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Parvez · Dec 31, 2006, 09:47 AM

Hi!

I got a new motorola razr (black) phone. Is there any way I can customize the phone? Like the wallpapers, themes, and ringtones? I saw some people with Aqua theme in their phone, but i can't really remember this. I forgot.

Thank you!

jokell82 · Dec 31, 2006, 10:08 AM

All depends on your service provider.

Head over to HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - they have all the info you need.

phantomdragonz · Dec 31, 2006, 03:44 PM

I hate my Razr... I want an iPhone

bluetooth works great for my black (cingular) razr...

Zach

BigBadWolf · Dec 31, 2006, 03:58 PM

I too hate my Razr. I think I am going to wait for the Treo 750 or Apple's phone to come out before I get a new one. I was going to get the Treo 680, but I think the 750 should be better by leap and bounds.

Parvez · Dec 31, 2006, 05:51 PM

Thanks a lot for the link.

umm why do you guys hate your razr?

oh, i think i used the treo in Columbia University once.

macfantn · Dec 31, 2006, 05:56 PM

I hated my razr...

Phonebook is horrible
Only had 5mb of memory (cingular version)
Didn't like the OS prefer Nokia or SE

I currently use the SE S710a much better phone.

UNTeMac · Dec 31, 2006, 05:58 PM

I'm about to upgrade my Sprint phone and was thinking of getting a Razr v3m. Those of you that own one, should I get something else? It's reviewed well at the places I've seen and the other thin phones apparently don't match up.

Dakar² · Dec 31, 2006, 06:06 PM

Where's Dark Helmet? He's usually on these threads like a pitbull on a poodle.

TailsToo · Jan 1, 2007, 10:15 AM

I have a Verizon RAZR.. it was free, or else I wouldn't have bought it.

ghporter · Jan 1, 2007, 10:21 AM

Is this now the "I hate my RAZR" thread? I don't hate mine. It is not a PDA/handheld computer/multimedia killer hardware/do it all device. It sounds great, my service provider, Cingular, is great in my area, and for what I want it to do it works extremely well. On the other hand, what I want it to do is be a phone that's light, easy to use, and that works where I am-it's doing 100% in those areas.

turtle777 · Jan 1, 2007, 10:36 AM

You razr hating guys are sad.

The razr is better than 95% of the phones out there. Just look at the Samsungs and LGs and whatever other crap there is.

Yes, there are phones that do more and have a better GUI than the razr. But those are few. The razr beats the common crowd any day.

-t

hayesk · Jan 1, 2007, 10:39 AM

Who cares if people hate the RAZR? "Better" is subjective. Motorola phones have the worst interface I've seen on a phone. That doesn't sound "better" to me.

ghporter · Jan 1, 2007, 12:14 PM

I have had Eriksons (pre "Sony-Erkison"), Samsungs and LGs as well as Motorola phones. I have always preferred the sound quality on Motorola phones, even over Eriksons (which sounded the best of the "also rans"). The interface is not a big issue if you're interested in the phone as a phone, and even the address/phone book is not an issue. What else do you want out of a phone?

stevesnj · Jan 1, 2007, 12:20 PM

I like my Razr a lot but my best phone was my StarTac by Motorola. this thing was indestructable, i ran it over, dropped it in water, dropped it off scaffolding...it would not die, I had to get rid of it because it was no longer compatible on my carrier...Motorola makes the most durable phones and pagers...they can take a beating.

jokell82 · Jan 1, 2007, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

You razr hating guys are sad.

The razr is better than 95% of the phones out there. Just look at the Samsungs and LGs and whatever other crap there is.

Yes, there are phones that do more and have a better GUI than the razr. But those are few. The razr beats the common crowd any day.

-t

The only thing the RAZR has going for it is its size. The UI motorola put on the RAZR pretty much sucks (and god forbid you get the Verizon model). The updated UI they put on the KRZR is *much* better.

And the battery life leaves much to be desired...

turtle777 · Jan 1, 2007, 02:38 PM

I don't care too much about the UI sisnce BT works like a charm.

Working BT is more important than good UI to me.

-t

CharlesS · Jan 1, 2007, 02:53 PM

Hmm, I wonder where the usual suspects are? Usually there's a few forum members (no names, but you know who you are) that like to pop up in threads like these and make up some BS about abilities the RAZR supposedly doesn't have, even if it does.

Anyway, to answer your original question, the RAZR phones are completely customizable - it only depends on whether the carrier disables certain features or not. Verizon does this, disabling file transfer in order to prevent you from making your own ringtones so that they can get you to buy the rip-off ringtones that they sell. I have no idea whether Sprint disables file transfer or not, but you could find out by going into a Sprint store, turning on Bluetooth on two different Motorola phones, pairing them to each other, and trying to transfer a ringtone from one to the other. If it works, you'll be fine.

Art Vandelay · Jan 1, 2007, 03:03 PM

The thing I hate about it is programming speed dial numbers. With the RAZR, If there's a number already in the slot for #2 for example, you have to go to that contact first, change it some unused slot, go back to the original contact you want to make #2, and finally change it to #2. Otherwise, if you try to overwrite it, instead of changing the original contact automatically to another unused slot like most other phones, Motorola decided that it was better to just delete the entire contact off the phone.

turtle777 · Jan 1, 2007, 03:36 PM

Wow, so you hate the Razr for that ?

Isn't that a one-time thing that you change and then never touch again ?
Do you re-program speed dial every day ?

-t

imitchellg5 · Jan 1, 2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

The thing I hate about it is programming speed dial numbers. With the RAZR, If there's a number already in the slot for #2 for example, you have to go to that contact first, change it some unused slot, go back to the original contact you want to make #2, and finally change it to #2. Otherwise, if you try to overwrite it, instead of changing the original contact automatically to another unused slot like most other phones, Motorola decided that it was better to just delete the entire contact off the phone.

What RAZR does that? I reprogrammed speed dial on my grandma's V3C for her and it didn't do that.

CharlesS · Jan 1, 2007, 03:39 PM

The original V3 did that, which I'll admit is kind of annoying (even though like turtle said, it's something you only do once).

Don't know about the newer ones.

Art Vandelay · Jan 1, 2007, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Wow, so you hate the Razr for that ?

Isn't that a one-time thing that you change and then never touch again ?
Do you re-program speed dial every day ?

-t

I don't hate the whole thing. I should have said that it's the one thing I hate about it. Also, adding a new contact on the Mac and syncing it to the RAZR will sometimes blow out some of the changes I've already made. What's really annoying is that it doesn't have to be that way, but it is because of lazy programmers who don't seem to care about a good user experience. It's like how Windows doesn't bother to pre-flight file copies. It's something so simple to program but they don't bother.

volcano · Jan 1, 2007, 05:01 PM

I'm not a fan of Motorola's UI. I think it's clunky compared to other phonemakers.

Everytime I look at phones at Verizon, the sales associates always downplay the RAZR and say not to get it.

I'm in love with my new phone though.. it looks better than the RAZR (I think) and it's actually thinner and not as wide. It's the LG VX8600

imitchellg5 · 07:00 PM

My mom and dad just bought two LG VX8600s. They look nice, but I haven't gotten to use them yet.

Blasphemy · Jan 1, 2007, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by volcano

I'm in love with my new phone though.. it looks better than the RAZR (I think) and it's actually thinner and not as wide. It's the LG VX8600

Indeed. That's a nice looking phone.

ghporter · Jan 1, 2007, 06:22 PM

One thing that keeps me from worrying about the user interface is that I have a PC handy and with the investment of about $30, I have Motorola's MobilePhone tools, a nice, if Windows-only package that lets you do everything you want to in terms of moving files, setting up speed dial numbers, synchronizing address books, etc. from the computer via a USB cable. I wish they had a version for the Mac, but at least it exists and it's almost as simple as a Mac program to use.

jokell82 · Jan 1, 2007, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

One thing that keeps me from worrying about the user interface is that I have a PC handy and with the investment of about $30, I have Motorola's MobilePhone tools, a nice, if Windows-only package that lets you do everything you want to in terms of moving files, setting up speed dial numbers, synchronizing address books, etc. from the computer via a USB cable. I wish they had a version for the Mac, but at least it exists and it's almost as simple as a Mac program to use.

You mean like BitPim?

cSurfr · Jan 1, 2007, 07:15 PM

I have the black razr. . . I haven't used it since I got my BBerry, but one thing I hated was the address book. Doesn't motorola realize that I would like to have someones work number AND their mobile? Or their mobile AND their home? Why do I have to have 2 copies of the same name in my address book just so I can have more than one number? On the bberry, when I call someone with multiple numbers, it asks me which one I want to call. . . Brilliant!

ghporter · Jan 1, 2007, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by cSurfr

I have the black razr. . . I haven't used it since I got my BBerry, but one thing I hated was the address book. Doesn't motorola realize that I would like to have someones work number AND their mobile? Or their mobile AND their home? Why do I have to have 2 copies of the same name in my address book just so I can have more than one number? On the bberry, when I call someone with multiple numbers, it asks me which one I want to call. . . Brilliant!

As long as you store the numbers ON THE PHONE, you can use icons to indicate which number goes with a name. I have a mobile number, a work number, and a home number for a bunch of people in mine, and they just line up "Joe Jones -- <mobile icon>" then "Joe Jones -- <work icon>"... No problem at all. It's a minor pain that they don't support this with numbers stored on the SIM, but I think it's a limitation of the SIM rather than something Motorola invented.

Art Vandelay · Jan 1, 2007, 08:49 PM

You can group a contact with multiple numbers into a single contact. It's just not the default setting on Motorola phones. It's in the setup for the phone book. Then when you come across a contact with multiple contacts, you can use the right/left keys to cycle through the numbers.

CharlesS · Jan 1, 2007, 08:53 PM

Specifically, you go to Setup -> View: and set it to Primary Contacts.

Parvez · Jan 1, 2007, 09:05 PM

WOW this is my 2nd thread maybe and didn't expect that many replies.

I like it.

Back to topic. Thank you very much for the useful replies and hating on the razr. I feel bad about my phone now =[ (cheer me up) heh j/k. I got my answer so it's all good. I agree with ghporter, that it's lite to carry and it does fill me in with my needs as for a basic and nice looking phone.

I have another question and didn't want to open another thread for it since it's about my razr again. I tried using the BlueTooth today. I turned it on my macbook and cell-phone. It works and they both connect, which is good. If you scroll up and see the second reply with a link to HowardsForum. I found some good wallpapers for the razr, but how do I send them to my phone? I thought you can do it with BlueTooth. I played around with it and also Macbook's Bluetooth options. Is it possible if I download the image (the wallpaper) to my macbook and then send it to my phone via bluetooth?

Thank you!

CharlesS · Jan 1, 2007, 09:22 PM

Assuming that Sprint hasn't disabled Bluetooth file transfer:

1. Go to the Bluetooth menu in your menu bar and choose "Send File..."

2. Select the picture file that is the wallpaper

3. Choose your RAZR in the list of devices (the first time, you'll have to go to Settings -> Connection -> Bluetooth Link -> Setup -> Find Me on the phone to make it discoverable, then click "Search" on the Mac to put your phone into the list

4. Hit "Accept" on the phone when it asks you whether to accept or reject the file

5. Assuming that worked, you're done! Of course, if you get an error message at step #4, then chances are that Sprint has blocked file transfer, which leaves you with not many choices other than trying to hack the phone.

forkies · Jan 1, 2007, 09:48 PM

i have a softbank phone from japan and i love it. for me lightness isn't the only thing i care about, plus i feel like i'd break a razr in half accidentally

TheoCryst · Jan 2, 2007, 12:33 AM

I just switched to Verizon from T-Mobile, and decided to grab a RAZR V3m after being thoroughly underwhelmed by their other options and having a bitter grudge against LGs. I gotta say that I like it so far: call quality is excellent, reception is good, and battery life is not bad. Granted, the UI sucks donkey balls, just like every other Verizon phone now, and BT is crippled, but there are some ups. For one, iSync works out of the box, which surprised me. And once I get my hands on a mini-USB cable to use with BitPim, I'll be set.

Parvez · Jan 2, 2007, 06:10 PM

w00t!

It worked. THANKS A BUNCH CharlesS. You're teh best.

imitchellg5 · Jan 2, 2007, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by TheoCryst

I just switched to Verizon from T-Mobile, and decided to grab a RAZR V3m after being thoroughly underwhelmed by their other options and having a bitter grudge against LGs. I gotta say that I like it so far: call quality is excellent, reception is good, and battery life is not bad. Granted, the UI sucks donkey balls, just like every other Verizon phone now, and BT is crippled, but there are some ups. For one, iSync works out of the box, which surprised me. And once I get my hands on a mini-USB cable to use with BitPim, I'll be set.

Verizon doesn't include a cable? What do they include? I'm looking at phones right now and like you I don't want an LG ( unless it is an 8600).

turtle777 · Jan 2, 2007, 06:24 PM

No, Verizon never includes cables to their phones. That's an extra sale that they don't want to miss. The mini-USB cables are quite cheap though. They are the kind that you would use to connect your digital camera.

-t

imitchellg5 · Jan 2, 2007, 06:25 PM

Yeah, I have two of them so it's not a big deal. Do they come with a car charger?

ghporter · Jan 2, 2007, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by jokell82

You mean like BitPim?

Dunno...I'll have to play with this... My earlier post about Mobile Phone Tools was in reference to "supported" software, and I hadn't seen anything that would do the same thing.

TheoCryst · Jan 2, 2007, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Yeah, I have two of them so it's not a big deal. Do they come with a car charger?

Nope, no car charger. The RAZR came with a wall charger and an adapter for mini-USB to the super-tiny headphone jack that cell phones use (the only port on the whole phone is the mini-USB port).