The Samsung i550W - Review Take Two!

You can find the original comment thread for the first version of this review here. Note some of the comments may be out of date now that the review has been updated.

I'm lost where are the changes?

Mentions bug fixes at the end but doesn't elaborate... Trackball still the same? Camera focus? Shortcuts? etc.

I really want to like the Samsung S60 phones. They look so good (especially the recently leaked pics of i7110). But they have one annoying flaw for me, that I wouldn't even considered a few years ago. They can't run Nokia software, like Nokia Maps, Sports Tracker and Nokia N-Gage.

Since Samsung licensed S60 from Nokia it would nice if they licensed some of the software too.

And it would be good for Nokia too. I mean, navigation in Nokia Maps and the games for N-Gage cost money so they will make money that way.

Nokia's CEO has said that he see Nokia as an internet/software company rather than just a mobile phone company. A competitor to Google/Apple. But if they really do that, then they have to open up their software to other S60 mobiles.

But they have one annoying flaw for me, that I wouldn't even considered a few years ago. They can't run Nokia software, like Nokia Maps, Sports Tracker and Nokia N-Gage. ... And it would be good for Nokia too. I mean, navigation in Nokia Maps and the games for N-Gage cost money so they will make money that way.

This is a very very interesting point. Should Nokia make their services available on non-Nokia devices?

I think what it comes down to is what makes Nokia more money:

- selling more phones because they have Nokia-only services on them

OR

- selling more services because they're available on non-Nokia phones too

If the phones make far more money than the services, then Nokia will probably keep the services Nokia-exclusive.

But if the services make far more money than the phones, then they will probably open the services up to as many devices as possible.

At the moment the hardware sales bring in more profits, but one day in the future all phones will be ultra-cheap and hardware won't make that much profit, which is probably when Nokia would open their services to everyone.

A competitor to Google/Apple. But if they really do that, then they have to open up their software to other S60 mobiles.

The thing is, Apple hasn't really opened its services to non-Apple devices, it's still a very proprietary company. Their DRM-locked tracks on iTunes will only work on Apple hardware. Even their 3.5mm headphone slots may require an "adaptor" to plug in third party headphones.

And Google doesn't make hardware so there's no reason for them to restrict their services at all.

So far no hardware maker has opened their software services to rival hardware, but I think that's exactly what will happen in 10 years time when hardware is no longer their main way of earning a profit.

i'm kinda lost in translation also. the end of the article suggests that the new firmware makes this phone commendable but didn't exactly specify which ones were fixed. also, just a question, how is firmware upgrades in this phone? is it a simple procedure? this is important so i can avail of the fixtures, if any. thanks.

Very good to see the score lifted higher,on another note when can we expect to see a full review on the G810,its been out for a few months now,is it genuine rival to the N95/N95 8GB...:icon1:

I'm posting this for Steve (who is having a few problems accessing the site after our earlier down time)

Although most of the review has been tweaked and rewritten, the changes since the 2007 firmware are, in a nutshell:

- more sensitive and responsive trackball
- addition of Samsung Mobile Navigator (R66)
- working GPS+ (Assisted GPS)
- higher quality recorded sound in video camcorder
- better third party application compatibility (though part of this is down to the apps themselves being more widely compatible!)
- many bug fixes and stability improvements

---

As for the G810 - soon - we now have one - I've taken a quick look and will probably do a first impressions piece and/or gallery. However as the N95 specialist (multimedia / camera / video guy) Steve is going to do the actual review. He has the phone now, and I imagine it'll take him a week or so to put it through it paces.

For firmware upgrades - I think its a case of going to to a Samsung service support center. I'll try and get some more details on that.

The i550 firmware dates from around January (say public release in March) so a lot of the phone will have it already. Bear in mind the origianl review was from an early phone (grey import).

Tzer2 wrote: Their DRM-locked tracks on iTunes will only work on Apple hardware. Even their 3.5mm headphone slots may require an "adaptor" to plug in third party headphones.

Actually any 3.5mm headphone will work with any Apple device, the reason the adaptor was required was that the original iPhone had a recessed socket, as most third-party headphones had thicker plastic around their 3.5mm plugs they wouldn't fit in the recessed.
Simply put, it was a design error, rectified on the iPod Touch and iPhone 3G.

I know this is off-topic, but seeing how we are seeing an explosions of Samsung S60 phones, when will AAS get a chance to review the LG KT610, it’s got the mini-E90 form factor.

Is this phone available in the UK for AAS to test or is it very scare like the other previous LG S60 phone, the KS10.

I've done a quick search but doesn't seem to be available with a contract (UK). Sim free price is around �200.

The successor i7710 seems even better with a 5MPx camera and perhaps even more improvements over any critical aspects.

http://smape.com/en/news/interesting/28649.html

can i download the new firmware for my samsung i550w from the net
and if i can, i want to know the link and how to upgrade my mobile

As of today, it can use up to 16GB of micro SDHC.
Can anyone please post an unlock code for the GPS software?
Thanks.