Samsung Jet packs an 800MHz processor, AMOLED display, featurephone OS

Samsung's busy launching a bunch of handsets across even more timezones right now, and in addition to all the Omnia updates, there's also the Jet, which is an interesting hybrid: it's got an 800MHz processor, five megapixel camera, 3.1-inch AMOLED screen, WebKit-based Dolfin browser and a host of media features including DivX support, but it's running TouchWiz 2.0, so it's not a proper smartphone. Yeah, it's weird, but we're sort of into it -- we'll see what's it's like in person.

[Amon @ Jun 15th 2009 12:01PM]

looks good, lets see what it does with all those specs on it!

[Techie @ Jun 15th 2009 12:10PM]

The OS is going to be a let down though. I wish it was an Android phone.

[fieldcar @ Jun 15th 2009 1:57PM]

You know, i think this OS will not be a letdown, but what is a damn shame is how samsung forgot about me and my eternity... Buggy as hell, and your lucky if they fix the lame and obvious problems with their phones almost 3/4 of a year after its launch. gotta love that v1.0.00.0.000.000 mocking you and your phone purchase.

Regretfully,
An Unsatisfied Samsung Customer

P.S. Never buying a samsung phone again.

[Bonqueesha @ Jun 15th 2009 5:00PM]

@fieldcar

Try me. I'm an Instinct user.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 16th 2009 8:55AM]

The last Samsung I owned would lock up at the end of every call... It's a shame they put such a bad image in my head since my friend swears by Samsung phones.

[a ham sandwich @ Jun 15th 2009 12:03PM]

symbian, i assume?

also, i find it funny that nilay says it's "not a proper smartphone" while the read link says it's "Smarter Than A Smartphone". amusing. :)

[Shyam D @ Jun 15th 2009 12:10PM]

Haven't you heard? For Nilay Patel, It's only a smartphone if Apple makes it.

[kjb434 @ Jun 15th 2009 12:16PM]

If you can send and receive email, perform calendar operations, view media, surf the web relatively well, and sync with a computer; then it is a smartphone.

[Nilay Patel @ Jun 15th 2009 2:09PM]

You've got to be kidding me -- I call a phone that's running a proprietary Samsung OS "not a proper smartphone" and somehow that makes me biased towards Apple?

I'd cry if I wasn't laughing so hard.

[y3k.nik @ Jun 15th 2009 2:15PM]

The proper definition also includes installing 3rd party applications, which it might not be able to do.

[anonymous j @ Jun 15th 2009 4:13PM]

I've got to agree with the author on that, Samsung's proprietary OS is junk and makes it not a proper smartphone.

It's funny though how Samsung crams a 800MHZ processor in this thing while you got Nokia putting a 400MHZ processor in the N97.... wtf is wrong with phone makers these days.

[cj @ Jun 15th 2009 4:47PM]

Nilay,

When Apple didn't have 3rd party app add-on without jailbreaking, you did not find it necessary to write an article and throw in a snide remark about it being only a feature phone at the end.

Please do not deny that you have a bias towards Apple cuz readers are not idiots. The only idiotic part about us is that we sometimes forget to check who wrote an article and only afterwards we find you wrote it. So next time, I'll try harder to check who wrote the article before I actually read.

[Nilay Patel @ Jun 15th 2009 6:10PM]

Of course, none of that has anything to do with calling THIS phone a featurephone, but hey, sometimes you just need a good tantrum.

[Shyam D @ Jun 15th 2009 6:47PM]

Nilay, give it up man. The whole fucking interenet knows you're the most biased "unbiased" person the internet. Even dimwitted Paris Hilton could write a fairer review then you, and she can barely write.
Don't even try to play the context card on us. This is a blog, you're allowed to biased, I understand, but for christ's sake to think you're readers won't catch on and start applying context to your articles is an absolute insult to the people that read engadget. We're not stupid, so quit trying to act like we are. Being a writer for a tech blog doesn't make your a defacto expert. There are plenty of people that comment on here who know a lot more about the mobile sector, mobile electronics, mobile software, or just gadgets in general.

[Chris Ziegler @ Jun 15th 2009 8:39PM]

Fine, Nilay's a raving Apple fanboy, so let me hit you up with some unbiased knowledge: it's not a smartphone. I know the concept of a press release bending reality is a disturbing one that shakes our belief system to its brittle core, but we're just going to have to find a way to carry on.

Ah, crap, I forgot I'm a raving Apple fanboy, too. :(

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 16th 2009 9:00AM]

if you don't like biased writing, there's a whole Internet of like-minded individuals. You could always go where your viewpoint is shared.

[francesco @ Jun 15th 2009 12:05PM]

anyone know what carriers will get this one?

[damiaking @ Jun 15th 2009 12:09PM]

the omnia 2 whats anounced for verizon ..it looks just like this but it has windows mobile

[barry99705 @ Jun 15th 2009 1:10PM]

Most likely not the one we use.....

[ImPulsE @ Jun 15th 2009 12:05PM]

What is the point of using own os, with basicly no 3rd party apps instead of WinMo/Android/Symbian platform, which have thousands of applications you can use? Great concept on the hardware, but not so good outcome on the software side of the road.

Samsung has to get it's mind correct, but hey, it's not a smartphone. Somehow I think they're aiming at those teenagers with their cool looking phones, but not so great features what-so-ever. This is more like what LG is doing right now.

Anyways, there is still a quite big market for this phone, so I guess it will be quite successful.

[kjb434 @ Jun 15th 2009 12:17PM]

There are great many users of phone that have no intention of ever buying 3rd party software for their phone.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 16th 2009 9:03AM]

I'm one of them. I can't see buying software for a phone unless it's free... of all the phone based software I've seen, none of it was worth the asking price.

[damiaking @ Jun 15th 2009 12:07PM]

''featurephone OS'' better than windows mobile i tell you what

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jun 15th 2009 12:12PM]

No apps, no good.

[Ike Turner @ Jun 15th 2009 12:08PM]

Samsung has also announced the Omnia 2 :

All-in-one Redefined: Omnia II (I8000)
The Omnia II is designed for the smartphone user who demands an enhanced and convenient multimedia experience featuring Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional.

Featuring the world's largest 3.7-inch AMOLED display with crystal-clear WVGA resolution, the Omnia II offers unbeatable screen clarity, even under the day light.

Complete with larger icons and a simpler structure, Omnia II's user interface has been deeply customized to provide touch-optimized usability. Also, innovative TouchWiz 2.0 User Interface and 3D effects make enjoying multimedia and multi tasking convenient and fun. Advanced R Touch (Resistive Touch) enables faster, more accurate touch response for a touch experience that's 100% user friendly.

The much enhanced display and user interface make it even more pleasurable to enjoy the rich multimedia functions of the Omnia II, including its DVD-like(480p) video recording/playback, smooth internet browsing as well as interactive 3D games. Users can also access and download content speedily while on the move thanks to the Omnia II's HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps and Wi-Fi capabilities. Generous memory up to 48GB lets users store more of their favorite content for on-the-go access.

Omnia II (I8000) _ Specification
Network: HSDPA 7.2 Mbps / HSUPA 5.76Mbps
EDGE/GPRS 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz
UMTS 900 / 1900 / 2100MHz
Display: 65K WVGA AMOLED Display (3.7", 480 x 800)
Advanced R-type Touch Screen
OS: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
Camera: 5 Megapixel CMOS / Auto-Focus /
Dual Power LED / Face Detection / Smile Shot
Mobile Blogging / Geo Tagging / Photo Editor
Audio: Audio Format Support (MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA)
WMDRM, OMA DRM 2.1 / Find Music (Music Recognition)
Bluetooth® Stereo Headset (A2DP)
FM Radio with RDS / 3.5 earjack
Video: Video Format Support (DivX, XviD, H.263,
H.264, WMV9, MPEG4)
Video Recording & Playing (30fps@ D1(720x480))
Video Editing (Trim video, Audio dubbing,
Live dubbing, Add subtitle)
Value Added: A-GPS with Navigation (3D Map) / LBS
TouchWiz 2.0 UI with Mobile Widget / 3D Media Gate
Multi-task manager / 3D Interactive Games
Connectivity:Bluetooth® v 2.0 / USB 2.0 / Wi-Fi
Memory: Internal Memory : 2GB/8GB/16GB
External Memory : microSDHC™ (up to 32GB)
Size: 118 x 60 x 11.9 mm
Battery: Talk time : Up to 10 hours (3G)
Standby time : Up to 430 hours (3G)

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

[hated @ Jun 15th 2009 12:18PM]

Harsh truth
Still not enough to make a dent or kill iPhone ,.
Insane!!!

[hated @ Jun 15th 2009 12:15PM]

feature rich spec rich oled
Still not enough to kill iPhone
Insane!
But y?

[htd @ Jun 15th 2009 12:16PM]

Years gone by...winmo still kicks some ass!

[Andrew Harwood @ Jun 15th 2009 12:30PM]

you know...these companies could make a phone that competes with the iphone if they would stop using the WinMo OS. That OS sucks and installing apps on it is a nightmare. If they used Google's mobile OS they would win....if they could use Palm's OS on the pre they would really win. Imagine the pre with a larger screen and 200 mhz more of processing power. It would def. be competition for the iphone OS wise. The one thing the iphone has that no other has is the large developer backup and the itunes store. It is like a giant in motion. The problem with giants is the bigger they are the harder they fall and I don't want Apple to fall....i love my iphone.

[barry99705 @ Jun 15th 2009 1:13PM]

Yea, cause downloading a .cab file off the internet and clicking on it is a huge pain in the ass...

[Maddy @ Jun 15th 2009 3:02PM]

I think you over simplified it barry. It's more like...

- Search 100 different websites to find the app you want (but is butt ugly to fit in the winmo look and feel)
- Download the .cab
- Click on it.
- "Are you sure" - Yes
- "Where do you want to install it, system memory or sdcard?" - Choose one
- "Are you really sure?" - Yes
- Wait for it to install.
- REBOOT! (worst of all, it's surprising how many times you have to reboot a winmo phone for one reason or the other).

All an average user wants is ONE place to look for apps and one click to install it on the phone and not have to reboot your phone every damn time.

[Pookiewood @ Jun 16th 2009 12:35PM]

You are joking right?

- Search 100 different websites to find the app you want (but is butt ugly to fit in the winmo look and feel)
--These 3 have more than enough and at least we have the option to check 100 sites. Not just locked into iTunes/Apple App Store

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/catalog/cataloghome.aspx

http://www.handango.com/

http://www.mobihand.com/

- Download the .cab
----I can log on through my phone and download it to my phone. No biggie.

- Click on it.
----Don't you have to Click on it using iTunes or App Store?

- "Are you sure" - Yes
-----iPhone doesn't do this? I'd hope it would incase you are accidently installing the wrong program.

- "Where do you want to install it, system memory or sdcard?" - Choose one
-----At I least I have the option. This is a good. Think some things you want on your device and some you may want on your storage card. Knocking this is plain stupid.

- "Are you really sure?" - Yes
-----Lie

- Wait for it to install.
-----We all know there isn't an install time on iPhones or any phone. :|

- REBOOT! (worst of all, it's surprising how many times you have to reboot a winmo phone for one reason or the other).
-----Point? You only reboot for installing some Apps. I've installed plenty of Apps/Programs that didn't require a reboot.

[Guyver03 @ Jun 15th 2009 12:34PM]

I was really excited when I caught "Samsung Jet packs" out of the corner of my eye...

...then I read the rest of the title and saw it was about a cellphone.

Now I'm sad because I thought I was one step closer to flying to work everyday. Thanks Engadget for raising my hopes and then killing them just as quickly.

[Matthew Huang @ Jun 15th 2009 12:48PM]

I like the screen

[Mr. Blurrycam @ Jun 15th 2009 1:01PM]

I opened the article and was so disappointed to find out it was about a Samsung phone, not "Samsung Jet Packs"...

[Wormbolt @ Jun 15th 2009 1:54PM]

Me Too. I hope I never see a headline like "Small Sword Company Makes Light Sabers".

[darkmax @ Jun 15th 2009 1:11PM]

OK... it's official... the worldwide Samsung event, "Unpacked", revealed the Jet.....Doh...

[shinrajp @ Jun 15th 2009 1:51PM]

The 800 MHz is just a gimmick to make the overall interface smooth and DivX support.

So far, the only OS that can truly challenge iPhone is Palm Pre. Too bad Omnia II is running a non standard OS which means there won't be a wide range of applications available compare to Symbian, Android, Palm, and OS X.

After playing with Palm Pre, I think I've fall in love with it except that the overall built looks cheap and a very edgy keypad which makes me very uncomfortable. The Built in 8GB without memory expansion of Palm Pre is also a big minus. Anyway, the OS is superb at multi tasking! Hope iPhone will have that capability.

[mko @ Jun 15th 2009 2:21PM]

Smartphone means a platform with native code API for third parties. Sure most phones have Java Mobile Edition but middlets run on a sandbox.

Oh and about 'true smartphone' thing it's the difference between North America and Eastern Europe/Middle East markets.

For me, iPhone is uber expensive Android and webOS are inexistent.

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 16th 2009 9:11AM]

And the sandbox is the best place for them IMHO. There's no reason for any application to have more access than it needs.

[xtasi @ Jun 15th 2009 8:50PM]

the article of the Omnia II is right above this one. The cover pick looks the same. The difference is WinMo for Omnia, Samsun OS for this one?

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 15th 2009 10:01PM]

Engadget, how about when you talk about a Phone's processor, you actually write what processor is instead of just it's clock frequency which means little without more information.

[quillaja @ Jun 16th 2009 8:51AM]

feature phone + smart phone = fart phone.

[agentlotek @ Jun 17th 2009 2:40PM]

Meh...

[ahmadbashir22 @ Jul 23rd 2009 8:04AM]

Can I use the JET as an internet modem to a laptop?

[PatronAnejo @ Aug 6th 2009 4:47PM]

You people have got to be kidding. Samsung can flood the market with any handset it wants because it is a vertically-integrated behemoth. It can serve up eye-watering quantities of these things at prices Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile can't refuse; next thing you know, we're all wondering how our bratty nephew got a dead-end feature phone with specs that put our iStorm3G-1 to shame.

Fact is, Samsung have no interest in licensing proper operating systems or in updating any unit once it has left Korea. Their handsets are nothing but showcases for vendor hardware: Looking for an AMOLED display for the next iPhone? Here, play with this. Looking for an 800 MHz processor so BlackBerry users will stop complaining about being unable to watch Hulu? We've got your answer humming in this thing. And because AT-MoSprizon picked up a couple million of these featurephones at cost (cost to the chaebol, that is), all of these advanced components are now available to OEMs at commodity prices.

This handset (nevermind its predecessors) was never meant to be an iPhone-killer; it's simply a by-product of Samsung's business model. Sure, the specs look great, but it's not meant for the power user--it's meant for millions of clueless moms to pick up for their eighth-graders, repurposing market share to amortize component development costs. That's right, it's those idiots with their dead-end featurephones that subsidize all of our precious iPhones, G1s,and Pre's (and everything else that couldn't have happened without KHTML). So get your niece one for her birthday and quit yer bitchin'.

[Bachlogic @ Sep 6th 2009 8:16PM]

Hey Nilay,

If you'd keep your mouth shut, you'd only look stupid. Do you get paid for this job? I would like to apply for your job as you are seemingly inept and have no clue what you speak of.