Camera

While the Krave's 2.0-megapixel digital camera and camcorder are slightly better than average, the package lacks in common photo editing tools and creative features that can be found on most camera phones today. Because the Krave doesn't have a flash or brightness/color controls, photos and video should be taken during the day or in a well-lit room for optimum picture quality. There's also no self-portrait mirror.

What this camera phone does have is an 8x zoom, wide 240 x 320 px screen and unique slide show application that can be watched in the phone's landscape mode by turning the handset horizontally on its side. Krave supports MPEG4, WMV, H.263 and H.264 video formats. Files can also be transferred from the phone to a PC or other device, but the USB cable for that needs to be purchased separately.

While taking pictures or video with screen cover down, about a fourth of the LCD screen becomes blank due to the positioning of the phone's earpiece. Open up the phone and the blank space fills up with a queue of the most recently captured images.

The Krave shouldn't be compared to top tier 5.0-megapixel camera phones like the Sony Ericsson K850i and Motorola ZINE ZN5, but if users are looking for a phone with the basics, the Krave's gets the job done.

Basic Features

One of Krave's unique features is its visual voicemail application from Verizon. Using the touch screen, users can scroll through their voicemail inbox, click on the messages they want to hear or delete the ones they don't want. The Krave also comes with basic necessities including a 1,000-contact phonebook, calendar, notepad, calculator, alarm clock, world clock, tip calculator, icon glossary and text display in English or Spanish.

Special functions include passcode protection, a check for software updates, airplane mode, TTY mode for the hearing impaired, voice readout for keypad digits and voice commands for sending messages, calls and activating music playlists. The Krave doesn't come with any games, but they are available for download on the phone's web browser.

Add a personal touch to the Krave by choosing from a selection of wallpapers and 24 polyphonic ringtone options. Features like alert sounds, keypad volume and display backlight can also be modified to any preferences.

The Krave uses a 950 mAh battery with an impressive standby time of 500 hours (20.8 days) and talk time of 260 minutes (4.33 hours).

Verizon is selling the phone with a two-year service agreement for $179.99, after a $50 online discount. The package comes with a travel charger, 950 mAh battery and user guide. The Krave is reasonably priced, not too expensive and also not the cheapest touch screen phone in Verizon's lineup. Other similarly priced touch screen phones from Verizon include the Samsung Omnia and LG Dare.

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