Moto KRZR Review (Verizon) - October 4, 2006
As we mentioned last Friday, Skatter Tech was able to get a hold of the brand new Motorola KRZR K1m for Verizon Wireless. The KRZR’s features include a 1.3MP camera, MicroSD, speaker phone, external iPod-like touch-sensitive controls, Bluetooth, and V Cast Music/Video. We had high expectations and hoped that the phone would be as good as it looked, unfortunately we ended up being quite disappointed.
Motorola KRZR K1m Specs:
- Provider: Verizon Wireless (CDMA)
- Form Factor: Clamshell Flip Phone
- Dimensions: 4.05H x 1.73W x 0.67D (inches)
- Weight / Battery Life: 3.6oz / 4hrs30mins
- Digital Camera: 1.3 megapixels
- Storage Space: MicroSD expansion (2GB max)
- Communications: Bluetooth + USB
- Others: Speaker Phone and Music Controls
- Price: $199 with new 2 year contract
KRZR Body - 5/5 stars
The shape of the KRZR is much more comfortable and natural to hold compared the RAZR. The phone is way skinnier than the RAZR, but is slightly thicker and taller. At first glance the phone looks expensive, sleek, slim, and glossy, however just as a PSP or an iPod the, KRZR’s coat is prone to fingerprints from even the slightest touch. Motorola has improvised the keypad dividing them with more natural grooves which helps finding keys, without looking, much easier.
Digital Camera - 2/5 stars
The KRZR’s 1.3 megapixel camera is pretty much the same as the one in the RAZR v3m. Other KRZR models have a 2 megapixel camera, however Verizon’s K1m has been cut down to keep prices low. Motorola has also failed to add a flash to the phone, which although not too powerful often will be handy when taking close up shots in the dark.
Display - 4/5 stars
The internal display is much crisper and brighter than that of the Motorola v3m. However it is extremely delicate and placing even the slightest amount of pressure causes the “ripple effect” in the LCD which may damage the display. The external display is a bit dull and with the fingerprints all over, it may be hard to see in sunlight.
Music Playback - 4/5 stars
Unlike the RAZR, the KRZR supports Mp3 playback as well as WMA and V Cast Music. Verizon’s Media Player is well developed and makes browsing through music easy. Users can view songs by artists, albums, genres, or search just as iPods do. The media player also offers the use of playlists, library shuffle, and even display’s album art. The #1 problem is that users must navigate through many menus before they can get their music started. (Can be annoying for people who plan to listen to music a lot.)
External Controls - 3/5 stars
The addition of external touch-sensitive music controls, which the RAZR lacks, was a good concept, but is flawed. There is no way for a user to start music playback from the external controls, the phone must be opened to do so. The controls are also sometimes too sensitive and the current song may be skipped or paused when the phone is picked up.
Speakers - 4/5 stars
The speaker phone quality is quite clear and has minimal or no static. It sounds more clear and is louder than that of the RAZR, however it is still poorly position on the back of the phone. Both music playback and speakerphone will sound muffled if the phone is in your hand.
MicroSD - 3/5 stars
The KRZR now supports use of up to 2GB MicroSD cards. The space can be used for image, video, and music storage. The card slot is unfortunately placed underneath the battery pack lid making it a hassle to get to. If you don’t have a USB cable and the drivers to sync music back and forth, it will be a pain to remove the card every time to transfer files.
Bluetooth - 5/5
Because Verizon has finally “un-crippled” the Bluetooth, the KRZR can now send phonebook entries, pictures, and other data between devices. When testing the handsfree feature with the Lexus IS250, we found that he KRZR now sends the phone’s signal strength, battery level, and other data to the car’s display, unlike the RAZR.
Overall the KRZR is a decent upgrade from the RAZR v3m. There is however a major lack of innovation. Even so, the KRZR will probably be replacing the current RAZR’s place in the market. If all you need is a phone with basic features that can make calls and looks good, this maybe for you. If you are picky and like customizable feature packed phones, there’s not much that the KRZR can offer. The phone is a bit pricy, currently about $199 with a new 2 year contract or $99 for existing customers eligible for upgrade.
DEAL ALERT: FREE Motorola KRZR K1m (w/ new plan)
Related: Verizon Wirelesss - Moto KRZR
Update: Verizon currently charges about $30 for a USB cable and some drivers, but if you already have the cable and are just looking for the drivers you can get it from the link below. Once installed, your phone will be detected as a portable audio device and you will now be able to sync the music in your Windows Media Player Library with your KRZR. After installing you may need to restart your machine. But once complete you will be able to use your computer to charge your KRZR and sync music. To start, go to Get It Now -> Music -> Sync.
Download: Moto_KRZR_Driver.zip (Note: driver found on developer.motorola.com)
Update: If the driver above doesn’t work, try installing the patch from Verizon’s site.
Download: Sync_Music_Fix.exe [Thanks for the info Elizabeth]
posted by Sahas Katta in Mobile & Reviews
on 10/4/2006 at 01:32 AM with Comments (372) & TrackPings (9)
Search
Share This
Recent Posts
- November 2008 - Wii/PS3/360 Games
- Microsoft Updates The Zune
- Logitech MX 1100 Mouse Reviewed
- Acer Aspire One Review
- Nvision 08: A Future Of 3D Gaming
- Nvision 08: Audi Navigation
- Nvision 2008: Keynote
- Lenovo Taking IdeaPad S10 Pre-Orders
- MS Office Ultimate Deal Is Back!
- The Official PS3 Wireless Keypad
Categories
- News
- Site News
- Software
- Tips & Tweaks
- Deals
- Podcasts
- Hacking
- Reviews
- Business
- Entertainment
- Hardware
- Gaming
- Autos
- Mobile
- Internet
- Accessories
Archives
- November 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- View All +
Subscribe
Write a Comment.
372 comments.
Pages: « 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 15 16 » Show All
Erika says
Rounin says
Is there a way that I can change the way I view my text messages?
currently, I can’t see who sent me the message, I can only see the number.
Help please !
by Erika - December 21, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Hi Erika, just make sure that that person that is sending you text is in your contact list and it will show up with the person sending the text. The only reason the number would show up is if the person is not in your contact list. Hope this helps.
Hello,
I have all the names in my contacts, and my friends have the same phone as me, and theirs show the names, so I took my phone back to the dealer, and she told me that all motorola phones dont show the names of the people who sent texts and who you sent them to.
I feel like she lied, because all the phones my friends have do show the names..
what do I do now !?
Erika says
oh, and in my outbox it just says my number and the message..
and not the person i sent it to, or their number ?
is there something wrong with my phone ?
or are they all like that ?
i’m thinking its just me..
Ken says
Does anyone have experience with the Motorola Bluetooth Car Kit - T605? I’d like to hook this up in my car! http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=174
Rounin says
I don’t think its you. Who is the service through? Verizon Wireless, Cingular, TMobile? And are your friends on the same service. I looked at my phone and I didn’t see anywhere that you would make the change from number only to contact listed names, I am on verizon and I have run some updates, but I know before the updates the phone did still show the names as long as it was in the contact list. Sorry if this is not alot of help. And if the dealer told you that it doesnt show names, the krzr’s, rizr, razor do show the names on texts and the sentbox. Actually even my cheap cingular crappy phone shows the name as long as they are in the contact list. So again someone that didnt know what they were talking about. Instead of saying honestly I dont know but let me find out instead you always get the ones that show you on the phone well its not working on yours so now all the phones in the world does the same thing which is nothing. As they say put the information on 3 websites and people will believe it to be true :)).
Rounin says
I guess I should read :)). Ok so you are on verizon wireless, and mine does show the contact and not the number. So I would suggest taking your phone to the Verizon Wireless Store, not the 3rd party that sells Verizon Wireless phones. Contact customer service to find the closest to you. And well if it was actual Verizon owned store, then talk to a manager or a elite member and they can assist you. Don’t go to the ones in the mall.
Erika says
I am on Aliant. I live in canada.
but I don’t think the Carrier should affect the actual phone should it ?
my friends are all on aliant as well.
Rounin says
No the carrier should not matter, the only thing I noticed is just your available languages, English and French. Do you have it set to French? Or see if you can change the language and see if it will make a difference and then change it back. And if your friends are on the same carrier and has the same phone then it should be working. The only other thing is to have Aliant default the phone back to as if you bought it, and re-enter your contacts and have someone text you.
Erika says
No the carrier should not matter, the only thing I noticed is just your available languages, English and French. Do you have it set to French? Or see if you can change the language and see if it will make a difference and then change it back. And if your friends are on the same carrier and has the same phone then it should be working. The only other thing is to have Aliant default the phone back to as if you bought it, and re-enter your contacts and have someone text you.
I have it set to English, but i will re-set it.
and if that doesn’t work, I will take it back and do what you suggested !
Thanks !
Erika
Aaron Johnston says
Thanx guys, you’re a big help :)
blaire says
my KRZR’s front music lights will not turn off. the music player IS OFF and i dont even have any music on it, but the lights with the play and skip buttons remained lit up for as long as my screen is lit. i have had it for awhile and it did not do this before at all. i thought the lights were supposed to not be lit up when the player was off …???
Rounin says
Did you run any updates from motorola? If you did that is what caused it. I also did not have the lights come on, but now when i touch the button to the side the play button lights up. If you did not run the update, then I dont know. I know mine did not do this till I updated. Also is your video now zooming closer without the resolution changing? Or the pic taking is zooming but the numbers are not changing?
Corinthia says
I have tried several bluetooth headsets with the KRZR with no success. After about 10-20 minutes, the person on the other ends says my voice is breaking up. Has anyone else had this problem??? Does anyone successfully use a bluetooth and if so, what kind???
Brian says
In response to earlier comments (and the review above) about not being able to access the music player externally, that has changed (for new Verizon phones, at least). I can confirm that pressing and holding the left smart button on the phone turns on the player and lets you use the touch controls without opening the phone.
Marvin says
I need help…. i just got my new KRZR K1M and i was trying to figure out how to put the mp3 songs that i have as my caller id’s but it wont work. On my last KRZR, the blue one, it was super easy to do. Everything is on my memory card but it wont read off it. I looked at the details and i says it could be applied as one. There is no other way i can figure this thing out.
Rounin says
If the phone is like a verizon phone then it is locked down. And you have to place your custom ringtones in the phones internal memory. And it does not pull from the phones mini sd card.
Barry says
“Corinthia says
I have tried several bluetooth headsets with the KRZR with no success. After about 10-20 minutes, the person on the other ends says my voice is breaking up. Has anyone else had this problem??? Does anyone successfully use a bluetooth and if so, what kind???”
I tried several different motorola bluetooths with the same problem. I finally ended up trying a Plantronics 510 that works great. I am told that I can be heard better with than without. Ebay- about $40.
Cricket Krzr says
I had no idea using the phone would be this difficult. My phone came with no memory card. Is it best to buy the card or to download the Motorola tools to transfer my songs to the phone?
Rounin says
Buy the mini sd card. And also buy a memory card reader. Most mini sd cards come with an adapter to adapt to the standard sd memory card. Its easier to upload songs via a reader then direct to the phone.
Jenny says
I have had this phone for almost a year and my battery is acting funny. It will charge for a short amount of time, then stop but say the battery is full when it actually isn’t. Then it dies down very quickly. Also, I have found that the front breaks very, very easily and is the case with anybody I have ever met who has had the phone. Doing it over again, I probably would not have purchased this model.
JAN says
I have the same problem with my phone, it worked great for about 6 months, now it will not hold a charge. When I charge it, it says the charge is complete but after one use (no matter how short)the battery goes dead. Sometimes the phone blinks from black and white and will not work at all. I plan to take it back to Verizon this week.
Nate says
Jenny, I just replace my battery for the exact same reason. Your battery is shot. Mine lasted 1.2 years. I recommend buying a Motorola battery. I bought a no-name battery and it was slightly thicker - the back cover would not close. I had a crappy case for the phone, so that held the back plate in place and I attempted to keep using it as I spent $40 and could not return the opened battery. However: 1) when charging, the phone says, “Unable to Charge”, even though it does charge; 2) the phone does not know anything about the battery life, so when the battery is about out, the phone will cut off and you have no warning. I ended up placing the no-name battery on a shelf of junk in my basement never to be used again and spent another $30 ($10 company discount, yea) on the Motorola battery.
Nate says
Oh, and the only reason I bought the no-name battery in the first place was because I got fed up waiting in line at the stupid Verizon store at the mall. You might be able to get a no-name on-line for $20, but I wouldn’t bother. It’s ridiculous, though, because now you can get a krzr for $20 after a rebate (and a 2-year plan). WTF.
Nate says
Does anyone know of a good Verizon phone similar to the krzr that has a flash? The only time I take pictures is when I’m drunk, and I’m usually drunk somewhere with poor lighting, which renders the camera completely useless. Really, is it that hard to put a little LED flash on these things?
Cricket Krzr says
Okay I uploaded songs using USB to my Krzr (finally) I even converted an mp3 into a ringtone. How do I assign the rintone to a contact or even move the ringtone (it is on the phone as a sound)to be able to actually use it as a ringtone?
Rounin says
FYI on the verizon Krzr phones, the ringtones have to show up in the ringtone list. If it is not there it cannot be a ringtone. Don’t know if the Cricket service is the same. If it is the same then the phone is locked down. Meaning you have to hack the phone. I believe you can send yourself a email with the mp3 attachment and i believe you can tell it to save it as a ringtone. Didnt do it myself, since all ringtones suck on the internet, and nothing in japanese jrock. So customed myself.
Pages: « 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 15 16 » Show All
9 trackback / pingbacks:
Skatter Tech » Verizon Wireless - Moto KRZR (October 12, 2006)Skatter Tech » Sprint Gets SLVR & KRZR (November 7, 2006)
Skatter Tech » Verizon Launches LG VX8600 (November 16, 2006)
Skatter Tech » LG VX9900 (enV) - Verizon (November 25, 2006)
Skatter Tech » V Cast Gets YouTube (November 28, 2006)
Skatter Tech » A Look Back At 2006 (January 1, 2007)
Verizon Wireless - Moto KRZR | Skatter Tech (January 23, 2007)
Samsung UpStage (M620) - Sprint | Skatter Tech (April 11, 2007)
Global Technopreneur » Motorola KRZR - Almost perfect technopreneur phone (March 27, 2007)
Leave a Comment