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View Full Version : Mobile Tech Addicts Reviews Samsung's Square-Screen SGH-i780


Janak Parekh
07-03-2008, 01:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobiletechaddicts.com/2008/06/22/review-samsung-sgh-i780-windows-mobile-phone/' target='_blank'>http://www.mobiletechaddicts.com/20...s-mobile-phone/</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;Another device turned up in the post for us to take a look at and this one is the Samsung SGH i780 Windows Mobile Professional device. This phone impressed us from the moment we opened the box and switched it on. The form factor is fantastic combined with a great front facing Qwerty keyboard...The major difference with this and other square screen devices is the screen resolution. All previous square screen devices we have seen followed the 240 x 240 resolution but this phone has a 320 x 320 display which makes for a much better viewing experience.&quot;</em><br /><br /><img width="400" height="300" border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/spt/auto/1215052111.usr12.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />It's good to see vendors Not Named Palm trying the square-screen format, but with a halfway decent resolution. Let's hope we see a North American-frequency-compatible-GSM or CDMA version of it come to this side of the pond. :)

bearxor
07-03-2008, 03:08 PM
Considering square resolutions other than 240x240 and 480x480 weren't supported in WM5 and support for 320x320 came with WM6, I would say that all square screen phones will likely be supporting at least that resolution from now on. Including the upcoming release of the Treo 800w here in about two weeks.

rsjeffrey
07-03-2008, 06:12 PM
Beware: this mobile looks and 'feels' great but I have had significant problems with it. These problems include:
Terrible battery life (a spare is provided - effectively acknowledging this issue)
Difficulties in using internet sharing with an Ipaq 210
SMS messages being sent with no text
Poor or no reception in areas where other mobiles on the same network are working fine
Calls being cut off by the answer key
Auto text erratic (e.g. it often fails to capitalise the first letter of a new sentence, and never after a question mark).

This list is far from being exhaustive. Overall, therefore, I cannot recommend the unit before there has been a major software upgrade (and some of the problems, e.g. reception, may be hardware related).

I bought the i780 on the basis that it looked extremely well specified, but it has failed to live up to the company literature (by the way, it was initially widely reported to have had an FM radio, which it does not). I might also add that I have not found a Samsung website where I have been able to register my problems.

Sadly, I have had to revert to a cumbersome Blackberry 8800 / Ipaq 210 combination - for all the faults of the two machines (the Ipaq 210 being another highly disappointing piece of technology and not, in my view, as good as the 4700 that preceded it).

Janak Parekh
07-03-2008, 07:37 PM
Samsung still has bad battery life? :(

Thanks for the feedback. It's disappointing.

--janak

gavinfabl
07-04-2008, 04:43 PM
Not wishing to cause any debate, but I also use the i780 with the UK rom.

Battery life is excellent compared to any 3g phone I have had to date. I swap batteries every 24 hours, but will get a day and a half with push email running from 7am-7pm. My Samsung i600 was dreadful in comparison.

Never had any SMS sent with blank texts, ever.

In fact it is the best phone to date I have owned. Samsung support are excellent, so maybe you have a dud one.

Dont use internet sharing, so cant comment.

Only one issue. Screen is crap in bright sunlight.

Otherwise, it is near perfect.

I live in a field ie broadband is erractic and drops, no mobile operator has a consistent reception. I have had only 2 calls drop.

I cant fault mine. Love it.

rsjeffrey
07-06-2008, 10:08 AM
A very quick response:

On battery life - with similar useage, a Blackberry manages two to three days, with push email functioning permanently (by the way, generally, I am not a fan of the Blackberry).

On signal reception - I was recently in the basement of UCH hospital. My wife had reception on a Motorola and my son had reception on a Sony Ericsson; I had none.

Possibly, I do have a duff unit, but I suspect not.

birick
07-06-2008, 12:45 PM
The SCH-M480 just released in Korea includes the 850MHz band.

Rumor has it that this one is bound for the US as Blackjack III.

SCH-M480 (http://www.anycall.com/product/phone/ProductMgr.do?methods=selectProductOverview&kind=new&phone_model=SCH-M480)