High-end 4G Android smartphone is so speedy it wants to power your laptop

Motorola’s Droid Bionic is a high-end smartphone with 4G LTE connectivity, a dual-core processor and the ability to transform into a laptop thanks to a "revolutionary" Webtop Application.

It has a front-facing VGA camera and a rear-facing 8 MP camera, 1080p video recording, peer-to-peer gaming features for multiplayer games, HDMI mirroring, a 4.3-inch qHD screen and the ability to connect to HD TVs in 1080p.

A couple of apps make the phone stand out from the crowded shelves of Android devices. The Motorola ZumoCast "delivers nearly instant access to remote files on your personal or work computer with no uploading or syncing," so users can stream or download music, videos and pictures on their PC without having to hook up with cables.

The Webtop app turns the smartphone into a laptop when paired with Motorola’s "Lapdock" - a laptop shell with an 11.6" screen, a full keyboard, a HD Station with three USB ports that uses the Droid Bionic’s brain - or media dock when paired with a portable HD adapter.

Connecting the smartphone with either of these devices lets users surf the web with a full Firefox browser or play HD movies on a big screen while they simultaneously take a call or play with apps on the phone.

Motorola is not the only smartphone maker that thinks your handset should power your laptop. Korean telecommunications company KT unveiled its Spider Phone prototype during last week's IFA expo.

Like the Droid Bionic, the Spider Phone connects to and provides functionality to a laptop shell but KT has taken the concept further by crafting a tablet PC and gaming console kit that can be paired with the handset.

The Motorola Bionic was first unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show in January, where it was a big hit with attendees but nine months down the track is the device still on track to wow consumers?

According to noted technology journalist Joshua Topolsky, "It’s a handsome device with a sturdy build and has more than enough horsepower to keep you happy through the immediate future. But can it best the iPhone 4, or even offer a better experience than other 4G phones on Verizon’s network? In my experience, not really."

While the handset may race ahead of the pack when it comes to speed, the Droid Bionic’s high-end features come with a high-end price of $299.99 on a two-year contract.

The Lapdock will set you back a further $299.97, a HD Station will cost $99.99 and the Webtop Application is priced at $29.99.

The Droid Bionic goes on sale in the US on September 8 through Verizon Wireless.

http://shop.verizonwireless.com/?id=Droid%20Bionic