Microsoft Kin ONE Unveiling Features Prices and Pros & Cons

Introduction to Microsoft Kin ONEm

The Microsoft Kin ONEm was part of an ambitious move by Microsoft into the mobile phone market, aimed at capturing the youth demographic with its social-centric features. Announced and released in November 2010, it was a unique attempt to blend social media functionalities with a mobile experience. While it had a short lifespan, being eventually discontinued, the Kin ONEm serves as an interesting case study in mobile technology and market adaptation.

Design and Build

The Kin ONEm features a compact design with dimensions of 84.1 x 67.6 x 18.5 mm and a weight of 110.6 grams. It was designed to be easily portable while providing robust physical features. The phone includes a QWERTY keyboard, essential for the target demographic that was geared towards heavy texting and social media interactions. The device supports a Mini-SIM and is encased in a sleek, black exterior that was both minimalist and stylish.

Display

The device comes with a 2.6-inch TFT display, offering a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Although not high-definition by today's standards, it was adequate for browsing the web, sending messages, and managing phone applications.

Performance and Platform

Under the hood, the Kin ONEm is powered by the Nvidia Tegra chipset, along with a 600MHz ARM 11 CPU. The device featured 256MB of RAM, which, coupled with its Feature phone OS, provided a smooth enough performance for general phone operations and basic applications. The system was not designed for high-intensity tasks, but rather optimized for social media and communication.

Storage

Storage on the Kin ONEm is capped at 4GB with no card slot available for expansion. This limitation meant that users had to be mindful of the data they stored on their devices, especially in terms of multimedia content which could quickly consume space.

Camera

Photography on the Kin ONEm was facilitated by a 5 MP autofocus main camera with dual-LED flash, allowing for basic photo capture functions. Video recording was possible at 480p resolution at 30fps, suitable for short clips. While it lacked a front-facing camera, it still provided core photography features expected in a device at the time.

Sound and Multimedia

The phone came equipped with a loudspeaker and a standard 3.5mm audio jack, allowing for both hands-free calling and music playback using personal headphones. The device supported various audio and video formats, making it versatile for listening to music or watching video clips.

Connectivity

Connectivity options included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for wireless connections, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. GPS functionality, including A-GPS, made the device capable of basic navigation tasks. Interestingly, the Kin ONEm included a stereo FM radio with RDS, catering to audiophiles who enjoyed traditional broadcast radio.

Network and Communication

The Kin ONEm supported CDMA technology and EVDO for mobile connectivity, with provisions for both 2G and 3G bands, allowing decent mobile internet speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps. Messaging systems included SMS with a threaded view, MMS, Email, and Push Email to facilitate various communication preferences.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1240 mAh battery, supporting up to 210 hours of standby time and up to 5 hours and 40 minutes of talk time. This battery capacity was adequate for a day's worth of moderate usage, ensuring users could stay connected throughout their daily activities.

Features and Sensors

Features included the support for WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML browser, and Java MIDP 2.1, providing essential internet browsing options and application support. Sensors like the accelerometer and proximity sensor enhanced user interactions, while downloadable games catered to leisure activities on the go.

Price and Market Positioning

Priced at approximately 90 EUR at the time of release, the Kin ONEm was positioned as an affordable option for the youth market. Its focus on social capabilities, despite its limitations, reflected Microsoft's intention to penetrate the mobile phone industry with a device that prioritized connectivity and communication over raw technical power.

Conclusion

Despite being discontinued shortly after its release, the Microsoft Kin ONEm provides valuable insights into the complexity and challenges of mobile phone market dynamics. Its introduction was a significant step for Microsoft in exploring the realms of mobile communication and social networking, highlighting both the potential and pitfalls of focusing on niche markets within a highly competitive environment.