Motorola Backflip spotted in the wilds of China
By Darren Murph 
posted January 31st 2010 11:14PM
posted January 31st 2010 11:14PM
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posted January 31st 2010 11:14PM
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I really don't understand the benefit of having on the back the keyboard. Although it does look rather interesting.
@Astrobiology waving goodbye
Maybe it is somehow more sturdy than a slider (hinge vs sliding mechanism) or perhaps it lets the device be thinner.
Think about the droid sliding mechanism, it is not really that great. Maybe this is a way to have bigger keys and a better (larger) layout while avoiding the use of a bad slider mechanism.
Those are my theories. Of course I could be wrong and it could just be because it looks cool and works well enough. :D
That's one huge keyboard, or one tiny screen.
@Astrobiology waving goodbye
I had the chance to play with this phone a few weeks ago. It's actually pretty sweet and the build is solid. The keyboard works real well too.
the only issue with it is that it's running blur on 1.5 and the specs on the phone are nothing to write home about.
Huh, no separate articles for processor type and speed, or accessories, or comparisons to other devices? What about 5 different editorials each telling us the exact same things and extolling the virtues of it? No? Really? Cause that's what I gathered Engadget would be doing from now on based on the past week of articles.
@Musicman247
We can berate Engadget all we want, but in the end they still get the traffic/ad revenues and couldn't care less about your annoyance with them -- until you stop reading all together.
@Evan
Thanks for the insight! You sure showed me. ;-)
But seriously, why even respond to my comment? Doesn't that make you the same as me for posting my comment berating Engadget? I will continue to speak my mind whether or not people berate me for it. That's what make the First Amendment so great! We can speak out about whatever we want!
Do I really care if Engadget posts a bagillion articles on the iPad and Apple? Not really, because it makes me laugh seeing all the comments (pro and against)! Do I have a right as an Engadget reader to voice my opinion? Yes, that's what the comment system is for. Will I stop reading Engadget just because they pay extra special close attention to every drop of sweat that falls from Steve Jobs' forehead? No. I value their opinions on all things tech, and remind myself to take a grain of salt when they report on Apple.
In conclusion, my post was meant as satire, which I thought I pulled off pretty well. I thank you for responding, giving me the opportunity to vent even more, and hopefully show that there ARE some level-headed non-fanboys out here in Engadget Land who just like to poke fun at our Engadget overlords every now and again. :-)
@Musicman247
Wow, that post makes me sound like an ass now that I read it again (up until the last paragraph at least). Sorry. Did not mean to come off as sounding so hostile. Meant it mainly as a chiding remark.
@Astrobiology waving goodbye One of the things that interests us MOST is that physical QWERTY keyboard on the back. When the keyboard is open a touchpad on the back of the phone is revealed which allows you to easily scroll through webpages and apparently it works very well slightly thinner, slightly shorter both length and width, and lighter than the G1. Hmm, that's more like it. backflip Details: http://bit.ly/moto-backlip-details-best-worst
@Musicman247
God damn do you little boogers ever shut up. Are you trying to be a part of the "cool" crowd and complain about everything?
@frederick52785 did you even read his second comment? One sentence into yours and I can already tell you're trying to be a hero. "Why don't you boogers stop complaining and help me clean the white horse I rode in on."
@Astrobiology waving goodbye
It allows for a larger keyboard. (Think about it, a sliding mechanism is always gonna take some space (or a shit ton of it, in the N900's case), this flip mechanism doesn't have that problem.)
The only thing good about this form factor is that it allows for video calling.
@B3astofthe3ast
thats a good point. it also gives you a big space for qwerty though.
Is it magical???
@moggyx
Try typing on a droid! That keyboard looks great...
@pickleJar oops... reply fail - that was meant for Markydore
@moggyx
Inorite, it's gorgeous, unbelievable...
the keyboard doesn't look like its great to type on.
@Markydore I disagree, it appears that they made up for the close spacing of the keys by inwardly-curving them. This makes them probably feel further apart, in a way that doming them probably wouldn't.
Thats cool, they even have a nexus two concept on their site. Looks very nice and official too, similar to the droid.
@robindahoods
Wow. Engadget linked to a site that in a lot of ways currently out classes this site. Smooth.
It looks... Fake. Like it's not real.
@HardToBelieve
Agreed. I feel all KIRFy when I look at it.
As much as I want an HTC AT&T Android phone, I wouldn't be upset for having this phone.
I looked at the features and what it can do and I must say, its pretty cool and better than it looked like.
If HTC somehow doesn't deliver for me, this would be my fail safe
Daaang, China always gets all the good stuff first...........
Phones.........computers...........communism......
@GenericMessage communism will come to amerika hehe :P lol, know it's in socialist way with obama lol
But the upsides, its got a big keypad, and thats nice, even if it looks stupid
The more full keyboard android phones we get, the better
omg another Motorola Post ZOMG
/end Sarcasm
im digging all these wild designs out of moto lately.
@NoOrdinaryMSFT That's why I've bought tons of Motorola stock recently. They're bound to hit a home run with one of these phones.
@choffy21 You meant to do that before the Droid, right?
No thanks iPhone only $49.
Or motorola $630.. Wonder what will sell.
@logic thinker
thats with out a Contract bud.
@logic thinker You only think that because you pay the rest to AT&T as part of your monthly fees. iPhones would like be in the $300-500 range unlocked.
@YpoCaramel
iPhones are MUCH MUCH more than $300-500 for the latest one, new, unlocked.
on topic though yeah for a slide out keyboard this may actaully be better the Droid less bulkyer anyway I wanna see what this looks like when the keyboard is not out then id think about.
@Yankfan81
As thick as an LG Shine I THINK
Just going by an image I saw and comparing it to my LG Shine
I'm been over keyboards for 3 years now. They're so 2006. Do away with them already. Archaic n has no desirability.
@logic thinker Please shut up. I hate that phone companies are trying to make buttons obsolete, typing on a touchscreen (in its current state and for the forseeable future) just does not compare.
@Sabrage Thank you! I'm just so tired of these high end non touchscreen phones without keyboards. Touchscreen-only is simply not practical.
The translation of the headlin on the sourcelink is:
Motorcycle sales in the first somersault phone ME600 licensed 3998 yuan
forget the backflip, I want a somersault phone.
i thought that was a kirf for a second. moto, where did the droid design team go?
Wait, no comments about iPad? WTF Engadget? Where's the Apple love?
lol jk ;)
More than 4000 is definitely a price that could not be accepted by the mass, even those love smartphones...
But it is rare, even weird to see a phone made its first wild appeareance in China... Believe me. The price will get lower soon.
The Milestone sells as much as 4000 in China. There is no piont that the Backflip has the same price. Except that it is new.
@(Unverified) I agree. Nexus One and Milestone are $4000-4500. The backflip needs to go down in price, fast.
Doesn't having TWO screens make this thing a lot more expensive to manufacture?
@Cheesus Crust Indeed. And the Backflip only has one screen, that particular bit of insight has no relevance here.
@Cheesus Crust It has one screen...the keyboard flips from the back to the front, as does the camera which is on the lower left of the keyboard. So there's only one screen, and one camera as well although since the camera is on the keyboard it can face forward or towards you.
Keypad looks awesome!!!