Motorola's ROKR ZN50 touchscreen slider could be a winner

Right around this time last year, we actually had lofty hopes that Motorola would get its handset business in gear and shock us all with an ultra-potent, completely refined smartphone. Here we sit today, still waiting. Still, we can't pass up an opportunity to throw Moto's hardware design team a bone, as the ROKR ZN50 is downright sexy from any angle. The music-centric, full touchscreen slider packs a 3.2-inch panel (427 x 240 resolution), automatic screen rotation, shake to switch tracks, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, Bluetooth stereo headset support, SRS WOW HD audio tech and a battery good for 30 hours of audio playback. There's also a T-DMB TV tuner, 4GB of inbuilt memory, a microSDHC card slot, 3.2 megapixel camera, an e-dictionary and support for 7.2Mbps HSDPA. Sadly, it seems as if the phone is being reserved for the Korean market, but seriously, can you imagine this hitting North America with Android loaded on? Motorola: you're this close.

[Via Unwired View]

[akarol @ Jul 8th 2009 10:21AM]

The only thing Motorola is close to is making me puke. That thing is fugly!

[Joe @ Jul 8th 2009 10:31AM]

My thought exactly...FUGLY!!!!

[Daviesifier @ Jul 8th 2009 10:44AM]

It looks terrible. Just doesn't look right at all.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 8th 2009 10:47AM]

We also have a nice selection of handbags over here for you ladies to critique when you have a moment.


It's a phone for Christ sake!

[Orinjz @ Jul 8th 2009 11:16AM]

It's not too bad; conservative styling shape-wise and the coloured keypad gives it a little bit of intrigue in the looks department in the same vein as the Samsung Tocco Ultra. It's not bad for a 'catch-up' effort. They must have had some abysmal management for it to have taken so long to do something like this...and even now, it's being kept to one Asian market despite it being a viable contender for other parts of the world; I just hope they wise up and give it a worldwide release.

[htd @ Jul 8th 2009 10:22AM]

427 x 240 and android, that's pretty far from winner spec.

[no_one @ Jul 8th 2009 10:42AM]

I've heard that Android doesn't have real apps and real games because of Java or something, similar problem that plagues "WebOS" funny web apps. The upcoming WinMo would be a better option.

[JimboJones @ Jul 8th 2009 10:25AM]

I bet you it's an inch thick, keys are flat and hard to press, the phone is heavy as hell

[OneLove @ Jul 8th 2009 10:26AM]

I think its kinda ugly.

[aeth @ Jul 8th 2009 10:31AM]

Please don't mess this up Moto

[Ming @ Jul 8th 2009 10:37AM]

I kinda like it. Wish there was a higher res, but whatever.

Bring it to Verizon and don't let the bastards at Vz touch the interface...sick of the same interface on all of the phones, absolutely kills it.

[Agent .25i @ Jul 8th 2009 10:41AM]

Are they going to bring back that mexican/brazilian mini pop's rock band of fail, for the commercials?

Nice looking phone though. Looks robust.

What's with the mini power drill icon though?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/video-miniature-operational-electric-drill-perfect-for-smurfin/

[Vic De Zen @ Jul 8th 2009 10:47AM]

Sigh, why did you have to remind me of those commercials?

As for the look, I don't really like it. Too sharp...the color scheme irritates me. Maybe it looks better in real life though.

[daniel @ Jul 10th 2009 9:33AM]

the "t" is SKT's 3G brand.
SKT = Korean mobile phone provider.

[Rito Man @ Jul 8th 2009 10:46AM]

Mmmmm, Forbiden cellphone!!!!!

[bobleeswagga419 @ Jul 8th 2009 10:46AM]

The Phone looks Ok. I wouldnt mind it with Android though. At least it has SOME keyboard.

[dan2600 @ Jul 8th 2009 10:46AM]

BRING BACK THE STARTAC!!! RETRO IS IN!

[Jamar @ Jul 8th 2009 10:52PM]

Funny thing, that- Korea and China got a StarTAC II (but only Korea got the later StarTAC III). I had a StarTAC II. It wasn't a bad phone, but it would have been impossible to get working in America since America doesn't use R-UIMs (I had a Chinese one, the Korean ones can be activated old-style with some work).

[Timmy @ Jul 8th 2009 10:51AM]

This thing would look 1000x better if it was all jet black.

[Fonebox.com @ Jul 8th 2009 10:52AM]

There is definitely a difference between what Americans find attractive and those in Europe or Asia. This phone is like a piece of 1980s audio gear. Clunky, lacking design focus and way too thick. Have Motorola not seen the LG GD900 - already on the market, much thinner and better specced (except lack of 3.5mm jack)? It is no wonder successful US firms (Apple included) hire European industrial designers.

(This is not a bash on the technology - Motorola invented the cellphone and still make good electronics - as will become clear over the next year. Tag: LTE.)

[Sudharsan @ Jul 8th 2009 11:05AM]

Looks lovely, hope they put Android in it.

[soviet @ Jul 8th 2009 11:30AM]

did anyone noticed android clock widget

[synn @ Jul 8th 2009 11:21AM]

Why does it have a thumbs down logo in the front?

[Jamar @ Jul 8th 2009 10:57PM]

It's a T. Stands for T-Money, a contactless payment thing they have over there.

[Wayne @ Jul 8th 2009 11:36AM]

Uhhh, it only has a slide out numeric keypad? Lame.

[jon @ Jul 8th 2009 12:11PM]

looks kinda similar to he Sony Ericsson Aino

[Preston @ Jul 8th 2009 12:13PM]

Slider phones are hilarious. "Hai guys how can we make this phone even thicker, lol?"

[Cheesus(Crust) @ Jul 8th 2009 1:48PM]

Give it Viagra

[BIGD @ Jul 8th 2009 12:30PM]

FUUUUUUGLY.

[Andre @ Jul 8th 2009 1:10PM]

Eewwwww

[ThreeDee912 @ Jul 8th 2009 2:58PM]

I'm still waiting for Moto to release something good in the US...

[iKurt 7 @ Jul 8th 2009 4:50PM]

I agree, it doesn't look as good as the iPhone.

[Someperson @ Jul 8th 2009 5:46PM]

Who's in charge? it seems every time Moto takes a step forward, its always two steps back.The phone doesn't look too bad, but honestly, they could have made it a slider QWERTY with better resolution....

[Gori @ Jul 8th 2009 7:42PM]

This is their best phone since razr!

[purplegreendave @ Jul 8th 2009 8:27PM]

I like it...
So sue me, it has decent specs, hoping for a cheap price (sub €130?) and a European release.

Has what I need;
Bluetooth/A2DP
3.5mm Jack (no more ruthless profiteering from selling a pointless extension cables = major kudos)
Decent camera
Not huge/hugely weighty.

[10minutehobo @ Jul 9th 2009 9:09AM]

Motorola messes it up as usual.

Move along, nothing to see here.