Camera

The Xenon's 2.0-megapixel camera is activated by pressing the dedicated key on the bottom right side of the phone. Conveniently, this key also serves as the shutter key when the phone is rotated to the landscape position.

It has a flash, 2x zoom and full screen or full image viewing modes to shoot crisp photos and video with good color contrast.

Touching any spot on the viewfinder activates the settings icons to adjust the file size, zoom, brightness and effects.

Users can choose between four resolution sizes: 1600 x 1200 px, 120 x 960 px, 640 x 280 px and 320 x 240 px. For added artistic flair, it comes with five color effects such as monochrome and sepia.

The camcorder shoots video in 320 x 240 px or 176 x 144 px, and has settings for adjusting brightness, color effects and white balance.

Users can record up to 32 seconds to send over text message, or for as long as memory permits, with a 60-minute maximum.

The handset also comes with Video Share to view video during phone calls with friends who also have 3G, video-share-capable phones.

A photo album organizes images in a thumbnail library. A touch of the screen lets users send the photo or video as an MMS or email, crop and change the contrast and color, or add speech bubbles, text, effects and icons.

Compared to AT&T phones like the Samsung Impression's 3.0-megapixel camera or the LG CF360's measly 1.3-megapixal lens, the Xenon's 2.0-megapixel output is in the middle of the pack. It's best suited for users who like to snap occasional impromptu photos. But consumers who want higher-quality pictures for printing won't want to substitute the Xenon for their digital camera.

Basic Features

The Xenon offers a well-rounded list of basic applications for everyday usage. Users will find basic features such as speed dial, audio recorder, lock/unlock key, speakerphone, call waiting, caller ID, and call forwarding and message alert tones.

Travelers will appreciate flight mode, which continues to play music and games while disengaging the phone from the cellular network so that it doesn't interfere with the airplane's navigation.

The phone also serves as a personal organizer with helpful tools such as alarm clock, calculator, notepad, tip calculator, world clock, tasks, stop watch and unit converter.

Three customizable menu pages are easily navigated by touching any one of the icons from the home screen: contacts, shortcuts and a home screen that fits up to six widgets. Favorite contacts shows up on the screen as an icon, making calling, text messaging and checking messages quicker and more convenient.

The handset can also help find directions using AT&T Navigator. Users can tap or type in an address for turn-by-turn directions, maps and traffic updates. It requires a data plan and comes at an extra charge.

The Xenon also has a special multitasking button. Users just press the multitasking button while on a call or downloading data and a menu opens with a list of options. Even the iPhone, with its multiple applications, doesn't allow multitasking and requires shutting down a game to surf the Web.

The Xenon's address book holds 500 contacts. While this storage capability pales in comparison to other phones that can hold 1,000 names, each contact will store five numbers, two email addresses, and a picture ID.

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