Motorola Defy... "waterproof/dustproof" smartphone

[ollster]

Just thought some of you may find this interesting...

http://apcmag.com/defy-you-to-break-mot ... -phone.htm

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/09/an-ou ... rola-defy/

Win:
Blue tick approved
Waterproof
Dustproof
Gorilla Glass screen
Android
Comes with Swype

Fail:
Motorola... bleh
Motoblur skin is a bit rubbish
Telstra installed crap-ware ("crapps")
Only Android 2.1 at the mo' (WHY?!)
Encrypted bootloader, so no custom ROMs. Big fail.

[Son of a Beach]

hmmm... if I could buy one outright (with no Telstra ties or ads), and it had a more recent version of Android (or could be upgraded to it), I might consider that for my next phone - although I'm unlikely to get a new phone for a while yet.

[ollster]

hmmm... if I could buy one outright (with no Telstra ties or ads), and it had a more recent version of Android (or could be upgraded to it)

A lot of people imported unlocked HTC Desires from Handtec and others in the UK... No doubt the Defy could be imported, but probably not with full NextG compatibility (850/2100 MHz). We shall see...

Moto are a bit slack in the upgrades dept, one of the reasons I'm not a fan. That's another reason why I don't like the encrypted bootloader, the Android community is quick to provide custom ROMs (including updates before the telecos release them) when given a chance, but unless someone cracks the bootloader it's not possible. I certainly loved my Desire 10x more when I rooted and T-Modded it, it felt like "my" phone.

[Liamy77]

thats enough of that talk ollster... this is a G rated site! and so long as you have no follow-up questions, YES i understood every word of what u did

[ollster]

thats enough of that talk ollster... this is a G rated site! and so long as you have no follow-up questions, YES i understood every word of what u did

...thinking about what I wrote... yes, I could see how understanding could arise (not misunderstanding...).

[Liamy77]

despite my best efforts understanding still pops up from time to time
i like your new signature btw (he says ... off topic)
well worded

[sthughes]

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/369167/just_how_waterproof_motorola_defy_/

Hmm tempting

[ollster]

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/369167/just_how_waterproof_motorola_defy_/

Hmm tempting

Mmm. The question is, of course, do the claims stack up? Seems they might.

[north-north-west]

Impressive. Especially as my old Motorola died after being spending about five seconds in a bit of damp grass.

[sthughes]

Got one today. Seems pretty good,I quite like Android and it's customisability, though I can see why non-techheads might prefer iOS stuff. The Defy has a pretty rubbish camera and the GPS is a bit slower to aquire than an iPhone4 in my short experience so far. Otherwise I'm very happy, nice and light, not too thick (though a little thicker than an iPhone 4). Can use it as a wirless hotspot, which is brilliant! Already blown 40% of my monthy 1GB data in one arvo

[sthughes]

Wow I'm stoked with this thing! Okay the camera ain't great and the "keyboard" is somehow harder than an iPhone (or am I just used to my giant iPad?), but otherwise I'm very happy

What I just discovered is an app called OruxMaps. Think BitMap for Android, and so far it works great! I've uploaded a couple of Ozi Explorer maps (after an easy conversion process) and it works like a charm! Full topo maps on a water resistant touch screen device, my dream has come true! Now if only it ran on AA batteries It even supports an external Bluetooth GPS (though I'm yet to test this) and a heart rate monitor as well!

Ooh and the LED flash works great as an emergency torch too

Now if they just gave it the camera from the Nokia N8 I'd be delirious with excitement

[ollster]

Have you been using swype the easy it's supposed to work rather than tapping on it? Once you learn how to "swype", and it learns how you type it's much faster than a regular predictive keyboard.

[sthughes]

Ha ha yeah! I tried that and it is great, but with my rubbish knowledge of where the keys are on a qwerty keyboard I find it kinda hard, cause my finger covers half the keyboard and I can't see where to go next.it would be great for people who can touch type, and not bad in landscape mode where you can still see most of the keyboard. Even using the normal keyboard it does seem to guess your misspelt words better than ios.

Typed using swype, slowly!

[ollster]

It did take me a week or two to get used to, and it does sorta require "thinking" about the pattern of the word rather than what keys you want to tap, and so a different approach to typing. Once I got used to it and did some speed/accuracy "tuning" to my style then it's been brilliant.

Bear in mind there are other keyboards you can install and use like Swiftkey, Thickbuttons, etc. so there's plenty of choice.

[sthughes]

Im pretty quick with the multi-touch keyboad (using both thumbs) so i also find being relegated to one finger in swype a tad tireing. Haven't tried any other optional keyboards yet, but ain't it great you get a choice!

[ollster]

Im pretty quick with the multi-touch keyboad (using both thumbs) so i also find being relegated to one finger in swype a tad tireing. Haven't tried any other optional keyboards yet, but ain't it great you get a choice!

Fair call, I've always been a "portrait" typist, so I find swype a great improvement over T9 keyboards. Yes, choice is good. "Magical", one might say.

[Lizzy]

Any updates on this phone??? am thinking I may have to one day join the 21st C & get a smartphone....
Cheers
Lizzy

[sthughes]

Still great. Only complaint is I have broken the bit of plastic over the camera lense somehow. Must be a tad fragile in that department
Otherwise it is really good. Worked well on my last Bushwalking using Orux Maps. Can be a tad laggy at times compared to an iphone, but nothing to bad. I really like it.

[sthughes]

Just a quick update with two little niggles:
- Have had a few issues with the phone freezing and requireing me to remove the battery to make it go again (luckily easily done, unlike some phones). Maybe just some app I am running, but no clue really, seems random.
- sometimes (usually after using the included headset) the phone stops recognising when you plug in other 3.5mm headphones etc. Requires a full restart to make it work.
Otherwise still happy. Now using Swype as Android is very portrait centered and many apps dont work/work well in landscape.

[walkinTas]

Thanks for that. I have been trying to decide between a new iphone and a defy for a while (well since Christmas). I had the freeze problem on the iphone too.

[sthughes]

After a couple of recent kayaking trips I can confirm the Defy is indeed able to stand up to water immersion. I put it in a snap lock bag in my PFD pocket and during the trip I came out of my boat (sit on top) twice. At the end of the paddle although my pocket was largely dry, the snap lock bag had leaked and the phone was conveniently sitting in a bag of water I pulled it out and sent a couple of text messages. The UI tended to get a bit confused by the wet touch screen so the phone wasn't really usable until I had wiped the water off the screen, but then it was business as usual.

It also has superior reception to an Iphone 4 which the guy I was paddling with had with him (well had in the car at the end of the trip at least). While I showed 3 bars and sent 2 text messages no problems (didn't try calls), he had no service at all.

Hasn't frozen lately either. It may have been the AVG antivirus software I was using.

Very happy, but do wish the alarm was still loud when the ring volume was turned down/muted. Same goes for the iPhone though

[ollster]

The UI tended to get a bit confused by the wet touch screen so the phone wasn't really usable until I had wiped the water off the screen, but then it was business as usual.

Capacitive screen = electrostatic and use the electric field of human skin to sense the contact, hence they don't work with gloves on or under water (not that I've tried!). Resistive is the main alternative, usually on cheaper/older devices. Requires pressure on the screen. So if you're taking your phone diving, make sure you get resistive.

[Son of a Beach]

It also has superior reception to an Iphone 4 which the guy I was paddling with had with him (well had in the car at the end of the trip at least). While I showed 3 bars and sent 2 text messages no problems (didn't try calls), he had no service at all.

I've not tried the iPhone 4, but I've found the iPhone 3 has better reception that other phones I've used (which is not many) when 3G is enabled (and a 3G SIM is in use). Did he check to see if he had 3G enabled? I usually disable 3G on the iPhone, as it uses more battery power than GSM/EDGE, and I very rarely need it (in fact, have never needed it so far). I also used the 3G iPhone with a non-3G SIM for a long time. It's unlikely to be the cause in your friend's case, but worth checking.

[sthughes]

Yeah he ws running (or trying to) NextG. Knowing him he wouldnt even know what you mean by 3g/2g/gsm, so unless the Telstra Shop turned it off oiginally then it would have been on. I'll check sometume though.
Must also compare it to my Ipad too. I know the data is faster on the Defy than the Ipad, but it's so rare to get out of nextG reception around here that its hard to check!