First Impressions of Samsung's i320 Smartphone

[Mike Temporale]

I've been less than happy with my i-mate SP5m for a while now. It's thick, it's slow, the joystick is fragile beyond belief, and it just doesn't feel that good in your hand. Certainly not as nice as the HTC Typhoon did. So I've been looking closely at all the different QWERTY smartphone devices because I wanted to increase my mobile messaging from just reading and the odd reply to more full on email access. My decision was made considerably easier during the recent <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,12471">Mobius Boston</a> event as we were all given a brand new Samsung SGH-i320 Smartphone. :D <br /><br />I've been using this phone for almost a week now and I have to say that Samsung did a really nice job on this phone with one exception: battery life. The size of the phone is simply incredible, and the extras that Samsung baked into the OS are really well thought out. I'll be working on a detailed review of the device over the coming days. However, if you have any questions or if there's something you want me to focus on during my review, feel free to voice them. Here's a couple quick snaps for your visual enjoyment. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-SamsungReview-i320-Q-SP5m.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-SamsungReview-i320-Q-SP5m-Small.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><br /><i>Figrue 1: No, that's not dust under the SP5m screen. It's just dust on the SP5m. ;) The i320 is just about the same thickness as the Q, but it's not as wide or tall as the Q. Click on the image for a larger version (~420KB)</i><br /> <!> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-SamsungReview-i320-Side.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-SamsungReview-i320-Side-Small.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><br /><i>Figure 2: Down the right side of the i320 you have a key for accessing the Quick List menu, then a key for Voice Notes (short press) and Camera (long press). Both of these applications can easily be changed in the settings menu on the device. After that, you have a headphone port and then the Sync cable port. Click on the image for a larger version (~400KB)</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-SamsungReview-i320-Back.jpg"><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-SamsungReview-i320-Back-Small.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/></a><br /><i>Figure 3: The battery door is the hard to open. It's easily the toughest door I've seen on a Smartphone. There's little chance of it popping off and the battery falling out. Click on the image for a larger version (~420KB)</i>

[Pete Paxton]

So do you like the i320 better than the Dash-Excalibur? Have you had a chance to play with the i607? Any over all preferences?

[Mike Temporale]

So do you like the i320 better than the Dash-Excalibur? Have you had a chance to play with the i607? Any over all preferences?

I haven't seen or touched the i607. However, it is my guess that it would be very similiar to the i320. The Excalibur has a significantly better battery life than the i320. Other than that, it offers WiFi, Quad band, and a cool predictive type feature. On the other hand, Samsung is only tri-band, but it's smaller and offers some cool software/hardware additions.

I found the keyboard on the Excalibur a lot harder to use. The keys are smaller and have a mushier feel. I like them to click or snap when I push them.

I really like the size of the i320 and I expect I'll be using it for some time to come. However, I also expect that I'll be adding the Excalibur to my drawer of devices at some point. ;)

[dstrauss]

Mike:

A couple of questins:

1. How well do the split (top half-bottom half keys work)?

2. Do you press both keys to dial numbers?

3. How do the i320 and Excalibur compare size-wise?

[Rocco Augusto]

ohhhhhh! now im sooooooo jealous! ;)

[ricoks]

i've seen pics of the right side which has the ribber covers over the ports. I see one that looks 'identical' to mini-usb, however the little icon looked like a headset. Also, if that is all that is for, what is the port right below it?
I too wonder about dialing - do you 'have' to hit both buttons for dialing, or can you do either one, or a specific one?
Thanks for the help?

[Mike Temporale]

1. How well do the split (top half-bottom half keys work)?

There not anything special. It's just like any other keyboard where you press Function first to get the top half. Otherwise it's just pressing the keys as normal. They look like they're special because of the peak in the middle of the key, but they're not. I like the keyboard and find it very easy to locate and press the right key.

2. Do you press both keys to dial numbers?

Not just for dialing, but anytime you need to press a number key, you can press either of the keys inside the white square and it will be treated as that number. It's really cool because it means you can easily use this device in your right or left hand. Where the Q and Excalibur have the numbers aligned on the left side of the device, which is impossible to use in your left hand.

3. How do the i320 and Excalibur compare size-wise?

I've posted some pictures in my Mobius wrap-up (see link above) and in a post I made last week (see link in my mobius post). Basically they are really close in size. The Excalibur is thicker, and a little wider, but almost not noticable.

[Mike Temporale]

i've seen pics of the right side which has the ribber covers over the ports. I see one that looks 'identical' to mini-usb, however the little icon looked like a headset.

Yeah, it looks so much like miniUSB that I had to try a cable. It doesn't fit. It's just Samsung's proprietary connector for their headset. :(

Also, if that is all that is for, what is the port right below it?

Yup, that's it. The port below is another cable designed for sync/charge. Again, it's nothing that I've seen before. It might be a standard Samsung design, I wouldn't know. (It's my first Samsung phone).

I too wonder about dialing - do you 'have' to hit both buttons for dialing, or can you do either one, or a specific one?

Either button, or both. Doesn't matter. It really makes dialing nice because you don't have to be all that accurate. Just a rough estimate and chances are good you'll hit the right square. :lol:

Thanks for the help?

No Problem. :D

[extravagant]

can i ask how it appears when someone calls you? do you get a baloon pop up? (I think thats the best) You also said there's some cool extra software, such as?

And does anyone know if this phone the next upgrade will have GPS? Or another QWERTY will have GPS?

[Mike Temporale]

can i ask how it appears when someone calls you? do you get a baloon pop up? (I think thats the best)

The Balloon pop-ups are the way it's done on the Pocket PC. This has the standard Smartphone incoming call screen.

You also said there's some cool extra software, such as?

There's a lot of things. Everything from customization apps for the picking applications to be connected with hardware buttons to world clocks, alarms, stop watch, and lots more. I'll be making a detailed list on my review.

And does anyone know if this phone the next upgrade will have GPS? Or another QWERTY will have GPS?

As far as Smartphones go, there's been no talk of GPS. :(

[cortez]

Mike - my i320n is the most responsive smartphone i've had. this thing is really snappy!! the screen is bright and very clear, too. what's your opinion on device responsiveness (is that a word??)?

[Mike Temporale]

Mike - my i320n is the most responsive smartphone i've had. this thing is really snappy!! the screen is bright and very clear, too. what's your opinion on device responsiveness (is that a word??)?

Yeah, I would agree. It's a pretty snappy phone. 8)

[extravagant]

---------EDIT----------

ok guys! I found you can access MSN Messenger via Pocket MSN. I'm wondering though does this service cost me more money in my phone bill? I hope not! Nor did it mention any added costs! Thanks guys
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i just got my i320n! but it doesn't have msn messenger! anyone know how i can get it? or perhaps its in one of the folders in the start menu i don't see? wow! help hehe thanks

[extravagant]

anyone have any idea how to disable the damn shutter sound? Mine is SIM unlocked but it doesn't seem like you can delete the .wav for the camera (located in /windows)

[Mike Temporale]

---------EDIT----------

ok guys! I found you can access MSN Messenger via Pocket MSN. I'm wondering though does this service cost me more money in my phone bill? I hope not! Nor did it mention any added costs! Thanks guys
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MSN Messenger using your data plan. So if you have one - a good unlimited one, then no it won't cost more. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

anyone have any idea how to disable the damn shutter sound? Mine is SIM unlocked but it doesn't seem like you can delete the .wav for the camera (located in /windows)

in the Camera app push Options / camera / Shutter Sound - and pick something you would rather use. Or nothing at all. ;)

[extravagant]

ya right! I can't choose nothing, I only have 'cheese', '1,2,3' and 'shuter' :( that sucks for me ....

Also, did you notice that the cover to the sync/power port is really fragile?

Man this thing isn't even that thin, I wish they put in a standard audio port too but the keyboard is better then I thought, very useable and the clicking sound on the keys is great, too.

[extravagant]

also anyone notice that the phone beeps every time a single minute goes by while in a call? ALso anyone know how to increase the backlight on the keys, the qwerty light turns off way to fast...

[Mike Temporale]

ya right! I can't choose nothing, I only have 'cheese', '1,2,3' and 'shuter' :( that sucks for me ....

You know, I didn't actually look at the available sounds. :oops: I just figured there was a nothing. Perhaps you could record a blank wav and replace the shutter wav with your blank one.

Also, did you notice that the cover to the sync/power port is really fragile?

Yeah, it's not meant to fold back. Pop it open, then twist it up. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

also anyone notice that the phone beeps every time a single minute goes by while in a call?

No, I didn't notice that. That might have something to do with the Keypad control sound (under Settings / Sounds) I set mine to Tone instead of the annoying click. I wonder if the click setting is what adds the minute beep. Just a guess.

ALso anyone know how to increase the backlight on the keys, the qwerty light turns off way to fast...

Start / Settings / More / Power Management and change BackLight Timeout. Just be warned, that the greater the value the more battery power it uses. ;)

[extravagant]

I mean its a great phone, and i really like the qwerty, but there's just so many things wrong with it. The timeout appears to only effect the backlight of the LCD and not the backlight on the keys.

As far as making a blank .wav, you can't do that only because you don't have the option of changing the sounds (I even put a blank .wav in various directories such as /Windows (same directly as the camera sounds that come with the phone).

Man, the camera is horrible too when u zoom in a bit! And the battery life, it has me worried because i would hate to go outside and after a few hours be left with like 20% and I refuse to carry the charger with me cuz then that takes away the whole point of being mobile!

Also, did you try to make new homescreens? I did and put them in the proper director ..../Home but it appears you can't even do that........

[extravagant]

oh can I ask which carrier your with? Fido or Rogers? Does Rogers have EDGE? I see the "G" keeps changing to "E" for EDGE but it just goes back....

hows the reception? Mine is horrible compared to the SMT 5600 I was using.... any ideas how to get that fixed, do I have to call Fido or somethin?

I'm with Fido but it uses the Rogers Network

[Mike Temporale]

I mean its a great phone, and i really like the qwerty, but there's just so many things wrong with it. The timeout appears to only effect the backlight of the LCD and not the backlight on the keys.

I wouldn't say this is a fault. lighting up things uses a lot of power. If you think the battery life is bad now, just imagine how bad it would be if things didn't turn off. I haven't had a issue with the timeout on the keypad. Perhaps it's a personal thing, I haven't had it shut down while I was busy using it.

As far as making a blank .wav, you can't do that only because you don't have the option of changing the sounds (I even put a blank .wav in various directories such as /Windows (same directly as the camera sounds that come with the phone).

I don't think you caught all of what I was saying. You need to overwrite the existing sound with your blank wav. So find the sound file that is used for the shutter sound and rename your blank file to the same name. Then overwrite the default sound with your file.

Man, the camera is horrible too when u zoom in a bit!

No surprise there. There is no optical zoom on this device - just like all other camera phones (with the exception of one new Nokia device). Digital zoom works by taking an image and guessing at what colour pixel might be between two other pixels in order to zoom in. Digital zoom sucks. That's why nobody uses it on their digital cameras.

And the battery life, it has me worried because i would hate to go outside and after a few hours be left with like 20% and I refuse to carry the charger with me cuz then that takes away the whole point of being mobile!

The battery isn't amazing, but it should last you 24 hours. So there's no reason for it to magically run out when you walk out the door. I've got one battery plugged in and ready to go. If I'm heading out the door and the indicator is low, then I'll swap batteries. It takes about 30 seconds.

Also, did you try to make new homescreens? I did and put them in the proper director ..../Home but it appears you can't even do that........

I've had no problems adding homescreens. The only reason I can see it failing would be if their is a problem in the XML.

[Mike Temporale]

oh can I ask which carrier your with? Fido or Rogers? Does Rogers have EDGE? I see the "G" keeps changing to "E" for EDGE but it just goes back....

hows the reception? Mine is horrible compared to the SMT 5600 I was using.... any ideas how to get that fixed, do I have to call Fido or somethin?

I'm with Fido but it uses the Rogers Network

This is a tri-band phone. It uses 900, 1800, and 1900. These are the European frequencies and does not include the very common North American 850 band. The 5600 was a quad band device and thus worked great anywhere in the world. While Fido/Rogers does have some 1900 band towers, they have much more 850 band towers. You will find some places in North America where 850 doesn't matter. If you're having reception problems and they're that bad, then you live in a strong 850 band area and you'll want to make sure any phone you buy has that frequency. ;)

[extravagant]

EDIT---------------------
it appears you can run Java appz from the "funbox" application located in the program launcher under one of the groups (I forgot which one)...
Once in FunBox you have to click on Download then it will open the wap browser and you put in the URL.... firstly I am not sure which URL to use and secondly it wont even connect (I've checked the profiles, made a new one and used GPRS with no proxy).... it appears you need to use a proxy or a dial up connection, which I have no idea about and it makes sense to only use GPRS... anyone have any ideas here? it would be best to just copy the files over and run them but it doesn't appear one can do that... which sucks...

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also do you know if this thing has Java? it doesn't appear to anywhere in the start menu folders such as accessories etc.. any idea how to get Google Maps on this thing?

[extravagant]

well finally i got wap working and google maps :)

I was just wondering now if anyone can plz help me get a nice homescreen. I can download some of the xml files in /application data/home to my computer, edit them but i can't replace them and I can't put new ones up by creating a new xml file... but I was able to install a .CAB from kl1weders site... I just want the MSN Default homescreen though without the calendar or special events and to consolidate the operator/time/date into 1 line...

anyone have any ideas why I can't make new screens and load theM (they're just not appearing in the list even though I put them in the right folder) \Application Data\Home

thanks guys