More Details On Samsung Thor / i300

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobile-review.com/exhibition/cebit-samsung-2005-en.shtml' target='_blank'>http://www.mobile-review.com/exhibition/cebit-samsung-2005-en.shtml</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Samsung has demonstrated a model called i300 at the exhibition. Earlier it was known under a project name of Samsung Thor and we wrote about it in January. That is the first announced Windows Mobile Magneto based smartphone by the company. The model is a step forward in the platform development. It possesses some functions other manufacturers won't announce in their models till the end of the year. An integrated hard 3GB drive (considering the dimensions of the device that is Microdrive) and a rotational wheel instead of a joystick. The camera is 1.3 megapixel and that is not the maximum value, the products of this class will be equipped with 2-megapixel matrixes with automatic focus by the end of the year."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20050309-SamsungThor.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />More details on the Samsung Thor device has hit the net. We got our first glimpse of this device back in January when the rumors first leaked out. At the time, we didn't know very much, but that's all changed now. Thor will be called the i300 and will be GSM based. The specs appear to be as follows: Bluetooth, USB 2.0, 113 x 48 x 20mm, 130 grams, a 320x240 screen, 3GB microdrive, and it will be running Windows Mobile Magneto. I never expected to say this about Samsung, but :drool: 8) Check out the linked article for more pictures and information on this, and other new Samsung devices.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000860035274/">Engadget</a> has a couple live action pictures of this device, and they are reporting that it will support playback of MP3, WMA, AAC, and AAC+. 8)<br /><br /><b>Update #2:</b> <a href="http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/samsung/live-from-cebit-samsung-i300-3gb-musicphone-035494.php">Gizmodo</a> is reporting that this device will play back media in the above mentioned formats, as well as OGG. 8O

[Kris Kumar]

WOW :drool:

I am waiting to hear Jerry's comments. :wink: :lol:

[Janak Parekh]

Wow. 8O I. Want. One. Now.

--janak

[Jason Dunn]

Nice, very nice indeed! I like the hardware design, it's sexy. 8)

[Jerry Raia]

WOW :drool:

I am waiting to hear Jerry's comments. :wink: :lol:

OK it doesn't suck. :lol: Seriously, not too shabby Samsung. Something like this could get me away from a clamshell phone. Even get me away from my MPx220. :P

[possmann]

WOW - that's all I have to say about this - WOW

[Mike Temporale]

I'm a little curious as to why Samsung would choose a 3GB MicroDrive over 3GB Flash drive. Flash would be smaller and more power friendly than the Microdrive. Most, if not all of the MP3 players under 5GB are flash based, correct? :?

[revolution.cx]

No, 1 gb and under are flash, everything above is hard disk based. 3 gb of flash memory would cost even samsung $200 or so while the hard drive is probably $50 to $80 (guessing).

I predict that next year at this time all music phones 2 gb and less will be flash and hard disk ones will be 5 gb+. Flash will seriously be coming down in price in the coming years.

I'm a little curious as to why Samsung would choose a 3GB MicroDrive over 3GB Flash drive. Flash would be smaller and more power friendly than the Microdrive. Most, if not all of the MP3 players under 5GB are flash based, correct? :?

[ricksfiona]

Wow, what a phone! Or PDA! Or MP3 player!

This stuff is amazing.

[apeguero]

Yeah. Nice phone. But it won't do much for me unless Microsoft or someone else releases a program that SYNCHS with MS MONEY or QUICKEN!! Also, if Magneto comes with Pocket Office then that would be nice too.

Otherwise, why spend the money on this phone when my SMT5600 is good enough?

[revolution.cx]

What's really annoying is this barely makes the radar. When Apple releases an "iPod phone" with the same or worse specs in 6 months the news will make mainstream newspapers and tv.

And of course this probably won't even make it to the US.

Come on Microsoft, time to get out ahead of the carriers. I want to see some Windows Mobile ADVERTISING!

[David Conger]

What's really annoying is this barely makes the radar. When Apple releases an "iPod phone" with the same or worse specs in 6 months the news will make mainstream newspapers and tv.

And of course this probably won't even make it to the US.

Let's at least wait until it comes out to complain. ;-)

It could be that when it actually is out in reviewers and consumers hands that there will be a big push. It seems Samsung may be bringing out a lot of devices (i270, i300, i645, i730, i750, i830) with Windows Mobile, so that will be a big deal in making Windows Mobile more available. No sense in advertising a product that is very difficult to find.

[revolution.cx]

Let's at least wait until it comes out to complain. ;-)


Oh that's no fun!

Actually we have the equivalent of an "ipod shuffle phone" in the SMT5600 but most of the world doesn't know about it.

I guess my point is that these are consumer devices and need to be marketed as well as Apple does. The carrier/hardware/software hamster wheel causes too much segmentation.

As I've said before if the HTC Typhoon had been given a real name such as hmmm...Typhoon... and everyone used that name instead of the alphabet soup mismash then there would be a synergy that would register with people.

Microsoft desperately needs to get the branding right this time around. Sony has "Walkman" and Apple has "iPod". They will happily stretch those definitions to the market demands ("video walkman", "iPod Photo", etc.).

Microsoft will be left with what, "Windows Mobile"? This has as much specificity as "portable computer" and as much cachet as "Window Cleaner".

Even Palm in the throes of a dead cat bounce has the name "Treo" which people know and recognize.

This is a little off topic and something I harp on frequently, but I think it is at the core of Microsoft's cell phone market failure.

Bring on all the fancy devices you want but until Microsoft gets out in front of the carriers with its own branding it's not going to get far. Please let me be wrong.

[Jonathon Watkins]

OK, I'll just add my thoughts.

WOW! :wink:

That is a NICE bit of kit! Very, very tempting.

[Jerry Raia]

I'm still in shock that Samsung came up with this. Most of their designs are just plain freakish. This looks like something I would actually want! Now will it see the light of day? That remains to be seen.

[SassKwatch]

Is there much known about Magneto as of yet? Because unless the Semi-Smartphone OS is about to undergo a brain transplant, this device.....as much as it may appeal to some (myself included).....kinda seems like overkill.

Of course, 3 gb of ringtones may not be all bad. I could have a different one every day.....for the rest of my life. :)

[me]

I'm a little curious as to why Samsung would choose a 3GB MicroDrive over 3GB Flash drive. Flash would be smaller and more power friendly than the Microdrive. Most, if not all of the MP3 players under 5GB are flash based, correct? :?`

I don't know of a flash-based MP3 player with higher than a 1 GB capacity. 1½ GB players are HD-based, as are 4GB players.

Even regarding flash CF cards, the largest common size is 2 GB now, I think still costing more than 2 1GB cards.

So yes, it's expected that the next move is to HD based phones, what with videos, music, photos, etc. on phones. Pretty soon they will probably come in 20 GB size.