Motorola announces MOTOZINE ZN5

Hints of Motorola's new MOTOZINE series of devices have gone back as far as last year, but today marks the first time that Moto's officially spilled any beans on the goods. The headlining feature on the first model, the ZN5 candybar, lies on the backside: a 5-megapixel sensor courtesy of a partnership with Kodak, featuring autofocus, a xenon flash, image stitching, and on-device integration with Kodak Gallery. Otherwise, you get WiFi (score), Motorola's so-called "ModeShift" technology for morphing the keypad depending on device mode (a la the E8), and a run-of-the-mill quadband GSM radio with EDGE. China's the first country to get the hookup starting next month, but Moto expects to take the ZN5 on a world tour over the course of the remainder of the year.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:58AM]

Wow. My first reaction was .. yawn .. but
5 Megapixel camera with a Xenon flash and WiFi?
Not bad, Motorola, not bad..

[Rob @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:00AM]

Coming from Motorola, this is very impressive. Wonder how much it'll cost?

[Andrew @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:35AM]

The stats all look good, and the keyboard sounds interesting.

Too bad it looks like crap.

[Shinigami @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:07AM]

Its a "unique design", Andrew. I don't understand it either but MotoFanboys do xD
In either case I'm pretty much interested in the device because of camera and because its 12mm thick (camera module is bigger). Saw sample pictures and they looked good. Will have to wait for a review to see final sample pics.
WiFi sounds interesting and the keyboard looks pretty nice (only functions light up) but overall design is kinda...weird to me.

In any case its good to see Motorola back on track. Now please announce that 8mp banana slider xD

[Shinigami @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:09AM]

Uh... Guess what? Mobile-review has a review of this thing already O.o

[Christy McGrory @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:08PM]

Design seems to be going backwards and technology forwards... It's a weird world we live in today, isn't it?

[mkim @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:00AM]

wow looks like a great phone. Hope the keypad is usable.

[Heinz @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:01AM]

Ewww

[El Taco @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:52PM]

what do you know? You're a Ketchup!

[Heinz @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:01AM]

Looks like a terd.

[DestroyerMTL @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:30AM]

Before posting useless comments, it may be a good idea to learn to spell.

Turd.

[Heinz @ Jun 23rd 2008 5:58PM]

Wow pretty good comment?

This phone is garbage, and Ill tell you why.

Horrible design, looks like it took 3 steps back, it can't compete with super cell phones like instinct and iphone, in any capacity, be it price or capabilities. And finally it does look like a turd. I have a right to my opinion. That what I fought for my country for, my right to my opinion. So you know what? This phone looks like a turd all the way around, by that I mean cosmetically and its about what its worth to me.

[Derek @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:09AM]

I like the WiFi and camera but that's about it...

[Joshi @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:17AM]

People accuse Motorola of being uncreative, but I don't think this phone is bad. The Kodak-sourced optics should be nice (too many phones have crappy cameras), the bar-style design is unique (too few candybar phones are available, at least in America) and the ModeShift keyboard is innovative. I also like the purple, used to "color-code" the photo functions (and, to an extent, the entire line). I'll be honest - if this was available on Sprint right now, I would have it by the end of the week.

So while it still sort of feels like we never really saw Moto's much-hyped next-gen "SCPL" design language, at least they're not totally standing still.

[Gadget Chick @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:34AM]

motorola really needs to do something revolutionary if they want to get back in the game. sure this phone has some cool features but it looks like some cheap phone you get for free with a 2 year contract. aesthetics are just as important as specs.

[DefPo3t @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:47AM]

Saying a phone is cheap because u get it free with contract is stupid
u must think the iphone is cheap to since with certian carries u can get it free or for 1$

P.S. I only said iphone cause it was the first phone that came to memory

[gad get @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:14AM]

@ DefPo3t

"P.S. I only said iphone cause it was the first phone that came to memory"

It's OK, we forgive you.

[Fernando @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:35AM]

Please to be buying this ok americans? I want to see motorola back in the game.

[Alex @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:38AM]

fugly

[BratPAQ @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:53AM]

well, after watching this:

http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_mwc_08-review-218.php

forget about this zn5, i want that e8, lol

[Dale @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:04AM]

Sounds magical and all, but this is Motorola. They'll screw it up one way or another.

[Rich @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:13AM]

So this is basically the Nokia N82 but without the smartphone functionality, GPS, accelerometer and HSDPA?

[derX @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:14AM]

How about they're two totally different phones?

[Rich @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:57AM]

By "totally different", I assume you mean that the MOTO is significantly worse than what's on the market at the moment.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:15AM]

Just get it over the U.S. soon so I can check it out. Too many phones take forever to make it to the U.S. It's just frustrating...

[tekdroid @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:32AM]

I'm wondering if Motorola will ever get over placing their antiquated M logo at the earpiece. It seriously needs to go.

Otherwise this phone seems like a decent choice for shutterbugs. It does look a tad chunky tho.

[gad get @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:15AM]

I have no problem with the logo.

[happy_penguin @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:34AM]

That logo is classic and it goes back decades. It's the one thing Motorola has which ties the company identity to people's minds. It's their Golden Arches.

[tekdroid @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:54PM]

happy_penguin, classic can also be interpreted "old hat".

At least that's how I see it. Unnecessary branding embellishments resting right at your ear. Never liked this aspect of their phones.

[rehs @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:37AM]

Please let it come to T-Mobile, please Moto. It seems like a good candidate for T-Mobile's lineup (the Wi-Fi could be for their Talk@Home UMA service). I really want a 5 MP phone, but I don't want to import one from the UK or France. Please Moto, please let it come to the US and hopefully on T-Mobile.

I know I'm very desperate, but this could be my next phone after many failures.

[Version 1.0 @ Jun 23rd 2008 3:27AM]

3.5mm headphone jack??? looks like it to me...

[JeffS @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:31AM]

Moto spends big marketing bucks in Asia and that's why they fare better there compared to stateside.....
Anywayz, this phone looks like crap

[happy_penguin @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:37AM]

There's some impressive tech in this phone and I like the simplicity of it's look. It does not look like a certain other phone which iDare not mention even though I love mine, and that's a good thing.

[Striker @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:04AM]

The ZINE phones are going to save Motorola, I think this is probably one of the best phones made in years from Motorola. When Motorola makes a comeback because of these phones, I want all of you to know that I called it.

[MosquitoControl @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:29AM]

Bar phone? Not interested.

And, given it's running Motorola's software, also not interested. Then again, I'm on Verizon, so slow software is par for my course.

[Endejas @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:47PM]

Could someone explain to me what this number pad is all about? I don't really understand the "morphing."

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:09AM]

Took me a while to figure out too.
Different icons on the keypad light up according to what program you're using. For example, instead of a normal phone saying press 2 to zoom, the numbers would not even be illuminated. Instead, a different icon set appears on the keys, hence the strange shadows on the picture above.

[Ypoknons @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:12AM]

Its a slick little thing, first found on the E8. See the video
http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_mwc_08-review-218.php
(Bottom of the page)

Basically the keys are actually on a LED screen and their symbols change to reflect what the key does at any given time.

Motorola seems more active and healthy in Asia than at home in the States. where its not hard to see Z8 banana phones, the Z9 slider and the ROKR E8 with its cute keypad.

[Stephen @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:10AM]

If you click the link to the E8 you'll get the idea. Mode specific keypad illumination.

[Endejas @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:20AM]

So the entire number pad is a capacitive pad that relies on the phone's OS to let it know what symbols/numbers are being displayed dependent on a number of specific apps?

In theory.. that sounds incredible, but the possible slow down irks me. I'll have to try this phone out.

[DG @ Jun 23rd 2008 5:40AM]

That's not unlike what my LG Venus does, although the Venus is a little bit more slick about it. See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XqqJiCWrtA

It's neat technology, but I wonder what kind of feedback those buttons have. I have a difficult time touching a screen (with or without haptic feedback) than I do just touching regular buttons. Luckily, the Venus has both.

[kjb434 @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:26PM]

Just go to MOTO's website. They have a great demo.

[michas_pi @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:30PM]

Wait a second, didn't Motorola pull out of the handset business?

I swear that Engadget reported something like that a while ago...

Links/help plox.

[engadgetier @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:58PM]

kudos to moto, now they need to market the phone good and people will buy.

[Pavelz @ Jun 23rd 2008 5:30PM]

Zine is "cock" in Hebrew. Aptly titled. It looks like one indeed

[zeein @ Jun 24th 2008 3:41PM]

nice design.... better material than nokiah s**k...

[Richard @ Jun 24th 2008 11:28PM]

Last Motorola Phone Z9 has the same type of keypad as this one, is actually better and doesn't get as dirty or slippery. Must gave some credit for Motorola, finally they gave customer what they wanted, has wifi and high megal pixel, the Z9 2 megal pixel quality is great and video record is quite good for a phone. Might not had 3G, but ain't matter much if you had wifi and this is not a smartphone anyway.

[ajay @ Sep 11th 2008 2:48AM]

cool gadget and what about its cost?

[johnsen @ Sep 20th 2008 4:10AM]

This goes for 362 usd on ebay right now.

One major annoyance though..it doesnt feature the all important small mirror on the back to focus selfportraits. I travel a bunch and take shots of myself in front of sights plus take shots w friends and myself all the time, so I use that a lot. How the hell the makers of a phone like this can forget something so important yet cost-free like that is beyond me and is the sole reason I will not buy it.