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Motorola has added three new music phones to its MOTOROKR lineup, the EM30 candybar, the EM28 clamshell and EM25 slider phone. All three are geared for music lovers who can’t live without their mobile phones. Here’s a quick rundown of the specs and features of each of these new ROKR handsets.

First up we the ROKR EM30 candybar, which is equipped with Motorola’s ModeShift technology for illuminating the phone’s keyboards when shifting from phone to music mode. Aside from these, it also features an FM Radio in addition to its media player functionality, a 2-megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom, a 3.5mm stereo headset jack, text-to-speech recognition, support for Microsoft music ecosystem, airplane mode, CrystalTalk technology, a microSD storage card slot and Windows Media Player 11 support. The ROKR EM30 is a quad band GPRS/EDGE class 12 phone which can give out 360 minutes of talktime and 300 hours of standby time.

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Rogers customers can now get their very own Motorola ROKR E8, courtesy of Best Buy Canada. The specs remain the same as the US based model that was recently launched with T-Mobile, however its a little less expensive. Best Buy is offering the ROKR E8 for $149.99, however it does require a three-year agreement. Even at this slightly lower price, I still feel that the E8 is a little expensive.

Product [Best Buy] Via [mobilesyrup]

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As expected T-Mobile has officially unveiled the Motorola ROKR E8, which will be available beginning July 7. The ROKR E8 will feature a touchscreen keyboard with a vibration feedback that will change and offer different keys depending on the feature you are currently using. Otherwise the E8 will be a candybar style handset with a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, 2GB of internal memory with a microSD card slot that will allow for 8GB more and is myFaves compatible.

The ROKR E8 will set you back $199, which comes along with a two-year agreement. Overall a decent little handset, but for $199 one has to wonder why, compared to some other more full featured models that are currently available it sounds a little pricey.

Read [T-Mobile] Via [Engadget]

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Sporting a very similar look as the current MOTOROKR E8, the EM30 has landed at the FCC and received their approval. The most notable difference between the EM30 and E8 is the navigation pad, the EM30 uses a D-pad as opposed to the omega wheel navigation. The Motorola EM30 is your basic looking candybar style handset, however it does offer some nice features, which includes the keypad, it changes layout based on the current application in use. The EM30 also includes a 2-inch display, 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm jack, FM radio, microSD card slot and takes advantage of Motorola’s Crystal Talk technology. Currently the launch information and pricing remains a mystery, however we will keep you updated when it becomes available.

Via [Phone Scoop]

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T-Mobile is expected to launch the Motorola ROKR E8. Images of the candybar style handset with T-Mobile and myFaves branding have recently turned up and sadly the E8 may have a nicer look than specs. The ROKR E8 is said to feature quadband GSM/EDGE, 2-megapixel camera, 2GB of flash-based storage, microSD card slot, FM radio, microUSB and is Linux-based. The ROKR E8 also has a lack of actual keys and instead has a navigation wheel and touch screen surface that gives off little vibrations when you make a “key press.“ No confirmation yet on any availability date or pricing information.

Via [Engadget Mobile]

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I flew to Las Vegas, as did many of us, with the anticipation that this CES would showcase the collective response to the iPhone brought out at last year’s Macworld.  Apparently, that was naive.  I fully expected to be “wowed” or perhaps even “bowled over” by the big guns (LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Motorola, Sony Ericsson).  Instead, largely I was non plussed.  I showed up for all my booth tour appointments and waited to be shown their response.  After all they’ve had just about full year since getting a public glance at what was coming.

To me, CES was the perfect launching pad for return volley.  A response from the makers at this show, would have

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“So, what is new?“ is the first question I get as I get into the taxi from in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center.  I had been trying to answer that question for the past four days.  I’ve seen seas of LCD TVs (most black, shiny and look virtually identical).  There has been lots of HD networking products, lots of talk about Blu-ray (not lots about HD-DVD, ha).  More and more iPod docks than seems necessary, but who am I to complain.

What I saw and heard a lot about is manufacturers working on technology they don’t know what they (or we) will do with.  Like Microsoft’s PopFly, a mash up for Silverlight.  According to a MS spokesperson, “we don’t have a revenue model for it yet”.  There was some push for mobile TV (ala Korea) but I am not sure if that is going to catch on.

The cabbies next question followed quickly, “what new phones are there?“  I really had hoped we’d see some response to the iPhone at this show.  I would have thought it was the perfect time to steal some thunder from Macworld, but no.  The best phone I saw was the new ROKR from Motorola that had a fuction-specific, changeable touch pad with tactile feedback.  It was amazing.  Not earth shattering, but something even the mighty iPhone should have.  FYI-We are at a Palm conference right now that I believe we’ll get to see something new so check for that and I might revise this answer.

So after he asked me questions, it was my turn.  What were other peoples answers to those question?  His answers really were not that different than my own findings: nothing super duper.  Sure there is still some innovation gone, but they are improvements to existing stuff, not market changing items.

Gadgetell is far from near reporting on what is coming down the pipe this year and I don’t think I am alone in hoping they come up with something mind blowing in the following days.  Good luck boys.

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Thanks to the FCC we have some details and pics of the yet to be released Motorola ROKR E8. The new ROKR is a glossy black candybar style phone that will feature a camera, Bluetooth, a microSD slot, a sliding key lock switch, has a landscape display and EDGE coverage. Unfortunately the microSD card slot is located underneath the battery cover. Overall a fairly standard phone, however the keypad is unique, its a flat keypad with illuminated keys that appear and disappear based on touch.

Via [PhoneScoop]

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