Samsung Updates the i320N Keyboard

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/06/21/samsung-s-new-i320n-in-the-wild/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/06/21/samsung-s-new-i320n-in-the-wild/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"It turns out our paranoia hunch was correct last week when we thought we spotted an alternate version of Samsung's Q-killing i320. The re-designed GSM device rocks a different keyboard shape than the original, but boasts similar specs, including a 1.3-megapixel camera (with flash), QVGA screen, stereo speaker, Bluetooth and EDGE support. Still no info on pricing or availability on this Windows Mobile powered hotness, but we've got our fingers crossed that this makeover won't drive the price tag through the proverbial roof."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060622-NewI320.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />It looks like Samsung is still working and tweaking the i320. With any luck, maybe one of those tweaks will be Quad-band - or at least a 850 GSM Tri-band version. We can dream right? ;) <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=10356">Here</a> is what the older designed looked like, in case you're up for doing a comparison. ;)

[seaflipper]

My first impression is that I like the first version of the keyboard better, the buttons look easier to press for some reason...

However, they probably had (I hope) usability testing that told them that this version was better....

I would have to play with both I guess.

But boy, doesn't that keyboard look like the Q's?

[raulr]

Maybe they're trying to make it look less like a TI-85 graphing calculator.

[Mike Temporale]

But boy, doesn't that keyboard look like the Q's?

A little. But if you look closely, you can see that some of the keys are grouped in pairs.

E and R = 1
T and Y = 2
U and I = 3
D and F = 4
G and H = 5
J and K = 6
X and C = 7
V and B = 8
N and M = 9

Should make for easy dialing of numbers. :mrgreen:

[thefunkunfaked]

My question is this..

Yes, that is a new look for the thumbpad. However, I saw photos of a woman smiling and holding both the "old one" and "new one". As if she was showing two different options. So, wouldn't that make this not necessarily an updated version, but an alternative?

I happen to like the previously unveiled thumbpad far better.

[Mike Temporale]

My question is this..

Yes, that is a new look for the thumbpad. However, I saw photos of a woman smiling and holding both the "old one" and "new one". As if she was showing two different options. So, wouldn't that make this not necessarily an updated version, but an alternative?

I happen to like the previously unveiled thumbpad far better.

Interesting... Well, in that case, perhaps one model has a camera and the other one doesn't. That could certianly be the case. I like the colours on the older keypad. It was much easier to see what keys make up the dial pad.

[thefunkunfaked]

My question is this..

Yes, that is a new look for the thumbpad. However, I saw photos of a woman smiling and holding both the "old one" and "new one". As if she was showing two different options. So, wouldn't that make this not necessarily an updated version, but an alternative?

I happen to like the previously unveiled thumbpad far better.

Interesting... Well, in that case, perhaps one model has a camera and the other one doesn't. That could certianly be the case. I like the colours on the older keypad. It was much easier to see what keys make up the dial pad.

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-11955-SGH-i320+The+Pocket+PC+Phone+from+Samsung.html

[smartphone2002.info]

Interesting... Well, in that case, perhaps one model has a camera and the other one doesn't. That could certianly be the case. I like the colours on the older keypad. It was much easier to see what keys make up the dial pad.

That is not a question of older or newer design, but a question of i-320 (Europe) or i-320n (Asia). Thats what Samsung told me last week at CommunicAsia 2006 in Singapore. So both keypads will be on the market.

[Mike Temporale]

That is not a question of older or newer design, but a question of i-320 (Europe) or i-320n (Asia). Thats what Samsung told me last week at CommunicAsia 2006 in Singapore. So both keypads will be on the market.

Ah! I see. Thanks Stephan, that explains things. So, why no i-320 North America? We need some Samsung love too! :(