One ultra-glossy phone plus a dozen or so overly ornate chandeliers is a recipe for video disaster, and indeed, we managed to capture the beautiful outline of said chandeliers in far more detail than we ever intended here. It's the price we pay for demanding mirror-finish touchscreens, we guess, but we think we still managed to convey a fair bit about the Instinct's distinctive user interface here. First of all, it wasn't nearly as snappy as we'd have liked it to be, but the phone's not hitting retail for a couple months yet so we'll cut 'em some slack while they're ironing out the final kinks in the firmware. The web navigation gestures were a little choppy, too, though we appreciated the dedicated "birdseye" key that zooms out so the entire page can be seen at once; a red box indicated where you'll be when you zoom back in. Bottom line? We get the impression that Samsung's delivering form over function here, but hey, for a good number of us, that's a sacrifice we're willing to make.
i think i read something about this only being available with a $100+ a month plan. but SERO is lovely. best plan ever. $30 per month. makes iphone users paying 60+/month look like fools. ipod touch on the other hand looks pretty nice. if only they had gone for a 800x480 4" screen. just thinking about it makes me (insert specific word of your choosing here). :)
The final version had freakin' BETTER be smoother... 100% smoother, because that looks like another unresponsive turd like the HTC Touch.
I've been looking forward to this handset for months, and i'm really hoping it delivers, but these videos are giving me some serious doubts about whether samsung can pull it off or not.
We'll see, but 2 or 3 months really isn't a lot of time to get from "turd" to "nice" (much less just getting to "decent") (really, when you take manufacturing into the equation, it would seem that they'd need to be really close to golden-master for the OS if they plan to be SOLD in as little as 60-ish days.)
NO EXCUSES SAMSUNG/SPRINT! - make this thing responsive, snappy, slick, or forget it. this is Sprint's "Last Stand" as far as i'm concerned. I've been with Sprint, mostly using Samsung phones, for over 7 years. if this device isn't good, i'm off to AT&T. (i don't expect it to be BETTER than the iPhone, i just expect it to be decent; better than the turds like the HTC Touch.)
I'm sure if my two year old Sanyo M1 can play music while texting or surfing the 'net AND remain perfectly "snappy", this Samsung should have no problem at all.
@Anuj Vohra: I'm as big a fan of EVDO Rev A as anyone else, but a crappy web browser can render the 3G advantage nonexistent.
I'm really hoping they got a good browser for this thing, but so far, the browser is looking kind of shitty.
Hopefully it'll be really good by the time it's available, but 3G != Magic Bullet. There are plenty of other ways they can screw this up.
(My fingers are crossed that this thing is great, essentially an iPhone on Sprint, with 3G and GPS, a slightly crappier interface and severely more limited 1st/3rd party support... that sounds like a tradeoff i may be willing to make to stay with my provider of choice. DON'T screw this up Samsung/Sprint!)
Yep, it's not the prettiest thing but Sprint users will probably be glad to have something. Sprint has the WORST of all cell carriers in choices when it comes to phones.
Hopefully the released version will have better response. Samsung has great hardware but they're terrible at software. They really need to improve this facet of their business.
Really? I stuck with them and the Mogul because the only better smartphone I could find was the Tilt on AT&T and that just has a slightly nicer form factor and more RAM. As far as a good QWERTY smartphone with GPS and EVDO ($15/month unlimited), Sprint is the only one out there. For the more basic phones they carry the same flip phones, RAZRs, Q's, and Blackberries as AT&T and VZW without the NSA spying or $45 data plans.
I'm a Sprint user, one for many years, 9 plus. How recent is the Mogul? I've seen too many phones come and go to other carriers. Actual service, I like Sprint. Customer service, well, you know about that. Sprint has the worst record when it comes to choices of phones they purchase. They need to improve this.
I hope Samsung is not serious with that thing! I mean if that thing is suppose to compete with the iPhone ,they seriously need to get back to the drawing board. I've handled 8925's with WinMo 6 that have snappier UI then that and those things are slow and clunky. Stop the imitation and start the innovation people come on. iPhone's UI was innovative and so far the rest is just imitation lets see some true innovation and this attempt here is just sad.
YOu people are on crack. That phone sucks. Iphone beats it hands down. Iphone may be 2.5g instead of 3g but the iphones UI is mush smoother and just as fast. I had the ATT TILT which was 3g and it was slow, clunky and the UI just sucked. Iphone blows the tilt and this phone away.
I'm liking it. Hopefully there will be many improvements till it's released. They have 2-3 months more to work on it. And people need to stfu about the iPhone, WE know how amazing, beautiful, and smooth it is but you don't have to tell us every other minute. Just because a phone is almost completely a touchscreen doesn't mean its trying to copy or be better then an iPhone. Have fun with your iPhone.
Again, it's still a beta version and it's not out yet. As I've stated before, Samsung has great hardware but their software is really terrible. Hopefully this phone will be better when it's released but I'm not holding my breath. It's NOT supposed to be an iPhone killer, just a competitor. Simmer down ppl, take a breath.
The problem with the iPhone is that it's exclusive to AT&T. This is where this phone differs. It will be a Sprint phone.
Looks promising, although it seems Sprint is requiring a change of plan to the $100/month "everything" to buy one of these. http://www.MySprintInstinct.com
Jeff: I agree. Page rendering is very important. That's exactly why I bought an Iphone. (yes, I actually bought one of them) The interface is just phenomenal and the phone is great as a media player, which is what I was looking for.
But no matter how many people post up videos on you tube showing speed tests of iphones (edge) beating treos (Evdo Rev A), I still find myself longing for my brother's treo when I need to pull up a website in a hurry. (the speed difference in downloading pages is undeniable when you experiment with the two side by side)
I guess it's a matter of personal preference. Ugly looking data now....or good looking data later.
Personally, I don't care about how the data looks, just as long as I have it when I need it.
K for people who are saying this beats the iPhone because it's 3G, here's the thing: It doesn't come out for 2-3 months, by which time, most analysts are predicting the 3G iPhone will be out. Uh-oh, there goes the advantage this phone has.
Instinct.....!!! Kool!!,, Now There's A Name Other Than Stupid "IPhone"!! I Hope To See A Version Come Out For Verizon Next!! I'd Sure Like To See It!! :-)
The plan required starts at $69 but thats with 450 minutes the $100 plan is unlimited everything. Also i don't get why people are going on the websites for the samsung instinct and complaining about how its like the iphone. These websites are made for people who are intrested in the phone. Not for people who want to talk crap about it.
You all are trying ways to make sure the iPhone wins over anything, im sorry to let you know that the Instinct isnt the only one that beating the iPhone. And besides, when you look at the networks each one is hooked up with, the iPhone immediately losses. AT&T does not let you text or talk "during" roaming does it? Oh well but the "Instinct keeps on being a 'iPhone wannabe' right? Lets get real here.
Does it look like the Apples phone? Yes, and so what. It is a good design that is borrowed for sure. There big differences are with the network: 1. $99 mnthly everything plan that includes unlimited internet on a data network twice as fast as AT&T, unlimited talk time, and unlimited txt! It aslo includes Sprint TV with 20 chanels such as CNN, ABC, Fox Sports, NFL Network, Cartoon Network, etc... To top it off, it has GPS navigation! You can do turn by turn, voice activated, navigation. That'll cost $160 with AT&T or Verizon who have slower data networks and don't have TV. 2. You can insure this phone with Sprint for $7 a month which includes free repairs at tech stores across the country and a $50 dollar replacement fee if lost, destroyed, or water damage. You can't do that with AT&T 3. Discounted price...yes it will be cheaper than the Iphone with a two year contract but if you don't want a contract it will be priced near the Iphone. There are new videos coming out this week that show that how the interface is quicker than Iphone's interface and blows away the AT&T network.
Main downfalls: The Sprint customer care on the phone is awful, but just go into a store and talk to the manager and ask for the "red carpet care" they'll know what you mean and get your problem solved. IT IS NOT A PDA! You can't link to outlook, run mobile six programs, or edit microsoft docs. If you want the power of an amazing network though and don't use your phone for a mobile MS office, then who cares.
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posted Apr 2nd 2008 12:51AM
I want it........
destroyed or blended, christ that's ugly
Glad my joint contract w/ my parents is expiring soon. I'll get my own plan via Sprint SERO and get this phone later this year :)
Looks nice, can't wait to see more shots of the UI shortly
i think i read something about this only being available with a $100+ a month plan. but SERO is lovely. best plan ever. $30 per month. makes iphone users paying 60+/month look like fools. ipod touch on the other hand looks pretty nice. if only they had gone for a 800x480 4" screen. just thinking about it makes me (insert specific word of your choosing here). :)
Actually, this does work with the SERO plan.
Hopefully, I'll get this phone June 20th, with the SERO plan. It's too bad it has no Wi-Fi, but hey, EV-DO Rev. A is fantastic.
Wow. They better speed this thing up, or they can say goodbye to thier $100,000,000.
It's common for pre-releases to not be fully up to par. It's a beta... The actual version will be much smoother
No, the actual version SHOULD be much smoother.
The final version had freakin' BETTER be smoother... 100% smoother, because that looks like another unresponsive turd like the HTC Touch.
I've been looking forward to this handset for months, and i'm really hoping it delivers, but these videos are giving me some serious doubts about whether samsung can pull it off or not.
We'll see, but 2 or 3 months really isn't a lot of time to get from "turd" to "nice" (much less just getting to "decent") (really, when you take manufacturing into the equation, it would seem that they'd need to be really close to golden-master for the OS if they plan to be SOLD in as little as 60-ish days.)
NO EXCUSES SAMSUNG/SPRINT! - make this thing responsive, snappy, slick, or forget it. this is Sprint's "Last Stand" as far as i'm concerned. I've been with Sprint, mostly using Samsung phones, for over 7 years. if this device isn't good, i'm off to AT&T.
(i don't expect it to be BETTER than the iPhone, i just expect it to be decent; better than the turds like the HTC Touch.)
uuugh, my god that looks slugish
I'm sure if my two year old Sanyo M1 can play music while texting or surfing the 'net AND remain perfectly "snappy", this Samsung should have no problem at all.
Does it have digital TV?
This is the most ugly thing I've seen. How do they believe that they can compete with something like the iPhone?
Yes it does.
As for comparing with the Iphone, it has 3G. Game Over..
@Anuj Vohra: I'm as big a fan of EVDO Rev A as anyone else, but a crappy web browser can render the 3G advantage nonexistent.
I'm really hoping they got a good browser for this thing, but so far, the browser is looking kind of shitty.
Hopefully it'll be really good by the time it's available, but 3G != Magic Bullet. There are plenty of other ways they can screw this up.
(My fingers are crossed that this thing is great, essentially an iPhone on Sprint, with 3G and GPS, a slightly crappier interface and severely more limited 1st/3rd party support... that sounds like a tradeoff i may be willing to make to stay with my provider of choice. DON'T screw this up Samsung/Sprint!)
Yep, it's not the prettiest thing but Sprint users will probably be glad to have something. Sprint has the WORST of all cell carriers in choices when it comes to phones.
Hopefully the released version will have better response. Samsung has great hardware but they're terrible at software. They really need to improve this facet of their business.
Really? I stuck with them and the Mogul because the only better smartphone I could find was the Tilt on AT&T and that just has a slightly nicer form factor and more RAM. As far as a good QWERTY smartphone with GPS and EVDO ($15/month unlimited), Sprint is the only one out there. For the more basic phones they carry the same flip phones, RAZRs, Q's, and Blackberries as AT&T and VZW without the NSA spying or $45 data plans.
I'm a Sprint user, one for many years, 9 plus. How recent is the Mogul? I've seen too many phones come and go to other carriers. Actual service, I like Sprint. Customer service, well, you know about that. Sprint has the worst record when it comes to choices of phones they purchase. They need to improve this.
They need to turn down the gloss on that thing. I"m blinded by the glare even through the dull video.
I hope Samsung is not serious with that thing! I mean if that thing is suppose to compete with the iPhone ,they seriously need to get back to the drawing board. I've handled 8925's with WinMo 6 that have snappier UI then that and those things are slow and clunky. Stop the imitation and start the innovation people come on. iPhone's UI was innovative and so far the rest is just imitation lets see some true innovation and this attempt here is just sad.
my goodness that sucker is glossy. seems like you wouldnt even be able to see the screen at all in sunlight.
YOu people are on crack. That phone sucks. Iphone beats it hands down. Iphone may be 2.5g instead of 3g but the iphones UI is mush smoother and just as fast. I had the ATT TILT which was 3g and it was slow, clunky and the UI just sucked. Iphone blows the tilt and this phone away.
right. because the iPhone's still in beta too.
I'm liking it. Hopefully there will be many improvements till it's released. They have 2-3 months more to work on it. And people need to stfu about the iPhone, WE know how amazing, beautiful, and smooth it is but you don't have to tell us every other minute. Just because a phone is almost completely a touchscreen doesn't mean its trying to copy or be better then an iPhone. Have fun with your iPhone.
Again, it's still a beta version and it's not out yet. As I've stated before, Samsung has great hardware but their software is really terrible. Hopefully this phone will be better when it's released but I'm not holding my breath. It's NOT supposed to be an iPhone killer, just a competitor. Simmer down ppl, take a breath.
The problem with the iPhone is that it's exclusive to AT&T. This is where this phone differs. It will be a Sprint phone.
It isn't Samsung software, I believe Icon Mobile (European company) designed it.
Looks promising, although it seems Sprint is requiring a change of plan to the $100/month "everything" to buy one of these.
http://www.MySprintInstinct.com
Jeff: I agree. Page rendering is very important. That's exactly why I bought an Iphone. (yes, I actually bought one of them) The interface is just phenomenal and the phone is great as a media player, which is what I was looking for.
But no matter how many people post up videos on you tube showing speed tests of iphones (edge) beating treos (Evdo Rev A), I still find myself longing for my brother's treo when I need to pull up a website in a hurry.
(the speed difference in downloading pages is undeniable when you experiment with the two side by side)
I guess it's a matter of personal preference.
Ugly looking data now....or good looking data later.
Personally, I don't care about how the data looks, just as long as I have it when I need it.
Aesthetics are an added plus..
Lets hope this thing delivers.
K for people who are saying this beats the iPhone because it's 3G, here's the thing: It doesn't come out for 2-3 months, by which time, most analysts are predicting the 3G iPhone will be out. Uh-oh, there goes the advantage this phone has.
Glad to see a real iphone competitor coming out..
http://www.instinct-samsung.com seems to be concentrated on this cool phone.
this looks no better than the verizons version of the iphone....actually, it looks worse
Of all the design and concepts of a phone why would they make one that just looks like an iPhone?
I mean look at that thing how close its design to the iPhone.
Instinct.....!!!
Kool!!,, Now There's A Name Other Than Stupid "IPhone"!!
I Hope To See A Version Come Out For
Verizon Next!!
I'd Sure Like To See It!! :-)
The plan required starts at $69 but thats with 450 minutes the $100 plan is unlimited everything. Also i don't get why people are going on the websites for the samsung instinct and complaining about how its like the iphone. These websites are made for people who are intrested in the phone. Not for people who want to talk crap about it.
You all are trying ways to make sure the iPhone wins over anything, im sorry to let you know that the Instinct isnt the only one that beating the iPhone. And besides, when you look at the networks each one is hooked up with, the iPhone immediately losses. AT&T does not let you text or talk "during" roaming does it? Oh well but the "Instinct keeps on being a 'iPhone wannabe' right? Lets get real here.
Does it look like the Apples phone? Yes, and so what. It is a good design that is borrowed for sure.
There big differences are with the network:
1. $99 mnthly everything plan that includes unlimited internet on a data network twice as fast as AT&T, unlimited talk time, and unlimited txt! It aslo includes Sprint TV with 20 chanels such as CNN, ABC, Fox Sports, NFL Network, Cartoon Network, etc... To top it off, it has GPS navigation! You can do turn by turn, voice activated, navigation. That'll cost $160 with AT&T or Verizon who have slower data networks and don't have TV. 2. You can insure this phone with Sprint for $7 a month which includes free repairs at tech stores across the country and a $50 dollar replacement fee if lost, destroyed, or water damage. You can't do that with AT&T 3. Discounted price...yes it will be cheaper than the Iphone with a two year contract but if you don't want a contract it will be priced near the Iphone.
There are new videos coming out this week that show that how the interface is quicker than Iphone's interface and blows away the AT&T network.
Main downfalls: The Sprint customer care on the phone is awful, but just go into a store and talk to the manager and ask for the "red carpet care" they'll know what you mean and get your problem solved.
IT IS NOT A PDA! You can't link to outlook, run mobile six programs, or edit microsoft docs. If you want the power of an amazing network though and don't use your phone for a mobile MS office, then who cares.
I cant wait