Mossberg reviews Samsung Instinct, accidentally previews iPhone 3G

It's a given that Mr. Mossberg has a thing for Apple's gear. In his opinion, it's simply a better choice for his mainstream readership. It's also obvious that Sprint and Samsung are intent on besting the capabilities of the first generation iPhone with their new Instinct. Still, we can't help but to giggle like Japanese school girls when his review of Samsung's Instinct turns into a preview of the iPhone 3G. By our quick count, he mentions "iPhone" 31 times to just 19 mentions of "Instinct." His bottom line as you'd expect is that the "ok" Instinct simply can't compete with the iPhone. Then again, the iPhone 3G can't be used on Sprint's network... or anywhere else until July 11th.

[azz0r @ Jun 12th 2008 5:44AM]

lollerskates

[Will H. @ Jun 12th 2008 6:37AM]

This is news?

[Argot @ Jun 12th 2008 8:23AM]

Is Mossberg for real or is he just pulling our leg? Or if he's not joking, is he getting paid by Apple? I hope he's joking though...

[Juice @ Jun 12th 2008 9:29AM]

This "Mossberg" guy doesn't seem that Tech savvy for someone in the "tech industry" for so long. He started out in international affairs/politics. A real tech junkie embraces all forms of Tech not just waits for one they like then assumes it's the best. I wonder what lineage of cell phones this old coot has had before the iPhone. Probably nothing too technical. I could be wrong.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 12th 2008 10:14AM]

he's gotten too old for this stuff now

[rpflo @ Jun 12th 2008 11:37AM]

In Mossberg's defense, Samsung has an entire website comparing this phone to the iPhone. http://nowisgood.com/

Any review of the phone by anybody ought to continue the fight of which Samsung threw the first punch.

That said, Mossberg is certainly twitterpaited with Apple.

[OneLove @ Jun 12th 2008 12:19PM]

Mossberg is for sale. (why do we care what he says anyway?)

[Richard Lai @ Jun 12th 2008 12:21PM]

@rpflo: that comparison only lets the Instinct win with live TV and video recording. Their two other points (3G, GPS and maybe music download) are beaten by the new iPhone.

But this does lead to a very good question: will iTunes support 3G download? That'd be more money for both Apple and the network provider.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 12th 2008 1:35PM]

Never mind, just found out that OTA music download is not supported: http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-no-over-the-air-3g-music-downloads-for-new-iphone-labels-holding-out-fo/

A missed money-making opportunity, I think.

[Brad @ Jun 12th 2008 9:01PM]

@Richard Lai Well, the other thing it wins at is real speed. AT&T is capping the iPhone at 1.2mpbs if I recall. I can pull 3.5 down on my sprint phone on a good day, 2 on a bad day flying down the freeway at 80mph. I can stream internet radio and run GPS at the same time.

Even if you had a GPS app that you wanted to use for navigation (not gmaps) you couldn't run internet radio at the same time, since Apple forbids background apps.

Will this phone do it? Who knows, I don't know what all applications this specialty OS has. But it certainly could.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 13th 2008 12:53AM]

@Brad: I genuinely feel sorry for future US iPhone 3G users. AT&T is being naughty this time. Even the UK contracts are slightly better than AT&T's.

I know Apple will not allow background apps, but I do wonder how do they get iPod.app to keep playing in the background though...

[torqueo @ Jun 12th 2008 5:44AM]

Mossberg is a hack. I don't understand why anyone takes this guy seriously.

[TRLK @ Jun 12th 2008 5:48AM]

Agreed

[bk7 @ Jun 12th 2008 6:10AM]

In fairness (having read the actual article), this is NOT actually a review of the Samsung Instinct, just a pisstake from an Apple fanboy..
Mossberg, however much of an Apple fanboy he might be is merely doing what he does best and comparing other stuff to the trumped up iPhone, and thus comparing one of its main contenders (Samsung Instinct) to it.

[bob @ Jun 12th 2008 6:28AM]

In all fairness, Samsung started the comparing, which was a bit stupid really as now people reviewing it will actually compare it and see the truth http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/07/found-footage-samsung-sprint-goes-after-iphone/

[Kit @ Jun 12th 2008 6:37AM]

I wish someone could remix all of his video and shout out STFU when he mention Apple products and one year down the road, I really want to know how much STFU he will need.

Really, no offence. I don't give a shit what he thinks in pirvate but he should be more neutral then what he's doing now when doing job.

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 12th 2008 6:47AM]

It's strange isn't it ?... how these people can't make an objective comparison !

actually I suppose it isn't strange coz' he has never put his hands on the 3G apple phone...

still why can't these people say something like "I like this particular feature because ... I find it easier than ....

for instance, the idea of the multi-touch, this is to shrink pictures, yes ? well... you could do this with a jog dial (with one hand in your pocket), without touching the screen.

honestly, that is not a real reason to use the multi touch...tell us a good reason why it is clearly better (multi touch).

Anybody else feel the same ?

Wow !! Anyone else catch the fact that the Apple phone monthly charge will be $70 plus a further $10 for unlimited data (that is what he says). !!!

[DarkUltra @ Jun 12th 2008 7:20AM]

A jog dial just zooms, while a pinch (or double-tap) zooms at where you pinch/tap. Duh!

[Henrik @ Jun 12th 2008 7:51AM]

Mossberg is a twit, I totally agree.

He's the face that Apple fanboys don't want to have he's the worst picture of a subjective Apple fanboy that just cries for attention.

Seriously shut up Mossberg.

[Greg @ Jun 12th 2008 8:09AM]

Who said reviewers had to have an objective opinion? They're assessing a product and making a value judgement of it. Reviews are by their very nature subjective! Just 'cause they put it in the newspaper don't make it news.

[Galley @ Jun 12th 2008 8:39AM]

Hey, it's Uncle Walt! Everyone loves their sweet old uncle.

[Andy TGD @ Jun 12th 2008 5:45AM]

I could be wrong, but isn't this a little like the pot calling the kettle black, Engadget? ;)

[eggothewaffle @ Jun 12th 2008 5:47AM]

Engadget is totally like that underground music listening hipster kid wearing the Radiohead t-shirt for meta-irony.

(or something)

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 5:46AM]

I first read "Mossberg reviews Samsung Instinct, accidentally swallows iPhone 3G"

[Anoldcarsnickname @ Jun 12th 2008 12:04PM]

I'm sure you did and you're not just trying to be interesting.

[zzz @ Jun 12th 2008 7:39AM]

That would serve him right.

[Argot @ Jun 12th 2008 8:25AM]

I think he would love to deep throat an iPhone 3G.

[dBs @ Jun 12th 2008 5:48AM]

"Spring" has sprung on Samsung it seems. According you engadget.

[dBs @ Jun 12th 2008 5:49AM]

And I fail you=to. Got caught up in the rhymes I guess =P

[Taylor @ Jun 12th 2008 5:50AM]

I use a MacBook and an iPod nano, and will probably get an iPhone as soon as possible.

Even by my standards, Walt Mossberg has too much fanwankery for Apple for me to trust him.
He actually thought iMovie '08 was a decent upgrade to iMovie HD.
Even David Pogue didn't like iMovie '08.

[rpflo @ Jun 12th 2008 11:20AM]

I agree w/ your sentiments. As a mac user it does get hard to believe that any other company can do tech right because I enjoy my Apple products so much--but you have to keep those blinders off so you see great stuff when it comes out (like many of the notebooks that compete w/ the Air, they are fantastic).

Side note:
I do prefer iMovie '08 since I never cared to do videography in iMovie but just wanted store my videos on my computer in a handy library. Final Cut Express "replaced" iMovie HD--iMovie '08 is a new beast.

[Saad Rabia @ Jun 12th 2008 5:51AM]

I want the old, fair and not brainwashed Mossberg back! :(

[Andy TGD @ Jun 12th 2008 6:23AM]

Between you and me, I personally think Mossberg has spent some time in "Room 23" on an Apple owned island in the South Pacific. He was probably forced to watch a video whilst strapped to a chair with a drug-laced IV in his arm, wearing LED goggles, and being subjected to extremely loud drum-and-bass music. The video, of course, would contain various images of his Steveness and the Holy iGrail. It would also contain several statements, such as "God Loved You, As He Loved Steve Jobs". Poor chap.

::Patiently awaits the fan-boy backlash::

[No Thanks @ Jun 12th 2008 8:23AM]

> I want the old, fair and not brainwashed Mossberg back

Yeah, but then we would have article after article glowingly mentioning the Treo no matter what the article is about..

[daaper @ Jun 12th 2008 8:27AM]

I think something went wrong with your "between you and me..." comment because I can read it too. Unless the "you" was me and not Saad Rabia? ...which means you knew I'd read the comments on this article...oh wow, man....you're good!

[Mobius_1 @ Jun 12th 2008 10:27AM]

Well, he's old, so you are a third of the way there

And about the review, well I see the reason for a comparison, but the fanboyism was just too much, it's as if he was doing a review of the Instinct with no Instinct and an iPhone

[DarkUltra @ Jun 12th 2008 5:53AM]

well, what other phone on the planet has a os and ui created from scratch for finger navigation and hardware acelleration? Tes i am a iphone fanboy because i was actually afraid the htc diamond would be better then my 1st gen iphone.

[grammar boy @ Jun 12th 2008 6:22AM]

"i was actually afraid the htc diamond would be better then my 1st gen iphone"

then your 1st gen iPhone... would what?

I hate it when people don't finish their sentences.

[dude @ Jun 12th 2008 6:30AM]

bet he was using the iPhone keyboard

[Michael Bailey @ Jun 12th 2008 6:47AM]

:) You know he meant "than", rather than "then"... That said, are you trying to say the Touch Diamond ISN'T better than the 1st gen iPhone?? Hell, it's better than the 2nd gen iPhone if you ask me... Well, 1.5 gen iPhone... You can't really call the same device, with the same OS, and just a radio and case upgrade a "2nd gen device", now can you?

[DarkUltra @ Jun 12th 2008 7:13AM]

Hey why the low rank? Are there other phones that uses a gpu for majority of ui rendering? That is entierly useable without a stylus? And no task manager? Give me some good counterarguments damit? I know my faith in apple is strong (oh dear)

Sorry for my spelling, i am using the iphone :-)

[Abuzar @ Jun 12th 2008 7:55AM]

Task manager is a GOOD thing. It gives you more options. Honestly, when I used to have the iPhone, I would want to pull out a Stylus many times. Seriously, the option touse it is great.

The HTC Touch Diamond had more real buttons. This may not be important to you but it's better than all touchscreen. It uses Hardware accelerated GUI, and a damn good one at that. I personally prefer it UI over the iPhone. It's practically usable without a stylus but it has the option for those of us who prefer it in certain applications.

It's got more programs available, and more games available. You have to realize that as far as the OS goes Windows Mobile is much more powerful and more geared towards the mobile computer. The iPhone is just a pretty device.

[moonman @ Jun 12th 2008 5:56AM]

giggling like japanese school girls painted a way to vivid picture in my head too early before my morning coffee...ROFL

[torqueo @ Jun 12th 2008 6:08AM]

It just occurred to me. Mossberg is the new Guy Kawasaki!

[nak @ Jun 12th 2008 6:16AM]

I'd rather see Ballmer's sweaty pits than Mossberg review anything with a transistor.

[Henrik @ Jun 12th 2008 7:53AM]

nuff said.

[Keith @ Jun 12th 2008 6:16AM]

How much longer are you going to leave that glaring spelling error in there Engadget?

[kccboy2004 @ Jun 12th 2008 6:50AM]

he can't help it ... you should know that you can't edit after you posted :-)

[Vince @ Jun 12th 2008 6:38AM]

Mossberg just makes old people feel like they can use technology. They see him and flock to the things he recommends. I can't wait until I'm a bit older so I can hypnotize seniors into buying what I want them to...

[JohnPQ @ Jun 12th 2008 6:43AM]

I wouldn’t doubt that Mossberg is on the Apple payroll.