Samsung i730: Finalist In CNET's "Next Big Thing" From CES

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5619304-1.html?tag=pop' target='_blank'>http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-56...-1.html?tag=pop</a><br /><br /></div><i>"We came, we saw, we liked. Samsung has packed the i730 with so many goodies that we don't know where to start. How about the slick slider design that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard? This Windows Mobile 2003 smart phone also rocks a 65,000-color, 2.8-inch display; 128MB of flash memory; 64MB of SDRAM; and integrated Bluetooth. Operating on a CDMA (800/1,900MHz) network, the i730 supports EVDO for faster download speeds."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20050111-CNETNextBig.gif" /><br /><br />I've got to agree with CNET; the i730 is mighty impressive-looking. And even though the picture on the linked page makes the device look big, I think it's distorted; watch the video on the side as Brian Cooley handles the device, and I think you'll agree with me that it's really quite compact. (Incidentally, you can see all of the CNET "Next Big Thing" finalists and their overall winner <a href="http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5545074-1.html?tag=nbt">here</a>.)

[jeasher]

Looks like a brick my man. Lots of features though...wake me up when they come out with a GSM version with UMTS support in a package half as thin. Probably CES 2006. Off to slumber...

[JD Silver]

I thought the i730 was also to include Wifi as well as Bluetooth? Or am I just confusing it with the BenQP50?

JD

[DarrenS]

no WIFI?

[155]

Um.... Did I miss something? What does the Samsung phone have that the HTC Harrier (Audiovox PPC6600/6601 I forget the verizon numbers)? That's been out for a little while now and the Samsung phone isn't even available. How come it gets to be the next big thing?

[Janak Parekh]

Looks like a brick my man. Lots of features though...wake me up when they come out with a GSM version with UMTS support in a package half as thin.
And how are you going to get a sliding keyboard underneath?

no WIFI?
Apparently the prototype has it, but Samsung isn't making a lot of noise about it because the carriers aren't sure they want it. If it's not there, then the unit will indeed be a lot closer to the HTC Harrier. I'm hoping against hope that the carriers won't be so shortsighted and that WiFi will be in there when it ships.

--janak

[jeasher]

Looks like a brick my man. Lots of features though...wake me up when they come out with a GSM version with UMTS support in a package half as thin.
And how are you going to get a sliding keyboard underneath?That's why they pay the engineers the big bucks. :) From the video the device looks to be over 1" thick. The Blue Angel models are all 0.7"-0.8" thick. I'm sure they could eventually get to a form factor of 0.5" thick.

Besides, I don't think a slider is the best form factor. The MpX has it right but we know that device sucks. The irony is that the best form factor yet IMO was my 256k Wizard back in the 90's. Where did all the clamshells go? Maybe Nokia has the best form factor now with their new Communicators. The Siemens SK65 is pretty sweet too.

[ignar]

I know the time hasn't come yet, but do you think when EVDO or even faster data network is available widely, will Wifi be a still required feature?

[WyattEarp]

no WIFI?

I think carriers don't like WiFi because they can't charge you for it. Why sign up for a data plan if you can log on to your PC, check your email, read news headlines, surf the web, etc. for free. What they probable don't see is you wanting to do this to when you're away from the PC. :duh: But we can hope.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Having been someone who was actually at the show and held the i730 in his hands, I can truthfully say it's one of the slickest handhelds I've ever seen. It's nowhere near a "brick" at all, and the sliding keyboard is more than serviceable. Samsung packed a great unit into a smaaaaaaaaaall package.

Frankly, I liked the P50 better, but either one of these phones (GSM users will love the P50, CDMA folks will get the 730) should make any power user a happy camper. I was thoroughly impressed with both, and think either one of them could have been best of show. The only other thing I saw that was even close as far as the "wowee" factor was the OQO, and having played with that also, I can truthfully say that this is going to be a flat-out-awesome year for the pocketable digital world.

[palur]

How is this different from Siemen's SX66?
Thanks

[possmann]

How is this different from Siemen's SX66?

My thoughts exactly...

[Janak Parekh]

How is this different from Siemen's SX66?
My thoughts exactly...
Short version: The SX66 is GSM/GPRS. This is 1xEV-DO CDMA, like the HTC Harrier, which is much faster than GPRS (~ 300kbps instead of ~40kbps). The unit is also a bit "smaller" and phonelike shaped.

--janak

[jlp]

How is this different from Siemen's SX66?
My thoughts exactly...
Short version: The SX66 is GSM/GPRS. This is 1xEV-DO CDMA, like the HTC Harrier, which is much faster than GPRS (~ 300kbps instead of ~40kbps). The unit is also a bit "smaller" and phonelike shaped.

--janak

GPRS is from 56 up to 114 Kbps (3x faster than what you say) still, that's slower than 1xEV-DO.

However, according to this article (middle of page), "DO is fast, but slow in terms of roll-out." (http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid40_gci1012315,00.html)

[jlp]

Looks like a brick my man. Lots of features though...wake me up when they come out with a GSM version with UMTS support in a package half as thin.
And how are you going to get a sliding keyboard underneath?

no WIFI?
Apparently the prototype has it, but Samsung isn't making a lot of noise about it because the carriers aren't sure they want it. If it's not there, then the unit will indeed be a lot closer to the HTC Harrier. I'm hoping against hope that the carriers won't be so shortsighted and that WiFi will be in there when it ships.

--janak

I don't understand why you guys or the electronics chain stores don't sue the carriers for anti-competitive practices and monopoly.

Here in Europe (at least here in Switzerland) you are absolutely free to buy just about every device without contract and without something that locks you to a carrier (SIM-lock free). You can even use contract free prepaid cards in them.

Here you buy a Nokia rather than a, say, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc. phone. An exception: Orange, especially with the SPV smartphones and PPCPEs.