Samsung Omnia How is it?
#1
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,691
Samsung Omnia How is it?
How is it? I need a replacement for my old HTC TYTN. I need windows mobile. Wifi, bluetooth, GPS, it being a lot thinner than the tytn. The omnia seems to have all of that.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: El Paso, TX, USA
Programs: Kicked out of all of them
Posts: 32,554
Bumping this thread, as I am also interested in the OMNIA
Looks pretty cool, but paying $40 extra a month in wireless service, not sure if it's worth it
Looks pretty cool, but paying $40 extra a month in wireless service, not sure if it's worth it
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 578
It's a quadband GSM. And there are 2 versions with the US one having 850/1900 3G and the non-US having the 2100 3G.
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i900_omnia-2422.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i900_omnia-2422.php
#8
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: JAX
Programs: US Plat, DL Gold, WN when needed, PC Plat, SPG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 340
I just got mine this morning. My old XV6700 was ready to be retired. It would not even work as a tethered modem this morning, causing a BSOD on my notebook. Walked to the Verizon store half a block from my hotel, and picked out an Omnia. I don't even know how to use it yet, and I already like it. Already have my Garmin Mobile XT software loaded on it. I like that fact that it has 8GB of memory built in.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: BA something, Luftwaffe SEN, CX Gold, Pilsbury Doughboy Fanclub, and lots of Amex cards
Posts: 1,906
I had mine for a few hours before getting rid of it.
Fiddly, badly thought out and the awful OS seals its fate.
The touch screen was extremely difficult to use accurately- and in 2009 who the hell wants to use a stylus?
Huge disappointment- as on paper it had everything I wanted in a phone.
Fiddly, badly thought out and the awful OS seals its fate.
The touch screen was extremely difficult to use accurately- and in 2009 who the hell wants to use a stylus?
Huge disappointment- as on paper it had everything I wanted in a phone.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sydney - Australia
Programs: BD, QF, QR/EY/GF & HH Gold/SPG, Hertz#1G
Posts: 11,079
I read a lot of reports and reviews exactly how linenbasket put it. It's a shame that the interface was buggy and the touchscreen fiddly. The less said about WM the better.
The only good thing I read was that battery life was fairly good for a 3g smartphone.
Maybe I'll need to stick with a dumb phone and a 3G netbook, for internet access and all the other stuff on a smartphone.
No wonder the 3G iPhone is so successful.
The only good thing I read was that battery life was fairly good for a 3g smartphone.
Maybe I'll need to stick with a dumb phone and a 3G netbook, for internet access and all the other stuff on a smartphone.
No wonder the 3G iPhone is so successful.
#11
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: JAX
Programs: US Plat, DL Gold, WN when needed, PC Plat, SPG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 340
Just a little update, so far I am happy with the Omnia. I can't really compare it to the iPhone, as I never have had one, but it is a good phone so far, Call reception and clarity are good. The battery life is long, and it has lots of nice features for business use. I got the Visual Voicemail, and I like that a lot. Saw some negative posts here, and I guess it comes down to personal preference.
I don't care about the stylus. I found I can do most things without it, and I still like the stylus for typing, but I guess I am reluctant to change. I thought Samsung did a good job hiding the Windows Mobile OS beneath their own interface. Speeds are good when using it as a tethered modem.
It does have a removable battery and memory. Maybe not a big deal, but I hear the iPhone does not have either.
I don't care about the stylus. I found I can do most things without it, and I still like the stylus for typing, but I guess I am reluctant to change. I thought Samsung did a good job hiding the Windows Mobile OS beneath their own interface. Speeds are good when using it as a tethered modem.
It does have a removable battery and memory. Maybe not a big deal, but I hear the iPhone does not have either.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: El Paso, TX, USA
Programs: Kicked out of all of them
Posts: 32,554
Just a little update, so far I am happy with the Omnia. I can't really compare it to the iPhone, as I never have had one, but it is a good phone so far, Call reception and clarity are good. The battery life is long, and it has lots of nice features for business use. I got the Visual Voicemail, and I like that a lot. Saw some negative posts here, and I guess it comes down to personal preference.
I don't care about the stylus. I found I can do most things without it, and I still like the stylus for typing, but I guess I am reluctant to change. I thought Samsung did a good job hiding the Windows Mobile OS beneath their own interface. Speeds are good when using it as a tethered modem.
It does have a removable battery and memory. Maybe not a big deal, but I hear the iPhone does not have either.
I don't care about the stylus. I found I can do most things without it, and I still like the stylus for typing, but I guess I am reluctant to change. I thought Samsung did a good job hiding the Windows Mobile OS beneath their own interface. Speeds are good when using it as a tethered modem.
It does have a removable battery and memory. Maybe not a big deal, but I hear the iPhone does not have either.
I've browsed the iPhone's app store, and it is very cool. Wonder what kind of applications does this thing have
#13
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: JAX
Programs: US Plat, DL Gold, WN when needed, PC Plat, SPG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 340
The Opera browser included in the Omnia is workable. I find I need the stylus here, as i like to type URL's from time to time. BTW, the stylus does not fit into the phone, rather it hangs on a tether from the side. A little strange, and hard to get used to, but oh well, you can't have everything.
It does have a nice program that allows you to take pictures of business cards, and then it uses some kind of OCR program to create a contact entry. So far, it has been very accurate.
The camera in this PDA is also very good. It is rated at 5 mega pixels, and takes a nice picture.
You can turn on the flash by pressing the down volume button. This allows you to see you car keys, etc.
I also should mention that the Omnia comes with a dongle that enables it to receive FM radio stations. Sound quality is not the best, but that might have been due to the included ear buds.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sydney - Australia
Programs: BD, QF, QR/EY/GF & HH Gold/SPG, Hertz#1G
Posts: 11,079
Very importantly, how do you find the OMNI is for accessing FT via wifi - and can it do this for longish periods and retain some battery life?
I was sorely tempted to get this late last year (pricing error!) but held off due to complaints about WinMobile crashing cetain smartphones (which I cannot recall now).
Thanks for any further updates and reviews. ^
I was sorely tempted to get this late last year (pricing error!) but held off due to complaints about WinMobile crashing cetain smartphones (which I cannot recall now).
Thanks for any further updates and reviews. ^
#15
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: JAX
Programs: US Plat, DL Gold, WN when needed, PC Plat, SPG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 340
Very importantly, how do you find the OMNI is for accessing FT via wifi - and can it do this for longish periods and retain some battery life?
I was sorely tempted to get this late last year (pricing error!) but held off due to complaints about WinMobile crashing cetain smartphones (which I cannot recall now).
Thanks for any further updates and reviews. ^
I was sorely tempted to get this late last year (pricing error!) but held off due to complaints about WinMobile crashing cetain smartphones (which I cannot recall now).
Thanks for any further updates and reviews. ^
The Windows Mobile 6.1 is good so far. When it comes to my phone, i can't say i load it up with all kinds of apps, and then expect it to work flawlessly. I don't know if this is what you are asking, but I tend to try and keep it "light" on apps, since I depend on it for work.
The price was very good. I was on business when I bought it, as my old XV6700 died when I was in Chicago. If I had bought it online, it would have cost $99 with my New Every Two pricing. Instead, it cost about $240 with the addition of a softcover, a car charger and the headphones. I get a $70 rebate, so about $170 when all and done.