Motorola's Latest Linux Smartphone: the A780

Motorola A780Motorola's A780 is the company's latest Linux smartphone that sports improvements over the previous A768i such as a 1.3 megapixel camera, a TransFlash memory card slot, support for EDGE networks, and even a keypad on the front of the flip cover. It is also a quad band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) world phone. On paper, the A780 looks like a very promising phone, but does it deliver?

Physical Aspects

With its flip closed, on the front of the A780 there is a window that allows you to see 4 lines of text from the main touch screen, which is well protected beneath the flip cover. The Motorola logo at the top is where the speaker is, and you can listen to calls with the flip closed, which is great news for people who generally do not like flip phones. Alerts and ringtones also emanate through the same speaker. The numerical keypad is placed on the outside of the flip as well, and below it is the navigation joystick, next to the power and home keys. The fact that the screen has to be viewed through the window makes it almost impossible to be viewed under sunlight, though. The screen just isn't bright enough to shine through the window, which was quite annoying.

Users of the A768i will find the availability of the keypad on the front flip cover a welcome feature, as it just makes typing SMS or dialing much less of a chore when compared with using a touch screen with a stylus or one's grubby fingers. However, the keypad was difficult to type with in general. The keys were stiff, and it took quite a lot of force just to register a keypress. I didn't like the placement of the navigator joystick at the bottom of the phone, either. It just made things inconvenient and cumbersome - especially if you have small hands or, more specifically, short thumbs. I didn't have much trouble with the joystick, but there were times when I accidentally pressed it in when what I intended to do was to flick it downwards.

On the left side of the phone there is the rocker switch, a voice recognition key, and the battery cover release key. On the right side you'll find the camera button that allows you to activate the camera and take photos even with the flip closed. On top of the phone is where the Transflash memory card slot is, protected by a rubber cover. On the bottom you will find the headphone jack and the USB port that is used to charge the phone and also to connect the A780 with a PC. The back houses the 1.3 megapixel camera lens and self-portrait mirror. The stylus silo is found on the top left corner of the back cover.

Flipping open the cover is easy and can be done single handedly since it is fitted with a spring mechanism. This is where you are greeted with a 240 x 320 touch screen display, capable of displaying 65K colours. The screen is bright, suitable for use indoors, but under sunlight, it takes some effort to make out the display unless the screen brightness is set at 100%. However, colours are reproduced beautifully, and the QVGA resolution makes fonts smooth, with no apparent jaggedness, and pictures sharp and beautiful. There is also an earpiece on the flip cover so you can talk on the phone with the flip open. Flip phone zealots will appreciate the smoothness and definitely the coolness factor when flipping open the phone to answer a call.

Overall, weighing in at 141g and measuring 106 x 53 x 24 mm, the Motorola A780 is a stylish looker clad in silver and black. It is definitely smaller and lighter than a Treo 650, and very solidly built. The battery cover was tight and there were no squeaking or creaking to be found anywhere on the phone.

 

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