| Motorola MPx220 |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 850 / Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 / Gsm 1900 |
| Announced | 2004, 1q |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 100 X 48 X 24.3 Mm, 99 Cc |
| Weight | 110 G |
| Display |
| Type | Tft, 65k Colors |
| Size | 176 X 220 Pixels, 8 Lines, 31 X 39 Mm |
| | - Second Display Cstn 4096 Colors (96 X 64 Pixels)
- Downloadable Wallpapers And Screensavers |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Polyphonic (40 Channels), Mp3 |
| Customization | Composer, Download, |
| Vibration | Yes |
| Memory |
| Phonebook | 1000 Entries, Up To 44 Fields, Photo Call |
| Call Records | Yes |
| Card Slot | Minisd (512 Mb Max), |
| | - 64 Mb Total Memory, 32 Mb User Accessible, 25 Mb Free |
| Data |
| Gprs | Class 8 (4+1 Slots), 32 - 40 Kbps |
| Hscsd | No |
| Edge | No |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, V1.1 |
| Infrared Port | Yes |
| Usb | Yes |
| Features |
| Os | Microsoft Smartphone 2003 |
| Messaging | Sms, Mms, Email, Instant Messaging |
| Browser | Wap 2.0/xhtml, Html (pocketie) |
| Games | 2 - Billiards,skipping Stones + Downloadable |
| Colors | Silver |
| Camera | 1.3 Mp, 1280x960 Pixels, Video, Flash |
| | - Ms Pocket Outlook, Media Player
- Mp3/mpeg4 Player
- T9
- Sync Ml
- Voice Command
- Built-in Handsfree |
| Battery |
| | Standard Battery, 1000 Mah Li-ion |
| Stand-by | 140 H - 260 H |
| Talk Time | 5 H - 7h |
|
Motorola - MPx220As the latest addition to the Cingular smartphone line-up, the Motorola MPx220 succeeds the popular MPx200. Powered by the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, the mobile variant of the desktop OS, much of the functions are similar to the Audiovox SMT5600.
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With comparable personal information management (PIM) functionality, the Motorola MPx220 features over-the-air access to Outlook Calendar, Inbox, and Contacts; allowing one-touch synchronization between corporate e-mail through Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and third-party middleware providers.
Design
The MPx220's design has a high-tech futuristic appeal. Its clean lines, metallic casing, and sleek and refined finish will surely attract attention both in the club and in the boardroom. At 100 x 48 x 24 mm in size, the MPx220 is a bit larger than the MPx200. However, weighing at just 115 grams, it's significantly smaller and lighter than the Treo 650 and BlackBerry line.
As a clamshell form factor, the exterior features an outer color display allowing users to quickly glance to see who's calling without opening the phone. The speaker grill is located below the screen; used during handsfree access and music playback. While the lens and flash of the integrated 1.2 megapixel camera sits along the bottom, allowing convenient access to capture photos of business and personal encounters.
When flipped opened, the brilliant 176 x 220 px internal screen is revealed, capable of displaying 65K colors. A slightly oversized directional keypad is flanked by the Home, Back, and Left and Right soft keys, used for convenient shortcut navigation. Below the Home and Back keys are the Talk and End keys respectively. In the dark, a faint blue glow illuminates the recessed numeric keypad, used with iTAP predictive text input for trouble-free messaging.
Against the left side contains a 2.5 mm headset jack, volume keys, and power button. While the right side features a built-in infrared port, dedicated camera button, and miniSD card slot; for when the MPx220's internal memory runs out. Connection ports for charging and synchronization are located on the bottom.
Out of the box, the Motorola MPx220 comes with a standard 1000 mAh Li-Ion battery, mini-USB data / sync cable, AC adapter, and a companion software CD including Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Microsoft ActiveSync 3.7.1.
Camera
Gone are the days of the 0.3 megapixel 640 x 480 px photos. When pictures are needed to save a thousand words, the Motorola MPx220's 1.2 megapixel camera is able to capture images at up to 1280 x 960 px in resolution; actually high enough in quality to reproduce prints. Other resolution settings include 640 x 480 px, 320 x 240 px, 174 x 144 px, 160 x 120 px, and 128 x 96 px.
When taking pictures, the internal screen becomes the viewfinder; with the lower portion displaying useful information such as resolution, storage path, and available memory. The directional keypad controls the 3x Digital Zoom (Up / Down) and Brightness Level (Left / Right). And should users want to be included in the shot, closing the MPx220 activates the external monitor viewfinder.
Additional camera features and controls include image correction (Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Saturation, White Balance), ambience settings (Auto, Sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Night), multi-shot, and self-timer. Post-production tools allow simple editing such as rotating, resizing, and cropping photos, adding text, or overlaying fun frames. Encoded in 3GPP codec (H.263 and AMR) format, video clips take advantage of MPEG-4 for delivery of video and audio.
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.
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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.
Messaging
Rather than the more popular T9 predictive text input, the Motorola MPx220 uses iTAP. While essentially similar, small nuances may turn T9 loyalists away. For true multimedia capabilities, the MPx220 also supports MMS (Multimedia Message Service); allowing users can attach photos and video taken with the built-in camera, sound, and time-based sequencing.
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Users can chat with friends and family by logging onto MSN Messenger. Similar to the desktop version, users can now contact their buddy list from anywhere in the world. For convenience, "My Text" allows a library of words to be added, so frequently used phrases can be sent with a single tap.
Entertainment
Powered by Windows Mobile 2003 SE, the MPx220 comes preinstalled with a suite of familiar features. A wide range of software allow consumers to access PIM (Personal Information Management) and email functionality through Outlook, surf the web through Pocket Internet Explorer, listen to music and play video with Windows Media Player 9, and connect with friends and family with MSN Messenger.
"Pocket" versions of the recognizable Windows desktop-based programs offer familiar access and synchronicity to productive tools including Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, Outlook, and Windows Media Player. Other applications include ActiveSync, Calculator, Calendar, Contacts, Games, Java MIDlet Manager, Messaging, Tasks, and Voice Notes. A file viewer for Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents are included.
Store and find addresses, phone numbers, and other personal contact information through Contacts. Or for the sake of convenience, enter them with a keyboard on a PC and synchronize the MPx220 with Microsoft Outlook.
Use the Calendar and To-Do List to organize busy lives; synchronizing meeting requests and task lists with Outlook via ActiveSync or beaming appointments from one device to another via infrared. Or glance at the day's schedule for the entire month, week, or day, or mark a task complete; all at the touch of a button.
Two preinstalled games come on the MPx220: Jawbreaker, and Solitaire. Jawbreaker is a puzzle game where the object is to clear out all the balls on the screen, while Solitaire needs no explanation.
However if users tire of those games, the MPx220 also supports Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME); allowing users to download and install Java games and applications. Being the most popular platform for Java MIDlets, there are an abundance of applications and games already out on the market. Skipping Stones and Billiards comes preinstalled on the MPx220.
Multiple POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP accounts are supported for email configuration with third-party servers. Pocket Outlook is included as well, allowing users to synchronize through ActiveSync with desktop email. Additionally, users of Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Mobile Information Server can easily access information remotely as well.
The MPx220 supports voice recognition software as well. VoiceSignal software provides speaker-independent voice command functionality, all without speech training. Users can launch programs, dial numbers, and lookup contacts by using just their voice. Unfortunately, VoiceSignal only works well in quiet environments, so it is more of a novelty than practical application.
Internet
The Motorola MPx220 supports WAP 2.0 with GPRS Class 10. Featuring Microsoft's Pocket Internet Explorer, the MPx220 allows users to go beyond conventional phone surfing by supporting HTML; giving consumers the ability to browse, shop, or trade online.
With added security functions, the MPx220 helps protect online shopping and corporate data by supporting SSL, WTLS and PPTP.
Storage
Containing 64 MB of flash memory, approximately 32 MB of free space is available on the MPx220's internal memory, while 23 MB of RAM ensure programs will load quickly. Should users require more memory, the MPx220 supports miniSD cards expandable up to 512 MB through a built-in card slot located on the side.
Connectivity
Featuring IrDA and Bluetooth, the MPx220 can synchronize with devices wirelessly. Although Bluetooth is restricted to 10 meters, the limited range prevents interference between its peripheral devices and those belonging to other people nearby.
The MPx220 also includes Microsoft ActiveSync, allowing users to synchronize their information by connecting to a PC or server via the supplied USB connection or over the air. Once connected, ActiveSync will automatically synchronize the MPx220 with Outlook Calendar, Contacts, and Inbox with the attached desktop PC. And if one isn't close by, management can be done through Windows Mobile's over-the-air synchronization to keep users up-to-date while on the go.
Conclusion
Motorola has improved the MPx220 over the MPx200, providing quad-band technology, improving battery life, adding more internal memory, and upgrading many software features with the addition of Windows Mobile 2003 SE. And with the chrome finish and sleek shape and size, though slightly larger, the overall design improves aesthetic appeal as well.
The MPx220's fast 200-MHz OMAP 1611 processor ensures fast loading programs and multitasking capabilities for maximum productivity. And the suite of applications available combined with the J2ME platforms give consumers access to a wide variety of productivity tools and games.
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However the quality of the camera is lacking. Although better than most, the 1-megapixel camera fell short compared to similar cameras on other models; having color accuracy problems and haloing along the edges. Another issue regarded the ergonomics and the usability of the oversized keypad.
Still, the large color screen and multimedia capabilities ensure the MPx220 will be a hit with a broad segment of consumers. Being an all-in-one package, the Motorola MPx220 is worth considering from the business user and road warrior, to the tech savvy at heart. |
| Common misspellings on this brand: jotorola |
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