MOTORIZR Z6tv

When Verizon introduced its V CAST video download service almost three years ago, the deliverable content revolution launched a full-scale sortie on our mobile devices. With the new MOTORIZR Z6tv, Motorola's first U.S. phone to include V CAST Mobile TV, the revolution is not only televised; it's in real time. While viewing and listening quality were impressive, the vastly varying reception gives a whole new meaning to "location-based services." (View Z6tv photo gallery.)

The latest phone in Motorola's RIZR brood, the Z6tv retains the same sturdy slider design as former Z3 and Z6 models and keeps its V CAST music and video download services intact. The phone's sleek finish is classic, albeit pretty smudgy after we held and fiddled with the unit to watch TV. It's still light and slim enough to fit unobtrusively into a pocket or a purse, and the firm keys offer that cool blue Motorola glow that gives the Z6tv a modern edge.

Unlike previous generations, however, the Z6tv offers Mobile TV. Powered by the FLO TV service from MediaFLO USA, Mobile TV lets NBC News junkies, American Idolizers, and Heroes worshipers watch real-time television programming on the Z6tv any time of day. For now the service offers live television shows and content from CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC 2GO, NBC News2GO, and Nickelodeon. And the shows look really good, too-most of the time. But if you're going to spend the monthly $13 to $25 it costs to use Mobile TV service on the Z6tv, you better make sure you live in one of the few cities that actually provides the service.

For right now, the V CAST Mobile TV service is available in 23 states and in an ostensibly arbitrary collection of cities therein. Subscribers in Corvallis, Oregon, and Brownsville, Texas, can watch Dora the Explorer on a Z6tv, but if they try to tune in to 24 in San Francisco, or CSI: Miami in Miami, they're out of luck because Mobile TV service is not available in those major markets. Verizon has plans to expand to more service areas (its Web site offers an e-mail alert system to tell users when their city comes online). But in the indefinite meantime, buyers of the Z6tv who live in Houston, San Diego, or Boston will have to wait a while to watch Mobile TV.

Luckily for us, the service is available in New York City. One Wednesday night at 9 p.m., we tuned in to watch Bionic Woman, NBC's moody reboot of the hit 1970s series. The show's broadcast was steady and continuous for its duration, and the hour of viewing used only one bar of battery life. The sound was also surprisingly crisp (and was even better when we wore headphones). At one point, we could clearly hear simultaneous squealing tires, explosions, and crashes through the Z6tv's speaker.

Areas of darkness didn't show up well on the phone's two-inch screen. Scenes shot in shadow looked muddy and blurred, and we found ourselves trying in vain to angle the phone to be able to keep up with the show's action. On the other hand, when we switched to a brightly lit episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, we had no problem seeing the image. We even read baseball scores scrolling across the bottom of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption.

One thing we like about Motorola's interface design on past RIZR phones is its economy in keypad designation. The Z6tv is no exception. Access to the camera now shares button real estate with Mobile TV on the left side of the sliding face. Tap once quickly to access the program guide, or hold it down for a second to snap pictures or record video with the two-megapixel camera. The Z6tv also has the ability to take and view photographs and videos in portrait or landscape mode-a nice touch that, combined with the very good image quality of the camera, makes picture-taking with the Z6tv superior to many other midrange camera phones (with the exception of the Sony Ericsson W580i Walkman).

The Z6tv comes with other nice features, including the optional VZ Navigator service, with access to over 14 million locations; and stereo Bluetooth support for wireless music and video enjoyment. Another sweet design perk is the Z6tv's button lock, which prevents unwanted tune-skipping and video-stopping while on the go. The Access button for downloading V CAST music has also been relocated to the Z6tv's left side next to the volume control. Text messaging, instant messaging, and finding and dialing contacts are all still easy to do using the main menu and keypad. All of our test calls connected quickly, sounded clear, and remained sharp.

We think users (within available service areas) will be jazzed about the overall high quality that V CAST Mobile TV has to offer on this slider. There's enough variety in the programming on the few channels currently available to satisfy dial-flippers, and the Z6tv's other features round out the phone's profile nicely. In the end, this is probably a device best suited for parents and domestic travelers. Being able to soothe restless youngsters in the minivan with Nickelodeon or getting breaking news from MSNBC while stuck in traffic make the V CAST Mobile TV capability worthwhile. But if soccer practice isn't in the service zone and your travel plans take you out of range, you'll need to find some other form of entertainment.

Specifications:

Carrier:  Verizon Wireless

Form Factor:  Candy Bar

Fast Data Network:  EV-DO

Internal Memory:  40MB

Memory Expansion Type:  miniSD Card

Music Player:  No

Video:  Yes

GPS:  No

FM Radio:  No

Display (main):  2 inches, (240 x 320 pixels, 65,000 colors)

Size:  4.2 x 1.8 x 0.6 inches

Weight:  3.7 ounces

Motorola Q music 9m (Verizon Wireless)

A work-and-play device that wears its dual personalities on its sleeve, the Moto Q music 9m features a unique multimedia-centric Home Screen you can launch with the push of a button. This slick smart phone rocks Windows Mobile 6, over-the-air V CAST Music downloads, and one of the best keyboards we've used. Unfortunately, Motorola's makeover of the Q didn't extend to the processor or Web browsing experience.

At 4.8 ounces, the 9m is heavier than the original Q (4.3 ounces), but the black-and-red paint job helps this smart phone look the part of a hip messaging device-music player hybrid. It's still only half an inch thick, and the soft-touch finish on the back makes it easy to hold while making calls. Navigating menus is simple-if not fast-thanks to the scroll wheel on the right side and the oversized D-pad. Like all Windows Mobile devices, application performance depends heavily on how many programs are open. And this Q sports the same 312-MHz processor as the old one, which doesn't help matters. (View photo gallery)

The star of the 9m's design is the completely retooled keyboard, whose tightly packed layout and excellent tactile feedback enables rapid typing. However, the Delete key is still above the keyboard; placing it with the rest of the letter keys would be far more intuitive. You'll also find two soft Menu keys nearby as well, along with the Send, End, and Home keys. They all lie flat but are large enough to press easily. We would have liked to see dedicated volume controls; simply moving the scroll wheel raises and lowers the volume when you're on a call, but when in other applications you have to press and hold the wheel first to adjust the volume.

The 9m's other most interesting feature is its dedicated multimedia interface. Pressing the Home Screen Toggle key on the bottom of the layout launches a second desktop screen just for multimedia, but takes a sluggish seven seconds to do so. At first it looks like just a skin for Windows Media Player Mobile, but this oval-shaped UI offers one-touch launch keys for V CAST Music, the camera, and your pictures, as well as playback and volume controls. A separate Library icon launches a menu with quick access to your music and videos, as well as the Shuffle mode.

On the other hand, this multimedia interface could be more intuitive. It's not always clear what option is highlighted, and in some cases you have to press the Back key to jump from one side of the oval to the other. We also don't like that you have to update your library with new media manually, whether it's videos you've shot with the 9m's mediocre 1.3-megapixel camera or music you've downloaded from the V CAST Music Store. You can download full tracks over the air-a first for a Verizon Wireless smart phone-but they're too pricey ($1.99 each) and take too long to download (about a minute). And the few Connect Errors we encountered didn't inspire much confidence.

You're better off sideloading tracks to a miniSD card; Verizon includes a measly 128MB card in the box, so we recommend you pump that capacity up to 4GB by purchasing your own card. Tunes sounded good and loud both through the 9m's stereo speakers on the back and through Bluetooth stereo headphones. We like that we could easily hear the music even when the device was lying down on its speakers. The 9m also includes a 2.5mm headphone jack on the top. One noticeable omission is V CAST Video support; with the exception of a few Reuters Top News video clips available two clicks away from the browser's default home page, you're on your own for content.

That brings us to the 9m's second annoying flaw: Web surfing. Even though this smart phone taps into Verizon Wireless' EV-DO data network, Internet Explorer Mobile was notoriously slow loading pages. CNN.com took 15 to 20 seconds to show up on the square screen, versus less than 10 seconds on the EDGE-enabled BlackBerry Curve. Downloading Opera provided better page formatting and improved speeds (about 8 seconds for CNN.com), so be sure to make that your first order of business.

As a productivity device, the 9m offers everything you would expect from Windows Mobile 6, including easily searchable e-mail, a calendar with enhanced week view, and contacts with a smart dial feature. But Motorola went the extra mile by bundling Documents to Go. That means you can view, edit, and create Microsoft Office attachments. You can also view PDFs and decompress ZIP files. And we appreciated the shortcut buttons for messaging and the speakerphone on the keyboard.

The 9m excelled as a phone on our tests in Manhattan and New Jersey. Other callers could tell we were on a cell phone, but they didn't have any complaints about volume or clarity. Calls on our end were always clear with minimal muffling, even on the noisy streets around Times Square. By including a bigger 1170 mAh battery this time around (versus 1130 for the first Moto Q), the 9m offered good endurance on our tests. With light usage, the phone lasted through a weekend without a recharge, so power users should expect to be able to get through a full day.

We would like to see how well the Sprint version of this device performs, especially considering that carrier's cheaper data plans, but overall the 9m is a good messaging and multimedia device with excellent call quality. If you demand snappier performance, want to be able to gab overseas, and don't care about a camera, spend $50 more on the BlackBerry 8830. But if you want quicker access to your media and better Office document support out of the box, you won't be disappointed with the Moto Q music 9m

Motorola RAZR2 V9 (AT&T)

Among the three new RAZR2s, the V9 model from AT&T stands out for its superb voice quality (especially in noisy environments) and speedy surfing using a full HTML browser. We also like that you can do just about anything while listening to music. It's not perfect, but the V9 is the best clamshell the carrier offers.

The V9 is close to the same size as the V9m for Sprint and Verizon Wireless but just a tad thicker (0.52 inches versus 0.46) and a little heavier (4.4 ounces versus 4.13). It also sports a shiny Mahogany finish and the same slick but sturdy design as the other models, complete with vacuum-metalized finish, chemically hardened glass, and a chrome hinge. But that's not what you notice first when you pick up the Motorola RAZR2 V9; it's the gorgeous two-inch external display. Like the V9m's screen, it sports 320 x 240-pixel resolution but more colors (262,000 versus 65,000).

The large external screen lets users open and scroll through their music libraries, as well as launch the camera for taking self-portraits. The display is also used for picture caller ID. Using the buttons on the left side of the phone, we were able to scroll through playlists, songs, and albums and alter the volume, as well as fast-forward, skip, play, and pause tracks with the haptic controls. Motorola wisely lets you lock the external keys to prevent accidental presses.

Flipping open the phone reveals an equally gorgeous and even larger (2.2-inch) internal display with the same resolution and colors. Besides the standard cell phone buttons, the RAZR2 V9 features a dedicated Opera browser key for quickly accessing the Web, and another that takes you directly to Cellular Video, which contains tons of clips from Comedy Central, ESPN, HBO Mobile, and other media outlets. The D-pad is smaller than the ones found on the Sprint and Verizon V9m, but we still found it easy to use.

The Daily Show segments loaded in just under 15 seconds on AT&T's high-speed HSDPA network, and for the most part featured decent video and sound. Although video quality on this model wasn't nearly as crisp as on Sprint's version of the RAZR2 V9m, AT&T's offering lets you pause playback and watch clips in full-screen mode (features that Sprint's V9m lacks). Verizon's V9m also offers full-screen viewing and the ability to pause playback, but the video quality wasn't as good.

When we accessed YouTube Mobile, it performed like a champ in both normal and full-screen modes. Unlike Sprint's V9m, however, you can't watch video on the external display when the flip is closed. Diversion-seekers can also tune into XM Radio Mobile ($8.99 per month) or MobiRadio ($8.99 per month), as well as access MySpace Mobile ($2.99), although MySpace wasn't yet available during our testing. Oddly, this multimedia dynamo lacks AT&T's new Video Share feature.

With the plethora of features crammed into cell phones these days, it's easy to forget what a mobile is first and foremost designed to do: make calls. AT&T's version of the RAZR2 V9 features CrystalTalk, which utilizes noise-canceling technology to improve voice quality. Even on a loud, bustling midtown Manhattan street, friends and colleagues reported exceptional call quality with only a hint of background noise. The V9 bested both the Sprint and Verizon Wireless V9m in this test.

Multitaskers will love the RAZR2 V9's ability to play their favorite tunes while surfing the Web, sending instant messages, and even using the two-megapixel camera--something you can't do with the Sprint and Verizon versions. You can sideload songs by synching the phone with Windows Media Player or using a microSD Card. Unlike other AT&T handsets, this one doesn't support over-the-air music downloads via eMusic. We say skip the proprietary USB/audio jack for listening, and use a stereo Bluetooth headset instead.

Surfing the Web on the RAZR V9 is a joy, thanks to the included Opera Web browser, which loaded HTML Web pages quickly. When we visited CNN.com, text loaded within 6 seconds, with photos loading about 15 seconds later. Page formatting wasn't perfect, but sites were relatively easy to navigate. Assuming you'll be in coverage areas with HSDPA data, the RAZR2 V9 is rated at 3 hours and 25 minutes of talk time. That's not very long, but it's on par with other 3G phones on AT&T's network.

Although the Motorola RAZR2 V9 is pricey, its excellent voice quality, smooth Web-surfing, loads of multimedia content, and beautiful design make it one of best mobiles that Motorola has ever produced and one of the best with AT&T, period.

Motorola RAZR2 V9m (Sprint)

Each of the new RAZR2s boasts a huge two-inch external display, but Sprint's pearl-gray version stands out from the crowd because it takes advantage of that screen for watching everything from The Daily Show clips to full episodes of Ugly Betty. More important, this RAZR2, which sports the same sleek and sturdy design as the models from AT&T and Verizon Wireless, costs $50 less. Other unique perks include access to NFL Mobile and 99-cent over-the-air music downloads. Add in good call quality and you have a satisfying, though far from revolutionary, sequel for style-conscious multimedia hounds.

Having a bigger screen involves a couple of tradeoffs (view photo gallery). The RAZR2 V9m is noticeably heavier than the original RAZR V3m (4.2 ounces versus 3.5). It's also 0.2 inches taller, although some may prefer that extra length when making calls. One thing is for sure: This clamshell feels practically indestructible compared with designs from LG and Samsung, thanks to the V9m's stainless-steel internal frame and hinge. And at 0.47 inches, this RAZR is slightly thinner than its predecessor. The large dialpad was easy to use and has improved tactile feedback compared with previous RAZRs, but people with smaller thumbs may find themselves straining a bit to reach across the wide layout. Navigating menus with the oversized D-pad was a breeze.

So what's the point of putting a big display on the outside of a clamshell--other than providing additional eye candy? In the case of the V9m for Sprint, you get one-touch access to Sprint TV, the Sprint Music Player, and the camera, using three touch controls with their own icons. Pressing and holding each button, complete with haptic feedback, launched TV in 15 seconds, music in 10 seconds, and the camera in 3 seconds. Once in the TV menu, you can navigate the program guide and select a video to watch. The music player simply starts playing the songs you've downloaded or sideloaded, and you see large album art along with touch controls for Play and Rewind/Fast-Forward. Firing up the camera lets you use the external display for taking self-portraits.

The external display, which sports 320 x 240-pixel resolution and 65,000 colors, looked very crisp on our tests but picked up fingerprints quickly. The internal screen offers the same resolution and number of colors but a larger 2.2-inch viewing area. We found Sprint's menu system the most dynamic and modern-looking, thanks in part to an animated Sprint logo in the background. The main screen includes shortcuts to SMS, Sprint Music, Sprint TV, and My Content (including games, IM & E-mail, and Applications). Once you enter the main menu, you can toggle from a tabbed view to a grid view. You can also use a list view, but it's just too long and confusing. The left side of the phone houses the volume controls and Voice Command button, and on the right side there's a launch key for the Pictures menu.

The RAZR2 offers all of the features you would expect from a multimedia phone, including stereo Bluetooth, a two-megapixel camera, and up to 2GB of memory using a microSD Card slot. (Annoyingly, it's behind the battery.) Those looking for turn-by-turn directions can spring for Sprint Navigation powered by TeleNav, whose technology also powers the navigation application for the AT&T RAZR2 V9. Sprint Navigation was not yet available for the RAZR2 V9m during our testing.

True Sprint-specific features start with Sprint TV. On our tests, the picture quality was decent. Navigating the program guide, even on the external display, was simple. However, there were several occasions where an image remained on the screen for a few moments as the stream continued. Also, we wish that you could view videos on the internal display in full-screen mode.

Another cool application unique to Sprint is NFL Mobile. Using an interface similar to that of ESPN MVP from Verizon, a left navigation area littered with icons makes checking the latest stats and scores easy. You can personalize that menu by adding your favorite team, so we could easily access the latest news on the NY Giants, for example. Clicking on Fantasy brought up a Coming Soon screen that promised exclusive analysis and team-management features. You can also check the latest video highlights and set team and player alerts. Our only complaints with this: The text size was too small (due to the RAZR2's high-res screen), and on one occasion the app wouldn't open until we rebooted the phone.

As a music player, Sprint's RAZR2 V9m offers faster and cheaper downloads than the Verizon Wireless version. Our 99-cent tracks from The Bravery, Fall Out Boy, and The Killers downloaded in just 10 to 15 seconds, compared with 40 seconds to a minute for Verizon. Sound quality through both the RAZR2's speaker and through Motorola stereo Bluetooth headphones was excellent with plenty of volume. Just don't expect to multitask; Unlike the LG Muziq, you can't send or receive text messages or do anything else while you're rocking out--except shop for more tracks. Being able to control the music from the external display is convenient, but there's no way to manually lock the touch-sensitive buttons to prevent accidental presses while your tunes are playing. (They automatically lock after 15 seconds). The music player refused to launch on one occasion, forcing us to reset the device once more.

Surfing the Web was quite fast on this V9m's Obigo browser, at least when using sites optimized for mobile viewing. Loading the WAP version of CNN.com took only four seconds. The browser can handle HTML pages, but loading the full version of CNN.com took more than 30 seconds, and even then scrolling was sluggish. For when you need a quick info hit, use the bundled Handmark On Demand service, which features a simple tiled interface; it loaded top news stories, weather, and more in just three seconds.

The two-megapixel camera was poor in low light but produced decent images indoors with a fair amount of ambient light. Outdoor shots had good detail, and shutter speed in general was good. We found the 320 x 240-pixel videos captured by the camcorder function to be above average, with not nearly as much warping or artifacts present when we panned with the V9m.

In general, call quality on the V9m was very good compared with other print phones. Other callers said we sounded clear, and we noticed little fuzziness on our end of the line. However, Sprint's V9m performed the worst in our background-noise test compared with the AT&T and Verizon RAZR2, where we left voice messages on a landline from all three handsets while standing behind an ice cream truck in midtown Manhattan. Several words were clipped, and the background noise was more apparent than with the other phones. The rated talk time is about 3.3 hours, and with regular use we found ourselves having to charge every day.

Assuming Sprint works out some of the software bugs, we highly recommend the RAZR2 V9m. It makes premium Sprint phones like the $129 Sanyo Katana DLX look downright dowdy, and its zippy processor helps the V9m run circles around previous RAZRs. The RAZR2 V9m from Verizon offers better coverage but a weaker user interface and more expensive music downloads. AT&T's V9 offers CrystalTalk and a more robust browser but no over-the-air music downloads, and it’s not yet compatible with the carrier’s Video Share service. Sprint's edition isn’t perfect, but the carrier makes the most of the RAZR2's big external display, and it does so at a more affordable price.