Samsung has officially announced a big new firmware update for its i8910 HD, bringing faster web browsing, faster multimedia access and, most desired of all, full Symbian^2/N97-style kinetic scrolling in all dialogs and screens. See below for the press release text. The bad news? You'll have to wait until next month to get it, via PC Studio update.
Read on in the full article.
nokia is losing in it own game
Please don't state the N97 have full kinetic scrolling as it doesn't. Just check the info/about pop up menus in software update or installed apps.
That's great news, hopefully this will stop some of the negative impressions people seem to have had about this phone. It's good to know that Samsung hasn't shrugged off the i8910 as much we were beginning to believe.
I've been perfectly happy with it since day 1, with one exception. Video recording in 'HD'. It's been a big let down, i t jus t doe sn 't wo r k.
Apart from that, i'm happy. I've tried or used all the other 5th edition devices. This is still the one i prefer. The speed and slightly different UI (blended with Touch Wiz) is much quicker and smoother than the native Nokia (and SE) renditions.
From another forum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X84PP0AFtK0&feature=player_embedded
Apparently a beta version, but gives a flavour of what's coming.
I'm with UKJeeper here, although I don't really give 2 craps about video recording, I'd rather have the audio playback aspect of the phone (especially SQ - and this is not because of lack of equilizer) and image compression..
I'm getting tired of having to carry around the phone in one pocket and an ipod touch in the other!
wow, this is almost worth getting off custom firmwares. heh. of course i'd like to see what our modding geniuses can do with the upcoming firmware
Another good thing about the news is that this time it will be officially available to most regions as compared to the last update which was most for Italian product code phones.
mCrem wrote:I'm getting tired of having to carry around the phone in one pocket and an ipod touch in the other!
Slightly more information:
Quote:
The i8910HD was expensive and stylish when it was first released and it looks as although the Symbian-based smartphone will be getting a new range of capabilities thanks to a firmware update released by Samsung.
Samsung has produced several Symbian mobiles over the year, but many suspect that the i8910HD will be the last, although few others have been given additional support this long after their original releases.
In the updated software will come several interface improvements, including the iPhone-esque kinetic scrolling, allowing users to intuitively flick their way through menu screens and lists.
The Webkit browsing software is also improved by the update, but the biggest tweak comes in the form of a more robust and powerful graphics engine which improves on the already impressive HD quality video recording that the mobile phone offers.
Italian customers should have access to the update in the last few days of 2009 and it is predicted to become available in the UK early next year.
Great update, but I've made the switch to a Moto Milestone as my primary phone a few weeks ago, and this isn't enough to win me back.
Even if they fix every single bug, ultimately the i8910 remains with one fatal flaw: it still runs Symbian. This means, among other things:
- no support for multitouch, which prevents games with complex controls, like Gameloft's Modern Combat: Sandstorm or Assassin's Creed, from ever being ported to Symbian
- no WVGA screen, as the only supported resolution of Symbian is qHD
- no 16,000 apps ecosystem, and no internet radio apps, no epub books readers
- an archaic notification system which relies on annoying pop-ups, or even more annoying audio alerts (notice the symphony of "beep", "ping", "ding" during each AAS podcast)
I've bought a Nokia 5530 as a backup phone, whilst my 5800 is being repaired - I had dropped it in the sea and despite it surviving all the other punishment I had given it, this was the last straw.
Anyway, back to the main point, the kinetic scrolling. It really doesn't add that much, I'm not too bothered about kinetic scrolling. Pretty and fun yes, much more usable? No. A bit perhaps.
Love the 5530, despite the lack of GPS and 3G, I love the neat compactness. Not something the i8910 can offer. And certainly not a Milestone or N900 - you could use those two to replace the upright stones at Stonehenge.
Shame on Nokia!!!! Newbies in the symbian arena are taking full advantage of the symbian evolution.... whereas you are still dreaming about the golden age of symbian :@:@:@:@:@
when symbian 2 will be ported to the S60 5th edition devices???
rvirga wrote:- no support for multitouch, which prevents games with complex controls, like Gameloft's Modern Combat: Sandstorm or Assassin's Creed, from ever being ported to Symbian
- no WVGA screen, as the only supported resolution of Symbian is qHD
- no 16,000 apps ecosystem, and no internet radio apps, no epub books readers
- an archaic notification system which relies on annoying pop-ups, or even more annoying audio alerts (notice the symphony of "beep", "ping", "ding" during each AAS podcast)
Umm.... re: the audio, those dings are nothing whatsoever to do with phones - those are Skype noises, usually because one of us has forgotten to go 'silent'. I know this rather derails your point, but..... 8-)