Motorola adds another 5-megapixel phone to the mix with VE66

If you like what the ZN5 brings to the table but roundish sliders are more your cup of tea (and when the alternative is a drab gray candybar with purple accents, we can't say we blame you), Moto's got the solution to the pollution this morning with the official announcement of the VE66. You've got that 5-megapixel autofocus cam with LED flash (as opposed to the ZN5's xenon) and image stabilization, WiFi, FM radio, Motorola's CrystalTalk noise reduction, and a navigation wheel for flying through song tracks. Interestingly, there's no mention of Moto's partnership with Kodak anywhere on the phone or the announcement -- but something tells us that won't have an effect on picture quality. Look for it to launch some time this quarter.

[phail @ Nov 18th 2008 12:07PM]

first

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 18th 2008 12:14PM]

...is the worst.

[TimmyRaa @ Nov 18th 2008 12:09PM]

second

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 18th 2008 12:14PM]

...is the best.

[striggity @ Nov 18th 2008 12:12PM]

y'all are both lame

[Ian @ Nov 18th 2008 12:14PM]

Motorola is still doing stuff... who'd a thunk it

[Information Central @ Nov 18th 2008 5:15PM]

Another clueless, pathetic entry from Motorola. WTF: Don't they ever learn? ANOTHER curved keypad? Put the numbers in STRAIGHT ROWS so we can dial quickly and by touch.

And what do you want to bet that this thing still doesn't have addresses in the contacts, or tasks and memos, or any syncing software that actually works?

Motorola should stop wasting shareholders' money on this tired garbage and focus all efforts on android and finding a competent hardware designer.

[absurdio @ Nov 18th 2008 7:44PM]

Y'know, I was planning to say:
"Stop. Fucking. With. The. Keypad."

But I think you've pretty much got it. See how pissed we are, Moto? Quit it.

[Dave Graham @ Nov 18th 2008 8:23PM]

@Information Central: "And what do you want to bet that this thing still doesn't have addresses in the contacts, or tasks and memos, or any syncing software that actually works?"

All Motomagx (or linux) Motorola headsets have additional fields on the contacts list for: 4 numbers, 2 emails, IM ID, 2 addresses with address, city, state, ZIP code, country and address type fields. Besides having Custom notifications for each contact or group (picture, ringtone and message alert), and also "notes", voice note, company, title, manager's name, assistant's name, URL, nickname, spouse, children, birthday (with event alarm), anniversary (with alarm too), and zodiac sign...

I think that's a lot of information for a contact.

On the Office Tools menu you get: Notes (which can be sent via bluetooth, email, sms and mms), Tasks list (with due date, alarm, priority, and notes), world clock, a download manager and some extra things.

As for the synching you get Motorola Phone Tools which synchs, backup and restore all your contacts, notes, tasks and calendar appointments, you can import your contacts using vCards or SynchML...

That probably means you haven't used a Motorola phone since the Synergy OS days...

Damn, working at Motorola's CS leaves you traumatized, and I still use a Moto (ROKR E2).

[auricom @ Nov 18th 2008 10:45PM]

hello moto,

you need to stop making eyesore of phones and go back to making walkie-talkie and PTT for construction workers. Thank you.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 18th 2008 12:21PM]

Pretty impressive, but no chance against any of the current N-Series Nokia sliders.. especially the N85 and I'm willing to bet their price is similar..

[Oli D @ Nov 18th 2008 12:31PM]

durgh thats pug ugly.
i had to invent that word to express myself

[Matthew Hilario @ Nov 18th 2008 12:37PM]

I for one welcome our mobile paparazzi overlords.

[dvsbstrd @ Nov 18th 2008 12:52PM]

I'm impressed with Motorola. They've got some pretty cool phones lately.

[holycow @ Nov 18th 2008 1:02PM]

When will Moto understand that the demand for smartphones is higher than ever before (i.e. produce those god damn it!), preferably with Android.

[Major4Play @ Nov 18th 2008 1:18PM]

That is chunky in the extreme. Moto just can't get anything right ! Everyone copied the Razr so Moto copies the chunky ugly N series D'OH!
Apart from WiFi my Samsung U900 Soul has the same specs as this phone but is really thin, and actually looks more like a sliding Razr.
Oh Motorola where did it all go wrong ?

[Sam Rajendra @ Nov 18th 2008 1:36PM]

Another one of the Moto haters who've jumped on the bandwagon in recent times..At least get your facts right before you criticize. The VE66 and Razr are the same thickness at 15.2mm. Oh yeah, the WiFi on the VE66 is not important at all in today's mobilized lifestyles, or is that just you being a little sour because your Soul lacks a little, soul..

How does your foot taste in your mouth?

[Aaron @ Nov 18th 2008 1:26PM]

So what has this got that the N95 didn't have two years ago? Not trolling, just curious.

[raulr @ Nov 18th 2008 1:53PM]

Well it's probably not the size of a brick like the N95 for one.

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 18th 2008 2:53PM]

Style and lower price tag.

[dohdoh @ Nov 18th 2008 3:15PM]

definitely the lower price tag and the omega scrolling wheel function has to be cool and bring ease of use thats for sure! And i think it looks good too

[JImmi @ Nov 18th 2008 3:52PM]

give it up motorola!

[Information Central @ Nov 18th 2008 5:17PM]

WHICH SYSTEM DOES IT USE?

This article fails to answer the first question you'd have, which is: Does it work with my provider?

[Félix @ Nov 19th 2008 5:43AM]

I cannot agree more with you : Phones are turning into smartphones lately and smartphones = 3rd party apps ( and by that I mean a flash-enabled, javascript efficient WEB BROWSER for exemple !) now I know you Apple Fanboys(and by that I mean engadget writers mainly) are totally OK with the idea of being told what software to use for each function the master has decided you could need but I don't really.

And as far as 3rd party apps are concerned the OS is what matters most !

It's like presenting a new computer and not saying is run OS X.. it's a f****ing trap !

My point is : say you buy a 4inch 800x480 touch-screen smartphone, but it has some crappy OS that can only run java based 3rd party apps..
Then you are stuck with Opera mini or worst the basic proprietary web browser.

Now say it has some cool open OS like Symbian or WinMo (it hurts my heart and my mouth to say it but winMo is cool for that : you can install much 3rd party apps), then you can get an awesome C based, almost-like-desktop feeling Web browser like Opera mobile for exemple.

[Shinigami @ Nov 18th 2008 10:23PM]

It would be good for Moto to start making better phones for a smaller price. Not because Nokia already started it, because that is what people want, especially during world economy crisis.

[Nick @ Nov 19th 2008 1:39AM]

its runs MontaVista Linux. Oddly enough they are phasing out linux from their phones

[shore @ Nov 19th 2008 8:53PM]

man, i don`t know, Motorola just got lamer and lamer...
too pity...

[Marvin @ Nov 19th 2008 9:17PM]

Probably just another Moto Cancer Stick with outrageous SAR levels. :(

[Rita @ Nov 23rd 2008 3:04AM]

That was a very useful one. I found other interesting articles that compare iphone with Blackberry bold and also some comparison on the latest touch phones like SonyEricsson Xperia and Samsung Omnia. One of the link is below:-

http://www.kanbal.com/index.php?/Latest/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-vs-samsung-omnia-i900.html

This is quite a helpful one when it comes to choosing phones.