Overview: Samsung i900 Omnia
Written on 6/19/2008 03:58:00 PM by poison_ivy
Check my Samsung Omnia Detailed Review.
When I got my hands on the Samsung F480, I wished that somehow the user interface would make its way to a windows mobile device. It turns out that the UI is available on a windows mobile device and on a Samsung phone too: the Samsung i900 or Samsung Omnia.
The Samsung Omnia is a touchscreen phone with a 3.2 inch screen and the optical mouse that I have loved on the Samsung i780. The touch interface on the Samsung i900 isn’t like the one on the iPhone or the touchFLO 3D on the HTC Touch Diamond. Though in terms of touch interface, it couldn’t compete with the iPhone, it might give the HTC Touch Diamond a run for its money.
With a 624MHz Marvell PXA312 processor, 128MB of RAM and 8GB or 16GB of internal memory expandable with a microSD slot, the specifications of the Samsung Omnia outdid that of the HTC Touch Diamond and is right up there with the Apple iPhone.
Omnia means “everything” and you can literally find everything on the Samsung i900. It has 3G HSDPA, WiFi, GPS, accelerometer, and a whopping 5 megapixel camera. Now I have really loved my Samsung i780. For a windows mobile device, it has far less issues compared with other HTC devices I have handled and if The Samsung i900 Omnia can deliver the same performance, I might actually try it out though it still didn’t bump off the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 on top of my wish list.
What I don’t get though is why Samsung felt the need to add an optical mouse on the Samsung i900 Omnia when first and foremost, it’s a touch screen phone. I mean, I could understand the need for it on the Samsung i780 since users can opt to use the optical as a D-Pad when the feel the need to have a Blackberry-like device but wouldn’t it be easier to scroll through the interface using your fingers rather than the optical mouse?
Anyways, aside from that weird addition of the optical mouse, every windows mobile fan should definitely have the Samsung Omnia on their wish list. Now if only Samsung could come up with a similar device but with a QWERTY keyboard like the X1 or HTC Touch Pro then that would definitely bump it up on top of my wish list.
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Samsung mobile phones
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Please warn people about a HUGE problem with this phone. It is absolutely brilliant but for one devastating problem - battery life and restrictions in charging! If you use the multimedia (video/progs etc) the battery is flat in around an hour. How many train/plain journeys are less than 1 hour? And when you get to your destination - phone dead! You cannot even use a portable charger (such as the phillips, which would add 6 hours to its use) because samsung crippled the phone so it will not accept charge from third party usb chargers! What happens if your samsung charger fails when you are abroad? You are completely isolated! And since samsung not released the spare batteries (at this time), this is proving to be a truly pathetic media device! I can only make use of it at home! And why would I watch a movie at home on an omnia, when I have a 50" HiDef TV??? This phone is much better than i-phone - but without the ability to keep it charged, it is next to useless.
Totally agree about the battery. If you are browsing the internet in the morning and checking maps at lunchtime, by the evening, you will need to recharge as the battery is unlikely to make it through to the next day. Extraordinary. I am re-charging this phone on a daily basis.
Other problem is auto answer. This is a serious glitch when browsing through Opera or on Messenger, the phone will automatically connect and answer an incoming call.
This Phone is useless
I have been using a Nokia e90 for over a year .with no problem
I was given the Omnia Free by my network Provider Orange.
Like PDA'S you have to calibrate the Screen, By using the Stylus supplied.
Not once did the Built in Screen Keyboard correspond to the Keys I was Hitting, it was a Joke.
The battery was flat in no time.
I managed to blag a Phone Shop, at Bonn Airport to Charge My E90.
But he had no Charger for the Samsung.
The Phone now is just sitting hear, it wont even work on my daughters Orange Sim card.
I would wait for the Sony X1 that looks like a good bet,
I don't agree with comments, as mine works just fine. Updating the firmware should solve any issue. I travel to every corner of the globe with no problem whatsoever.
I too have suffered with poor battery life, I have now discovered this handy application. Go to http://code.google.com/p/tman/ and install "tman". I feel it is an oversight by either Samsung or Microsoft. This little program unloads applications automatically from the task manager when they are no longer in use thereby freeing valuable memory. I feel that Tman should be part of the O/S by default. I have gained an immediate 50% increase in battery life by using this program. Highly recommended.
This phone is useless the calibration has gone on mine after 3 months !! I have returned it but that has now left me with out a phone.I found it hard to use and not computer freindly. I will purchase another phone (key pad ) and this one can remain in its box !! unless i can sell it
umm
free iphone