Continuing its yearly tradition, Motorola today announced plans to deliver the ROKR E8 to Academy Award nominees in the directing and four acting categories.

Motorola ROKR E8 More Photos View Specs

Each nominee received their ROKR E8 in a personalized, custom-made box. Keeping up with the latest red carpet trends, the ROKR E8 arrived encased in a keepsake box wrapped in an iridescent faux iguana print with a contrasting, textured inside. Female nominees received a fashionable fuchsia colored box (with a rose pink interior), while the male nominees received a cobalt colored blue (with a dusty blue interior) box. Each box was personalized with the nominee's name and category. The nominees also received the Motorola S9-HD headset, giving them a wireless music experience.

Using patented pending ModeShift technology, Motorola designed ROKR E8 to present users with only the controls they need, at the time they need them, transforming from music player to phone with the touch of a button.

When powered off, the surface of ROKR E8 is smooth, with no visible keys. Power on the device and it presents a virtual numbered keypad on the front surface. With one "press" of the virtual music key, the phone keypad disappears and control keys for the music player - play, pause, fast forward and rewind - appear in its place.

The ROKR E8 marks the debut of the new FastScroll navigation wheel, a variable-speed touch control that lets consumers scroll through content stored on the device. With a slide of the thumb, the wheel scrolls through music (music mode), contacts (phone mode), calendar (phone mode), or multimedia (imaging mode). With 2GB of internal memory and optional external memory up to 4GB, users can take their music wherever they go. Music transfers quickly with USB 2.0. The device is compatible with Windows Media Player 11 on the PC, which also provides access to more than 200 online music stores.

In phone mode, the ROKR E8 provides clear voice quality using Motorola CrystalTalk technology. The device can receive calls while downloading or playing music, text messaging, surfing the Web or taking pictures. A high-gloss front, aluminum soft back, spun metal side keys and engraved banding help make ROKR E8 stylish and durable.

Past gifts to Oscar nominees have included a Motorola RIZR Z3 in 2007, a Gunmetal Motorola PEBL in 2006 and a Black Motorola RAZR in 2005.

- Motorola ROKR E8 Specs