Camera
Featuring a built-in 1.2-megapixel camera, the Motorola MPx can capture
images at up to 1280 x 960 px; high enough in resolution to reproduce decent
prints. Other resolution sizes include VGA (640 x 480 px), QVGA (320 x 240
px), QCIF (176 x 144 px), QQVGA (160 x 120 px), and SQCIF (128 x 96 px).
For dim and low light conditions, the MPx includes a LED-based flash
located next to the lens on the front cover. When Camera Mode is activated,
the internal screen acts as the viewfinder with the lower portion displaying
useful information such as resolution, storage path, and available memory.
Controls displayed along the lower right portion of the screen adjust
the 4x Digital Zoom, while slider bars fine-tune Brightness and Contrast
levels. Additional camera features allow users to control Mode Option (Timer,
Burst), and White Balance (Automatic, Night, Fluorescent, Incandescent,
Sunlight, and Cloudy). Post-production tools allow simple editing such as
rotating, resizing, and cropping photos, adding text, or overlaying fun
frames. Unfortunately the MPx lacks video recording capabilities
Basic Features
 Running
off a 195-MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 733 processor, the MPx operates under
the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition OS, including Pocket versions of
Internet Explorer, Outlook, Media Player, MSN Messenger, and ActiveSync.
Depending on the region, the MPx comes in two GSM frequency versions:
850 / 1800 / 1900 MHz in North America, and 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz in Asia
and Europe. Being both tri-band, the MPx is compatible with GSM networks
in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Rating the MPx's 980 Li-Ion battery at 3 hours of talk time, and 4.3
days (103 hours) of standby, actual times will be slightly less. When handset
manufacturers and cell phone carriers list talk time and standby time ratings,
they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer
to the times they publish as maximum times.
Screen
Featuring a 96 x 64 px 256-color STN (Super Twisted Nematic) external
display, MPx users can conveniently glance at useful information such as
battery level, network reception, date and time, incoming caller ID, and
view new text messages.
 Additionally,
advanced functions can be accomplished with the use of the three buttons
underneath; allowing users to perform useful operations without ever opening
the MPx. Users can change profiles, adjust music level, customize the external
screen's wallpaper, select ringtones, and play and record voice messages.
Due to the MPx's reduced size, the internal touch-sensitive display is
slightly smaller than standard smartphone LCDs; measuring 2.8-inches diagonally
rather than the usual 3.0 to 3.5-inches. Horizontal and vertical viewing
modes are automatically compensated for depending on which hinge is used
to open the MPx. At 320 x 240 px resolution, the 65K-color TFT (Thin Film
Transistor) screen is bright and clear outdoors, unlike the external LCD which
appears faded in direct sunlight.
Image quality rendered by TFT screens, rather than STN, are brighter
and more responsive due to circuit transistors placed directly on the glass;
technology allowing for faster refresh rates resulting from not having to
scan each pixel location. However, STN screens do have their advantages
as well. On external LCDs, STN displays consume less power prolonging battery
life; preferred when static frequently used functions are needed such as
text information.
< Prev Next
>
This article is Copyright 2002-2008 Mobiledia Corp. and the review in
part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed
medium without prior permission from Mobiledia. For information on
reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please
contact us. |
