Samsung SCH-a990: Frankenreview roundup of the 3.2-megapixel Phone
Fellow gadget journalists at CNET, PC World, Infosync, and PC Magazine have all had private time with Samsung and Verizon's smoking hot 3.2-megapixel camphone. But why slog through 15,000 words of trade publication text? We've ripped out the heart and soul of each, and patched them together into a relevant — but undead — Team Gizmodo Frankenreview. As a bonus, we've even reviewed the reviewers! Quick, into the jump-cave!
Our four headed reviewer says:
-"The SCH-a990 is about the size of a two Motorola Razrs stacked together."
-"Its 3.2-megapixel resolution yields up to 2048-by-1536-pixel images"
-"The 3MP camera works as a business-card scanner too."
-Camcorder mode captures a somewhat impressive "320x240 and 176x144" res.
-"The camera's 1- to 2-second shutter lag was frustrating."
-The phone's screens look good, including "a sizable 1.25-inch, external TFT OLED that shows the time and date, network strength, battery life, and photo caller ID...inside the 2.2-inch screen boasts 262,144 hues and a sharp 240x320-pixel resolution."
-"Music playback through the phone's speakers left much to be desired as songs sounded tinny, but audio quality improved when we plugged in Verizon's [uncomfortable] headset."
-Reception was fair, but the indicator didn't work reliably: "This phone has the most inaccurate reception gauge I've ever seen. One bar! Two bars! Four bars!"
-Fair enough, the "Samsung's noise-cancellation easily silenced a nearby jackhammer."
-"I worry a little about the battery life, though: Four hours..."
-"Using a $30 USB cable purchased from Verizon, I synced WMA and converted MP3 files onto the phone from a Microsoft Windows XP machine running Windows Media Player 10. (The phone doesn't play MP3s natively, only WMA files.)"
-"There's no Web browsing and no e-mail, though there is a WAP browser and text/picture messaging, of course. You can use the phone as a USB modem for your laptop on Verizon's high-speed EV-DO network for $60 per month over the price of your voice plan."
Source: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/samsung-scha990-giz-frankenreview-of-the-32megapixel-camera-phone-190451.php
Verizon Wireless, Samsung Launch SCH-a990 Camera Phone
JUL 07, 2006
Verizon Wireless and Samsung on Thursday announced the availability of the SCH-a990 phone, which features a 3.2-megapixel digital camera, making it the first camera phone with such resolution available to Verizon customers in the United States, according to a July 6 press release on Yahoo Finance.
The SCH-a990 takes similar quality photos as standalone digital cameras, according to the release, and can record up to one hour of video. It also features Verizon V Cast capabilities for watching video and downloading and listening to music, and the phone’s Bluetooth wireless technology enables users to wirelessly print photos to a Bluetooth-enabled printer.
The SCH-a990 looks like a typical cell phone when held upright, but when a user flips it 180 degrees, it takes on the appearance of a digital camera. It also has a built-in flash and photo-editing software, according to the release.
Peter Skarzynski, Samsung senior vice president, said, “The launch of the a990 marks the first time a multimedia phone is fully integrated with a high resolution camera in the U.S. With a design that feels and looks like a phone and a camera, Samsung’s a990 is the premier print quality camera phone for photo enthusiasts in the U.S. market.”
Users of the SCH-a990 will also be able to employ Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator, which includes tools for mapping and verbal navigation, among other features, according to the release.
The SCH-a990 goes for $349.99, after a $50 rebate, with a two-year service agreement. It’s available immediately through Verizon online, and it will be offered in more than 1,900 Verizon retail stores on July 24, according to the release.
Source: http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=22777
Samsung and Verizon Ship the New SCH-a990 Mobile Phone
Samsung and Verizon Wireless say the SCH-a990, a 3.2-megapixel digital camera phone, is now available. The product boasts a number of media features, including V CAST to view video ,V CAST Music and Bluetooth wireless technology. The SCH-a990 has a design that looks first like a phone and then like a camera. This design, along with the high resolution and features such as a flash and in-camera photo editing software, make the SCH-a990 the first mobile device that is as much a camera as it is a multimedia phone.
The SCH-a990 is a strong V CAST multimedia phone with full music, video and game capabilities on its screen. V CAST Music lets owners play music on their wireless phones - the same device they have come to rely upon for entertainment, information and mobile communication. V CAST customers can browse, preview, download and play digital music from their SCH-a990 over Verizon's broadband network or from the Verizon Wireless V CAST Music online store using a personal computer. Owners can also view video clips from the hottest names in entertainment, news, sports and more in the palms of their hands.
The SCH-a990 phone supports VZ Navigator. This is a tool for customers that includes mapping, audible turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to find over 14 million points of interest.
Other key features include:
- 3.2-megapixel digital camera with flash, auto focus, picture editor, PictBridge Digital Printing, Zoom, TV-out and 180 degree Swivel Screen
- V CAST-capable:
* V CAST Music
* V CAST Video and 3D Games
* Get It Now-capable
- Mobile Web 2.0-capable
- Camcorder with up to one-hour recording time
- TXT, PIX and FLIX Messaging capabilities
- Bluetooth wireless technology
- Expandable memory with microSD memory card slot
- Voice dialing with advanced speech recognition
- Quick Search support to find menu items and contacts
- Business Card Scan capability
- Dimensions: 3.80" x 1.88" x .82", 4.40 ounces with standard battery
- T-9 text input
- TTY compatible
- Personal organizer.
Source: http://home.nestor.minsk.by/computers/news/2006/07/0706.html
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