Samsung Omnia Pro B7610

RobM · 09-11-2009, 12:38 PM

I have in my hands a Samsung Omnia Pro B7610... so if anybody is interested and wants to know anything specifically, please let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

First impressions, bearing in mind I've had it for about an hour so far...

The Good:

Screen is lovely and clear
The screen is a very decent size and resolution is as good as any other
Keyboard is very good and very usable, although lacks an 'OK' button

The Bad:
It's pretty big... a very similar footprint to an iPhone, but twice the thickness.
It's slow. Flicking between the multiple homescreens, menus etc has a noticeable lag. When scrolling through screens, up and down menus and other such movement on screen there is a delay and a jerky movement.
Samsung have hidden everything behind their own UI, right down to the Start Menu and Settings. Some of it makes sense and it certainly looks prettier, other things aren't as logical as WM.

I have it for two weeks so will no doubt change my opinion on some of this stuff as time progresses. But it certainly lacks any form of 'wow factor' and to be honest, I'm not sure what this phones unique selling point is that would make you chose it over the other WM phones on the market?

If you want to know anything though, post here and I'll do what I can

Rob

RobM · 10-11-2009, 8:53 PM

Two days in with the Pro... this is probably the worst handset I've used in a long time.

The main problem is the constant crashing of the Samsung Touchwiz UI, which generates WM errors on a worryingly regular basis. Mostly when coming out of standby.

The UI has half-heartedly been applied. Some really useful features, such as the ability to change the text size, has been hidden. Error messages have not been re-written so the steps refer to WM6.1 not the Touchwiz UI which would be a problem for your average end user wishing to be pro-active in fixing a problem.

It runs out of memory on a very regular basis, displaying the type of error I've just described (i.e follow a path to task manager that doesn't exist).

I'm not convinced that the build quality is going to last. The plastic feels cheap and the slider has movement in it.

A shame really, as I was looking forward to getting this.

Still plenty of time to win me over though....

RobM · 11-11-2009, 7:50 PM

Day three.. no change. Another factory reset looms tomorrow....

devbod · 14-11-2009, 5:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobM83

Two days in with the Pro... this is probably the worst handset I've used in a long time.

Thanks for the info. Had been thinking about this one but new phone releases are coming thick and fast at the moment so I'll hold off for a bit.

NicolasB · 14-11-2009, 7:36 PM

Well, I was going to ask how it compares to the HTC Touch Pro2, but it sounds like the answer is "not very favourably".

RobM · 15-11-2009, 9:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicolasB

Well, I was going to ask how it compares to the HTC Touch Pro2, but it sounds like the answer is "not very favourably".

Not really, no.

The TP2 is far more solidly built, for a start. And HTC's attempt at hiding WM is far more successful than Samsungs.

The start and end of problems with this phone is the Samsung software. Without this it would be a decent Windows Mobile handset with a decent and very easy to use keyboard.

The Omnia Pro has a Work/Life mode switch that changes the front end. In Work it's a series of panels that shows notifications of email, messages, appointments as well as shortcuts and loads of other things you may need. In Life, it's the same TouchWiz UI you see on many Samsung handsets with the Widgets floating around.

The Work mode cripples the handset. The Life mode doesn't show me the information I need, as I'm coming to this as a business tool first and foremost.

I was going to be getting a replacement device last week to see if I had a bad egg, but the word from Samsung was if the software is to blame, it's unlikely that a new handset would help.

I suspect all of the shortfalls of this handset could be cured with a well implemented firmware upgrade. If the resource usage of the software could be reduced the entire device would spring to life.

So to anyone still reading this... don't be put off entirely, just sit tight and watch what Samsung do.

RobM · 16-11-2009, 9:16 PM

After a few days of using the Pro in 'Life' mode it's looking a lot better. Still not fit for the purpose I'm testing it for, but for the average end user it's looking better.

The Life mode is the same as you'd see on numerous other Samsung handsets of late, but it's still Windows Mobile 6.1 under the skin and it does show often in things like messaging.

But in Life mode the phone zips along much happier. Combined with the decent AMOLED screen and great keyboard it's a decent device to use.

I still don't see the unique selling point over the countless other similar devices, unless the price comes in at a considerably lower price than the competition?

RobM · 19-11-2009, 7:49 AM

Well today I'm sending it back. It's just not delivering and despite showing promise as a consumer smartphone, it's disappointed overall.

Windows Mobile 6.5 might breathe some life into it, but only if Samsung do not put their own software over the top of it!

redfern · 13-02-2010, 2:19 PM

I sort of had my heart set on this phone and googling for any last minute stuff I can find on it. Now I think oh dear. What did you replace it with?

RobM · 13-02-2010, 2:50 PM

I only had it on trial so didn't replace it like for like really.

What was it about this that attracted you to it? There are other similar handsets around.

But if you can, get some hands-on time with this before writing it off on my experience alone.

redfern · 13-02-2010, 3:31 PM

What attracted me to it? There is no real logic to it I just fancied a new phone. My current one is a D900 had it for years it is a fantastic little phone. But with all the whizz looking new things figured I'd look for a new one. Sticking with Samsung seemed reasonable.

I realise that actually other than the name it really does not matter if I switch to another brand, because there is no real comparison between the D900 and a B7610 (oh l liked the idea of the keyboard rather touching a screen – not that I have tried one).

You are right I need to get some hands on first and I should try out other makes. Think I've just been hypnotised by all the technical stuff that I have no real understanding of and I know I won't use most of the time. Unusually for me I think I've got a touch of gadget fever.

Translates as I want to buy something new and I want to buy the best that I can with all the bells and whistles.

So I’m glad I read your post it’s made realise I need to stop and figure out what I really need rather than flash!

Thank you

RobM · 13-02-2010, 3:36 PM

Couldn't have said it better myself

On paper this handset should be amazing. But it's the software that lets it down. It's a Windows Mobile based handset, which is hardly the best starting grounds, but oddly it's the Samsung software over the top of WM that ruined it for me.

Try it and see. Software can be improved and hopefully Samsung have done this. But if you're in the market for a new handset and want the best, I think you're looking in the wrong direction.

Check out something like the HTC Hero, Motorola Milestone, Google Nexus One, iPhone, Blackberry 9700. To a lesser extent, the Nokia N900 and Nokia N97 Mini too.