| Linux-based cameraphone shifts modes |
Jun. 23, 2008
 [Updated Jun. 26] -- Motorola and Kodak announced a cameraphone that combines Motorola's "ModeShift" interface with Kodak imaging technology. Available in China next month, and later this year elsewhere, Motorola's MotoZine ZN5 mashes up a 5-megapixel camera with a multimedia smartphone.
The MotoZine ZN5 is the first of many devices to carry the MotoZine name for multimedia-optimized devices, says Motorola. Like the the Rokr E8 announced in January, which offers a 2-megapixel camera, the ZN5 features Motorola's ModeShift soft MMI (man-machine interface), which changes according to the phone's mode. The ZN5's modes include telephony, photo-videography, and media playback, with ModeShift used to convert the five-way controller into a virtual "FastScroll" wheel in the latter mode.
  
Motorola ZN5
Depending on the carrier, MotoZine ZN5 ships with up to 350MB of memory, expandable via microSD cards up to 4GB. The phone is equipped with a 2.4-inch 240x320 resolution TFT display. For connectivity, it offers GSM 850/900/1800/1900 EDGE Class 12 and GPRS Class 12 cellular service, as well as 802.11 b/g/i WiFi. Motorola touts the phone's "CrystalTalk" technology, which it says improves voice quality even in noisy environments.
The quarter-pound phone measures 2.0 x 4.6 x 0.5 inches, with the 0.5-inch width expanding to 0.6 inches at the camera lens, says Motorola. It offers USB and Bluetooth connections as well as some A/V jacks and FM radio support. There's a full HTML browser, and the ZN5 is also said to support SMS, MMS, IM, and email. Multimedia support includes MP3 playback, as well as MPEG4/H263 video playback at up to 15 frames per second (fps), says the company.
 
ZN5, in "camera" mode
Developed in conjunction with Kodak, the 5-megapixel CMOS camera offers auto-focus, low-light setting, and digital zoom capabilities, says Kodak. Shutter speeds are said to range from 1/60 to 1/1000 seconds. The camera features an auto-focus capability that takes less than a second to lock in, and offers "one of the fastest click-to-click times available," claims the company. Special features include multi-shot and panorama modes, with the latter feature automatically matching continuous shots taken on the horizon line into a single image.
The cameraphone ships with Kodak's EasyShare software for organizing and editing images, and users can upload photos to the Kodak Gallery site for storage and sharing. The ZN5 also comes with an application called ShoZu that streamlines uploading of images to social networking sites.
 
ModeShift apparently lets users change the keypad language
Specs for the MotoZine ZN5 include:- Memory -- up to 350MB, depending on carrier configuration
- Storage -- optional removable 4GB microSD card
- Display -- 2.4-inch 240x320 TFT with 262K colors
- Cellular -- GSM 850/900/1800/1900, EDGE Class 12, GPRS Class 12
- WiFi -- 802.11 b/g/i
- Bluetooth -- stereo Bluetooth Class 2
- USB -- 1 x USB 2.0 port
- Camera -- 5-megapixel, auto-focus, low-light setting, digital zoom; 1/60 to 1/1000 second shutter speeds
- Camera modes -- panorama, macro, and multi-shot capture modes
- Editing effects -- grayscale, sepia, negative, reddish, greenish, brightness, sharpen, contrast, blur
- Lens -- digital zoom with 5.56mm focal length and 2.8/5.6 aperture; digital viewfinder
- A/V I/O -- 3.5mm A/V jack; TV Out; FM radio
- Multimedia features -- MP3; WMA; Windows Media Player 11; 15fps MPEG4, H263 video playback
- Interface -- ModeShift technology
- Dimensions – 0.02 (width) x 4.6 x 0.5 inches (0.5 x 118 x 12 mm); width expands to 0.6 inches (16mm) at the camera lens
- Weight – 0.25 pounds (114 grams)
- Battery -- 950mAh
- Talk time -- from 349 to 574 minutes
- Standby time -- from 310 to 579 hours
- Operating system -- MontaVista Linux 2.6.10 kernel, with Motorola MOTOMAGX Linux-Java UI layer, built atop Qt for Embedded Linux (formerly Qt/Embedded)
Stated John Blake, GM, digital capture and imaging devices group, and VP, Eastman Kodak Company, "We have worked closely with Motorola to create a device that delivers Kodak-quality pictures [and] allows sharing photos with friends and family around the world."
Stated Jeremy Dale, corporate VP, mobile devices marketing, Motorola, "Consumers not only want to be the photographer, but also the retoucher, the exhibitor, and the critic."
Availability
The MotoZine ZN5 will be first available in China in July, says Motorola, with global rollouts occurring throughout the remainder of the year. Pricing was not available. More information may be available here. A gallery of photos apparently taken using the device can be found here.
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