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Filed under: Handsets, Features, Motorola, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

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 chin. 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.

Continue reading Motorola Krave ZN4 hands-on

Motorola Krave ZN4 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

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 precisely 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 Magazine
Read - PhoneScoop
Read - Laptop Mag
Read - DigitalTrends
Read - CNET

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Filed under: Handsets, Motorola, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

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.

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