Motorola SLVR L7 -- with iTunes

We have no idea when Motorola will be actually introducing this, but we managed to get our sweaty paws on a SLVR L7 with iTunes on it (and all we had to do was pretend we were dead). Nothing too unexpected — it has just about the same user interface as the ROKR E1 (though the menus are slightly less sluggish) and it has Bluetooth, a VGA digital camera, and a TransFlash memory card slot for storing up to 100 iTunes tracks, but there is one real surprise: the phone doesn't have a headphone jack. Seems a bit odd for a phone with iTunes, but we're hearing that Motorola will offer Bluetooth stereo headphones. Click on for a few more pics.

 

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

now THATS a phone to whack iTunes on (shame about the HP jack though).

A White version would look neat.

[Killian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Why would you leave off a headphone jack on a phone with iTunes?! What a stupid, stupid decision.

[Quigs @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

AHAH! Moto has got you now! Now you have to shell out for their $80 bluetooth headphones, instead of Rocking the always clashing orange earbuds that came with teh smashing hit ROKR. MOTO you so LOCO.

[Jesse J. Anderson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

hmm, the lack of aheadhone jack doesn't seem to smart... but aesthetically this thing is miles beyond the original "designed in the 80's" ROKR phone.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'm assuming that iTunes is a late software add-on to the phone, and that's why there's no headphone jack. Perhaps it will work with some soft of combo headset, or maybe there will be a mini-usb plug in for it, or maybe this is an early version, and a future production model will have one.

[Akshat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

This thing is suppose to be ultra-thin right? from the pics it doesn't look THAT special .. Of course when compared to the RokR .. its much much ... i dont think i even need to complete the sentence.

[PauldG @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

No headphones b/c of the Stereo BT. i think that's cool. I've held one of these (an engineer for moto comes to our store twice a week) and it's pretty cool

[sheik124 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Damn it people, stop buying Moto's stupid fashion phones. This is like what, the 10th phone out of Motorola that has the SAME featureset as my 2 YEAR OLD V600! The RAZR, the SLVR, the ROKR, the PEBL, the E398, the V300, 400, 500, 551, 547, 330, 600, and 620 are ALL THE SAME. The V330 and V551/V547 add petty things like EDGE, the V620 and RAZR add video recording, the SLVR and ROKR are both just E398s. The V635 (damnit UPS guy where are you) and V360 are the ONLY two phones to come out of Moto in the past year to offer anything compelling. The SLVR was what I wanted, until I learned Moto ditched the 1.3 MP cam for VGA, and dropped EDGE.

[Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does anyone know how much this will retail for?

[Sean @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

bluetooth stereo headphones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMM6QO/104-4158551-2089530?v=glance&n=172282&v=glance

[sheik124 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'd guess $300 w/2-year

[moto me @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

the USB port will be used for the headset, i know this cuz i on this phone. its just like razr, u use the usb port for headset in that too, u can use the usb port on this for headphones. And yes the bluetooth headphones will also be there

[Porkchop @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

They might all have the same features... but they all have different pretty colors and designs! ooooooh!

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Seems cool...but how thick is it?

And sheik124, Take a chill pill. People buy fashion phones cause they dont need their phone to do much else. If they needed features, they would buy a phone that had one.

[Jimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Nope, still waiting for the Nokia N91.

[Killian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'm doubtful about the bluetooth headphones, in terms of sound quality and ease of using (pairing them, etc.)

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I have heard anywhere from 200 to 250 Right Now I am waiting on this or the HTC Tornado. Can't decied. Also this thing says it was an mp3 player

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=683

I need awnsers!!!! I have heard a whole slew of phones are supposed to be realsed this month. My Tech Expo will be complete, My New Phone My New Laptop My New Computer My New XBOX 360. My new Nissan Skyline GTR V-Spec II. LIFE IS SWEET

[enzo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

the SLVR is a SEXY phone, screw iTunes. I want that phone...

[huh? @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I love you. Come to Butthead.

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#7:

you're right. i dont want a damn fashion phone... but i DO want iTunes. what the hell. this damn fashion phone thing is a plague on cell phone progression.

[dan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Way ahead the ROKR, but I still don't think the design's too great. I like the buttons, though. There's alot of room to improve, but this is a phone I wouldn't feel bad about carrying around.

No headphone jack is a bit annoying, though. But it makes sense. You have your headphones on, and suddenly your phone rings - you'll have to remove your headphones (or listen through your headphones, which is a bit annoying) and then pick up your phone and follow through with the call. With a BT headphone (if it's like a bluetooth head-set too) you can answer your phone right there without switching gear around, and maybe without even having to pick up the phone from your pocket... Just speculation though.

[P@T @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I hope Moto get it right this time as I'm also looking for a second phone. It's really cool!

[Ken @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It just a excuse for Moto to sell you their overly priced BT headphones. Just a way for them to make themselves more money.

[InfoMofo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Is this 100 song limit thing going to stay around for good? It's times like this that I'm pissed that I bought into the whole iPod iTunes empire.

[ipearx @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

This is *almost* the phone the world has been missing. For me it boils down to the following:

1) Stunning good looks (I mean iPod nano good looks)
2) Fast and easy to use interface
3) fast address book browsing
4) fast and simple texting
5) bluetooth to sync address book with laptop
6) ability to use phone as a modem for laptop (with an all you can eat data plan that doesn't exist in NZ)

Not fussed about iTunes or crap quality photos at all.
It's amazing with the power in these phones, they can't make the interfaces ultra snappy. It's also amazing there isn't a single phone, at any price, that looks as stylish as an ipod nano or any apple product. This phone is the closest I've seen so far. Anyone agree?

[JL @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Yawn.

I'll wait for the Q, thank you very much..
(Moto Q black - droollll)

[BigQ @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Screw that, where is the RAZR with iTunes. Flip phones people. Until then, I don't want to hear any more about iTunes.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#5, the phone is thinner than a RAZR. See here:
http://www.mobile-review.com/review/motorola-l7-en.shtml and here: http://www.bengalboy.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=146&forum=2

[hall @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

it has better design than rokr...

[sheik124 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

And #16, you know, its not that I don't want a fashion phone, gimme a fashion phone I'll take it, BUT STOP RELEASING THEM WITH 2 YEAR OLD FEATURE SETS!

[CP @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I'm not a music downloader, but I'd likely download podcasts or industry specific professional conferences in an MP3 format. I'd listen on airplanes (if an MP3 mode only on a mobile phone)or transmit to a bluetooth capable car radio. Is this phone likely something that would satisfy these perceived needs?

[mat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

is it pronounced silver or sliver?

[Gidget @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It's pronounced "sliver", this direct from an engineer who has worked on it (college buddies are awesome). btw, college buddy (you know who you are flyboy), this is the first and only time i've posted on this phone. no worries ;)

[J-bot @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I hope this have a faster USB than the ROKR for downloading those iTunes!

[Matthew Goeden @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Data speeds?!?! Does the SLVR really contain Moto's crippled EDGE chip?

[Rusty G @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

>>>"I'm assuming that iTunes is a late software add-on to the phone, and that's why there's no headphone jack." by Mike<<<

yeah i have been watching this phone for about 6 months now and have been waiting for it's release, still no date, but glad to finally see someone with it in hand.. also I think the iTunes software was a late add on, which CAN be added onto the v600, or anyother Motorola phone from the v400 and up, just with a few hacks or so. I assume this will be a $300 phone to start out, but it will come down soon...

[SLVR Users Group @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I've been waiting for the SLVR literally for months. I've even started a Yahoo! group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Motorola_SLVR/

I'd heard that the phone will include MP3 playback, I'd be disappointed if the ability to play "standard" MP3 files from transflash were removed in favor of iTunes.

As to USB speeds, the transflash card is just a tiny version of SD, and high speed card readers along with sleeves to make the transflash work in any SD slot should be readily availble soon.

[jason johnson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I bought one from wirelessimports.com and had it flashed with latest software and made it quadband with itunes. I just bought a new pebl so I put this on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5825681354

[Dark Shadow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

That thing is messed, motorola took the RAZR's camera, and Keypad and stuck it on a candybar style phone with iTunes.

[Dark Shadow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

That thing is messed, motorola took the RAZR's camera, and Keypad and stuck it on a candybar style phone with iTunes.

[Andrew Grin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#33 The headphone jack may be no mistake because at #34 mentioned wireless imports sells the prototype with bluetooth headphone great site check it out. thanks for the link #34

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

. but aesthetically this thing is miles beyond the original "designed in the 80's" ROKR phone.

---

Apple fanboys are so image-conscious..

wait a tick..

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

that i would buy

[http:financenstuff.blogspot.com @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Carry a headset for music and another for talking? That will be annoying.

[cheesetoe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

"(and all we had to do was pretend we were dead)" Such a brilliant, but subtle plug! L7 ROCKS! 41 comments and not 1 L7 fan! http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=196915&s=143441&i=196895 Cool phone also.

[joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

no headphone jack!? is that a joke? "oh blah blah u can use the luetooth ones ay a simple smalll price of, wait, thats not small at all! $150!!!!! wtf they really screwed up this time. its a simple fashion phone that tries to benefit mac which just sells things off of looks not because of what peorple really want, like longer battery life in the ipod, of divx compatibility. piss poor.

[jmw74 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Surely it's still better if you just glue an iPod nano to the back of the motorolla RAZR V3 phone? That'll give you something thinner and better than this.

[JeffDM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

While I'd only rarely use a camera, there are plenty of phones with better cameras than this, I don't see an excuse to not have a better one.

Are their third party audio file players for phones? I'd think that the person that doesn't like iTunes should still have an option, I don't see why adding a different program would be excluded.

[Lleyton Igawa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Is there a exact release date for this baby yet other then Q4 2005?

[gareth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

> I wanted this so badly but if itunes REPLACES the original ability to
> play mp3's without restrictions I may no longer be interested :-(

> In dont like itunes. too proprietary.

Well, iTunes as a piece of commercial software is no more or less proprietary than any other piece of commercial software (such as Windows Media Player).

The only 'proprietary to Apple' elements of iTunes and the iTunes Music Store are the FairPlay DRM system and the Apple Lossless audio codec. Everything else, such as AAC, MP3, Audible, AIFF, WAV, H.264 etc. is either open licensed by Apple, or 3rd party proprietary and licensed by Apple.

In answer to your question, the iTunes Mobile software does support MP3.