Samsung Focus Now Available From Rogers Canada

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.rogers.com/web/link/wirelessBuyFlow?forwardTo=PhoneThenPlan&productType=normal&productId_Detailed=I917BLKR&N=52+11+4294966826 ' target='_blank'>http://www.rogers.com/web/link/wirelessBuyFlow?forwardTo=PhoneThenPlan&productType=normal&productId_Detailed=I917BLKR&N=52+11+4294966826 </a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Say hello to Windows Phone 7 with the Samsung Focus. Receive live updates from the dynamic Start Screen, enjoy mobile gaming with Xbox LIVE integration and manage your multimedia with Zune. If you need to stay productive, review and edit documents with Office. View all these features of Windows Phone 7 on the crisp 4" Super AMOLED screen."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1289244885.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Today is the day that Windows Phone 7 devices are popping up all over the place - in Canada, Rogers has launched the Samsung Focus. $199 on a three year contract, or $599 without a contract. I'm going to try and get my hands on one of these today...are you buying a Windows Phone 7 device today?</p>

[Fritzly]

I bought a HD7 today; so far I like it:

The phone is quick; granted I do not have many pictures loaded yet, still more than 800 contacts, One Note docs etc.

I had trouble to install the Exchange certificate on the phone; T-mobile reps were useless. Finally I did it emailing to myself, using MSN, the cert. Not the most elegant solution.....

It seems that the only way to "wake up" the phone is by pushing the button on the top, taping the screen does not seem to be enabled.

Another thing I really dislike is that it seems impossible to list only your Exchange email contacts; all the people in my Messenger account are listed and deleting them from the phone..... delete them from Messenger too. More options please!!!

Instruction manual is pathetic to say the least; t is a completely new OS, more info are needed. Not sure if it is a T Mobile or HTC issue but it is inadequate.

Personally I always liked the GUI concept and now that I am using it..... I still do. Granted, people coming from WM 6.5 will have to adjust to click arrows instead of swiping on the screen but I do not feel it as annoying or more cumbersome; it is just a different paradigm.

I hope that MS will come out with an update version of WMDC; for example the fact that in order to copy pictures to the phone I have to open Zune, select the pictures, drag them etc. is not as linear as before when the phone was just listed under Windows Explorer and the folder were exposed.

Another thing I do not understand is why I have to disconnect the USB cable, which is charging the phone, in order to browse through the pictures on the device. To me it seems completely dumb but maybe there is a valid reason and someone will enlighten me...


To conclude: I think I will keep it although I need more time before, eventually, feeling ready to retire my HD2.

[Don Tolson]

How are you going to approach Rogers on this? (as an upgrade?) Or are you just going to try to find one on the open market?

[efjay]

Can you confirm the search engine in IE is set to google rather than bing? Thanks.

[Don Tolson]

I just tried to upgrade my current phone on Rogers, but the Samsung Focus doesn't show up as one of the options :mad: Maybe I'll try in one of the retailers...

[Fritzly]

Can you confirm the search engine in IE is set to google rather than bing? Thanks.

Yes it is.
Keep in mind that this device is a T-Mobile one; I do not know about other carriers though.
What is wierd is that under Settings the option 'Let Bing suggest site as I type" is checked.

[efjay]

Yes it is.
Keep in mind that this device is a T-Mobile one; I do not know about other carriers though.
What is wierd is that under Settings the option 'Let Bing suggest site as I type" is checked.

Thanks, the UK O2 HD7 has its browser search engine set to yahoo. I was really hoping I would be able to use a device without having to go through google, I dont hold out much hope that MS is going to be able to keep to their promise of no 3rd party customisations if they have already started allowing changes to the OS.

[Fritzly]

The biggest issue is the lack of choice; it seems that with WP7 users will be at the mercy of carriers until they will find a way to jailbreak it.
Btw on my HD7 if I open the browser I get Google but if I use the search button I get Bing...... talking about consistency.

[Jason Dunn]

I had trouble to install the Exchange certificate on the phone; T-mobile reps were useless. Finally I did it emailing to myself, using MSN, the cert. Not the most elegant solution.....

What sort of an Exchange server is it? I'm with 4smartphone as a hosted Exchange provider, and I set it up without a problem in about 15 seconds.

It seems that the only way to "wake up" the phone is by pushing the button on the top, taping the screen does not seem to be enabled.

Correct. But I've never had a phone do it any other way - wouldn't it turn on constantly in your pocket if touching the screen turned it on? :confused:

I hope that MS will come out with an update version of WMDC; for example the fact that in order to copy pictures to the phone I have to open Zune, select the pictures, drag them etc. is not as linear as before when the phone was just listed under Windows Explorer and the folder were exposed.

Nope, not going to happen - WMDC is dead. Desktop file sync is dead - much to my own personal dismay. If file sync does come back, it will come via the Zune software. And in your specific example, I think you'd find it's pretty much the same number of steps...plus, you can use Sync Groups to automate photo sync - pulling your recent 30 days of photos for instance - which you couldn't do with WMDC.

Another thing I do not understand is why I have to disconnect the USB cable, which is charging the phone, in order to browse through the pictures on the device. To me it seems completely dumb but maybe there is a valid reason and someone will enlighten me...

Yeah, that's pretty dumb - you can access the photos on your device via the desktop software, but I agree it's weird that they lock the device like that during a charge/sync. They do the same thing with the Zune though if memory serves. All the more reason to get a dedicated charging station. ;)

[Jason Dunn]

How are you going to approach Rogers on this? (as an upgrade?) Or are you just going to try to find one on the open market?

Yeah, as an upgrade - I've had my Samsung Jack for probably two years now, so I should be able to get some sort of discount price. If not, oh well. :rolleyes:

[Jason Dunn]

I just tried to upgrade my current phone on Rogers, but the Samsung Focus doesn't show up as one of the options :mad: Maybe I'll try in one of the retailers...

I phoned a retailer here, and he said they won't have it for a "few weeks". :mad: Maybe Samsung's PR people can tell me more...

[Fritzly]

What sort of an Exchange server is it? I'm with 4smartphone as a hosted Exchange provider, and I set it up without a problem in about 15 seconds.


I guess this makes the difference; we have our own server not hosted; specifically SBS 2008.



Correct. But I've never had a phone do it any other way - wouldn't it turn on constantly in your pocket if touching the screen turned it on? :confused:



HTC HD2... tap any of the buttons on the bottom front and the screen is turned on; on the HD7 you must push the button on the top of the phone.




Nope, not going to happen - WMDC is dead. Desktop file sync is dead - much to my own personal dismay. If file sync does come back, it will come via the Zune software. And in your specific example, I think you'd find it's pretty much the same number of steps...plus, you can use Sync Groups to automate photo sync - pulling your recent 30 days of photos for instance - which you couldn't do with WMDC.



I am not crazy about the Zune; it is slow and it does not seem intuitive. Just my opinion and I never used a Zune player so I have no much experience with it. Also the lack of categories and tasks is very hard to handle.............. The OS has a lot of potential but as it is right now I think this phone will end up in my daughter hands


Yeah, that's pretty dumb - you can access the photos on your device via the desktop software, but I agree it's weird that they lock the device like that during a charge/sync. They do the same thing with the Zune though if memory serves. All the more reason to get a dedicated charging station. ;)

[Jason Dunn]

I guess this makes the difference; we have our own server not hosted; specifically SBS 2008.

So there must be something about the way my hosted Exchange account delivers a certificate that your server does not. I know nothing about Exchange, so I'll have to please ignorance to what that "something" might be. :)

HTC HD2... tap any of the buttons on the bottom front and the screen is turned on; on the HD7 you must push the button on the top of the phone.

Oh, you mean the hardware buttons - you said "tapping the screen". Yes, I agree that pressing the hardware buttons should turn on the phone - having to reach up to press the small power button seems silly. Though I swear that my prototype LG phone had the ability to turn on the phone via the hardware buttons...can't test that any more, had to send it back. So maybe it's an OEM thing?

[Fritzly]

Oh, you mean the hardware buttons - you said "tapping the screen". Yes, I agree that pressing the hardware buttons should turn on the phone - having to reach up to press the small power button seems silly. Though I swear that my prototype LG phone had the ability to turn on the phone via the hardware buttons...can't test that any more, had to send it back. So maybe it's an OEM thing?


It could well be: contrary to the ones on the HD2 in the HD7 the three buttons are not true "mechanical" buttons; in other words you do not physically push them. They are incorporated in the screen so you just touch them; this is probably the reason why in order to awake the phone you have to use the one on the top which is a mechanical one.

[Don Tolson]

Yeah, as an upgrade - I've had my Samsung Jack for probably two years now, so I should be able to get some sort of discount price. If not, oh well. :rolleyes:
I've sent an email to Rogers, saying that even tho I recently (a couple of months ago) upgraded to an S-E X10, I'm not finding the 'Android experience' that rewarding. I asked whether I could trade-in/exchange the X10 for the Focus, but no response yet. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

If that doesn't work, I guess there's always eBay or Craigslist or something.;)

[alcdroid]

I went by the Roger's Plus shop nearby and they said that they *might* get the Focus in around 2 weeks. :( I also can't seem to find a live device to play around with.

[Jason Dunn]

I went by the Roger's Plus shop nearby and they said that they *might* get the Focus in around 2 weeks. :( I also can't seem to find a live device to play around with.

Yeah, it's the same story here for me - I've been trying to get my hands on a Samsung Focus since Monday morning and can't. No Rogers wireless store (my carrier) has it, and the online salespeople can't access it either. It's not available as an upgrade for me yet, and it seems unless I'm a new customer, I can't order it. If anyone else is like me and trying to buy one, they're probably having the same problem. :mad: