Well, this gadget is easy to set and use MotoBlur widget-based UI. Responsive touchscreen. Finger-friendly onscreen keyboard. Integrated 3.5mm headphone jack. Decent selection of downloadable apps. Apart from recently flirting with the luxury handset scene with the intriguing Aura swivel phone, Motorola’s post-RAZR phone line-up has been decidedly sparse and unremarkable.

Turning to social networking mania and the Android OS for inspiration, its latest handset, the DEXT, is geared to put Moto back among the smart phone big boys. Unfortunately, Motorola’s first compelling handset in aeons doesn’t get off to a good start. The DEXT comes from the T-Mobile G1 school of prosaic design; a tad disappointing considering Moto’s RAZR and Aura heritage. That said, it’s not entirely humdrum as the G1, with curvaceous edges and silver trim to provoke some emotional response.

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