Samsung has included Access' NetFront browser, which does a reasonable job on HSDPA at delivering web pages speedily. Sites render quickly and you can move the page around pages and tap to open links with your finger. You can also tap a panel or use the volume keys to operate the zoom. It’s not as swishy or as smooth as the iPhone's Safari browser, but it gets you around. RSS feeds are supported, and there's a typical selection of office, document viewer and organiser tools are pre-loaded onto the Pixon too.
We experienced no problems with voice calling on this device, getting good audio levels and perfectly reliable signal holding. Calling using the virtual numberpad is almost like the real thing too – it’s nicely set up to use as a phone as well as a multimedia device.
If you're a Mac user, you'll need Bluetooth to transfer files
Samsung estimates the battery performance on this quad-band GSM/GPRS/Edge and WCDMA 210 device to be better than the Tocco. On 3G networks, it reckons on up to four hours' talktime, or 280 hours on standby, or with GSM coverage figures of 430 minutes talktime or 310 hours standby.
With plenty of gadgetry on board to sap juice, how much you play with the Pixon will determine how much battery life you’ll get out. Our average levels of usage delivered a couple of days of power before we needed to recharge the phone, though with much use of multimedia we were sometimes looking at daily top ups.
Verdict
We were bowled over by the performance of Samsung’s i8510, and the imaging quality of the Pixon is equally impressive - and you get a lovelier user interface, more display room and even more snapping features.
But this Phone more like an upgraded Tocco than a smartphone: it doesn’t have such a full range of apps and the lack of Wi-Fi is disappointing. It’s still no iPhone, but if imaging performance is high on your list of buying criteria, the Pixon is an appealing handset choice.
More Phones...
Samsung Innov8 |
LG Renoir |
Samsung Tocco |
HTC Touch HD |
Samsung Pixon M8800 8Mp cameraphone
COMMENTS
Further to my last comment..
I have found a big bug with the software of the phone and it is going back.
Before I start, all the numbers involved ARE stored in my phonebook!
If I send a message on the phone to a contact, it will display the name of the contact that I sent it to. Likewise, if they reply it will display their name. However, if I receive a message from someone before I have sent them a message, the phone displays their number and not their name. Also, if I have messages in my inbox or sentbox with the sender's/receiver's name with them and then restart my phone, I find that when I go back into the inbox or sentbox, the names have disappeared and just the phone numbers are displayed. This issue can be resolved by sending a text message to each contact involved, which then updates all messages I have sent and received to/from that person with their name. It will not update the messages with the contacts name if they send me a message, only if I send them a message, and only if I select their name when composing a message rather than replying to a message that I have received from them.
Received and played about..
It's a good phone, there's no doubt about that. The screen is responsive, bright, clear, the qwerty virtual keyboard is great for typing texts, it has push email which works great with my Yahoo account, camera is very nice, the user interface is far superior to Windows Mobile.
But it's got some very annoying problems too. The messaging program is rubbish, I much prefered the one on Win Mo 5, it has annoying things like not telling you how many messages the message that you are composing will take until you click through to send. There are no arrows for scrolling left and right when composing messages, so you gotta be really accurate with your fingers. The default web browser is rubbish, so I put Opera Mobile on it but I would have much preferred Opera Mini. Customisation is nearly non-existant, no themes, no screensavers, auto key-lock is on or off with no option to change the timeout. My Samsung X600 from way back in 2003 allowed me to do these things..
RE: Just ordered...
The on screen pad isn't as annoying as the Tocco, and if you turn it sideways you get a full qwerty keyboard when typing :D
Just ordered..
..I just ordered this phone, and should be getting it tomorrow or Saturday. It's replacing my HTC TyTn, I ordered it on the basis of this review and the one on GSM Arena. My only worry is finding the on screen keypad annoying, but T-Mobile don't have any good qwerty phones at the moment so I'll have to make do..
No mention of supported video playback...
When looking at these high end phones, I am always annoyed that they never cover video support. As these phones are nice replacements for portable DVD players. Provided the codex is right for you.
I am very disappointed in its memory capacity, its very last generation. The i8510 starts with 8Gb internal and you can add 16Gb's, the new N96 thing has 16Gb internal.
The memory shortage combined with no WiFi is a right pain, and these two features really hold the phone back IMO.
I am very impressed (most impressive I think) video recording features. I like the look of it and it ticks most of my boxes.
If you consider it an upgrade of the Tocco, as the author does here, then yes its very impressive. I would like to see the touch screen & camera features migrate across to the next i8510.
Overall I don't think I would be unhappy with this phone even if I had to pay for it.
I think its time for me to try out the search the post above suggests. Then a trip for some hands on. Nothing beats 'hands on'.
