Samsung SPH-N270
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| Samsung SPH-N270 | |
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| Screen | 128x160 pixel, (28x34mm), 65,536 colors TFT LCD |
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| Ringtone | 40 chord, polyphonic |
| Networks | CDMA 850/1900 |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Physical size | 115 mm×58 mm×20 mm (4.53 x 2.28 x 0.79 inches) |
| Weight | 132 g (4.66 oz.) |
The Samsung SPH-N270 or Matrix phone is a candybar style mobile phone released in 2003, made to resemble the phone used in The Matrix Reloaded. The design crew of the Matrix worked closely with Samsung to develop a phone whose features and release date would coincide with the movie. The SPH-N270 was not intended as a mainstream phone for everyday use. Instead it was marketed solely to fans of the series as a piece of rare, high quality merchandise. Whether or not this claim is true is still debated.
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[edit] Features
Perhaps the most unique feature of the phone is its spring loaded earpiece which snaps up to reveal the screen. A small amount of the screen is left visible when the earpiece is down to display important status information. The phone can be configured so that snapping up the earpiece answers an incoming call. Other phones unrelated to the matrix are still commonly referred to as "matrix phones" if they exhibit this design feature. Another feature uncommon in 2003 was the concept of a built-in antenna. The "intenna" as it was called was still extremely receptive as most users found that it could maintain a strong signal in elevators and garages.
The 1000mAh lithium ion battery found in the N270 has a backplate matching the matrix phone, making it somewhat proprietary. Three connectors are present on the SPH-N270. The two ports on the bottom are used for a wall charger/car adapter and a variety of extensions including a USB cable. The port on the top is meant for a headset but most users of the phone do not employ a headset because the SPH-N270 is designed with aesthetics in mind.
Other than physical conveniences, the phone features a GPS transmitter, English and Spanish languages, multiple alarms, a calendar, a to-do list and a simple calculator. A notable emphasis of the Samsung SPH-N270 is integration with voice. While 300 contacts stored in the phone can be dialed automatically from the menu, utterance of their names also triggers a phone call. In addition, phone digits can be spoken for contacts not present in the phone book. The phone has an option to match text to the user's speech. Digits displayed on the screen would be read aloud by the user to improve voice recognition.
[edit] Relation to the Matrix
The green code on a black background, made famous by The Matrix is found in many menus of the phone by default. The phone is mostly made of black plastic and the buttons show stylized green digits. The manual, box and collector's tin also feature the "code rain". The charger is the only item in the package with no reference to the Matrix films. It is also the only item in the package compatible with multiple phones.
This phone is notable for not breaking the fourth wall and as such, much of the on-screen text is not read as a voice over. Samsung is only displayed on the phone's casing and Sprint is only mentioned on-screen when the battery is improperly inserted. When it boots up "The Matrix" is displayed on the screen, and when the phone is turned off, the message "GOOD BYE" is shown, in a manner reminiscent of Neo's first encounter with the Matrix. Three screensaver themes that come with the phone are Reloaded, Animatrix and Camera, even though the SPH-N270 cannot be used as a camera. Several ringtones from the first two matrix movies can be selected along with a beep option and a vibrate option. These ringtones can be applied to contacts individually.
[edit] Criticism
[edit] The Matrix
Unlike the Nokia 8110 which appeared in The Matrix but existed already, the SPH-N270 was made specifically for the second Matrix film. Many fans initially pleased with the phone's release expected the phone to be the exact prop used in The Matrix Reloaded. Unfortunately, the prop used in the film was slightly different and presumably not functional. The phone was used only twice in the movie but an accurate 3D model of it was portrayed in Final Flight of the Osiris as well.
[edit] Technology
Even for 2003, the Matrix phone was by no means a high-end product. While USB transfer was available to some extent, the phone did not support Bluetooth or IrDA and had no video or MP3 capabilities. Many users chose not to buy the phone because it is not web-capable. No web browser or means of sending or receiving text messages was included in the firmware. The SPH-N270 is also not a camera phone even though Samsung is regarded highly for its camera-phones.
[edit] Availability
The Samsung N270 was only sold on a special section of the Samsung website running exclusively in Flash. The website has since been taken down as all of the phones have been sold. Only 10,000 Matrix phones were ever produced and each one was clearly numbered. The phone cost $500 and was restricted for use with Sprint PCS. It was also restricted for sale in the US, since Sprint PCS is an American network, although many fans have successfully used it in other countries with CDMA networks through analog and digital roaming.
[edit] External links
- [1] Summary of the phone's specification and features.
- [2] In depth review of the N270.
- [3] CNET review with many links to other reviews.
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| A series | A640 • A707 • A900 |
| c series | c417 |
| D series | D500 • D600 • D800 • D807 • D830 • D900 |
| E series | E105 • E335 • E700 • E720 • E800 • E810 • E820 • E900 |
| i series | i300 • i500 • i550 • i700 • i730 |
| N series | N270 |
| P series | P300 • P510 |
| T series | T209 • T319 • T509 • T519 • T619 • T629 • T709 • T809 |
| u series | u520• u620 |
| X series | X450 • X460 • X480 • X495 • X640 • X660 • X700 • X820 • X830 |
| Z series | Z130 • Z140 • Z400 • Z107 |
