Customer Reviews

LG Rumor Phone, Black (Sprint)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I have had this phone for a few days, and I love the look and the qwerty keyboard. I did not think I would need it as much since I am not going to carry a vision (internet access) plan after the first month, but it makes text-entry a breeze. The interfaces when using the text-msg and online programs are clean and intuitive. Everything I tried did what I expected on the first try. Unfortunately my praise for the interface and usability ends there. The menu system for accessing settings and content is cumbersome and confusing. There are individual volume settings for almost every sound the phone could make, but when it comes to customizing those sounds or tweaking other features of the phone, the options are surprisingly lacking. I upgraded from a Sanyo RL-4920, and I miss being able to change my startup/shutdown sound or set a shortcut key to lock my phone.

By far, my biggest gripe with this phone is with the keyguard feature. First of all the only way to guard your keyboard is with the "auto-keyguard" function. It will activate after a few moments of inactivity. You can not adjust the timeout and you can't shut off the 'auto' part without disabling keyguard altogether. You can manually activate it, but only when the 'auto' is also turned on. Worst of all, the keyguard shuts off if you slide the keyboard open by a fraction of an inch. I carry my phone in my pocket and so far it has deactivated my keyguard more than half the time when sitting down or standing up, and a few times while just walking around. In my opinion this shortcoming is probably going to be the deal breaker for me. Unless you willing to use a case, a really strong rubber band, or always carry your phone in your hand, I'd recommend getting a different phone or plan on having your pocket/bag make a lot of phone calls for you.

I wish sprint had more than zero non-(flip/PDA) phones, but thats for a different review.

This phone is a great phone if you text a lot (or want to text alot). Also, the phone makes it very easy to access gmail, aol mail, hotmail, yahoo mail etc. If you do add an e-mail account on the phone, I would reccommend switching to the vision unlimited data plan (I think it's either $15 or $20). I've never had a problem with the keyguard feature that others reference above. The only thing I've noticed is that the phone doesn't sound great if you're in the wind (but what phone does?). Great speakerphone and easy mute/unmute.

I concur with the gripes (and raves as well) expressed by other reviewers of this phone. What I also like about the phone is that there's about 3 dozen different, very cool ringers, tones, and melodies if you're a cheapskate like me and decide not to purchase ringtones. What I don't like is that not every alert on the phone can be set to a ringer or volume of your choosing. Other things I love and hate about this phone:

- The qwerty keyboard renders the keyguard lock option completely useless
- I still haven't figured out how to use my pics as slideshow screensaver (another reviewer had a similar complaint, so this may not even be an available function)
- Why do I have to pay for Voice Command when my PREPAID phone has that utility for free??
- I'm more of a texter, so the qwerty keyboard was the dealmaker for me and far as I'm concerned its very easy to use, loads of fun, and ultra convenient. Someone complained about switching between symbols and letters, I say its no problem if you do a lot of texting bcuz you eventually get used to the switch; its certainly better than thumbing thru 1 until you get to a symbol.
- Having a camera without a flash option is a problem in dark settings, otherwise, the resolution and quality works out great- you just have to be very still to take a decent picture.

I wrote this review for the white color, and copied it here for the black/blue one.

Pros:
-Uses Sprint Vision (Not Power vision - EV-DO) so I didn't need to change my plan. -but this may be a con for others-
-Qwerty key pad
-1.3 Mp camera
- Applications: Facebook, Aim, Instant messenger, Email, internet.
-Micro Sd slot so you can store more music and pictures
-Bluetooth
-size and weight is great and the raised buttons make it easier to dial.
-music player sounds pretty good


Cons:
*Some of my con's are quiet specific to things that I usually want/need in a phone, and didn't realized until after I had received the phone. Its still a good phone, but I would be happier if it had some improvements.

-Camera doesn't have a flash.
-QWERTY key pad should have a button for the period, you need to "shift" then hit the period.
-The typing software can use some improvement, such as predicting words and such. The feature is there but lacks accuracy.
-Screen needs better resolution & colors. currently 176x220 pixel resolution.
-*Can't use own music (on SD card) as ringtones,
-*Difficult/can't use own pictures (from SD card) as the background/screen-saver.. I still can't figure it out.
-*Short cut navigation key for some reason the category "My content" doesn't let you make a shortcut for the sections within it. I want a shortcut key to Google maps, which is within 'my content', but it doesn't allow it, the best it will do is let you shortcut to 'my content' and then you have to scroll from there which is kinda annoying..
-*The idle/key lock screen is always the black screen with the time that you can't change.
-*There isn't a flashing light to tell you of a missed alert, until you click on a button and see the black/keylock screen. Else the phone just looks like its sleeping, so you have to consistently click on the buttons to see if you've missed any alerts.


Pictures you take with the phone look pretty well (granted you have the prefect lighting) on the computer, but everything on its low resolution screen makes photos seemed washed out and blurry.

I love this phone--very stylish, easy to use, many features, love the QWERTY keyboard, feels nice on the hands. The only thing I would say is wrong is the keyguard--although the keyguard WORKS, it automatically shuts off if you slightly nudge the QWERTY keyboard out, and I have accidentally called people from my pocket because of that. The 1.3 megapixel camera is not very good (no zoom, pretty blurry and no flash options), but other than that--love it! I love how you can change the color schemes of the phone to different styles (all of which I change depending on my mood).
I wish a USB cord came with this so I didn't have to separately buy one if I want to transfer things to my computer.

I've had this phone for about a month and I'm absolutely in love with it. The slideout keyboard makes texting a whole lot faster and easier. Its sleek and stylish with very good voice quality. The camera isn't the greatest, but it does work for taking okay quality pictures. My only complaints about the phone are the keyguard, which can easily be deactivated by sliding open the keyboard. I have a one year old son who is constantly messing with my phone, and also constantly calling random people. Secondly, sometimes when going through screens, the phone lags. Its usually only for a couple seconds, but its enough to screw you up forcing you to back out and start all over again. OVERALL FABULOUS PHONE.

Eventhough this phone lacks the EvDo highspeed data functions, the quick menus and slide out qwerty keypad make up for it. This is a great phone for someone who likes to text, taking quick photos, and grab their email on the go. I was a previous iPhone user since it's day one release, and after handling a friend's rumor, I decided to get my own. For the price, its a steal, and this is quite a sturdy phone as it fell out of my pocket walking up the stairs to my apartment---THREE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS IT FELL, LANDING ON CONCRETE--one minor snick on the battery door. By the way, it wasn't a lucky fall...it landed face down and bounced. By far the best cellphone I've seen in years.

I just got this phone today in the mall through a different provider. This phone is great! Feels very solid in the hand suprisingly. The full keyboard is a great feature and a definite selling point.

I noticed some of the reviewers stating that they couldn't use their own music for the ringtones; NOT THE CASE AT ALL! As with most cellphones you will need to get a data cable and a memory card. You HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO SOME RESEARCH. I came home with my phone, cable, and card; within 20 minutes I was assigning ringtones I created to my contacts.

To create your tones download Audacity, it's free audio editing software. There is a learning curve to the software but anyone with a little patience will be creating tones in no time at all.

To add the files to your phone follow the instructions here:

[...]

In no way does this violate your warranty etc. You're not adjusting the firmware or "modding" your phone. You're just putting the mp3 files where they need to go in order to be recognized as ringtones by the phone's software ie moving the mp3 files to the ringtones folder which you cannot do normally on the software on most phones.

I also noticed some complaints about the camera - it's a cell phone and not a digital camera. Cameras on cellphones are a mostly frivilous perk; a smart consumer will not base their purchase on the camera or it's quality. The camera is average for a cellphone, no gripes here :)

This is a slick phone, easy to use, and well desinged. If you don't want a "smartphone" and I would recomend this especially if you're only considering a smartphone for the full keyboard. Save yourself the money. Most providers are offering this phone free right now with a new activation. Don't blind buy it though, go to a store/kiosk and put your hands on the phone - you won't be dissapointed. If you buy the phone get your accessories on the internet - they're too pricey in the store. They charge about 200% more than interent prices. Again, do a small amount of research and save a bundle :)

When I first got this phone I was in love with it,good size and very easy to text with.The only thing I hated was the picture quality,not so good and not so easy to change the coloring.After having the phone about a month I started having problems,for no reason the screen would get all fuzzy,not letting me text or call anyone.Thank god I had insurance on it.Within three day I had a new one,worked fine.Exactly one month later I started having the same problems,this was quite annoying.I went to sprint to have them order a new one,five days later I just picked it up.and the same day its already shot! I slide it open to find that half the letters dont light up,and half of them dont work.I plan on complaining,I'd love to have a phone that actually works longer than three months! I'll give the Rumor one more chance,hopefully it'll work,if not I wont waste my time on another.I'd think twice about getting a Rumor,it may look like a well put together phone but it's very far from it!

This phone is really cool. It's great if you like to text! Personally I think it could have a little more battery power, but it's wonderful if you like to text. When I first got It, I was The envy of all my friends. I definatly would recomend this phone!