Review: Motorola W755
Apps
Like most new phones, the W755 includes voice command. And, like most voice command options, operation was hit or miss. You have to remember the correct command nomenclature and enunciate clearly or you'll get some bizarre responses. I was more successful getting the music to play than calling up a contact name to dial. But I've never been a fan of this so-far, half-baked technology. Considering the success rate (or lack thereof), it's simply easier and more reliable to push a few buttons.
You also get voice record, which uses the same right side activation button as voice command (click it and release it for voice command, hold it for voice record). Memos sound clear and clean, assuming quiet surroundings, and recordings are stored in My Sounds, found in the Media Center menus. I had to hunt for them – the manual doesn't tell you where your voice memos get stored. You're welcome.
Bluetooth
I don't know if it was the phone sample I had or my version of Vista, but I could not get my Windows PC to discover the W755, even though the phone found my Windows PC. Since this is so elemental, I have to believe there was something wrong with either the W755 sample I had or my PC, since the W755 had no trouble linking up with mono and stereo headphones and both a Mac desktop and laptop.
Once pairing was achieved (and I've admittedly never had good luck pairing phones to PCs; I just find it easier to use a card reader to transfer files, which is why I'm so annoyed about the microSD card being buried under the battery), files flashed fluidly from phone to, well, the Mac since my PC was uncooperative.
On my Mac, I was able to search through the W755's files and folders to pull out and transfer the pictures you see here, rather than having to send each photo one-by-one from the phone. I assume you'd be able to do this with a PC, assuming my PC's inability to discover the phone is just a blip.
Clock
Press any side key, and the time shows up in the external display, along with network signal strength bars, a Bluetooth icon if activated, battery meter, and the day and date. You can turn the digital readout into an analog clock or a 24-hour clock from the Settings menu. There's a world clock and an alarm clock with three alarms in the Tools menu.
Multimedia
Since the W755 is an EV-DO phone, you can subscribe and get access to all the Verizon Wireless VCAST services, which includes the Verizon Wireless music store or Rhapsody, along with a plethora of broadcast and cable network clip offerings. You don't get live TV.
Our sample W755 was loaded with full versions of four games: Call of Duty 4, Galaga, Pac-Man and Sonic the Hedgehog. Retail units of the W755 might have fewer, or even more, full games than our review unit.
Sync
Connection to a Windows PC via USB was painless – my Vista machine had no trouble recognizing the phone. Loading Rhapsody tracks was a longer process than I would have imagined. Moving more than 500 tracks from PC to phone took nearly two hours, which surprised me. Anyone with an iPod knows 500 tracks would have taken around 10 minutes to load from PC to player. Also, as noted, there's no included USB cable, adding to the expense of this phone.
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Motorola W755
