Or does the Verizon phone 'software' simply ... uhh ... stink? *User definable keys ('enV-1' through 'enV-9') that aren't user definable (pick from these 10 choices, you can't create your own choices); *Almost no method for me to add my own ringtones (I figured out one way to do it) *9 button presses to START entering text in a text message: :loony: 1-press Message key, 2-New message, 3-New TXT message, 4-press the Add button to add a contact you will select, 5-From contacts, 6-scroll up or press keys to find the contact, 7-press OK to mark the contact for use in the message address, 8-press Done key, 9-then scroll down to start entering text. *2 soft buttons under the screen - users can't redefine those. *I have to press ok after adjusting the ring/alert volumes? *I can't set the time span for screen dim/keyguard... I have to choose from what they think is proper. So many freedoms lost just there alone, not to mention the freedoms we don't have to download MP3s to the phone, etc. Am I expecting too much?? Very Microsoftian attitude. IMLTHO.
No it's not just you. I've found the UI mediocre... everything is not intuitive. For instance, you have to go to GET IT NOW menu to access your saved stuff. The interface is cumbersome to those who use their phones for more than voice and messaging... imho. The phone's functionality is lost in the software. Maybe it's me, but the UI and VCast bog the phones down. I didn't realize what I was missing unitl I won a smartphone. No major* Verizon crippling on the smartphones. The only ways of escape are to get a phone with zero features or get a smartphone (although they more hands on with the Q9M). As long as I'm with the Red Empire, I'll be sticking with smartphones.
Hmm. I just left a RAZR V3, I thought that phone was bad, but I see you are right. And for that matter, even my older Nokia 2125 TracFone seems easier to use. I sure hope to hear that Verizon never offered this software for beta testing to the general public, because if the general public liked this software then I'm clueless. Unlimited texting, but it takes me longer to get to where I can start writing a text message than it takes to write most messages. Does anyone know where or when this Verizon user interface software was offered to the public before they rolled it out on their phones?? Is gonna be a long 2 years....
There was no "Beta" test. They introduced it in early 2005. They wanted to use a single UI to make it easier to readily use different model phones when you upgrade, renew, etc. With so many manufacturers and their different UI's, Verizon wanted seamless usability for customers... That being said, it was also their way of controlling content, functionality, and push their additional features. This is NOT a good thing if you are as into phones as we are on this site. Fortunately I've never had a phone, in the past few years, with the Verizon UI. I had the Moto V710 until I switched to the Nokia 6256i, which strangely was one of the the ONLY phones Verizon carried that didn't have their UI. It was never made readily available online or in stores, but it was available if you went through Nokia or other resellers directly. I then went to the Moto Q which, along with other smartphones, has never had the UI.
Well, I'm sure I can guess why there was no Beta testing.... most folks would have thrown it back at VZW and said: 'uhhhh, NO'. I have 2 Nokias - a 2125 and a 6061, I've had 3 RAZR V3s, I have a Sony-Ericcsson J220a and the VZW UI is the worst. By far.
Your feelings about the UI are common among many people on this site. For phone fans like us, it is very limited, boring, and just plain cheesy. But it's the price we pay for having Verizon as our mobile provider...:hmm:
You lucky :devil: you... I only used one phone with the UI, the Samsung SCHa930, and the phone seemed to be bogged down with the Vcast and UI. The phone moved slower (or so I think) than normal. At first, I didnt care about the UI; now that I have a smartphone, I don't think I could go back to a normal Verizon phone. On my mom's Motorola V325, the phone seemed to move a bit faster than my Samsung (probably because there is no Vcast on it)... she has no complaints about the UI... I suppose that she doesn't care since she doesn't use the phone a lot. It was fun walking her thru the steps to get to her solitare game and her contacts. I've haven't used any LG phones (since the VX3300) but I heard that the UI is partly based from LG... maybe LG's perform better with the UI than the other phones.
The LG IU was actually pretty good, in my opinion. I found it very easy to navigate on the VX4400. My preference with phone UI's was Motorola. There were many more options and choices for customization that VZW's UI. I'll never understand what Verizon's thinking was here...
I loved LG's interface and was turned off by motorola on the T720. Having the center button appear all the time and allow you to chose backgrounds....what is the point. What I do like about verizon, cingular, att, whatever is that they are using their own ui's to control content. Biggest benefit for me? Helping people I know by knowing exactly what buttons to hit, etc. to get to certain options. You don't have to worry about manufacturers anymore. The UI's are carrier based and it makes my life easier to assist my parents, etc.
