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Pair of mysterious Motorola Android handsets espied in the wild
What can we say about these two Motorola-borne Android devices? Not much, really, except from some brief and poorly machine-translated text from a Chinese forum that claims these are engineering prototypes and one might go by the code name ZN4... and that's about it. If you fancy what you see here, though, keep an eye out to the future, mmk? Update: As iTech News Net points out, it looks like these phones are one in the same -- namely the China-bound Ming.
Motorola dishes the official MOTOPRIZM line in South Korea
We already knew Motorola's Krave ZN4 lookalike was headed to South Korea, but now Moto's done its official duties by making things extra official. Set to debut as the MOTOPRIZM, this vividly colored handset will sport the same fancy clear lid as the ZN4 along with a DMB TV tuner. For whatever reason, we're kept far, far away from most of the other specs, though word on the street has it that said handset will boast a three megapixel camera and a patently stunning 840 x 480 display. Explain to us again why Asia always gets the upgraded kit?[Via UnwiredView]
Motorola's MOTOPRIZM hits South Korea, looks just like the Krave ZN4
There's no doubt that Motorola's Krave ZN4 has oodles of sex appeal, so it's no shock that Moto's introducing a lookalike in the South Korean market. The interestingly named MOTOPRIZM looks pretty much exactly like the aforementioned ZN4, packing a 2.8-inch WVGA touchscreen, an S-DMB tuner, 3-megapixel camera and Bluetooth connectivity. Details beyond that are scant, but you can find one more shot just down there in the read link.
Motorola Krave ZN4 hands-on over at Engadget Mobile
Motorola's only -- yes, only -- touchscreen phone in the US market is on sale with Verizon, offering VCAST TV, two touch-sensitive surfaces (you'll just have to read the hands-on to find out exactly what that means), and a 3.5mm headphone jack, among a host of other lustworthy features. But is the total package any good? Head on over to Engadget Mobile for the scoop on the Krave ZN4!
Motorola Krave ZN4 hands-on
It's pretty fricking hard to believe that Motorola didn't have any touchscreen phones in the North American market before the Krave, isn't it? It's true, though -- so when it came time to draw inspiration for that all-important first device, designers looked to none other than Moto's own MING series, a popular (and fairly attractive, if we do say so ourselves) line of Linux-based smartphones sold in China for inspiration. In the course of its metamorphosis into a thoroughly Americanized phone, the Krave (Kring? MAVE?) lost GSM, gained CDMA and 3G, and found itself locked in to Verizon. All things considered, that's a pretty traumatic conversion there -- so how'd it end up faring? We took a quick look at the ZN4 to find out.%Gallery-37725%
Motorola Krave ZN4 review roundup
We had a feeling we'd get a mixed bag of reviews as soon as we first saw the Motorola Krave ZN4 -- it's one of those love it or hate it type things, you know? In some cases, reviewers chose to focus on the positives, noting that it was cute, unique, a good music player and a phone that would last and last without a recharge. Another batch of critics couldn't hold back the whip, pointing out that it lacked WiFi, packed a lackluster browser, included yawn-worthy software and offered a keyboard that was "straight-up awkward." As expected, overall ratings hovered between just below average to just above average, and it seems this phone will be exactly what you make it out to be. Moto fans will likely have plenty to cheer about, but those without a dog in the fight may want to give the writeups below a more thorough glance before dropping $149.99 and agreeing to a super-sized 2-year commitment.Read - PC MagazineRead - PhoneScoopRead - Laptop MagRead - DigitalTrendsRead - CNET
Motorola Krave ZN4 officially launches on Verizon for $149.99
Color us as unsurprised as ever, but Motorola's unique, if not fancy, Krave ZN4 just got official. The touchscreen-based flip phone is launching today on Verizon Wireless, bringing with it two layers of touch -- one on the interactive clear flip outside and another with the full 2.8-inch touchscreen inside. You'll also find support for V CAST Mobile TV, V CAST Video, V CAST Music with Rhapsody and VZ Navigator, not to mention the 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, HTML browser and visual voicemail capabilities. It's in stores today for a buck fifty after signing away your cellular soul for two years and waiting ages for a $50 mail-in rebate to arrive in your mailbox.%Gallery-34452%
Motorola's Krave ZN4 acquired, photographed
Here on the right coast of the US of A, it's not quite October 14th. That factoid aside, someone has still managed to acquire one of Motorola's peculiar (in a good way) Krave ZN4s from Verizon a few days in advance of its official release date. The touchscreen-heavy flip phone looks mighty impressive in the enviable photos waiting in the read link, and early impressions from the lucky owner assert that call quality is "very good," texting on it is a breeze and the touch response in general is quite satisfactory. For those of you passing this off as a gimmick before, see if you're still feeling the same way after having a look at the in the wild shots. [Via phoneArena]
Confirmed: Motorola Krave ZN4 comes to Verizon October 14
We're calling it -- the closest thing we yanks have to a MING is gracing Verizon on October 14 for $149.99 on a two-year contract after $50 rebate. Full retail for the Krave ZN4 will run $349.99, for those so inclined. Entertain yourself with a little press photography in the meantime, won't you?%Gallery-33508%
Verizon prices Motorola Krave ZN4 at $149.99
For those of you who firmly believe that Verizon plus Motorola plus touchscreen equals pure, unadulterated bliss, heads up: we have a bit of information that might be of interest to you. phoneArena has scored a screen shot of what appears to be some promotional material for Moto's upcoming MING-esque doohickey, the Krave ZN4 -- and it looks like we'll be shelling out about $150 on a two-year contract for the honor of carrying one in our knockoff Louis Vuitton backpacks. Not a bad price for a phone clearly designed to rest toward the upper end of Verizon's non-smartphone lineup, we suppose, and we'll admit that it's looking better in this dolled-up promo shot than it was last time we saw it. Separately, they've landed pricing for the Moto VU204, a basic flip that's probably not going to turn as many heads as the Krave; that one is going to go out the door for $29, and you'll get three free with the purchase of the first for the ultimate four-pack of mediocrity. We don't have a solid line on when these are coming to market, but the Krave's still a possibility for this month.
Verizon pushes Motorola ZN4 to October, Nokia 7205 to next year?
Jeebus, Nokia, what's going on with your stupid flip phone over there? Not to harsh on you too much -- we love you, really we do -- but we're not exactly talking about an N96-caliber device here. If an updated view of Verizon's Mobile Email launches is accurate, it seems that the launch of Nokia's CDMA-equipped 7205 will now come no earlier than January of 2009, which would put it a full year after the first spy shots leaked. We also see here that LG's VX5500 and VX8360 are both tracking for late October, while the mysterious VX9600 should be hitting in November if all goes well. From Motorola, the VU30 has been pushed out to the end of this month and the MING-esque ZN4 is looking like it's trying to break out in time for Halloween. Samsung is offering the u810 global phone later on this month, while the u650 "Sway" sneaks in somewhere in October. Altogether a promising autumn for Big Red's dumbphone line -- but we've seen enough date slips at this point to be fooled into believing there won't be a few more.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
New Verizon rebate forms uncover fresh Motos, Samsungs, LGs
Krave? Knack? New phones listed on Verizon's latest rebate forms has us believing that we may be approaching the product marketing End Times where naming conventions reach a level of silliness never before fathomed. Take, for example, the ZN4 Krave from Motorola -- a phone previously known as the Blaze -- or the Sway and Knack from Samsung, the former being the u650 slider with a 2-megapixel camera. Why can't we just call that one "u650," Verizon? We'd be totally cool with that. Returning momentarily to the land of sanity, LG nabs the VX8360 and VX5500 on the lower end, a market segment where neither real nor made-up words bother finding their way onto the labels. Kind of refreshing, we think -- especially if the alternative is "Knack."
Motorola's Blaze ZN4 and Rapture VU30 in the wild
Hey, Verizon customers, you're feeling a little warm to the touch over there. Could it be that you have -- be still our hearts! -- Motorola fever? As Motos go, Verizon's currently signed up to get two of the hotter upcoming models in the next few weeks, the ZN4 Blaze and the VU30 Rapture, both of which have been spied in the wild once more (looking basically ready for retail launch this time around, may we add). The VU30 is a fashion flip that takes some cues from its GSM-based U9 cousin featuring a glossy translucent shell, fat external display, and according to the latest rumors, a September 9 release date. The Blaze meanwhile looks more or less the same as the last time we saw it, leaving us to wonder what possessed Motorola to keep rolling with that eyesore of a giant, red-ringed medallion on the hinged lid. It's also rumored for a September date with destiny, though the exact day is unclear at this point -- and honestly, Motorola, if you want to push that back a month or two to make the badge less obnoxious, be our guest.[Via phoneArena]
