Motorola Moto-RIZR Z8 Review

Motorola RIZR Z8 Specifications:-

• General:-
  Announced:-2007, February
  Status:-Available.
• Size:-
  Dimensions:-109 x 50 x 15 mm, 77 cc
  Weight:-112 g.
• Display:-
  Type:-TFT, 16M colors
  Size:-240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches
  - Screensavers and wallpapers,- Downloadable logos.
• Ringtones:-
  Type:-Polyphonic, MP3
  Customization:-Download.
  Vibration:-Yes.
• Memory:-
  Phonebook:-Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
  Call records:-Practically unlimited
  Card slot:-microSD (TransFlash).
  - 77 MB internal memory- TI 2420 multimedia processor, 300 Mhz
• Data:-
  GPRS:-Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
  HSCSD:-No
  EDGE:-Class 10, 236.8 kbps
  3G:-HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
  WLAN:-No
  Bluetooth:-Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
  Infrared port:-No
  USB:-Yes, v2.0 miniUSB.
• Features:-
  OS:-Symbian OS v9.2, UIQ 3.1
  Messaging:-SMS, EMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
  Browser:-WAP 2.0/xHTML
  Games:-Yes.
  Colors:-Black
  Camera:-2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video(QVGA), flash; secondary VGA videocall camera
  - Java MIDP 2.0,- MP3/AAC/AAC+ player,- T9,- Organizer,- Calculator,- Built-in handsfree,- Voice memo.
• Battery:-Standard battery, Li-Ion 1030 mAh (BK70)
  Stand-by:-Up to 380 h
  Talk time:-Up to 5 h.
• Price:- 299$ approx Rs 9,000 – 12,000/-
• Out-of-this-world design, head-turning exterior, non-touch Symbian UIQ, excellent multimedia equipment. We’re testing a Motorola kick-slider!
  With the RIZR Z8 Motorola is creatively revisiting the realms of Symbian UIQ. Except for Wi-Fi, the handset offers full data connectivity, perfect display and high-capacity memory card support – all packed in a sexy black slider.A high-end multimedia device, the RIZR Z8 offers a few unique features: it’s a UIQ 3.1 and yet a non-touchscreen handset, plus the kick-slide form factor is a true show-off. Almost all is staked on multimedia with this phone, so much so that the improvements offered by the enhanced RIZR Z10 model are limited to the imaging: a 3-megapixel camera and xenon flash.
• Slide and bend
  The RIZR Z8 is currently available in black only, but market success will surely bring out alternative color versions. To not let the subdued conservative black smother the dazzling personality of this handset, designers chose to perk it up with a fluorescent green trim, which goes well with the interface background.
  Luckily, most of the surface is matt – the only troublesome areas are the display and the mirror-like coating on the back. This designer solution would be welcome by many. The slick KRZR is a lovely sight but how long will it stay clean? With the Z8, wiping the screen and the back every now and then will keep it as good as new.
• Typical Motorola
  On the left side there’s a threesome of identically sized and shaped buttons. The upper two are the volume keys, beneath them is the dedicated video-call button. The decent stroke and adequate response hardly make up for the almost zero touch orientation. The keys are flush with surface and even you feel your way to them, it’s hard to guess which one is which. Below this three-key layout is the microSD card slot protected by a rubber cover. The RIZR Z8 supports cards of up to 4GB capacity.
• Handling the phone
  The solid feel and nice resistance of the sliding mechanism are worth commending. The slider is firm and secure in both open and closed position, no irritating wobbl

  es. The bend hinge is a different story: even with the slider closed it will still fold over, causing a visible rift between the display and the keypad. Other than that, the hinge seems sturdy enough, not too loose or shaky. The question is how it will put up with a few months of intensive usage.
  Though frankly driven by looks for the most part, the slide and bend action does have some purpose – it addresses the typical slider disproportion and makes the handset more ergonomic in calls.
  At the top of the slider we have the VGA video-call camera, the earpiece and the handsfree microphone. Beneath them is one of the Z8 true goodies: the 2.2″ TFT display of 16 million colors and QVGA resolution. Brightness can be adjusted in seven steps and a screensaver is activated upon a set interval.

• Connecting with the world
  The Z8 is an above average performer in terms of connectivity – GPRS, EDGE and HSDPA – it has it all. The only prominent absence is Wi-Fi. We can’t help the feeling that the ignoring of Wi-Fi is an ill turn for Motorola.
  Short range connectivity is courtesy of Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and AVRCP (remote control) support. PC connectivity is available through the supplied miniUSB cable, the connection modes available are modem, phone management and Mass Storage with the memory card inserted. In this mode speed varies from 750 KB/s for writing to 830 KB/s for reading. A card reader seems the better option for putting stuff on your memory card as the read/write speeds are way faster. The battery can be charged off the USB cable.
  USB charging is hassle free however bear in mind that the Motorola Z8 is incompatible with some miniUSB chargers. A closer inspection of the supplied charger revealed that its output is lower – 850 mA instead of 1 A. In case you have a charger of the second type at hand, be warned that it’s not to be used with your Z8.
• The basics
  The main menu displays as a nine icon grid or a list, with all items freely rearrangeable. Filling the contact list is quite straightforward upon a PC connection. The way contacts display can be set by first and last name, or company. When adding a new entry you don’t have to go through all the available fields (more than 50 of them).The Time application displays local and world time, and offers three alarm slots. Tasks, notes and a calculator are available in Z8 too, along with a File Manager and a voice recorder.
• Camera:-
  The Z8 has a main 2 megapixel camera and a secondary VGA unit for video calls, which can also be used for taking pictures. The maximum image resolution available is 1600×1200 pixels. To take pictures with the primary camera, the slider has to be closed. Sliding the handset open activates the secondary VGA unit.
  The process of operating the camera is quite straightforward, but it would’ve been way better to have the main unit operable with the slider open and the keypad available for quick access to the settings.When taking pictures with the main camera, the interface is in landscape mode, with the soft keys used for choosing the desired settings.The left soft key is used for entering the settings menu, which will disappear upon confirmation leaving a number of status indicators at the bottom of the viewfinder (showing storage, picture size and quality, camera mode). The Z8 camera offers the usual set of features: four color effects, self timer, several white balance presets, adjustable shutter sound, picture size and picture quality settings. Video is recorded in 3GP format at a maximum QVGA resolution. There are three video size options.
• Staying on multimedia, the music player supports the AMR NB, XMF, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC Enhanced and MIDI formats. MP3 are played with variable bitrate, though handling files of higher than 320 kbps is problematic. The music content is automatically arranged in the library, tracks are sorted by artist, album and composer. The player can be minimized to run in the background and controlled with the volume rocker, the D-pad and the dedicated player key, which functions as play/pause. The now running track is displayed on the home screen, including running time indication.
• Conclusion:-
  The Z8 is based on some great novelties, but the implementation of the concepts is far from perfect. The choice of platform is most questionable when it comes to compatibility with third-party applications. Maybe the good old Windows Mobile or even Symbian S60 could’ve been the more straightforward choice. Though on a second thought, Motorola are deliberately evading positioning the Z8 as a smartphone.
  It is more than obvious that the RIZR Z8 is fit enough to cater to the taste of the style minded, but on the other hand it could get easily buried in the multimedia niche.
  On a different note, the Z8 deserves credit in quite a number of aspects. The splendid display is the most obvious starting point, the high-end data capability follows suit. The high-capacity memory card support and the stereo Bluetooth give it enviable music player abilities. Let’s not forget the brand new interface, which healthily departs from the old Motorola looks and questionable user-friendliness.
  Two things are unique about the Z8 – the kick-slide form factor and the non-touch UIQ platform. A smartphone of the least conservative looks, the RIZR Z8 is easily a class-in-its-own niche product. And then, pressure on it is coming from all ends – non-smart feature-packed handsets and smartphones alike.