Basic Features

The Rapture incorporates a number of standard features alongside its multimedia functions and stylish touch-screen exterior display.

The intuitive navigation menu can be changed to tab, list or grid view. It also includes programmable shortcuts. Basic features include keypad lock, speakerphone, vibrate mode, appointment calendar, calculator, tip calculator, alarm clock, world clock and notepad. For those who like to personalize, the Rapture can be tricked out with personal wallpaper, screen savers and downloaded ringtones (as well as offering a choice of 24 ringtones and various wallpaper and themes in its default library).

For multi-taskers or the visually-challenged, a function called "voice readout" sets the phone to speak aloud when you press keys, and announces the ID's on incoming calls. And for keeping track of friends, the Rapture's 1000-contact phone book has room for up to five phone numbers per entry and includes the option to add a photo and designated ringtones for each individual.

Beyond the basic features, the Rapture delivers multimedia content and provides a number of options for staying connected, including SMS, MMS, web-based POP3 email and Mobile Web 2.0. For tunes and video, the phone delivers Verizon's VCAST downloadable offerings. For a price, gamers can download a steady stream of titles by connecting to Verizon's Media Center. The phone also includes the option of subscribing to the VZ Navigator for on-the-go navigation, maps and local search.

The Rapture also offers two audio options users can access quickly by pressing a dedicated key on the top right spine of the phone. Closed, this key is the voice-command key, which gives users options for not only placing calls, but opening up any application on the phone. When the clamshell is open, this key becomes an audio recorder which produces audio files of phone calls, notes or conversations.

The Rapture is Bluetooth-enabled for quick file transfers and the option of using a Bluetooth enabled stereo headset. Up to 8GB of optional microSD card can be added to the memory slot. The phone operates in dual-band, dual-mode CDMA 800 / 1900 or high-speed EV-DO.

The 950 mAh Li-Ion battery provides a 270 minutes of continuous usage time and 470 hours of standby time.

Screen

The Rapture features both an external, 1.6-inch, 65K-color TFT exterior touch screen and a bright, 2.2-inch TFT (Thin Film Transistor) interior screen with 262K-colors. TFT screens use advanced circuit technology that refreshes quickly and allows for fast-changing applications. At the same time, what the screen delivers in clarity and color it makes up for in battery consumption, which results in frequent charging.

With the clamshell closed, press any of the buttons on either side of the phone and the dark screen lights up to reveal a color, touch-sensitive, exterior screen measuring 1.6-inches, or 120 x 160 px. Without opening the phone, users can take pictures, play music and make voice-activated calls. The exterior display also shows signal strength, status indicators, battery life, time, date, an optional personal greeting, and numeric caller ID when there's an incoming call. One thing about the outside screen is certain to annoy you: It automatically goes to sleep after seven seconds. There's no way to change this feature, which means that the user must constantly refresh the backlight by pressing one of the buttons on the side of the phone.

At the bottom left corner of the screen, a music icon takes the user to the music player menu. The Rapture's vibrating feedback lets the user know that the player has been activated. Line menu options appear for choosing songs, playlists or shuffle mode. In the bottom corners of the screen, arrow keys move the highlighted line selection up or down. An "OK" button in the top right corner of the screen selects the text and an "X" button closes the player.

Pressing the camera icon on the bottom right corner of the screen switches on the phone's 2.0-megapixel camera. Again, the phone will vibrate to alert the user that it's changing modes as the exterior screen transforms into a viewfinder. Symbols appear in each corner of the screen for zooming in and out, toggling between portrait and landscape modes, and exiting the viewfinder. One note to users: the touch-sensitive screen isn't extremely sensitive and requires several seconds of pressure before switching to camera or music player mode. The phone will start to vibrate but it won't switch modes immediately. If you press the music or camera icon too quickly, a message appears: "Press and hold to activate."

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