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.

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