By Peter Blasina
Samsung has showcased a radical new mobile phone at CommunicaAsia in Singapore. Seen as direct competition to the soon to be released 3G iPhone, the Omnia using TouchWiz touch-sensitive screen technology will be available in Australia by August this year.
At the launch Josh Delgardo, Director Samsung Mobile, said that the new Samsung Omnia (model number SGH-i900) brings together a huge feature set that has the capacity to combine high performance business content, top of the range style and a fun, dynamic multi-media experience, to ensure users can always be connected at both home and work.
According to Delgardo, Omnia, which means ‘everything’ in Latin and ‘wish’ in Arabic, goes beyond the current top-of-the-line features available in today’s smart mobile phones. He made the point that the Omnia supports most of the major networks with HSDPA 7.2 Mbps (2.1GHz) EDGE / GPRS (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900.
Operating system
The Omnia allows users to switch seamlessly between Microsoft Outlook email and productivity applications that replicate the look and feel of their PC – with a stroke of a finger. Based on the most up to date Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system, the Omnia gives users a mobile extension to their PC experience, with access to MS Office documents such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word. Users can also send and receive email and manage their appointments in Outlook while on the go.
The Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system means users can download additional programs as they would on their PC and customise it for individual needs. For ease of navigation a unique ‘reversed’ optical mouse similar to those on laptop computers is embedded at the bottom of the screen. The mouse offers improved usability and one-handed control when navigating windows files, documents or applications.
Like the Apple iPhone, the Omnia delivers a large LCD screen, which is ideal for viewing digital entertainment. The wide 8.13 cm (3.2 inch) WQVGA – 240 x 400 pixel – screen is ideal for viewing videos and slide shows in high-resolution and as well as offering advanced audio capabilities.
UPDATE – Read the first full Australian review
GadgetGuy has published the first full Australian review of the Samsung Omnia – click here to read the review.
