successful it would be and they would have to invest resources into something that had a risky outcome. The android market and to a great extent, the windows market, grew so fast because the developers knew that apps are successful and people want them.

Don't get me wrong, Windows Phone 7 is a great product for Microsoft. They just joined the game a little late. I'm sure their limited number of apps at launch hurt their sales.

 

[mKTank]

You could also argue that the industry was still in its infancy when Apple entered the market. No one really knew what it meant for the future of mobile computing. The Apple app store grew slowly because developers did not know how successful it would be and they would have to invest resources into something that had a risky outcome. The android market and to a great extent, the windows market, grew so fast because the developers knew that apps are successful and people want them.

Don't get me wrong, Windows Phone 7 is a great product for Microsoft. They just joined the game a little late. I'm sure their limited number of apps at launch hurt their sales.

Again, nothing 'hurt their sales' except for the fact that it's an entirely new platform that not many people even know about. You're probably right though in that the app count probably limited sales a LITTLE bit.

Some guy looks at different platform. Oh, this one has 5000, this other one has 150,000..oh look, THIS one has 400,000. Which one do you think he'll go for?

They jumped in a little late, but WP7 is not a failure. It's far too early to make that call.

 

[adztaylor]

Apple sold 1 million iPhones after 2.5 months,
Microsoft sold 1.5 WP7 devices after 2 months.
At this point, Apple had zero apps, so let's start from when they started the App Store. Apple had accumulated 5000 apps after 3 months.
Microsoft reached 5000 apps after 2 months.

How about Android?

The G1 was released in October 22, 2008. Sold one million units after 6 months, vs 1.5 million WP7 devices after 2 months.

How about Android Market?

After 5 months, it had accumulated 2,300 applications. Vs. 5000 applications after 2 months with WP7.


WP7 has much stronger launch momentum than the two most dominant operating systems for smartphones. Calling it a failure is just lunacy.

Don't get me wrong I like WP7 but sorry you're wrong. The 1.5 million figure you're quoting was sales by manufacturers to mobile carriers and retailers. They are not consumer sales.

 

[seajay96]

Again, WP7 devices have had more units sold after 2 months of release than the iPhone 2G did in its lifetime. They have accumulated more apps in 2 months than Palm did in 3 years, and Apple/Google did during the same time span. It's an entirely new platform and is doing amazingly well despite that fact.

Just cause you hate "m$ yo" doesn't mean they'll go away.

This is not really a fair comparison, considering the market for smart phones was minuscule at the time of the iPhone 2G launch. It was the iPhone and subsequently Android that brought the entire market to the mainstream...so, WP7 is really riding the coat tails of both Apple and Android to achieve their "success".

Now, I'm not saying that WP7 isn't a success or that it's not a good OS, only time and a few rounds with their competitors will determine wether it's a viable option or an also-ran.

 

[smiddlehurst]

Apple sold 1 million iPhones after 2.5 months,
Microsoft sold 1.5 WP7 devices after 2 months.
At this point, Apple had zero apps, so let's start from when they started the App Store. Apple had accumulated 5000 apps after 3 months.
Microsoft reached 5000 apps after 2 months.

How about Android?

The G1 was released in October 22, 2008. Sold one million units after 6 months, vs 1.5 million WP7 devices after 2 months.

How about Android Market?

After 5 months, it had accumulated 2,300 applications. Vs. 5000 applications after 2 months with WP7.


WP7 has much stronger launch momentum than the two most dominant operating systems for smartphones. Calling it a failure is just lunacy.

Don't get me wrong here, I like WP7 as a platform and want to see it do well but you really can't compare it to the iPhone or Android launches. It's a totally different market and Microsoft had a massive worldwide launch. The iPhone was only available in the US for the first three months of its life and was working on a totally different purchase model to most other phones, Android was only available on the HTC Dream and then only in the UK and US for the first few months of its life. WP7 has a worldwide launch with, what, a dozen handsets at the usual subsidized price points. No matter how you look at this WP7 hasn't had a good launch (and as someone else so rightly pointed out that 1.5 is SHIPPED not sold. Considering the size of the launch it's entirely likely that there's less than a million in consumer hands right now).

Anyway, to the Atrix. It's an intriguing idea but feels a little early and very clunky. Having to carry a dock or the laptop case around with you is a pain and begs the question why not just carry a small form-factor laptop in the first place? That being said, picture this for a moment:

An iOS device (iPhone / iPod Touch) with a multi-core processor and graphics card, 128Gb of solid state storage and AirPlay. An AppleTV hooked up to a PC monitor or TV via HDMI and an AirPlay button on the multi-tasking bar. Hit that button and it sends the entire OS to the AppleTV transitioning to a more iPad-like version of iOS en-route with certain changes for a screen size much bigger than the controller. The iPhone becomes a trackpad / keyboard depending on what you're doing on screen and there's support for bluetooth keyboards and mice. Apps transition as well and you can install apps JUST for that big screen environment.

Simple, efficient, VERY cheap to setup and totally wireless. Does it replace a computer? For some yes, for many it'll be more of a convenient occasional feature. We're not there yet but within a few years I really could see that becoming a proper full-featured solution for a lot of people. Suddenly you have a relatively simple way for a group of people to share big screen computing environments in total security (short of loosing the device) and all in an instant-on, totally portable environment with a battery life of 10 hours or more.

 

[TEHi]

Whats the hype with android?

I had an android phone, it wasnt so great.

-Cheaply made apps, bad games, official market sucks.
-Buggy OS, not ready for used in phones yet.

Android phones will outsell iOS phones, but remember there is only 1 device using iOS.

 

[fertilized-egg]

Please back up your post with some numbers or links. Thanks.

They said 1.5 million WP7 phones were sold to carriers and retailers by mid-late December 2010. We don't know how many of those actually sold to the consumers at this point. The original iPhone sold slightly over 6 million in its lifetime, which is quite remarkable considering it was the first device of its kind with no ecosystem with a very high price ($400 - $600)

 

[Wide opeN]

I think the concept of the Atrix is hot. It's probably one of the only 1 or 2 phones I'd consider over the iPhone.

I think a lot of people are forgetting that docking the phone doesn't simply turn your laptop into being able to use the phone and vice versa but it gives you ALL of your phones usability through the laptop PLUS the usability of the laptop itself. All you need is to set the phone onto speaker or have bluetooth and you're good to go.

I have to do more research on the Atrix but from what I've seen it definitely is WORTH my time to look into.

 

[Apple...]

I think the concept of the Atrix is hot. It's probably one of the only 1 or 2 phones I'd consider over the iPhone.

I think a lot of people are forgetting that docking the phone doesn't simply turn your laptop into being able to use the phone and vice versa but it gives you ALL of your phones usability through the laptop PLUS the usability of the laptop itself. All you need is to set the phone onto speaker or have bluetooth and you're good to go.

I have to do more research on the Atrix but from what I've seen it definitely is WORTH my time to look into.

Whatever suits you best. Have fun with MotoBlur!

 

[walie]

Whatever suits you best. Have fun with MotoBlur!

MotoBlur is nothing more than a customized homescreen launcher. Install an alternate launcher such as LauncherPro or ADW Launcher, both of which are highly customizable and blazing fast, set it as the default launcher and you're good to go

I don't see why everyone complains about MotoBlur, if you don't like it, DON'T USE IT

 

[ChrisSD]

No thank you. What happens if you're using the laptop shell on the go, and you get a phone call? Quickly save your work and rush to take the phone out of the dock all before the call goes to voicemail?

 

[seajay96]

No thank you. What happens if you're using the laptop shell on the go, and you get a phone call? Quickly save your work and rush to take the phone out of the dock all before the call goes to voicemail?

You apparently haven't seen any of the demonstration videos?

When it's docked, you get all of your phone's functions and apps in a window on the big screen, including making and receiving calls

 

[smiddlehurst]

I think the concept of the Atrix is hot. It's probably one of the only 1 or 2 phones I'd consider over the iPhone.

I think a lot of people are forgetting that docking the phone doesn't simply turn your laptop into being able to use the phone and vice versa but it gives you ALL of your phones usability through the laptop PLUS the usability of the laptop itself. All you need is to set the phone onto speaker or have bluetooth and you're good to go.

I have to do more research on the Atrix but from what I've seen it definitely is WORTH my time to look into.

See THAT'S something I have a major problem with. If I'm using a device like this it's going to be for work purposes, if I'm at home I'd MUCH rather have a dedicated device. Frankly most of my work calls can't be done on speakerphone and a lot of the time I'd much rather leave the room to take them as it can involve some very confidential stuff. With a setup like this I don't have that option unless I take the laptop with me as well. I'm also not a fan of bluetooth headsets as you're either wearing them all the time which is uncomfortable or have to put it on to talk which isn't exactly convenient when answering an inbound call.

Now I don't necessarily thing it's an insurmontable problem, the phone just needs to be easy to grab and instantly save your work in the background if and when it looses connection to the laptop. But it IS something that'll affect the real world useability of this device.

 

[125037]

I talk on the phone/text a lot while on the computer. No, thank you.