Motorola Q9h Hands On [Boy Genius Report]

CDMA phones are resource hungry, so they hog up a lot of battery life. The new Q is GSM-based, so Moto claims it'll use significantly less power. In addition, Motorola also gave the new Q a few battery-saving features. One of them relates to the phone's display. The new Q's display dims itself faster than the one on the old Q. This can be both good and bad depending how you look at it. But combined, Motorola says this equals more juice.

What about the keyboard? Believe it or not, but I like my old Q's keyboard better. Something about the new QWERTY keyboard on the Q9 makes it easier to hit the wrong key (especially since the buttons are now squished together). So until I put the new Q through a real world battery test, I'm holding off on the upgrade. – Louis Ramirez

Motorola May 07 [Gizmodo]

If you're familiar with the first generation Motorola Q, you might notice the styling updates in these new models, too, where no longer do you see that big honking Jay Leno chin on the thing, and the keys look like they're little easier to navigate as well. And of course, there's that obvious difference, where this one is available in that oh so cool black color.

If only Motorola had released this design initially, perhaps we'd be a bit more fond of our Motorola Q. – Charlie White

Press Release [Motorola]

Was it painted? This is something that could be fairly easy to do with a can of spray paint and some adhesive tape. Or perhaps there's someplace where you can get a replacement white housing for the Q. We're contacting the originator of this pic for an update.

Now if someone would just offer replacements for the Q's insides, we might like ours a bit better. – Charlie White

My New Q [Webshots] Thanks, Cameron!

Press Release [Motorola]
CES 2007 [Gizmodo]

The same old problems still haunt the Motorola Q on Sprint. A lack of dedicated volume controls and awkwardly placed backspace key mar an otherwise just-ok design. The Motorola Q is also wider than the Samsung BlackJack (available from Cingular), another popular consumer-oriented smartphone. Also, Sprint's Q was quite a bit slower than Verizon's offering. Kinda lame, Sprint.

At the end of the day, if you're a Sprint customer, the Motorola Q isn't a terrible deal. It's no better than Verizon's Q (and is worse in the aforementioned respects) and the BlackJack actually makes use of Cingular's music and video service, something the Q doesn't do on either service. Essentially, tread this way only if you have to. – Nicholas Deleon

Sprint MOTO Q [Laptop]

Press Release [Sprint via Everything Motorola Q]

There's improved power management that gives you longer battery life, Bluetooth headset volume control, email client fixes, and a rubberized grip for less slippage. Seeing as it's only $50, and the black does look better than the silver, we'd recommend this improved one over the original. But you knew we would say that. – Jason Chen

Black Q: It's What's Inside That Counts [Crunchgear]

For those keeping score, the Motorola Q is Verizon's consumer-oriented smartphone, along the lines of the T-Mobile Dash by HTC and the Cingular BlackJack by Samsung. While most people would say the Dash is the best of this bunch, Verzion users should be used to the "take what you can get" scenario. There's no color premium on the LG Chocolate, so Lord knows why Verizon decided to implement one this time. Oh, right, they're greedy. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [Verizon Wireless via Qusers.com]

If you forgot what the Q can do, read our review. But as a short refresher, it's got Windows Mobile, a QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO, Bluetooth 1.2, a 320x240 screen, but no touchscreen capabilities. – Jason Chen

Pictures emerge of Sprint's Motorola Q [Engadget Mobile via Phone Arena]

Now if someone would just design a brick wall with a Motorola Q sticking out of it, I'd have the perfect case mod for my Smartphone. – Charlie White

Paper Bin Case Mod from China [Barbaria]

Behold our stunning graphs light-years ahead of your primitive 3D display technologies, then hit the jump for our Frankenreview—the blogger's equivalent to a quadruple-stuffed Oreo without the cookie. – Mark Wilson

Frankenreviewer Says:

Design

"We may have called it ugly as sin at one point, but once we had the final product in our hand, we changed our mind."
"It's extremely elegant, clad in soft-touch black plastic that feels great in the hand."
"Keys are backlit by a purple glow, a cool touch."
"The entire keypad is actually wider than the pad on our 700p, and the keys themselves have more breathing room..."
"The keys are packed very tightly together, but they offer excellent tactile feedback."
"The new volume control touch strip is...a bit temperamental."
"...extremely difficult to know how accurately you're changing the volume..."
- Volume was the one design flaw everyone agreed on.

Communication/Web

"The Dash is extremely well connected."
"With Wi-Fi and 2.5G support, the Dash is a browsing powerhouse. The Wi-Fi connection manager lists all available connections in the area, and delineates between locked, open, and ad hoc networks."
"MSN instant messaging is obviously supported, as are Yahoo, AIM, and ICQ messaging."
"...our experience didn't exactly feel "instant," as it took an average of 25 seconds to sign onto Yahoo and anywhere from 4 to 40 seconds to send and receive messages."
"Mobile Internet Explorer handles complicated and graphically rich pages well...but stumbles when it comes to JAVA- and AJAX-heavy sites, such as YouTube."
"The BlackBerry Pearl, which rides on the same 2.5G network, is faster because it uses a more efficient Java-based browser."
"As a phone, the Dash is just adequate."
"Calls sound a bit fuzzy, with some dips in reception, even when we had full signal strength."
- Talking is overrated, that's why we email.

Multimedia

"Media playing is robust thanks to Windows Media Player 10."
"Thrillingly, you can finally play video in full-screen mode, something that didn't work on previous Windows Mobile Smartphone OS devices."
"...picture quality was a bit disappointing as colors appeared washed out and lines and edges weren't as sharp as we've seen on other phones."
"...the video mode captures unremarkable 176-by-144, 10-frames-per-second videos."
"...easy it is to share your shots and low-res video footage; clicking on the envelope icon after you're done recording takes you directly to an MMS or e-mail message prepopulated with your photo or video attachment."
- Too bad the images aren't worth sharing.

Other

"...the Dash was a little bit sluggish overall. We experienced a number of delays when opening and closing applications."
"...rated for 5 hours of talk time and up to 9 days of standby time. In our tests, the Dash more than doubled the rated talk time..."
"...it's a worthy competitor to the BlackBerry Pearl, Motorola Q, and Palm Treo 700p."
- Now let's get these smartphones just a hair smarter, editing Office files while cutting my hair.

Size: 4.4 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches
Weight: 4.2 ounces
Included battery: Li-Ion
Talk time: up to 5 hours
Standby time: up to 9 days
Band (frequency): 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz

Messaging

* Text messaging*
* Instant messaging: Yahoo! , MSN , and AOL *

Fun

* 1.3 Megapixel camera
* Windows Media Player
* Video capture/playback

Communication

* Easily synch w/ Microsoft Outlook
* Built-in QWERTY Keypad
* myFaves capable*
* Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology

Information

* Real web browsing*
* GPRS/EDGE and Wi-Fi enabled*
* Micro SD memory slot
* Voice-activated dialing

CNET
PCMag
Laptop Mag
Infosync

This Windows Mobile smartphone is well equipped to smack down the Motorola Q, and since we carry a Q around every day and constantly struggle with its sluggish navigation and short battery life, we're thinking this is going to be easy for Samsung. – Charlie White

FCC blesses Samsung i607 3G Smartphone for Cingular [PhoneArena, via Howard Forums]

So it looks like that's working out pretty well for HomeLogic at CEDIA 2006, where the company is showing its software running on all kinds of unlikely things, such as the Motorola Q Smartphone. The company also showed demos of its software running on Windows CE. What's next? Controlling everything in your house from your car's built-in GPS system? Don't laugh. – Charlie White

HomeLogic shows automation on UMPC and Motorola Q phone [Talkabout: CEDIA]

We only wish we would have backed up all of our mods and apps on the Q with Sprite Backup as our astute commenter SnowBoss recommended yesterday. It took us a while to get everything back to normal, but to answer another question, the contacts and appointments calendar were rapidly restored with a quick ActiveSync.

And yes, you can now use the Q as a EVDO modem, but it'll cost you $15 a month. Dang. We thought after paying $45 a month for "unlimited" broadband, Verizon wouldn't be clipping us for even more. Clueless Verizon notwithstanding, bravo, Motorola. Maybe the Q is not so bad after all. – Charlie White

Motorola Q Software and Firmware Update: What to Expect [Consumer Electronics Net]

It's about time. We'll load up the update and let you know how it goes. We're just hoping this will do something to cure the slow performance, lockups, Bluetooth problems, video and audio skipping and all the dozens of other issues we've run into while using this unfortunate release from Motorola and Verizon. – Charlie White

Motorola Q Firmware and Software Update Page [Motorola, via QUsers]

Anyway, it looks like Mot plans a few added capabilities, with highlights being the ability to use the Q as a modem with added dial-up networking functionality, some OS enhancements for Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, and the ability to access websites that support frames. Get the full wonky details of the update after the jump. – Charlie White

Motorola Enhancements
1. Dial-Up Networking (DUN) - Q can now be used as a modem - either tethered or via Bluetooth to the PC.
2. Multiple NAI - Allows handset to be enabled for modem use on the network.

Cold Boot
1. Provides users the ability to master reset device using key-presses if device becomes locked after forgetting Device Lock password.

Proxy Server
1. Enable Q to access network via different proxies (corporate IT feature).

Motorola Software Upgrade Tool
1. Tool to conduct upgrade of prior Motorola Q Software Version
2. Available on www.hellomoto.com/update
3. Download takes approximately 30 minutes

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Enhancements— (AKU2.4)
1. OS Enhancements
2. Improved browser experience
3. Allows Q to access websites that support frames which increases the variety of websites that a user can visit.
4. SMS to E-mail functionality now supported
5. Bluetooth separated from Airplane flight mode. Users can now independently Bluetooth while airplane mode is enabled. (E.g. Listen to Bluetooth stereo & MP3 music while on a plane)

MSFP
1. Push E-mail: When new e-mail arrives in the corporate mailbox, e-mail will be pushed automatically to the Q
2. Global Address Lookup
3. Enhanced security

Motorola Q ROM Update disappears... [Mobility Today]