This is part 2 of the hardware review of the new Samsung i8910 HD. Please read part 1 first if you have not read it! As stated in part 1 of the hardware portion of this review series on the Samsung i8910 HD, I had to break it into two portions due to the length of the post, because the blog software refused to save my post if I consolidated the two parts into one. So, rather than wasting unnecessary time troubleshooting, I just decided to take the easy way out and break the hardware review into 2 parts! Again, please click here for part 1 of the review before reading this part 2.
Compass
The digital compass, once calibrated will show the direction that the user is facing towards. It is useful for augmented reality type of applications which uses GPS location information as well as compass data to “augment” what the phone’s camera sees with other superimposed data, such as location of the nearest restaurant, petrol station, etc. Calibration is a one time process (unless the phone is reset, in which case the compass will need to be re-calibrated) requiring the user to rotate the phone in a circular motion until the phone is satisfied it has found the correct directions.
FM Radio
The FM radio works with the headset/earphones plugged in, as the earphones will act as the antenna for the radio. Once plugged in however, the user can choose to output the audio to the speakers, with the phone’s dual speakers acting as a mini “boombox”. There are auto tuning, manual tuning and “auto station saving” options available in the application. In addition, the music from the radio can continue playing in the background while the user uses the phones for other functions, for example web browsing. In addition, the user can record audio from the radio in MP4 format. The radio application supports RDS as well, ie. displaying the station name where it is available.
Voice Recorder
This application can record audio for MMS purposes, or record in standard or high quality. It uses the AMR codec, not the highest quality, so don’t expect to record a live concert to be “burnt” to an audio CD! While good for recording audio in the close vicinity of the phone, it will not replace a proper dedicated audio recorder with a much better microphone.
GPS
The i8910 HD features both a “real” GPS receiver as well as an assisted GPS receiver, which uses cellular radio signals to triangulate the user’s position. The former is slower but more accurate, while the latter is faster but less accurate, sometime accurate only to within 800 metres of where the user really is, and is to be avoided when precise location information is required.
A-GPS locking was fast, within 5 seconds of starting a GPS application such as Google Maps. Incidentally, no GPS application is bundled or pre-loaded with the i8910 HD – the user is expected to use either a free GPS program such as Google Maps, or a paid one such as Garmin Mobile XT, Sygic, TomTom or another commercial GPS navigation software for their navigation needs. The screenshot from Google Maps below was done while the phone was indoors, and as you can see, the accuracy is within 80 metres, which is rather accurate for A-GPS. This was achieved after using the GPS+ feature (see below).
There is an additional function within the i8910 HD that is not present in other devices, called GPS+. This is a feature whereby the user can elect to download baseline GPS information from the internet using A-GPS, which is valid for 7 days, so that subsequent satellite locks are faster.
Finally, the standard Symbian location application is present in the i8910 HD as well. You can navigate by entering coordinates, save landmarks for future reference as well as track your journey.
This concludes the hardware review part of the review of the Samsung i8910 HD. In part 2, I will be taking a look at the operating system, ie. s60v5 aka “Symbian touch” as well as the pre-loaded applications on the i8910 HD. Stay tuned!
Pingback: Review: Samsung i8910 HD – Hardware Part 1 « -:: Malaysia Mobile Tech News ::-
Is this a 16GB model? Is it comparable in performance to the 8GB model?
I’ve had poor performance with S60 on phones with large storage.
I also have other requests:
1. Can you post the FW info on the review unit?
2. Does it have voice dialing?
3. Does the front camera have support for taking shots?
5. How much free space in C:?
6. Does the built-in browser have kinetic scrolling?
7. Can it run Opera Mini v5?
8. Does the virtual Qwerty have T9 support?
9. Does it have an FM transmitter?
I’ll be going to their concept store at Mid Valley Gardens to test it out. Do you know of any other outlets near PJ with this handset for fondling?
Samsung recently released the i8910u:
http://mobile.yesky.com/137/9187137.shtml
Anyone has any info if the i8910u has improved hardware over the previous model?
Sorry for the barrage of questions. I need to convince my taukeh neo before plunking the cash.
Thanks!
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 25th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
@AKilla, I binned your other duplicate reply in this post
1. yes, will do a screenshot in my software review portion.
2. haven’t seen this option anywhere on the phone.
3. no, can’t find an option to do so, maybe through third party software?
5. upon clean boot, with pre-loaded apps, and only Dr Jukka’s Y-browser & Y-tasks installed, as well as Smartphoneware’s Best Screensnap and Google Maps installed to “mass memory”, there is 40Mb free out of a total of 49Mb on C drive
6. not in this firmware version, apparently the Chinese/Hongkong firmware version II1 supports it. And I’m not going to flash a new firmware on to a review phone, lest I get banned from receiving any future review units. Will try to do it on my own unit and report, if I remember; if not, please remind me!
7. yes, it runs Opera Mini 5 Beta with no problems. Loaded my own website with no issues. The soft keyboard is really nice!
8. sadly, no. It’s only there in alphanumeric mode.
9. sadly, no. It never will.
Yeah, do go to their concept store to play with it. PJ? Maybe Digital Mall in Section 14?
No idea on the i8910u. Buy the phone quietly la, no need to tell anyone. They won’t know the difference, and when they find out, just say “well, I’ve had this phone for the past three months, and only now you notice?” Then they can’t blame you for not noticing their new hairdos and all.
[Reply]
AKilla Reply:
September 25th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I tried Digital Mall the last time when I was in PJ but did not see any store with a set. As far as I know the Samsung Concept store is only in Gardens. Just wonder got one anywhere nearer to where I’ll be at.
LOL! Girlfriend can la, wife already know all the tricks mah. Also, its more than 2K+, so not easy to hide.
Thanks!
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 25th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
@AKilla, the MidValley concept store is run by one of the distributors, FMG, I believe. And their pricing is, well, I’ll leave it to you to find out
[Reply]
artic_xp Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 3:25 am
AKilla, you can find samsung concept store in Sunway Pyramid. You also can find a booth in front of IT digital center in sunway pyramid.
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
@artic, both of which should have a demo Sammy?
[Reply]
Ken Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:46 am
The latest China II1 firmware is basically the firmware for the I8910U.
And while it has kinetic scrolling for the browser (only), it comes with quite a few bugs and a total lack of support for WRT widgets. Not recommended unless you really really like kinetic scrolling, which should filter in time to the other firmwares anyway. Also, it also kills support for the PC Studio software, which is another minus point.
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
@Ken, thanks for the info. I don’t have the time to do any flashing on mine yet, the other day, I believe Mail for Exchange (hacked to run on the i8910) or Roadsync killed my messaging inbox requiring a hard reset. Darn…
So, the Chinese II1 firmware kills the homescreen and renders TouchWiz essentially useless? Wow…
As for the PC Studio, I don’t really use it, so no biggie for me.
[Reply]
Ken Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Nah…not the homescreen. WRT widgets like the accuweather full screen app and the Nokia Facebook application. The touchwiz still works fine.
Yeah, I don’t use PC Studio too, but it’s the only way to save/restore messages….for the more sentimental people.
Wish the kinetic browser would filter to the HK based firmwares….it’s really nice, but currently the bugs on the China based II1 far outweigh the advantages of the browser.
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
@Ken, ah I see. I think it’s only a matter of time before the kinetic thingy gets into the other firmwares, we just have to be patient. Meanwhile, time to find enough motivation to flash my own unit to the Hongkong firmware…
[Reply]
Ken Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Oh yes….C: definitely has more than 49mb in total, some modded firmware have managed to squeeze 60+ mb free on C:….but on the more “official” firmware you can expect around 40-50mb free.
[Reply]
@DAD, have u tried Route66 in i8910? it got special built for samsung i8910HD, so when u see the part Samsung LBS i wont like missing sumthing there. Just install it 2days ago, work very well with its “GPS+” (last time use garmin XT detect slow even active with GPS+)
http://www.66.com/samsung/index.php?cid=US&act=2
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 25th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
@Poiuy, no, I tend to use Garmin Mobile XT on my smartphones, I hardly have issues with it. I use it primarily because the maps are the most updated compared to the other GPS navigation software out there. And since this is not a review on GPS software, I won’t be covering it!
[Reply]
Actually GMXT works fine with the GPS+ too.
Actually the GPS+ system is much better than the current AGPS method used on Nokia phones, which requires a on the spot gprs connection to achieve AGPS capability, whereas for GPS+, it’s basically store and use next time.
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
@Ken, yes, the GPS+ feature is one of the Sammy’s selling points…I’ve used GMXT once with the malfreemaps map to navigate in KL, and it performed flawlessly as it should…
[Reply]
Garmin XT will hang easily on Omnia HD. I chose my 1st destination then halfway i choose another location n when Garmin recalculate route that time the screen will freeze showing you recalculating route n the progess bar but the sound is alrdy navigating. Will have to restart phone.. 90% will screen freeze if you change destination or select new destination. sighh.. so much RAM also hang..
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
@Jh, GMXT will hang on every platform. Try browsing the map, then pan left and right, up and down. After about a minute or so of this continuous panning, it will freeze. On the i8910, I can press the red end call button to terminate the GMXT although it will be slow. On other smartphones will less RAM, the entire phone hangs. This is my experience.
[Reply]
@Poiuy, Does Route66 work with malfreemaps? Do you have to purchase walk or drive navigation separately?
Thanks!
[Reply]
Why yours iPhone have Android OS?
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 28th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
@Hawke, my iPhone has been flashed to run Android.
[Reply]
Ken Reply:
September 29th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Oh…the searing sarcasm.
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
September 29th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
@Ken, kih kih kih…must’ve been in one of my meaner moods…
[Reply]
Pingback: Review: Samsung i8910 HD – The Conclusion « -:: Malaysia Mobile Tech News ::-
Sorry mr. Alpha, I have already seen two type i8910 Omnia HD, one is equiped with metalic back cover and other is plastic. can you lights up on that matter. I have found no clue to solve it.
two pic are here plz see this…..
http://images.dailymobile.se/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/samsung-acme-i8910-13.jpg
http://new-cell-phone.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/samsung-i8910-omnia-hd-cell-phone-2.jpg
http://otakugadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/samsung-i8910-omnia-hd1.jpg
http://image.dhgate.com/upload/20099/18/ff80808121ed15be0121f2bed5d94f9f/productimg1253172756067.jpg
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
October 26th, 2009 at 10:31 am
@ant, I really don’t have much of a clue, but I would say that one model is for the Korean market, the others, worldwide.
[Reply]