A closer shave
So I finally got my RAZR v3m phone working on the Sprint network, and have been using it for a few days. It is certainly an upgrade from my antique Samsung phone, but it is no iPhone either.
Plusses:
Better form-factor, slides right into my pant pockets
Bluetooth file transfer works well, I can upload my own custom MP3 ringtones and background pictures. Anyone who actually pays for that kind of stuff is a tool (Sprint charges an obscene $2.50 to rent a ring tone for 3 months! Nice business if you can get it!)
The internet access works well, assuming you make Google Mobile your home page, and download the gmail applet to check email. Avoid the built-in Sprint portal like the plague and you'll do fine.
Minuses:
The phone doesn't work with iSync, even though Apple added support (supposedly) with MacOS 10.4.9. I suspect Sprint has disabled this somehow.
The phone won't charge via a standard mini-USB connection on a Mac, although there's a 3rd party hack to get around this.
The general UI is awful. It seems like everything you do takes two or three more button pushes then it should. You can change some of the defaults, but others are locked down.
Sprint has made an OK phone worse by adding all of their crapware to it, the same way Dell takes a decent Windows PC and then loads it with tons of trial and shovelware that nobody would ever want or use. You can remove and change some of the Sprint crap, but others are permanent. For example, I have one of my 6 precious top-level buttons locked to the Sprint music store, which I will never use.
Neutral:
Voice quality and battery life seem to be fine. Haven't noticed any difference from my old phone.
Still to try:
Bluetooth headsets
Plusses:
Better form-factor, slides right into my pant pockets
Bluetooth file transfer works well, I can upload my own custom MP3 ringtones and background pictures. Anyone who actually pays for that kind of stuff is a tool (Sprint charges an obscene $2.50 to rent a ring tone for 3 months! Nice business if you can get it!)
The internet access works well, assuming you make Google Mobile your home page, and download the gmail applet to check email. Avoid the built-in Sprint portal like the plague and you'll do fine.
Minuses:
The phone doesn't work with iSync, even though Apple added support (supposedly) with MacOS 10.4.9. I suspect Sprint has disabled this somehow.
The phone won't charge via a standard mini-USB connection on a Mac, although there's a 3rd party hack to get around this.
The general UI is awful. It seems like everything you do takes two or three more button pushes then it should. You can change some of the defaults, but others are locked down.
Sprint has made an OK phone worse by adding all of their crapware to it, the same way Dell takes a decent Windows PC and then loads it with tons of trial and shovelware that nobody would ever want or use. You can remove and change some of the Sprint crap, but others are permanent. For example, I have one of my 6 precious top-level buttons locked to the Sprint music store, which I will never use.
Neutral:
Voice quality and battery life seem to be fine. Haven't noticed any difference from my old phone.
Still to try:
Bluetooth headsets
Labels: technology
posted by Mike at
11:01 AM
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