LG Muziq Review

Messaging:

The Muziq has a robust messaging package for a “dumbphone.” In addition to the usual suspects- SMS and MMS (or as Sprint calls it, Picture Mail-) you will also find Voice SMS and a fantastic email client.

SMS is easy enough, and the Muziq employs T9 predictive test, but for all input the default method is ABC. Messages remember your last used method though, so you don’t have to change to T9 every time. One of our biggest complaints about the Fusic was that it could not keep up with our typing, but luckily the Muziq seems to have corrected this and hasn’t missed a keystroke yet. Picture mail is also very straight forward, and even novice users should have no problem sending a message in just a few clicks. Voice SMS allows the user to record a short message, much like voicemail, and send it to another user. The user receives a text, which prompts them to call a number and retrieve the message.

The email client is head and shoulders above other offerings. It’s a new client from Seven which should start appearing on more Sprint handsets. It allows you to check your IMAP or POP email, and offers quick setup for AOL, AOL AIM, Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail mailboxes. Setup was quick and easy, and the application walks you through a terrific tutorial about using keyboard shortcuts and getting the most out of the client. It offers push email via text messaging, and you can manage multiple accounts at once. We were unable to get the push working with a Gmail account, but overall this client is hands down the best email program we’ve seen on a handset. In fact, with push working we actually prefer it to many of the smartphone clients we have used. Kudos to Sprint for raising the bar by bringing a viable mobile email client to the common phone.

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Connectivity and Data:

The Muziq offers EVDO rev 0 data, which allows for broadband-like upload and download speeds. Obigo supplies the native browser, and the web is accessed through the Sprint WAP portal which is quick and easy. While the native browser can handle HTML pages to a point we would suggest downloading the free Opera Mini browser for better HTML browsing.

The Muziq implements the older Bluetooth 1.1 standard, and supports the HSP, HFP 1.5, DUN, FTP, OPP, A2DP, AVRC, BPP, and PBA profiles. Connecting to a headset, both mono and stereo, was quick and easy, and overall the sound quality was good. Contacts and calendar items can be sent over Bluetooth, but unfortunately you cannot send pictures, ringers or applications. The latter two are to be expected, but other Sprint phones support sending pictures via Bluetooth so it is a shame that LG has disabled this in the Muziq. It can, however, receive pictures sent from another Bluetooth device.

Computer Sync:

The phone comes with music manager software and a USB cable for sideloading your music. Music can also be added by dragging and dropping songs into the music folder on the microSD card. Both options are simple enough, but personally we prefer the latter. Users can also download music over the air via the Sprint Music store at a scant $0.99/track. For this they will receive the track on their handset immediately, and can download a copy for the computer as well.

User beware! If you do not have Windows Media Player 11 it will be automatically installed during the software instillation.