Motorola Krave ZN4 In-Depth Review

Motorola Krave ZN4 In-Depth Review
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Introduction

The Motorola Krave ZN4 is the next revolution of clam shell phones from the maker of the Motorola RAZR. The RAZR is the phone that put Motorola back on the map with its sleek and slim design. The Krave utilizes a very similar clam shell design, but adds an interesting touch; a clear, interactive, LCD covering the LCD touchscreen. That’s right, the clear cover over the LCD touchscreen isn’t just there for a protective measure, but it’s been added to add a bit of uniqueness to the phone. The clear cover actually acts as another interaction point on the Krave ZN4.

Design (4 out of 5)

Inheriting the good look of its fore fathers, the Krave ZN4 comes from the royal lineage of the Motorola Ming.

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Weighing in at a meager 4.6 ounces, the Krave ZN4 measures 4.1 x 2.0 x 0.8 inches, which makes it comfortable to carry around. The only drawback is that once the lid is open, it becomes slightly difficult to clasp it in a relaxing position. The touch screen’s size is 2.4 inches and the LCD present inside is an exquisite 2.8 inches, encompassed in an opaque gray border. Now, no mobile phone is complete without the user friendly shortcuts present on the sides, and the Krave does not lag behind in such details.

User Interface (2 out of 5)

Though the design and the necessary features are all accommodated on the Motorola Krave ZN4, there are certain issues that certainly affect the phones popularity among the general masses. For starters the ZN4’s QWERTY keypad is simply futile as it requires you to turn the phone to its side in order to type a legible memorandum. While the innovative design gives way to a unique user interface, the phone sometimes refuses to recognize key presses. It definitely becomes an annoyance when you’re in a rush, trying to type an SMS text to a friend, or if you’re trying to dial a number. Expect to have some annoying moments trying to get the phone to register what you’re trying to type, and try not to hurl the phone out a window from frustration.

Touch screen phones can be risky, especially if you are running low on call fuel. You certainly don’t want to be termed as a prank caller because what usually happens is that when we place phones in our bags or pockets they tend to randomly dial numbers under pressure. Keeping that in mind, Motorola has introduced a slide touch lock that will render your phone into a completely harmless object. The drawback of this technology is that one usually takes out the phone, forgets to unlock the device and starts to frantically tap the screen.

Features (3 out of 5)

Presenting avid mobile users with not one, but two touch screens, Motorola’s newest invention, the Krave ZN4 is termed as a capable media phone. V cast TV and VZ navigator GPS revolutionize your mobile phone, transforming it into a unique appliance. Serving as a hi-speed modem when connected via Bluetooth to your laptop, the ZN4 also consists of a two megapixel camera that performs the basic functions of a camera. The volume controls, a 3.5mm headphone jack, micro SD card slot, camera button, a mini USB port, and a phone lock are all present to assist the anxious user.

The 2MP camera lens is situated on the back cover, and is a disappointment because with most people, having a camera phone invites the opportunity to take more pictures of yourself. With the no self –portrait mirror present on the phone, you have the chance of getting one nicely composed picture out of a hundred . Even if the composition is great, pictures taken in direct sunlight are oozing with popping colors and very minute edge details, whereas in a darker surrounding images lose their color. If that wasn’t enough to ward off camera mobile aficionados, the phone does not feature a flash option. While the 2 megapixel camera isn’t the greatest in the world, it does become pretty handy when you don’t have an actual digital camera in hand.

Performance (2 out of 5)

Providing stellar call quality, all calls on the Krave ZN4 can only be answered with the touch

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cover up and, similar to the iPhone, the screen goes blank. In order to end the call you have to bring the phone away from your ear, tap the unlock button, and then touch the end call icon. You can image the annoyance of having to go through steps to end a call. Be very mindful of that fact, as you may end up saying something without noticing that the call never ended, which could lead to some very awkward conversations down the road!

Krave’s WAP 2.0 browser is excruciatingly painful to operate, featuring a ring like cursor which you have to move around in order to land on your desired link. Once you have done that, you would have to wait another excruciatingly painful seven to ten seconds in order for the page to load, which lags in quality compared to most EV-DO rev.

The Final Verdict (2 out of 5)

Featuring music playback technology that can last up to sixteen hours, the Krave is a disappointment for most users, as the touch screen becomes more of a hassle rather than a great technological advancement. With an inaccessible QWERTY keypad and lack of attention to important details, the Krave ZN4 lacks the power to stay in the market for a long period of time.

In one simple word, the Motorola Krave is a disappointment. It was a great idea, innovative, unique, and the smartphone market is just now trying to jump on the dual screen world, with the Kyocera Echo, but the actual device itself falls flat. If just a bit more time was brought in for quality control, the Motorola Krave may not have ended up as a “Below Average” phone.

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