“Samsung’s Omnia smartphone seems to have been designed as the Windows Mobile answer to the iPhone. But, while it has a touch-driven display, the Omnia just cannot match the simplicity of Apple’s user interface,” Daniel Robinson reports for vnunet.com.
“The SGH-i900 Omnia… adds a custom user interface called TouchWiz on top of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.1 platform. However, we found this simply adds another layer of complexity rather than making the handset easier to use,” Robinson reports.
“The ‘main menu’ has user-friendly icons linking to common functions, but tapping on any of these simply takes you back to the standard function with the normal Windows Mobile look and feel,” Robinson reports. “Because the Omnia runs Windows Mobile, most of the on-screen controls are too small to hit accurately with a finger. However, unlike other Windows Mobile devices, there is no slot on the Omnia to store a stylus. Instead, Samsung supplies a separate stylus, almost guaranteeing that the user will lose it.”
Full review here.
MacDailyNews Take: More derivative garbage designed to fleece the ignorant. Samsung should be embarrassed. How many crappy, fake iPhones does the world need, exactly?
@MDN – The answer is 47.
Samsung Omnia = Amusing moans
“SGH-i900”
Catchy.
The guy that names Windows PCs sure gets around.
Dangerfrog: Douglas Adams would have said, “42.”
Samsung Omnia… sounds more like a name for a sleep disorder. From worries of the misplaced stylus.
Deep Thought.
What was the name of the computer that knows the question though?
Oh and that is one ugly homescreen.
Deep Thought.
What was the name of the computer that knows the question though?
Oh and that is one ugly homescreen.
The Earth.
Dull name.
more evidence some companies just don’t get it when it comes to designing good products.
that reminds me… what is it they say about lipstick on a pig?
@dangerfrog – I thought the answer was 42.
Bonus points to anyone who gets the pun.
Who designed those icons? A third grader. Cheesy.
Once again for all those who didn’t get it the first time around: The iPhone is simply the best smart phone on the market.
Period.
Does this mean the bloodbath continues?
Isn’t that Windows 3.1 with a tad better coloring on the icons?
“How many crappy, fake iPhones does the world need, exactly?”
“I thought the answer was 42.”
<u>That’s</u> fortitude.
Pretty soon the pigs are going to revolt from all the freakin’ lipstick.
..well we can all say what we like … there now is truly an iPhone killer on the loose.. and i hate to say it .. but its actually better than the iPhone .. i mean like really!!.. the HTC Touch HD!! go check it out if u dont believe it
Too subtle?
“but its actually better than the iPhone”
Better camera? Yes and a 2nd camera for VGA video calls. Nice.
Better display? Debatable. Slighter larger display but 65K colors compared to the iPhone’s 16M makes its resolution at 480×800 pathetic.
Memory? Um, not even close. 512 MB ROM but you can lug around microSD cards
3G? Pretty equal.
Size? Pretty equal.
OS? Windows Mobile 6.1. Ugh.
Multi-touch? Nope.
iPhone killer? Not really. Maybe an annoying welt.
Competition is good. It’s a great motivator for all including Apple Inc.
Putting CheeseWiz on top of WinMobile is not going to help.
Hearing the term “Touchwiz” reflexively made me shout out “No, Uncle Frank…”
TouchWhiz (misspelling intended)…what a joke. That’s lipstick on a pig (Windows Mobile 6.1).
LOL, no really, LOL, that was great
there are many cell phones with touch screens, but iPhone ist just one!
For consumers, the Omnia has FM radio capability and a TV output (using an adapter cable) for playing video.
I’m Sold!!
Reminds me of the late 1980s when Windows 2/3 was used to launch MS-DOS programs…
It’s sad really. Products like this are placeholders for a prayer that Samsung (and MOT, SE, LG, Nokia etc) will somehow muddle through into a viable future. The idea is to demonstrate that you are still a contender and superficial look and feel will find a market. In the meantime, they will pedal like mad in the background to come up with something with real merit. A lot of athletes competed in the Olympics even though they had no chance of a medal. It is a national pride thing. Well the Omnia, like every other iPhone knock-off, is Samsung’s pride thing. It’s probably the best in its class, but it’s the wrong class. iPhone Gen3 will demonstrate the platform’s class superiority convincingly. Samsung is a god company but their strengths lie elsewhere. No modern OS, no smartphone.
Errr.. make that a ‘good’ company and let’s keep religion out of this.
Better camera? Yes and a 2nd camera for VGA video calls. Nice.
Better display?… a picture says a thousand words.. better yet, here’s a video! (excuse the French).. go to Youtube and search.. “SUBTITLES JUST ADDED : HTC Touch HD” (12:33)
Touch HD’s display makes the iPhone’s display look like a joke.. do your homework boss!! and this isnt even the final release!
Lugging around SDcards??..uhm yeah.. we all know how those huge heavy SD cards are known for causing herniated discs..right!
Multitouch?!.. try sending a simple file to or from your iPhone using bluetooth (bluetooth file transfer is a very basic necessity) ..can you multitouch your way to a simple file transfer?..
Size? Pretty equal.
oh ..and to throw in one or two other things about the iPhone…Camera has no auto focus, nor video recording… nor any settings at all
Safari browser doesn’t support Flash and Java, doesn’t have a download manager
Bluetooth support limited to headset use only (no A2DP or file transfers)
No office document editor
No copy/paste functionality
No memory card slot …but hey.. there’s multitouch!!
i am no fan of microsoft.. absolutely in love with apple..(trust me when i say it) … i have been trying my best to find something wrong with this HTC phone ..believe me.. but from the videos and reviews that i’ve been seeing and hearing.. this device matches the iPhone toe to toe.. and surpasses it in many areas.. HTC did good job..
32 plus or minus 31