Basic Features
The Motorola MPx220 runs a 200-MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 1611 processor,
integrating an ARM926 core for application processing. Operating Windows
Mobile 2003 Second Edition OS, the MPx220 comes with a comprehensive software
suite including Pocket versions of Internet Explorer, Outlook, Media Player
9, MSN Messenger, and ActiveSync.
Released for the Cingular, the quad-band MPx220 is a world phone, operating
over GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz frequencies. Motorola rated the MPx220's
1000 mAh Li-Ion battery at up to 7.33 hours of talk time, and 10.8 days
(260 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
 Measuring
98 x 64 px, the external STN (Super Twisted Nematic) display shows up to
4096 colors. While bright indoors, the LCD monitor has trouble in direct
sunlight, a common problem associated with STN technology.
Conversely, the internal 2-inch TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen is
much brighter. Being TFT, the 176 x 220 px 65K color display is more vibrant
and clearer than the outer counterpart.
Being TFT, rather than STN, circuit transistors are placed directly on
the glass; technology allowing for faster refresh rates resulting from not
having to scan each pixel location. Ideal for fast changing applications,
the MPx220's internal TFT screen refreshes quickly when used as a camera
viewfinder.
STN does have its advantages though. In terms of power consumption, companies
prefer manufacturing external screens with STN technology; prolonging battery
life given that outer screens are used for frequent glancing at static text
information.
Audio
Using Windows Media Player 9, the MPx220 is transformed into a MP3 player.
By using a headset, users can download and listen to hours of music. And
with the miniSD expansion slot, extra songs can be stored on external memory.
Supporting 40 simultaneous chords, the MPx220 is capable of reproducing
melodic sounding ringtones. However, with the natural progression to "true"
tones, MP3s have slowly been becoming the new standard, which the MPx220
also supports.
Rather than MIDI, which plays musical notes through a local synthesizer,
MP3s are straight recordings from an audio source, resulting in an exact
duplicate of the recorded source. Music with lyrics, recorded voice, or
anything else users can play and record can now be turned into a ringtone.
Problems reported regarding weak earpiece volume were fixed with a recall
months back. Motorola upgraded the MPx220's firmware and the new version
sold today is sufficiently loud.
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