Pros: Can do just about anything; Big screen; Responsive Samsung skin; DLNA networking; Camera Output
Cons: Hard to press Windows keys; Battery Life; Need to constantly run the Task Manager to free up memory
Product rating:
"Samsung Everything Phone Stacks Up Nicely"
By Mendelson Tiu | Published:18/11/2008
The new Omnia from Samsung claims to do it all. It comes with a great camera sensor, built-in GPS, DivX player, and various office tools to keep you connected. But is this smartphone just another jack of all trades, master of none phone?
Click to enlarge
The Omnia is a solid unit despite its lightweight factor. Up front, users can find the earpiece, a secondary camera (for video calling), a 3.2-inch touchscreen (with a resolution of 400 x 240), a talk/speakerphone key, a trackpad, and an end/device lock key.
The Main Menu key, Volume keys, and Camera key are located on the right spine, while the unit's multifunction jack (for PC Sync, Charging, and Hands-free use) is found on the opposite side. Finally, a 5-megapixel camera is located at the back of the unit, in addition to the SIM card slot and microSD card slot under the battery cover.
The Samsung Omnia runs on a 624MHz Marvell PXA312 processor with 128MB RAM and comes with a 8GB internal memory (expandable using microSD). It runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, but uses a proprietary skin to help simplify the ‘touch' experience.
Users can customise the Omnia's Today screen with the help of widgets. Tapping the arrow at the bottom left of the screen opens the toolbar which allows you to rearrange widgets or move them to the Today screen by dragging and dropping. Widgets include an analogue clock, games shortcut, photo album, world clock, today's date, digital clock, music player, FM radio, service status, profile, and memo.
Doesn't quite live up to it's potential Pros: Looks, customisation
Cons: Battery life, GPS, 8gb missing!
This unit looks sensational and the specs are top shelf. Day to day though......
WiFi functionality was good, setting up multiple networks which it would detect and connect to automatically when available.
Email was easy to setup and ActiveSync with windows was simple, far superior to other units using alternatives to ActiveSync.
Battery life is certainly an issue, if you use more than basic functions you'll find yourself running flat constantly.
Bluetooth pairing is annoying and doesn't reconnect to devices automatically (well the TDK headset & Parrot car kit I used anyway), must manually go into bluetooth and connect.
Using the GPS unit (when you finally get some software working!!) for an extended period of time would appear unhealthy for the unit, I had 2 fry themselves (have moved on from Omnia utopia).
Samsungs media player took a bit to get used to, and eventually I stuck with WMP which was far more flexible (and familiar).
Browsing web or documents could be annoying as you scrolled the touch screen would OFTEN zoom instead.
Tall and short, the specs portray the ultimate all rounder, phone, web/email and storage for media.... day to day use is another story though and it certainly didn't meet my needs.
Find the Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 on DigitalHome.com.au >> Search
