Samsung i600 review: Slim, smart, QWERTY

3. Phonebook, voice dialling, messaging, camera, connectivity

Grid or List?

There are two types of menu's layout - grid and list. In grid view you are unable to use numbers as shortcuts to applications but this layout is generally better compared to the standard list-oriented one.

Grid menu style • list menu style

There is only a cosmetic change of the dialing screen; the standard blue screen is replaced by a flashy green-blue 3-D animation that we like a lot.

Dialing animation

The Samsung i600 comes with a standard Windows Mobile for Smartphone phonebook - no changes there. You have multiple fields for entering information on your contacts - even ones you might have never thought of. The phonebook entries are practically unlimited as they depend on the available shared memory only.

Opening a contact

The i600 comes equipped with speaker independent voice dialing software. All voice tags are created automatically and match names of contacts, applications and documents. Despite the fact the voice dial works best with English names, it handles very well with other non-English names, provided they are not too long or sophisticated for pronunciation.

The Assistant works accurately with included programs. The Voice assist program in Samsung i320 performs poorly in phone book, but we generally found it pleasing to use the upgraded version in i600. A suggestion to put a shortcut of Voice assist in uMenu will significantly facilitate the immediate access to it. We've conducted the test in normal office environment, but in very noisy environment you are sure to encounter more mismatches in its performance. Sadly, Voice Assist doesn't work with Bluetooth headset.

Start menu • processing request and available names • executing a program

Standard Messaging

Again there are no changes in interface and functionality regarding messaging - managing text, multimedia and email messages is virtually the same as in every other Windows Mobile based smartphone. MS Direct Push allows for immediate reception of emails as soon as they arrive at the mail server, while typing a one is very convenient with the QWERTY keypad. It is also possible to view e-mail attachments, while the VPN support ensures security through encrypted wireless communications.

SMS and e-mail view and options are as always the same

Camera: poor performance

Samsung i600 features a 1.3 megapixel camera with fixed focus and no flash. Combined with the poor camera performance and QVGA-15-fps video recordings you should have no positive expectations at all. Generally, for such devices, camera is a mere formality and this one doesn't make an exception to the rule. Probably this is the reason for the camera not having its own dedicated button, and instead it starts with a longer press of the right-side back/clear key.

Loading camera • standard view • settings menus

The maximum resolution, in which the messenger takes photos, is 1280 x 960 pixels. Settings are available for shooting mode, size, picture quality, white balance, effects, timer, and frames. Generally, images are greasy, obscured towards edges and blurred. The video clips are recorded at QVGA and 15 fps - acceptable performance for a smartphone, though.

Overcast conditions • sunny conditions • GSMArena new photo test posters

You may also see a sample Samsung i600 video clip.

Data transfers and communication

Samsung i600 connectivity capabilities are up-to-date, sporting 3G (HSDPA 1.8 Mbps), EDGE, GPRS (class 10) ,Wi-Fi (version 802.11 b/g), VPN support, Bluetooth 2.0 (A2DP, AVRCP), and USB 1.1. This arsenal is meant for immediate performance - HSDPA boosts data transfer speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps. Users will appreciate the fast connections when downloading multimedia content or using the integrated MS Direct Push. Faster data rates enable the mobile user to access more files in the same amount of time, while providing greater fidelity for streaming video content. On the other hand, with Wi-Fi, users can make cost-effective calls when connected to a Wi-Fi network through a VoIP system. In addition, taking advantage of the super-fast speeds, users can access the internet or connect to other Wi-Fi enabled devices. You can also rely on a VPN support with encryption for enhanced security. Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP and AVRCP support allows wireless streaming of stereo music.

Classic wireless manager • find a net • details