Samsung i780 - WM6.0

[fozzie3ear]

hello everyone,

just thought i'd share my initial views on this new device from Samsung.

i've been waiting for this quite long time liao, and bought it yesterday on a whim. it runs WM6.0 (no threaded SMS), 624mhz processor, GPS, wifi, HSDPA, 256rom, 128ram. all in all, the specs on this machine quite loaded.

it has an interesting new input method - there is no 4-5 way navigator ala most smartphones, but instead has a mini touchpad which can be used 2 ways - as a finger mouse, and as a 4-way navigator. finger mouse method quite weird, as you basically finger the touchpad to move a mouse pointer around to click on items/programs/etc. not very intuitive if u are used to clicking up-down, left-right with physical buttons. as for 4-way navigation, you swipe up, down, left, right on the touchpad to move the highlighted item, just like you would click on a 4-way navigator. only problem with this method is you can't simulate holding down a particular direction, so you have to swipe many many times if you want to scroll down various items. i've tried both methods yesterday and today, and i prefer the 4-way swipe method - more intuitive in my view.

the screen resolution of 320x320 also creates a few problems - most programs will be able to adjust to the square size (most progs are written with 240x240 reso in mind, thanks to the Treo 750), but the higher reso means that some programs and the font sizes all look slightly out of whack, and in some case, drop down lists don't appear, but are actually there if you swipe down the list.

games generally don't work at all, since most are hard-coded into a particular resolution, although i haven't tried many games.

because of the higher reso, Samsung saw it fit to make the default font size quite big, which takes away from the advantages of a higher reso - ie more stuff on screen. there also doesn't appear to be any way of changing the fonts sizes either, so the menu fonts don't look similar to the Start Menu fonts for example, and this makes for a rather unbalanced GUI in my personal view.

other than the aforesaid complaints, this is a very very well-stacked device. very fast, all connectivity options loaded (GPS in a 13-14mm thick device!), very classy design, and most importantly for me (being a ex-Treo user) a physical qwerty keyboard. i've been using a HTC Touch Dual last few months, and whilst that is one heck of a device, nothing beats a physical keyboard in my view.

only a minor complaint - the keyboard keys can be a little stiff when pressing, not as smooth as the Treo keyboard.

will go and try out my GPS software now and update everyone later.

highly recommend this device. can't wait for someone to hack WM6.1 onto this baby and my life will be complete... until the SE Xperia X1 that is...

ac

[TheSaint888]

so lich... can buy on a whim.... must be elite boy II

[ajedi72]

alvin, no camera right>>>

hello everyone,

just thought i'd share my initial views on this new device from Samsung.

i've been waiting for this quite long time liao, and bought it yesterday on a whim. it runs WM6.0 (no threaded SMS), 624mhz processor, GPS, wifi, HSDPA, 256rom, 128ram. all in all, the specs on this machine quite loaded.

it has an interesting new input method - there is no 4-5 way navigator ala most smartphones, but instead has a mini touchpad which can be used 2 ways - as a finger mouse, and as a 4-way navigator. finger mouse method quite weird, as you basically finger the touchpad to move a mouse pointer around to click on items/programs/etc. not very intuitive if u are used to clicking up-down, left-right with physical buttons. as for 4-way navigation, you swipe up, down, left, right on the touchpad to move the highlighted item, just like you would click on a 4-way navigator. only problem with this method is you can't simulate holding down a particular direction, so you have to swipe many many times if you want to scroll down various items. i've tried both methods yesterday and today, and i prefer the 4-way swipe method - more intuitive in my view.

the screen resolution of 320x320 also creates a few problems - most programs will be able to adjust to the square size (most progs are written with 240x240 reso in mind, thanks to the Treo 750), but the higher reso means that some programs and the font sizes all look slightly out of whack, and in some case, drop down lists don't appear, but are actually there if you swipe down the list.

games generally don't work at all, since most are hard-coded into a particular resolution, although i haven't tried many games.

because of the higher reso, Samsung saw it fit to make the default font size quite big, which takes away from the advantages of a higher reso - ie more stuff on screen. there also doesn't appear to be any way of changing the fonts sizes either, so the menu fonts don't look similar to the Start Menu fonts for example, and this makes for a rather unbalanced GUI in my personal view.

other than the aforesaid complaints, this is a very very well-stacked device. very fast, all connectivity options loaded (GPS in a 13-14mm thick device!), very classy design, and most importantly for me (being a ex-Treo user) a physical qwerty keyboard. i've been using a HTC Touch Dual last few months, and whilst that is one heck of a device, nothing beats a physical keyboard in my view.

only a minor complaint - the keyboard keys can be a little stiff when pressing, not as smooth as the Treo keyboard.

will go and try out my GPS software now and update everyone later.

highly recommend this device. can't wait for someone to hack WM6.1 onto this baby and my life will be complete... until the SE Xperia X1 that is...

ac

[fozzie3ear]

2.0 mpx camera. functional, quality on par with most cameraphones, ie nothing to shout about.

ac

[cyfer33]

Im actually seriously considering this phone. Pretty nifty & fast, looks cool and probably the only other brand phone I will consider switching to. I do hope that more apps, an update to the fonts issue or even a WM6.1 update will be made available soon.

[Ddeath]

I bought one too, and you don't have to be lich!! Only $498! I signed up mobile broadband, and another $100 off! So I paid only $398!! That's cheap for a pda phone with wifi, bt, gps (map included), hsdpa, camera etc. It even have a camera infront so that you can do real video calls, unlike the 750v.

Better than ANY palm expensive offerings. Even comes with 2 batteries!!

[fozzie3ear]

i had a samsung i600 before, and they are not too good at updating their software, so don't look for WM6.1 anytime soon.

[fozzie3ear]

tried out the navfone gps software yesterday on way home and it was quite accurate. maps included the new KPE exits, so shd be quite up-to-date.

gps signal pickup was also quite fast, and setup was straightforward. includes also malaysia maps - will be trying this out end of the month when i go to malacca.

ac

[TheSaint888]

heh heh... lich or not... me considering the TyTn II. But waiting for June when can do handset upgrade and hopefully get a disc. The review for the samsung i780 has some issues with the qwerty keys being too close and diff toclick. But otherwise quite a goood review.

[Levite]

I bought one too, and you don't have to be lich!! Only $498! I signed up mobile broadband, and another $100 off! So I paid only $398!! That's cheap for a pda phone with wifi, bt, gps (map included), hsdpa, camera etc. It even have a camera infront so that you can do real video calls, unlike the 750v.

Better than ANY palm expensive offerings. Even comes with 2 batteries!!

hey DD, so I see tt u hv choosen this instead of HTC... (as for me enjoying n discovering wat my TREO750v can do...) I think s780 is a better choice wif the built in keybd than HTC. I personally don't think I can live wif one tt doesn't hv one. any addon review?

[Ddeath]

Much cheaper than htc touch cruise definitely. It's $300 difference! And yes, the keyboard is a big factor in choosing this over the cruise. Can't seems to live without one after the treos.

Now at singtel shop getting my set changed. Got problem with the gps. Can't get a lock no matter what I do. Tried all the advices given to me in ppcsg but still the same.

[cyfer33]

Much cheaper than htc touch cruise definitely. It's $300 difference! And yes, the keyboard is a big factor in choosing this over the cruise. Can't seems to live without one after the treos.

Now at singtel shop getting my set changed. Got problem with the gps. Can't get a lock no matter what I do. Tried all the advices given to me in ppcsg but still the same.

Thats cool DD. I always knew you will be getting it somehow.

[AKA Lance]

I'm quite keen on getting one as well, Can anyone share about the pros and cons of the GPS function?

[Ddeath]

tried out the navfone gps software yesterday on way home and it was quite accurate. maps included the new KPE exits, so shd be quite up-to-date.

gps signal pickup was also quite fast, and setup was straightforward. includes also malaysia maps - will be trying this out end of the month when i go to malacca.

ac

Bro, can't seems to get my gps to work with the navfone. What settings you do for the phone?

[fozzie3ear]

Bro, can't seems to get my gps to work with the navfone. What settings you do for the phone?

hello ddeath, my apologies, cannot remember, plus my navfone software now cpcb-ing (see below).

i remember i just connected via the navfone software, and it was quite straightforward iirc. just leave the GPS option on auto select, rather than having to choose the baud rate, or port number.

i switched my programs over to a new 8gb sdhc, but now the navfone software refuses to start, saying incorrect licence number - i suspect its because the machine id changed when i switch the sd card - i'm sure navfone could have come up with a better way to protect their IPR. this sucks. am gonna shoot them a nasty email tomorrow if they refuse to give me a new activation code.

...ac