Motorola Defy

It runs on Android 2.1 with a 5 megapixel camera and a display of 3.7”. Motorola has a long history of creating stylish phones, and they have also dabbled in nature-resistant communication devices too, therefore it is not surprising that the reinvigorated company has introduced the Defy, a smartphone that’s robust for the active crowd. The reasons behind the durability of the Defy are simple; extremely tough Corning Gorilla Glass is used to protect the screen while enabling capacitive touch at the same time.

A quick peek around the device shows that the Defy has externally-placed Torx screws which hold the device together like an exoskeleton, unlike the internal frames of smartphones. The battery cover is lined with thick rubber and clips to the rear with a locking mechanism, and other ports and holes have rubber flaps to keep out dirt and moisture.

Overall, the weatherproofing of the device does not impede with its sleek design and we applaud Motorola for not sacrificing the Defy. It is still stylish to behold and yet resists submerging in water for over an hour as well as various drops and scratches we subjected the device to.

Although the Defy is released without Android 2.2, it does make up for the lost goodness of Froyo with its own specialized 2.1 apps and built-in features. Users will get to enjoy combined social networking streams using the MOTOBLUR’s unique blend of built-in widgets, Froyo-like wireless hotspot activation with the provided app and even advanced battery and APN toggling for longer battery life.

While other manufacturers are taking their time with Froyo updates for their existing devices, Motorola has at least lessened the initial upset of not getting the latest firmware with goodies such as these. The device even offers users DLNA streaming of media to one’s home theater system – something that’s absent in most 2.1 equipped devices at this price point.

There are many good things to say about the Defy, and even with its 800MHz processor which might exhibit limitations on some levels of Angry Birds, it works brilliantly well as a device which connects you to your online personae wherever you are (provided you have an unlimited data plan). Like all Android phones, there is a wealth of customization which can be had at one’s whim, especially when you have a generous number of seven home screens.

While the Defy offers so much more than a regular Android 2.1 device, it also comes with classic Motorola quality performance with crystal-clear sound quality and a surprisingly good camera. The dual microphones embedded into the device drastically cut wind noise and other background influences while accentuating the speaker’s own voice at the same time.

It also allows users to enjoy extended battery life with the battery manager – our device managed two days on a medium drain cycle with push notifications switched on. All in all, the Defy simple surprised us with its tenacity in displaying one of the best Éclair performances ever. Although late to the party, it is an apt swansong to that particular version of Android, especially when Gingerbread is close at hand. @701panduan