Samsung's T*Omnia: all that and double the i900 Omnia's resolution

Like the i900 Omnia, eh? We sure did. Well here's its prettier, smarter cousin tagged the T*Omnia. For the most part, it's the same quad-band, WinMo 6.1 candybar with 7.2Mbps HSDPA data, WiFi, GPS, 5 megapixel cam, and nifty TouchWiz UI we've seen for months. But this hometown Korean version bumps the display to a WVGA, 800 x 480 pixels (up from 400 x 240) while slapping in a DMB digital television tuner to ensure its non-Stateside status for eternity... at least with this specific configuration. Perhaps Verizon would be so kind as to make use of that display?

[Patriks7 @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:18AM]

"Like the i900 Omni, eh?"

Shouldn't that read "Omnia" and not "Omni"? :x

[paul @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:25AM]

This is the Omnia 930, the same model which Softbank Japan recently announced
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/product/3G/930sc

[fh @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:30AM]

Except the Softbank opted for its proprietary OS (non-WM) on the 930SC to support various Japan-only features. Depending on who you are that could be good or bad, but the 930SC is at best a cousin to the T*OMNIA and i900 siblings.

[Breex243 @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:28AM]

Shouldn't it be quadruple the resolution? (800*480)/(400*240) = 4

[fh @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:34AM]

But resolution is a linear measurement, such as "dpi". The i900's 240x400 3.2" screen has 145dpi, while the T*OMNIA/930SC's 480x800 3.2" screen has 290dpi, ergo double.

[solmar @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:36AM]

Yep. What's doubled is the horizontal *and* the vertical resolution, leading to quadruple resolution overall.
By next year, this kind of resolution will hopefully be more widespread, as the old 400x240 resolution just isn't cutting it for the larger touchscreens.

[solmar @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:38AM]

fh has got a point, but then it depends on what you mean by "resolution". What most consumers consider to be "resolution" is the total pixel count, rather than the linear measurement, such as "480k resolution" vs "2 megapixel resolution". In that case, it would be quad, rather than double.

[fh @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:50AM]

@solmar
It's true the term "resolution" is thrown around carelessly, but for the most part displays refer to linear resolution. Probably because most consumers can more easily visualize the difference between a 20in and 24in display instead of between a 180in² (20in) and 260in² (24in) display. Areal resolution is more used with sensors (eg: cameras) where many consumers don't care about the sensor size (even though camera afficianados do, and rightfully so).

[blahblah @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:24AM]

As soon as I read the article I thought 4x also but I just read up on Wikipedia. Check out Display Resolution, Image Resolution, Optical Resolution.

[GoCarnivore @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:29AM]

Very, very nice design.

The phone on the other hand... meh.

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:35AM]

Been using Omnia for over a month now, and I can't say anything but: Well done Samsung.

I would love the better screen though. :)

[McLovin @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:25PM]

Real? Because I've been debating about purchasing this phone for the last 3 months. I know you have better shit to do, but can you give me a few of the ups and downs about the omnia? I found most reviews to be inconclusive, and would like an acutal consumers view. I was going to wait for the Touch HD, but it's slightly out of budget, would it be worth it? Or does the omnia hold it's own?

[Mark Anderson @ Nov 3rd 2008 6:41PM]

I have one too, so...

The Good:

* Very flexible - you can install from thousands of applications not to mention install any number of ROMs or cook your own
* Good memory- 16GB internal plus 16GB microSD
* Good touchscreen - fast and responsive from firmware HH1 onwards, bit of a dog before that.
* WinMo's more annoying features largely hidden
* Don't need a stylus with the optical mouse
* Usual MS Office, Exchange, etc
* Opera 9.5 which is the mutt's nuts.

The Bad:

* Stupid proprietary connector which means you can't play music and charge it at the same time.
* 3G so it'll last two to three days on a charge max.
* Doesn't support flash natively although see 'cooking a ROM' above.

[Sticks @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:45AM]

No comments about the girl yet? Well this is a first...

Whoops.

[AlDeezy @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:55AM]

probably because the phone stands out more, lol

[zfurie @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:36AM]

Well for some reason she makes me think of bumblebees.

[lawyer bird @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:53AM]

This phone looks pretty nice...gotta love the wvga. now if this damn economy would turn around and I could get find a job that pays more than $7/hr (I'm going to school) maybe I could buy one.

P.S. I hate to be the grammer nazi, but "to ensure it's non-Stateside status". Damn those apostrophes

[Engadget is the stupidest place in the world!!! @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:13AM]

You're right! He should've used its (possessive), but I would've double checked my spelling of grammar before trying to correct someone, just so you know, I wouldn't sound like a hypocrite.

[VtheBear @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:57AM]

Should we focus more on the girl?

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:58AM]

Are you a real bear?

[gad get @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:02AM]

Just ignore those weird glasses and earrings.

[derX @ Nov 3rd 2008 3:29AM]

What? Those glasses are awesome.

Do they come with the phone? Please tell me they come with the phone.

[TeddyLikesComputahs! @ Nov 3rd 2008 4:32AM]

if she comes with the phone, i'm buying 2; birthday and christmas presents for me!

[Alex @ Nov 3rd 2008 4:29AM]

check out the awesome homepage for this phone!! Haptic 2~!

http://www.anycall.com/event/haptic2/event_main.jsp

the site is so awesome! omg..

[BigD @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:25AM]

T*Omnia is not the Haptic 2....

Haptic 2 is a dumbphone with touchwiz UI and T*Omnia is a smartphone running touchwiz over WM 6.1

[Crow @ Nov 3rd 2008 6:35AM]

This T*Omnia makes my recently bought Omnia look like a one-night-stand.

Hellloooooooo T*Omnia!

[DespertaFerro @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:26AM]

I just wish I can change the korean ROM to english... someone in the korean geeks forums told me that it was impossible, but... I'll ask SK about it... I'm waiting for the price tought. In seoul some people are coordinating themselves to buy the phone together, basically to made it cheaper

[fh @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:44AM]

I didn't know you could timeshare a phone.

[DespertaFerro @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:04AM]

I just mean that if the buy a lot of phones, like say, a retail shop, they will have a better deal, so they just buy together, but off course everyone buy one for himself

I'm sorry, my sarcasm-arachnid sense does not work properly lately...mmmm let's see... ha hhhh.. oh, I forgot again...

[htd @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:40AM]

800x480 is base resolution for netbooks, but those smartphones probably will be a whole lot more expensive than eeepc 700 series.

[DespertaFerro @ Nov 4th 2008 8:58AM]

Calculate about 1000000 million won, or maybe 800000 with a 2 year contract (maybe a little less). Usually koreans do not buy so expensive phones, but they seem very excited about the T*Omnia (mee too)

[DH @ Nov 3rd 2008 10:15AM]

I thought I could read this after new Sony's ad but no.

[David @ Nov 3rd 2008 11:26AM]

Wow already an upgraded Omnia and at&t still can't manage to take on the device.

[LameDuck @ Nov 3rd 2008 4:21PM]

I'll take the girl AND the phone. >:3

[Jack @ Nov 3rd 2008 4:29PM]

She only comes with the phone if virbration mode is on.

[nobo @ Nov 3rd 2008 6:40PM]

that have been happened many times before. americans have chosen ntsc over pal for example. look at the cars sold in europe and us will see the deference. etc etc

[harry @ Dec 10th 2008 2:36AM]

What girl.....?

Double resolution? Hmmmmmm.........

[onelove2u @ Jan 19th 2009 7:55PM]

OMNIA got so many nice feature. and everyone mentioned it already.So I just mention one feature which
made OMNIA so unique then other smart phone. It is a Optical Joystick(Finger Mouse). The Optical joystick is kind of pointing device. I think it mimic the movement of General Mouse pointer.
I can use the Optical Joystick like mouse cursor, either general 4 way button.
If I use Optical Joystick on mouse cursor mode, I can point any object even in a very narrow area like internet icon or something. And If i use Optical joystick on a 4 way mode, I could move and select the icon by using finger sweeping gesture.

Specially when you combine a touch screen with optical joystick, It might offer powerful input solution
in smart phone.

Thus I like OMNIA than nay other dumb smartphone which have many functions with no proper interaction
devices.

[onelove2u @ Jan 19th 2009 8:13PM]

OMNIA got so many nice feature. and everyone mentioned it already.So I just mention one feature which
made OMNIA so unique then other smart phone. It is a Optical Joystick(Finger Mouse). The Optical joystick is kind of pointing device. I think it mimic the movement of General Mouse pointer.
I can use the Optical Joystick like mouse cursor, either general 4 way button.
If I use Optical Joystick on mouse cursor mode, I can point any object even in a very narrow area like internet icon or something. And If i use Optical joystick on a 4 way mode, I could move and select the icon by using finger sweeping gesture.

Specially when you combine a touch screen with optical joystick, It might offer powerful input solution
in smart phone.

Thus I like OMNIA than nay other dumb smartphone which have many functions with no proper interaction
devices.