Review: Samsung Omnia from Verizon

by Steve Ragan - Feb 23 2009, 07:37

The Tech Herald has been testing the Samsung Omnia for a while now. The phone, available in Europe and Asia for months before we got a chance to see it stateside, uses Windows Mobile 6.1 and boasts a sleek touch interface. At first glance, the Omnia resembles an awkward iPhone knockoff. It's not, far from it. The only thing the Omnia has that really compares to the iPhone is its touch interface, the rest is pure Microsoft and amounts to probably the best Windows Mobile device Verizon presently has on the market.

 

The Omnia is a pure touch-screen phone. No stylus is required, only a finger. There is an optical mouse (a small square located between the 'Start' and 'End Call' buttons) that allows users to navigate menus and options. The text entry is almost exactly what users would likely see on a BlackBerry Storm (minus the push screen), but the lack of a keyboard, as seen in the HTC Touch Pro, stands out. Like other similar devices, the Omnia will adjust the display according to how it is held, either on a vertical or horizontal axis.

 

Using the Omnia was a bit of a challenge at first. Even when borrowing a stylus from a Nintendo DS, the device is best controlled using a combination of fingers and the built-in mouse. Ladies, if you have long fingernails, they won’t help you. In fact, during testing, they were a hindrance according to one tester. Yet, once the learning curve is passed, the touch controls respond quickly and with no lag.

To help make things faster, which helps cut down the learning curve, the Omnia has a help feature directly on its main screen. Using this will train users on how to use the phone and best apply its touch screen and navigation controls. 

 

Related to the learning curve is another cool feature for the mouse. Specifically, users can configure it as a directional pad or as a real mouse. Applying the mouse exactly like a real one will help with most operational issues, but users will still need to get used to physically touching the screen and using their hands to navigate.

However, the mouse option is a great way to access the point-and-click icons and widgets present on the Omnia. In truth, the ability to use it this way is the best thing about the built-in optical mouse feature.

Like the HTC Touch Pro, the Omnia uses Opera as its built-in Web browser. Unlike the HTC Touch Pro, the Omnia threw up no problems during our testing. Pages loaded quickly and were easy to navigate, and, thanks to the handset's crystal clear display screen, the Omnia offers easy-to-read visuals as well.

 

 

 

Using Verizon’s Connect feature, users can access some of the more popular online portals, such as Facebook, MySpace, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Windows Live, AOL, and also VZW Mail accounts too.

 

Another aspect that is a killer feature on the Omnia is its Wi-Fi capability. A rare feature indeed from Verizon, but it takes only seconds to set-up and then users are able to gain Wi-Fi access in areas where Verizon’s coverage might be lacking -- or just for everyday use at home.

During the review process, Wi-Fi worked like a charm. Verizon’s network, as per usual, functioned everywhere across Indianapolis that it we saw fit to test it. Call clarity was excellent as well. There were no drops, no static, nothing negative to report.

The widgets users are offered are also decent. The widget bar can be found on the left of the Omnia's screen and includes things like a calendar, an address book, games, a media player, a clock, and more. Yet, oddly, one widget is missing, a weather widget. While not a big deal, when considering there is a clock covering international time zones, surely a weather feature wouldn't have been such a stretch in terms of content.

 

Other additions, like an RSS reader, Podcast manager, and TV Out viewer layer the little things that round out the Omnia. While not everyone is likely to use all the Omnia's features, their very availability will at least make some power users and geeks jump for joy.

Further to that, the Omnia can be used as an FM tuner. However, the speaker leaves something to be desired, and there are no headphone jacks either. Likewise, there is no VCast on the Omnia, so this isn’t a true multimedia phone. Users can still take advantage of the included VZ Navigator, and there is also access to the application shop for games and other items -- although each of those range in price.

The Omnia comes with a 5.0 mega pixel camera capable of capturing images with a level of quality that proves phones are catching up with the commercial camera market. The camera is packed with features including auto flash, smile detector, various presets (depending on the scene), the ability to take rapid images for subjects in motion, image cropping, and more.

 

The image below was taken in a room with backlighting using the Omnia’s settings for indoor lighting, contrast, brightness, zoom and other features, as well as the cropper.

Notice how it captures some of the gloss on the business cards and can even detail some of the ink imprinting. The text is off, and when using the text mode on the camera for the same shot, the results remained the same (the text errors could very well be user error too).

 

Again, the Omnia is a Windows Mobile device running version 6.1. This means all the normal Microsoft-related apps are installed. Users have access to Windows Mobile Internet Explorer, Windows Media (DivX and Xvid support included), and Mobile Office.

Mobile Office worked as expected, but it’s better to do minor edits on the device than attempt to create the latest fiscal report. Outlook worked as expected too, using POP to access e-mail was simple to configure. Remote Desktop also worked, but the controls were somewhat annoying, as was the display.

 

 

While Windows Mobile devices are looked upon with some disdain, because of past lacklustre performance, the Omnia stands out as one of the few diamonds in the rough. If you compare it to the HTC Touch Pro, the Omnia is hands down the best Windows Mobile device in Verizon's portfolio.

Performance wise, the battery lasted longer than expected. On a single charge and constant use, the phone ran for about 7.5 hours. The mouse on the device deserves another mention, as well as Wi-Fi. Both of these additional surprises help make the Omnia a serious toy for a dedicated geek to play with.

Despite the lack of certain features, and the need to acclimate yourself to a completely touch-based environment, the Omnia is one phone that is well worth its asking price.

Users can get the Omnia through any Verizon Wireless store; the cost is $249.99 USD and requires a two-year contract. Visual Voicemail, VZ Navigator, and a data package will cost extra depending on the chosen data plan. There is also a mail-in rebate, worth about $70.00 USD.

Around the Web