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18 Sep 2008
Manufacturer: Samsung
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.
We took a brief look at the SGH-i900 Omnia, which 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.
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.
The handset also features 'haptic' feedback, which largely seems to mean that the device vibrates annoyingly every time you touch the screen. This can at least be turned off.
However, we also found the Omnia unresponsive, often taking several seconds to react when we tapped the screen.
Like the iPhone, Samsung's Omnia has a relatively large display (3.2in, 240 x 400 pixels) that makes the most of the handset's fascia at the expense of a keypad. The Omnia is actually slightly smaller than its rival, and also weighs slightly less at about 128g.
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.
In another nod to the iPhone, Samsung has replaced the Internet Explorer browser with Opera, which is able to fully render standard web pages as can Apple's Safari browser.
Users double-tap the screen to zoom into the part of the page they want to read, and can drag the page around using the stylus.
The Omnia supports HSDPA up to 7.2Mbit/s with Wi-Fi and built-in GPS. As with many other handsets, Google Maps is the default navigation software.
For consumers, the Omnia has FM radio capability and a TV output (using an adapter cable) for playing video.
The Samsung Omnia is available now through several mobile operators, with price depending on tariff.
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Do you agree?
Omnia & iPhone
I'm commenting on the series of messages that I just read. I think that both phones are good phones. Both the Omnia and iPhone are good. I just think that it's hard for iPhone users to admit when there's a product that compares with it or a product that surpases it. In my opinion I think the iPhone looks rather childish. The Omnia has a professional look to it. I'm a grown man so I'm not investing in a phone for music, i'm investing in a phone for it's functions. So many people talk about the response of the touch screen on the Omnia....seriously think about it. The response time can't be that bad where you clearly say that the iPhone is better. Does one second of wait time destroy a phone? (Assuming that what the critics say is true) Does it make or break the performance on the product? No!! The iPhone was the first of its kind but now we are witnessing an influx of touch screens that are catching up to the Goliath of touchscreens...the iPhone. One on one the Omnia is not all that better than the iPhone nor is the iPhone better than the Omnia. What I'm trying to say here is that it all depends on preference when it comes to these two phones. Everyone is so starstruck with the iPhone that they lack the focus and drive to even attempt to observe other touchscreens. Omnia is a GREAT phone and I will buy it. I don't even want to walk around with a phone that everyone and their mother has (Tom, Dick, & Harry). I'm a unique individual and the Omnia fits me quite well!
Posted by: Maxwell Otalor 05 Dec 2008
Nonsense.
Essentially the only thing the iPhone has over the Omnia is marginal superiority in design and ease of use. Design was a matter of preference the last time I checked. I for one think the iPhone looks like a teenagers play-thing (courtesy of it's iPod inspired design), whereas the Omnia looks like an executive electronic assistant, much more worthy of it's equally hefty price tag. Anyone who really needs a smartphone shouldn't be prioritising those things anyway! On the topic of price, because the Omnia is available on multiple networks, the brilliance of commercial one-upsmanship will soon see the price of the Omnia fall way below that of the iPhone. No one's mentioned the 5mp camera either. Not only a higher pixel rating than the iPhone, but also with a better autofocus lens and a LED flash. Ok it's not the xenon flashes you get on some phones these days, but let's not forget that the iPhone doesn't have any flash, at all. The camera on the iPhone was an afterthought. The camera on the Omnia was an integral part of the original design brief.
Posted by: FdrStrat 01 Oct 2008
And now for the reasons it's better than the iPhone
Whilst I can see how an Apple-phile would come up with those arguements, I would like to point out the reasons why you would buy this over an iPhone..... 1. Whilst the iPhone interface is slicker than that of the Omnia, the Omnia comes with two completely different interfaces that sit on top of the WM6 interface, one designed for the conumer, one for the business user, both of which are very easy to use. 2. The Omnia is not locked to any network in the UK, and is available free on contract from all the major networks. 3. The native business applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) are all much richer in features than the iPhone platform. 4. Being built on the WM6 platform, you can install applications from thousands of different software houses, eg. TomTom. 5. The email client for MS exchange is fully featured allowing use of out of office settings, Remote wipe etc. 6. There is no need to install cumbersome software like iTunes on your PC. 7. It has the ability to be managed through your corporate infrastructure using MS System Center products, and can be authenticated against your AD domain. And much more..... All in all, having owned both, I certainly prefer the Omnia. Thanks, Dan.
Posted by: D Baird 21 Sep 2008
Usability of Omnia
I have an Omnia and an itouch (iphone without the phone). The Omnia is light years behind on usability eg finding contacts, web use. I have had my Omnia for 2 weeks and despair how poor it is at text input (itouch - fine). The interface of the Omnia has tiny buttons that DO need a stylus to hit them. I should ghave bought an iphone!
Posted by: Anteric 20 Sep 2008
Sorry but this is nonsense.
Your impressions are wrong. I'm starting to doubt you've actually used it at all. This is why: "But, while it has a touch-driven display, the Omnia just cannot match the simplicity of Apple's user interface." Agree with this part but the difference is so minor it's not an issue. "However, we found this simply adds another layer of complexity rather than making the handset easier to use." Really? The main icons take you to the main functions. Seems pretty straightforward to me. "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." Incorrect. They take you to the custom designed application such as the Phonebook, the Media Player, the Camera, the Browser, etc. "The handset also features 'haptic' feedback, which largely seems to mean that the device vibrates annoyingly every time you touch the screen. This can at least be turned off." Or the degree of vibration reduced. Haptic feedback is actually pretty useful and if you'd actually used the phone you would know this. "However, we also found the Omnia unresponsive, often taking several seconds to react when we tapped the screen." What firmware were you running? The Omnia only usually has lag when first switched on and booting up. After that it's pretty much instantaneous in terms of response. "Because the Omnia runs Windows Mobile, most of the on-screen controls are too small to hit accurately with a finger." I'm sorry but that's absolute drivel. The menu's are perfectly fine and, as mentioned, it's skinned so most users aren't going to see WinMo at all. "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." The Omnia has an optical mouse built in. This makes the stylus superfluous and only really included as a courtesy. Again, if you had used the unit you would know this. "In another nod to the iPhone, Samsung has replaced the Internet Explorer browser with Opera, which is able to fully render standard web pages as can Apple's Safari browser." A nod to Apple? I'm sorry but what does Opera have to do with Apple since, you know, it's been available on smartphones for the last three years? I would, however, point out that Opera 9.5 actually renders pages better than Safari. "Users double-tap the screen to zoom into the part of the page they want to read, and can drag the page around using the stylus." Or, like people who actually use one do, their fingers. "The Omnia supports HSDPA up to 7.2Mbit/s with Wi-Fi and built-in GPS. As with many other handsets, Google Maps is the default navigation software." But you're free to install anything else on it. Unlike, say, the iPhone. "For consumers, the Omnia has FM radio capability and a TV output (using an adapter cable) for playing video." Plus it all popular audio/video codes including DivX. Oh and it has a 5Mp camera with flash. Which shoots video. Oh and expandable memory. "The Samsung Omnia is available now through several mobile operators, with price depending on tariff." Well at least you got that right. I'll now leave you to your regular job which is, of course, shilling for Apple.
Posted by: Incredulous 18 Sep 2008