Thoughts on the Charm?

[Tobii1]

The plus is that you can use the phone without setting up motoblur and don't need to run motoblur widgets, the default ones are there and you can delete them.

Really...? I'm thinking to get one, having used the Treo 650 for years and switched to a G1, which I never get used to, MOTOBLUR is one thing that turns me away. I remember reading somewhere that you MUST have a MOTOBLUR account to activate the phone.

If it can load custom ROMs and kernels, then even better. But well, for its price, I may get a new phone when Motorola decides not to upgrade it anymore. (I expect it at least to get to 2.2 and hopefully 3.0)

App compatibility is an issue through.

See also this...

https://supportforums.motorola.com/community/motoblur-android/charm?view=discussions

 

[Tobii1]

...the camera was fast...

Considering that it's a fixed-focus one, this isn't surprising.

 

[eggFuJON]

There are better phones than this. I just got it because I'm not excited about all-touch screens and sliding mechanisms. I wanted something cheap and solid, though the G2 or Epic I wouldn't mind.

 

[sookster54]

Really...? I'm thinking to get one, having used the Treo 650 for years and switched to a G1, which I never get used to, MOTOBLUR is one thing that turns me away. I remember reading somewhere that you MUST have a MOTOBLUR account to activate the phone.

If it can load custom ROMs and kernels, then even better. But well, for its price, I may get a new phone when Motorola decides not to upgrade it anymore. (I expect it at least to get to 2.2 and hopefully 3.0)

App compatibility is an issue through.

See also this...

https://supportforums.motorola.com/community/motoblur-android/charm?view=discussions

Oh as soon as custom roms pops up for the Charm, I'm gonna have goosebumps. I haven't registered the Charm via Motoblur, so yes it's usable without Motoblur, I couldn't use the Quench (Cliq XT) without registering on Motoblur which was annoying. Of course Motoblur is still there as part of the UI but it doesn't slow down the phone like the older Motoblur did and the widgets won't work unless you login Motoblur, it actually runs very fast and smooth for a device with just a 720MHz CPU and if you throw in ADW.Launcher or LauncherPro it runs very good.

Also a trick around the app issue is to install appbrain and fast web install, then surf appbrain and install via your PC.

 

[eggFuJON]

Yes LauncherPro is an must-have. It replaces the homescreen and gives the phone a whole lot more customization. I prefer it over ADW.Launcher.
As for the whole AppBrain process for finding apps missing in the Market app, you can just surf the web through the phone's browser. I don't know if it works with the native browser, but DolphinHD works fine with the Fast Web Installer plugin.

 

[PlanetGraham]

I'm thinking about getting one of these for my daughter since it's now free to add her to our family plan, and the phone is free.

 

[UltimateBB9700User]

Hello all , well i got the Motorola Charm the day it came out for T-Mobile USA (August 25th), and i am here to share my likes, dislikes and all of that.

I came from a Blackberry Bold 9700, didn't like it because there was a lack of apps but The Charm is my first Android device and i absolutely love it!

Android 2.1 is great on this phone, haven't had a lag or a force close at all. I am very social, with Facebook & twitter so Motoblur is pretty good keeping up with all of the latest posts i get, etc... Keyboard is great!, about the same or probably a lil better than the bold 9700's keyboard. Screen size isn't an issue for me at all, i have no problem turning my phone landscape so the screen is horizontal to read my engadget news etc.., The Backtrack feature is pretty cool, i rarely use it but for web browsing comes in pretty handy. Camera takes really good pictures, cant complain. Phone is very fast!, cant complain and Android is a very good OS

One concern was battery life, but after reading the Motorola charm forums over at Motorola's website, on a regular battery it'll last me a whole day and extended probably 2 days? Maybe a lil more? Depends. WiFi also helps with battery life (look up the app Y5 Battery Saver). Overall very good phone, just waiting for some ROMS (possibly android 2.2), phone IS rooted, bloatware is gone (and other things).

Give u guys a run down of my apps:
Android Central App
Facebook
Advanced Task Killer
Yahoo Mail App
Engadget
AppBrain App Market
Fast Web Installer
Fandango
Quick Boot
Trillian (Beta)
Y5-Battery Saver (look up for more info)

Available Memory after rooting and uninstalling bloatware & crapware=268MB Free

The phone is AMAZING !
Yes definitely not for corporate business people, (probably go with a high-end android device or blackberry, or possibly iphone)

The ONLY DISLIKE i have is that when i put the Charm to sleep, when i get a message, i press the lock/power button on top and sometimes the touch screen is unresponsive (i hope Motorola will issue an update or fix for this)

If you guys have any questions, comments, any of that. PM me or comment back.
Thanks!

 

[rjw3000]

Available Memory after rooting and uninstalling bloatware & crapware=268MB Free

Rooted my Charm and was wondering what bloatware you removed from the Charm as well as what program/app did you use to remove the bloatware? Run into any issues with removing any programs? Also, did you backup the Charm first and if so, what did you use?

 

[UltimateBB9700User]

Rooted my Charm and was wondering what bloatware you removed from the Charm as well as what program/app did you use to remove the bloatware? Run into any issues with removing any programs? Also, did you backup the Charm first and if so, what did you use?

The bloatware i removed was the stuff that came with it umm Amazon MP3, phone portal, idont use emails on it so i removed Email update 2.1 do NOT remove email engine, did that once and messed up the whole phone lol so please dont do that, umm its hard to remember, u mind giving me a list of pre-installed software then i can really tell u wat i removed.

 

[matteosg]

I haven't registered the Charm via Motoblur, so yes it's usable without Motoblur, I couldn't use the Quench (Cliq XT) without registering on Motoblur which was annoying. Of course Motoblur is still there as part of the UI but it doesn't slow down the phone like the older Motoblur did and the widgets won't work unless you login Motoblur, it actually runs very fast and smooth for a device with just a 720MHz CPU and if you throw in ADW.Launcher or LauncherPro it runs very good.

Also a trick around the app issue is to install appbrain and fast web install, then surf appbrain and install via your PC.

Hi Sookster, Can you share with us on how you skip the motoblur registration. I would prefer to do without motoblur too. Thanks.. Matt

 

[candyland2011]

i love and my charm its way better than the blackberry i had it is great an di could not have picked a better phone so i am highly pleased

 

[serpico]

Just wanted to chime in once again and give an update on this phone. My wife still likes it but is ready to jump ship. It is a very buggy phone in regards to wifi and battery draining and turning the device on/off. Second one too. She is finally giving the thought of losing the hardware keyboard a chance and opening up to touchscreen typing. I showed her the HTC Desire HD promo video from HTC on Youtube and she fell in love. But not sure if she knows what 4.3" of screen really means compared to her small Charm!

 

[ToineH#AC]

I got mine about a week ago and I love it. I love how small and slim it is (i use the standard battery) the battery life is taking alittle getting use to but this is my 1st android phone and I love it. I was so close to getting the gravity 3 and Im so happy I didn't.

 

[sookster54]

Looks like RIM are releasing a couple phones (Curve & Bold style) with both keyboard and touch screen similar to what the Charm is, I've been waiting for another phone like the Charm and the Bold "Dakota" might be it! The Charm is not a very good overall phone despite how nice the combo keyboard and big enough screen it has, and the fact that Motorola are horrible to non-US customers and their devices.