[ShiggyMiyamoto]

Hey guys. I saw the Motorola Razr V3 cell phone the other day and I fell in love with it! ^_^ I'm gonna save up for it and a plan. I have a few question(s) about it though:

1. I know that it doesn't sync up with iSync (I don't really need that) over Bluetooth, which I wouldn't be able to use anyway since I have a pre-2003 iBook that doesn't support it. My first question is: When the phone is connected ala USB to my iBook, would I have access to where the ring tones, jpgs used for the background etc are stored? Would I be able to do a simple copy-->paste and put any MP3/jpg I want from my collection and use that on the phone? That's my biggest concern/wonder.. I love customization and if I could alternate pics and MP3s on it that would be awesome.

2. Also, I know it supports MP4 video playback, but can you set an MP4 as a moving, animated background? Is its CPU powerful enough to do that? Now THAT would be awesome if it's capable of that.

Thanks in advance...

[squishles]

If you check http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/isync/devices.html you'll see that it's supposed to be supported under Tiger. As for the other stuff I can't help you on that. Just an FYI...

[HOM]

1) Nope. At least not from a Mac. On windows you can use Moto's Phone Tools to add files. The only way on the Mac is via BT. Please keep in mind that the RAZR only has 5MB of storage which is pretty low for such an expensive phone. If you're going to use MP3s as ringtones I suggest encoding at 64kbps and in mono. The speaker sucks enough for a high bit rate song to sound the same as a low bit rate song.

2) Nope. Only static JPEGs can be used for background pictures. Also note that it only comes with three themes. If you want to use other ones you're going to need a windows PC and some experience with hex editing. Moto phones are by far the most hackable out there, but like I mentioned it requires a PC.

Now, some notes on the RAZR. Don't waste your money. Seriously. The Moto V551 has all the features the RAZR has and more (EDGE). It is significantly more rugged. The RAZR has been known to have the glass screen shatter if it's dropped. The RAZR is also running on an older firmware so you cannot initiate speakerphone until the call has connected. Seems like a little thing, but if you use speakerphone a lot it is a real hassle. You can also get two V551's for the price of a RARZ. It's just not worth it.

Also of note is that the Moto phone book is just atrocious. No, I mean it is a fucking joke. It does not have multiple listings per person. Each number is stored individually. You can set it up so it only shows the 'primary' number if you're browsing the listings, but that is only for voice calls. If you want to send a text message you have to navigate all the numbers. It does not make a distinction between text capable numbers and non text capable numbers. So you'll have to scroll through all the home, work, and fax numbers in the list to get the a mobile number. Oh, and it gets better. You can only search, via the keypad, by first name and then you can only enter the first fucking letter. So if you're trying to get to Sven Johnson, you press 7 and then scroll through all the names that start with 'S'. Now triple that procedure if you want to send a text message. Oh, and to send a file, like a picture or video to the computer via BT you don't have a simple command like 'Send file...', nope, you need to copy it first and then send it.

The UI is simply ass-backwards. It's really a shame that Apple chose to partner with Moto and not a company that makes good phones like SE or Nokia.

[LAmezq3984]

yeah, I just recently purchased the sony ericcson S710a, and let me tell you, it was amazing the difference in features I moved up to compared to my moto v600 (which is bascially what the RAZR is, just in a new slim case). I got 32 mb built in memory, a memory stick duo 32mb it, stereo headphones/earpiece, a full featured 1.3 megapixel camera, a great UI. I am not going back to motorolla anytime soon (unless they make a really awesome apple phone) stay away from RAZR man, its just an overpriced rehash of a phone that was made 2 years ago. Peace!