Make movies with the Moto Z10

Motorola Z10

(Credit: Motorola)

Motorola clearly tried to steal the show with its CES press conference (it did have cotton candy after all), but we have to admit that its new phones look pretty cool. Besides the Rokr E8, the company also introduced the video-centric Z10. Though its 3.2-megapixel camera may not sound very impressive--particularly with the 5-megapixel camera phones on the market--the Z10 offers a high-end video experience by recording and playing clips at a full 30 frames per second, which is equal to your television set. In contrast, most camera phones record and play at 15 frames per second, which accounts for the choppy and pixelated video we're used to seeing. Promises aside, the Z10's performance was impressive in the brief demo we saw, while the 2.2-inch, 16-million color display didn't hurt. After shooting video, Moto showed that you'll be able upload it directly to YouTube or other video-sharing sites. Still photographers can also have fun as the Z10 includes a flash and a variety of image-editing options.

Watch the Motorola Z10 video on CNET TV.

Other features run the usual media gamut. You'll find Bluetooth, an FM radio, Moto's CrystalTalk technology, USB support, a speakerphone, a digital music player, personal organizer applications, and a microSD card slot that's "future-proofed" for cards up to 32GB. The design employs the "kick slide" mechanism that Moto debuted in the Rizr Z8 but this time the body is cast in metal and the navigation controls are a tad easier to use. Though the Z10 is a quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) world phone, it supports only the 2100 3G band used in Europe. So, while you will be able to get it unlocked in North America (Moto promises it will go on sale in the first quarter of this year), you'll be able to use it on wireless broadband networks here. Also, it won't debut with a U.S. or Canadian carrier in its current form.