Samsung's i900 Omnia surfs web on video

A full fortnight is way too long to go without seeing a little more of Samsung's Windows Mobile 6.1-powered i900 Omnia, so we were just tickled pink to find a new video showcasing the mobile's user interface. More specifically, the web browsing function gets most of the attention, and while it doesn't exactly look like a refined experience from here, why don't you head on past the break and judge for yourself?

[Thanks, TUcow]

[Ypoknons @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:37PM]

Is it Opera Mini 9.5?

[Brutos @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:54PM]

Yes, thats Opera 9.5
You don't believe how awesome it is. Its possible to ENJOY surfing on the pda with it.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:40PM]

hey Engadget. I have an HTC Mogul from Sprint, and I was wondering if anyone knew when windows 6.1 might come out for it.

Thanks

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:00PM]

Mike,

The Mogul already has a 6.1 ROM available for it.
It's a pre-release ROM that was recently leaked, but if you do a simple google search it shouldn't be hard to find.

Ive had WM 6.1 running on my Mogul for about a month now.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:22PM]

Happy FAILday to you, Omnia. The day you are born, you are ready to die by way of the iPhone 3G. For the mere price of $900 U.S., the Omnia has far more features that the $199 iPhone 3G. Too bad only about 1000 people will be willing to buy the Omnia.

[Ace b @ Jun 23rd 2008 12:04AM]

Well does anyone know if your possibly able to get windows 6.1 on the palm centro?

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 23rd 2008 1:49AM]

@Hamidxa

Thanks. Not. I have already found that "leaked" ROM. However, it is not really Windows 6.1, as the browser does not have tabbed functions, bla bla, etc. It is simply a revision to WM6.

I'm just wondering what the official release date will be for Sprint.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:08AM]

Mike, you must have found something different from me, because my WM ROM is the officially leaked Sprint ROM, and it actually registers as a 6.1 WM OS after installation.

Keep searching, google isn't that difficult to use.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:02AM]

Again, i tell you i HAVE found it. To quote from PPCgeeks.com, however, "Ya, but nothing we haven't seen already from what I can tell. Same browser (no flash/silverlight), etc."

I'm wondering when the flash-enabled browser will come out, or if there are no plans to release it, whether or not this "leaked", "test" version of WM is any improvement.

[EC-PRINCE @ Apr 21st 2009 12:56AM]

do you know if it is possible to save videos from the browser to the phone or sd card?

[Almighty- @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:40PM]

Let the fight begin. Apple lovers shout out how this unit is iPhone similar *yawn*. But seriously. This looks very nice and it's really fast. No loading time as he pressed the browser.
I want to see more of this mobile!

[chris @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:55PM]

ok, yes this does look like a great device. however, you can't help but notice the exact same gestures, similar interface, and even nearly identical icons on the web browsing page.

imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so i've heard, but in the world of business imitation can go too far...that's called patent or copyright infringement. i'm not saying that's what is happening here, but come on samsung...

[Arnob @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:51PM]

yes, because the gestures of tapping to zoom, holding down to drag the window, and flicking your thumb down to scroll were truly invented by the iphone?

[fred @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:04PM]

"that's called patent or copyright infringement. i'm not saying that's what is happening here, but come on samsung..."

That is such nonsense.

I know you Apple fans just hate these phones, and really hope Apple does something stupid like suing all of them, but even they are not that wacky as their fanatics as to do something so stupid based on such a flimsy premise.

[brett @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:40PM]

that's great and all, but what does it have to do with phones?

[Phil Schiller @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:41PM]

up to their usual tricks... copying the iPhone...

[WITHOUT A NAME @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:51PM]

They copy the iPhone because it looks good and has a good design...
It's flattery, in a way, to Apple.

[Almighty- @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:54PM]

It's not a copy of the iPhone.
It's a waaaaay better device. WinMo is sooo much better than OSX.
I want more videos about that mobile.

[Erik @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:55PM]

Wow....your last name is ironic.

[Surur @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:15PM]

I want more videos about that mobile.
-----------------------------------------------
Look here then.

http://wmpoweruser.com/?tag=samsung

[fred @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:58PM]

"up to their usual tricks... copying the iPhone..."

Which didn't invent the touch screen phone.

Apple didn't invent the laptop with a folding top either. Are you going to claim that all laptop makers are copying Apple by making laptops like that too?


Seriously, if you iPhone fanatics just don't want people to have choices, or just want to protect Apple's bottom line, then just say so. All of this sanctimonious "You copied Apple!!!" bullshite, like you really give a damn about protecting a design, is so transparent it's laughable.

[MoonMan @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:44PM]

@ Fred

Chill dude, you're clearly coming across as someone who just wants to hate Apple fans, regardless of what they have to say, or the merit of their comments.

You cannot deny that Apple was first to market with a working touchscreen multimedia phone, and Samsung's design, and (from what I can see in the video) the functionality is strikingly similar to the iPhone.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:10PM]

Moonman,

What the hell are you talking about.

Apple was far far far far from being, as you put it: "first to market with a working touchscreen multimedia phone, "

No, no they weren't.

I can list for you hundreds of phones that came out to the market before the iPhone that meets all of your criteria:
working - check
touchscreen - check
multimedia - check

Yes, HUNDREDS of phones fit that profile well before the iPhone was even a glimmer in Steve Jobs eyes.

You iFools come off as ignorant because of comments such as these, and then wonder why others such as myself or Fred go to the lengths we do to make that be known.

[dave castle @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:35PM]

Hamidxa,

By working, he means, "actually is easy and not visually glitch to use", which, this phone isn't. Notice how his gestures are occasionally misinterpreted, and the scrolling renders with glitches.

The iPhone *was*, in fact, the first "working" multimedia touchscreen to the market, because it is the first all touchscreen phone that is more usable and versatile than non-touchscreen phones and has been adopted by a significant portion of the general public.

Yes, now you may vote me down.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:15AM]

Dave,

That sounds about as ignorant as MoonMan's comment.

Ive used many of those Multimedia touch phones throughout the years, and all of them worked just fine.

You apple zealots need to realize that there's a world outside of that which Jobs built for his followers/disciples, and that Apple is actually a company that hasn't really invented anything. They just take existing products and add an aesthetic touch to them, which gives rise to form over functionality more times than not.

For example, the functionality of the iPhone in its current state is VERY VERY VERY limited, whereas its form has been copied by many others.

Functionality wise, any of those older multimedia phones that I have used in the past run circles around the iPhones in terms of what you can actually accomplish with them, and none of them I found to be lacking in the "working" department during their respective generations.

This Omnia is no less, as spec for spec, it virtually destroys Apple's offering.

[Obvious @ Jun 24th 2008 3:37PM]

Almighty, I really hope your joking. Having both owned and coded for WinMo and PIE/IEM, I can safely call it the biggest mobile OS disaster. Get over your Apple hate... Instead, redirect it to snobbish Apple fanboys.

[derX @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:44PM]

Not only is your comment unrelated to the post, but it's also too long to even consider reading. Way to go. You fail. Twice.

[Chris @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:44PM]

what?

[wrwqrr @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:46PM]

so are you a salesperson or just that materialistic?

i use vista. i have a dell. i also have a sony tv. and a bed and bath comforter. hint hint, heres a hint... nobody cares!

[derX @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:47PM]

In general, I hate Samsung and I've gotta say that I'm loving this device. There's really no point in making obvious comparison to other devices, but I will say that I love the implementation of WinMo on this button-less device. I only wonder if it will support other 3rd party program that arne't optimized for such an interface. If not, it'd suck as WinMo's 3rd party support is one of the biggest things it has going for it.

[Mam00th @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:48PM]

Strange, I thought this article was about the i900.

[Jadead @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:49PM]

If it's faster than iPhone I want one!

Have Windows Vista and don't see why people complain about the popups. They are only an extra click!
But they do get annoying and the beeps are quite repetitive.
I hope Windows Mobile is like XP.
Used to have XP, but upgraded to Vista!
Vista looks better and has more functionality with my tablet.

[grull27 @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:54PM]

iPhone 3G FTW!

[Garst @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:56PM]

The iPhone 3G sucks, as does any phone that requires you to purchase a data plan. Cell service sucks where I live, and AT&T's 3G service is nowhere near where I live or travel. So, that is enough not to even consider anything that comes with a data plan. So, iPhone DNF!

[Jeff @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:56PM]

Gee someone's had too much Copy Pasta

[The Dude @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:57PM]

WTF, TLDR. This is the internet, brah'. There are no biographical novels here; much less, blowhard anecdotes that indulge fanboyism in unrelated news postings.

[Mam00th @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:03PM]

I have found pie to be much better then cake.

Here's some real-life experience I've had with both cake and Pie

In my home, there are two cakes, both chocolate. One which was purchased around 2001 with strawberries on top, the other purchased around 1 year ago.

In my school, there are a few pies, all purchased last week. All the pies I have eaten were much fresher then the cakes I have at home.

It's not that chocolate cake is bad, cakes in general are gross and disgusting.


Here are some facts about pie :

1. Pies are made with crust which makes them more resistant to bacteria.
2. All the products of a pie are made in the same factory ensuring that they are compatible. With cakes, the topping often come from a different factory.
3. Cakes in general are a lie.

For more information on pie, check out the following non-existent links.

See, I can write long comments too.

[Thelomen Toblakai @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:08PM]

This is the new Opera Mobile 9.5 (not yet officially launched). It is a full-fledged browser with https, flash, ajax, widgets etc.

It's a very different product from the popular Opera Mini. Not that Opera Mobile is any less popular - the previous versions have been shipped on more than 100 million mobile devices. However, it's often more or less branded, as here with Samsung i900.

[Perry @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:12PM]

Nice browser. Certainly better than IE Mobile on WM 6! Now, if only Microsoft would give the same ability to HTML emails in the WM Inbox.

[Mushi Mushi @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:13PM]

So why is a Korean phone being demoed with a Vietnamese browsing experience?

In a Japanese Pachinko parlor?

[bry2an @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:14PM]

Man, What a clone even down to the shiny metal rim around it. I can't say it is so great as it is nothing new and the big cursor icon on the screen I find very annoying. Sorry I can not praise this for coping the iPhone as closely as the Chinese knock offs.

[cj @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:13PM]

@ bry2an

So because my LG Chocolate flip phone has a metal trim around it, I have a Chinese Apple Knock-Off?

Actually, why do I even bother... *sigh*

[bry2an @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:07PM]

@cj

I wasn't talking about your LG phone. You can't deny that the design of Samsungs i900 shares its design very close to the iPhone.

[AceMcLoud @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:35PM]

Hmm, it's another lame iPhone clone. Only about a year late. Slow news day?

[fred @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:52PM]

Then dont buy it.

Just because you've locked yourself into one corporations product for whatever pathetic reason doesn't mean that everyone else has to whore themselves to it to.

[Rob Conway @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:39PM]

Disclaimer:
Joe Jobs is in no way associated with the RAUAA (Regular Apple Users Association of America). In fact, he has been cited by the RAUAA for the following infractions:

1) Being an overflowing bag of douche juice
2) Posting "Apple is better" comments that have no bearing on the article at hand.
3) Knowing nothing at all about his Mac and perpetuating the myth that Apple makes all the components of its machines, even though ATI makes the graphics chips, Intel makes the processors, the drives come from multiple vendors, etc.
4) Trying to convince techies that his choice is better.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Sincerely,
The Rob
President of The RAUAA

[jack @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:44PM]

dude. the reason why ur pcs crash is because you bought a dell. dells suck like a piece of shit. that's what happens when you try buying a computer for a cheap price. and with my experience macs and pcs are about the same lavel. it's just that macs are less vulnerable to viruses compared to pcs yet my experiences was that with heavy workloads that i get pcs are more reliable cause my macbook pro kept crashing on me with all the same exact apps up as on my laptop pc.

[jack @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:44PM]

this phone is not a copy of the iphone.
this can be told as you can see the intergace is windows mobile 6.1 whihc i say is much better since apple has limitations on their phones, like the 2 year plan required and the limit of 3rd party apps, the samsun i900 Omnia on the other had can install as much as u want. the interface is different as well as the quality. apple's iphone quality went down as they downgraded to plastic back. i liked the more durable metal back more than the plastic one on the iphone 3g.

comparing specs of the phones, the i900 reigns supreme with it's 5 mp camera and video cal vga camera on the front as well as more options and if you think about it samsung has more experience in the phone industry than apple does. they know what the consumer wants.
the only reason people actually buy the iphone is because it has the apple logo and has an intergrated ipod within it.

in my opinion the iphone is already outplayed. you see too many people have it and why would u want to be the same. i would get this awesome phone instead of going with the flow and purchasing an iphone which will probably make it mor likely for you to get robbed.

[AceMcLoud @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:58PM]

Clearly WinMobile 6.1 is far better than the iPhone because the iPhone comes with a 2 year plan. Right. Do you Windows fanboys do any thinking at all before posting?

[heshmati4 @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:26PM]

limit of 3rd party apps???? Steve Jobs said in March that they are only limiting certain things like explicit content.

Would you rather have an excellent cell phone reception with a plastic back than an aluminum back with ok reception??? I would....