David's World

June 16, 2006

Motorola SLVR L7: a flat, feature-packaged cell phone

The flattest phone on the market has a cute sister. I've bought a Motorola SLVR L7 a few days ago and I'm mostly impressed. I've been fairly happy with the smaller version, the L6, but I just couldn't resist the advantages of the L7. It's got a nicer screen (better resolution) and a slot for a memory chip which can hold a lot of music, which you can access through an iPod-like interface.

Overall, it's a great phone. Voice quality is good, the ringtones play loud enough and uploading your own ringtone via the wireless Bluetooth connection, encoded in MP3, is a breeze (here's my ringtone: a proper "ring-ring"!) The interface seems fast enough - if not a bit faster than that of the L6, and various keys can be assigned to a lot of different functions.

I really like the fact that Motorola uses a standard mini-USB connector, so you can connect and also recharge the phone with any normal USB cable and any normal USB computer. This means that when I'm travelling, I don't need to take the phone charger with me. A USB cable is enough to recharge the phone with my laptop. The battery gives you about 4-5 days standby time with occasional use.

While the SLVR L7 plays MP3s just fine, it's not a replacement for an iPod: you need USB headphones since there is no standard (analog) headphone jack. I suspect this means one will have to content oneself with somewhat cheap&crappy USB headphones. My package came with a 64MB memory stick, which would be enough for around 20 songs or so. Upgrading to more should be no problem.

The L7 comes with a "Digital Audio Player" Java software (not any more with any mobile version of "iTunes"), which does the job. The built-in speaker is just about good enough to show a song to your friends and as good as one can expect from a tiny device - of course it's nothing that I'd want to use to actually listen to music. The phone doesn't seem to sync with iTunes on my Mac - instead, you'll have to copy songs over via the USB/Finder interface (i.e. use it as a drive) or with Bluetooth Explorer. It'll be similar on Windows machines.

Just like with the L6, the built-in camera is rather low-end. In particular, I suspect there is a serious bug: when you take pictures with little light available, the camera switches to night mode and displays the pictures just fine. When downloading them, however, they get all blurry. Other phones come with much better cameras.

The display is bright enough to act as a weak flashlight at night, but it's nowhere near as bright as the built-in flashlight that comes with the Sony Ericsson W800.

I'm rather unhappy with the built-in alarm function. You'll find it under "Tools", and you'll have to "create" a new alarm if you want to be woken up. Afterwards it's a bit easier to enable/disable alarms for times entered before. The alarm, for me, is an essential function of a mobile phone. It needs to be more accessible than that. Similar to the L6, it's difficult to check the time just by looking at the display - you have to disable the key lock first.

Of course, the phone has a calendar and a contacts database (with the phone numbers). iSync works fine with the L7. The Mac's Address Book doesn't work as well - you can't use the phone to send text messages. I've written a plug-in that will allow you to do so. A new version supporting the L7 will be abvailable shortly.

Mobile phone have made wonderful advances in the last years. At this point, it's not a matter of how many features you can pack in a small enclosure. It's much more about how easily people can access those features. To give an example: the Music Player I mentioned above is to be found under "Games/Apps" - which is the non-technical term for "Java Applications". Clearly, developers have designed these menus from a technical perspective, and not from a user's point of view. A user would look for the Music Player in "Multimedia", or so.

Overall, the L7 is a feature-packed, yet very elegant phone. Its big flaw is the low-quality camera, its big draw is its slim profile. If you need a phone and not a mobile organizer, if you can live with the camera, and you'd like to keep a separate, superiod iPod, then go for it (or downgrade to the L6).

How do you download music to this unit. Mine only came with Digital Audio Player.

hello! i'm having problems with the memory chip, i have recently changed from a motorola v980 to the motorola silver l7 and thee memory chip doesnt work, on the slvr it doesnt recognise anythnig i have on it although when i plug it in the computer the computer can see what is inside, i wondered if you could help me with this and if it means changing memory chip. thank you.
katya

how i can download songs
plz show the pocedure

hi please can u explain all about how to download songs and stuff its CONFUSING
thanks
btw your review was really helpful, i have now got this phone, but if anyone is thinking of buying one GO FOR THE RED ONE - it donates a percentage of everything u spend to help fight aids in africa, which is an amazing idea!
xxx

how do i download songs on to my motorola slvr L7 ?i have songs on my pc

Ithe L7 doesn't isync street addresses ... any plug-in in the works for that?

Mike

hi, can anyone tell me how to make the pc recognise my slvr, i have plugged it in but it is not coming up on my pc???
thank you
louise
x

pleeeeeeeeease tell me where to get itunes on my uk, red slvr (which i do recommend)i really do need it to be able to sync with itunes on my pc, also i have bought a 1gb mem card, my friend also has an identical card on his slvr, i formatted mine and it worked fine for a bit THEN erased everything and asked me to re-format it as if i had never used it before - it now will not reformat or open on my computer pleeease help me espescialy with the itunes thing

I have to motorola slvr L7 and it has a digital audio player but I can't get them to my phone? Can you please help me?

Tara

hello! i'm having problems with the memory chip, i have recently changed from a motorola v980 to the motorola silver l7 and thee memory chip doesnt work, on the slvr it doesnt recognise anythnig i have on it although when i plug it in the computer the computer can see what is inside, i wondered if you could help me with this and if it means changing memory chip.

How can i install itunes, digital audio player,also themes in motorola slvr L7

My L7 is having issues. Whn I try and use the CAMERA or VIDEO CAMERA it says "Busy. Try Again." and boots me out to hte home screen. Any info would be helpful on this issue. sinsix@msn.com

pls can anyone tell me how to install themes and skins to motorola slvr l7 mobile....

how do i transfer songs from my computer to the phone

i'm emmanuel from nigeria , please i would like you to help me out with java and digital audio player for all motorola phones . please is urgent

Hey! I just downloaded the phonetools v3.3 but it doesn´t support L7 motorola...I'm tired of trying with this sh...!!!

I BOUGHT A MEMORY CARD FROM A FRIEND AND I PUT IT IN MY PHONE AND WHEN I HOOK THE PHONE TO MY COMPUTER IT SAYS I NEED SOME KIND OF SOFTWARE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO

hy
can anyone tell me where i can download free themes for my motorola silver l7

how can i get the songs on my computer to my digital audio player on my phone. my phone isnt the one with itunes. please help! thanks!

um i have the digital audio player and i cant download music i have the USb but no software and also it dosent show up when i plug it in

plz help me how to download themes and skins in motorola slvr l7 plz halp me

I deleted my digital audio player by accident. i want it back! Please help!

i just got my slvr L7 and i used to have the itunes one but i lost it and now i have the one with the digital audio player and i dont know what software i need to be able to use it.

hi
i just bought a new slvr L7 but unknowingly my younger brother deleted all the preinstalled applications from it also i lost the DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER appl' . I need an urgent solution to get back the DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER or also even any other java MIDP 2.0 ver audio player software to be downloded in my phone. anybody any clue plz help me out its a due request my mail id is gauravtrivedi37@gmail.com
bye

i have the USb but no software. From where can i download software at free of cost?

how to install a skin or theam in motorola L7 Mobile.....plz tell me

I wanted to put photos onto my computer from my phone, but whenever i plug the lead into my phone and computer nothing comes up apart from on my phone it says 'Disconnect USB cable to access memory card from phone.' The only thing that i can think that is the problem is that i have no software but i dont no where to get the software from!
Please Help! :(

could you plz give us instructions on how to download music on my slvr7

pls give me motorola digital audio player

I need Motorola Digital audio Player Software

hey i have the same problems as alot of the other people, i can't put songs on my DAP, i put one and now i can't put any more. how do i put more on.

plzzzzzzzzz give me .mpge player for my MOTOROLA SLVR L7

SLVR looks to be the dumbest piece i have tried installing the p2ktools and tried installing a theme. No use, All trials go waste. The best thing to do throw away Motorola SLVR L7 if we want to sign a application or install a theme or a game. I will be very greatful if some body can find out some way for this model.

please email me the PROCEDURE on how to install applications to motorola slvr L7...i also have some games on my memory card but i can't access it anymore when it is inserted on my phone...thanks!

how i can install itunes player in my l7 mobile
with the help of card reader

How do i download music from my computer to my slvr using a memory card or a usb cable because nothing seems to work? My computer is not recognizing the memory card. What should i do step by step?

I can't seem to get music onto my slvr... I've tried everything. Any suggestions?

I AM SO HAPPY TO USE MOTROLA SLVR MOBILE, I LIKE ALL FUNCTION, ITS VERY SLIM,AND EASY CARRY MOBILE PHONE. I LIKE IT VERY MUCH.

igot a new moto l7 i want to change skin's could u please tell me how should i do that

I just recently bought the motoslvr and am trying to put music onto the mp3 player but when i put plug the phone into my computer using the usb it says that it doesn't recognize my phone because i don't have the proper hardware. What can i do to fix this? any suggestions.

hey guys who ever needs the digital audio player 4 l7 just log on to www.mobile9.com.in this u ll get the option mobile software click on that. u ll get the digital audio player. just download it to the computer and them change the access to memory card in ur mobile. and connect it to pc browse the mobile and copy the digital audio player file to kjava. for games just go to wap.getjar.com u ll find some games and softwares to pc and then copy to kjava.. thats all guys. if u want to know more just email me. (hottestkhan_4u@rediff.com)

I deleted my digital audio player by accident. i want it back! Please help!

i want an audio player for l7 phone

Where do i get the answers to the above questions.Please Help!

How do i use the applications that hi have downloaded to my phone? I cant see them but when the phone is plogged to the system ill be able to see them why?

i want audio player for motorola l7

I need Motorola Digital audio Player Software

pls give the links from where l7 themes games softwares can be downloaded for free

hey!
can anyone tell me how to install games n themes on motorola l7. and any software compatible with this handset.

plz help me with motorola l7i themes
i want themes but im unable to get

plz tell me where can i find good quality java games for my motorola l7.I have got some games from various sites but most of them are not working on my phone.will i have to change the firmware.plz help me in this regard.

I am having the same problem with the camera as someone stated above, it goes to the camera for just a second then says "Busy, try again" and help would be great

How do you download music to this unit. Mine only came with Digital Audio Player.

How do i Install a theme or a skin on my Motorola L7 ?

I bought a slvr l7 and it didn't come with the software cd for my computer can anyone tell me where i can download the software from???

IDK how to get songs on my sliver L7 either =[
please help!
i need the proceedure
everytime i put the phone on the usb
then the usb into the computer
it says a cd rom is needed to install the program
please help!
thank you

Hey, nice review, but I've been trouble trying to play my music on my SLVR L7. I have no problem downloading music, but when I try playing the songs on my phone an error appears and it says: "File Format not Supported". Some songs work and most songs don't work. Please email me back how to fix this. THANKS!!! :D

hiii...i want to know the procedure of installing new softeares on my SLVR L7..fo e.g onstalling a new theme...
could pls helpme...

thanks..

hey i accidently deleted one of the original ringtones of my Moto Slvr L7... cn u help me get it back!??!

I Put On A Skin On My Girlfriends Phone, And While Doing It She Herself Delete All The Skins (Including The Moto skin) That Came With Her Phone, And Now We Cant Read Messages In Inbox, Send Message (Because The Phone Just Restarts When We Try Read Or Send Messages) We Cant View The Phone Book Because It Gets Black And Dark After You Scroll Down Then Boot You Out To Main Screen, The LCD Is Blanc, The Ring Tone Is Out,
The SKIN Messed Her Phone.
HELP US PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, to download a song to your Motorola SLVR, first you need to have a micro SD with you. Try a 1MB micro SD card. If you use a higher capacity, your cellphone will freeze. Then, go to settings\Connection\USB Setting and make the default connection to USB Drive. Then connect your phone with a USB cable and that's it. It will open as an USB flashdrive and just pass any songs or images you want there.

A very important thing is that the songs you pass to your cellphone must be in .mp3 or .mid format. Any other format will result in an error or just wont play at all.

As for the skin "Pooja" tried to install in the cellphone, always use an Antivirus to scan the files you'll be adding to your cellphone when you download them, because you don't know if it's actually infected by one. Try reprogramming your phone. If you don't know how, contact your service provider.

hi i accidentally deleted my mp3 software in my motorola slvr7. How can i install and back to my phone. thanks.

how to up date the themes in motorola L7i cell phone if you know about that please reply to my mail

hi
i want to transfer my motorola L7i
photos & songs to my pc. i lost my cd package motorola they've given.i want to know the name of that software & send me that software link also.
i need free software download link.

I have the motorola v3i cellphone and i don't know how to add a theme from my memory card to the phone, i put the theme on the card and when i go to themes on the phone in the personalization menu it just don't show up plz help me out...

How do i Install a theme or a skin on my Motorola L7 ?

Can Anyone plzzzzzzzzz
tell me how to download themes on da moto L7 Mobile
i tried many time but its of no use
is der like any particular folder or nething?
plz tell me
Help me

I deleted my digital audio player by accident. i want it back! Please help!

i want to install audio and video player to my l7 but don't know the procedure plz help

I want Video Player for Motorola Slvr L7.Please give me the website for free downloading

I have had the slvr for almost a year now and love it!!! I am not sure how to get back the programs you have deleted but as far as accessing my phones memory from my computer, I just plug it in with my usb cord and go into my computer and its under devices with removable storage(E:) click on that and it will tell you whats on your memory card. Only the sandisk memory cards work with the slvr as far as I have been told. All you have to do to put songs on there is drag your music files, they must be in MP3 format to your removable storage icon on your my computer screen. You can put up to 50 songs in each folder, so just make a new folder and put songs in that folder if you want more. I will try to answer anymore questions if I have a clue... Hope it helps someone....

aye i ckant put musick on my musick player either ... wats up wit that? ... i have all the things neeeded b^ut it still aint workin?

Sir I own Motorola L7i It is sad to see it doesnt have connection indications (ie when we make call to someone & if the called person answers our mobile vibrates once to indicate call has been connected) as found in c168 & W220 of same brand Under settings>Initial setup>connection indication>(Vibration Or Beep)
I kindly request u to suggest me some third party application which gives me these options.

how to install digital audio player for motorola L7 & i don't have a software, please tell about us? thanks

How do i Install a theme or a skin on my Motorola L7 ?

how to install digital audio player for motorola L7 & i don't have a software, please tell about us? thanks

pls give me audio player

How can i install itunes, digital audio player,also themes in motorola slvr L7?

i accidentally delete my digital audio player in my SLVR L7 phone. and i want it back.please help me? what will i do: thanks in advance

PLS help in in installing games in l7 using usb and also instaling skins

Hi, i just bought the Motorola L7 and i was trying to download some songs from my computer but when i plug the USB to the computer it didn't recognize it, how do i get the computer to recognize it? Then my next problem is that, i just bought a 512 memory stick for my phone and i have some songs on the memory stick how do i set the songs on my memory stick as my ring tones? Lastly i don't think my phone has a software how do i get one?

i accidentally delete my digital audio player in my SLVR L7 phone. and i want it back.please help me? what will i do: thanks in advance

I just bought the Motorola L7 and i was trying to download some songs from my computer but when i plug the USB to the computer it didn't recognize it, how do i get the computer to recognize it?

I lost my CD to install my phone files on my computer. I can put music from my computer to my phone but not pics or videos can u help.

I am not able to view my videos in the videos folder after i take videos.what should i do order to view my videos after taking it?

I have a moto L7.I am not able to view my videos in the videos folder after i take videos.what should i do order to view my videos after taking it?please help me its urgent...................thank u.god bless u.

where I'll get free software updates and free antivirus for Motorola L7i

Hi Everybody
I have a problem with motorala l7, when i tried to make a video it shows busy try again. I am frustuted with this problem, plz help out of this problem.. luthranikhil@indiatimes.com

Please tell me how to download themes on my motorola l7 handset.
I had downloaded few themes on my pc.
It wwll be my pleaser to get u'r reply.
Thanku...........

tell me how to download themes on da moto L7 Mobile
how to install games and new application for l7
plz help me

PLS help in in installing games in l7 using usb and also instaling skins

hi all........
i have a problem in SLVR L7.. tht i can't have more MP3 players n games n Softwares for moto..... It is very irating...
plz tell me link where i can Dwnld MP3, games, Video Cemara'a assesories n softwares....

How to install themes in mtorola l7?
Is there a video player for l7 which can play 3gp video in fullscreen mode?

how i download songs from my pc to motorola slvr l7

I deleted my digital audio player by accident. i want it back! Please help me..thank u

How can i install itunes, digital audio player,also themes in motorola slvr L7

how to reformat motorola slvr l7