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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]
I just got a KRZR for free since LG phones wont work sending txt in my area. It seems that the reception is not as good as the lg. When I hold it in my hand, it looses a bar. When i set it down it will gain a bar back. My lg never did that and the lg also had 3-4 bars in my area. The hinge squeaks, and when the music player is off and you hit a side button, the <|| >> buttons light up as long as the screen is lit. Other than those few problems, call quality is excellent! Is there any fixes for these problems?
[Comment ID #40935 Will Be Quoted Here]
So it hasnt worked since you owned it… hmmm so when you go to the VCast and my ringtones, and push play it doesnt play? (I know redundent). Also when you push the volume up and put it to highest setting and push set, can you still not hear it? Last thing the factory ringtones have a lock on them correct?
i can play the vcast music…..it is just the ringtones and alarms that wont play….it did work when I bought it
[Comment ID #40941 Will Be Quoted Here]
Any new updates from Motorola? Did anyone do a custom hack to your phone? And also in the vcast section, is My Ringtones, and you will see the factory one, But you say that when you try to play those you cant hear them play. Hmmm but worked before? I am sorry for all the same redundent questions. But if you can play vcast music… Hmm can you play mp3 music from the mini sd card?
[Comment ID #40936 Will Be Quoted Here]
The hinge issue call it a factory related your gonna have to deal with it issue. The button on the side, you can set your screensaver on the front to turn off quicker and it should turn off. And as for reception, these are not the best in the world, mine even at times drops bars then comes back strong, and i didnt even leave the spot i was in… But other than that it is a cool phone, I only got it originally because it was cool looking :))
This phone is awful. Haven’t even had mine a year and verizon has had to replace it 4 times!! Finally they gave me a new battery cause i couldn’t use it for 5 minutes and it would die! Today I opened it up and half the screen had gone blank. Verizon is replacing my phone with a Razr…and i’m glad to be done with the Krzr!!!
yeah it will play mp3 songs but no ringtones.
I bought a practically new unlocked Krzr K1 and put music on the memory card. I was listening tho the music and arranging playlists the whole time and then it stopped playing through the ear buds and now will only play through the speaker. When I first played music it automatically played through the speaker and when I plugged the ear buds into the mini-usb port it automatically switched over. I can’t get it to play through the ear buds now at all. Please help. Thanks in advance.
I just got a new unlocked krzr k1m and I want to be able to switch between SIM cards. Where is the SIM card located on this phone and how can I get to it
Where can I find the SIM card on the krzr k1m?
cricket k1m is the best. Just plug it into a usb on any pc and tranfer music to your memory card. Make sure you save it to the mobile folder and not the motorola folder. I made a new folder in the mobile folder and save all my songs to it. I can now use them as ringtones and on my mp3. After you save and disconnect from pc, you save any song from storage device to your phone.Turning your mp3 into ringtones. This also lets you send in text.
I suggest buying a universal card. This way you can use it on cameras or psp or even pc if you have a slot. Difference in price is very little. Go to cricket or best buy.
reach me at lopez.james77@comcast.net
Ive had a krzr for about a year and i must say it isnt the best phone ive every had. . . but yesterday it wouldnt receive or send txts, saying that the memory was full. . . also i had about 500 messages in there so i deleted THEM ALL and then some more stuff in there i didnt need but still everytime i try to send a message it says the same thing. . . HELP PLEASE!!!!
[Comment ID #41554 Will Be Quoted Here]
If your trying to text and find that when you click on new message, and it tells you that memory is full, and there is like nothing in your in or out box. Here is the way I got it to get around the memory full issue.
Click on Message
Then Settings
Then All Messages
select auto erase —> it settings should be defaulted to Off, click on On.
Once you do this the memory full issue is gone. Now what else does it effect, well you will need to keep checking to make sure it is not causing other ills.
This could also be the reason for the screen going white and going so slow to read and send messages.
This worked for me, it might not for you but worth a try.
Hi, I have a krzr 1 and I need someone help. when I open the phone to make a phone call the screen is black, it does not displays numbers or anything and it is not broken. what can it be?
Hey Guys, solved the KM1 issue with the picture id and/or default ring. You need to use the area code when you put the number in contacts. By default verizon detects the area code so without the phone is not recognizing the contact. Tried this several times worked with the area code every time.
External Controls – 3/5 stars
There is no way for a user to start music playback from the external controls, the phone must be opened to do so.
this claim is incorrect you can start you mp3 player without openng your phone. you press and hold the button which is right next to the volume control (the speakerphone button). just press and hold that button until the player pops up on the screen. if it says player error than you have no music for it to play
I have the Verizon Wireless K1m and I am having trouble getting the music to play! I transferred directly to my microSD card but when I try to play I get a “Music is not available” player error. I also tried to connect via USB and sync with PC but the driver will not load because it says I already have a newer driver installed??? Tried to connect to Motorola Phone Tools and it also won’t connect via USB but it does fine with Bluetooth and can sync Phonebook and Calendar. The phone just doesn’t seem to recognize that there is music on the card. Should the music be in a special folder and can there be subfolders, etc. I am not going to buy the Verizon Music Tools software just for transfering Music!
I bought a 2G micro sd card. It was working fine until I getting some songs
via bluetooth and now my krzr can’t read the card. Just freezes then it goes
back to the main menu. Any solutions?
I wrote a review of the MP3 capabilities and I’m not sure how this review concluded a 4/5. IMO, the MP3 player is a total non-starter with serious flaws that would prevent it from replacing an ipod in terms of usability.
I realize that getting this phone through Verizon means it is the CDMA version, because Verizon phones do not NEED a sim card to work. However, does this mean the phone has been modified to not take a sim card at all? Or is there still a sim slot, just with no card?
Thanks
Have you tryed charging it every night. I did it and now my cell holds a charge.
Whats up everyone. Save your songs to your micro sd card. Then go to your sounds and choose a song from your storage device. Then choose to move it to your phone memory . Once moved, you can choose a contact and edit to use as ringer ID.
You can use a camera usb or even a psp usb cord. Only, I suggest connecting it to the back of your computer usb plug. This way it charges your phone at the same time.
If you have the opportunity to get cricket, get it. They have the option of unlimited web for only $5 a month. Which gives you free ringtone, pics and screen saver downloads from http://www.mobile9.com at no addn’l cost. ( no airtime fees) .
Either way, it works. Also, the storage on your video can save and play music videos. I have many and they play just fine. Just save to mobile file on sd chip and mak a video file to save in. feel free to ask @ lopez.james77@comcast.net
[Comment ID #41727 Will Be Quoted Here]
if you press the bottom button(speakerphone button) and then hold it for 5 seconds it will start the player
METALMEGS,
the EXACT same thing keeps happening to me, right down to the ‘receive picture message’ while making calls. the phone tells me I have no service exactly every 3 to 4 minutes and the screen freezes constantly. I cannot text longer than a minute with out it freezing and shutting itself down, and it barely stays charged. I’ve only had the phone a year and I’m at my witts end.
I have no idea what to do besides shell out the money for a new phone (I usually do the upgrade every 2 years).
Hello. Just bought a Verizon Wireless K1M and am using it in Guam but not through verizon as we do not have that carrier. The phone was unlocked somewhat and I am trying to use the music I have dowloaded through the Vcast music manager as ringtones. I have tried everything with no luck and am wondering if there is a way to use these songs as ringtones? I cannot purchase ringtones through Vcast as we cannot connect to it fom Guam since it is a local carrier. Anyone know of a mod or something I can do to getsome better ringtones than the stock ones? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jason