Motorola's Krave ZN4 acquired, photographed
By Darren Murph 
posted Oct 12th 2008 12:54PM
posted Oct 12th 2008 12:54PM
[Via phoneArena]
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hmmmmm...
I'd tap that.......
Vcast.... Sigh.
looks pretty sick actaully..
"early impressions from the lucky owner assert that call quality is "very good""
I'm not being funny here, but in this day and age this should be a fucking given.
It doesnt look that bad really, if it works I could see this being pretty popular.
My friend works at Verizon and has the demo... it is soo nice. I love that phone!!!
yum.... Motorola with a healthy splattering of Verizon OS
Seriously people, shut up about the Verizon OS. Not all the phones have the exact same OS, and the ones that do, its not that bad. Sometimes I think people use this whole Verizon OS thing just to bitch
Well it does suck to have your phone pointlessly crippled by some probably overweight OS.
Someone defending Verizon's OS?
Really?
Have you guys even used the Verizon OS on the newer phones? It's not what it used to be. I used to dislike it as well, but it's actually really good now.
After using LG and Motorola phones on other carriers, I actually PREFER the Verizon OS. Easier to navigate, more practical, menus are better, and it's actually good looking. Give it a try before bashing it.
well, i have to say that the Verizon OS is fine. The menus are laid out in a logical way, and everything is found where it should be. Bluetooth is one of the first options on the settings menu, and you don't have to go through a bunch of trouble to turn your bluetooth on and off. the only thing i don't like about the verizon OS is that you can't send or recieve music with there phones... since they seem to be the only phone company that follows the law....
I hate the ridiculous amount of branding cellphone carriers try and shovel on to phones nowadays. What makes them think that their brands are so popular that I have any loyalty besides who is cheapest?
That's the good thing about smartphones. They're rarely full of branding. Occasionally somebody might put a logo on the case, but that's it. Hopefully they can resist the temptation to do so by Android being open-source.
HexoDAT64, YES I totally agree! The new phones aren't even close to the old VZ UI. The Voyager and Dare have awesome UIs and they're pretty quick. The only thing about old VZ UI was the lag on Motorola's but LGs (even old ones) were perfect.
And another thing is that everyone cries and cries about it all day long about no OBEX, well truthfully back even when I had it I used it a whole 2 times its really pointless and I think the majority of people that bitch about Verizon and Verizon UI are people on Sprint or AT&T and think that they have the best wireless carrier, whereas ATT is just plain arrogant and you can't even get anything from CS they just say its not their problem and well Sprint is just Sprint and is going down...I used to be a big GSM\ATT user, but I finally realized that this awesome, expensive, feature-packed phone isn't ANY GOOD if it can't preform the most basic function its supposed to, make and receive telephone calls. I switched to Verizon Wireless and NEVER had to worry about making or receiving those calls, Verizon always rings through, no more "oh I called and just got your VM" and IMHO, it really is The Network.
A few things i couldn't stand about the older firmware:
VCAST splattered everywhere. Look, we get it. TV on your phone. Nobody cares.
Branding different types of messages. TXT and PIX and VID are stupid names, at the very least, drop the stupid capitalization. I want to take a picture, not take and send PIX.
Putting all the apps under the "get it now" menu. Confusing, and generally designed to rack up accidental data charges.
Ugly arial font. Windows 3.1 doesn't belong on a modern device.
No way to transfer pictures without paying. The lack of OBEX is a real problem here, especially since sending an MMS takes a long time and has a tendency to scale down the pic.
Ugly, boxy, red, ui widgets. This goes along with the arial font, it just looks horrendous.
Slow performance on non-LG phones. I realize that motorola phones have crappy internals, but it really is ridiculous how slow they are. OTOH, the LGs are handled very nicely, I applaud them on creating a responsive interface on them.
Now, i have messed with the newer version of the chocolate slider, and i must say, I'm impressed. They've come a long way since the early days. But it's still missing some key functionality in parts, some things that are still best fixed by flashing back to factory firmware.
All of those problems have been fixed. Have you used the UI on the enV2, Voyager, or Dare?
-No more Arial font.
-Vcast is barely anywhere anymore.
-Verizon calls it Picture, Video, and TXT Messages now. (Yes, still TXT. Oh well.)
-It's no longer "Get It Now." It's more appropriately called "Media Center."
-You can change the fonts on the Voyager. On the enV2, you can change the themes, which can change the font.
-What are you talking about no transferring pictures? To my surprise after getting my enV2, they've pretty much opened everything on the phone. You can send photos to a computer or printer, it has object push and file transfer, and phonebook transfers. There's really nothing to complain about anymore.
-The default UI isn't even red anymore. You get many themes to choose from, and I must say they're nicer than most phones out there. And I'm talking about real themes here, each one is a complete overhaul. No more changing the background color and calling it a "theme." I don't even think other phones' firmware can do a complete overhaul like this.
You can even customize how you want the main menu to appear (Grid, List, or Classic).
-Motorola actually fixed a lot of the lag problems on their newest phones, and are actually making a nice UI instead of sticking to the barebones one.
You obviously haven't used one of the newer Verizon phones. Much to my surprise, I am more than pleased and I actually prefer it to the default firmware on Motorola, LG, and Sony Ericsson phones for AT&T.
If you read my post correctly, you would have seen that I was addressing the complaints of the older versions, and I said that most of the issues have been fixed in newer releases.
And I thought the G1 was ugly....
And look! The G1 is selling regardless of your opinion.
Looks like you're not as important as you thought.
@Jon Nelson. yea and nobody cares about what you said either.. this is a comment section... let the man have his words out.. chill out Android defender
Looks too PDA'ish IMO.
Can't see it being too popular honestly.
I'm not ganna lie, it does look pretty awesome. I've been longing for a phone with somewhat useless capabilities, just because they are cool. My heart did sink when i saw all the red of the verizon OS. I have a razor from them, and i hate all the red and the clunky operating system that it is. I'll have to interact with a real one or see some vids before I buy...
SWEET!
It is a lot like their older Ming that was release only in China, except the Ming ran a linux OS, and was GSM.
While I wish this was GSM, I might be tempted to buy this. (I am a sucker for flip phones)
I have the Ming for a couple of years now.. i think its a good phone other than the keyboards for SMS or note entry.. its just too small where i can just pick it up and type something.. i have to either use my finger nails or stylus to type.. which kinda bit a bit of a pain
Verizon? Oh, never mind.
Not a fan of the big plastic covering. Youd look like a complete ass holding that to take a call.
Otherwise its not bad.
Reminds me of their old a920, a1000 a1010 handsets...
I actually like the look of it. I would be nice if you could touch the screen through the plastic flat.
I'm on Verizon and im still not sure i would get this phone though. Touch Pro, please.
Actually you can touch the screen with the flip closed. It's pretty sweet and def unique
I'm due for a new phone soon. This however, will not be it.
Thanks for that useless insight. My girlfriend is due on her period this week incase you wanted to know.
You gonna earn your red wings, samboini?
Thanks for your information too. It has changed my life.
Why does everyone hate on Verizon? I have a Verizon phone and its fine. Of course the OS is going to be crippled, how many open source phones in the US do you know of that aren't called G1? The only problem with Verizon is how locked down the ringtones are, but everything else is fine
I think the negative comments to the Verizon OS are legitimate, at least with phones that are released across multiple carriers and they might showcase a new OS from that manufacturer but Verizon loads theirs. On that note however, I have Verizon and I have a 8330 Curve, which has full OS in tact except the crippled GPS. The Bluetooth has full OBEX, and i can use MP3 ringtones. I would love to have a nice verizon touchscreen phone, but with a better os, so i'll probably go with the storm.
Not to be a Grammar Nazi but did you mean to say " It looks mighty impressive" instead of "might impressive"... just saying.. I'm not a native English speaker so I might be wrong :)
That aside, I don't know what to say about this phone... I certainly thinks it looks cool but... Motorola has a pretty bad stigmata attached to its brand. We'll wait and see.
not to be a vocab nazi
but did you mean to say "stigma"
or are you saying motorola's got crucifixion marks?
since stigmata is the plural for stigma and they mean the same freaking thing I think what you should have said is
"not to be a grammar nazi but did you mean to say "
And that expression is exactly what I wanted to say... If you're gonna be a vocabulary nazi at least research... as for my mistake... I apologize. something about the fact that I'm not English...
damn engadget comment system... what I wanted to say was:
"not to be a grammar nazi but did you mean to say 'Motorola has some pretty bad stigmata attached to its brand'"
...
So Motorola is already digging their Krave, huh?
So how does the speaker on the plastic part work? I don't see wires running to it....?
Motorola voodoo.......
If I'm not mistaken, it operates similar to a touchscreen, using many very thin wires that are not visible running across the entire face of the plastic
That's not a speaker there is nothing in there except the logo. That's where most of your money goes the logo. The plastic is useless so when you answer the call you keep the cover close. Then when you make a call make sure the cover overlaps your head so you look like funny having a plastic horn.
Actually, if it is anything like the ming, then yes the round moto logo on the flip is the earpiece AND the speaker. In the ming there were very thin contacts (just looked like a line) running up the flip to each side of the logo.
One thing Moto do well on their handsets is small details like that.
Following Motorola's naming scheme, I would've expected this to be the KRV or something..
Following Motorola's logic in phone naming this should have been called the "CRP" or maybe the "KRP", but then some guy in marketing advised them that it never pays being too honest with the clients and we got the "KRAve"
I don't really like the look of it
Way too chunky
I don't get it. It's nice to have a case built in to protect the touch screen, but it just doesn't look right to me, and I'd rather have physical keys. More importantly, after my last crippled Verizon phone, I don't want another one. Regardless of which phone I go with my carrier will not be Verizon (they work horribly in my area). I'm waiting to get my hands on a G1 before making the decision.
imagine holding that up to take a call with that stupid plastic cover in your way..
also, you couldnt hold it sideways very easily either
The plastic cover is the ear piece I think, just like the Motorola Ming....so it wouldn't be in your way, its just like any other flip phone.
Oh yea, nothing better than dressing up a Motorola the way pathetic men dress up a honda civic with wings and rims...
The flip is there only to protect an inferior screen, and just to make it look "cool" like the earpiece is floating...
the iPhone glass screen does not need protection with its hardened optical grade glass...
so basically this is the Moto Ming... another craptacular re-hash of a failed attemps at a useable UI...
Saddle up boyz! its time to go crusing in out super micro block 4 banger compacts while we talk on out mings!
Please...the iPhone's screen is just as scratch-prone as any other cell phone I've had.
The "hardened optical grade glass" means nothing to me when I see a bunch of rainbow colored lines (scratches) on videos I'm watching.
Oh my yes the iphone!!! there is no room for any other phones now that Steve Jobs has unleashed phone perfection.
Get over the crappy iphone will you it is not the best phone out there. And seriously, many people want a nice phone but don't want to be bothered by a huge phone. The iphone is a crippled smart phone for those that don't know better; or have never had a smart phone before. Get a life fanboi.
I wanted to think this new moto was crap, since they have done little that impresses me lately but this thing looks like a pretty cool little device.
I have no idea what Erik has been doing to his iPhone but I an say without a doubt that the screen is NOT as prone to scratching as any phone I've owned. And to Heathen, I think my iPhone is far from crappy but very true that it is not the best phone. As with any device of this type, there are tradeoffs and in particular the phone function is not the best, but still not crappy.
If I had wanted the best PHONE I would not have even considered a "smart phone". The best cellular PHONE I've ever owned is still my good old tri-band Motorola Startac.
Could be the next Rzr, it'll be interesting to see.
I've always had good luck with Motorola phones, this one does look pretty nice. Of course the iPhone users are going to hate on it, the Apple fans are superior in every way. I mean, they have the coolest technonolgy on the planet, right?
Anyway, I'm happily waiting on my G1.
You should not get your hopes up... just don't expect the same feeling that you got from holding an iPhone in your hand for the very first time...
Definitely looks like something out of Star Trek to me.
Yea, I concur, it looks like it is from the episode "Tomorrow is Yesterday"
when they go back in Time to 1969! Ha! Ha! even motorola design is dated!
WOOT! Go HOFO (once again)
Phone looks great
imma go pick this phone up next weekend, had no time this weekend to get to the verizon experience store over at Fair oaks mall. think apple store and its all of its glory only verizon (with stuff about fios internet and phone and wireless and janks)
sweet! gonna get one