Screen

Consumers probably expect the VX8300 to come with an excellent screen since it's one of Verizon Wireless' video streaming devices, and fortunately it does. Dual color displays bring the VX8300 to life.

Built from OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology, the external screen does not require a backlight to function. Drawing far less power than traditional LCD technology, the downside of OLED screens is washed out color in direct sunlight.

Displaying 65K-colors, the 96 x 96 px screen conveniently shows frequented information such as battery charge level, signal strength, date, and time for up to 6 lines of text. The external screen also doubles as a viewfinder when closed in Camera Mode, but unfortunately is incapable of displaying text.

On the other hand, the internal screen is built from TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology, providing unmatched clarity, brightness, and speed at the expense of power consumption. Necessary for the imaging required to watch streaming videos, the 262K-color 176 x 220 px screen is bright and clear for video applications and camera functionality, also displaying 10 lines of text for comfortable text message viewing.

Both color screens are exceptional, offering an ideal combination of power consumption and image quality. Since consumers frequently glance at static information on the external screen, an OLED display seemed intuitive, prolonging battery life in exchange for fast refresh rates. Meanwhile, the internal screen compromises power for brightness and clarity to provide one of the best LCDs on the market to fully enjoy VCAST streaming videos.

Audio

As one of the main features, the fully-functional MP3 player is wonderfully integrated into the design of the VX8300. Offering music controls directly on the front panel, Rewind, Play/Pause, and Forward Keys allow music listeners to conveniently skip through tracks.

Capable of storing songs on TransFlash memory cards, the VX8300 can take full advantage of Verizon Wireless' VCAST Music Store. Combining the immediacy of over-the-air, full-music downloads with the ability to move a digital music collection between a Windows XP PC and the phone, the new service lets customers browse, preview, download, and play music directly on the VX8300 or online. VCAST Music also allows customers to take digital music already downloaded to their PC and sync it with the VX8300 via USB cable.

Supporting handsfree stereo audio, the VX8300 includes a headset jack to allow users to listen privately without disturbing others. But to share the music, dual speakers located on the ends of the hinge provide an excellent open-air listening experience.

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