Samsung's i900 Omnia gets official, hands-on treatment

One of Samsung's worst kept secrets (if we can even call it that) has finally been "announced" by the company, and we're guessing the timing here isn't coincidental. Nevertheless, the Windows Mobile 6.1-powered i900 Omnia features quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE support, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, a built-in accelerometer, WiFi module, USB port, FM tuner, Bluetooth, 3.2-inch 400 x 240 resolution display and a 5-megapixel camera (with smile detection and geotagging). An 8GB and 16GB version will soon be available, and prospective buyers can expect to see Sammy's own TouchWiz user interface loaded on. Reportedly, the handset will be available later this month in undisclosed areas of the globe (probably after being showcased at CommunicAsia), while Europe is expected to see it in July. Hands-on photos await you in the read link.

[Matt Keller @ Jun 8th 2008 10:58PM]

IN before clak coming in here and pouring a bucket of shit all over the discussion to be.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 8th 2008 11:02PM]

Just ignore him. Seriously.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 8th 2008 11:25PM]

THAT Looks Absolutely NOTHING like the iPhone !!!

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 8th 2008 11:32PM]

Nice looking screen and specs. This Samsung is about the third iPhone killer they've produced in a couple of months and it won't fare any better than the previous attempts.

[Charles @ Jun 8th 2008 11:43PM]

it looks like someone took an iphone and puked on it! lol

[Reader @ Jun 9th 2008 12:17AM]

Hmm, your comment is more realistic if you replace 'girlfriend' with 'mom' and 'sex' with 'a grilled cheese sandwich'. It's kind of like how you pretend to love Apple when we all know you're probably apathetic and just enjoy trolling.

[ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 9th 2008 12:18AM]

@ clak

Thats CLASSIC!

[Nomi @ Jun 9th 2008 8:52AM]

haha, we should do this every time, seems to shut him up.

[E71 @ Jun 9th 2008 8:56AM]

Funny how you mention geotagging before you uh... oh wait, nope, you didn't even mention it's got a GPS receiver.

[Benga @ Jun 8th 2008 10:59PM]

If only I weren't waiting on the iPhone II right now, I'd be all over you. I'm sorry... As tempting as you are, my heart is my iPhone ;(

[Ace b @ Jun 8th 2008 11:01PM]

Damn it!

I had enough trouble choosing between 4 cells...

Too much goodness!!!

[iEye @ Jun 8th 2008 11:00PM]

KIRF, knock-off, they copied the HiPhone and the Meizu M8...

First...

A few more hours until the real deal...

[stitifier @ Jun 8th 2008 11:01PM]

Not only not first, but not even relevant.

[Nohone @ Jun 8th 2008 11:27PM]

From "http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/02/asus-prepping-wimax-usb-dongle-base-stations/"

iEye @ Jun 2nd 2008 7:34PM
"You will not have 1 comment from me relating to any Apple product until the 3G release"


So you lied again, eh?

[Jaque-o @ Jun 9th 2008 3:55AM]

Lol Nohone..
you just promoted yourself to my personal hero !

Epic win +1

[stitifier @ Jun 8th 2008 11:00PM]

That is gorgeous. Maybe they'll swap out the radio for CDMA, so Verizon users can get it in about four more years or so.

[Matt Keller @ Jun 8th 2008 11:00PM]

Oh you crafty devil.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 8th 2008 11:02PM]

I really can't wait to play with these new batch of Windows Mobile phones. Having used the iPhone for a while now I do miss it a bit.

No GPS though... Not missing much I guess.

[ferrisUML @ Jun 8th 2008 11:06PM]

Straight from the article...

"features since the i900 also packs a built-in GPS receiver"

[Richard Lai @ Jun 8th 2008 11:11PM]

Ah... That's great! I do beg your pardon.

In that case, it's a very close match against the other new WinMo phones. Very healthy indeed.

[Justin Williams @ Jun 8th 2008 11:04PM]

Im an iphone guy, but its a good looking phone that has a decent specs. Not a lot to complain about. With all the new "touch" phones coming out, there might be a few differences, but i think it comes down to the interface and which you prefer.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 8th 2008 11:21PM]

Don't forget customer service too. I hope in the near future Engadget Mobile will write an article about this, and likewise for Engadget with computers (I think it might have been done before, but an updated version would be great).

[Minilap @ Jun 8th 2008 11:09PM]

How thin is it?

[xValentine @ Jun 8th 2008 11:14PM]

That phone have been earning "great" reviews so far.

And that's a good thing. :D

[G-Unit @ Jun 8th 2008 11:19PM]

Question I want to own 2 phones this year and with the iphone as one of them. Which phone you guy's think I should choose

HTC Touch Diamond
Samsung i900 Omnia
Sony Xperia X1

[Richard Lai @ Jun 8th 2008 11:23PM]

I'm just going to wait for a comparison review between the three devices. It'll be a while before the X1 comes out though.

[holycow @ Jun 8th 2008 11:25PM]

XPERIA... have a phone with a proper keypad.

[xxtntxx @ Jun 8th 2008 11:53PM]

You should going w/ the HTC Touch Pro Diamond.

HTC is flying under the radar right now w/ all the sh*t they are producing & I soon believe they will earn a prestigious reputation they so well deserve. The phone specs for the Touch Pro are nuts. It includes WiFi and TouchFlo 3D, which triumph over what Samsung's piece has to offer. The slide out 5 row qwerty on the Touch Pro gives HTC another advantage.

Also, in my experience, HTC phones are more stable & reliable than Samsung's.

I don't know much about the Xperia1 but since I don't think that'll be coming out anytime soon, your best comparison right now is just Touch Pro vs i900

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 9th 2008 12:08AM]

I would definately go with the HTC. That touch flo looks pretty nice and I think HTC are the nicest phones, I'm getting the HTC 5800 (S720) on thursday and I guess it's kind of old but it's the nicest one available in my area and free with a 3 year contract too..

[Julian Weisser @ Jun 8th 2008 11:24PM]

wow that almost kills my lust for the new iphone...

ALMOST!

seriously that is slick. I am hoping we see a 5 megapixel on the iphone and geotagging would certainly be nice. This phone would be sick for flickr aficionados...

[saddler2kx @ Jun 9th 2008 11:54PM]

The would'nt the HTC Touch Diamond Pro be a good choice

[Richard Lai @ Jun 8th 2008 11:33PM]

@saddler2kx: it's just HTC Touch Pro, no Diamond.

[riggs @ Jun 8th 2008 11:42PM]

looks like the prada phone

[Alex @ Jun 8th 2008 11:46PM]

Is it just me or is every new phone exactly like the iPhone in looks? I don't get it, that thing is fugly!

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 8th 2008 11:57PM]

Oh dear, another craptastic iPhone knock off.

Glossy black slate, large screen, 1-2 buttons and only at the bottom of the screen, large silver bezel, etc. Not to mention their UI is a inferior version of the iPhone.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 9th 2008 12:11AM]

Actually, I'd say that "their UI" is a pretty good version of Windows Mobile 6.1.. But that's just my guess.

[danny @ Jun 9th 2008 12:00AM]

if i wasn't hooked on the iphone, and have my iphone 2 lined up, i would definitely consider this as an alternate. well that and the diamond. mmmm

[James Cameron @ Jun 9th 2008 12:10AM]

It's a nice looking phone but they have to screw it up with a terrible UI. Sorry. A bad UI is a fail phone for me.

I only have 3 phones in mind at the moment:

HTC Touch Pro
Xperia X1
HTC Dream Android...

[ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 9th 2008 12:16AM]

I don't know if its an "iPhone Killer" but I do know that the screen automatically perks my interest a LOT.

The problem with all the previous so called "iPhone killers" is that the screen was too damn small.

However 3.2 vs 3.5 isn't too much of a difference. Does anyone know which resolution is better? This phone or the iPhone?

[Reader @ Jun 9th 2008 12:19AM]

Needs more clocks.

[LaughingVulcan @ Jun 9th 2008 12:24AM]

Yes, but does it make calls? ;)

(Seriously, it's the only thing I buy a phone FOR...)

[Za @ Jun 9th 2008 12:40AM]

Haha, you are awesome.

[Johan S @ Jun 9th 2008 1:02AM]

400 x 240 resolution?

iFail.

[ajfarson @ Jun 9th 2008 1:32AM]

iphones suck... I have been using mine since Nov, and it is boring and the only limitations were obvious money stallers... the market (me included) sucked up 1st gen's even though they lacked features in cheaper phones (3G, voice dial, push email, GPS, chat) because it was an Apple.

Apple made a fortune, and took in acclaim they didn't deserve for pushing a half baked device to market, and now they are going to rape (is it rape if the victims are willingly bending over?) the consumers again with iphone 2 that only has one major feature upgrade. Like stealing candy from a baby... Jobs can sell sh!t to a farmer...

The only good thing that has come from the iphone is that it kicked those starched WinMo (based) engineers into the oh so rare creativity mode and now they are offering better devices! So now I can have all the good things about the iphone, and none of the bad... most notably being poned by Steve'o!

[James Cameron @ Jun 9th 2008 1:39AM]

That's your fault for buying it knowing full well it lacks so many thing. I was very close to buying the first version but I knew they were milking the first version and are adding stuff to the second version so that it force some people to upgrade to that. They could've done that with the first version but choose not to so pretty much they knew what they were doing and that is to rake in the money.

[DerekKramer @ Jun 9th 2008 2:02AM]

well i think this one has a fair chance at "killing" the i phone. but as far as looks. i think this one looks the best. now alltel can get their hands on it before the verizon buy out.... which might i say is rediculas. just because alltel is better... lol

[Anoymous @ Jun 9th 2008 3:16AM]

Screw da iPhone!
This has an 5 mp camera + gps recevier!

[nikster @ Jun 9th 2008 3:31AM]

The phrase "iPhone killer" will soon become one that's only used in an ironic context, sort of like "iPod killer".

Nevertheless, this is nice hardware. WinMobile ruins it of course, you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

[Stranger @ Jun 9th 2008 5:09AM]

What's so funny is that it's only clueless users who use the description "x"-killer, whether x is ipod, windows or whatever with a large market- or mindshare. It takes time to change the current status que, no matter how awsome product you may have.

In fact, I wish I would have some kind of electronic device which allowed me to punch people in the face over the internet everytime they used the expression "x"-killer.

[Thierry @ Jun 9th 2008 4:09AM]

This is already out in the UK - i saw it yesterday in an O2 shop on contract.

Cheapest price was around 150£