Samsung Omnia W-Review

Windows Phone 7 as an OS has become mighty delicious after the Mango update. I would go on to say Microsoft has managed to offer a better user experience than what Android offers, making WP 7.5 second best only to the iOS. The Omnia W performs very well. Add an excellent battery life and a good display, and the dish is ready to be served, hot. The Omnia W is a representation of what a company like Samsung is capable of. The device is considerably cheaper than its competition but has excellent specs and usability. Here is our review on the Samsung Omnia W (Wonder).

Design(look & feel):

 

The Omnia W looks like a compact smartphone, with the 3.7-inch display ensuring it isn't very big to hold, a problem that some 4-inch smartphones face. The front has the display,  A singular ‘Home’ button resides at the bottom of the 3.7-inch Super AMOLED display and bears the Microsoft logo.  There are two touch sensitive keys – return and Bing search. The power key is on the right side panel, and not on the top where it is usually on most phones. The volume rocker is on the left side.

A micro USB port is positioned at the bottom and a standard 3.5mm handsfree socket is located at the top of the handset. 

Camera, Display and Multimedia:
The camera on the Omnia is a 5 mega pixel autofocus camera, with impressive light capture, the camera is one of the best cameras in its class of phone. The autofocus is fast, although you have the ability to tap to focus aswell, images can be clicked almost instantly. Video on the other hand is capped at a 720p HD quality, we often wonder why companies do not design the cameras to deliver 1080p, either way, video capture will require a lot of ambient light and indoor video is poor. The front camera is only good enough for low bit video calling , and should solve the purpose unless your friend on the other side is viewing your video on a big screen TV, if so is the case you will look like a character from Minecraft.
The display is a beautiful Super AMOLED display is a Samsung PenTile display which means that two red subpixels, two green subpixels, and one central blue subpixel is placed in each unit cell of the display. In layman words, its an old technology developed by Samsung back in 1990, and is still used in some of their devices. The display matrix arrangement has often received critique, and is not appreciated well. We however, found that the display was able to reproduce color well and had good deep black levels. The display is excellent for viewing video and and playing games. If you have a thing for the “world wide web”, or a bookworm within, then the display is capable of crisp fonts / texts on the screen for easy viewing. Outdoor visibility is low-poor, due to the inherent problems in AMOLED screens.

With limitations to the kind of files that can be played back on the device, it does not compete with an Android device. Bluetooth is locked and file transfer denied, for most of the things. However, whatever Windows can play natively will work on the phone, and you can always sync up using Zune, or Windows Phone Connector. The speaker is loud enough for music and watching movies. The included earphones are above average, but will not satisfy the bassphile.

Camera Samples

       

                                "Click on images to expand"

Internet, Battery and Operating System:

The internet is a domain which is not properly tapped on the Omnia, with limitations of the browser in terms of javascript and flash. That being said it is one of the fastest internet browsers out there. The screen is great for website browsing and even better to read daily news stories from iGyaan. With a host of apps from the marketplace you can actually find your fix for the web.

Battery life is impressive on the Omnia W with upto 2 days of standby and 5 hours of talk time. The battery fares well while gaming and heavy graphic games can be played for a good 2-3 hours. Music playback should last 10 hours while video lasts about 4-5 hours.

 

The OS is a different playing field in the world of iOS and Android, as we mentioned in our previous Reviews. The interface is one of the cleanest and snappiest out of the lot, and there is no crashing or lagging from the interface even when multiple tasks are running ( Surprising since Windows is the name attached). The marketplace is also ever-growing with a host of applications and games, the future of Windows Phone looks bright. With no access to file sharing over bluetooth and native file compatibility, the closed system may be a let down for some. Samsung has added Video Calling to the OS to make it a little worthwhile. Samsung also offers multiple apps to make the experience a bit better. The included AllShare will allow for you to stream media to other Samsung Devices.

Our Take:

The Omnia W is the cheapest Windows Phone 7 right now and is available for a price of Rs.14,390. That may seem like a great price for a handset with specs like these, however taking overall functionality into account, we were not impressed and you wouldn’t be missing too much by opting for another Windows Phone 7 device, right now even if it cost you a little more.

We Rate It : 4/5

Price Rs. 14390/-

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Nokia Lumia 900 launch in the Philippines

The Launch of Nokia Lumia  in Philippines other day where they had a 3D/4D projection thing going on. It’s for the launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 but other Lumia handsets are also on show.

It’s hard to see what’s going on with all them windows on the building.

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Hasselblad has announced Discounts in Price

Hasselblad has announced plans to cut the prices of a number of models - including nearly 23% off the entry-point H4D-31 (with 35-90mm lens) and more than 20% off the 60 megapixel H4D-60 camera (pictured). Under the revised pricing structure the H4D-31 kit will be available for €11,995. The H4D-60 cost is down €6,200 to €23,900. Additionally, customers who buy a new Hasselblad camera and lens before the end of July will be eligible to purchase a second lens at just 50% of the manufacturer’s recommended sales price.

Hasselblad Press Release

Now your new Hasselblad could cost 22% less
18/05/2012 The cost of owning one of the world’s most coveted high-end cameras has just been dramatically reduced, following the launch of a landmark global marketing initiative by Hasselblad.
The makers of the world’s most advanced camera system have announced plans to cut the cost of ownership on a number of models - including a massive 22.9% off the entry-point H4D-31 (with 35-90mm lens) and 20.59% off the company’s ‘ultimate photography tool’, the 60 megapixel H4D-60 camera.
Under the revised pricing structure the H4D-31 (incl. 35-90mm lens) has been reduced by 3,565 euros to 11,995 euros. The H4D-60 cost is down 6,200 euros to 23,900 euros.
Chris Russell-Fish, Hasselblad’s Global Sales and Marketing Director said: “This is a groundbreaking move and a very important day indeed for every photographer who aspires to own one of the best cameras in the world. For many, price has long been the biggest barrier to ownership. Now we have substantially reduced prices on six units and there really has never been a better time to get your hands on a Hasselblad. Photographers can now buy into our fully integrated H System capture solutions with an H4D-31 camera body for less than 9,000 euros.”
He added: “This price reduction campaign is part of an innovative and dynamic marketing strategy for the company, ahead of the world’s biggest photographic trade fair; photokina, Cologne, in September. We are determined that more of the world’s serious creative photographers will now have unprecedented access to a Hasselblad at a price they can afford.”
The popular Hasselblad trade-in opportunity will also continue. Russell-Fish explained: “We have adjusted this programme to reflect our new price structure. Photographers can get more information online.”
Under the new deal the H4D-40 unit is reduced by 1,000 euros; the H4D-50 by 3,000 euros; the H4D-50MS by 3,000 euros; the H4D-200MS by 4,500 euros and the CFV-50 Digital Back by 2,000 euros.
And in a separate stand-alone offer customers who buy a new Hasselblad camera and lens before the end of July will be eligible to purchase a second lens at just 50% of the manufacturer’s recommended sales price.

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Free Apps To Track Your Stocks

Bloomberg (Free; iPhone, iPad, Android)

A recognizable name amongst the mainstream public by any measure, Bloomberg has come out with an official app on both iOS and Android to give users instant access to its vast and comprehensive database of business news, market data and portfolio tracking tools.

Get market-moving news from a broad swath of categories -- 35 in total -- ranging from Economics, Politics, Technology, Health Care, Currencies, Emerging Markets and more. The Bloomberg is sure to satiate whatever hankerings you have to learn finance, giving you a perspective of the subject from multiple angles. It even supports live Bloomberg TV and videos on the top business stories in-app.

Yahoo! Finance (Free; iPhone, Android)

Yahoo might be in the process of slowly slipping into obsolescence, but in all fairness, its Yahoo Finance app is still doing pretty well and packs some rather robust features. Consistently one of the highest rated apps for stocks in the app store, it serves up details ranging from broad market indices to details on a specific commodity, and boasts a target market of both amateur hobbyists and serious finance heads.

Organize at-a-glance stocks, a summary of market conditions, a daily ticker video, real-time and after hours data, statistics and graphs. Some handy features within the app even let you deal with smart pagination and shake navigation (shaking your phone to take you back to the menu screen) for less hassle.

CNNMoney (Free; iPhone, Android)

When you have an app that's been put out by the triumvirate of CNN, Fortune and Money, you can expect quality. CNNMoney delivers both breaking business news and comprehensive market coverage from one of the most authoritative sources in business and financial news.

So what features can you enjoy within the app exactly? With CNNMoney, you'll get a proprietary news feed, full articles, breaking news alerts, video, a stock ticker, customized stock quotes and tracking, market updates, and content you've handpicked yourself.

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Build for the Motorola DROID BIONIC has leaked again

Build for the Motorola DROID BIONIC has leaked. This update that should make the device that much smoother. And we’re sure these updates are all preparing the phone for the transition to Android 4.0 before too long. Users should be happy that this phone is getting the attention it gets considering how bad it was when it first launched.

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Promotion for students in US, Canada Microsoft renews 'buy a PC, get a free Xbox'

People are always comparing and contrasting PCs and consoles, but of course, the ideal is to have both platforms. For students, doubling up will be just as easy this year as it was last year. Microsoft has renewed its promotion that makes students eligible for a free Xbox 360 if they purchase a PC worth a certain price.

Here are the criteria, in Microsoft's words:

Starting May 20th in the U.S., students who buy a qualifying Windows PC worth $699 or more at participating retailers can get a 4GB Xbox 360 console for free, just like last year! Starting May 18th in Canada, students who buy a Windows PC worth $599 or more can also get a 4GB Xbox 360 console for free!
Participating retailers in the US include Best Buy, Dell.com, Fry’s Electronics, HPDirect.com, Microsoft Stores, and NewEgg.com. In Canada, they include Best Buy, Dell.ca, Future Shop, Staples and The Source.

Not sure why Canadians get a sweeter deal, but okay. Oh, and obviously, providing student ID will be a must in either country. Those e-tailers and retailers aren't just going to let anyone youthful-looking walk off with a free Xbox.

Even if you're a die-hard PC gamer, I think it's hard to take issue with the promotion. Xbox 360 exclusives remain a reality, and the console offers a different multiplayer experience than the PC. I hope this won't encourage students to buy cut-rate PCs without decent graphics, though.

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Upcoming iOS 5.1.1 Jailbreak Will Support iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 3rd-Gen

Earlier this month, iOS hacker Pod2g released an FAQ for his upcoming iOS 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak, which stated that the iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch would not be compatible. He did say, however, that this situation “may change,” and it has.

In a recent tweet, Pod2g confirmed that he has now discovered “a way through for iPod 3G and iPhone 3GS users.”


Good news. We’ve found a way through for iPod 3G and iPhone 3Gs users. Upcoming jailbreak will be compatible.

That means you can now update these devices to iOS 5.1.1 safe in the knowledge that the next jailbreak will support you. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the third-generation Apple TV, however, which is still yet to be cracked.

iJailbreak has put together a handy list that makes compatibility a little clearer:

iPhone 4
iPhone 4S
iPad 1
iPad 2 Wifi
iPad 3 Wifi
iPad 3 CDMA
iPod 3G
iPod 4G

Here is the list of devices that won’t be supported :

AppleTV 3
Remains to test (but that should work) :


iPhone 3Gs
iPad 2 GSM
iPad 2 CDMA
iPad 2 Wifi, R2
iPad 3 Global
AppleTV 2

There’s still no release date for the jailbreak just yet, but it seems Pod2g is certainly making some progress.

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