Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

"Using "super" to describe your new display technology just begs for criticism. Especially when the word is affixed to a handheld display technology as notoriously difficult (if near impossible) to see in direct sunlight as OLED. Fortunately, Samsung's Super AMOLED appears to have licked the outdoor readability issue while bettering the features that made us fall in love with AMOLEDs in the first place. First off, it's thinner since the touch sensors are now integrated into the display; colors are more vivid due to the removal of the obfuscating touch sensor layer that sits on top of TFT LCD and traditional AMOLED touchscreen displays; and even the viewing angle has been improved. You won't find a soundtrack in the video posted after the break because the technology is already booming enough."

First go and check out the 1:41 minute video here. Ok, are you excited? I am. Outdoor readability, brighter, more vivid colors, viewable from many angles - how could this not be a good thing? My only concern will be how battery life handles an awesome display like this. Video games are going to look fantastic. I just hope it's everything they're boasting it to be. How much brighter? How much more colorful? And is the outdoor readability going to be that much better? Only time will tell but I definitely think we're headed in the right direction.

"We weren't given that much time to look at the device, and we weren't able to actually touch or play with it, but from what they were showing off, it looks like Samsung is determined to offer a quality handset to the Windows Phone 7 Series line-up. Especially along side the two other manufacturers that Microsoft showcased on screen, ASUS and LG, Samsung is definitely in the game. While Microsoft wouldn't elaborate on any real details about the device itself, you can obviously see that the standard hardware keys are on the phone: Back, Start, and Search. Microsoft also pointed out that the Samsung device has a very bright screen (an AMOLED display, perhaps?), and then the camera. The Samsung will have a terrific camera, and considering how beefy it looks on the back of the phone, we are hoping that's very true."

In addition to the Samsung phone being shown, the big news is that the minimum hardware specs are finalized and public...and boy do they rock! Screen resolution will be either WVGA (800 x 480) or HVGA (480 x 320), and while there's no mention of screen size, it's logical to guess that the WVGA devices will have larger physical screens (think 4+ inches) and the HVGA devices will likely be in the 3 inch range. All screens will be capacitive screens with a least four contact points, which means a great multi-touch experience. Read more...

Product Category: PDA Phone

Manufacturer: Samsung

Where to Buy: Sprint

Price: $449.99 USD; $149.99 with a new or upgrade 2 year contract

Specifications: From the Samsung site

Pros:

• Great keyboard;
• Design provides a good balance of features for business and pleasure;
• Auto focus feature on camera.

Cons:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 provides limited touch friendly control;
• Stylus is very hard to remove;
• Slow auto focus.

Summary: Windows Mobile 6.5 has hit the marketplace in a big way and phones featuring it are widely available from all of the major US providers. Among its offerings, Sprint features the Samsung Intrepid, a Windows Mobile phone in the classic BlackBerry-style form factor. The Intrepid distinguishes itself in that it's based on Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, which adds a touch screen featured on only a small handful of devices of this style currently available from US carriers and not offered on BlackBerrys. So let's see if the combination of touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard puts the Intrepid at or near the top of the "must have" list. Read more...

"Hand-held devices could soon have pressure-sensitive touch-screens and keys, thanks to a UK firm's material that exploits a quantum physics trick.The technology allows, for example, scrolling down a long list or webpage faster as more pressure is applied."

Samsung has just licensed a new hardware technology that allows for greater pressure sensitivity in screens and keys. So what's so special about "quantum tunneling composite"? The two biggest knocks on resistive screens are that they're not sensitive enough to use easily with your fingers, plus the screen registers touches as either on or off with no in-betweens. On the other hand, you can use practically anything to interact with it. Capacitive screens on the other hand are great at touch sensitivity, but you need a special stylus/pen to get pressure sensitivity. QTC might just be capable of combining the best of both technologies - use anything you like, plus pressure sensitivity, plus touch sensitivity - all in a package as thin as a human hair. Now won't that be worth seeing? Samsung is already using QTC in hardware keys in a limited way on some handsets. Hopefully the technology will have progressed enough to put into screens in the near future.

The Samsung Mondi is that rarity in the age of smartphones - it's a dedicated web device running Windows Mobile Classic (non-phone OS), rather than the more ubiquitous Professional version. The other point of differentiation is the onboard WiMax radio, making the Mondi a niche within a niche device. Apart from that, the specs are pretty good - 4GB onboard storage with additional storage available via a MicroSD slot, 256MB RAM, 3MP camera, slide-out hardware keyboard, and a nice big 4.3" WVGA screen. All I can say is - why didn't Samsung slap a phone radio on this thing while they were at it?

"Samsung's WinMo 6.5-packin' Omnia II has been available to Verizon Wireless customers (or at least those unaffected by the Droid) for a few weeks now, but strangely, we've yet to see a proper dissection of this here smartphone until today. That said, we're sure the patience you've put into this will pay off after after heading past the break, where all of the itty-bitty internals are shown in stunning detail for your entertainment / education."

Want to see what's inside a Samsung Omnia II? Well here's your chance, check out this piece and find out what's lurking inside!

Samsung's M8400 features WM6.5, a 3.7in AMOLED screen, WiMAX, DVBT and a 5MP AF camera. Given that configuration and the size, it looks to me more like an updated OMNIA II variant for the Korean market, which also implies we're unlikely to see it outside of Korea. Still it's nice to see Samsung isn't standing pat.

"Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the availability of the Samsung Omnia® IITM, a full-touch all-in-one smartphone powered by Windows Mobile® 6.5 to keep customers connected to their corporate and personal e-mail accounts and synchronized with their schedules and contacts. Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the availability of the Samsung Omnia® IITM, a full-touch all-in-one smartphone powered by Windows Mobile® 6.5 to keep customers connected to their corporate and personal e-mail accounts and synchronized with their schedules and contacts."

Available in store on December 2, and for online order now, is the successor to the extremely nice Samsung Omnia on the Verizon network. As a (former - gotta keep updating!) Omnia owner, I can confidently say that you probably will find an Omnia II highly enjoyable - if you're willing to part for your cash and make a deal with the Verizon Devil!

Like having real bling and a bona fide luxury brandname on your smartphone? Armani and Samsung have teamed up to give you the latest Samsung Giorgio Armani, which will feature WM6.5, 3.1" AMOLED screen, 5MP camera, QWERTY keyboard, GPS and 8GB flash. It's a little on the bulky side, but hey! What's a little weight with that name on the front? If you want to know what it looks like, check out Engadget's gallery.

" SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2009-- Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the number one mobile phone provider in the United States1, today announced the upcoming arrival of Samsung IntrepidTM smartphone, a dynamic Windows® phone that lets the customer be productive on-the-go using America's most dependable 3G network (EV-DO Rev. A)2 domestically and through international roaming when traveling worldwide. Samsung Intrepid features Windows Mobile® 6.5 Professional, and improves on previous Samsung Windows phones with a user experience that offers a customizable Today screen to display the features the user accesses most often and shows important information like new emails, text messages, missed calls and calendar appointments. It also has a richer Internet browsing experience and new personalization options including a diverse selection of designer themes and the ability to create an original look for your phone with the built-in theme creator."

Another new device that will thankfully ship with 6.5. Wondering why their is no picture? Well for that gem you'll have to head over to the press release and click on the "Picture Gallery" link near the bottom. Whereas one would expect to see what the Samsung Intrepid looks like, instead one gets low and high res Samsung and Sprint logos. Classy - just want I want to see, a logo I already see everywhere else! Here's a hint though - the device looks quite a bit like a Blackjack from pictures purporting to be it on the web. Which makes it interesting as above it lists as a "professional" (e.g., touchscreen) device!

"We finally got a good, hard look at the Verizon-customized version of Samsung's Omnia II, and we've got good news and bad news: the good news is that the phone's a darker, more reasonable shade in person than it was in that press shot we'd seen before, but the bad news is that we've confirmed it's running 6.1. Anyone daring to release a 6.1 phone at this point is at serious risk of getting laughed out of the room unless they offer an upgrade path mere minutes afterwards"

The 6.1 default is a bit annoying at this point, so hopefully when this gets released a 6.5 upgrade will already be available online. That's wishful thinking of course, but it still might not be enough to sway users either way! Who is in the mood for some Verizon Omnia II action in the near future?

"Within the OmniaPRO lineup, the OmniaPRO B7610 is the premium device, featuring a high-resolution 3.5 inch AMOLED display and QWERTY keyboard. The OmniaPRO B7320 and OmniaPRO B7330 will target businessmen with a QWERTY keyboard and email/wireless internet capabilities. The OmniaPRO B7330 will feature HSDPA 7.2 Mps, HSUPA 2.0 Mps and Windows Mobile 6.5, providing the most versatile option for emailing and wireless internet use. Rounding out the new series, the OmniaLITE will have a user-friendly interface and various multimedia functions for younger users."

Samsung is seriously pumped over the Omnia brand, and is launching not 1, not 2, but 3 more Omnias after the Omnia II. With 5 Omnia's to chose from, it's a bit overwhelming. Check out their site for more information on each model!

"Oh, look, it's another place to buy bite-sized mobile apps, this one courtesy of Samsung. The company isn't exactly new to the whole application store thing, launching a little outlet for Nokia users earlier this year, but piggy-backing on someone else's platform and boldly blazing a trail of iFart knockoffs on your own hardware are two very different things"

So it looks like Samsung is jumping on the Application Store bandwagon, which is great because Windows Mobile doesn't have enough of them </sarcasm>. Who knows, perhaps Samsung will stock theirs with unique products that exploit the custom SDKs on their devices. Or more likely they'll put the same apps that will be in the upcoming Windows Mobile Marketplace, Handango's market, etc..

Samsung's TouchWiz 2.0 UI supposedly does a good job in hiding the standard Windows Mobile interface. Want to know how good a job? ai.rs blog has the goods with a gallery of screenshots.

"This morning, Samsung announced the list of countries that are slated to get the Omnia II in August. Missing from the list is the United States and other major markets including the UK, France and Germany. Pretty odd, considering we know Best Buy is (or was) slated to score it later this month. We’re guessing: 1) Something was delayed. 2) BBYM will get shipments on the 23rd but the handset won’t be available for sale until early September. 3) Samsung just can’t mention the US yet as there has been no official announcement with AT&T."

Release dates for the Samsung Omnia II (For this month) have surfaced, and while we may have a clue that the Omnia is coming to the US, US isn't listed in the dates. But hopefully we'll know more regarding that soon!

"This new Omnia is bigger and badder, with just about everything getting a refresh. The screen has gained half an inch- now up to 3.7" and the resolution has quadrupled to 480x800. AMOLED technology has replaced TFT for improved battery life and more vibrant images. Video capture is now DVD quality, and connection standards such as 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS are all on board, along with 8GB of internal storage."

Thinking of getting one? Want to know what the fuss is about? phoneArena have a fairly full review chock full of photos of the Omnia II, and are fairly complimentary on TouchWiz, battery life, and multimedia capability; so-so on the camera and call quality; and but disappointed on the actual speed of the device. That's really odd with a 800MHz processor on board - or are these fancy new interfaces outrunning the capability of the hardware to keep up?

"Sure, some of the latest Samsung Windows Mobile phones like the Omnia II aren't yet widely available but nevertheless, you might want to start to develop for or porting your existing application to it already. If so, Samsung has just released its Windows Mobile SDK 1.2 which offers APIs to use advanced features unique to Samsung phones."

Samsung has a few neat tricks in their phones that use private APIs that you normally wouldn't know about unless you take a look at their SDK. They've just updated it, so if you're developing for Samsung Windows Mobile devices, take a look.

"Dieter got his hands on the WiMAX-enabled Samsung Mondi back at CTIA in April and was less than impressed. Samsung decided to release the device anyway, and it comes alongside the launch of WiMAX service in Las Vegas. Sammy says the 4G Mondi will be available in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Portland, Ore. - three of the initial WiMAX launch cities - starting Aug. 1 for an undisclosed sum."

If, unlike Dieter, you're still interested in the Samsung Mondi, you'll be able to pick one up starting August 1 for some probably-not-so-cheap amount of money. Oh, and you can really only use it to it's full potential in a few markets (Even fewer than T-Mobile 3G!). But if you want it, you can soon have it.

"The phone runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro (which I reckon will get an upgrade to WinMo 6.5 in the near future) and houses a fast 800MHz processor. It will also have an unspecified chip to handle graphics discretely, Stereo FM Radio with RDS, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Bluetooth, Business card scanner, Pocket Office, Photo/video editor and Work/Life mode that could be something related to the user profile."

No idea when this is going to come out, and only a vague idea what it will eventually look like, save that it will have a slide-out keyboard and the Armani logo in gold accents. Still, the specs indicate a high-end device and no doubt a high end price tag with the Armani branding. The model number suggests it may be a rebranded Omnia 2, in which case we'll also see a 3.7" WVGA AMOLED screen, 5MP camera, and up to 16GB internal storage.

"The recently announced Samsung Omnia II GT-I8000 is Samsung's Windows Mobile successor to the original Samsung Omnia smartphone, one of the best selling Windows Mobile touchscreen phones ever. With the Omnia II, Samsung overhauled the original Omnia by adding the latest technology. While the initial release will run on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Samsung will offer a free Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade later."

This is a very nice package - quadband GSM, triband HSPA, FM radio, 3.7" AMOLED WVGA screen, up to 16GB internal memory (depending on model), 3.5mm headphone socket, and a 5MP AF camera with LED flash. the::unwired.net thinks it will be released at the end of August or early September - anyone want one? Click through the link for the photo gallery.