Samsung i8910 HD firmware update said to increase awesomeness, decrease suckiness

We somehow doubt it'll address each and every complaint out there, but Samsung has just announced a rather promising-sounding firmware update for its awesome-but-underserviced i8910 HD. Apparently the biggies here are improved browsing performance thanks to a new Webkit engine, an "improved graphic engine" for faster multimedia access, and -- wait for it -- kinetic scrolling. Yes! It starts rolling out next month in the UK, with other markets "gradually" picking it up thereafter, so it's time to dig through the attic and put that bad boy back into service.

[iLoveApple Posted Dec 23rd 2009 4:17AM]

Chris, please update the source for this? Your source link just points to the Samsung Mobile homepage, where there's no mention of this firmware update.

[UKJeeper Posted Dec 23rd 2009 3:28PM]

@(Unverified)

http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/news/newsIrRead.do?news_ctgry=irnewsrelease&news_seq=16079

[UKJeeper Posted Dec 23rd 2009 3:29PM]

That's great news, hopefully this will stop some of the negative impressions people seem to have had about this phone. It's good to know that Samsung hasn't shrugged off the i8910 as much we were beginning to believe.

I've been perfectly happy with it since day 1, with one exception. Video recording in 'HD'. It's been a big let down, i t jus t doe sn 't wo r k.

Apart from that, i'm happy. I've tried or used all the other 5th edition devices. This is still the one i prefer. The speed and slightly different UI (blended with Touch Wiz) is much quicker and smoother than the native Nokia (and SE) renditions.

[pachi72 Posted Jan 2nd 2010 1:36AM]

@UKJeeper Is there a way to disable Crap Wiz?

[brrip Posted Jan 5th 2010 5:37AM]

@pachi72 yup. the default most people use is the basic touch, which has 4 shortcuts and the calender/notes plugin like the s60v3 phones.

touchwiz is getting better though, mostly due to phone buyers who're willing to develop, which is to say this is the first time samsung is doing something about this phone at all.

[Anphaser Posted Dec 23rd 2009 5:10PM]

Finally the hard work has paid off! I was happy as well but not completely satisfied. Clearly there was something wrong and something needed to be done. Glad it's finally happened.

[Armchaircritic Posted Jan 28th 2010 4:54PM]

@Anphaser

Hats off to you dude for some great (intellectual) work and making this happen. Any update on when the update is released?

[Gery Posted Dec 24th 2009 12:02PM]

It's finally a step in the right direction, but I hope they don't stop after this.
There is still a lot to do, like autorotation in every menu (it sucks to turn the phone round every 2 seconds just to type something or open another app), steady 24fps in video recording, updating TouchWiz to the latest version like on the Omnia II and so forth..

[surgex Posted Dec 24th 2009 12:19PM]

Wow..and I was JUST about to sell my omniaHD...I think I'll wait and see what this FW upgrade has to offer.

[rob47 Posted Dec 30th 2009 6:12AM]

It's about time, I had this when it first came out. I had to get rid of it the lack of support from samsung at the time annoyed me to high heaven.

[iPhone666S Posted Dec 31st 2009 3:40PM]

Those who disagree with me, let me warn you now, this comment will not be pretty. My family bought the original Omnia a little less than a year ago. I have never in my life seen a piece of technology cause as much frustration as the Omnia. It was so bad that it was worth the $130 cancellation fee with Verizon to me. I expect this from Windows. I went with Apple's iPhone 3GS and have nothing but praise for it. I hope to spare some poor soul the dispare I had to deal with with this phone. And yes, I have a list of problems that occurred but I won't go into detail.

[pachi72 Posted Jan 2nd 2010 1:38AM]

@iPhone666S This is not the Wm version you referring to. It the Symbian version.

[pachi72 Posted Jan 2nd 2010 3:17AM]

@iPhone666S This is not the Wm version you referring to. It the Symbian version.

[brrip Posted Jan 5th 2010 5:41AM]

@iPhone666S

The original omnia was crap. No offense, but if you bought it, then of course you'd like the 3GS better. It's not only almost 2 years since the Omnia, it's a great buy for users who don't check what they're buying (no offence) and even besides that, a lot of advanced users are very happy with the iphone, though i don't feel that way.