The Samsung Omnia, the gem of the Verizon Wireless phone lineup.

I got the opportunity to not only play with this phone, but to be able to use it as my everyday phone.  I have been impressed 2 weeks into full time usage.  Once the settings are set right, battery time is excellent.  Normal phone functions (Ringers, Voice, Address Book, etc) perform well and are well-designed.  Multiple alarms can be set at the same time.  Recurring alarms stay in the selection list, while one-time alarms disappear after they are dismissed.

In addition to a solid phone core, the wireless/radio features are outstanding.  The phone comes with Wi-Fi built in, as well as an FM tuner.  A 3.5mm headphone adapter is included, and is also the FM antenna.  The phone uses the Verizon Wireless EV-DO REV.A, which produces fast Internet speeds.  Between Wi-Fi and REV.A, web browsing and email downloading is quick.

The large touch screen is impressive.  Samsung implimented vibration haptic feedback for selection options.  When typing, each key gives a small vibration to give the illusion of a hardware key press. Drag and Drop options are available on this phone.  The orientation switch from landscape to profile is lightning quick with several transition effects available.  The screen has a sharp resolution and displays photos extremely well.  In addition to the touch screen, there is an optical “mouse” available for extra navitation options.  The mouse clicks as an action/OK button.

In the line of software enhancements, Samsung has implemented a widget bar that proivdes the most commonly used functions on the home screen.  A widget can be dropped onto the home screen and tapped to implement.  A 4 person speed dial uses a tap system to dial the numbers, eliminating the need to search for the name.  Calendar, Clock, Wireless Manager, and Sound Profiles are just a few of the widgets available.  The main menu puts the most common and the Samsung applications in place for easy access.  It also allows for user defined shortcuts.

MP3/WMA ringtones are standard, but it is a little difficult to manage.  All sounds desired for ringtones requre being placed into the “My Ringtones” folder in “My Documents”.  The included Touch Player is an intuitive media player that enlarges the function buttons for easy playing.

There is 8GB of included storage on the phone, labeled “My Storage”.  The phone also supports up to 16GB of MicroSD external storage.  This is more than enough storage for the video camera and the 5 megapixel still camera.

With the Windows Mobile 6 operating system and the available software for the platform, the Samsung Omnia gets my approval.  I have been thoroughly please with this phone.  I might dare to say that at a price of $250-$270 (with a contract), this is a heavy competitor to the iPhone.

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The smartphone race is still in full swing, even with the recession staring the country down.  It seems that no matter what the economy is doing, people still want information and email at their fingertips.  Today’s smartphones also transcend the level of just email and limited Internet into an all-in-one media center.  Instead of carrying multiple devices for media, phone, and productivity, you are starting to be able to carry only one.

With this, I have been using a BlackBerry Pearl for the last year.  It has been a good phone, but it does have it’s limitations for what I and many other techies want to use it for.  The phone’s memory capacity for programs is very limited.  It can only handle a handfull of programs before other, more basic functions are sacrificed. 

The input has also driven me nuts.  They keyboard has 2 letters per key for most keys.  The smart auto-fill completes most words, but there is still a majority that it does not recognize.  It is not easy to correct the word to what you have wanted it to say. 

The camera on the phone is also fairly weak.  The pictures look excellent on the phone and on most other phones, but look horrible on a computer.  This is not intended for a camera replacement, but it is weak for a smartphone. 

All in all, this is a good phone for one who wants a basic smartphone and won’t abuse the capabilities.  To have it used as a phone primarily and email/sms secondarily is a good use for the cheapest of the BlackBerry line.  To be able to have a phone that can lookup phone numbers over the air and get emails away from the desk has been invaluable.  It will be bittersweet to depart with the Pearl tomorrow, but onward and upward to a better phone.

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