Camera

The VX8600 features a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder that can shoot 15-second 176 x 144 px videos for up to one hour. Both photos and videos can be viewed, set as wallpaper and sent to friends through via messaging.

Like other 1.3-megapixel camera phones, the VX8600's does an average job of capturing images, considering that the top end camera phones these days are touting as much as 3.2-megapixels. The VX8600 doesn't have a flash, so knowing how to improve the color quality of images with white balance and brightness features will help when taking pictures indoors or in low light situations. And when it comes to customizing photos and videos, the VX8600 only covers the basics with white balance options - Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten and Fluorescent - and five different color effects: Sepia, Black & White, Negative, Solari and Vivid.

Although there is no cropping tool to edit photos, there is an impressive 8x zoom, which is not available for photos taken in 1280 x 960 px, but otherwise varies depending on the size and resolution of the image. For videos, users can take advantage of a 4x zoom. Other photo options include night mode, a -9 to +9 brightness range, five different resolution options ranging from 1280 x 960 px to 160 x 120 px and a self timer for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Camera sounds include Shutter, Silent, Say "Cheeze" and Ready! 123.

In camcorder mode, the VX8600 takes 3G2 videos at 15 frames per second in 176 x 144 px for up to one hour, depending on how much of the VX8600's 24 MB of memory is already used. Users can also create and send 15-second video messages. With decent picture quality, videos can be viewed on the device in full-screen, but as for using the clips elsewhere, low resolution makes that difficult.

Overall, consumers can expect standard cell phone-caliber image quality from the VX8600. Like most camcorder phones on the market, video quality has yet to rise to the same level as still-image capturing.

Basic Features

Ensured call quality on the VX8600 is supported by a digital dual-band CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) 800 and 1900 MHz network. A platform found on more recent handhelds, CDMA technology allows a greater number of subscribers to share the airwaves.

The VX8600 also touts the high-speed EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) broadband network for quick downloads and streaming media. The faster bandwidth is definitely a plus for the VX8600, which has access to Verizon services like VCAST for downloading video, games, sounds and music.

Following in the footsteps of the Chocolate, the VX8600 also flaunts a Flash-based user interface in an easy-to-use wheel format that deviates from the typical menu interfaces that have come from Verizon.

The VX8600's basic features include a calendar, alarm clock world clock, notepad, calculator and tip calculator. The phone also provides touch protection - which prevents unwanted key actions - and standalone or airplane mode (RF Off), which allows use of certain features like games, music and memo pad on an airplane or anyplace where making calls or transmitting data is prohibited. In airplane mode, the VX8600 cannot receive calls or access the Internet.

Another noteworthy feature is the VX8600's simultaneous GPS, which enhances location accuracy and may be useful in the event of an emergency when location needs to be tracked.

Turning the device into a music player will require some extra purchases. Unlike some music phones, there is no stereo headset jack on the VX8600. Most of the VX8600's accessories, including Bluetooth stereo headset and microSD card for storing songs and other media files, are sold separately.

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