At the mobile market company Samsung has come relatively recently, but has managed to enter the top three leaders as sales, and production of the widest range of models. And if the company’s efforts were initially focused on the release of expensive image products, then later spread its interests and the business sector to sector and budgetary decisions. Until recently, the only area of “smart” devices excluded from the interests of the company. Led off at last year’s CeBIT exhibition - - It has been demonstrated in several vehicles. And in a series D smartphones hit on the operating system Symbian. Mansion stood a new machine based on the Windows Mobile operating system, received index i300. At the time, this was a revolutionary decision smartphone - for the first time in the history of the information used to store 3 GB hard disk. A little later, it was demonstrated on the phone held in Moscow in May 2005 Expocomm exhibition “2005″. It was assumed that apparatus will be built on has not yet officially released the new version of OS Windows Mobile “Magneto”, which by the time of its official release was named WM 5.0. Before the official selling phone in a little less than a year has passed. A close acquaintance with the device revealed several interesting features.

Complete

I am going to the alleged option, based on the experience of similar class supply devices from other manufacturers. They come in addition to the phone must be included charger, TransFlash memory card standard (microSD), a wireless stereo, necessarily - cradle or cable date. The last condition is especially necessary - non-standard connector on the phone and the usual format miniUSB cable in this case is indispensable. You may also want to drive, and software - it would require, at a minimum, to install drivers IR port. It would be interesting to compare the actual filling boxes with telephone with the alleged option.

Appearance

Phone is a monoblock, a projection which forms a parallelogram on the plane. The basic color of Packaging Machinery black and the upper side brink of the back cover of steel color. The size of the front panel of the phone almost identical Nokia N90, but the thickness i300 smartphone markedly lower. The display panel occupies the top half, but it seems not very large - - edges of the side panels separating his 7 mm. Even more free space to the brink of the top - - 10 mm. Be fair to mention that in this interval is located earpiece and LED. The screen supports permission QVGA (320 х240 points), and displays 262 thousand colors. Q quality matrix any claims no - - screen does not fade even under the direct rays of the sun. However, Samsung was always famous for the quality of the display, so that probably caused a surprise screen.

Keyboard block deserves careful consideration. As a joystick used wheel, the button is the center of his confirmation. Application rotation with the movements of the menus is very convenient when scanning folders with a large number of files - - quite a few revolutions. In addition to such treatment is available and the usual - supports horizontal and vertical movement. Ultimately wheel rotation provides the following steps: vertical displacement on the menu, any movement on the list (the compositions, contacts), the sound volume, the camera zoom, scroll pages of the Internet. These design navigational keys predetermined location software buttons. The four conventional added two more located symmetrically on opposite sides wheel. On the left is a button return to the main menu, right - button to go one level up. For digital keys very few places left, but their design is perfectly accurate and verified. The lower edge of each button removed, creating a tactile sensation of lightning. Therefore, the transition between the keys is very accurate and does not cause any problems with the positioning of the finger, even with the blind set. Lights keyboard uniform bloc, to the best of bright - - font reads well. Also conceived ergonomic details - - highlighting key extinguished before the main screen.

Traditionally, users of smartphones without qwerty keyboards are dissatisfied with the convenience controls. The company Samsung has decided to show the example of a kind and made to the side verge maximum number of control buttons. At the left bottom to top are two buttons adjust the volume, button voice recorder, which in a matter of keeping the voice box administration. At the very top of the window is to connect a headset, closed plastic plugs that one edge attached to the shell. Right brink also has a number of additional buttons. At the bottom is a window for memory cards, covered the door, which is also attached to the shell. Above is the camera button is activated, above it closer to the upper edge, the keypad buttons are and switching modes. Hold translates smartphone in the last regime organizer. At the bottom lies the verge communications connector, this same charger plugs. The design of the holder plugs slightly different from the already described. Stub fastened to the shell in the middle part. At the opening of the connector you can move down through the deployment of 180 ° o180. In the left corner is the microphone hole. On the brink of the top box located IR port and abalone for fastening strap. The design of the rear panel is quite original. The center at the top of the black plastic box located lens 1., 3 - megapixel camera, it is left of the mirror. On the edges of the back panel are located symmetrically in stereo speakers - - these musical highlights once again thrust the phone. A camera lens is to lift the latch battery. He combined with the rear lid. The holder of the SIM cards for ordinary, with the side anchorages. Quality assembly of the device at the highest level. Used in the construction of black and silver plastic, the entire details perfect fit. Phone fully justifies the impression solid apparatus; it is very convenient lies in the hand and is well balanced.

Specifications

The device is equipped with 64 MB of RAM, of which 51 are available, 50 Mb. The amount of available embedded Flash memory - - 18., 38 Mb, it is intended for the storage of the user’s data. The central processor - Intel XScale PXA272, the maximum frequency standard - - 416 MHz. There is good potential to disperse.

Hard disk

For the first time in the world in this class of devices, the company has used a hard drive volume 3 GB. This approach greatly expands the musical possibilities apparatus - - size disk can hold a lot of albums. When you access the disk, he tangibly “Posted”, the speed of access is acceptable level. However, the device itself is enough energy, and frequent recourse to the disk significantly reduces the time an autonomous work. Therefore, if there is no possibility of charging operational data store better in the phone memory or memory card. Energy consumed with substantially less.

Operating System

Despite the announcement, based on the model is based on a previous version of the operating system - Windows Mobile for Smartphone Edition 2003. Therefore, all applications developed under this version of the OS, and worked on the staff of i300. That is why the menu on the phone is fully consistent with the standard capabilities WM 2003 SE. The company only added a few utilities company intended to work with documents, photographs.

Access to the menu is carried out through the “Start” button, which is pegged left soft-key. Each window menu realized rapid transition between paragraphs on the basis of the numeric keys.

The main menu items

Contacts
The main feature of the address book is the presence of a large number of fields, which at the same time is fixed. In the contact 10 can enter phone numbers, a few e-mail addresses, and other personal information. Limitations in volume in the address book do not. Of the internal menu can be added to the list of quick phone call (and the list is composed of 97 fields), to send an SMS message, copy contact on the SIM card, etc. Any number from the list can be specified as a core. You can assign one of three categories: - business, personal or different, which are filtering. In general, the standard address book fairly easy, and fully satisfies even the experienced user. If you are not enough of standard functions, it is always possible to use third-party utilities - - operating system allows it to do easily.

Messages
Item consists of three types of messages: SMS, MMS and e-Mail. In an SMS message, you can insert text snippet contact. MMS supports the attachment of up to 300 Kb; enjoy convenient menu messages, all actions intuitively understandable.

Calendar
It is a typical tool for WM on properties closer to the maximum MS Outlook. Tip, you can specify any event, supported by sound reminders, repetitive events. There are weekly and monthly view. In general, for familiar with the use of a desktop version of the calendar is not any problem.

Journal calls submitted listing. Each calls, you can view details on the date and duration, make the call to the number, send a message. Supported by type of call filtering: - incoming, outgoing and missed.

Camera

The phone is installed. 1, 3 - megapixel camera with a CMOS-matrix, which, despite relatively low resolution, provides quite decent shots. Maximum permit photos of 1280 х1024. In addition to the authorization, the degree of compression can make the images: - Fine, Super Fine, Normal, Economy. The camera allows for the serial shooting, has several predefined effects (sepia, black-and-white snapshot, and a negative image). For registration photos can be used frame. Regulated as white balance, the treatment of the outbreak and the time delay timer operation. In the video recording mode can be adjusted finite size of movie (without limitation, restriction on MMS). Permission while recording video is 176×144. While working for the digital camera function attached buttons quick access. Impressions from the camera work of the most favorable. When shooting mode works translator, and it should be noted opportune algorithm digital zoom. When approaching the maximum image remains clear, sharpness is not lost.

Preferences

Fat menu item, which assembles the entire settings phone. Standard option, we will not deal, but on some specifics for wireless services will stop.

Bluetooth

In implementing Bluetooth built-used driver drivers superstructure with Microsoft for music via a Bluetooth stereo. Bluetooth has the following features: access to the Internet from a PC or PDA, OBEX - Transfer files (both on the device and the device), Serial port - - data synchronization.
When working with stereo Bluetooth stereo headset supports A2DP profile to refer to a wireless stereo headset. The most unpleasant aspect of this protocol has been unable to transfer files to another device in a batch mode. In a small number of files transferred this omission is not fatal, but when transferring large files process of sending each of them, accompanied by at least three clicks on the keys, quite tiring. Incidentally, this limitation of the operating system and installed the drivers.
Option Power Management enables watch battery charge and set the screen. The regional facilities listed localization device, the type of information on the withdrawal date, the time format - usually all here.

The phone supports USB mode mode, in which it by connecting to a PC is defined as an external drive (Mass Storage). Alternative mode - - ActiveSync - - allows you to install programs and synchronize the device with MS Outlook.
In the device is present Album to organize a slide show. Of Albom pictures and photos can also be sent to an external device to set the picture as the screensaver, reviewing files. As an additional option in favour of the properties of the image file. Shows the type, size, date of creation, and the folder in which it is located.

Policy differences from the standard player virtually none. In fact, it is the same utility with a slightly modified front end. This standard player also present. Among the options - playing files in the mode of “Shuffle”, change skins, support for streaming broadcasts.

In addition to staffing applications WM 2003, smartphone equipped with a number of corporate applications.
Picsel Viewer. This program for viewing Office documents become the standard for the mast Samsung products. It enables the program to display documents stored all formatting. Neither the built-in packet Office Mobile Window Mobile 5.0 or Documents To Go for Palm OS does not know how to display documents so correctly, as does Picsel Viewer. Using the joystick paper can be closer, scroll.
File Manager. Provides basic file operations: copying, deleting. Possible in ZIP archiving and retrieval of archives. Program Launcher. Alternative “Start” button. A program to launch an application. Provides analog traditional menu with icons and would adapt to a new operating system to users accustomed to the traditional menu Samsung appliances.
SIM Manager. Annex to the SIM card. Specific comment is not required.
Task Cleaner. Manager tasks, closing unnecessary applications for the release of memory.
Time Manager. Increased standard calendar. Alarm clocks, world time, and a reminder.
WAP Browser. Built IE supports WAP sites, the need for a separate browser not. It is not entirely clear why it took another set for WAP browser - - Establishments browser system to perform its functions is quite attractive.
Among embedded programming lacks utilities to backup data and programs to display photos caller.

The impressions and conclusions

Although not very high capacity battery, the phone worked without charges for nearly two days. The time was 35 minutes of conversation, other functions are not used.
Listening to music, photography, viewing significantly reduces the duration of work autonomous apparatus. After charging the battery morning barely enough for the day. To provide quality reception claims difficult - it strong, microphone volume and dynamics well enough for comfortable conversation. As melodies call-MMF can be used, the MIDI, WMA or MP3-songs. Same strength of the apparatus is part of his music.

The main drawback of this phone is the use of an outdated operating system. The position of the company in this matter is not altogether clear - certainly need a run-technology, but the lack of updating firmware of the same apparatus became the most demanding users, but for consumers it is quite normal roads. At the same time, the Network recently reported that the release issued by the party experienced pilot batch i300 WM with the new version 5.0. But this party is for a particular operator, and is unlikely to be available for normal users. Some encouraging only the fact of possible upgrading. A lack of skilled craftsmen our land has never suffered. In general, the model is of producing a dual impression. Strong innovative solutions together with outdated standards. It can be said that this trial balloon, running technology, and will have real potential leader of a little magic. But if the company would delay their preparations for quick, and it may miss - - not far from the exit of competitors Nokia - - N91 has been submitted.