Galaxy S phones boast ease of use, bright screen
Published 4:00 pm Friday, July 30, 2010
Products: Galaxy S phones: the Samsung Vibrant on T-Mobile and Samsung Captivate on AT&T.
Features: Runs Samsung’s interface of Android 2.1 operating system on a 1Ghz Hummingbird processor. Has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, 16 gigs of internal memory, 5 megapixel camera and 720p HD video recorder with zoom. Has Swype text input option as well as a separate Samsung touch keyboard.
Differences: These sister Galaxy S phones are pretty much identical. T-Mobile has rounded edges and a smoother back case compared to AT&T’s square-edged Captivate. T-Mobile comes with alternative battery cover and preloaded with Sims 3 game, Photo Postcard app with goofy photo frames, and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar.’
Ups: The Super AMOLED screen technology is impressive from the moment the phone is powered on. Colors are extra bright and pop more than other phones — but it could be simply because colors are more saturated than reality. It’s also ultrathin and light and feels comfortable to hold.
The interface was smooth, fast and intuitive. Samsung’s on-screen keyboard was a breeze to type on. And battery life wasn’t an issue: I watched the entire 2 ½-hour “Avatar” movie on T-Mobile’s Vibrant — and it used only half the battery. The camera takes great photos and has many options for effects.
Downs: My cheek hit buttons in the middle of a call twice on the T-Mobile version. I haven’t heard of many other users experiencing this, so it’s possible that I had a unique proximity sensor issue. (I recommend returning it for a fix if this happens to you.)
It also has the same flaw as Motorola Android phones: vertical photos are turned horizontal when shared.
Bottom line: If you don’t mind only sharing horizontal photos, you’re going to love the easy-to-use phone and the super-bright screen. If you wanted a screen that’s larger than the iPhone 4, but Sprint’s Evo or Verizon’s Droid X were too much, this will feel just right.
Various Galaxy S models will eventually be sold with every major carrier. Verizon has promised one with a camera flash, and Sprint’s will have a slide-out keyboard.
