PC Magazine blasts Verizon UI - RAZR2
"How can you make a RAZR2 less fun? By slapping the same old interface on it that you'd find on a free phone, that's how. Verizon Wireless's RAZR2 is the same gorgeous chunk of metal and glass that you see hawked by the other wireless carriers, with the same excellent voice quality too. But Verizon's pedestrian menu system manages to take a lot of the wow and pizzazz out of the phone.
But if you want to go beyond making phone calls, get ready to stifle a yawn. That because the RAZR2 uses Verizon's very old, simple text-based interface. It doesn't even measure up to the new and slightly flashier Flash interface you see on phones like the LG VX8700. The text-based interface is easy to use for beginners, but the high-end RAZR2 isn't a beginn...
(continues)
But if you want to go beyond making phone calls, get ready to stifle a yawn. That because the RAZR2 uses Verizon's very old, simple text-based interface. It doesn't even measure up to the new and slightly flashier Flash interface you see on phones like the LG VX8700. The text-based interface is easy to use for beginners, but the high-end RAZR2 isn't a beginn...
(continues)
...
yep but I think you forgot the more important parts such as:
The Verizon RAZR V9m had the best voice performance of any of the three CDMA RAZRs, but that was obviously due to Verizon's excellent network coverage in New York City, as all three RAZRs use the same radio. Still, it's interesting to see when Verizon's network supremacy so clearly translates into clearer calls. The earpiece and speakerphone both get quite loud without distorting, and Bluetooth headsets work fine.
The Verizon RAZR V9m had the best voice performance of any of the three CDMA RAZRs, but that was obviously due to Verizon's excellent network coverage in New York City, as all three RAZRs use the same radio. Still, it's interesting to see when Verizon's network supremacy so clearly translates into clearer calls. The earpiece and speakerphone both get quite loud without distorting, and Bluetooth headsets work fine.
...
Midnight, I absolutely agree with you on the voice. There is no way I would switch from Verizon with all of the business work I do on their network.
Fact is, though, every time a new phone comes out, it has more features than just voice, but Verizon wants to keep the same menu system and that approach can't work forever.
I actually liked it when it first came out, but now it covers up many of the other features. Like the other RAZR2 phones will convert text messages to voice, or have video conferencing. The Verizon models can't do that because the menu system can't adapt.
Fact is, though, every time a new phone comes out, it has more features than just voice, but Verizon wants to keep the same menu system and that approach can't work forever.
I actually liked it when it first came out, but now it covers up many of the other features. Like the other RAZR2 phones will convert text messages to voice, or have video conferencing. The Verizon models can't do that because the menu system can't adapt.
...
I agree I wish we would come up with a new universal UI for all phones but one with like 12 pictures for each thing that is flash enabled.
...
MidnightDT said:
I agree I wish we would come up with a new universal UI for all phones but one with like 12 pictures for each thing that is flash enabled.
See, everybody wants something different! It's like owning a PC. You want to set up the desktop icons and favorites like you want them.
The "beginners interface" could be just like a theme. It is really just an overlay to the factory menus.
...
The V9 was rated best call quality due to its CrystalTalk feature
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2170266,00.asp »
"There's one triumph on the AT&T model (and on the T-Mobile model, which I didn't get to test): CrystalTalk. Everyone knows cell phone talk quality needs help, and Motorola is the first company in ages to step up with a public remedy. CrystalTalk uses the phone's microphone to monitor for surrounding noise, dynamically equalizing the sound in the earpiece and altering its volume to best punch through the rumble. Meanwhile, it's pumping up your voice and tuning down the background noise in the phone's mic, so the person you're talking to hears more you, less background."
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2170266,00.asp »
"There's one triumph on the AT&T model (and on the T-Mobile model, which I didn't get to test): CrystalTalk. Everyone knows cell phone talk quality needs help, and Motorola is the first company in ages to step up with a public remedy. CrystalTalk uses the phone's microphone to monitor for surrounding noise, dynamically equalizing the sound in the earpiece and altering its volume to best punch through the rumble. Meanwhile, it's pumping up your voice and tuning down the background noise in the phone's mic, so the person you're talking to hears more you, less background."
...
I agree. Everytime I call someone with GSM. I have to ask to repeat constantly.
...
yeah I have to say its allot better as I have used WCDMA for voice calls here in Japan!
...
the_eraser said:
The V9 was rated best call quality due to its CrystalTalk feature
"There's one triumph on the AT&T model (and on the T-Mobile model, which I didn't get to test):
HMMMM have you actually tested this Eraser?
yes this is a cool sounding feature.
Does it work? I dont know. I highly doubt it though.
All i know is att needs something to make their calls sound better.
...
i think its funny did anyone read the article. They destroyed the att verzion. So anyone that thinks verizon cripples the phones then read that. The Crystaltalk feature was the only thing good on the att verizon. ANd they said they didn't include it on the cdma verizon because it already sounds good!!!
...
Yet Verizon will still sell a million of 'em under the premise of "You want a Ferrari (i.e.Phone) to have a Ferrari engine(i.e. network) in it, don't you?" Though we will forget to mention it wall have a Scion Xb dashboard, with a Ford intergrated A/C radio unit which does not allow for aftermartket customization.
...
I like how you just keep blaming VZW for Motorola's choices... I bet you think that VZW forces LG to modify the UI and then forces Moto not to 🙄
If you read through the reviews on all the Razr2s you will notice the reviewer make several unprofessional biased comments and shows ignorance in several areas.
If you read through the reviews on all the Razr2s you will notice the reviewer make several unprofessional biased comments and shows ignorance in several areas.
...
Actually...it's not Motorola. It's VZW that chooses to put the interface on ALL their phones. And it's VZW that chooses what phones to put additional themes on. The LG 8700 or Chocolate does NOT have the original LG interface that you will find on LG's on Sprint, AT&T, etc. The original LG interface is on the LG Muziq for Sprint. Check it out. VZW decides to cripple the phones and put the same boring UI on the MOTORAZR2 and LG VX3400.
Motorola's UI is awesome, but VZW stripped it.....not Motorola.
Motorola's UI is awesome, but VZW stripped it.....not Motorola.
...
