Post your tips and 'hacks' here...

Turn off EV-DO and Save Battery Life:

• From the home screen menu+0 (for the 8550 - Dial ##PROGRAM8550 (##77647268550) and press Send)
• Type in 000000
• Select "Network Select"
• Select "Mode Preference"
• Switch to 1x only
• Press end (phone may power cycle)

Ringtones and Wallpapers:
HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - Howto for ringtones and wallpapers on Chocolate (vx8500) pics included.

Chocolate Alarm:

[From Boxden Slum]
If you want to use one of the three normal alarms:

• slide open the chocolate
• press the “Down” side button to turn down the master volume to “alarm only” before go to bed. Even if some one called the phone will not ring (remember to turn it back to normal when you get up).

If you want to use music alarm, the method above will automatically mute the music player. So you need another way. Don’t change the master volume, instead:

• open music player by playing a song
• tap the right soft key for “Options”,
• choose “Music Only” and turn it on.
• While the song is playing, make sure the volume is as desired.
• Now your phone is in music only mode, and you can set the music alarm and awake with your favorite rhythms (Note: The manual said the alarm will not work in Music Only or Standalone Mode, which is not true for music alarm).

Free WAP:
HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource - Tutorial: Free WAP on Chocolate

Whats the purpose of turning off Ed-Vo. Would there be any benefit of keeping it?

As stated, by turning off Ev-Do, it will save your battery life. This is a good practice if you have no plans on buying the Ev-Do package, or it's not available in your area yet.

One note though; remember how you did it in case you ever need to turn it back on.

what does ev-do mean
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EV-DO is the data side of Verizon's network. It is how your phones access V-Cast, Mobile Web 2.0, and any other features you may enjoy. It is also how smartphones and aircards access the internet.

Likewise, 1XRTT (1X) is the voice side of the network.

i wouldn't know i don't live in the us i'm in canada and we don't have verizon here

If you turn off the EV-DO, can you still send text and picture messages? And can you still download ringtones?

Originally Posted by paulcman

EV-DO is the data side of Verizon's network. It is how your phones access V-Cast, Mobile Web 2.0, and any other features you may enjoy. It is also how smartphones and aircards access the internet.

Likewise, 1XRTT (1X) is the voice side of the network.

You CAN access the Mobile Web via 1x but it is alot slower than EV-DO. If you want to download something from the GetItNow feature make sure the EV-DO is on or it will take forever to download.

Originally Posted by hunter3705

If you turn off the EV-DO, can you still send text and picture messages? And can you still download ringtones?

Yes!

Here is how to access ALL the apps DIRECTLY through the BREW app manager.
1. Go to Menu and press 0 then enter 000000 for the access code
2. Go to GetItNow settings (9)
3. Go to GetItNow (16)
Enjoy!
The checkbox is the settings section and the ? is the help section.

Edited to add step to turn off EV-DO for the 8550