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Call Of Duty - World At War
Fifa 09
Need For Speed - Undercover
Mario Kart Wii
Wii Play
Tomb Raider - Underworld
Guitar Hero - [...]
Overview
When we first heard about the new phone soon to be released by Samsung called ‘Omnia’, I quickly used my powers of researching to find out what the word ‘Ominia’ exactly means. With a little help from my friend, ‘Google’, we were able to find out that the word had derived from Latin meaning ‘Everything’ and Arabic meaning ‘Wish’. So with that in mind we were left asking the question - does this phone provide us with everything we want in a phone, or is it a case of a wish gone bad? We set out to discover the truth so read on and find out…
Review
Style
With the ever increasing demand for phones to look and feel like the popular Apple iPhone, it is not surprising that this has not been lost on the Samsung Omina. Almost like a mirror reflection, the Samsung team have designed their new phone to resemble Apple’s popular mobile phone, and when you look at it you can almost fool yourself into believing this is an iPhone in the midst. Posing a super sleek black exterior, 12.5mm thickness and a 3.2 inch screen, you could almost place it on top of the iPhone and it would fit perfectly without a struggle.
Under the Bonnet…
This phone certainly get the ‘Smartphone Stamp of Approval’ because if you have a peek at the spec it would seem that Samsung have been doing their homework on this one. For example, like any self respecting smartphone it is bundled with the Opera 9.5 web browser software, which not only means it can load pages fast but it can also load them correctly. As well as this, the phone also comes with great Google search and Gmail functionalities for those times when you just need to send a quick email or do a quick search for maybe words like ‘Omina’!
The Samsung Omnia also includes a custom built A-GPS satellite navigation - which means it comes with basic mapping and uses Wi-Fi or 3G networks to give a much faster start up time. This is an absolute dream when using the feature in your car. The thing that lets the phone down is that it does not include a built in GPS application, which would mean that you would actually have to buy that separately. However with Google Maps installed on the phone, it is a fantastic feature if you need to check that the ex-wife has not stolen your car or even worse the son.
So, we’ve talked about the complicated features but you are probably wondering what about the more simpler things like the memory capacity? Well, I can tell you there is no disappointment in that department as it has a huge 16GB so there is plenty of room for your MP3s and videos.
Camera and Video
This phone has a very nice 5 mega pixel camera, which is consists of auto focus, face detection and geo-tagging making those drunken photos opportunities a more quicker and painless experience! Although details about the video quality are sketchy at best, there is however a safe bet that the video quality will be good judging by the phone’s 16 GB memory and 5 megapixel camera.
I don’t what it is but even though the Samsung Omnia has a better mega pixel camera you just can’t help comparing it to the iPhone, especially when the Ominia has decided to adopt one of the coolest features that the iPhone has to offer, which is that the screen will autorotate. With the Samsung, it rotates to three of its four sides so that you can choose the way that you want to view web pages and video content. Although the technology is different the concept is scarily very similar!
Touch Media or Touchscreen
Like any self respecting smart phone on the market, the Omnia offers the touchscreen option. Although it is very hard to tell at the moment whether it will responsive to your magic fingers, it does use the same touchscreen technology as the Apple iPhone so things could be looking up for the Omnia. As well as this it has been noted to be reactive, intense and rich which may mean that it could give Apple a run for its money in the touch screen department.
Technical Spec
- Touch screen - 3.2” wide LCD screen
- 5 Megapixel Digital Camera
- Video Capture
- Autofocus
- Polyphonic/MP3 Ringtones
- MP3/MPEG4 Playback
- FM Radio
- HSDPA/GPRS/EDGE/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Capable
- USB
- WAP
- HTML
- GPS
- Java Enabled
- E-mail Capabilities
- Instant Messaging
- MS Office Applications
- Handwriting Recognition
- SMS
- Multimedia Messaging (MMS)
- 624MHz Marvell PXA312 processor
- 128 MB of RAM
- MicroSD Expansion Slot
- Autorotation
The Gaj-It verdict
Design: 10/10
Usability: 9/10
Features: 9/10
Value: 9/10
We Say: So could the Omina give you ‘everything’ you ‘wish for? I know we won’t be expecting the Genie from Aladdin’s lamp to pop out anytime soon, but what I will say is that the Samsung Omina does possesses some special magic of its own. Packed with some fantastic features I would certainly think that it could give the popular iPhone a run for its money; but whether it will be an iPhone destroyer…..only time will tell.
Sources
Samsung Omnia i900 Review at Phones4U
Samsung Omnia i900 Review at Dial-a-Phone
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Related posts:
Aug 11, 2008 at 14:48:59
After reading this , i had to preorder mine !
Aug 12, 2008 at 15:15:13
Its a 10/10 phone for me. Beats a iphone 3g hands down.
Aug 19, 2008 at 11:42:57
I have heard there is alot of problems with the touch screen on the phone, I am still awaiting a deffinate yes/no to the problem but I thought everyone should know
Aug 21, 2008 at 10:10:17
Latest update the problem I described ealier have been fixed (thats why its been a month late being released) and thats its an exclusive on Orange.
Also this phone comes with DivX/Xvid compatability so watching your favorite episode on the train to work is deffinatly a possability with this phone, plus it comes with a TV out connection so you can watch your vids on your tele at home, sweet
Sep 7, 2008 at 09:13:30
I’ve owned this phone for 2 days and got neck ache from looking down at it the whole time! It’s surpasses any expectation of any phone. I have the N95 for 1 yr and this blows it out of the water. I’ve not had any problems and I’ve pushed it to the limits already. Slight glich to start with low memory, but this due to downloading and adding files etc to the wrong location, so watch out for that, add to ‘ my storage’. Of course, if you’ve not had a touch phone before, it might take qa little getting used to, but tbh, it takes little time at all. It had a good feature, esp. when starting, and that is a ‘feedback’ buzz so you know you made an input correctly. It’s a little ‘psycological’ positive feedback so you just ‘know’ you’ve pressed hard enogh etc. Nice feature and can be turned off once you’re used to.
However, I will say thay the next gen. seems to be out now, called somethin g else, but has 8 meg camera. I didnt know about it till today or I’d have got that, bit having said that, I am more than happy with i900.
My verdict, don’t hesitate, it is an amazing phone.
Sep 8, 2008 at 16:21:29
I love the phone - it does most things pretty well. Am not so happy about the SAT NAV hype because I have been 100% unable to get any software! TomTom tell me it is not supported. T-Mobile (my provider) say they cannot help.. and Samsung themselves point me back at T-Mobile telling me that Google Maps is not installed (and cannot be installed as it “stalls” on the last button asking if you want to accept or decline!!)
If there is anyone anywhere who can help… I’d bite their arm off for some advice.
Other than that - fab phone!!
Sep 9, 2008 at 09:19:44
Hey Paul,
Sounds like your having a strange problem with yur phone, it must be T-Mobile as Google Maps is installed on mine and works perfectly, I tested it yesterday by using it to guide me to the local shop.
I’ll have a look into the problem you for
Sep 9, 2008 at 09:34:05
Right two things have you tried download teh actuall .cad file? This can be found at
http://google-maps.en.softonic.com/pocketpc
Just head to there and download then run the .CAB file, I found the actual link to google maps as well for your device if you want to try that as well, even tho you said it hangs try resetting your mobile before you go to the web address below. lets me know what happens
m.google.com/maps
Sep 12, 2008 at 10:39:14
the phone is so marvellous that i am very eager to buy as soon as possible. the features are excellent as you get microsoft office, 16gb memory card and also unlimited internet.in short samsung all the facilities that we want from an ordinary phone.
Sep 12, 2008 at 10:40:52
the only problem with this phone is that it is very expensive so in my opinion they should make it a bit very cheaper. the price range i want is between 250-350 pounds.
Sep 15, 2008 at 11:34:37
Are you not tempted into getting this phone on contact Saba? The offer from Orange at the moment for this phone is £35 a month.
Sep 18, 2008 at 19:51:19
had the phone for 8 days now this its great.. all software works well nice smooth opprations… one fault and i dont know if its just my phone but the photos dont seem to be that great very grainy blured .. can somone let me know if i have a fault with the phone or if your getting the same .. thanks..
apart from that the phone is the best…..
Sep 18, 2008 at 19:53:54
you can get phone free on o2 £30 a month, but with only 8gb memory then if you go to other sites the memory card is only £20 for an other 8gbs….
Sep 24, 2008 at 11:43:04
i already got a contact for £40 amonth and i am very happywith that and also with the phone as it got all the softwares and features that i always want from my phones. thank you for your advice. Arutha.
Sep 24, 2008 at 11:44:16
in my opinion everyone should have this phone as it got all the software that will get downloaded in your computer.
Oct 20, 2008 at 14:13:31
Can it support BBC iplayer?
Oct 21, 2008 at 16:06:56
It should be able to, I will find out tonight for you, there has been so much junk on the internet regarding this I have only just found a site that meantions the actual address for the mobile site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayerbeta/
As you can see it is in Beta at the moment so expect bugs to be present, once I get home and get my phone connected to wireless i’ll let you know
Oct 21, 2008 at 22:38:01
It looks like while you cannot steam the videos on the iPlayer as of yet, you can however download them and play them.
Seems a bit silly to have iPlayer steaming on a mobile however, as you need a WiFi connection on your phone to get it to steam correctly.
Not very helpful if your on the move
Oct 22, 2008 at 07:37:37
Nice article. Thanks. :) Eugene
Nov 2, 2008 at 15:49:29
the one thing i am struggling with is how to change your bluetooth name. does anybody know how to do this?
Nov 3, 2008 at 10:05:16
Simply go into your Main Menu -> Settings then on the Personal Tab select Owner Information, your Bluetooth name will be whatever you put into the Name field on this form
Nov 8, 2008 at 16:21:07
y..anybody now how to check lifetimer and if i can reset it?thanks…
Nov 10, 2008 at 12:42:34
lifetimer, what do you mean by this?
Nov 14, 2008 at 10:48:03
I have had my Omnia for 5 days and experiencing problems. Can anyone please help before I decide to take the phone back.
When I dial a number it wont dial out and sometimes just hangs up or says number not recognised on the screen even though it is the right number.
Last night I couldn’t ring the mobile it went straight to voicemail and text messages were taking 30 mins at least to come through. It was turned on the whole time.
I have tried to access 2 of my regular sites to check mail and it blocks me and comes up with a page of jargon.
The sat nav does not work?
help!!
Nov 14, 2008 at 14:53:57
Sounds like u have been unfortunate enough to get your hands on a bad phone, I have had my Omnia since it was released and have had none of the problems you describe.
My advice would be to take the phone back and ask for another one, you should have 14 days no questions return policy.
Nov 16, 2008 at 17:09:57
Hi can you watch tv on this, if so how easy is it? thanks
Nov 17, 2008 at 10:34:00
Do you mean BBC iPlayer and the such?
If you do then it looks like our in for some bad news, this is due to these features being unavalible at the moment on this Omnia, but BBC have confirmed that they are working on getting this option up and running soon on phones such as the Omnia.
Dec 3, 2008 at 18:21:19
Have had my Omnia for 3 days now and I am enjoying it except for the fact that I loose service after traveling a few miles from home and instead of the my provider´s name on-screen, the word ¨Emergency¨appears on screen. Can anyone help with this.
Thanks.
Dec 8, 2008 at 10:00:18
hhrrrmmmm it sounds like its an operator issue, my advise would be to contact your service provider, Orange for example.
Jan 5, 2009 at 14:20:02
Just a note to all, the Omnia now supports BBC iPlayer playback through its web-site, enjoy.