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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]
[Comment ID #39145 Will Be Quoted Here]
Ken the best method is to go with the mini sd card. Most come with the adapter so transferring files will be quicker. The kit that they provide is about useless, great for syncing but other than that only to sync to VCAST. Just remember it is a bit of a battery hog when watching vids, or music. Sounds great though if pointing in the right direction.
this phone was perfect when i first got it….but the motorola repair department ended up seeing more of it than i did. i had to send it back about 4 times. once to fix a lifted faceplate, and 3 times to fix a blown little speaker. i was ok with this, because i got the phone back and it was working.
now my internal screen doesnt work…so i send it back, and the return it unrepaired saying that it was liquid-damaged. funny….the sticker in the back area of the phone tells me differently. if the phone was damaged by water, it would have showed on that sticker…that’s the sticker’s job right? i guess if the repair department did what they were supposed to do ( fix an expensive phone that is on warantee) this might have been a good phone. but without good customer and repair service, any tech-style motorola phone is a mere waste of money. shame on motorola for converting me to another brand.
Rounin, I received a Kingston 2GB memory card plus usb micro reader from Buy.com for about $25. Installed, works like a charm. The only thing I needed to do was make sure that the song files were placed into the my_music file on the card. This music player in the phone is not bad at all! After 6-hrs of trying to install software and synch-ing music, this is a refreshingly easy “modification.” Thank you for your help.
[Comment ID #39221 Will Be Quoted Here]
No problem, Im glad it worked for you.
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 !
[Comment ID #39432 Will Be Quoted Here]
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.
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 !?
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..
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
[Comment ID #39469 Will Be Quoted Here]
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 :)).
[Comment ID #39483 Will Be Quoted Here]
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.
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.
[Comment ID #39514 Will Be Quoted Here]
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.
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
Thanx guys, you’re a big help :)
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 …???
[Comment ID #39654 Will Be Quoted Here]
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?
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???
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.
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.
[Comment ID #39791 Will Be Quoted Here]
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.
“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.
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?
[Comment ID #39888 Will Be Quoted Here]
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.
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.