The ZX10's conservative exterior is a steep contrast to the ultra-thin designs sweeping the marketplace. Targeting professionals and consumers who value function over form, the ZX10 is deceivingly packed in an unassuming dual-toned shell.
Measuring 88 x 48 x 26 mm with the sub antenna, the ZX10 is on par in size with current flip phones on the market today. Displaying a monochrome external LCD, the front lid lets users quickly glance at essential information such as network status, time, and battery levels, while indications for incoming calls and messages alert users without opening the phone.
Above the screen, an integrated flash illuminates dim environments when the 1.3-megapixel camera (located on the top hinge) is activated. Able to snap photos in a 180-degree range, the versatile camera lens rotates vertically to capture images at awkward angles, allowing self-portraits and group shots.
On the left, an infrared port connects the ZX10 to a PC for wireless data transfer, while a headset jack above lets users plug in an optional headset for handsfree access. The right features a Profile Key to quickly change phone settings depending on the environment, while a TransFlah card slot offers expandable memory up to 512 MB in size (per card).
Opening the ZX10 reveals a large state-of-the-art 262K-color screen. Surrounded by a Switch Key (a shortcut key to quickly and conveniently switch between Calls, Messages, and MEdia Net services), Camera Key, Send, End, Clear, and Left and Right Soft Keys, the standard 5-way directional keypad provides traditional menu navigation with the center press doubling as the WAP browser launcher while idle.
Out of the box, the Samsung SGH-ZX10 comes with a standard 1000 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Travel Charger, Quick Start Guide, and User Manual.
Camera
Situated on the spine, the ZX10's camera lens rotates about a 180-degree range. Pressing the dedicated Camera Key activates the 1.3-megapixel camera, able to take photos high enough in resolution (1280 x 1024 px) to leave the digital camera at home. However, to conserve memory, users have the option to lower photo resolution to VGA (640 x 480 px), QVGA (320 x 240 px), or QCIF (176 x 144 px). All photos are stored in the JPG file format. Compared to other camera phones on the market today, the ZX10 is in the middle of the pack, leaning towards the high-end. Trailing Sony Ericsson's 2.0- and 3.0-megapixel camera phones which push mobile imaging to the brink of being standalone digital cameras, the ZX10 is nonetheless significantly improved over first generation VGA cameras that captured images too grainy for anything more than phone wallpapers and contact photos.
Pushing the ZX10 up a notch are its bundled filters and effects. In addition to standard settings found on most camera phones today such as Flash (Off, Shoot Only, or Permanent), Zoom, Brightness, Effects (Sepia, Black and White, Night, and Normal), White Balance, Multi-Shot (3, 6, 9, or 12 Shots at Low, Normal, or High Speed), Self-Timer (Off, 3, 5, or 10 Seconds), and Frames, the ZX10 also features options only normally found on standalone digital cameras. Offering advanced features such as Metering Exposure (Matrix, Center-Weighted, and Spot), ISO (Auto, 100, 200, 400, and 800), and Mosaic-Shot (to piece together 4 or 9 photos for a panoramic view), the ZX10 gives users more control over the shots they take. Switching to Camcorder Mode, the ZX10 records up to an hour of video at QCIF (176 x 144 px) resolution, with the option to adjust Effects, Flash, and Quality Settings. Encoded in MPEG-4 and 3GP formats, video is recorded at 15 fps (frames per second) and can be stored on the ZX10's internal memory or removable TransFlash memory cards.
With current mobile video technology, recorded clips are mediocre at best, with much of the use during still photo capture. Considering even high-end camera phones offer similar graininess, the ZX10's video capabilities are reasonable compared to the market. By contrast, still camera images have decent clarity though color accuracy is a bit sporadic.
Screen
With the vast majority of cell phones featuring dual color displays, the ZX10 may disappoint consumers with its 96 x 96 px monochrome external screen. However for users who don't require a color screen to display date, time, battery life, network status, and incoming calls and alerts, the ZX10 has a noticeable advantage. Built on STN (Super Twisted Nematic) LCD technology, energy consumption is greatly reduced, prolonging the ZX10's battery life.
By contrast, the 262K-color internal LCD is made of vivid TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology. Manufactured with circuit transistors placed directly on the glass, the TFT screen can refresh significantly faster than STN from not having to scan each pixel location. Necessary for applications requiring fast refresh rates, such as being used as a viewfinder in Camera Mode, the ZX10's 176 x 220 px screen is among the leading displays on the market today, and an ideal medium to watch Cingular Video service on.
Audio
Loading a TransFlash memory card stored with music activates the ZX10's fairly standard built-in MP3 Player. Converting the 5-way directional keypad into the controller, users can Play / Pause (Center), Rewind (Left), Forward (Right), Stop (Down), and View Playlist (Up) with a simple key press. Storing over a hundred songs per card (512 MB), the ZX10 accepts a variety of file formats and bitrates.
Consumers can set real music as ringtones as well. Supporting MP3, AAC, or 64 chord polyphonic tones, the ZX10 can directly download or transfer ringtones from a PC or through Cingular's MEdia Net service.
Entertainment
The ZX10 is Cingular's new flagship video phone, and one of the first devices to take advantage of Cingular Video. Pricing for Cingular Video is $0.01 per KB without a data plan, so consumers are highly recommended to sign up with Cingular's MEdia Net Unlimited Data Package ($19.99 per month) to avoid high data charges. With unlimited MEdia Net, users get unlimited access to Cingular Video's basic content. Offering a wide variety of programming everyone should be able to find something to watch.
The video controls take up the bottom part of the ZX10's screen, so unfortunately users will not be able watch clips in full screen. However, video quality is surprisingly good, with smooth and synchronous imaging and audio, comparable (if not better) to Verizion Wireless VCAST and Sprint PCS MobiTV.For popular programming, customers can view the latest trailers from ABC's hit series "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost," pass time laughing at Adult Swim's "The Brak Show," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Sealab 2021," and "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law."
To keep atop the latest current events, users can get breaking news updates from major media networks (NBC News, FOX News and CNN). Providing headlines for top stories, business, sports, politics, and entertainment, even the Weather Channel shows local and regional updates, as well as severe and tropical weather reports.
Keeping kids entertained as well, the ZX10 supplies current shows like Cartoon Network's "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy," "The Powerpuff Girls," "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends," "Codename: Kids Next Door" and "Dexter's Laboratory", and content from the Disney Channel and Disney Mobile like "That's So Raven" and "Kim Possible," "Playhouse Disney," "The Muppets," Disney Classics, and Disney Originals 2D and 3D animated shorts.
ESPN lets fanatics get the latest sports programming with college sports content, X Games, and ESPN Deportes. FOX Sports also provides in-depth regional coverage of all major pro and college sports, while the more specialized SPEED Channel displays motor sports news, expert insight, analysis and lifestyle programming.
For entertainment on the road, iFilm offers movie trailers and clips, celebrity interviews and updates, while Music Choice provides a diverse selection of music videos, artist interviews and performances, and music news.
Premium content is also available for an extra $4.99 per month. Gaining access to film clips, HBO Family provides shows like "Crashbox" and "El Perro," while HBO Mobile lets consumers watch award-winning shows like "The Sopranos," "Sex and The City," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Entourage."
The ZX10 also offers essential PIM (Personal Information Management) tools, preinstalled with Alarm, Calculator, Converter, Device Management, Organizer (Calendar, To-Do List, Memo Pad, and Scheduler) Record Audio, and World Time. Consumers can also check 3rd party email accounts through POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols.
Offering a few bundled games, the ZX10 also supports J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition), the most popular mobile platform for games and applications. With many developers making applications for J2ME, a wide variety is already available. From Java games (reminiscent of 80s console titles) to useful mapping tools and productive applications, users can download programs through the Internet or Cingular Mall, most for a small fee.
Internet
As the backbone to Cingular Video, Cingular recently begun upgrading its networks from EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution), a 2.5G standard, to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), a 3G standard adopted my much of the world. Allowing users to transfer data at theoretical rates of 384 kbps, UMTS offers realistic rates of around 220-320 kbps, still a significant improvement over EDGE, which transfers at 70-135 kbps.
As an entirely new network based on CDMA technology, UMTS requires significant investment in infrastructure, contrary to EDGE which was merely a software upgrade from GSM. Thus UMTS (and Cingular Video) is only currently available in select markets (Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma and Washington, D.C.), but will be rolled out to additional markets throughout the year.
While Cingular offers faster networks over competing GSM networks, unfortunately UMTS is still slower than EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) technology from CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless and Sprint. With rates of 300-500 kbps, EV-DO currently offers the fastest transfer speeds from wireless carriers in North America.
Storage
Although the ZX10 has 50.0 MB of free memory for multimedia storage, necessary for music player and video streaming functionality, large files from high-quality photos, MP3s, and video clips fill it up quickly. Luckily the ZX10 has an expansion slot, capable of accepting TransFlash memory cards. Offering up to 512 MB per card, the removable storage allows users to not only store more multimedia, but also transfer them to and from the ZX10.
Connectivity
Located on the left side, the ZX10 has an infrared sensor to wirelessly transfer files. However the ZX10 lacks Bluetooth technology for wireless headsets. Commonly found on many devices nowadays, users will need to use a wired headset for handsfree access.
Conclusion
The Samsung ZX10 is a wonderful entertainment device for the road, integrating a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 player, and TransFlash memory card slot. But for professionals who need to stay connected away from the office, the ZX10 proves equally capable, offering quad-band GSM with UMTS dual-band support, email access, and real-time chat on the leading instant messaging clients.
Unfortunately the ZX10 has some weaknesses. The external screen on a flagship device is baffling, especially on a video phone where it should have strengths in LCD technology. The lack of Bluetooth is also downside considering wireless headsets are gaining popularity.
Regardless, the ZX10 is highlighted by Cingular Video. With strengths in imaging and connectivity, the ZX10 offers considerably faster transfer speeds over existing EDGE networks, a welcomed relief for many Cingular customers who have had to watch Verizon Wireless and Sprint launch similar services earlier.
Samsung ZX10 Features
* GSM quad-band and UMTS dual-band technologies for communication around the globe
* Built-in 1.3-megapixel camera with 2x zoom and video clip capture and playback
* Integrated MP3 audio player and 64-chord polyphonic sound engine
* J2ME software for downloading games, wallpaper, screensavers, ringtones and applications
* 50 MB internal memory and miniSD / TransFlash removable memory for extra storage
* One-touch embedded mobile instant messaging using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, and Yahoo! Messenger
* UMTS technology for high-speed data transmission with WAP 2.0 compliant browser
Samsung ZX10 Specs
Technical Specifications
Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / UMTS 850 / 1900
Form Factor: Clamshell
Dimensions: 88 x 48 x 26 mm
Weight: 105 g
Antenna: Stub
Navigation: 5-Way Keypad
Battery Type: Li-Ion
Talk Time: 5.00
Standby Time: 200
Memory: 50 MB
Expandable Memory: microSD / TransFlash
Imaging
Main Screen: 262000 colors (TFT)
176 x 220 px
External Screen: 2 colors (LCD)
96 x 96 px
Camera: 1.3 MP / 1280 x 1024 px / 2X Zoom / Multi-Shot / Self-Timer / Video Recorder
Audio
MP3 Player: Yes
FM Radio: No
Speakerphone: Yes
Push-To-Talk: No
Multimedia
Wallpapers: 176 x 220 px
Screen Savers: 176 x 220 px
Ring Tones: 64 chord / MP3
Themes: Yes
Games: J2ME
Streaming Multimedia: Cingular Video
Messaging
SMS: Yes
EMS: Yes
MMS: Yes
Email: Yes
Chat: AOL / ICQ / Yahoo!
Predictive Text: T9
Applications
Phonebook Capacity: 1000
Calendar: Yes
To-Do List: Yes
WAP: 2.0
Voice Commands: Yes
Calculator: Yes
Connectivity
Bluetooth: No
Infrared Port: Yes
High-Speed Data: GPRS (Class 10) / UMTS
Wi-Fi: No
GPS: No
PC Sync: Yes
