Pt2:
... Part Three:
Daily use with an i8910 Samsung "Omnia" HD :
HARDWARE
Screen - see above comments; it is the best available as of now IMHO - also has Haptic feedback, which I didn't like.
Speed of O/S - this handset feels FAST. I read from other forums that it has ~799 (?) Mhz processor and performs roughly twice as fast as the Nokia 5800 Xpress. I don't care about the details. The screen rotates from portrait to landscape quicker than anything I have seen before.
NB - In parallel, you can transfer files over USB, whilst using the DLNA media server, whilst surfing the web and receiving a text, with 8 programs running in the background; all without the 'phone crashing.
In call quality: Acceptable. Speakerphone is clear. But for both, I expected better.
Battery :
It is 1500 mAh + a plastic door with Orange on it, but a firm fit and a good amount of pressure to slide off... I have slid it on/off only 3 times in the week. Twice on the first day, then once on day 5 as the phone appeared to crash (my only crash so far) via the Podcasts application.
Quick answer: you will have to charge it up every night as you WILL be using the i8910 a LOT ! but it lasts longer than my expectations. To Samsung / third party : will there be an extended battery? I always buy the 3000 / 3600 mAh (sometimes two of them).
Subjective battery use: always difficult to make a comment as everyone uses a phone differently; but I try:
from a completely flat battery i.e. mobile refuses to turn on (it gives message that you must charge it up) :
zero bars on the indicator - about every 20 minutes (followed by one minute's use on the screen to allow the battery bars to equilibrate) the battery gauge goes up two bars. After 40 minutes, 4 bars stabilise etc. It takes about 2h of straight charge to fill up a flat battery to stabilised 'full bars' on the handset; I would say leave it on for 4h+ to be sure. This is ok.
For Samsung: Where is the super stylish charging cradle accessory? (e.g. to beat the inductive Palm Pre charging pebble!)
Everyone note also that the power/data port is a micro-USB connector (not mini-USB ).
External covers:
The i8910 has a cover for the headphone port at the top, the micro-USB data cable/charger port, and micro SD slot (up to 16Gb, but 32 Gb possible? not sure at present), both on the left hand side. This are for anti-dust measures I guess, but could easily break off under heavy use. Something else to worry about. NB when the 32Gb micro SD comes out, if it does work, I will buy and copy over my iPod touch / mp3 library. For the time being I stick with the onboard 8Gb.
Video-calling; 50p/minute in the UK, don't use it myself. Made one call. Best experience yet, as the screen is so wide; you appear in a smaller window at the top. I made the call to a business friend in Europe. It was a great experience, fluid and a good resolution. Given the width of the screen and the size of his image, impressed. Not sure how much it cost me.
Next to video calling camera on front = proximity sensor. This turns off the screen when you hold handset to the side of your face. It takes about 0.5-1 sec for the screen to come back on, even during a call, when you lower the handset to view the screen. A bit funny at first, but you must just learn to wait for the screen to turn back on... obviously a battery saving measure.
Holding the handset:
Very slippery. Hand aches gripping its form after a 30 min call. Must get used to it. A finger-print magnet. Samsung could have rubberised/siliconised the side edges. One of the accessories could have been a micro-fibre pouch.
Exterior Camera lens / design:
No lens cover. No xenon flash, only LED flash. Both negatives IMHO. Handset rests, when you put it down e.g. on a table, on the metal ring around the camera lens. This metal ring will sooner or later get scratched greatly. There are no rubber feet on the back of the handset to stop damage.
Speakers:
Holes at top and bottom of handset. They are excellent and the best I have used on a handset. Enough said.
Lock button:
There is a locking button for your right hand thumb to use ... assuming you are right handed ... this is great, and something I have learnt to love from some WM6 based handsets. It is second nature to push this, thereby stopping any accidental on-screen touches or calls, as you slip the handset back into your (empty) pocket. Well done Samsung. It also doubles up to activate some in call functions.
SOFTWARE
Well, not sure where to begin, the Symbian O/S in its latest incarnation, to someone coming from WM6.1 and and iPod touch v2.2 ... it does its job. You have to learn it. It is too early for me to say that on a week's impressions... but the iPod software still is the easiest to use, I am missing my Windows Mobile software archive (bought and freeware) and the obvious business integration of WM6.1 that I have cultivated. Lots of menus that feel more hidden than they should be. Clunky, difficult. I am sure it is highly customisable, but I have yet to enjoy tweaking it. In due time, I will indulge in ROM updates etc., but probably not in the first year.
Profiles: when handset on, and unlocked via pushing for 1 sec the side Lock button, then push and hold the 'End call' button, a menu appears: e.g. Silent, general, meeting, outdoor; all can be used as a template and then customised and saved. Excellent.
Telephone application:
Very clear; big dialling numbers on the screen. Easy to get to contacts. I transferred my contacts from my old mobile, to Outlook, then to i8910 via the Samsung PC studio. Easy. Detail: no idea how to change or remove my old photo thumbnails linked to my contacts. They appear in the i8910's speed dial application automatically, but i can't change them (yet)! (?) Speed dial app is good.
Radio:
Works well, easy to store 6 presets on its main screen, with option to store more in a further menu. Amazingly, I found you can record to the onboard 8gb Mass Memory at anytime. I have no ieda for how long thought and it is difficult to start the recording (menu option). Also, the clip you record you can assign as an .mp3 ring tone immediately! Excellent.
But no Sleep function (?) like the iPod touch, so you cannot set the radio to turn off at night after e.g. and hour. That would have been a lovely touch.
Messaging app: does the job; all the icons, for all apps, are very clear on the OLED screen. Excellent.
BBC iplayer: .sis version works, sometimes slow to respond to touch (?). Also serves lower quality streams of shows than I expect. I still use the IPod touch...
Built-in music player: does the job. Screen rotates to landscape like ipod; but otherwise no comparison, iPod much better.
Built-in video player - apparently plays a lot of movies / codecs; I tried ripping a few bizarrely specified .mp4s with my IMTOO converter. These don't play e.g. a 480p attempt. 480x272 did though. I tried to get an .xvid file (I am not used to doing this), which did on the PC, but not on mobile. Gave up through lack of knowledge and time (2h+ to get a failed xvid file is enough for me). I do not intend to pay for DivX encoding, so that aspect of the player is redundant to me.
Office folder, with applications in it:
Calculator / clock / calendar / converter / dictionary / smart reader (automatically converts business card into text, seems to work) / Dictionary / file manager / zip manager = all ok, look great on the crisp screen.
Adobe reader - fine, but NO FULL SCREEN mode??? Am I missing something here?
Quick office - MS word reading etc, BUT YOU HAVE
to PAY to get a licence to EDIT documents? Again, very disappointing. This is not going to happen.
Not yet tried direct printing to a bluetooth enabled printer, expect (LOL) it to work.
Digital compass:
Exists and appears to work fine. Useful. I do go hiking a few times a year, may be a life-saver to some. Maybe. Will still take a proper compass.
Opera mini 4.2. Excellent, works. Just install it.
Other applications tested, and ok.
Accuweather.
Gmail, but in Java form, only uses half the screen as it assumes some hardware buttons need to be put onscreen (?).
Realplayer - redundant sort of, as ue Video player.
Voice recorder.
Freeware: PaintPad; ScreenSnap; Timer.
Biggest problem with software from first week.
The 'Podcasts' application crashed after two uses, and refuses to start with a blank black screen, hangs in the background for about 30 min then a 'Full Memory' error appears. It is now broken and does not work. I do not have the expertise to fix it. May write to Samsung if time.
Timer
Screen snap
Games:
Asphalt 4; in-built (supplied) driving game. Seems ok, played for 10 seconds! no time. Removed all Orange games, as these are demos anyway which time out and are not optimised IMHO for this handset. Waste of space for me.
Good .sis freeware that works ok:
Blackjack
Meteor (v good Arkanoid/breakout)
Solitaire
Solo Noble
Sudokumaster.
- most others I found one evening do not install or do not understand the touchscreen.
The big conclusion IMHO:
The last time I had such a technology rush was with using the iPod Touch 2nd gen (my only iPod to date) for the first time.
The i8910 has the best screen to date on an easy to use mobile 'phone with a great 8MP camera. It also plays back standard .mp4s with great clarity and colour depth.
BUT The iPhone still has the best O/S and surfing experience.
AND WM6.1 still has the best software base for me.
I am sure I have missed lots of points, E&OE etc, but this is what I have managed to note during the last week. I will try to reply to specific comments, if any appear, to this post, but I lead a hectic life.
PS I can't find any FM transmitter; I'll say again: disappointed can't get any recorded HD content to play on my TV via PS3 DLNA! (even if sound is poor)
