Review: Motorola Q9M
Browse
The Q9M uses Microsoft's Internet Explorer to browse the web. It also has an EV-DO radio, which means wireless data speeds should be fairly snappy. Launching the browser takes you to a very slimmed down version of the Verizon web portal where there are only five options, Reuters, ESPN, AccuWeather, Email and Get Applications. Each of these sites loads quickly and are easy shortcuts if you want some headlines, scores or the weather report. The email link takes you to a set of links for AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo mail. This is about the extent of the Verizon portal for Internet Explorer for smartphones.
You're much better off using the menu key on the right to surf to the open Web. With the full QWERTY keyboard, typing in web addresses in the address bar is a snap. Holding the clear key for about 3 seconds deletes the entire address bar save for the "http://". It sets you up nicely to start typing in a web address.
Most sites figure out that they need to reformat themselves into a single column for your device these days, but you can also set that manually. The menu system works well enough to help you navigate the web, save and access favorites, and customize the browser to meet your surfing needs. For example, you have five different font sizes to choose from, and you can choose to view or hide images on the web pages you browse to. These help bolster the overall speed and usability of the browser.
Customize
The Q9M lets you change up a number of things to make the phone feel more like it is your own. Out of the box, the home screen is the Verizon media menu. You can also choose from six other home screen layouts, including two Windows Mobile screens and two slightly more customized Verizon screens. One of which is a large circle of icons that you can zoom around with the wallpaper of your choosing serving as the background.
In the start menu, there is a little icon that reads "personalize my Q". In it you can adjust the home screen, home screen shortcuts, sounds and start menu view. There are a 17 different color palettes to choose from, and you can customize the ringers and alert tones to all manner of activities and actions. The settings menu also lets you adjust sound profiles and a large number of behind-the-scenes aspects of the phone that are best let to IT admins or those with a thorough understanding of Windows Mobile.
File Management
The Q9M uses a folder system that resembles...Windows...to help you manage files stored on the device and on storage cards. It is fairly robust and lets you manipulate, copy, send or move your files around at will. It is also easy to find in the Windows Mobile menu system, unlike other phones that bury the file management tools deep within subfolders.
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