MANILA, Philippines—Take a look at the contents of your bag. If it’s a bottomless pit of gadgets that takes forever to rummage through, you might want to consider simplifying the techie aspect of your life by picking just one gadget that does everything for you.
However, this is usually easier said than done. Camera phones, for instance, aren’t as good as regular cameras, even if they have the same megapixel value. The same goes for phones with word processors and video cameras.
Luckily, this isn’t the case with music phones. Many cellular phones/MP3 players can now give iPods a run for their money. While MP3 cell phones aren’t new to the market, they are simply getting better every year, design- and quality-wise.
Various functions
Motorola recently launched its new Rokr E8 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Journalists were invited to try out the Rokr E8 in an event that had people hopping from bar to bar to experiment with the various functions of the phone. Local performers Kiri and Karen Nunis regaled the crowd with rock music, as phones and their accompanying accessories were raffled off to guests.
The latest in the brand’s line of MP3 phones, the Rokr E8 outstrips the current crop of music phones with its sleek, cutting-edge design and outstanding performance. What sets the Rokr E8 apart from most phones is its use of the new ModeShift technology, as opposed to the conventional keypad.
First-time users of the Rokr E8 may be taken aback by its appearance, as it looks nothing like a phone. Instead, it looks like a smooth black panel of glass. Upon handling it, however, the phone’s touch-pad controls digitally morph into the function that you want to use.
So, depending on what you want to do, the phone will look like a click-wheel MP3 player or a conventional cell phone.
The flat “glass” surface of the phone offers a fringe benefit to clumsy phone users. Since it has a non-porous surface (no cracks where the keypad should be), you can spill liquid on top of it and it still wouldn’t get damaged. Of course, it doesn’t mean you can jump into a pool with it, but occasional coffee spills will no longer spell disaster for your phone.
Other features
The phone’s other features include the CrystalTalk technology (which allows the user to carry a coherent conversation even with a noisy background), Windows Media Player 11, a 2-megapixel camera and a full HTML browser.
The phone can support over a thousand songs with its 2GB internal memory, and even more if you use an external memory card. You can also watch videos on its 2-inch, 262,000-color display screen.
Frequent travelers will appreciate its quad-band function, which means it can be used in nearly every country. Plus, you can connect the phone to your computer via USB connection, making it easier to download songs quickly.
While some people insist nothing can replace a stand-alone music player, it’s rewarding to give the Rokr E8 a try. Its ultramodern look, exceptional sound quality and hi-tech features might just change your mind.
