The Samsung i450, at first glance a Nokia N95 wannabe, has hidden strengths that come from its more unassuming appearance and lower price. Ewan brings us part 1 of his review of the i450, looking at the hardware, form factor and target market. Parts 2 and 3 will cover music and applications.
Read on in the full article.
It looks very nice, and provides a real alternative to Nokia's S60 designs. The more of this the better, as phone buyers are a very diverse crowd.
The wheel-based multimedia controls look very interesting, though it does seem odd they haven't marked where you can press it for specific functions (maybe they thought it spoiled the minimalist look?).
And yes, the packaging looks wonderful.
Aw, I thought the wheel really spinned, just like the first iPod, it would be so cool.
Someone should bring out a mobile phone with a dial on the front. It wouldn't be very practical, but by golly it would look very fetching.
Bang & Olufsen have a mobile with a ring of keys designed to remind users of the old rotary dials - it's rubbish, though!
Seeing the functionality of highly expensive, high-end devices flow down into the mass market is not unusual but seeing that happen (as here) while the complexity and potential of the high-end OS is retained is quite different.
I agree with Ewan that at this price point, it's a mistake. S60 has lots and lots to recommend it but the initial learning curve is monstrous and you have to wonder how many users will spend a couple of minutes lost in the vast plethora of embedded folders and options and just stop trying to explore beyond the surface.
There's lots wrong with the iPhone (call quality, lack of 3G, camera, closed OS etc etc etc) but one thing it does do amazingly is make everything easy to access.
S60 has lots and lots to recommend it but the initial learning curve is monstrous
I don't think that's true any more, S60 now is far easier than it used to be even a couple of years ago. The interfaces might look similar, but a lot of changes have happened in how the options are structured, there's been a lot of quiet evolution. All the most important functions are now directly accessed from the main menu page, with the complicated settings stuff all bunged into a single folder by itself.
The very latest S60 models, especially the cheap mass market ones like the 6120, have a much more logical folder structure than older models such as the N93 or E61. It's no more difficult to use a modern S60 than one of Nokia's modern Series 40 models.
In fact if you try using a latest Series 40 and S60 side by side, they're virtually identical in terms of icons and options. I wouldn't be surprised if some people assume it's the same interface.
In fact here are some comparisons:
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/Series_40_vs_S60.php
The built-in tutorials have also been vastly improved, if you try using them (but us expert users never do!).
Steve - I don't understand your headline of 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'. From wikipedia:
In English, "a wolf in sheep's clothing" has become a common metaphor for any hidden danger, or for any enemy putting on a false display of friendship.
Where's the danger with this phone?
Mr Picky