We take a fond look back at the design classic that was the Motorola Razr. 130 million sales made it the most popular flip phone of all time. Seven years ago it was the best Christmas present you could hope to receive.

It has been almost seven years since I left the house without a mobile phone in my pocket. Seven years since I unwrapped a Christmas present from my wife and set eyes on the Motorola Razr. It was my first proper cell phone. My wife had an ugly blue thing that looked like a wireless house phone before then, but I had avoided getting a mobile on the grounds that I couldn’t be reached on the weekend for overtime requests provided I was out of the house.

The Motorola Razr was the first cell phone that I can remember seeing that kindled some desire. This phone was so stylish it was worth extra overtime. It was a sleek, black design with a dual display and it flipped open to reveal a futuristic nickel-plated keypad. It came in a black leather holster with Bluetooth accessories. The aluminum body felt reassuringly tough. It was also really comfortable to use – the fact that it flipped open and had a hinge in the middle meant that your mouth was naturally at the microphone and the speaker could be held to your ear, something that still feels odd on candy bar designs.

I eventually replaced it with a Nokia pic6131 (which was the first phone to have NFC), but while the Nokia is long gone, I still have the Razr. Even with the cracked front display and worn keypad, it still looks pretty good. I loved my Motorola Razr and I wasn’t alone.

Razr on the cutting edge

Before the smartphone and iPhone revolution, there was a period in time where the Motorola Razr ruled all. By the summer of 2006 Motorola had sold over 50 million Razr handsets and the manufacturer was continuing to churn out new variants with subtle improvements every few months. There was a hot pink version, new models to support GSM and EDGE, and various hardware improvements to the displays, the camera and the internals. The line would eventually account for 130 million sales at the end of its four-year run. That made it the best-selling flip, or clamshell, phone of all time.

The Motorola Razr was first released in 2004 and it wasn’t intended to be a mass market phone. It was a high-end fashion conscious release designed to show off Motorola’s skill and style. It cost around $600 when it first hit the market, but by the time I got one for Christmas in 2005, the price had come way down and Motorola had a massive hit on its hands.

Motorola’s monster

There’s no denying the Razr was a fantastic phone, although beyond calls and texting, the early versions were limited. The V3 had 5.5MB of storage and a VGA camera. You could send and receive email, and browse the web … slowly. For a feature phone it was actually pretty light on features so Motorola just kept adding to it while retaining the iconic design.

You could argue that the Razr’s success ended up hobbling Motorola because the company was afraid to move on to new designs. When the BlackBerry and then the iPhone started to take off in 2007 Motorola was still flogging the Razr and by 2008 it was definitely the proverbial dead horse. In fact, a 2008 report revealed that 24 percent of new iPhone owners in the U.S. switched from the Razr.

Motorola was slow to the smartphone party. A revival for the Razr brand in the shape of the V13 in November 2009 didn’t go as planned. It had a touch screen and a 5-megapixel camera, but demand for the clamshell form factor was gone and it wasn’t coming back. Increasingly big touchscreens were the new trend and Motorola had to get with the program.

It was back to the drawing board and the modern candy bar, Android smartphone, the Droid Razr came out in October 2011. It was a solid release, but all it really shared with the original was the Razr name and that didn’t prove to be enough to capture major consumer attention. Motorola Mobility was acquired by Google last summer and despite some good-looking devices with a focus on solving the battery life pain point, Motorola is lagging way behind market leaders, Samsung and Apple.

Remembering the Razr

The Motorola Razr V3 deserves its place in the pantheon of great phones. Not many phones break through that 100 million sales barrier, so to sell 130 million was a pretty amazing achievement for Motorola. That anodized aluminum body, just half an inch thick with gentle curves, was a true design classic.

Taking a look on eBay as I write this, I see that there’s still a bustling trade in Razr V3 sales. The top result is a pink, mint condition Razr V3 and 26 bids have pushed it over the $100 mark. Not bad for a phone that’s seven years old.

Check out our Motorola Razr V3c review from December 2005.

Digital Blend closes out the year with a look back at the best of what 2012 had to offer in under-$20 gaming.

This final Digital Blend of the year breaks format to bring you our best games in the under-$20 gaming from 2012. There’s little in the way of new releases in this post-Christmas week. And while the news is light, you should definitely take a peek at our interview with American McGee, creator of two Alice in Wonderland-themed games, the episodic series based on the writings of The Brothers Grimm, and the recent browser based game Akaneiro: Demon Hunters. Also take note of the fact that mobile developer Supercell – creator of Clash of Clans and HayDay - has officially overtaken Electronic Arts as the top-grossing iOS developer, thanks almost entirely to the daily $500,000 take that the studio sees from micro-transactions. The final bit of Blend-worthy news for this week: the Wii U will get its first taste of free-to-play in 2013 when Namco Bandai offers up Tank! Tank! Tank! with a free foundation and a pay-per-feature unlock system.

The Digital Blend focus will always be on the best in under-$20 gaming, but we’ll be pulling from a much more diverse assortment of offerings as 2013 unfolds. New hardware means changing systems; Sony and Microsoft have both already begun edging toward console-based F2P content, and the importance of that business model is likely to expand in 2013 as the next-gen dawns. Continually improving mobile hardware and new technology like the open-source, F2P-driven Ouya console only promise to further complicate the landscape for established competitors. Apple alone looms large as a constant game-changer threat; if the company put just one percent more effort into establishing itself as a force in gaming, it could potentially be a competitor.

That’s all in the future though. For now, let’s look back over 2012. So read on for our top picks of the year, broken down by content delivery system. 

Journey :: PlayStation Network

Journey‘s… err… journey is stunningly beautiful and immediately memorable. The graphics, the music, the anonymous multiplayer gameplay… every shred of this game drips with creativity and outside the box thinking. There were many great games released on PlayStation Network in 2012, both for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita platforms, but none comes even close to capturing the artistic flavor and sharp design of Journey.

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition :: Xbox Live Arcade

Minecraft was a bona fide PC sensation long before it made its bow on Xbox Live Arcade earlier this year. Give credit then to developer 4J Studios for capturing the essence of the ever-malleable original in a technical package that the Xbox 360 console can play nice with. Console Minecraft is not without its concessions, chief among them being a significantly smaller world size and a lack of feature parity with the PC edition. 4J has been great about delivering updates that add necessary features from the PC game. The UK-based studio also did a stellar job of making this very mouse+keyboard-friendly game an absolute joy to play on a gamepad. It may embrace a different set of strengths than its PC-exclusive predecessor does, but Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition delivers the same sort of highs while taking full advantage of Xbox Live’s exceptional multiplayer support.

TIE: FTL: Faster Than Light and Hotline Miami :: PC

The great thing about being in charge of a “best of” list is the ability to bend the rules when necessary. Thanks be for that, because you can’t force us to decide between FTL: Faster Than Light and Hotline Miami. Both are exceptional games whose principal joys stem from their sense of randomness. The emergent elements feel very different between the two games, but the result on the gamer’s end is the same: open-mouthed bliss. FTL accomplishes it through a never-ending supply of random obstacles that pop up as you keep your patchwork ship together while it zooms across the galaxy. Hotline Miami is much more about embracing the moment; the map layouts never change but enemy placement does. The most effective strategy is to simply nut up and carve out a gory path of destruction while relying primarily on reflexes and quick tactical planning.

Crashmo :: Nintendo eShop

Mallo is back! The late-2011 puzzle game Pushmo got a late-2012 refresh as Crashmo. The focus is largely the same, tasking players with pushing and pulling large blocks around an arena with the goal of creating a route that allows you to jump your way to the top. Crashmo stands apart from its predecessor for adding gravity to the mix. Blocks can now tumble down when there’s nothing beneath them, adding a significant wrinkle to the way you must approach each challenge. The physics aren’t always true-to-life, but this is a game that rewards those with the patience to trial-and-error their way through an assortment of puzzles. You’ll either hate it or you’ll lose so many hours playing that you’ll find yourself starting to frequently miss your bus/subway/commuter rail stops.

Angry Birds Space :: Mobile

The unfortunate truth is that there isn’t a mobile platform out there right now that is capable of competing with Apple’s iOS, at least when it comes to catering to the tastes of gamers. Android and Windows Phone both have different issues that they’ll need to tackle in 2013; Ouya and other gaming-dedicated devices will help the former while the continued proliferation of Windows 8 will help the latter.

With that caveat out of the way, let’s get back to celebrating. Rovio continues to sail along on the success of its Angry Birds franchise, but 2012′s Angry Birds Space proved yet again that there’s some intense creativity happening in the developer’s offices. Space takes the Angry Birds formula and evolves it for a range of zero-G, low-gravity, and airless environments. Those ideas further coalesced in Angry Birds Star Wars, but the evolved gameplay of Angry Birds Space is what nets it top honors.

The Walking Dead :: Multi-platform

Here’s a telling piece of information: We were tempted to call this feature “The Best Games of 2012 That Weren’t Called The Walking Dead.” So outstanding were Telltale Games’ efforts that it’s starting to feel like The Walking Dead is hogging all of the attention away from other, equally excellent and deserving games. Thousands upon thousands of words have been written about this revolutionary interactive narrative and its episodic execution. You know why you need to play it. You’ve probably played it already. So let’s all give it up one more time for Telltale: The Walking Dead elevates the medium, and it’s the best video game of this and many other years.

The Web can be a scary place when it comes to finding methods for downloading YouTube videos. Check out our how-to guide to help make downloading YouTube videos a snap so you can watch them whenever and wherever, free of an Internet connection.

It’s an understatement to say that YouTube is kind of a big deal. Since the launching of its first video in 2005 (the riveting “Me at the Zoo”), the site has grown to be a phenomenon, bolstered by its passionate community and accessed by hundreds of millions of people each day. However, how do you watch YouTube videos when you leave your network behind? Maybe you just absolutely need to watch the music video for “Gangnam Style” or Bieber’s “Baby” while on the go, without eating up all your cell phone data. Or maybe you just want to compile those cute, cuddly, can’t-get-enough-of-them cat videos for your personal enjoyment when your Wi-Fi is on the fritz.

Should you decide to trudge the grey area that is downloading YouTube videos for your untethered enjoyment, let us be your guide. Tempting? Yes. Legal? Not necessarily. Either way, here’s everything you need to know to about downloading YouTube videos.

Choose the software

While YouTube is undertaking a pilot project to allow content owners the ability to make their content legally downloadable for free or for a small fee, the bulk of videos on the website are not as fortunate. Luckily there are a handful of software programs – from popular browser add-ons to stand alone programs – that will allow you to download videos regardless of whether the content owner has made the video available.

NOTE: See disclaimer below for the legality of downloading YouTube videos.

Some websites, browser add-ons, and programs simply take the URL associated with a particular video and download the videos in their original Flash format (FLV). However, most will convert the files into a more accessible format such as AVI or MP4 so you’re able to play them in the media player or device of your choice. The following are some of our top contenders and suggestions for the ultimate YouTube video downloader.

aTube Catcher (Windows/Free)

This software shines among the arsenal of the free downloaders for multiple reasons. First off, it allows you to download videos from YouTube, Comedy Central, Dailymotion, Google, and a plethora of other sites with ease. Secondly, the videos can be directly converted into more than 20 formats, from WAV to MP3, all from within the program. The software also hosts a variety of other built-in features including a voice recorder, a screen recorder, and a DVD burner.  Oh, and did we mention the software is completely devoid of ads? That’s always a plus in our book.

MacX YouTube Downloader (Mac/Free)

MacX YouTube Downloader is one of the better downloaders exclusively for the Mac. The program is simple to install, navigate, and use. The default settings are great for beginners, but there is also a level of flexibility and customization that gives more experienced users a bit more to play with. The downloader is quick, efficient, and offers a variety of formats and resolution choices for playback on everything from Android phones to Apple iPads. It also sports a sleek interface as well as the ability to simultaneously download and preview multiple videos at once. It’s definitely worth a look if you tend to stray from Windows-based software.

Easy YouTube Video Downloader (Web-based/Free)

The Mozilla Firefox extension is the go-to option when it comes to video-downloading browser add-ons. While Google Chrome and Safari both offer similar extensions, Easy YouTube Video Downloader is the most integrated and straightforward. The download and conversion speed is admirable and the HD video download option is a nice a touch – not to mention the extension works right within the YouTube page instead of utilizing external software.

KeepVid (Web-based/Free)

There doesn’t seem to be a clear winner when it comes to video downloading websites, but KeepVid tries its best. The website is compatible with all standard browsers and allows users to download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Metacafe, and others. It also provides a variety of formats and quality options to choose from. The drawback? It’s a bit slow and chock full of commercial advertisements.

Check system requirements and download

This one is a no-brainer, but it can easily be overlooked. Once you’ve chosen the software you wish to use, make sure the system requirements are met before you attempt installation. Some only work for Windows operating systems. Some only work on Mac OS X. Be sure to do a quick check before you proceed.

Find that YouTube link

Most YouTube video downloaders simply want you to provide the URL address for the video you wish to download. Simply cut and paste or copy and paste the YouTube link in the specified field. Pasting the URL may not be necessary if a browser add-on has the download function built directly into the YouTube website.

Choose the format and quality level

Choosing a file format is a matter of personal preference as well as convenience. While those gorgeous, HD videos may look great on your tablet or smartphone, they will cost you a good deal more in space and download time. The bulk of YouTube video downloaders have a drop-down menu from which to choose a format type and quality level. Many programs also show the corresponding media players and devices associated with the different formats for further clarity.

For instance, if you want to download a video for your iPhone or iPod Touch, there is an option for “IPOD TOUCH/IPHONE MPEG-4 320×240” when downloading and converting videos using aTube Catcher.

Download and save

Now just click the download button and specify a place to save the resulting file. Some downloaders will save the converted file to a default folder they’ve created. Others will ask you where you would like the file to be saved. Just make note of where the end result is going either way.

Enjoy

Sit back and relish in your own personal copies of your favorite videos. Most will open automatically when they finish downloading. Others require you to open the file manually. From here, you can upload them to different devices or watch them directly on your desktop or laptop.

Disclaimer
It is generally legal to share and embed YouTube videos on the Internet, but downloading them for your own personal use offline is a different story. Downloading videos or using an external application to download videos that lack an official button or similar link is a violation of the YouTube Terms of Service and the video owner’s copyright. Proceed at your own risk.