Samsung Omnia II unboxing and hands-on
By Paul Miller 
posted December 2nd 2009 11:03AM
posted December 2nd 2009 11:03AM
posted December 2nd 2009 11:03AM
Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5
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@305BuddyLuv
You should be relieved to hear that this isn't a product review then, though it's disappointing the number of people who don't even bother reading the article. Either that, or have incredibly short attention spans. After all, it says right in the post...
"...We'll have a review for you before long, but for now you can check out a quick video rundown..."
@Alan Strangis
Dude; seriously. What he is showing on this video (No matter what the title say) is kind of a review.
Not a full one, but a review not the less.
This is really just another example of why Samsung should stick to making devices and not user interfaces. The device itself is really quite nice. The screen is not only beautiful, but it's one of the best resistive screens I've seen. It also has plenty of horse power, unfortunately it's being dragged down my Samsung's poor UI. Were the Omnia 2 running straight WM 6.5 with Titanium it would be a must better experience.
I had a chance to play with this and looks to be another stinker in the Samsung VZW lineup. The combination of WM 6.5, which is just horribly, horribly outdated, and Samsung's interface just presented a slow and laggy phone that maybe would have been a competitor 1 year ago. After unboxing it, putting in the battery, and powering on the store's demo unit for the first time, the Omnia II could barely run a built in dice-shaking app. Omnia I and Glyde are amongst the worst VZW phones not just by Samsung, but ever, and this is unfortunately is another stinker in a long line.
The video's blurry focus made my eyes bleed.
While video is not the best (one day is not much to get to know the device well), the device seems to be terrible. Maybe hardware is nice, but look, feel, operating system, UI and usability are not even close to iPhone...
What do you expect Opera mobile is still in beta. Now if this was an HTC device the guys at XDA would be all over this by now making new roms, and stuff to make it run faster. Also, I find it odd that my Samsung i760 with WM6.1 had predictive text but this does not.
I'm sorry to have to jump on the band wagon here, and I dont mean to beat a blurry horse, but it's really just so easy to edit a video these days. It would be nice if you could put a little bit more effort into these vids lately. I'm really interested in the content but the quality really isn't so hot.
The camera man should turn off auto focus.
I believe I started all the complaining about the Video quality. Main problems:
1. blurry image because of loosing Focus all the time.
2. No optimal, fixed position of both the device and the camera.
Why does Paul need to hold the device in his hand? He could put it in a fixed phone-holder (build something Engadget). This holder could also support the camera in a fixed position.
Just build such a 'phone-camera-positioning-device'.
I vote to have the guy who made this video be banned from making any more videos. He clearly doesn't know what he's doing. And I think engadget should buy everyone a bottle of Advil who got a headache from watching this video.
@(Unverified)
Yep...I am traumatized. I tried to keep watching but especially the part where Paul tests the browser made me flinch. I had to stop. Don't know how this mini-rev. ends.
"It's a little chubby..." just like you eh? :) Phone don' told me it hated that part the most. Oh, i am the phone-whisperererererrrr
@merovingian
The funny thing about it him saying it's 'a little chubby' is that it's actually smaller than the iPhone. I really wouldn't describe it as chubby, it's quite average really.
This device is a hot, laggy mess. If you have to have a touch screen windows mobile 6.5 device on Verizon, i'm gonna have to say go with the Imagio for now. The camera features look good, though... and I suppose you could always flash this device with a little patience and lots of XDA love.
Using the phone for a while and played with HD2, my two cent -
1. The OLED screen and cam are good - much better than HD2 - see for yourself.
2. Battery life is good too.
3. The Samsung UI is partially good(at least fair) - just drop the Saumsung WidgetPlus(today plugin), or drop it all together and use SPB mobile shell or WM default.
4. Sumsung Touch Player is based on Windows Media Player and sucks as usual - they tried and failed.
5. Web browsing sucks as always with WM - get an iphone or Andriod instead if you are serious about Web browsing. (Yes, I tried all available browsers on WM and ended up getting a 2nd phone for Web browsing)
So if I am to choice between Omnia 2 and HD2 - I don't know really, HD2 is probably faster but the nice OLED screen and better cam of Omnia 2 does go a long way for me.
im am really sick of laggy and unexciting phone interfaces.
Resistive touch screen? No thanks. Microsoft still just does not get it.
@tbergquist
Um this is a Samsung phone. The resistive screen would have been there decision and not Microsoft's.
@djt Yes, Thank you. But this Samsung phone runs Windows Mobile, which, by confession from Microsoft itself, does not support capacitive touch screens. Look it up.
@djt But if it makes you happy, "Samsung still just does not get it"
@tbergquist Where the hell have you been? Look a couple pages back for the HTC HD2... Yeah, capacitive and WinMo 6.5.
Maybe you just need some coffee.
If Touch Wiz on this phone were about 50%+ faster, I would actually like it. Something isn't right here. Theres no way (whether its ARM 11 or not) that an 800mhz proc should be this laggy or slow.
This phone needs a serious dose of XDA magic and it would be really good. Everybody knows that capacitive screens are better, but resistive screens are not dead yet and are still getting better. I would not have a problem with this phone. Engadget, give it to me if you don't want it after the test.
I wonder...do any of the children flaming this phone actually own a smartphone and use it for work.
I've had my Omnia2 for about two weeks now. Here's my two bits:
The Touchscreen responsiveness/accuracy feels about as good as any of the other 'in class' devices I've used or seen used, same goes for lag(what lag?) and yes the battery life is stellar. I only charge every second day at night. The screen itself is a godsend, it is incredibly easy on the eyes when stuck trying to read docs on a sub 4" screen.
TouchWiz is an abomination, it lasted about 20 min on my device so let's not even go there. SPB might find a home if I can get around to tweaking it so it works for me, but personally I'm diggin the Titanium(Zune) for a front end; it's minimalist and it works. There's two user programmable hardware keys with press/hold options for jumping around(force rotate FTW) The stock keyboard in landscape is more than good enough for me when messaging.
The camera is what I expected, but I will note the IS is useless(you need a steady hand) and the auto focus doesn't like wide+deep field shots(ie cityscape).
The WebBrowser/MediaPlayer/ect. works as well as a business user would need: if you need it it's there and it works(I got this device for mobile Excel: no more clipboard and consolidate when doing monthly inventory or setting up orders)
Will the HD2 trump it? Yes it will, but I'm a Canadian and don't feel like waiting another year to get a phone marginally better than the one I just got(for only 150 yay for haggling) I'm still in customizing mode, but overall quite pleased with my Omnia
Not EVERYTHING is UI, you dumbass on engadget
SBP mobile shell is a good alternative for people who don't like Touch Wiz UI..
However strengths of this phone.
1. good call quality
2. Loud speakers.
3. Removable battery.
4. MicroSD
5. OLED with 800 MHZ ARM 11 processor.
6. adjustable processing speed. Battery life is good.
7. Good PDA with fuctional GPS.
I Have an Unlocked Omnia II from ebay. It's a great phone. None of you have it, why are you commenting about how SHatty the device is.
Checked it out at VZW store today.
1. NO DISPLAY READY. The only one to show from back had a broken screen on shipment! Bottom 1/6 of screen went bad. Is this a bad sign if you drop it???
2. The GPS is NOT OPEN. It is locked to VZ Navigator! I thought that they promised all new phones to have open access of GPS. Bing app could bot access GPS. I even checked in Settings to make sure it was on.
3. I hate knowing MORE about a phone than the store MANAGER!!
@tahoerob
I droppped the Omnia II like two times.. NO PROBLEMS>.
just a fault device there.
YOU CAN ADJUST THE PROCESSING SPEED .
And, USE SPB MOBILE SHELL..
Plus Samsung should instantly use SPB MOBILE SHELL for their WIndows MObile Phones..
@FlasH
I have original Omnia. Had to get SPB Shell to make it useful! Alos got Kinoma Play to make it a good multimedia player. It sucks to spend almost $100 to add third party software to make a once $200 (of course now free!) phone work better
@tahoerob
The GPS is locked to VZNavigator?
What? Lol. Windows mobile 6 and above have the GPS enabled for every single application...meaning multiple apps can all use it at the same time. It's a setting. Don't be dumb..
Oh, you brainwashed HTC, Motorola, Apple fans.
How many phones sport a OLED, 800MHZ that provide better phone quality service, Video Player display quality (Better than LCD), and
PDA Functionality...
I want functionality first. The UI is second. Samsung clearly wins with functionality.. But The UI does need to improve I would admit.
I agree that the Samsung phone has a great camera with cool features. Also, running Divx out the box is a major plus.
The original Omnia was way to samll & narrow to use the virtual keyboard. I also had to buy TouchPal to get a desecnt keyboard.
I would also admit,
If Motorola came up with a tremendous phone.
1GHZ and beyond dual-core (hummingbird anyone? Don't give the hummingbird to F#$##cking Apple!)
Pico Projector
Optical Zoom 12 MP Zenon Flash with 1080 P Video recording
OLED
512 RAM(maybe 1GM RAM)
64 GM Flash Memory
DLNA wireless transfer of data to Televisions and monitors ( Yeah apple is going to give that technology to you roll eyes).
Propietary Batteries (Samsung and LG and maybe Sony)
then I'll be excited for the phone company.whether Apple, Palm. that would be a legitimate reason to be excited.l
No company in the world, except Samsung, provides Optical Zoom, Pico Projectors, OLED or Flash memory on their own. Samsung is the one can do it. Other phone companies are pwned technologically speaking.
but you stupid Dumb brainwashed consumers care about UI this, UI that.. IT"S NOT THE ONLY FACTOR in determining a PHONE!
@FlasH It's not. I agree. However, since the UI is the way that you interact with every component of the phone, if it sucks, most people will not enjoy it.
If you can look past a sucky UI and appreciate the device for what's on the "inside," more power to you. I just like a pretty interface. Guess I'm superficial like that.
I was really looking forward to this phone. The screen and design are both gorgeous, in my opinion. But I played with it in store today and was pretty disappointed.
It really was laggy. Something as simple as flipping between the homescreens was even slow. It was slightly faster with the stylus, but only minutely. And the UI is really not my favorite. It's so simplified that it's not simple anymore.
I have to say this though: Swype is extremely cool. I will give them that.
@setulf
You can adjust the processing speed in the set-up menu.
If that isn't good enough, download mobile shell if you can for free. Or get SPB from someone you know.
Details bout the phone:
It is the same chip as the iPhone 3G (old) - S3C6410.
Datasheet: http://www.samsung.com/global/system/business/semiconductor/product/2008/5/30/785500s3c6410_datasheet_200804.pdf
The installed drivers can do OpenGL ES 1.0
Microsoft and Samsung have been in dispute about how the chip implements some important functions like Alphablend, Scaling etc (which are most often used functions for good graphics/UI performance), due to which the hardware has been disabled, and software emulation is being used in place - Microsoft being the major douch-bag here.
The phone has serious issues with Windows-landscape mode, and uses proprietary methods to show content in landscape mode, which means 3rd party apps running in landscape mode will not be able to get good performance out of this, 3rd party apps cannot use the video overlay in landscape mode.
The hardware in this device is really awesome, but the software has been totally crippled by MS and Samsung.
The stock apps work really well especially in video playback.
The hardware is underpowered for gaming at such high resolutions, and rendering the games at low resolution will result in pixelation, which makes me wonder about the choice of hardware and software used for their flag-ship phone.
Sorry Paul... I stopped the video when you pulled out the stylus.
@DrEngrish You're a moron. No, seriously, you are.
Do you cover your ears and sit rocking in a corner when someone uses a #2 pencil instead of a pen to write with?
Do trackball mice freak you the hell out too? Or maybe you draw the line at 'optical' vs. 'laser'?
OH CHRIST DON'T LOOK NOW, SOMEONE READING ENGADGET HAS A CRT MONITOR!
@Rojo I love readers who overreact to every comment that doesn't align to their opinions... I personally find most phones with resistive touchscreens frustrating to use. Deal with it :/
very nice!!!!
I have bought one, bot still havem't wm6.5 update news
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What do the apple, motorola and HTC fans feel..?
hmm..the 'hands-on' took ages. Looks like they didn't rehearse and the flow just didn't seem right to me. The phone itself is kinda pants, a bit jerky like the old Omnia. Droid for me!
why !!? does the guy doing the review ever use a touchscreen phone before ??? so stupid, and the camera man must have had too much alcohol night before! I want my 1 minute back in my life from watching this stupid review !!
@DrEngrish I was purposely overreacting to your comment just as you were to the inclusion of a stylus with this phone.
So it has a stylus as an option. Whoopdyfreakin'doo!? It's still a damn good touchscreen for which you'll never need a stylus if you're a typical user. Of course if you're like me and actually log into terminal servers from your phone, utilizing a shrunken desktop with the need for excessive precision, it's a great option to have. Guess what? I'm not carrying around an extra, more expensive stylus to use on a capacitive screen that will just get lost because there's no nice little place to store it on the phone. That is, of course, assuming any of the phones available to me with capacitive screens could actually run the software that enables me to connect to those servers, which they can't.
As far as the implied resistive vs. capacitive argument, you haven't used this phone have you? Of course not. So you have no idea how responsive this screen actually is.
I now own this phone so I can back up my inane fanboy rants. NE2 was up and I was able to pull the trigger for $150.
So for a mini-review:
I disabled TouchWiz almost immediately. Note that it has to be disabled in two places to get to the default WinMo 6.5 today screen and the default 'start menu.' I have near-zero use for widgets and the TouchWiz program menu is ugly and slow. I setup my 7 e-mail accounts, including exchange/activesync, setup my wi-fi to my [admittedly ridiculously locked-down] home network and have had some fun with the camera and video. Swype is absolutely spectacular and only gets faster to use as it learns your favorite [curse] words.
The screen... my god, it's full of star-err win. This may as well be capacitive with the bonus of working with fingernails. There is practically zero give and it is extremely responsive with the lightest pressure. The haptic feedback is a little strange at first, but can easily be disabled if desired. It's actually pretty intuitive when scrolling through long menus or file lists in letting you know how fast you're scrolling. By default, a short tone is also played with every 'click' that quickly gets annoying and intrusive due to the volume; I disabled that almost immediately. While there's no slider for the unlock feature, the default lock hard-button is recessed and not going to be easily hit. The buttons to wake up the phone from a lock/screen off are configurable, so if you hit a button often while transporting, disable it from waking it up.
The stereo speakers sound surprisingly good to me, all things considered. I haven't heard very many phones play mp3s out loud, precisely four, but these are by far better than anything I've heard. Music and calls are clear and didn't distort much even with high volume.
I reproduced the zoom issue as in the video and it's an Opera problem, so take that as you will. Doesn't make much sense to try to zoom into a page that hasn't loaded yet anyway. I consider that a non-issue.
The Nuance voice recognition is a nice addition and has worked very well for me so far.
I know some people have started rumors that the GPS is locked...
The GPS IS UNLOCKED. There is of course no 'assist' so it still takes ~30 seconds or so before Google Maps picked up the sats.
Geez. The idiot camera man thinks D-Day is in July? June 6, 1944 dork!
Yeah...this was totally painful. Did this guy prepare at all?
I'm looking to get this 2nd gen Omnia, mainly cause I liked the 1st gen Omnia (although the antenna sucked on the first one, couldn't get really a good signal live in NW South Carolina, but could be the phone's fault don't know for sure though) and i liked the openness of the programs allowed (just used Skyfire and is more flexible) and nice camera. Word of caution: don't put alot of programs on either phone, cause it will bog the processor down quite a bit. Other than the signal issue and mediocre battery life (seriously needs an overhaul), it was pretty good. - BLUEBOY
This guy demos a really cool interactive/musical app for the samsung http://bit.ly/8azzcY