Flipout
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Panasonic's G95 is a do-it-all hybrid mirrorless camera
With the release of the Lumix G95 (the G90 in Europe), Panasonic continues to build cameras that appeal equally to photographers and video shooters. The hybrid mirrorless camera packs a 20.3-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor with an all-new Venus engine and 5-axis in-body stabilization. It can shoot at 9 fps, or 6 fps with continuous autofocus, and record 30 fps 4K video or 1080p video at up to 120 fps.
Motorola Charm and Flipout follow CLIQ XT's lead, get stuck in the past
Look: we've seen enough Honeycomb ports to the G1 to know that even the jankiest Android hardware can be kept current -- manufacturers just need to want to do it badly enough. In Motorola's case, it seems they don't want it very badly -- at least, not in the case of the quirky Flipout and Charm. Just as the CLIQ XT got stuck on 1.5, the two diminutive QWERTY models are going to be topping out with the Android 2.1 that they've got now; Froyo upgrades aren't in the works, according to Moto's official software update page. We're sure that the decision whether to invest the time, energy, and money into an update for a particular model comes down to the number of customers affected; neither of these devices seem to be blockbusters for their respective carriers, so that could explain it. Not much consolation to owners, though, is it?
Screen Grabs: Someone named Jesse McCartney uses his Motorola Flipout to stare at some poor girl's backside
Pop musicians have been endorsing products as long as they've existed (who could forget Beatles toothpaste, Ricky Nelson hand sanitizer, or Enrico "The Great Caruso" Caruso-brand horse polish?), but for some reason the convergence of the two never fails to amuse (and annoy) us. Even more so when sensible boy band yelper Jesse McCartney, um, flips out his Motorola Flipout Android phone to surreptitiously film some hard working dancer's backside. Is that how a celebrity should act? We think not! Video after the break (if you really want to, that is).
Motorola Bravo, Flipout and Flipside hands-on: hastily handled and summarily shot (video)
Looking for a new Android form factor on AT&T and don't mind a bit of BLUR? Motorola's got you covered, with the mid-range Bravo, low-end Flipside and budget Flipout you see immediately above. We spotted the trio of Android 2.1 devices at CTIA 2010 and had to give them a try, and though none really impressed they've got some interesting designs. You won't hear us clapping for the $129 Bravo, as it's basically a pared-down Defy -- the same 3.7-inch WVGA slatephone, but with a fixed-focus three megapixel camera and without the ruggedized outsides. Meanwhile, surfers, skaters and virtual keyboard haters could possibly enjoy the $80 Flipout and $100 Flipside. The former's got the same sort of irresistible, pocketable style that made Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP an instant hit half a decade back, arguably even more so than its inspiration, though as you'd imagine the 2.8-inch QVGA screen and other Charm features leave much to be desired. It's a painfully slow, low-res experience for those used to serious smartphones. Though the Flipside throws in a decent landscape keyboard and an HVGA screen, they don't help much when it's got the exact same silicon and yet another iffy three megapixel shooter inside. Still, the wonderful thing about the internet is that you can look before you buy, so feast your eyes in galleries below and videos after the break! %Gallery-104590% %Gallery-104592% %Gallery-104593% Sean Hollister contributed to this report.
AT&T debuts trio of Motorola Android phones: Bravo, Flipout and Flipside
Looking to get an Android device on AT&T? Then you're soon going to have a few more options to consider -- the carrier has just announced three new Android-based phones from Motorola. Those include the touchscreen-only Bravo (not to be confused with the HTC Bravo), and the QWERTY-equipped Flipout and Flipside, all of which will ship with Android 2.1 and the latest version of MOTOBLUR. Of the three, the Bravo is the highest-end, with it packing a 3.7-inch 854 x 480 display, an 800MHz TI OMAP 3610 processor, a 3-megapixel camera, and DLNA support for media streaming. The Flipout and Flipside, on the other hand, each pack a 720MHz TI OMPA 3410 processor, the same 3-megapixel camera, and a 2.8-inch QVGA and 3.1-inch HVGA screen, respectively. Somewhat notably, the Flipside also boasts a surprisingly large trackpad, which AT&T says will let you navigate with one hand while keeping your fingers off the screen (though it does, in fact, have a touchscreen). Look for the Flipout to be available first on October 17th for $79.99 on a two-year contract, while the Flipside and Bravo should be each available before the holiday season for $99.99 and $129.99, respectively. P.S. - We just heard from a trusted source that the Bravo and the previously-leaked Kobe are, in fact, one and the same. Nice to close that thread, then. %Gallery-104311%
AT&T-branded Motorola Flipout released... on eBay
You might not be able to score a Flipout in AT&T stores just yet -- in fact, AT&T still hasn't fessed up to the fact that it's coming -- but if you've got $388 and a can-do attitude, you can still grab one. The swiveling Android set in full AT&T livery and packaging has shown up on eBay for $388.88... which, ironically, is probably less than you'll pay off contract once it officially launches. There appear to be a few available at that price, so let us know if you pull the trigger. [Thanks, Jon]
Motorola confirms Flipout is coming to US in time for the holidays
Responding to our earlier note that Motorola's unusual Flipout hadn't launched on the rumored date, the company has reached out to us today to say that it's "expected to be available in the US before the holiday season." So yeah, that would definitively quash any thoughts that the phone may have been spiked by AT&T, but it still leaves us a pretty big window of potential dates -- any time between now and Thanksgiving would seem like prime launch territory. Moto wouldn't comment on what carriers would be getting it, but as we mentioned, all the leaks and rumors so far point squarely at AT&T; they certainly haven't shied away from Motorola Android devices with strange form factors in the past, so we'd still expect to see it there. More on this as we have it!
What happened to AT&T's Motorola Flipout?
Remember the Sony Ericsson K850 debacle? AT&T had commissioned a branded version of it, sent promotional materials to stores, and -- at the last possible second -- mysteriously changed its mind, leaving the 5 megapixel candybar dead on arrival. We can't imagine canceling a device that late in the game is cheap; contracts are probably broken, packaged retail devices need to be destroyed, and new clumps of gray hairs on the heads of product managers need to be dyed. Well, it's a little too early to declare that the Motorola Flipout has suffered the same fate, but this is a telling sign: after a rumored release this weekend, corporate-owned retail stores were apparently just instructed to destroy the literature they've received for the device. Sure, it's possible they'll send updated literature closer to a new launch date, but it's not looking good. More on this situation as we get it. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Motorola Flipout coming to AT&T this weekend, Windows Phone 7 gear on October 17?
We've just taken delivery of a fascinating (as opposed to Fascinating, we suppose) list of rumored upcoming launches on AT&T, so let's flesh 'em out. First up, we're apparently getting the Motorola Flipout and the LG Neon II this Sunday; the Flipout has been rumored for AT&T delivery and the Neon II is an obvious replacement (which Rogers has already launched) for the aging Neon, so that all makes good sense. Next up, RIM should contribute the BlackBerry Pearl 3G and Curve 3G on October 3rd alongside a device called the Laser from Pantech. October 17 is where things really heat up, though: we've got the Motorola "Bravo" and "Flipside" (we don't know what either of these are, but we can pretty safely assume they're Android offerings) along with the "Patek" and "Universe" from Samsung. Given the date's proximity to the presumed Windows Phone 7 launch, we'd argue that at least one of these is likely the Cetus or another Microsoft-powered handset to kick off AT&T's dive into the platform. So, who's lining up for the Flipout this weekend? [Thanks, Nawaid]
Motorola Flipout makes North American debut with a Rogers exclusive
In another case of Canadians getting things ahead of their southerly neighbors, the Motorola Flipout has made its journey across the Atlantic and settled on Rogers as its first North American carrier. 3-year contractual commitments will be greeted with a lowly C$30 charge for the phone, or if you can't bear the thought of being locked in for so long, you can buy the flipping thing outright for C$375. As a quick reminder, the Flipout runs on Google's Android 2.1 OS, but embellishes things a little with a freshened up variety of the Motoblur UI. If that, together with the "hip to be square" form factor, sounds like your slice of pie, we suggest you head on over to the source link and put those Canadian Dollars to good use. [Thanks, CoconutCheez]
Motorola Flipout preview
We know you're excited -- the Nokia Twist finally has a legitimate competitor in the square-shaped pseudo-smartphone space! Motorola snuck up on us with its Flipout unveiling yesterday, so today we diligently trudged along to its local offices to get properly acquainted with this new Android handset. Running version 2.1 (Eclair) on a 600MHz processor might seem like a recipe for trouble, but it's the same Cortex A8 (TI OMAP 3410) as used in the Droid, and our time with the little quadrangle revealed it could handle itself with aplomb. The Flipout also boasts a freshened up Motoblur implementation and 512MB of both RAM and ROM, but only 150MB for user storage -- time to bring on Froyo, eh? With interchangeable back covers (two will come in the retail box) and that handbag-friendly form factor, the Flipout is unashamedly flirting with being a phone for style-conscious lady-geeks, but let's see if it doesn't appeal to gruff old types like us as well. Join us after the break for our full hands-on impressions.%Gallery-94308%
Motorola Flipout official: Android 2.1 and enhanced Motoblur coming to Europe in Q2 2010 (video)
Motorola's quirky square-shaped Android 2.1 creation has just become official, courtesy of the company's YouTube channel.The Flipout brings a 2.8-inch, 320 x 240 screen (Kin killer!), a 3 megapixel camera with "one-touch" uploads to Facebook, MySpace and photo-hosting sites, and a refreshed implementation of Motoblur, which now includes resizable widgets, feed filters, and push corporate email. We hear that last feature is a real must-have with the target audience of this device.Video of the Flipout can be found just after the break, and Euro readers can expect it imminently, as the listed Q2 2010 launch date basically means it'll be out by month's end. Wonder how they'll price a curious creature like this. Update: Our pals at Recombu got a quick hands-on with the Flipout, and... it's a square Android phone. Video after the break. Update 2: We've come across a more comprehensive spec sheet on Moto's dev site, which lists AT&T- and Rogers-compatible 3G bands, make of that what you will. [Thanks, Martin]
Motorola Ruth / Flipout leaks again, due in June?
We're still not quite sure to make of this odd little square of a Motorola, but it certainly looks like it's coming our way soon: Italian site Zumo says the Ruth (or Flipout, as we've seen it called) is actually the Moto MB511, and it's due out sometime in June. We're also told that it'll have WiFi, GPS, and a memory card slot, but that's pretty par for the course -- what we're really curious about it how this thing actually works in person. We'll just have to wait and find out.
Motorola Flipout spotted: an Android 2.1 / Motoblur device with a twist
Remember "Square Motorola Android slider?" Ah, those were the days. The little twister's returned, this time with much greater clarity and a new name. Meet Flipout. According to Gizmodo Brazil, we're looking at Android 2.1 with a dash of Motoblur thrown into the mix, a 2.8-inch display, full QWERTY keyboard, 700MHz processor, 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM, GPS, and a 3.1 megapixel camera. The HSPA phone is expected in the states this June in at least three different colors -- black, green, and pink. Backflip, Flipout... one can only hope Motorola keeps the trend alive with a Soundgarden-themed solar phone, the Outshined.
