Ask Engadget: Moto Q tips and tricks?

You've got questions, and well, the rest of you have answers. That's right, it's time for Ask Engadget. You hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com with the questions you'd like your Engadget-reading peers to take on, and we'll let them sort it out in our comments. Last time Eric was looking for a way to stay in touch. Now Joey wants a bit of Q help:

I've had the Q since last Friday and am having some minor email (Gmail, actually) issues. I was wondering if you could post an article for Q owners to submit tips, tricks, work-arounds, etc.

We know more than a few of you have picked up that oh-so-skinny WM5 handset, any tips for our man Eric? We're also betting there are some potential buyers on the fences who would love to hear of any hidden potential the Q might have in store.

[Ian Gordon @ Jul 20th 2006 9:15PM]

I just bought the moto q myself, you have to register at vtext.com and then configure your phone to phone#@vzwmail.net as a username and your vtext.com password and then set the outgoing server as smtp.vzwmail.net

[SyraQse @ Jul 20th 2006 9:18PM]

Qusers.com It has deals on accessories, news about the phone, and a forum with tons of tips, tricks and ways to make the Q the best phone ever

[Daniel @ Jul 20th 2006 9:31PM]

I think it's a GMAIL problem, not specific to your Q. I couldn't log in numerous times over the last 3 days. Keep getting "Gmail is experiencing problems, try again shortly"

[jarg @ Jul 20th 2006 9:37PM]

try www.motoqwiki.com Motorola's official Q wiki site

[Hoby @ Jul 20th 2006 9:45PM]

Check out the forums at Qusers.com for Q-tips and such!

[Jeff Genshaft @ Jul 20th 2006 9:49PM]

I had problems with gmail because files sitting in my inbox that I had previously viewed on another machine would be not be retrieved. I solved the problem by forwarding all messages to a pop3 account that only my Q accesses.

By the way, I am a big fan of CodeWallet for securing data.

[Ray @ Jul 20th 2006 9:51PM]

A long time treo (600 then 650) user, I bought the q the first day it was available. Well designed piece of hardware. Software is very weak. After a 6 weeks with the handset, I can honestly say the issues are not due to the learning curve going from Palm OS to WM5. Unintuitive interface, regular crashes (2X/day), BAD home screen (not easily customized). NO outlook notes synch out of the box. truncated contact notes, etc, etc. I'm patiently waiting for update to WM5 that takes it to the next level. If the software on this phone was better, I would have been much happier.

[Rightclick @ Jul 20th 2006 10:24PM]

Ways to make Q the best phone ever? Wi-Fi.

[RickH @ Jul 20th 2006 10:26PM]

How to use a Bluetooth GPS with the Motorola Q: http://onemanshouting.com/tech/HOWTOUseABluetoothGPSWithTheMotorolaQ.aspx

Other than that, qusers.com rocks for soaking up lots of info on the Q.

[Qmanchu @ Jul 20th 2006 10:28PM]

Eric,

I think you'll find all the tips you need at http://www.qusers.com - specifically in the forums area. You can find out to hook up your Q as a modem via USB or Bluetooth, customize your home screen, stream video, satellite radio, nintento and sega emulation, accessory reviews, registry edits, anything you can think of. They even just gave away 55 Motorola Q T-shirts.

[Arif N. Khan @ Jul 20th 2006 11:40PM]

This site is interesting and seems useful. Will return to it when I have a little time. Do keep up the good work! At the moment I am looking for a low cost, functional handset.

[Jordan @ Jul 21st 2006 8:30AM]

Ray - Surely it is better than Verizon's interface, no? I know that you are comparing it to other smart phone OS's, but I am considering getting a Q instead of a regular phone with the Verizon interface. Surely I'd be better off with a Q, right?

[a @ Jul 21st 2006 9:58AM]

gmail is pop, so if you retrieved from the pop server and removed it with another client. It will no longer be available. You can turn off POP and turn it back on to reset your pop mailbox. It will make all of your emails available again.

[drewsef @ Jul 21st 2006 10:29AM]

jordan-
i have a razr (verizon) and while the interface is not the best and does have a slight lag, it certainly sounds better than crashing 2x/day, no? granted, not all Q's might be like that, but, at least the verizon UI isn't buggy.

[Jaxbulls @ Jul 21st 2006 11:40AM]

I got a Q the day it came out...the first unit I had had all kinds of problems so I took it back. The second unit has been flawless and I have had no crashing or anything like that.

[Justin @ Jul 21st 2006 11:47AM]

Please clarify that this is running WM5 Smartphone and not WM5 for PDA's. There is a significant difference in what programs will run and what you can do with the phone. It bugs me that all the Verizon commercials say WM5 when it really is not.
I demo'd the phone for a couple weeks and I have to say I will stick with my 6700.

[Cary @ Jul 21st 2006 12:10PM]

I've had my Q a couple of weeks now and am pretty happy with two exceptions. First the time does not sync with the Verizon network when you travel to a different time zone. Second when you associate a photo with a contact the image that comes up when the phone rings is tiny. Otherwise I'm very pleased. I think it has only crashed once since I've had it.

[Ajit @ Jul 21st 2006 12:11PM]

GMail has issues with windows mobile. Here was my problem: "Basically, I check for new mail, and the mail is downloaded. Then, when I activate another send/receive, the mail that was previously displayed on my phone disappears." But I did find a fix and it is discussed in this thread: http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/cinglar-8125-i-mate-k-jam-qtek-9100-t-mobile-mda/70284-gmail-pop-access-mda.html

Check out post #8.

[FMcamaroZ28 @ Jul 21st 2006 12:47PM]

Anyone get a reasonably priced GPS solution that is run off an SD card (no online data)? ive been searching for one for weeks, and the Copilot software is avaliable, but 350 bucks is almost the price of a stand alone unit.

[cromas @ Jul 21st 2006 1:47PM]

http://www.hellomotoq.com/ has an active staff and community figuring out all sorts of Q stuff.

[Tim @ Jul 21st 2006 4:53PM]

I usually don't plug on comments but since you asked..

Find out how to tether your Motorola Q to your PC or Mac via Bluetooth or USB at HelloMotoQ here:

http://www.hellomotoq.com/forums/motorola-q/122-motorola-q-dial-up-networking-dun-tethering-tutorial-how.html

It's really easy to do, try it out on your Q!

[Orneta @ Jul 21st 2006 7:26PM]

You can download some of the most popular Motorola Q apps directly to your device from Orneta's mobile site @ http://mobile.orneta.com

[argplywood @ Jul 22nd 2006 4:00AM]

Thank you very much from Turkey argticaret.com

[Christopher Chiu @ Jul 22nd 2006 2:06PM]

In the Qusers.com forum, there is one post that is really great. It list some of the best registry mods out there as well as the tools to do them:

http://www.qusers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2032

[Eli @ Jul 24th 2006 4:04AM]

I just bought the Q recently but can't imagine this device is targeted towards business and even semi-heavy email users. There doesn't seem to be any way to change the standard font size and you can only see a few messages at a time. Am I completely missing something? On my Blackberry 8700series, text can be changed to view 20+ messages at a time.

[argplywood @ Jul 26th 2006 4:50AM]

In the Qusers.com forum, there is one post that is really great. It list some of the best registry mods out there as well as the tools to do them:
http://www.argticaret.com

[Christopher Meinck @ Jul 26th 2006 6:03PM]

You can find a tutorial on how to set up gMail on your Moto Q along FAQs at:
http://www.everythingq.com/kb/how-to-setup-gmail-on-a-motorola-q/

[argplywood @ Jul 29th 2006 5:49AM]

You can download some of the most popular Motorola Q apps directly to your device from mobile site

[John G @ Aug 15th 2006 10:37PM]

Does anyone know if there is a site that will allow free downloads of software such as unit conversions, dictionary, etc. Thanks
I just got my MQ and so far so good...........looking forward to using it to its fullest.

[Kris @ Sep 15th 2006 4:08AM]

I love my Q, and this post has helped me thanks

[melissa @ Sep 20th 2006 2:07PM]

hello all you phone experts!!!
I am doing an adverising project, for my college advertising class. I am trying to gather as much information on phones and their compatibilities to get attachments form emails to being able to present a prsentation form ones phone. If any one has any information they would like to give me plese respond to this coment, i would appriciate anything i recieve!!!
Thanks!!!!!

[Ginny @ Nov 10th 2006 1:19PM]

Hello,
I need help with my Q. Is there a search function for the calendar and the contact list?
Thanks for the help.

[Open @ Jan 25th 2007 6:44PM]

When I was installing a program to MotoQ, it stated that the program was not digitally signed by Microsoft. Is there any way to bypass this and still install the program.

[ED @ Feb 14th 2007 12:55AM]

I HAVE A DVR WHICH I RECORD MY FAVORITE SHOWS. ON THE DVR BOX THERE IS AN OPTION TO RECORD THE SHOW ALREADY RECORDED ON THE INTERNAL HARD DRIVE TO A VCR. IS THERE A WAY TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW INTO A PORTABLE HARD DRIVE WHERE I COULD TAKE IT TO WORK AND WATCH IT LATER ON MY PC.

[ED @ Feb 15th 2007 5:50AM]

I HAVE A DVR WHICH I RECORD MY SHOWS ON. THERE IS AN OPTION AFTER I HAVE RECORDED THE SHOW ON THE INTERNAL HARD DRIVE, TO RECORD IT TO MY VCR. MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD IT TO A PORTABLE HARD DRIVE SO I COULD TAKE IT TO WORK AND WATCH MY SHOW LATER ON MY PC

[G @ Apr 15th 2007 10:42PM]

Hello, Can anyone help with the alarm feature. This phone only seems to have 1 alarm.. I've tried to set it and it wont ring. I have gone under sounds and set the alarm to a certain ring with no luck. Can anyone help?

[HEFFE @ Apr 25th 2007 12:59PM]

I have a Moto Q but can't figure out how to turn off the PHONE function while leaving the Q powered on to work with old emails and calendar events (i.e. while on an airplane). Any thoughts?

[JeffM @ Apr 27th 2007 9:46PM]

If you push and hold the "HOME" button you can access a menu that will allow you jump into flight mode.

-Jeff

[Sunny~D @ May 3rd 2007 11:43AM]

I don't have the data opion on my verizon plan, so I was wondering if anyone knew of a map program that you can just download on to the moto Q that doesn't use any data transfer? All I want to do is click on the program and look at basic road maps. Thanks

[chocho @ Sep 27th 2007 1:31PM]

I just bought the Q (it was programmed on verizon then i flashed it to
alltel) from a US user, and have everything working with my
local provider in Pakistan, except for the data connections . When I
try to access web
or email , I get a "Login error: Ensure you have the correct login
information and try again" error because I suppose the phone is still
configured for alltel/verizon, I can't change the
connections parameters, like user, pwd, etc.
if it is hard programmed pl let me know how to reomve it

Pl Kindly help me out, i shall be really greatful (im not getting any
positive reply from anywhere and i think i just lost 400 bucks)
Regards

[Labeeb @ May 28th 2008 6:25PM]

hi

[Labeeb @ May 28th 2008 6:27PM]

sorry I am a new user so i was testing the comments

[Dan @ Jun 17th 2008 5:28AM]

Is there a way use the alarm when the phone is off, every phone I've ever used lets you set the alarm the switch off the phone and the alarm still works, so far not the Moto Q!!!

[Debbie @ Jul 19th 2008 6:15PM]

How do you get the keyboard lights to come on and stay on at night? I can't text at night because the keyboard does not light up.

[Carolyn @ Sep 21st 2008 3:40PM]

2 questions:
1. Is there a place to see your sent text messages?
2. Is there a way to control the ringer and the volume without havinng to go into the start menu, and going to settings and adjusting it? I would love to just press a button and have it go from a ringer to vibrate. Can I do that?

[jay @ Nov 19th 2008 3:53AM]

...is anyone aware if it is possible to remove your text messages and save them on to your computer for archive purposes??

thanks in advance

jay

[joel dinkins @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:58PM]

how can i use the navi2go program on the moto q phone? i have downloaded the program and it said something about either using the internal connection GPSID or external connection bluetooth SERIAL PORT. I have tried both and to no avail, it keep saying no GPS connection. Help!