Samsung SPH-N270

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"Matrix phone" redirects here. For the mobile phone featured in The Matrix (1999), see Nokia 8110.
Samsung SPH-N270
lithium ion
Rear cameraN/A
Front cameraN/A
Display128 X 160 px TFT LCD, 65,536 colors
External displayN/A
ConnectivityUSB
Data inputsT9, User-independent Voice Command

The Samsung SPH-N270 or Matrix phone is a

bar 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.

Features

Perhaps the most remarkable 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.[1] The phone can be configured so that snapping up the earpiece answers an incoming call.

The 1000 mAh

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 an

assisted GPS receiver, English and Spanish languages, multiple alarms, a calendar, a to-do list and a simple calculator.[2]
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. The phone runs on Qualcomm's REX, with Samsung's custom user interface.

Relation to The Matrix

The green code on a black background, made famous by The Matrix (cf.

Matrix code
". 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.

Samsung is only displayed on the phone's casing and Sprint is only mentioned on-screen when the battery is improperly inserted. When the phone is turned on, the message "WELCOME" is shown, 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, The Animatrix, and Camera, even though the SPH-N270 cannot be used as a camera.[3] Several ringtones from the first two Matrix films can be selected along with a beep option and a vibrate option. These ringtones can be applied to contacts individually.

Criticism

The Matrix

Unlike the

Nokia "Matrix-Phone" successor at the time, the Nokia 8910i or the experimental Nokia 7650 (released a in 2002).[5][6][7][8]

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

IrDA and had no video or MP3 capabilities.[4] Many users chose not to buy the phone because it was not web-capable. No web browser or means of sending 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.[3]

Availability

The Samsung N270 was only sold on a special section of the Samsung website running exclusively in

Sprint PCS.[3] However, since the phone is considered a collector's item, it can sometimes be found on eBay for sale, at the last auction it was sold for 2500 dollars. It was also restricted for sale in the U.S., 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.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Murtazin, Eldar (June 11, 2003). "Review Samsung SPH-N270 or Matrix Phone". Mobile Review. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "Samsung SPH-N270 (Matrix Phone)". Phone Scoop. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "Samsung Matrix". CNET Reviews. May 20, 2003. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  4. ^ a b V, John (April 6, 2010). "Phone Arena's Retro-Rewind: Samsung SPH-N270". Phone Arena. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  5. ^ "Nokia 8910i - User opinions and reviews - page 7".
  6. ^ "Nokia 8910i". 11 November 2003.
  7. ^ "Nokia 8910i - Full phone specifications".
  8. ZDNet. Archived from the original
    on December 21, 2014.
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