Pretty Pictures of the Samsung Smartphone

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://cgi.chollian.net/~mpreview2/ez2000/ezboard.cgi?db=news&amp;action=read&amp;dbf=93&amp;page=0&amp;depth=5">http://cgi.chollian.net/~mpreview2/ez2000/ezboard.cgi?db=news&amp;action=read&amp;dbf=93&amp;page=0&amp;depth=5</a><br /><br />The last time I posted on this, some of you didn't like the way the phone looked. Personally, I think it looks great and I'm looking forward to seeing it on the market! The linked site is a little slow to load, but has several great high-resolution images of the phone. Samsung is the #3 handset maker in the world, so the fact that they're building a Smartphone is a big win for Microsoft. Samsung is hedging their bets, however, by also building a Palm phone and a Symbian phone. If they can do it and still be profitable, it's a smart move.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/dunn2002/samsung-smartphone.jpg" />

[jeremyweisser]

Could anyone clear up for me what applications are included on the smartphone, ie: Word, Excel, PocketOutlook?

[Dave Conger]

Could anyone clear up for me what applications are included on the smartphone, ie: Word, Excel, PocketOutlook?

Pocket Outlook, Pocket IE, MSN, Windows Media Player and ActiveSync are some of the main progs. No Word or Excel.

[benetone]

Is there any smartphone with Bluetooth at all? It's a very big surprise that companies still don't include bluetooth into the smartphone yet.

[Pony99CA]

Tech TV ran the latest installment of "Microsoft Insider Live", which included a pretty cool demo of the SmartPhone. It also featured the Tablet PC, Mira portable display and the Windows XP Media Center.

They'll be showing it again several times, at least Monday through Thursday.

Steve

[enemy2k2]

Those actually are pretty impressive pictures. Too bad the phone looks a little chunky in depth, but the other dimensions are certainly impressive. I voted for the clamshell shape even though it adds to the thickness, I feel it makes for a much less conspicuous smartphone. The others such as the Orange SPV I've seen look very obviously different.

[Pony99CA]

Those actually are pretty impressive pictures. Too bad the phone looks a little chunky in depth, but the other dimensions are certainly impressive. I voted for the clamshell shape even though it adds to the thickness, I feel it makes for a much less conspicuous smartphone.
I voted for the clamshell, too. Who wants to have the screen of their phone exposed most of the time? On a display as colorful as the SmartPhone (and presumably expensive), keeping the screen protected is even more important.

I haven't seen whether SmartPhones use touchscreens, but if they do, that's another reason to keep it protected.

Steve

[Newsboy]

No touchscreens on SmartPhones. Saves battery life and improves screen resolution.

That phone is *precisely* what I need, right now. Still interested to find out how much Sprint PCS is going to overcharge for it though.

On the subject of phones...all this hoopla about Organic LED (OLED) displays...I've had one for over 18 months now, in my Motorola TimePort. :)

OLED (assuming they can make it work) is definetly the future. The display on the Timeport is brighter, clearer, and easier to read than any other phone display I've ever seen. Onlookers *never* cease to gawk and make comments when they see it flipped open, even with the new generation of color displays on the market.

[rsajdak]

I have an iPaq 3955 and I'm interested in getting a Smartphone. Will we be able to sync to the same Outlook personal folders with both devices? If not, then Microsoft is making a stragegic mistake.

[Underwater Mike]

I just want Sprint to release a Bluetooth-enabled Vision phone, period. I have cables out the wazoo...

[David C]

The Japaneese Version of the upcomming Sanyo 5300 has a bluetooth attachment. But I don't know if that will work with the Sprint version.
http://www.stel-web.com/line_up/a3015sa/spec.html

[JMountford]

Seems even in this day and age there are a lot of questions about Smartphones. Gotta love Newbies.

First let me speak my Peace about the Samsung and then I will doa smart phone rundown for Newbies.

To the argument of lip or candy bar, I will say that I have always prefered a candy bar design. The phone ends up being the same size either way, and most flips are actually bigger than the majority of candy bar phones. P{lus flips just don't feel as sturdy to me.

I also tend to think that flip phone designs are stuck in the olden days of phone design. That all being said, I do have to say I really am impressed with the design of the Samsung A500. It is a flip put there are no edges to it. It has a soft, elegant feel to it. I love the display one the phone. The colors are sharp and the images are not muted, but instead are exceptionally clear. Samsung produces GREAT displays for their phones. This brings me to a HUGE problem I have with flips!!! You CAN NOT see the screen unless the phone is open. You have a picture caller ID. Can you see the picture if the phone is closed? NO! So there is a major lack of thought process there.

My impression of the i600 is wow, what an ugly phone!!! It is very simplistic looking. It has a hard look about it. There are too many angels not enough curves. The buttons are fairly standard layout, except for the nav keys which are still kinda square. This phone is the total opposite of the A500.

The really bad thing is that I will still rush out to buy this phone at my earliest opportunity!!! It is the only CDMA Smartphone I have heard of and it has SD. Let's just hope it is I/O and has a Bluetooth Profile out there somewhere. Bluetooth SD card better than no BT at all.

Now then I want to know why People think Sprint will get this phone first? Umm Verizon has a deal with MS. Verizon will most likely get the phone first and Sprint PCS customers will have to wait a month or so afterwards. Remeber the Thera!

Next people who gripe about the lack of Bluetooth in Sprint Phones. I have the same gripe, but it is not Sprint's fault. Bluetooth is not Popular in the States. CDMA is Primarily only a USA standard. I know some places in Asia use CDMA but they are not big into BT either. Therein; lies the problem OEMS do not see a need to put BT in phones because the areas where the phones will be used do not use much BT. I am not really defending Sprint. I have my problems with them, but in this they are not at fault.

[JMountford]

Real Quick because this has been done before.

Smartphone, is not a touch screen, but uses Nav Keys for getting around.
It is a smaller screen and a slower Processor than a PPC. The phone is primarily for Communication NOT for productivity. This being the case are are NO native Productivity Apps. I have seen third party apps for power point viewing and what not, but none for wrod or excel type apps.

Theory is if you want to do those things a phone IS NOT what you will want to do it on, and I tend to agree.

Smartphone is for Communications users who need connectivity. It is not for heavy data users.

No Smartphone has Built in BT but all Smart phones seem to have SD slots. Now if it is an SD I/O then theoretically you can use an SD BT card. I would think there would need to be some kind of driver, or profile or whatever though.

I think those are the main points.

Hope it helps.

[ThomasC22]

The really bad thing is that I will still rush out to buy this phone at my earliest opportunity!!! It is the only CDMA Smartphone I have heard of and it has SD. Let's just hope it is I/O and has a Bluetooth Profile out there somewhere. Bluetooth SD card better than no BT at all.


Yep, I was just about to post that exact same sentiment myself. I keep trying to "see the beauty" in it but seem to always come up short (I initially thought the iPaq 3850 series was pretty ugly too but I adjusted).

As for Flip Phone designs in general, I got both ways. On one hand I like the fact that my color screen is protected but at the same time a flip phone, as you said, increases the depth in your pocket while decreasing the height which I think is all messed up.

Think about your pocket for a second, how often do you stack things on top of eachother? Probably very rarely because most pockets don't have the dept to have two significant items (PDA, Wallet, Phone, etc...) stacked on top of eachother without the top one being close enough to the edge to fall out.

That's why I think thin is the way to go. A bunch of thin devices can be stacked side by side with no pocket problems.

[ThomasC22]

I just want Sprint to release a Bluetooth-enabled Vision phone, period. I have cables out the wazoo...

Actually, I'm not sure they could...I mean technically they could but business wise that might cause some problems. See, Sprint has taken the absurd stance of charging $10 for unlimited wireless data service, but ONLY on your phone. So, I'm wondering, how exactly could they determine which device was using the connection if they include bluetooth in the phone?

That being said, I can't imagine they're going to be too happy with the Smartphone 2002's ability to download full web pages anyway :)

[Janak Parekh]

Actually, I'm not sure they could...I mean technically they could but business wise that might cause some problems. See, Sprint has taken the absurd stance of charging $10 for unlimited wireless data service, but ONLY on your phone. So, I'm wondering, how exactly could they determine which device was using the connection if they include bluetooth in the phone?
Well, couldn't they use a T-Mobile-esque model, which for the phone-only plans has a special GPRS APN that only connects to WAP? Even with a T68 on T-Mo, you have to have a different profile if you want general IP access, and the phone-only plans don't support it.

--bdj

[NeilE]

I have an iPaq 3955 and I'm interested in getting a Smartphone. Will we be able to sync to the same Outlook personal folders with both devices? If not, then Microsoft is making a stragegic mistake.

Yes, you can sync both a Pocket PC and a Smartphone to the same Outlook data, using the same desktop machine.

[keithnet]

Does anyone have any sort of idea better than "next year" to when this phone will be available from Verizon??

[Newsboy]

That being said, I can't imagine they're going to be too happy with the Smartphone 2002's ability to download full web pages anyway :)

This is precisely why I have not changed from a Free&Clear plan w/ $5 Wireless Web Access to PCS Vision. I already have unlimited access. Why would I give that up???

[rsajdak]

I have an iPaq 3955 and I'm interested in getting a Smartphone. Will we be able to sync to the same Outlook personal folders with both devices? If not, then Microsoft is making a stragegic mistake.

Yes, you can sync both a Pocket PC and a Smartphone to the same Outlook data, using the same desktop machine.

Neil,

Thanks for the response! One more question: If I'm away from my desktop but I have both my iPaq 3955 and a smartphone, can I sync the two using their IR ports? Or is the only way of syncing the two is using the desktop computer.

[Landis]

No Smartphone has Built in BT but all Smart phones seem to have SD slots. Now if it is an SD I/O then theoretically you can use an SD BT card. I would think there would need to be some kind of driver, or profile or whatever though.



All Smartphone2002 devices so far have SD I/O. Getting a driver is another issue....

[TinMan]

I also tend to think that flip phone designs are stuck in the olden days of phone design.
Well there's a difference between a flip-phone and a clamshell-phone in both design and date-of-release. ;)

Personally, I prefer clamshell, but will accept anything that is reasonable in size. That being said I'm currently using a relatively huge Sanyo 4900 for one main reason: reception. After testing every currently-released SPCS Vision phone, this one was simply better, reception-wise (for me). At the end of the day, being able to actually make, and not drop, calls in more places is what mattered most. Still, I do admit to being embarrassed when using this phone in public. It's pathetic--I actually try and make the (color) screen apparent, in an attempt to show I've not fallen right off the turnip-truck. (I need to work on this quirk. :))

I hope Smart Phone makers don't skimp on the phone-- particularly reception and voice quality. I nearly bought a Treo 300, but its reception was far below the Sanyo 4900. Battery-life is very important too.

BTW, SPCS is actually phasing out connection kits. They do not, at least at this time, seem to want people using their phones as "modems." The $10 unlimited Vision plan specifically bans this (but does not seem to be enforced, as of now). I don't think their billing system is currently able to differentiate modem usage vs. phone usage for data. Their reaction seems to be the removal of that capability. Hence, I don't see Bluetooth coming to SPCS until this issue is resolved. They'd love to sell you a Merlin or Aircard though!


-Mike

[JMountford]

Tin Man,

You are right about the difference between Flip and Clamshell. I over loocked that point.

I totally understand your embarrasement over the 4900. Have you seen the price point on it now? No one wants to buy one. They are fricin' huge. They also have very poor screens.

I can understand Sprint wanting to limit the use of phones as a modem. Still, what the heck is the point of unlimited if you can not use it the way you want. As for data kits, heck it has always been near impossible to get those anyway. They are always in limited supply. They are also fairly expensive. My last one would not cooperate for the life of me no matter what.

BTW, The unlimmited data will only be offered until the beginning of next year.

[ThomasC22]

Well first, I think anyone currently using a T-Mobile PPCPE will tell you, the Sanyo 4900 isn't THAT big.

I agree with you on getting rid of connection kits, the problem is Cell. phone companies and consumers have a different view as to why that is. Cell. phone manufacturers, Sprint in paticular, are trying to sell expensive solutions such as the Merlin cards. On these cards, Sprint is asking consumers to pay a high premium for the card, an additional phone fee, and per-minute wireless fees.

Consumers on the other hand simply seem to want a wireless means of connecting they're phone to they're various devices (presumably blue tooth) but Cell. phone manufacturers in the U.S. seem determined to prevent that (can you think of one U.S. available Bluetooth enabled cell phone?)

I still think this is all about to come to a head though with the Smartphone 2002, being that it's the first cell. phone that can access full web pages. Hopefully, SprintPCS will realize that their expensive PCS Vision service, although great, isn't worth as much if it can only used for WAP.