Samsung I8700 Omnia 7 review: A whole new galaxy

11 October 2010
Though it might seem like a chicken-and-egg situation, the question in our case never was which one came first: Windows Phone 7 or the Samsung Omnia 7. We know you’re all adding two and two together. Our Windows Phone 7...

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  • m
  • maverick777
  • jJf
  • 13 Oct 2010

eka, 13 Oct 2010Well you've just admit the problem with android, and HTC de... moreHow will it get worse with the next version? Android 3.0/Gingerbread has minimum hardware requirements that will only make it get better as a mobilie entertainment platform.

However, WP7 does have a HUGE advantage with XBOX live. Giving consumers a centralize area for socialized gaming is a big deal. Both iOS (Gaming Center), and Android (OpenFeint?) need to get their act together or they'll miss out. Gaming won't make or break a platform, but it certainly generates a lot of buzz and sells lots of hardware among consumers.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • niD
    • 13 Oct 2010

    Anonymous, 13 Oct 2010Why someone will prefer WP7 over iOS... Devices will be e... more"Why someone will prefer WP7 over iOS..."

    changes are good? i have iphone but it's not changing i feel i want something different. I like iphone smoothness and i see same smoothness and speed on wp7. Still i'm not sure why i want wp7 because it same limitations than iphone, which i havent ever needed.

    But wp7 give me the WOW factory what i havent had since i saw iphone.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • 3xL
      • 13 Oct 2010

      Jteve Sobs, 13 Oct 2010Such a shame. Huge potential but now it seems like its goin... moreThe smartphone is still a relatively new market, which is growing at a strong pace. It's still early days to say anything for sure.

        • J
        • Jteve Sobs
        • 2@U
        • 13 Oct 2010

        Such a shame. Huge potential but now it seems like its going the same road as WinMo 6! Just for the record, not everybody owns a Zune or Xbox!

        iPod and Playstation have been dominating the music and gaming industry for years now with numerous peripherals from exclusive gaming producing rights to iPod covers and the amount to market control these have is almost unmeasurable.

        So Microsoft, what makes you think your OS would make me go out and get a Windows Phone 7, Zune and Xbox all in a day? Not a chance!

          • m
          • moutasfigkis
          • S7S
          • 13 Oct 2010

          Do you have to pay to get one of these?? Soooo many limitations to overcome which makes me feel like a test user :(

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • mTW
            • 13 Oct 2010

            Anonymous, 13 Oct 2010Why someone will prefer WP7 over iOS... Devices will be e... moreNot everyone is technical, and has perfect information when making decisions on buying phones. There are so many ways people make decisions on how to buy phones, of course, not all are the right way.

            WP7, has a lot going for it, even though on paper the feature list comes up short compared to other phones.

            1. It is by Microsoft, and this is a big factor. Windows being the dominant computer OS, it is easy for (non techie) folk to assume that WP7 phones would be the most compatible with their computers, compared to iPhones, Blackberries or Android phones. If its made by the same company, it has to play nice together right?

            2. Gaming. The XBox Live integration, if marketed well, could be a tempting factor, in the teen/gaming market.

            3. Same manufacturers as Android. Average users may not really be able to tell Android from WP7. Some make decisions solely on hardware. With the manufacturers of WP7 phones being the same manufacturers as the Android phones, it could be a matter of flipping a coin if the purchase were split between these two OSes.

            I want to repeat, that again, these are factors that could affect purchases for non-informed customers. Depending on how well Microsoft leverages the above, could determine the outcome of its fate to a certain extent.

            That being said, I believe that WP7 has done enough to at least gain a small foothold in the marketplace, at least until the second generation phones appear. Things will really get interesting then. Whatever the case, one more player to the smartphone field, can only be good for us, the consumers.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • ss6
              • 13 Oct 2010

              Why someone will prefer WP7 over iOS...
              Devices will be expensive too , and the new OS will not have
              Much applications

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • ney
                • 13 Oct 2010

                Have they really taken a look inside the battery tray? Some phones do have a sd card slot. And you can stick in a new card there. But then you have to hard reset the phone.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • Pxx
                  • 13 Oct 2010



                  * No system-wide file manager
                  * No Bluetooth file transfers
                  * No USB mass storage mode
                  * Limited third-party apps availability
                  * No Flash or Silverlight support in the browser
                  * Too dependent on Zune software for file management and syncing
                  * No video calls
                  * No custom ringtones
                  * Music player lacks equalizer presets
                  * No multitasking
                  * No copy/paste
                  * No DivX/XviD video support (automatic transcoding provided by Zune software)
                  * No sign of free Bing maps Navigation so far
                  * No internet tethering support
                  * No memory card slot
                  Hey no one need these Right.

                    • e
                    • eka
                    • sSV
                    • 13 Oct 2010

                    [deleted post]Well you've just admit the problem with android, and HTC desire actually a high end android phone but it sucks at games that samsung got no problem at? that is one HUGE android sucky things, and it will get worse with next version of android.

                    NO such problem with Windows Phones 7.

                      • e
                      • eka
                      • sSV
                      • 13 Oct 2010

                      Alui, 12 Oct 2010Just that "all" old Windows phones do not meet th... moretake a look at HTC HERO , LEGEND etc those hardwares capable for android 2.2 , but no, android 2.2 wont be available for these devices. SUCKS HUGE.

                      Windows Phones 7 just starting, NICE updates will be coming and unlike iPhone you have CHOISE of different models, and unlike android you wont be force to buy new phone just for updating next android version.

                        • T
                        • TJ
                        • Im$
                        • 13 Oct 2010

                        It is hard for me to believe that any of the people on here posting comments are adults, let alone professionals? Are you really arguing about whether or not one OS is better than the other. A review is nothing more than one persons opinion, if you don't like the system, don't like it. Unless you are in Europe the system hasn't even been released yet and most of you are saying it sucks, and I would bet that 90% of you have nt even used it yet. Sad grow up people.

                          • T
                          • Tron
                          • 4cS
                          • 13 Oct 2010

                          Same iOS restrictions. We don't want that.

                            • G
                            • Grover
                            • 2xG
                            • 13 Oct 2010

                            No copy and paste.
                            Windoze 7 is a disaster.
                            Bald Balmer should resign.
                            They could have had a market monopoly and they blew it again.

                              • r
                              • rafaelinux
                              • LEq
                              • 12 Oct 2010

                              Well, I don't know what you people @ gsmarena were looking for, but photos are kind of a disaster, there's a halo around virtually every subject, they have an extraordinarily oversaturated feel, and half the subject is out of focus. On top of that, the video is more of the same. :( pathetic imaging quality.

                                • A
                                • Arlen
                                • 3AQ
                                • 12 Oct 2010

                                the UI is so nice,modern and fast!!!
                                i like that. apps are good too,

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 3xL
                                  • 12 Oct 2010

                                  Gaming is one area here where WP7 has a distinct advantage over Android. If they are able to leverage this, Android will feel the heat very soon. It's all up to Microsoft though, and how well they capitalize on this.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 3xL
                                    • 12 Oct 2010

                                    blacksheep, 12 Oct 2010It's a shame that these WM7 devices do nothing. The Omnia 7... moreWith all the sales of the iPhone and iPad, why would emulating it be a bad thing?

                                      • M
                                      • Miwi
                                      • m%L
                                      • 12 Oct 2010

                                      Can WP7 read and display pdf-files?

                                        • b
                                        • blacksheep
                                        • 3Hw
                                        • 12 Oct 2010

                                        It's a shame that these WM7 devices do nothing. The Omnia 7 looks good but no Divx, no mass storage, no Micro SD slot, Zune trying to copy iTunes. This is not a good move for Window Mobile.