Motorola Krave-ZN4
Overview
This flip-phone has been compared to a little TV. Available through Verizon, it features a lot of media capabilities through a stunning, innovative design reminiscent of a sci-fi movie gadget.
Design
The design is futuristic and striking, especially for a TV phone with a touchscreen. This is mainly due to the clear, protective flip cover, which is unique because it allows access to some functions even when the phone is closed.
Features
Talk/Standby time: 250 minutes talk time/ 500 hours of standby time
Size: 130g
Dimensions: 51x105x19 mm
Display: 2.8" 240x400 65k TFT; flip resolution 240x320. (Flip open: 2.8", 240x400, 65k-color TFT LCD capacitive touch screen; flip closed: 2.4", 240x320, 65k-color TFT LCD capacitive touch screen)
Camera: 2.0 megapixel camera, Digital Zoom, Fixed Focus
Messaging: EMS, MMS, SMS, Email (BREW App) IM (Dwnld BREW), OW 7 (WAP 2.0), BREW 3.1.41
Audio: AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, AMR NB, MIDI, MP3, WMA v10, WMA v9
Video: Capture/Playback/Streaming, H.263, H.264, MPEG4, WMV v9
Memory: Up to 8GB microSD optional removable memory, 130MB user available memory
Battery: 950.00 mAh
Connectivity: Class 2 Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, 3.5mm, USB 2.0 HS
Bands/Modes: RF: CDMA EVDO 800/1900; CDMA 1X/EVDO High-Speed Data: 1xRTT, EVDO Rev 0
Data entry: Portrait-style T9 keypad/ a landscape-format QWERTY, both with slight vibrating feedback.
Access available to: V CAST Mobile TV, V CAST Music with Rhapsody, Visual Voice Mail, Mobile Email, HTML browser, streaming video
Overall
A very stylish phone, the Krave ZN-4 however falls short of many of the expectations attached to touchscreen phones. The innovative design featuring the clear interactive flip cover, which is composed of nearly invisible wire mesh that allows it to be a touch screen too, actually hinders manipulation and performance for many users.
The flip does allow the user to control music, TV and GPS apps through the cover, without needing to flip the phone open.
When opened, the flip turns into a floating earpiece in silver, with the Motorola logo displayed on it. Again, the flip hinders experience, as it decreases screen size when closed and doesn't exactly make things better when opened. It is supposed to show a high resolution color screen of 240 by 320 pixels when closed, and once opened, should reveal a full 2.8 inches. The opened flip adds 80 pixels and brings the total screen to 240 by 400. This doesn't translate exactly this way when videos are viewed on the Krave ZN-4's screen. On the positive side, however, the floating earpiece is sturdy and strong, even though it may look otherwise.
Another big beef with this phone is the fact that its operating software is rather old and basic, which doesn't really fit in with the innovative design of the device.
The clear flip also hinders the user when placing the phone in a pocket or purse, as commands can be accidentally activated through the interactive cover. A touch lock button is available on the side of the phone, but many flip phone users are not used to locking their keypads. The need to activate the lock, and then to deactivate it before use, may prove to be a nuisance for many.
The Krave ZN-4 does boast very good sound performance, both in-call and through media usage. On a functional level, the vibrator isn't really powerful though the ringtones are loud.
There is also an accelerometer within the phone which automatically re-orients the screen view when you move from portrait to landscape (vertical to horizontal) views.
Pros
- High resolution touch screen, very responsive
- Very good audio quality
- Very good GPS navigation
- Innovative design
- 10 TV channels accessible through Verizon V Cast Mobile TV, with smooth streaming though not in full screen.
Cons
- Inflexible camera. Photo size is available at 2MP only, resolution cannot be changed.
- Software that leaves a taste for more. Functional but featuring ageing apps.
- Accidental start of TV easy to trigger.
- Need to remember to activate and deactivate touch screen lock
- TV doesn't work well when hand-held, as it blocks antenna.
- Restricted access to full QWERTY keyboard - flip needs to be open and user can type only with right hand then.
Special mention
Innovative touch phone that features an interactive clear flip.
Conclusion
A good entry for Motorola into the touch phone market but still far from other phones in this arena, especially because OS and hardware don't seem to match.
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