Samsung i320 review: Smart goes slim

Operational System

When Microsoft launched the new OS Windows Mobile 5, they spoke about a joint version for Smartphone and PocketPC, which made many users believe that they would be able to install applications designed for PocketPC into their Smartphones. This, of course, is impossible, as applications for PocketPC require the use of a touchpad display as a basic interface. This is why application developers continue to create their products in two parallel versions.

   
Three views of the stand-by display; main menu

According to me, the use of a Smartphone version of the Windows Mobile OS is one of the greatest mistakes on behalf of Samsung. Why? The small amount of available applications. See for yourself: browse the Internet and take a look at the biggest software e-shop Handango. Here you will find a database of 12,805 applications for PocketPC, while Smartphone has exactly 1,702 (to make the picture clearer: in the same shop there are mere 6,181 applications for Symbian OS). In short, PocketPC offers more alternatives, of which each paid one is accompanied by at least one free alternative. Only one of every six available applications is designed for Smartphone. Besides, the OS used in Samsung i320 lacks common Office applications for editing text or spreadsheet documents. For that purpose you will have to find additional (usually paid) alternatives.

After all, I do not have any other significant notes regarding the OS used in Samsung i320. The 5 version has undergone major improvements compared to the previous one. At the same time, certain important elements have remained untouched. What I do not find user-friendly is the complicated setup of this system. The entire Settings section is chaotic and difficult to work with. Let me give you an example: the sound setup. In the Profiles section the phone provides the possibility to select only one ringing type within each particular profile (vibration, ringing with vibration...), while ringtones are set up in the Sounds section. What's worse, here you will find sound profiles, which totally change previously made settings. It is just unnecessarily too complicated.

   
Application menu and setup menu (somewhat chaotic)

The speed Samsung i320 works at is worth an applause, even if the device sometimes shows certain delays when shifting calendar views quickly. As a whole, however, the new Samsung Smartphone does not slow down even when several applications are left running in background.

More software

Samsung has created its own version of the Today main display. In the first case almost the entire screen is occupied by an attractive picture, which however makes work with it less user-friendly. The second theme already contains a table including a list of received messages, upcoming events etc. The respective panel can easily be hidden and reopened according to the user's wish. An original setup is available as well. A novelty is the Launcher application, which speeds up access to most frequently used applications. Launcher is fully configurable. It is opened through a longer press of the Home key (marked with a house).

Another interesting element is the D-Day application. This creates events, which can be additionally accompanied by particular date and name. And that is it. Alarm that would alert you about saved events is not available. As far as the application Picsel Viewer is considered, I myself find it rather useless. It is basically a picture browser which doesn't outperform the ones featured by the Pictures & Video application.

   
The D day is going to happen one day. You will not be alerted about it though

Another curious application is Voice Assist. It reminds the speaker independent voice dialing used in some of the latest Nokia models. Samsung i320 does not require preliminary voice recording. You simply need to pronounce the respective name and Voice Assist will look it up for you. Yet, bare in mind the fact that being an English application Voice Assist requires the use of English names.

Other applications worth mentioning are the unit converter and the stopwatch.

   
English contact search; counter; stopwatch

Present are also all other famous applications obligatory for Windows Mobile: calendar, task manager, file manager, games, Windows Media Player etc.