Personally, I do not think Google is going to produce "gPhone". Otherwise hardware manufacturers will not use Android anymore. The main purpose of Google is to ensure that its advertising revenue through the mobile phones will not be blocked by Microsoft.
As evident by the recent launch of the Google Chrome, I am sure Android will not be too bad when compared to Symbian. Those guys in Google are as good as Apple, if not better. More importantly, Android was developed from the ground up using the latest technology (as compared to Symbian which is based on the technology of the last century), it will provides an excellent platform for many manufacturers to use in their handsets.
The fact that now Symbian belongs to Nokia is causing some uneasiness to Samsung and others. As Nokia controls Symbian, certain competitive information related to Symbian may not make available to its competitors. That is for sure.
Android has a Linux kernel. I am sure Nokia will also be interested in as it has recently acquired Troltech, a Linux company.
Rafe wrote:A bit OT - but just some thoughts on Android (wrt to Samsung to keep it slightly on topic)..If anything the Symbian Foundation (the ultimate aim of Nokia buying Symbian) is likely to increase Symbian adoption. It removes the license fees and goes open source. More importantly it removes the platform (S60) from direct Nokia control. There's no doubt Nokia will be infleuntial of course.
Google, with its service platform, is just as much a competitor in the longer term.... Compete in hardware vs compete in services... Its the same reason why Microsoft has had trouble finding phone manufacturer partners. I imagine Samsung will provides phones running on each of the different platform.
Android is unproven at the moment - that doesn't mean it will fail, but it is going to be a while before it is mature and can serisouly challenge. Its big advantage (open source) was largely taken away by the SF in my opinion.
For a company like Samsung continuing to invest in Symbian makes a lot of sense (especially given their experience and its maturity). The current signs certainly point towards Symbian (device releases, various statements). I imagine they'll keep their options open though.
In short, Apple is thought leader not a follower. It is well known for doing things differently and efficiently.
Well perhaps they could think about including copy and paste in their Iphone.
My firmware is dated the 20/08/2008 & I haven't noted most of those bugs. You say your firmware was dated the 13/08/2008, if that's correct you need an update?
Indeed, we're updating the article as we go (quite a bit this afternoon), and will certainly do so once we get firmwares updated.
Rafe
Unregistered wrote:The omisson of MMS will only benefit the Mobile Service Provider.....In short, Apple is thought leader not a follower.
Which would imply that those purchasing a device that favours the service provider and not those purchasing the device complete numpties, correct?!
I mean come on, what is forwards thinking about curtailing the ability to send MMS's on a mobile communication device!?!
Rafe wrote:Indeed, we're updating the article as we go (quite a bit this afternoon), and will certainly do so once we get firmwares updated.Rafe
My firmware is HH7 Custom Version HH8. Not sure what the custom version is all about.
Hope Samsung do make use of the update over the air service otherwise it's off to the CPW service centre in a couple of months.
Nice to see some usage of the MBX lite part of the SoC. Nokia could learn a trick or two...
Getting back on track, in the latest firmware (HH7) the keypad lock thing seems sorted. I haven't had a chance to fully test the screen timeout settings yet.
While Samsung will probably offer a couple of Android devices next year (as they try out anything anyway it seems), I'm sure they won't abandon Symbian. If anything, they'll offer more Symbian devices from what I've heard, and their new Symbian Dev page only reinforces that.
SE isn't even part of Google's OHA, so I doubt they'll offer Android-based phones anytime soon, if ever.
And for Google not being an "enemy" - that's only partly true imo. Google is looking for hardware partners to mobilize their services. But what if those manufacturers suddenly want to make some revenue from services as well? Google will at the very least control email, maps and ads in any device using Android, and especially location and email services can be very profitable for a manufacturer (just look at RIM). Android might be "free", but like anything else, there are always some costs...
But Nokia has bought over Symbian and so you think Samsung is willing to partner with Nokia in the long run?
What is the speaker quality and loudness like?
Does it compare to the n95 8GB?
Please let us know.
anyone know whether I can use the i8510 as a modem like I do my N95?
also, what about the fact that it has a plastic sensor and not Carl Zeiss optics like the N95 - what is the verdict on that?
Thx
hi folks, just got the samsung i8510 yesterday after using a n95 for the last year and ive otta be honest,,,im really dissapointed with the photo and video quality,,,so much so that im thinking of returning it as this was the reason i bought it,,,im no genuis when it comes to technical phone jargon,,,so can anyone expalin to me why this is...will firmware upgrades improve this or is it down to my settings?? Or is this as good as it gets???Any help will be muh appreciated as i have a week to swap it for another if im still not convinced,,cheers
capitaine wrote:anyone know whether I can use the i8510 as a modem like I do my N95?also, what about the fact that it has a plastic sensor and not Carl Zeiss optics like the N95 - what is the verdict on that?
Thx
All cameraphones have plastic lenses (I asume this is what you meant & not the sensor) , the name on the outside means nothing.
It's an S60 so of course it can be used as a modem as that's a generic function of the OS.
The iphone is really good, but lacks the fun stuff like games, video editing, image editing....bluetooth....bear in mind that 90% of the public will not hav an iphone. Also the queues you keep on talking about.....i live very near london and the o2 store there has never had more than 10 people in the queue for an iphone.........i am sorry but the samsung does blow the iphone away.....it is alot more practical size is better.....people what a phone that is similar to the last one so they able to use the new phone straigh away without looking in the instruction booklet.....when i tried to use the iphone to find pictures i had to look for the icon amungst 10 other icons........with samsung i know exactly where it is..........
I am sure that u are not 100% happy with the iphone......there is yet to be a phone which is 100% brillient.......
Argument Over........
Hi, I have the I8510 - 8gb.
So far battery life ok, but camera shutter sitting at half open when taken out of pocket, screen totally unreadable in daylight (live north of aberdeen, so we're not talking that bright a day either). phoned samsung support about a couple of glithes - totally useless.
No tv out cable in box, Samsung say that they have no distributor for said cable as yet, so cannot be purchased!
No firmware updates online, can only be done at dealer!
No full manual in box or on cd.
not looking to good for my new sammy.
Samsung has a couple of problems in their S60 story:
1) the PC Suite - USB connection with e.g. the G810 is very much hit and miss (Google and you'll see all sorts of discussions on it), meaning I can't sync woith my PC. I can't even use Bluetooth as a work around, as I get an error message that I can't get a connection as the software isn't installed - or words to that effect.
2) the Nokia pencil button, used for Copy / Paste is missing. I've not yet found a way to copy even the simplest texts, let alone appointments, etc.
3) there is no Firmware update tool. Here in Holland we are told by the helpdesk that the phone has to go back to one of 2 service centres to have a cable attached somewhere inside the phone to have the firmware updated. I am not aware of any OTA update service.
If they really want to be a force and compete with Nokia, these points have to be solved. I have a G810 with which I am very pleased, but these are niggles which knock a bit of the pleasure out of it. So come on Samsung, you build great phones, but get your act together on the PC suite and the firmware issues!
Steve
I saw an unlocked i8510 8GB on sale in CeX Leeds last week for �450, if anyone is interested.
Hi all,
Copy/Paste, or select text or (in a Nokia way) the pencil button is the (#) button.
Regards
What interests me most is, if for a firmware upgrade we are gonna have to leave it to the service or we could do it through internet and our pc like with nokia mobiles...
Becouse here in Greece for an upgrade you have to leave your phone to the service for at least 5 days.......
if Android is free then why would MS continue to sell MS mobile? I am thinking it will soon also be free (maybe depending on how soon the phone manufacturers jump on the Android wagon...)
all i know is the more competition the better the products for the consumers...
In a few days I'll order this samsung but the 8gb version(I have an OGG Player so I don't need song to the phone heh).
P.S. Someone asked if the samsung plays ogg, if you put a program(3rd part application) ..it should 😃 - for any reply or contact with me "crackerworld [at] hotmail [dot] com" replace as required(without ""😉 - I found a site for i8510 funs - "h**p://samsungi8510 [dot] com/" replace again as required and remove the ""
I don't know how long ago this was written:-
"Unregistered
hmm...iphone 3G.
lets see;
5) I love the way its fully unlocked, like Symbian's Hinnka.fl making Quake conversions, C2doom and a healthy community of developers....oh wait. There ain't one."
...but it's interesting to see how wrong people can be.