... The input on this Motorola (I am not sure how common it is to all Motorolas) is awful. It's hard to switch off the awful predictive text (in fact there are two predictive text modes, one completely wild and one slightly more sensible, I have no idea what the difference between them is), as ... Read review
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Advantages: pretty, feels nice, the screen on the cover, camera OK Disadvantages: silly text input, poor battery life, interface not brilliant, can't use while charging
...thing. The input on this Motorola (I am not sure how common it is to all Motorolas) is awful. It's hard to switch off the awful predictive text (in fact there are two predictive text modes, one completely wild and one slightly more sensible, I have no idea what the difference between them is), as the same button that is used to choose between caps and lower case, or symbols, is also used to switch the input modes, and the default seem to always be ... ...probably more of a general Motorola thing than something specific to U9, but I am not that enamoured with the interface. I would like to be able to have more items than just four on the home screen, and I would like to be able to have low-level menu entries there (e.g. the calculator, not just "office tools"). It should also be possible to assign the side keys to all functions, not just a limited number of them, and the same for the two ... more
I have got this phone in early 2008 with the cheapest Vodafone contract (plus major cashback from Cashbackkings, already received). My main motivation was to have a contract phone, as I get fed up with simultaneously running out of money and battery power just when I need to make this once call. I totally under-use it, as on average I probably would spend more than a fiver per calls a month on Pre-Paid, and this is costing me £15 (but the phone came with the contract, so overall works out as bit less of a loss on subscription - or a very expensive phone indeed).
I don't really remember why I chose this one from the limited selection that came free with the cheapest contract, apart from the fact that (1) it was a clamshell (flip-cover) design, and don't like exposed keys (2) it has a 2 mega pixel camera, and I wanted a reasonable one.
Considering the fact that have had a mobile phone (sometimes more than one) pretty much continuously since around 1996, I am probably pretty unsophisticated user. This has likely something to do with the fact that I am rarely away from a computer and that I don't get phoned or phone much. Still, I wanted a phone that I could take with me when I do get out, just in case; for taking abroad; to use as a watch, an alarm clock and calculator and in order to take pictures if I don't have my proper camera with me.
What about making and receiving calls?
Now, I have read countless comments on mobile phone reviews saying something along the lines of: it's all grand commenting on all of those features, but how about making calls. And as I have never written a mobile phone review (hey, it's my first after a total of about 300 other reviews posted all over the place), I never questioned this kind of sentiment.
But now I have to, actually. Well, it makes calls. That's what those things are made for and all of them do. I have had probably at least 12 models of mobile phones of various brands, and guess what, they all made and received calls. I have never heard of one that didn't, and I also have not heard of any phones that had handset-related issues with making or receiving calls. I will say a word about the keys later, but this is as (or more) pertinent to texting and menu operation than call making.
Design & feel
It's a lovely object to behold: sleek, rounded but not too round, and the front of the cover is a secondary 'screen' that allows to conduct some function without actually flipping the clam open. You can read text messages, see the clock or even use the camera. My version is pink (!!!), but it's not a lurid pink of kindergarten tutu variety, but more of a dark dusky pink with a metallic sheen. To be honest, I don't mind, it was just the particular colour it came in, but it's not embarrassing enough fro me to try to hide the phone from people.
As I said, I like phones with a clamshell or slider design, as I don't like the problems with locking and unlocking the keyboard. This clam could be easier to open one-handed, I don't like having to use my nail or both hands sometimes – but perhaps it's made for younger and nimbler fingers than mine.
It's perhaps a little bit to small – I keep losing it not only at the bottom of the backpack or in my bag, but even in my pockets, and this is taking the miniaturisation too far. On the other hand, it's a definite plus if you want to carry no bag: it does fit in pretty much any (normal, not decorative) pocket, with room to spare.
I quite like they keys. They are quite large, flat and textured, which means I don't have a constant feeling that I am pressing three at the same time, although ideally I would like a bit of separation between them to further this kind of impression.
Texting
I only text when I have to or when I am extremely bored and I just can't bear the differential between the speed of typing on a normal keyboard and this stupid thumbing thing. The input on this Motorola (I am not sure how common it is to all Motorolas) is awful. It's hard to switch off the awful predictive text (in fact there are two predictive text modes, one completely wild and one slightly more sensible, I have no idea what the difference between them is), as the same button that is used to choose between caps and lower case, or symbols, is also used to switch the input modes, and the default seem to always be the most preposterous predictive one.
Camera
The 2mpx camera was one of the main reasons I chose this phone, and despite this is a disappointment – the picture quality is pretty low unless the light is very good – it doesn't like grey days even outside, and it doesn't like hard shadows and bright sun either. I like the fact that the extra screen on the cover can be used as a viewfinder.
Battery
I now remember than another reason I chose this this handset was its advertised standby time, I don't use my mobile more than a few days a week and thus would like the battery to last as long as possible when it's not being used – well, it doesn't come anywhere near the advertised standby time (and yes, I did format it properly when first received): in fact, it doesn't last more than three days with no use at all.
It's also immensely annoying that you can't use the phone while it's plugged into the charger: this is the first ever phone like that, and I just can't understand why they would introduce such a limitation.
Interface
This is probably more of a general Motorola thing than something specific to U9, but I am not that enamoured with the interface. I would like to be able to have more items than just four on the home screen, and I would like to be able to have low-level menu entries there (e.g. the calculator, not just "office tools"). It should also be possible to assign the side keys to all functions, not just a limited number of them, and the same for the two "home" keys above the red and green handset ones.
I would like to be able to customise the menus in general. They are complicated, long winded and unnecessarily fixed. I know I am probably applying my PC habits to a simpler device, but there is no reason a mobile phone interface couldn't be at least as usable and customisable as a PC one.
Some aspects of the menu are not intuitive at all. The alarm clock always takes me a few minutes to find, and I have used it quite a few times already.
Others
I don't use the mp3 function as I don't listen to music much, and certainly not in a personal stereo mode. I never tried to use it a with a memory card, as I have no need for extra storage on the phone, the number of photos it can store is sufficient for my needs.
Verdict
It all depends on what you want from your phone, but I would not buy this one again. It's not as bad as to make me feel desperate for a change, and if I used it more I would probably create workarounds or train myself around some issues. It looks and feel nice, however unimportant it is in the greater scheme of things, the camera is acceptable and the screen on the cover cool and useful as well. But the mediocre or downright bad aspects probably outweigh the good ones for me, and I can't imagine it being more than average overall.
Advantages: Gorgeous, fashionable, stylish, easy to use Disadvantages: A bit slow sometimes, ringtones aren't great
Before I start this review, I should say that the U9 is my first new phone in over three years. This is something pretty major for me as I was very attached to my old phone - it might have been old and basic but it offered everything I needed, and I found that most newer phones were either ugly or had the exact same (or worse) specifications than my old phone did - which was pretty surprising for one that was so old! The fact that I *FINALLY* chose ... ...how good the U9 is.
The U9 is almost certainly a girls phone. Your colour choices are either pink or purple - the pink designed for 'party girls', and the purple for those that like luxury. The outer appearance of the phone is fantastic. It really is a gorgeous little phone, and extremely fashionable. The outside is very simplistic, metallic and shiny so it manages to look both sophisticated and cool. The purple is a gorgeous colour and is owned ...
hi_nicola 24.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Motorola U9
Advantages: Looks pretty and starts off okay Disadvantages: Everything goes downhill after a few months!
Whilst I am sure many people have written a technical review of this phone, I really wanted to let you all know about my personal experience with it. I bought the phone in purple when it first came out, it retailed then at approximately £115 pounds. I then put my o2 contract simcard in and away I went. The phone performed perfectly for the first few months, like many electrical products it had a guarentee for one year, after this year things started ... ...if i call someone and the line is engaged, the beep that you usually hear when this happens does not end when I have hung up the phone. The incessant beeping can continue for minutes and cause me to have to restart the phone. Secondly, it likes to do something which I now refer to as the 'demon phone', this is where the entire screen dissapears and all that you can see is a big square of bright red! This again means the phone must be restarted. Occasionaly ...
rachieb123 30.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Motorola U9
I bought this phone about a week ago and I think it's absolutely brilliant! The screen is really high res, the feel of the phone is gorgeous, the buttons are just the right size (not the really small or 'wobbly' feeling ones you can get) and it looks really cool. It comes in 2 colours (as far as I know) - pink and purple. When you close it together it shows the time and then a short animation through the seemingly-opaque lid. When a message/phone ...
jessicajess7 05.09.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Motorola U9
Advantages: Easy to use and looks fab. Disadvantages: none
My Hubby bought this phone for me (altogether now aaahhhhhh) from Argos for £99.00. First of all in the box you get a set of nice earphones and a charger and the usual other bits. I chose the pink not just because its pink but because its a deep pink.....bit more grown up? As soon as i peeled off the protective film it shone metallic pink, in fact i didn't want the hubby to touch it incase he got grubby finger marks on it and spolit it.........you ... ...The sound is brilliant apparantly it has this "Crystal Talk Technology" which means even when it's noisy you can hear.
Now.......for me this is the best bit, when you play a song it appears on the external case as if by magic! wow how fab is that? and you can even skip pause the song. You can have animated screensavers like butterflys and flowers on there too which look like they are floating and it displays the time there too, believe me its great ...
bongleboo 23.03.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Motorola U9
Advantages: Looks good and easy to use Disadvantages: No Radio and slow to turn on
The main reason i got a U9 was due to the fact it came in Purple, not a good reason to choose a phone but hey it worked for me. i know there are other purple phones available on the market, but i found the up the most stylish.
Overall i have found it a good phone but it does have some problems. Firstly it takes a while to turn on compared to other phones. I also find that sometimes i recieve text messages and only the phone number appears although ... ...also happen when i recieve calls. I yhhave had this phone since March 08 ( it was £79.99 from carphone warehouse + £10 top up) and so far there hasn't been any technical difficults that have hindered my use. Although occassionally it does turn its self off, even though it has a full battery, but it's not really a problem. ...
littlemissloud 21.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Motorola U9
Look & Feel
Durability & Robustness
Battery standby time
Value for money
Range of features
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Edition 10.9 comes in a shiny casing which is available in either a sapphire blue, garnet red, platinum metal & in a copper gold colour. The handset feels good in the users hand as it is a lightweight handset which is easy to use with a single hand. The phone is elegant & slim will get much attention for its looks alone. The U600 Ultra Edition 10.9 is similar to the Motorola KRZR K1 with its glossy & shiny appearance which will gain attention from all those fashion conscious mobile phone users.
The phone comes with a built in camera feature which allows the user to take still photos & video recordings at any time. The user can use the high resolution 3.2 megapixel camera feature to capture their memories as a photograph or as a video recording. The camera feature comes with an auto focus feature & all the useful camera features that are ...
Audio files, video files, games, ring tones, screensavers, wallpapers
Digital camera
Digital Zoom
8
Sensor Resolution
2 Megapixel
Organiser
Alarm Clock
Yes
Calculator
Basic
Reminder
Built-in
Calendar / Event Reminder
Built-in
Display
Type
LCD display
Display Resolution
320 x 240 pixels
Diagonal Size
2"
Colour Support
Colour
Features
Wallpaper, screen saver
Colour Depth
262,144 colours
Display (2nd)
Type
OLED display - colour
Display Resolution
128 x 160 pixels
Digital player (recorder)
Supported Digital Audio Standards
AAC, MP3
Battery
Standby Time
Up to 350h
Talk Time
Up to 430 min
Miscellaneous
Included Accessories
Power adapter
Memory
Supported Flash Memory Cards
Micro SD Card
User Memory
25 MB
Manufacturer's product description
Blending Motorola's fashionable design savvy with an incredible music experience, MOTO U9 gives consumers a new way to see, feel and hear the stylish side of music. The latest addition to our music-enabled devices, U9 is designed for those discerning consumers who want to talk and rock in style.
