Ladies and gentle, boys and girls the long-awaited, long-buzz iTunes Phone is here, and it's called the ROKR. While its launch was somewhat overshadowed by the new iPod phone, the MOTO ROKR is here and it is definitely making some hot splashes of its own. So what’s so big about this new player? Well, the “Guru of Digital Phones” is going to tell you.

Features and Specifications:

• Apple iTunes mobile music player with dedicated one-touch music key


• Supported Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, and protected AAC


• Video clip capture and playback


• TransFlash memory expansion Slot for up to an additional 512 megabytes of storage with optional card


• Large, active color display (176 x 220)Multi-Media Messaging (MMS)


• Integrated VGA camera with photo indicator LED


• 3D Stereo Sound via 22 KHz enhanced polyphonic speakers with vibration and rhythm lights for enhanced music experiences


• Integrated Bluetooth Wireless technology for hands-free connectivity


• Enhanced Games with vibration


• PIM functionality with Picture Caller ID

The MOTO RORK is quick and easy with iTunes on your computer, allowing you to either choose what 100 songs are loaded onto the phone or let iTunes choose for you.

And it's pretty neat that your music will pause when an incoming call comes, allowing you to take the call and resume your music right where you left off when the music ends. This looks really neat and works great when you’re watching the commercial.

There is at least one major downside to the ROKR, and that's the DRM placed on the phone restricting the number of songs that can be loaded. The ROKR boasts up to 100 songs, but restricts your phone so that, even if you have space for more than 100 (say you buy additional flash memory, or you just listen to short songs), the ROKR will still only allow you 100 songs, max. That's a totally unnecessarily crippling move, seriously limiting the expandability and future of this phone.

What's the Big Deal? MP3 capable phones are nothing new, so what makes Motorola's new ROKR such big news, you ask? Namely that, with Apple joining the fray, you know that the business of MP3-capable phones just got a lot more important. Apple's iPod made MP3 players into huge business. Now they're looking to do the same with wireless phones, and that news is very big.

Share your comments, thoughts, tips and advice. Send them all to the

 The Guru of digital Music at staceychil(at)aol.com