Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two first hands-on!
By Chris Ziegler 
posted April 12th 2010 3:07PM
posted April 12th 2010 3:07PM
We know that the One is positioned as the slightly lower-end device on account of its 5 megapixel cam (the Two has 8) and half the internal storage, but we actually came away liking it more -- it's the only one of the two that looks truly unique, because the Two just looks like any old landscape slider smartphone (not to say that's necessarily a bad thing). The front of both devices is graced with a single metallic button to offset an otherwise clean glossy black bezel -- this button functions as Back, not Home, so if you're multiple levels deep into the UI you'll only be taken back one. You can still hold the button down to get back to the home screen, fortunately, and both the One and Two have dedicated camera buttons -- Microsoft's making no secret of the fact that image and video capture are a huge push for these devices.
Follow the break for more thoughts, shots, and video!
The basic meat-and-potatoes parts of the user interface -- the Loop, the Spot, and so on -- work pretty smoothly, without any hiccups. The browser stuttered in places, but it wasn't unusably bad; hopefully this is something that'll improve over time, since the Kins support over-the-air updates. Maybe our favorite part of the device, though, was Zune Pass, which streams over WiFi or 3G. Yes, you heard us right: you can search for and stream basically anything out of the Zune Pass collection over Verizon's EV-DO, then play it in the background while you go about your merry way. It worked really well, and the Zune UI seems to translate pretty well onto a display as small as the One's tiny QVGA unit.
While it's certainly no EVO 4G, the social aspect of it is nice, along with the Kin Studio.
@BuryTheCastle
I second your comment. This is head and shoulders better than the side kick. Cloud. All those nice pics you have in the cloud can be shared across your social networks. This looks to be a stepping stone into WP7 for the buyers who fall in love with it.
I see what you did there MSFT.
@BuryTheCastle: i also think that these two handsets have all the features that the most people use. good camera (if it's true), browser, social network access, zune-player, messaging and of course.. phone calls. i hope that all this stuff would run smooth!!
@Ipadkiller
Well, I would like to see some form of third party apps on this. Preferably, something from Pandora or last.fm or etc.
Something MSFT should consider, since they are focusing on my age demographic.'
And I'm sure this will come up eventually, but will this have the "suspended multitasking" like Windows Phone 7?
@BuryTheCastle and if they bundle the Zune pass with this phone's service plan, they got something really interesting.
@BuryTheCastle
So this is why WP7 was so laggy, they've been puttin all their resouces into getting this this out the door. Maybe the next time we see WP7 it'll be as fluid as it should.
@grapeDrank Isn't that what MotoBLUR is based off of?
If I'm not mistaken, Backflip is this EXACTLY like this phone. Only thing is the KIN probably won't get firmware castrated like the former.
@Kloc whaaaat? wp7 is laggy? since when? they gave sneak peak 6 months before it's released. It's actually really nice for early beta.
@BuryTheCastle I'd have to agree. And while it's not the phone for me - the software behind the devices are pretty slick. I certainly have a lot of (real, non facebook) friends who'd consider it.
Me on the other hand: I want this functionality on my Windows Phone 7 device!
@grapeDrank
So.... maybe the device is for teens in highschool? Is that really such a terrible market to target?
@N900 Granted the Backflip may have had its' OS somewhat castrated by AT&T but at least it still has the Android Market, multi-tasking AND can be sideloaded through ADB. There is also an Android 2.1 update coming soon to the Backflip as per motorola so life ain't all THAT bad for the Backflip. That being said life on a Backflip is certainly much better than with a Kin.
SLAVES: I have made a new video, In it I, the greatest Sith Lord of Engadget preview Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two, which the force says is a highly respectable phone. Be sure to watch now minions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK2tWVj6lXw&feature=fvst
@Darkseider Oh, I never said life was bad on the Backflip. It's actually pretty well, unlocked at least.
And it's known that the Backflip has more features than the KIN will, but that's simply because of the smartphone/featurephone comparison. How many people buying the Backflip are gonna root it; and if the KIN is priced no higher than $30, is it justifiable for people to pay $70 more for real-multitasking and (locked down) 3rd party apps?
@Missing Matter
Yeah, it is a bad market. Because they all have iPhones now.
@BuryTheCastle - yeah I agree. Most people weaiting for phones expect them to be a clone of everything else out there. This is a product that is simple and seems to work. People like that. Sometimes, you want a phone for communication! Right? No BS... thats what the sidekick was about. Although, I dont think this is a replacement, unless MS decides to come out with a GSM version.
@SmDFrylock
Zune Pass service (perhaps included in the month to month bill) is an excellent idea. I think these phones have the potential to be much more than simply feature phones.
The phone/camera capabilities already put Kin 1 & 2 way beyond that of most (all?) feature phones. Zune music w/ subscription is another selling point. Facebook/twitter all in ensures success imho. Perhaps the demographic is different to that of the average engadget user but maybe thats a good thing for once.
@BuryTheCastle why do you need a pandora app, you can go to it in the browser
@aaronaut
What about plan pricing? Is it the same as VZW's actual "smartphone" offerings?
@BuryTheCastle
I agree. You don't have to be a social network junkie to get value out of this. With the high end-ish camera and LED flash, ability to shoot in HD, Zune mutha-f'n Pass!, and that nifty Kin Studio. (plus I use WL to back my stuff up generally). With the right price this could replace my current phone/camera. The social networking would be only a bonus in my situation.
@BuryTheCastle
Exactly! This is great! I know exactly where Microsoft is going with this. Teens will be all over this. The UI is pretty nice too. I think this is going to do real well. I'm still getting the HTC EVO for Sprint but, I might consider the KIN for my younger sister or cousin, I'm sure they will have fun with this.
@BuryTheCastle
Engadget , when Microsoft releases KIN , you give full coverage and full applaud.
Dont you think , that this is not innovation but another copy.
A copy of MotoBlur and you never gave so much attention to MotoBlur.
That. Really. Laggs. Who want's such a slow, unfluid phone?!
Notice how the Kin website uses Flash, not Silverlight?
@Ipadkiller : you're an idiot. sorry. but you are. Kin 1 & 2 pale in comparison to 70% of Android phones in hardware alone.
-1, and ungeeked.
@BuryTheCastle
Its not trying to be an Evo 4G, this is going up against dumbphones. I think it will do well, although personally I have little interest in dumbphones anymore.
@Ipadkiller You obviously have never used an Android device because the comparisons you are making make absolutely no sense. You can't have a complete opinion about something you have never used, and when you comment like you do then you look like a moron.
@BuryTheCastle : When I first looked at this thing, I thought about how much it sucked compared to most of the design innovations Microsoft had made earlier this year, [being an Apple-Google fanboy]. Truth is, I know that I would never own one of these as long as I live, because, I'm a geek, and I demand my great hardware, with enough tinkering room, which I see in the Evo. Until something's better than the Evo, that's my next phone. But then I thought about the millions that Aren't geeks. Big number. There are a whole bunch of tweens'n'teens that just needs a phone that facebooks, twitters, and texts. Some people don't even use the phone function on it at all!
Course, unless Microsoft forgot the phone app.
[In Microsoft's office]
Ballmer: [screaming] WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE FORGOT THE KRIFFING PHONE APP? THIS PHONE GOES OUT FRICKIN' NEXT MONTH, YOU NINCOMPOOP!!
[At Engadget office]
Josh: So, wait, guys, how do you call someone on this thing?
Paul: What's that?
Josh: Like you....oh, forget it.
@Missing Matter No it's not. They're just trying to target all they can. Smartphones aren't for everyone, some prefer something for socializing.
These phones look nice, I bet they'll make a lot in the teen/young adults market.
@grapeDrank I totally agree with the pricing thing. Unless these Kin devices are free or under $100 and offer a very cheap data plan, I do not see teens going crazy for them. Why not just get an iPhone (especially because they're selling last gen models for cheap these days), or the next top-notch Android phone for a few more dollars? Unless MS is playing Verizon a lot of money to subsidize the data cost, data plans are going to be just as expensive as smartphones...
Of course I might be wrong. High school kids do seem to love messaging phones. I think Kin fits in between messaging phones and smartphones, and they would really have to get the pricing right to get the messaging phone crowd to buy these phones. Smartphone folks are not interested, as reflected by many Engadget comments
@grapeDrank Actually the featurephones on Verizon only require a $10 data plan per month. Not bad at all.
This is segmented toward the younger crowd, that doesn't need the robustness of a true smartphone. It's akin to giving a teenager who needs a Phillips head screwdriver only what they need instead of a giant sack of expert tools they don't really have a need for.
@BuryTheCastle
No video games means i wont be buying it, what 18-25 year old does not have at least a few cell phone games on their phone?
@Edmunn
I'm pretty sure that the reason why the Kin website is in Flash instead of Silverlight is because Microsoft wants you to be able to access the site on other things like a Mac or Linux. Silverlight is only supported by Windows.
Is it just me or is the title of this article just plain wrong?
@erik87 no they dont. Maybe private school kids with rich daddies do, but of the group of rural HS kids I was hanging out with all day today 1 had an iPhone, two had sidekicks, and the other 15 had some version of a dumbphone.
The real kicker on this is how much the plan is going to cost. Kids don't buy phones, parents do. If the phone is under $100 on contract and has a data plan $45 or less, they will get it. It will be the cheaper iPhone alternative. Sure, all those kids may WANT iPhones, but they will buy this, and I think will be pretty happy with it. Plus, their parents don't have to pay for tons of $.99 fart apps.
@grapeDrank
INQ do ones on 3 mobile here on the UK, with some great deals at like £20 a month, not bad for unlimited facebook, twitter, msn and the likes.
other than that, it depends how good the camera/speed of internet is for how well this will do.
do a camera review ASAP! :D
@Missing Matter No kidding. They're expanding the market for Zune players. Those KIN 1 devices are really slick. A 5MB camera and 8MB camera for the KIN 2 - the latter with HDR capability? Very nice.
The more kids get those things in their hands the more buzz the Windows Phone 7 gets created for the holidays.
Looking more and more like I'll be trading in my blackberry for a Windows 7 Phone come the holiday unless RIM comes out with something special.
@erik87 Kids love texting. These things have what appear to be nicely designed keyboards just for that purpose. iPhone's don't. That and the price difference between the two should be enough to make parents and kids want to buy this device (for the kids of course, not the parents)
@BuryTheCastle
WHAT A HOT MESS
God Microsoft just when I think you've turned things around you go and do THIS....
@reuterrat -- "That and the price difference between the two should be enough to make parents and kids want to buy this device (for the kids of course, not the parents)"
Yeah, Microsoft seems to have a winner on their hands with these devices... especially for the younger market.
And the carriers will love it too... because they will get them to subscribe to a $30/month data plan and a $15/month Zune Pass subscription, too.
@Fussolia That's not true, there is silverlight on mac
@Darkseider
And you know cause you already played with the KIN, right...
Embrace new technology by other companies... It's not all about Google and Apple... It's COMPETITION.
@Fussolia
Actually that's not true. Silverlight is available on mac and Linux too but in a way you're right, everyone has flash so it's easier to use flash
@Fussolia No it's not, you can download it for Mac as well.
@blenderman345
it's bizarre how you and others compare every product to android or iPhone. Not all devices are for engadget geeks or business people. Stop your elitist bs and realize there are many markets with different needs than you may have. It's pathetic to see so many tech lovers with their heads in the sand.
I know it's better than the Sidekick.
Simply put though, this phone is not for us. I wonder how many here can grasp that concept.
@N900
Dont waste your breath N900. Im here with you on this one. Its not a feature phone. This is the perfect phone for my niece.
@N900
Spot on - teens and tweens. Just had a look at the website and the concept looks pretty cool even if it is being wasted on a bunch of Gen Z bedwetters.
Oh and get off my lawn!
@N900
Well, then.. where's the Bieber edition?
@N900 I hear ya, but you gotta admit the kin studio is impressive. Is there anything else out there like it?
@N900 - there's a ton of people out there who really don't need a smartphone by any means, but still like to update their Facebook status from their phones and similar things.
They're competitors to Samsungs/LG's crappy cheap touchscreen dumbphones, and seen in that light, I think they're pretty awesome. Of course, the average Engadget commenter completely fails to see that positioning, but that's a given...
Also, coming to think of it - does the fall launch in Europe indicate that the Zune Store/Pass will finally become available over here as well? And maybe the Zunes as well?