Samsung's SCH-A950 has a scroll wheel

It's not much to look at, but details about an unannounced new Samsung cellphone have popped up courtesy of our friends at the FCC. The SCH-A950 is a one megapixel cameraphone that comes with a scroll wheel and dedicated music playback buttons on the front (are you thinking what we're thinking?), built-in stereo speakers, Bluetooth, and a TransFlash memory card slot. Looks like it'll be Verizon that gets this one, we just don't know when.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I've been wondering if apple's scroll wheel patents would also cover cell phones. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lawsuit the day after this thing comes to market. If you think about it, waiting until they actually release a product to sue, therefore forcing samsung back to the drawing board, would be a great tactical move on apple's part. Then they could release the itunes phone with motorola and enjoy their 6 month head start, as samsung retools

[crabini @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I see all these great phones, but very few have had "Great battery life" with all the gizmo's added to these phones,; Games, Video, Music(MP3), Photos, Web Browser, PDA etc... I would like to see some of these "Future" phones, with similar battery life equal to their "Future Function", in other words... a phone that has Games, Video, Music(MP3), Photos, Web Browser, PDA functions with 20hrs music playback, or 6hrs Video,or 8hrs Web Browser, PDA functions and or 7-10hrs actual Talk time.
The Samsung cellphone SCH-A950 is a great setup with great innovations, but one..."Battery Life"

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

If you don't play the games, or use the web browser, they don't drain battery life :P

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

IIRC the Apple scroll wheel isn't patented (at least by Apple)-- they don't even make it. The company that does make it which owns patents on pretty much anything touchpad related has an exclusive contract to provide Apple with the circular touchpads only, and a contract with Creative to provide Creative with the long vertical touchpads only.

As long as the Samsung wheel does not use the touchpad technology, or it is licensed and is not in violation of the Apple contract, I don't think there would be any problems.

[mr yuk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

A quick search at uspto.gov comes up with patent application 20030095096; "Method and apparatus for use of rotational user inputs", filed 5/23/03. However the application claims benefit of priority dated Oct 22, 2001. "Method and System for list scrolling"

The claims are pretty broad - basically any rotational method of selecting items in a media palyer. Could't find any reference to a third party.

Note - I'm no patent attorney and I don't play one on TV. Just an inventor.

[Aly @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Why can't T-mobile step up and grab some decent phones? Seems like all other companies gobble up the great looking and functioning phones, and T-mobile gets whatever the other companies don't want. : RAWR!

[Aly @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Why can't T-mobile step up and grab some decent phones? Seems like all other companies gobble up the great looking and functioning phones, and T-mobile gets whatever the other companies don't want. : RAWR!

[ConceptVBS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Chris,

Apple doesnt have any patents whatsoever for the scroll wheel.

In fact I think its Samsung who just might have the patent for scrollwheel on phones. No other phone manufacturer(or computer manufacturer hint hint) had made or previewed (besides the rumor mill) a phone that had this capability. Samsung has previewed 3 phones already with a scroll wheel: SCH-A950(Americas), SGH-i300(Europe), and SCH-S380(Korea).

Guess its back to the drawing board for Apple.






Samsung phones with scroll wheels

PICTURES:


SCH-A950:
http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=1211

SGH-i300:
http://img.engadget.com/common/images/1894669578166557.JPG?0.15453167110438748

SCH-S380:
http://image.cetizen.com/index.php?img_no=gallery/200505/1116729292.jpg

[ConceptVBS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"iTunes phone" = vaporware.


If not, a little too late on the market.

[ConceptVBS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

This is the beginning of a market assault that Samsung was talking about when they said they will unseat Apple as the #1 Digital Audio maker. Samsung has the cash, and marketing might. Apple beware.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"Why can't T-mobile step up and grab some decent phones?"

Huh, T-Mo is still around? Heheheheee. Maybe it's because they have crap coverage and no 3G plans and they know it? In fact I think the only reason anyone would get T-Mo is for the Sidekick, whoch so rocks - too bad it's on the worst provider around.

[jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Whoever said that Apple holds the rights to the scroll wheel needs to learn the meaning of google. First of all, synamptics is the manufacturer and patent holder to the ipod's touchpad. Second, Samsung's touchpad isn't based on heat sensing tech; it's a physical wheel thats spinning. They can't be touched by any company looking to sue. Finally, don't you think that samsung would KNOW if their technology is grounds for a lawsuit? Could they be THAT stupid? No. I think it's ignorant people like 'chris' who are the stupid ones..

sigh..

[Josh Cain @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Big Deal. My Qualcomm QCP-820 (http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/qcp-820-1920-2700-phone/) from 1996 or so had a scroll wheel.

[mr yuk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

FYI - "armchair" IP experts (jeremy & conceptVBS) -

1) Apple prints "Patent Pending" next to click wheel descriptions
2) Apple filed a patent titled "Method and Apparatus for Rotational User Inputs" with a priority date of Oct 22, 2001.
3) Apple introduced the iPod on October 23 2001

Here's the link: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=59&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&s1=apple.AS.&p=2&OS=AN/apple&RS=AN/apple
Read the claims - there are 4 independent claims and 40 dependent claims. They cover either a physical click wheel like the original iPod or the new touch sensitive one for use in a media player. Note that Jobs is listed as one of the three inventors, along with Robbins and Schiller.

[Rich @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Concept,

The Motorola E725 also has a spinning scroll wheel:

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/moto_2005_03/

...and it's even more like Apple's newer clickwheels since it also doubles as a four-way d-pad. But of course Motorola and Apple are in bed together on music phones, so I don't foresee a lawsuit there.

[xman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

it's just come out today in verizonwireless.com

[xman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

it's just come out today in verizonwireless.com

[Swivel Sweeper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I like this phone a lot.

[Swivel Sweeper @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I like this phone a lot.

[JP @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I absolutley love the phone. The only drawback is that I can't use the MP3's as ringtones. I have to convert them to wav and move them over, but other then that I really have no complaints. Bluetooth is a little scratchy sometimes but its worth it.

[rah @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

one model: nokia n91 so much nicer
and it has built in memory so theres no buying $200 or so flash cards (for a decent 512mb or 1gb) with a phone with no internal memory

[Lori @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I just got this phone and its pretty cool. Like another user said, only drawback is you can't use mp3's as ring tones unless converted. Also, there are too many steps to send out a text message. Selecting the receipent takes about 4 presses of the buttons..not cool. Other than that, this phone is great.

[Sean Spiwak @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Can someone tell me how to use a wave file as a ringtone on the Samsung SCH-A950.

Thank!!!

[Matt Hoffman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Samsung SCH-A950 Review by Matt Hoffman ([e-mail])
The Samsung SCH-A950 is one of the worst implemented pieces of technology I have seen in recent years. The hardware has a whole list of nice features including stereo speakers, 1.5 megapixel camera, and bluetooth, but the software has been hobbled and poorly implemented by Verizon and Samsung.


User Interface
The user interface is very minimal with pull down menus instead of a graphical user interface. Many of the menu items are not in logical places. For instance, the menu for playing mp3 files is buried two levels down under a menu called, for no logical reason, "Get It Now". The user must go to this illogically named menu then into a submenu called "Get Tones & Tunes" then into a sub sub menu called "My MP3s". Alternately, you can go into the main menus, then into "Settings and Tools" and then to "Tools" and then to "MP3 Player". The MP3 playing feature is essentially hidden from the user on a phone that Samsung calls the "MP3 Maestro". There is a button on the outside of the phone that can be held down for two seconds to play MP3 files, and it allows you to use the jog wheel to select and play a single song. A single song only, you can't pick multiple songs and the "MP3 Maestro" does not have play lists(more about this horrendous oversight later).


Bluetooth
Most of the inherent bluetooth features in this phone have been permanently disabled. You can use bluetooth to connect a mono-headset to the A950. That's it. There is no support for Modem Functionality, Serial Port Emulation, Phonebook Synching, Calendar Synching, or File Transfer for MP3 files (remember, this is the MP3 Maestro!), or imagery.

So if bluetooth can't be used for these basic functions, then surely you can just hook a USB cable to the A950 and transfer data.....nope, that is not supported either. Samsung does not sell USB cables or provide drivers for Verizon phones. Verizon has not provided them either. This leaves the owner without the ability to use any form of direct connectivity to move files or to synch the phone with a computer.


Memory Card
The A950 does support a Transflash/SDMicro card from SanDisk. You can put up to 512MB in the phone and a reader for the card can be purchased for your computer for under $30.00. This is the only method for moving MP3 files to the phone. You insert the card in the phone to initialize it, then remove it and put it in your computer, drag the mp3 files to the virtual disk volume, remove the card, and then insert the card back in the phone. The Transflash/SDMicro card is a tiny, fragile device about the size of the fingernail on your pinky finger. It is not intended for repeated removal and insertion. If you are like most people, you will want to change the tunes in your phone quite often --perhaps you want to listen to a daily podcast on the phone. This little card or the spring-loaded receptacle in the A950 is going to fail after a period of time.

From SanDisk's own web site describing their Transflash product:

"Semi-removable Memory Module...Due to the ultra small size of the Sandisk Transflash, it is not intended to be handled or removed on a frequent basis."

When the card fails due to excessive insertion and removal, the user is going to have to shell out $70 for another one. Sandisk wouldn't be obligated to replace it under warranty since, by definition, the card is being used improperly. If the receptacle in the A950 fails after the first year of repeated use, the user is going to have to pay for an expensive repair and be without a cell phone during the time the phone is repaired. Better sign up for an extended warranty.


MP3 Software
The SCH-A950, "Mp3 Maestro" does not have software for managing MP3 files! There is no way to create, manage, or store play lists, view songs based on artist or genre, or shuffle play. When you finally do discover the buried menu for playing MP3 files, you will be presented with a single list of file names, each of which has a checkbox next to it. You must scroll down this list to choose which song/s to play and then hit the play button. Also, since this selection function is only available from the inside screen, you can not use the jog wheel to scroll. You must hit the down button over and over and over.

Again, there is no way to store this list of songs. If a call comes in while your laboriously selected group of tunes is playing, MP3 playback ceases as one would expect. However, once the call ends, there is no way to continue playing your list of songs! You must go back into the buried menu, select the songs one by one all over again and then hit the play button.


Camera
The 1.5 megapixel camera does a nice job of taking pictures and video. There are a variety of comparisons that can be made between the A950's camera and those in other phones, but cameras in most cell phones are their for taking quick snaps, not for professional photography. The A950 makes very nice still photographs and Verizon's system of mailing these images to another phone or to an Internet address also works well. However, without direct computer connectivity, the user is still in the position of having to remove and insert the fragile Transflash/SDMicro card to move these files to his/her computer. The only alternative is to mail the


Conclusion

Overall the SCH-A950 is an attractive-looking phone with a list of nice features. The devil is in the details however, and this phone completely fails when the details are examined. For reasons known only to Verizon and Samsung, the A950's software has been poorly implemented and key features that the hardware is capable of providing are not implemented in the phone's software. No doubt that Verizon has a long list of reasons for hobbling the phone. They clearly want to force their customers to use the pay as you go system of video and still image file transfer instead of allowing direct connectivity. They have an obligation to game providers to prevent users from transferring games between phones, though this could be done without eliminating the transfer of MP3 files, address book synching, etc. Perhaps they have some sort of paranoia about cell phone viruses, though these are almost unheard of. In any case, there is no excuse for the poor MP3 software implementation. Samsung and Verizon should be embarrassed to call this phone the "MP3 Maestro".

[kaaylia @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Can anyone tell me how the reception is on the samsung a950 is? Just curious, I had a verizon employee tell me the reception was not good on this phone.

[kaaylia @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Can anyone tell me how the reception is on the samsung a950 is? Just curious, I had a verizon employee tell me the reception was not good on this phone.

[kaaylia @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Me again, I am up for an upgrade and torn between the lg vx8100 and samsung sch-a950. Any advice? I want good reception with loud ringers and good volume on the earpiece as well.
any help or suggestions are appreciated!

[TS @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

My fiance' bought this phone yesterday and is also having a reception problem. We wondered if it was a bad phone or if Samsung has this problem in general. We are taking the phone back to Verizon today and probably getting the LG version.

[William Greenberg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Matt's long review above is, unfortunately, largely irrelevant. The disabling of the interface and of Bluetooth has nothing whatsoever to do with the cell phone. It is a requirement imposed by Verizon. Every Verizon phone is required to have these limitations. While that is, indeed, very frustrating, it does not pertain to a comparison of Verizon accessible phones.

I do agree with other comments that it would be very useful to have some solid information on the reception of the Samsung sch-a950.

[Doc Holiday @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I have had the SCH-A950 for almost two weeks now, and the reception has been flawless. When I inquired about the phone, the Verizon rep told me the reception is questionable, but I have found his concerns to be unfounded. It has yet to drop a call, and I have had very good reception even in places where my old phone had trouble.

As for the other comments regarding its functionality, I have yet to fully evaluate the full capability of this phone. But when I stopped by the Verizon store yesterday to check out the prices on TransFlash cards, the rep hinted to me that iTunes will soon be available for this phone. And yes, a data cable will also soon be available.

I'll keep my fingers crossed, but maybe, just maybe Verizon did something right this time.

[pothead01 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I just bought this phone for almost two weeks and I want to order the 512MB MircoSD card and on the SanDisk website says that it can only hold the 256MB TransFlash card. So am wondering if anyone has is this phone is compatible with the 512MB card.