A follow-up on the issues I've been having with my Razr M since the KitKat (4.4.2) update rolled out in May. After replacing the SIM card (which did nothing) and several other things (which also had no effect), I finally resorted to a Factory Reset on the phone. All problems present & reported prior to the reset are still there.
I don't recall if I reported it before, but when connected to a factory charger, my battery app was showing a drain on the system (i.e. a negative charge) so that charging was very slow. This is the only thing I have noticed that is different - it appears to charge up a little quicker. The same 3 battery hogs from before are still the same ones I have now. They still occupy virtually the same percentages as before also. I also discovered after a couple billing cycles that my data usage basically doubled & has remained at that level since the update.
The phone's operating temperatures prior to the reset were above 90 degrees about 60% of the time. The Jellybean OS operated above the same temperature only about 20% of the time. Since the reset, it appears to average virtually the same temperature as before. The reset may have made only about 1 degree difference on its operating temperature, but that sample is pretty small still. With any use (using data), the operating temp gets over 100 degrees within just a couple minutes, just as before. I haven't done many phone calls or texts enough to determine what impact they would have on the temperatures.
Since a Reset fixed nothing, that pretty much confirms that it is the OS that is the problem & not an app or something else. Google (and Verizon) with this update have destroyed what was previously an acceptably usable phone.
Here's the kick in the pants over all of this though. I've been with Verizon since it was still Alltel in this area. And, I am one of the ones who still has an unlimited data plan on my smart phone, which is something they no longer offer. When I was speaking with Verizon about what options I have going forward (I have insurance on the phone), I requested that whatever replacement phone I got should be (1) a 4G LTE phone (like the Razr M), (2) of similar screen size, and (3) would not have the KitKat (4.4.2) operating system on it. Lo and behold - there are none - they said it would have to be replaced with the same phone I already have. Even confirming the issues are OS-related apparently accomplishes nothing.
The only choices I have are:
1. Do nothing & b**** about it,
2. Accept another Razr M (or "compatible" one) which will come with the same set of problems I already have,
3. Pay Verizon $600+ to buy an iPhone (or other one) outright so I can keep my unlimited data plan, or
4. Get an iPhone with a new 2 year contract & lose my unlimited plan (Verizon said that people who had Unlimited Data plans can request one that is a 6GB plan as opposed to the paltry 2GB plans everyone else gets nailed big bucks with).
No good options & basically screwed - just like tons of others who had the update crammed onto their phones.
