Motorola Q 9C - Your computer and phone
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One of the big reasons people buy this phone is the fact that they can sync their phones with their computers. Using the USB cable that comes with the phone (or any standard USB to miniUSB cable) you can sync your PC with the phone. If you have Vista, it will sync up with Windows Mobile Device Center; there's ActiveSync for those still using XP. I haven't had any issues with getting it to sync yet, but I've heard horror stories about getting the two to sync sometimes in the past.
With either of these programs you can sync your Outlook email, calendar, and tasks. You can also transfer files over to your device, mobile favorites, and install/remove software. If your Outlook uses an exchange server, you can pull the emails and such straight from the network, even when you aren't at your PC; as long as you have an Internet connection, you can sync your outlook.
Software
First I would like to talk about the differences in going from 6.0 to 6.1. There are a few programs that aren't compatible, but the vast majority I have found so far are compatible with 6.1 if they were meant for 6.0. The two biggest differences I have found were the home screen and a program for system administrators to control software being installed.
The home screen now has a new sliding layout; it's the one you saw in all of the 6.1 screen shot previews. Compared to the 6.0 home screens, which I liked, the new one is amazing. It was a little change to the overall OS, but it's the screen you see the most, so it is really nice that they moved to the new one.
The included applications are the ones your find standard across all carriers, developed by Microsoft for the OS. There are also included applications provided by the carrier. Sprint has included some applications, but none of them are worth the space they take up.
I tried out the Sprint TV, and it worked well with a good connection, but unless you pay for the services, you don't get any real channels. There is a program called Documents to Go, which is comparable to your Office suite, but you can't create documents and you can't use the new Office 2007 format. There is a way to get the new Office programs for this phone, though I'm not sure how legal it is, even if you buy them.
There is quite a bit of freeware for the smart phone, and some programs that are well worth their price. I never keep a checkbook balanced, but I use SplashMoney to keep track of all my expenses. I take my cell phone everywhere with me, but rarely my checkbook, so I can still keep track of my expenses. To kill time, I normally play games on my phone; my choice has recently been Astraware Casino. It has a whole bunch of games and is well worth the price. I like to gamble sometimes; this game keeps my urges to go up to Windsor down, and doesn't cost me any money when I lose.
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