Motorola RAZR ( CDMA versions ) post your questions here

[Sara419]

Originally Posted by wickdaddy

i got the usb cable thing to work 2x and now i can't get it to recognize my phone anymore. I don't know what is up, but the software and drivers from Verizon are a waste of time if you have a mSD card. all you have to do is mvparker79 is convert your songs to WMA because the phone won't play anything else and then you can even just use windows explorer to transfer your new WMAs to the mSD card, but make sure you put them in a folder named "my_music". this will get your phone to recognize them. and be sure to go to the manage music section of Get Tunes and Tones. This will initialize your library and catagorize your songs.

Question. Did you do all of this with the Music Essential Kit for Motorola?

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Sara419

Question. Did you do all of this with the Music Essential Kit for Motorola?

when i transferred stuff to the mSD card, i didn't use or need the music essentials kit. so if you are going to get or already have the mSD card, i would say forget the essentials kit because if you can get the essentials kit to work, it is only good for transferring multimedia right to your phone's memory (which is like only 3 songs). if anyone can get it to transfer via cable with the mSD card in the phone please let me know.

[WVOz1970]

So I'm considering picking up the 3m next week when my NE2 comes active. Question... does the music player work separate of the phone? IOW, if I'm on a plane can I listen to my tunes without turning on the transmit/receive functions of the phone?

Since the smartphones out there can disable the telephone portion, I wondered if Moto had implemented something similar.

[lwillis]

I just got a Verizon V3m this weekend (switching over from Cingular). I was intrigued by the VCAST service. But I'm underwhelmed so far.

(a) there are very few games available under "Shop for Games".

(b) the TV-on-your-phone isn't live TV (unlike Sprint's TV-on-your-phone service). So you can't watch current events, only already canned segments.

(c) Is there any way to change the webbrowser home page? I see that there's a favorites tab that I could customize, but I'd like to change the default page itself.

[lwillis]

(d) Is there any way to change the color scheme of the Verizon UI? The red bar that Verizon uses at the top and bottom of all menus is garish and ugly. I'd love to be able to set it too something muted (gray). Also the orange background that's used on the smaller LCD panel on the outside of the phone. Yechh.

(e) On my Cingular RAZR v3, it would display the time on the smaller LCD on the outside of the phone. This time display was visible even when the screen was blanked (backlighting was off). On the v3m, it only shows the time when the screen isn't blanked.

[BEATNIKSHA]

Originally Posted by lwillis

(d) Is there any way to change the color scheme of the Verizon UI? The red bar that Verizon uses at the top and bottom of all menus is garish and ugly. I'd love to be able to set it too something muted (gray). Also the orange background that's used on the smaller LCD panel on the outside of the phone. Yechh.

(e) On my Cingular RAZR v3, it would display the time on the smaller LCD on the outside of the phone. This time display was visible even when the screen was blanked (backlighting was off). On the v3m, it only shows the time when the screen isn't blanked.

I had the V3m. I got it on Saturday and returned it on Sunday. I can't stand it! I was so used to the old Verizon UI but they changed it. That wasn't the big deal. The outter display on the Razr 3m goes completely dark. I have to press a button to get it to light up. Why!?!?!?! Why did Verizon do this? Not smart. I think this is across the board for all their phones now with the new UI. I hate that so much. I loved my E815 and I only got the Razr because I imagined it would be better than the E815. The E815 blows this thing out the water. I love the color on the E815 and I was concerned that the 65,000 colors on the Razr was kinda low and yes, yes it was but I figured I could live with it. The menu choices were different and seemed to be missing too much.

d) I thought of this too. I wanted to change that. I'm sure someone here knows of a way to do it. I tried, buy fishing through the limited menu and I saw nothing. I hated that red bar on the top and the bottom of the screen. Why!?!! Who ever thought of this, should be fired! This new UI sucks. When I went to the store and asked the tech's about this they told me this new UI is on all the phones. One of them told me that people are returning even the older Razr's and have been doing so for a while now. But that day alone they had 15 returns. People seem to hate this phone, even the Tech's said it sucked and I agree.

e) Yup! That's the Verizon UI. They seemed to think this is a good way to save battery power the techs explained to me. WOW!! Verizon better change this again. There are some features like the time on the outside display that should be changed back. We need that, or at least I do.

I am so disappointed in this phone. I bought some nice ProGuard cases for it and an extra battery as well as a charger for work. I'm keeping these because I know that after the feedback and future changes, Verizon will get yet another version of the Razr and it will rock, while this one falls short.

I'm not into modding and such so for the money I pay for the phone, I want it to work the way I need it to work and the way you say it will work right out of the box. But I see with Verizon it has not been the case. I was able to deal with the T720 fiasco, the 710 problems - didn't bother me much, and the E815 was just a great phone I only anticipated great things for the Razr 3m but I was very very disappointed when I got it and it was basically a shadow of the features and menu of the E815. Verizon put their entire dirty A** into this and not in a good way. I am also disappointed because all I've ever bought was Motorola phones for the long hall. I had a Slider for a month while I waited for the V710 to come out. Now I have a LG VX8300 (awsome pone!) but it is a layover until the next awsome Motorola comes out.

This is only my opinion. I am not as advanced as all of you and I am not a fussy customer, I don't ask for much, but when the phone just sucks and Verizon had a lot to do with the sucking, that is bad. I do think they will release another one that's better and maybe sooner than later. I mean they have already lowered the price on this thing.

There were just too many things I hated about this phone. I had to take it back. I couldn't play myself like that and keep it just cause it's cool!

I do have faith that either Motorola or Verizon or both will get together and do us right with a really awesome version of this phone where we will all be thrilled beyond our wildest dreams.

Sorry for the rant. I was just sooo very pissed at this phone.

[Pointindog]

1. When you all talk about Verizon UI, I know what you mean but what does it actually stand for?

2. I put some of my music in wma files into the my_music folder on the transflash and the phone recognized it all however it would only play music if it was listed as protected. All the music that was not protected, it looked for a license and then said "unable to play". Is there anyway to get it to play my music that I bought on CD and ripped that isn't listed as protected.

Thanks

P.S.- I switched from an E815 to this V3m and I really wish I hadn't. I agree with some of you others and really thinks this phone sucks.

[BEATNIKSHA]

Originally Posted by Pointindog

1. When you all talk about Verizon UI, I know what you mean but what does it actually stand for?

2. I put some of my music in wma files into the my_music folder on the transflash and the phone recognized it all however it would only play music if it was listed as protected. All the music that was not protected, it looked for a license and then said "unable to play". Is there anyway to get it to play my music that I bought on CD and ripped that isn't listed as protected.

Thanks

P.S.- I switched from an E815 to this V3m and I really wish I hadn't. I agree with some of you others and really thinks this phone sucks.

Pointindog - That is a good question what does the UI stand for. I'v seen it mentioned here in the forum and I always thought it meant User Interface which is the acutal menu that user uses to do stuff on the phone. That's what think UI stands for. I'm sure someone will be able to correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, if you can, trade that V3m in for something else. I'm actually using the LG until my next Motorola. I do miss my E815 and I think I might just go ahead and use the one that the insurance company sent me if by September there are no rumblings of a new better Razr or a better Moto phone. If we hear something about a new phone coming out by the end of the summer or by September then chances are there will be some new selections for Christmas time. That would be great.

[lwillis]

Yes, "UI" == User Interface. The menus, which button does what, etc.

The sad thing is that I think the V3m UI is actually more functional than the Cingular RAZR V3 UI -- it takes less button-clicks to get to most features than it did on the Cingular V3. And the Contacts/Address book is more functional too.

But good god it's freakin' ugly.

And beyond ugly, having red bars on the top and bottom is just wrong from a UI design / human factors viewpoint. Red is traditionally reserved for messages for ERROR, WARNING, DANGER, or STOP. Using red indicates a problem.

Verizon has chosen a UI color scheme which is constantly telling you there's a problem.

[BEATNIKSHA]

Originally Posted by lwillis

Yes, "UI" == User Interface. The menus, which button does what, etc.

The sad thing is that I think the V3m UI is actually more functional than the Cingular RAZR V3 UI -- it takes less button-clicks to get to most features than it did on the Cingular V3. And the Contacts/Address book is more functional too.

But good god it's freakin' ugly.

And beyond ugly, having red bars on the top and bottom is just wrong from a UI design / human factors viewpoint. Red is traditionally reserved for messages for ERROR, WARNING, DANGER, or STOP. Using red indicates a problem.

Verizon has chosen a UI color scheme which is constantly telling you there's a problem.

Iwillis - U R So CORRECT on that! I was cracking up!! That is so true! I didn't tinker around with the Razr enough to find out if you could change those colors or not. On the LG I know you can change the colors of those bars. The bars stay, but you can change the colors and make it look better. There are themes you can change and make the screen look even better. I don't know if the Razr has that.

And yes, those colors do denote constant problems that you should fear and know that you are in danger! I can't get over that observation! You are clever!

[Sara419]

Originally Posted by BEATNIKSHA

I had the V3m. I got it on Saturday and returned it on Sunday. I can't stand it! I was so used to the old Verizon UI but they changed it. That wasn't the big deal. The outter display on the Razr 3m goes completely dark. I have to press a button to get it to light up. Why!?!?!?! Why did Verizon do this? Not smart. I think this is across the board for all their phones now with the new UI. I hate that so much. I loved my E815 and I only got the Razr because I imagined it would be better than the E815. The E815 blows this thing out the water. I love the color on the E815 and I was concerned that the 65,000 colors on the Razr was kinda low and yes, yes it was but I figured I could live with it. The menu choices were different and seemed to be missing too much.

d) I thought of this too. I wanted to change that. I'm sure someone here knows of a way to do it. I tried, buy fishing through the limited menu and I saw nothing. I hated that red bar on the top and the bottom of the screen. Why!?!! Who ever thought of this, should be fired! This new UI sucks. When I went to the store and asked the tech's about this they told me this new UI is on all the phones. One of them told me that people are returning even the older Razr's and have been doing so for a while now. But that day alone they had 15 returns. People seem to hate this phone, even the Tech's said it sucked and I agree.

e) Yup! That's the Verizon UI. They seemed to think this is a good way to save battery power the techs explained to me. WOW!! Verizon better change this again. There are some features like the time on the outside display that should be changed back. We need that, or at least I do.

I am so disappointed in this phone. I bought some nice ProGuard cases for it and an extra battery as well as a charger for work. I'm keeping these because I know that after the feedback and future changes, Verizon will get yet another version of the Razr and it will rock, while this one falls short.

I'm not into modding and such so for the money I pay for the phone, I want it to work the way I need it to work and the way you say it will work right out of the box. But I see with Verizon it has not been the case. I was able to deal with the T720 fiasco, the 710 problems - didn't bother me much, and the E815 was just a great phone I only anticipated great things for the Razr 3m but I was very very disappointed when I got it and it was basically a shadow of the features and menu of the E815. Verizon put their entire dirty A** into this and not in a good way. I am also disappointed because all I've ever bought was Motorola phones for the long hall. I had a Slider for a month while I waited for the V710 to come out. Now I have a LG VX8300 (awsome pone!) but it is a layover until the next awsome Motorola comes out.

This is only my opinion. I am not as advanced as all of you and I am not a fussy customer, I don't ask for much, but when the phone just sucks and Verizon had a lot to do with the sucking, that is bad. I do think they will release another one that's better and maybe sooner than later. I mean they have already lowered the price on this thing.

There were just too many things I hated about this phone. I had to take it back. I couldn't play myself like that and keep it just cause it's cool!

I do have faith that either Motorola or Verizon or both will get together and do us right with a really awesome version of this phone where we will all be thrilled beyond our wildest dreams.

Sorry for the rant. I was just sooo very pissed at this phone.

I'm sorry to hear that. Now I'm having second thoughts of getting the V3m. I have the V3c and I'm pretty cool with it. I keep hearing problems with the MP3 player. I think they may have a better Razr in the future.

[Pointindog]

Thanks for the answer to the my first question, but does anyone have any input on my second question.

Which was:
2. I put some of my music in wma files into the my_music folder on the transflash and the phone recognized it all however it would only play music if it was listed as protected. All the music that was not protected, it looked for a license and then said "unable to play". Is there anyway to get it to play my music that I bought on CD and ripped that isn't listed as protected.


Thanks

[Sara419]

Originally Posted by Pointindog

Thanks for the answer to the my first question, but does anyone have any input on my second question.

Which was:
2. I put some of my music in wma files into the my_music folder on the transflash and the phone recognized it all however it would only play music if it was listed as protected. All the music that was not protected, it looked for a license and then said "unable to play". Is there anyway to get it to play my music that I bought on CD and ripped that isn't listed as protected.


Thanks

Do you have Windows Media 10? If you don't download it and Download Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP.

[Pointindog]

I do have Windows Media 10 but I didn't use it to transfer my files, I just inserted the transflash into it's adapter then into my PC and justed dragged them over into the "my music" folder. I did it this way because I don't have the drivers for my phone.

Thanks

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Pointindog

I do have Windows Media 10 but I didn't use it to transfer my files, I just inserted the transflash into it's adapter then into my PC and justed dragged them over into the "my music" folder. I did it this way because I don't have the drivers for my phone.

Thanks

before you put the songs on the mSD card, make sure to convert them correctly using the xp essentials pack that i have previously posted on how to do. the same pack sara referred to.

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Pointindog

I do have Windows Media 10 but I didn't use it to transfer my files, I just inserted the transflash into it's adapter then into my PC and justed dragged them over into the "my music" folder. I did it this way because I don't have the drivers for my phone.

Thanks

Originally Posted by wickdaddy
yes i did get it working through the memory stick yesterday. my problem was that the mp3 to wma converter that i had wasn't converting it to the right wma format (all my music is in mp3). so, i went to the add on's for WMP10 and found a free mp3 to wma converter here.
after you dl it, and click through the license agreement you will come to a screen and you need to choose 'reinstall all components'. this will install the mp3 to wma converter. after it's done installing, just go to start>all programs>Windows Media Bonus Back for Windows XP>Plus! MP3 Audio Converter LE this will correctly convert your songs for playing on the v3m.
1. now, pop your mSD card out of the phone, put it in the adapter and put it in your computer.
2. open up the card in WMP10 by clicking on the sync tab.
3. there should already be a folder named "my_music". if there is not, create a folder named "my_music" because this is where you are going to put all your newly converted wma songs.
4. pick your songs from the library and then sync them into the "my_music"
5. when you are done syncing, close WMP10, put your mSD card back in the phone and go to Get Tunes and Tones>Manage Music this should automatically initialize your library of songs database (fancy for it's putting your music in order by album and artist).
6. Now, just go to anyone of the buttons (e.g. artist, songs, play all, genre, etc) and start playing your music

[Sideboard]

Hey all!,
Been playing with the Verizon software for the V3m and I am able to transfer to the Transflash card via WMP10.
If you goto the SYNC tab in WMP10 with the phone already attached, you will be able to select the "V CAST MOBILE PHONE - PHOME INTERNAL MEMORY" and "V CAST MOBILE PHONE - REMOVABLE STORAGE CARD"

If you do not go and SYNC via this page it will default to the internal memory.

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Sideboard

Hey all!,
Been playing with the Verizon software for the V3m and I am able to transfer to the Transflash card via WMP10.
If you goto the SYNC tab in WMP10 with the phone already attached, you will be able to select the "V CAST MOBILE PHONE - PHOME INTERNAL MEMORY" and "V CAST MOBILE PHONE - REMOVABLE STORAGE CARD"

If you do not go and SYNC via this page it will default to the internal memory.

did you install drivers on the computer? how didyou get the thing to pop up in WMP10?

[Sideboard]

Wickdaddy,
yes, I installed the "drivers" that were on the CD. Installed WMP10, connected phone, waited until all of the found new hardware messages ended.
On the phone selected GET IT NOW, Get Tunes & Tones, SYNC Music (waited for connected message on phone), then I selected the SYNC tab, changed to removable, than hit the Sync button on the upper left side of the screen.

[wickdaddy]

i installed the drivers and the thing worked one time, then i put my mSD card in and it wouldn't recognize the phone... then I took out the mSD card and then it recognized my phone... now it won't recognize my phone either way...

[Pointindog]

Hey thank you all for the information, I'm going to try it soon.
I was wondering if their was somewhere that I could just buy the Essential pak software and drivers that need because I already have the headphones and the USB cable.

Thanks for the info again.

Pointindog@kc.rr.com

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Sideboard

Wickdaddy,
yes, I installed the "drivers" that were on the CD. Installed WMP10, connected phone, waited until all of the found new hardware messages ended.
On the phone selected GET IT NOW, Get Tunes & Tones, SYNC Music (waited for connected message on phone), then I selected the SYNC tab, changed to removable, than hit the Sync button on the upper left side of the screen.

when you installed the drivers, did you just follow the instructions that came with the music essentials kit?

[Pointindog]

Originally Posted by wickdaddy

Originally Posted by wickdaddy
yes i did get it working through the memory stick yesterday. my problem was that the mp3 to wma converter that i had wasn't converting it to the right wma format (all my music is in mp3). so, i went to the add on's for WMP10 and found a free mp3 to wma converter here.
after you dl it, and click through the license agreement you will come to a screen and you need to choose 'reinstall all components'. this will install the mp3 to wma converter. after it's done installing, just go to start>all programs>Windows Media Bonus Back for Windows XP>Plus! MP3 Audio Converter LE this will correctly convert your songs for playing on the v3m.
1. now, pop your mSD card out of the phone, put it in the adapter and put it in your computer.
2. open up the card in WMP10 by clicking on the sync tab.
3. there should already be a folder named "my_music". if there is not, create a folder named "my_music" because this is where you are going to put all your newly converted wma songs.
4. pick your songs from the library and then sync them into the "my_music"
5. when you are done syncing, close WMP10, put your mSD card back in the phone and go to Get Tunes and Tones>Manage Music this should automatically initialize your library of songs database (fancy for it's putting your music in order by album and artist).
6. Now, just go to anyone of the buttons (e.g. artist, songs, play all, genre, etc) and start playing your music

I followed your directions exactly but I got was an "unknow windows error message" for all the song files that were listed as un protected. And I don't know why some are classified like that because I bought them from MSN Music the others as I've said before were from CDs that I bought and ripped. Any more suggestions would be appreciated.

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Pointindog

I followed your directions exactly but I got was an "unknow windows error message" for all the song files that were listed as un protected. And I don't know why some are classified like that because I bought them from MSN Music the others as I've said before were from CDs that I bought and ripped. Any more suggestions would be appreciated.

I guess i would just say to re-rip the cds that you have with WMP10 and put them back on the mSD card. as far as the msn music goes, what format are they in? mp3, wma, wav, midi, etc?

[Pointindog]

The MSN files were all saved as WMA extentions. I will try re-ripping the CD's with WMP10, I used I think Roxio Soundstream originally. Thanks again

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Pointindog

The MSN files were all saved as WMA extentions. I will try re-ripping the CD's with WMP10, I used I think Roxio Soundstream originally. Thanks again

did that work or no? re-ripping them?

[Sideboard]

Originally Posted by wickdaddy

when you installed the drivers, did you just follow the instructions that came with the music essentials kit?

Wickdaddy,
Sorry for the delay in responding.

If you mean "place the disk into system, click option #1 (install USB driver), than option 2 and than 3" yes. I did not read any other papers that came with the box. If I have to read it its too much work to install and someone didn't do their job again.

The one thing that does seem to happen (twice already) is that the step 1 doesn't seem to do anythig worth while because I still get a new hardware found message and it still goes to the disk for the driver. It loads as aV3C than a couple moments later as a MPT device. than all works fine. two machines, One desktop, the other a laptop.

Thanks
-dave

[thevolslover]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I have my Micro SD now but my SD eader will NOT work!!!!!!! I'm ripping my hair out here! Well I vented anyway, I get a code one error on 2 SD cards I have put in. (Code 1: This Device cannot Start) I'm looking on the Dell wedsite now for a new driver for my SD reader. Could I possibly have disabled it through msconfig? Well I just have to keep searching and i'll reap the rewards.

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by thevolslover

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I have my Micro SD now but my SD eader will NOT work!!!!!!! I'm ripping my hair out here! Well I vented anyway, I get a code one error on 2 SD cards I have put in. (Code 1: This Device cannot Start) I'm looking on the Dell wedsite now for a new driver for my SD reader. Could I possibly have disabled it through msconfig? Well I just have to keep searching and i'll reap the rewards.

not to sound stupid or to insult your intelligence, but did you put the mSD card into the adapter in the right direction? what kind of computer (i'm assuming a laptop)?

[wickdaddy]

Originally Posted by Sideboard

Wickdaddy,
Sorry for the delay in responding.

If you mean "place the disk into system, click option #1 (install USB driver), than option 2 and than 3" yes. I did not read any other papers that came with the box. If I have to read it its too much work to install and someone didn't do their job again.

The one thing that does seem to happen (twice already) is that the step 1 doesn't seem to do anythig worth while because I still get a new hardware found message and it still goes to the disk for the driver. It loads as aV3C than a couple moments later as a MPT device. than all works fine. two machines, One desktop, the other a laptop.

Thanks
-dave

are these the steps that you followed right out of the box?

http://swanlake5315.com/wixtrix/IMG_0984.JPG