| Motorola PEBL U6 |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 850 / Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 / Gsm 1900 |
| Announced | 2005, 1q |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 86.5 X 49 X 20 Mm |
| Weight | 110 G |
| Display |
| Type | Tft, 256k Colors |
| Size | 176 X 220 Pixels, 9 Lines |
| | - Second External Monochrome Display (96 X 32 Pixels)
- Downloadable Wallpapers, Screensavers |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Polyphonic (24 Channels), Mp3 |
| Customization | Composer, Download, |
| Vibration | Yes |
| Memory |
| Phonebook | 1000 Entries, Photo Call |
| Call Records | 10 Dialed, 10 Received, 10 Missed Calls |
| Card Slot | No |
| | - 5 Mb Internal Memory |
| Data |
| Gprs | Class 10 (4+1/3+2 Slots), 32 - 48 Kbps |
| Hscsd | No |
| Edge | No |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, V1.2 |
| Infrared Port | No |
| Usb | Yes |
| Features |
| Messaging | Sms, Ems, Mms, Email, Instant Messaging |
| Browser | Wap 2.0/xhtml |
| Games | Yes + Downloadable, |
| Colors | |
| Camera | Vga, 640x480 Pixels, Video |
| | - Push To Talk
- Java Midp 2.0
- Mpeg4 Player
- T9
- Calendar
- Voice Command
- Voice Memo |
| Battery |
| | Standard Battery, Li-ion 820 Mah |
| Stand-by | Up To 250 H |
| Talk Time | Up To 6 H 40 Min |
|
Motorola - PEBL U6Introduction
Lately Motorola has relied on its design team to achieve success, releasing eye-catching devices which defy tradition. Gaining market share when Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Sony Ericsson have all posted loses, Motorola continues to push the envelope, crafting radically new form factors to achieve a reaction few manufacturers have lucratively attained, desire.
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Setting off a new wave of innovation, not through technological advances, but through aesthetic design, the new Motorola PEBL U6 hits T-Mobile stores this month. However, straying from the iconic RAZR, Motorola took the bold move to release, not an ultra-thin device, but an equally dramatic handheld without corners or edges, shaped by nature and inspired by the feel of a stone worn smooth by water.
Captivating the clamshell-stale consumer-base with never-before-seen, yet simple concepts, the PEBL features a vertical external display and unique dual-hinge mechanism for effortless, one-handed opening. Offering an array of communication options, including Bluetooth wireless technology, integrated speakerphone, and speech-activated dialing, the PEBL combines usability and function in a one-of-a-kind design.
Design
The PEBL's exterior seems to go against popularity, dismissing everything that made the RAZR a best-seller. Thicker and rounder than average, the 87 x 49 x 20 mm device is about the size of a credit card (86 x 54 mm), a bit larger than its moniker suggests.
Highly-polished, the PEBL's metal casing is wonderfully elegant, highlighted by a uniquely elongated monochrome LCD. Incredibly stylish, the external screen takes some getting used to, awkwardly displaying time (broken up into two lines), battery strength, and reception status. Also integrating a VGA camera, the lens below ensures consumers never miss a moment, capturing photos up to 640 x 480 px in size.
Volume Keys on the left adjust earpiece and ringer volumes during calls and standby times, while a Smart Key performs likely shortcuts to follow (such as selecting a menu item after it has been highlighted).
A Voice Key along the right records and initiates voice messages and dialing commands. And a mini-USB port within the top edge allows consumers to synchronize with a PC, also doubling as the charging port.
Using just one hand to slide down the top cover, a unique responsive mechanism opens the PEBL, revealing a brilliant 262K-color internal screen. Exposing an unorthodox "wave" keypad layout, users can text message through iTAP predictive input.
Out of the box, the Motorola PEBL U6 comes with a Standard 820 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Earbud Headset, and User Manual.
Camera
Activating the PEBL's integrated 0.3-megapixel camera, the internal display becomes the viewfinder with the lower portion showing available memory and user options. Unfortunately falling short the market standard, the PEBL's camera is outdated compared to high-end camera phones now progressing past 1.3- to 2.0-megapixels.
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Only capable of capturing images up to 480 x 640 px (High) in resolution, other picture sizes include 240 x 320 px (Medium) and 120 x 160 px (Small). The PEBL uses the JPG file format for approximate file sizes of 50 KB, 16K, and 3 KB respectively.
Controlling functions with the directional keypad, up and down key presses adjust the 4x digital Zoom, while left and right movements alter Brightness levels. Other bundled functions include Effects, Contrast Adjustments, and Self-Timer.
Capturing up to 30 seconds of video at 15 frames per second, the PEBL supports 3GP (MPEG-4, H.263, and AMR Audio) formats for video recording and playing back at Sub-QCIF (128 x 96 px) and Full QCIF (176 x 144 px) resolutions.
For printable photos, 1.3-megapixels are a required minimum, far from the PEBL's 0.3-megapixel lens. Rather gritty and blurry, the camera is more of a novelty item than a digital camera replacement. Working well to capture Picture IDs or phone wallpapers, anything much more will be low-quality.
Basic Features
Released for T-Mobile, the quad-band (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) PEBL is compatible with GSM networks worldwide, provided the phone unlocked.
If purchased from T-Mobile, the PEBL will be locked to the network by default, a common carrier practice to prevent customers from taking discounted phones (purchased in conjunction with a plan) to other carriers. In order to use it on other networks, users will need to request an unlock code. Current policies allow good-standing customers to request unlock codes after 90 days of service.
Rating the PEBL's 820 mAh Li-Ion battery at 4.0 hours and 180 hours of talk and standby times respectively, these are under optimal conditions. Manufacturers and carriers often list talk and standby times with disclaimers about variable performance, and refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Actual talk and standby times are lower.
Screen
Delivering an impressive 262K-colors, the spacious 176 x 220 px resolution internal screen is vividly bright and clear indoor and out. Built with advanced TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology, circuit transistors placed directly on the glass allow fast refresh rates from not having to scan pixel locations. Compared to other phones on the market, the PEBL's screen is one of the best.
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Conversely, the external LCD is only monochrome. Opting to conserve battery life at the expense of color, the PEBL's LCD provides an unorthodox 32 x 64 px layout. More of a fashion statement than functional, digital time split between two lines (analog clock is available as well), with additional information including battery strength and reception status.
The LCD design adds to the elegance of the PEBL's unique look. With function bowing to form, usability is sacrificed for innovative design. As a fashion phone, the PEBL's external LCD is sure to attract just as much attention as its head-turning design.
Audio
Much of the PEBL's draw is being distinct, visually and audibly. Like instruments in an orchestra, users can also create their own sound through MotoMixer, a built-in application that overlays base tracks and melodies to mix unique ringtones.
Superimposing up to 24 chords simultaneously, the PEBL U6 can playback polyphonic ringtones through its 22 kHz speaker. While 24 chords is not state-of-the-art (compared to other high-end phones with upwards of 72 chords), the PEBL fortunately supports MP3 ringtones.
As the industry norm, MP3 ringtones allow users to play CD-quality music with lyrics, rather than notes that resemble the song. Available through T-Zones, short MP3 clips (or as T-Mobile calls them, HiFi Ringers) can be downloaded for a small fee. Not to be confused with an MP3 player, unfortunately the PEBL does not support playback of full MP3 songs.
Messaging
While the PEBL's unorthodox keypad places the 1-3-5 keys in a "wave" design, the alignment of the keys are actually quite conventional; so typing is intuitive and unhindered.
Featuring standard SMS (Short Messaging Service), EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service), and MMS (Multimedia Message Service), users can text message with ease through iTAP predictive text.
Additionally, the PEBL comes preinstalled with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, and Yahoo! Messenger clients. Available through T-Mobile's online service, PEBL users can go beyond traditional SMS-based messaging by chatting in real-time. Now with just a few key presses, consumers on the road can connect and keep in touch with friends and family just as if they were sitting in front of a PC.
Entertainment
Able to hold up to 1000 contacts in its Phonebook, the PEBL features basic PIM (Personal Information Management) applications such as Alarm Clock, Calculator, Datebook, and Voice Recorder features. Users can access email accounts through T-Mobile's T-Zones service or through POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols, streaming headers and downloading bodies as they come in.
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Integrating advanced voice recognition software, users can issue commands with just the sound of their voice. By using VoiceSignal software, consumers can launch programs, dial numbers, and lookup contacts by using just their voice, and all without speech training. Comprehending commands even when spoken in real-time, users can use natural speech to issue instructions.
Customers can also download and install Java-based games (reminiscent of 80s console titles) and applications based on J2ME (Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition), the most popular platform for mobile devices. Not limiting users to preinstalled software, there is an abundant supply of programs to choose from. Through the Internet or T-Zones, consumers can download software, most for a small fee.
Internet
Equipped with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Class 10 (4+2) technology, surfers to browse the web at speeds of up to 48 kbps.
As many phones progress into video streaming, carriers are upgrading to 3G broadband networks. Unfortunately, the PEBL is not built to run on T-Mobile's 3G EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) network. A significant drawback, unfortunately GPRS is fast as the PEBL will get.
Storage
Ample storage for photos, ringtones, emails, and text messages, the PEBL comes with 5.0 MB of memory. Lacking an expansion card slot, consumers won't be able to add extra memory. However users shouldn't have a problem, since most memory-intensive applications are tied to high-resolution cameras and MP3 players, which the PEBL doesn't have.
Connectivity
Through Bluetooth Class 2, the PEBL U6 can pair with other Bluetooth devices within a 10 meter radius. Able connect through the min-USB port on top as well, the PEBL incorporates SyncML for synchronization of personal data, such as email, calendars, to-do lists, contact information.
Conclusion
Externally, Motorola seemed to design the PEBL as a polar opposite to the RAZR and SLVR. Being rather thick round as opposed to thin and sharp, the PEBL appeals to a different type of consumer.
Internally, the PEBL is very similar to its ultra-thin cousins, including similar cameras, applications, and features. Unfortunately, many of these similarities are parallel drawbacks as well. Integrating prior generation VGA cameras and the absence of MP3 players and high-speed 3G connectivity, the PEBL is not very comparable in function compared other devices on the market.
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However, the PEBL defies logic. Being a different breed entirely, designed with the fashion-conscious consumers in mind, appearance was placed in the forefront rather than functionality. Truly distinct, the PEBL seems to evoke that rare quality of the desire Motorola so successfully achieved with the RAZR.
Using high-quality materials to carefully craft its unique look, Motorola ensured the PEBL had a solid feel not found on most phones today. Given unusual attention to aesthetics, from its oval shape to the elongated external LCD, consumers are likely to overlook the PEBL's shortcomings in favor of its unique appeal, making it a distinctively popular device in T-Mobile's line-up. |
| Common misspellings on this brand: motokrola |
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