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Motorola Triumph MOTWX435KT

The Motorola Triumph MOTWX435KT is a highly anticipated Android SmartPhone for the Virgin Mobile network. This high anticipation is due to this camera phone being the first high-end Android phone on Virgin Mobile's no-contract Beyond Talk plan with unlimited data. Off the shelf, this phone runs the Android 2.2.2 operating system. This article focuses on the camera and camcorder aspect of this high-end camera phone.

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The Package

The Motorola Triumph comes in a nice box with Virgin Mobile branding. The box cover can be flipped open to see the sleek looking phone. Upon opening the box, I discover the SmartPhone, a battery, a 2 GB microSD Card, a microSD Card adapter, a micro-USB cable, an AC charger, and instructions for activating the phone on the Virgin Mobile network.

Under the battery cover, the label shows, "MADE IN CHINA". However, in our hands, the phone feels extremely solid, despite how thin it is compared to other SmartPhones. The weight also feels rather hefty (143 g). Short of the glass panel for the LCD and the camera lenses, the entire phone is covered in a rubbery plastic with a non-slip grip. The large 4.1 inches screen (480 x 800 pixels resolution) is recessed slightly from the rubbery surround. Therefore, you can place the phone face down on a table without scratching the glass. All of these traits gives the user the perception and confidence in this top-of-the-line camera phone.

Booting up the phone is no joke. Unlike the Samsung Intercept Android phone, which takes an eternity to boot, the Motorola Triumph boots to the lock screen in seconds. We wonder if it is the more powerful SnapDragon CPU or if the Android 2.2.2 operating system has been optimized.

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Camera

The Motorola Triumph has two cameras. The primary camera is on the back, much like most digital cameras. The 5 megapixel primary camera produces photos at 2592х1944 resolution.

The secondary camera is on the front, above the LCD screen, facing the user. With the secondary camera facing the user, it could really revolutionize the self-portrait genre. However, the secondary is lower in pixel count and has far less customizable settings. Either of these shortcomings could deter photographers from using it.

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Zoom

This camera support a zoom range between 1x and 4x. It is likely that the camera uses digital zoom rather than optical zoom. If you double-tap the screen, it toggles between 1x and 4x zoom. To use other values, you'll have to use the settings menu. See "Camera Settings" below.

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Touch Focus

This camera has an interesting mode called "Touch AF/AEC". When this mode is turned on, you can touch anywhere in the photo frame to auto-focus on that spot. If you just tap the spot, it will auto-focus on that spot, but will not snap a photo until you tap on the shutter button. If you long press the spot, it will auto-focus on that spot, then snap a photo when you take your finger off the screen.

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Shutter Sound

The camera has an ability to turn off the shutter sound, which is great for discreet situations. However, you have to be careful with the auto-focus, which still provides an audible focus achieved indication. In order to avoid this audible alert, tap the shutter button quickly, without keeping your finger on the button. When you do, it auto-focuses on the center of the camera, then snaps a photo when focus is achieved. Not too useful when you want a well composed photograph, but if you just want to capture something discreetly, it functions well.

If you "touch focus" anywhere within the frame, it will produce an audible chime on focus achieve. If you keep you finger on the shutter button, it will make an audio chime upon focus achieve, and snap a photo when you let go of the button. What this camera needs is a way to disable the AF sound as well.

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Camcorder

The Motorola Triumph comes with a dedicated camcorder app so that you can launch it immediately from your home screen. There is less opportunity lost when you launch it directly, versus launching the camera app, then switching to camcorder.

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Storage

A 2GB microSD Card is included with the phone; at least the Virgin Mobile version of this phone. That's plenty of storage space for the camera and the camcorder.

The microSD Card is pre-installed in the phone, under the battery cover. Therefore, in order to swap memory card, you must remove the battery cover. A dedicated microSD Card slot on the side of the phone would have been more convenient for photographers. A microSD Card to SD Card adapter is also included as part of the package.

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Battery

The Motorola Triumph uses the Motorola FB0-2 battery pack. It's a 3.7v Lithium Ion battery that is rated at 1380 mAh (5.1 Wh). Not that it really matters too much, but in case you are wondering: "CELL ORIGIN JAPAN FINISHED IN CHINA".

Although the battery pack seems much bigger, physically, than the battery pack for the Samsung Intercept phone, they have the same longevity.

Charging is done via the micro-USB port with the include USB cable. This cable can be plugged into your computer or plugged into the included AC adapter for charging the phone. Much like the Samsung Intercept, the phone can be fully charged in about four or five hours.

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Connectivity

The external casing of the Motorola Triumph is really clean and simple. It only has three buttons (power, volume up, and volume down) and three ports (3.5mm audio jack, micro-HDMI port, and microUSB port).

Sadly, audio mic/headphones and micro-HDMI cable are not included in the package.

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Primary Camera Settings

Switch camera
  Main camera
  Front camera

Focus mode
  Auto
  Normal
  Off

Picture size
  5M Pixels
  3M Pixels
  HD1080
  2M Pixels
  WXGA
  HD720
  1M Pixels
  SVGA
  WVGA
  VGA
  CIF
  QVGA
  QCIF

Picture quality
  Super fine
  Fine
  Normal

Color effect
  None
  Mono
  Sepia
  Negative
  Solarize

Select ISO
  Auto
  ISO100
  ISO200
  ISO400
  ISO800

Metering Mode
  Frame Average
  Center Weighted
  Spot Metering

Touch AF/AEC
  Off
  On

Anti Banding
  Off
  50 Hz
  60 Hz
  Auto

Saturation
  Level 0
  Level 1
  Level 2
  Level 3
  Level 4

Contrast
  Level 0
  Level 1
  Level 2
  Level 3
  Level 4

Sharpness
  Level 0
  Level 1
  Level 2
  Level 3
  Level 4

Brightness
  Level 0
  Level 1
  Level 2
  Level 3
  Level 4
  Level 5
  Level 6

Grid
  Off
  On

Shutter sound
  Off
  On

Camera settings
  Restore to defaults

Store location
  Off
  On

White balance
  Auto
  Incandescent
  Daylight
  Fluorescent
  Cloudy

Flash mode
  Auto
  On
  Off

Zoom
  4x
  3x
  2.3x
  1.7x
  1.3x
  1x

Secondary Camera Settings

Switch camera
  Main camera
  Front camera

Store location
  Off
  On

Zoom
  4x
  3x
  2.3x
  1.7x
  1.3x
  1x

Primary Camcorder Settings

Switch camera
  Main camera
  Front camera

Color effect
  None
  Mono
  Sepia
  Negative
  Solarize

Video quality
  720P
  D1
  WVGA
  VGA
  CIF
  QVGA
  QCIF

Video encoder
  MPEG4
  H263
  H264

Video duration
  30 seconds(MMS)
  10 minutes
  30 minutes

Camera settings
  Restore to defaults

White balance
  Auto
  Incandescent
  Daylight
  Fluorescent
  Cloudy

Video quality
  High (30m)
  Low (30m)
  MMS (Low, 30s)
  YouTube (High, 10m)
  Custom

Secondary Camcorder Settings

Switch camera
  Main camera
  Front camera

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