Sony Ericsson's Walkman handsets may be something of a household name when it comes to music phones, but as they consistently lack standard headphone sockets or support for common music file formats, it shouldn't be too difficult for another company to leap ahead.
Motorola's Rokr E8 is pitched -- purely and simply -- as a phone for music and a phone for the style-conscious. It's available for free on a monthly contract from O2 and Orange.
Design
When it's switched off, you'd be forgiven for thinking the E8 is simply a large, black slab. With its lights switched off, the handset appears to have no buttons and few controls.
The haptic keypad is pressure-sensitive -- sort of a cross between a physical button and typical touch-sensitivity à la iPhone. It mimics a physical keypad really well, making speed texting reasonably easy.
We were thrilled to see a 3.5mm headphone socket, meaning any decent headphones you have will work fine. There's also no unsightly slots dotted around; the microSD slot sits next to the SIM slot inside the handset -- good for aesthetics, bad if you swap cards a lot.
We initially took issue with the screen, as at 51mm (2 inches) diagonally, it's hardly huge. But it's very crisp, very bright and extremely pleasant to read.
Features
This isn't a 3G handset, so if you plan on browsing the Web, either don't buy this phone or be prepared to browse very slowly. Alternatively, you can install Opera Mini. It works with EDGE and GPRS, plus quad-band compatibility makes this a good phone for use around the world.
A 2-megapixel camera sits on the back of the handset, though it's not backed up with any flash. Inside, you'll find 2GB of onboard memory, which could be better, but it can be expanded with microSD up to 4GB in capacity.
Even better, these two pools of memory are automatically combined, meaning music stored in the phone's memory is combined with music stored on microSD within the main music library, itself accessible with a dedicated music key.
Compatible music formats include MP3, AAC, WMA and WAV, but the E8 doesn't support protected WMA/AAC from the likes of Napster or iTunes. What is supported can be played through headphones or wirelessly via stereo A2DP Bluetooth.
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User reviews4
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godsri777 14 June 2009
Good: the music playback n the headphones r perfect
Bad: slow for a sec and u cannot add themes for this one>>>>
Comment: ITS
godsri777 14 June 2009
Good: the music playback n the headphones r perfect
Bad: slow for a sec and u cannot add themes for this one>>>>
Comment: ITS a good quality mobile frm the motorola
it works very well n the multi taskings are not fast bt average
the camera works well in daytime and the screen is bright n cool inspite of its small size
speed is important for a music phone [lacking here]
and the big shots in this are the AWESOME 2GB phone memory which comes handy in many ways
the second is the SCROLLER ,fast n responsive though one must get used to it bfore rating its fast n u have 2 practice using it.
the looks of the phone r no less than stunning the phone changes in to an ipod with the touch of button
the keypad transformations r coolllll
the design is good but they cud hv made it scratch resistant [the keypad]
the weight is also okay
other features like bluetooth ....etc r fine with me
the speakers r not loud bt the real thing u need fr a mp3 player is the best here
Headset is really nice producing thumping sound and non irritating bass
- point is that u have no 3G bt its well worth its price
skcmedia 1 August 2008
Good: The look and robust feel.
Bad: They have removed the ability to set personal text alerts.
Comment: This is a surprisingly good new model from Motorola. Having had some bad luck with their Razr V8, I decided to test my previous decision to ditch the brand with one more chance. I am pleasantly surprised. It has a completely new menu system with three options for viewing it. It has a good clear screen which, unusually yet practically, is like a wide screen TV. So whilst people complain about its size, I recall viewing most clips and pictures with my old phone in the horizontal position!
The touch sensitive keyboard is a delight to use and the little buzz beneath your fingers as you tap is pleasantly reassuring. Its real selling point is the unique way in which the key pad transforms itself to serve the differing functions such as music player and camera. In bright sunlight it is even clearer to view the key pad so I am really impressed with that. The only down side is that I have not discovered if this can be turned off as when using the phone in a quiet environment can the squelching noise the buzz creates be annoying.
Texting is pretty good but Motorola have a long way to go before they achieve the agile ability of nokia. The predictive language tends to lean to mid-atlantic English but its ability to recall sentence structure is really useful if you wish to repeat a part of a text to another person. The texting screen is totally white with black font so it very clear even in sunlight.
The call sound quality is excellent, one of Motorola's all time strengths.
The music player is a delight and the unique scrolling system will effectively reach the desired area you wish to be in swiftly. For precision, there is a up down left right toggle button in the middle. The music player quality is excellent. those of you wishing to blast your brains out look elsewhere. For whilst the sound quality is brilliant, the volume could be a tad louder but perfectly suffice for most people.
The camera offers perfectly acceptable quality snaps. Its 2mp camera is far superior to the nokia equivalent. The video camera offers similar high standard and everyday users should be more than happy with the results. When you first use the video function you would be forgiven for thinking you have taken a photo as the video camera omits a shutter click as you begin and finish video capture. A red flashing beacon tells the subject you are recording.
Ring tones are the usual expected from Motorola, with the now improved plus of enabling the user to here a ring tone play when it is highlighted. Unlike the Razr V8 which required users to select and play it to hear only to then have to go back to apply it. Most annoying.
Sadly there is only one theme available which is predominantly black and white with icons having their own colour. I find this surprising but users can apply other wallpapers to the home screen.
When the phone is asleep it looks like a black tar and is stylish and elegant in appearance. The camera and volume buttons are on the right and double up as the ring alert selector. The On off switch is surprisingly a seperate switch at the left which with an upward movement doubles up as a key pad lock. Clock watchers please note, there is no clock displayed when the phone is asleep.
Lastly, the infamous battery. I have only had the phone 5 days but I have to say, following on from an overnight charge last night, having made one call and about ten text messages, a selection of calendar entries and one reminder note, the battery is still showing full. Oh, I have listened to 30 minutes music and 60 minutes of radio. So I would say it is doing pretty well thus far. A nokia battery it is not and I do not imagine it will get much better but I am well impressed after the Razr V8 experience.
To summarise, drop the anti motorola stance, it isn't the second largest manufacturer in the world for nothing. This handset shows motorola has engaged with its users and made some necessary changes only at the expense of some minor o
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