Samsung Galaxy S
Reviewers of the Samsung Continuum liked the Super AMOLED touchscreen that is divided into a lower ticker section and full screen, small light size, and media player. They questioned how useful the lower ticker screen is because it can become overwhelming and turns into a "sucking vacuum" for information junkies. The ticker, however, may be useful for stock brokers, social media enthusiasts and news lovers.
The Samsung Continuum has two screens - a 1.8-inch 96 x 480 Super AMOLED screen (Ticker Display) below the primary 3.4-inch (480 x 800) main Super AMOLED touchscreen. The screens are divided by Android menu, back, search and home buttons. The ticker can be programmed to show news, weather, emails, stock quotes, and social media updates. The ticker can also be used for media player controls and multitasking. The ticker is activated by a grip sensor. The main screen is smaller than other Android screens and makes portrait screen typing more difficult.
Features of the Samsung Continuum include Android 2.1, running on a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 384MB of RAM/512 MB Flash, 2GB of internal storage, and an 8GB microSD. Other specs include, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, DLNA, DivX video playback, 3.5mm headset jack, 3G mobile hotspots, and a 5-megapixel 720p video-capable camera with LED flash.
Like other Samsung Galaxy S phones, theSamsung Continuum comes with Media Hub and Social Hub. The Social Hub can be setup for unified inboxes of email/social media and calendar (read Samsung Galaxy S tips). One reviewer called the media player "among the best." Voice quality ratings ranged from mediocre to good. The battery life was rated from good to mediocre. Photo quality was mostly well rated.
Like other Samsung Galaxy S phones, theSamsung Continuum comes with Media Hub and Social Hub. The Social Hub can be setup for unified inboxes of email/social media and calendar (read Samsung Galaxy S tips). One reviewer called the media player "among the best." Voice quality ratings ranged from mediocre to good. The battery life was rated from good to mediocre. Photo quality was mostly well rated.
Reviewers thought that the ticker would determine who would buy it. If you need constant contact and more than enough
information, the Samsung Continuum may be your Samsung Galaxy S phone. If you like a bigger screen, Verizon has other options, such as the Samsung Fascinate, Motorola Droid X and DROID Incredible.
Like the Samsung Fascinate, the Samsung Continuum comes preloaded with Bing as the default search engine. If you prefer Google, you can use voice search or use Google in the web browser. Google Maps, a very popular free mapping program, can be installed.
Preinstalled apps include Scrabble word game, Skype mobile, Twidroyd, Tetris, MySpace, V CAST videos, Kindle, Bing search, Swype, Voice Search, ALLShare media sharing, Voice Commands, and Voice Recorder. Preinstalled apps can not be uninstalled.
Verizon sells the Samsung Continuum for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement and data package. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Along with free shipping, Verizon offers an added bonus for ordering online with the Wireless and Mobile News coupon-link so that you can get an Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchases.
Verizon recently reduced the price of the-Samsung Continuum to $99.99 for Black Friday only. In the meantime, online retailers like Amazon Wireless, offer it at a similar price point. Note: prices can change, so check back often.
An update to Android 2.2 Froyo is expected by the end of this year.
Summaries of Reviews Reviewed
Bonnie Cha at CNET rated the Samsung Continuum 3.5 out of 5 for it's small ticker window(for fast information), 1GHZ processor 5-megapixel camera with HD video capture, and mobile hotspot mode. She didn't like that by cutting the Super AMOLED screen into two screens a 3.4-inch top screen and 1.8 inch ticker screen, it makes typing more cramped, it runs Android 2.1, Bing is the default search engine and preloaded apps can't be uninstalled. The secondary screen can be good for accessing information on the fly but drains processor power. Slimmer than other Galaxy S phones and fits nicely in hands. The touchscreen is responsive. The grip sensor automatically activates the ticker screen which is handy for getting the date/time (no one wears a watch any more), to control the music player while getting Twitter updates can be too much information. To work around Bing search, you can use voice search which uses Google or go to Google in your web browser. Google maps can be installed and used. Email set up was easy and works well with an unified inbox and calendar. The media player is attractive and advanced with DivX and DLNA support. Photo quality was great, call quality was good, speaker phone quality was above average and battery life was good.
Sascha Segan at PCmag rated the Samsung Continuum 3.5 out of 5 for the ticker screen, smallness, lightness and well-built fee. He didn't like the mediocre voice quality, email/social media redundancy and that the ticker sometimes shows old data. He found that the ticker made him hungry for more data but didn't like the execution of the software "The punchy 3.4-inch, 800-by-480 main Super-AMOLED display looks really sharp and bright, but touch element sizes are reduced compared with other phones." Voice dialing worked with Bluetooth but not all the time. Battery life was good. The ticker was difficult to setup and showed old Facebook/Twitter updates. The Hummingbird processor is very good for graphics and games. Media Hub is called "among the best" Android music and video players. He likes the Droid Incredible and Droid X better from Verizon.
InfoSync rated the Samsung Continuum 85 out of 100. They found the shape peculiar - long and narrow. Because of the grip sensor the ticker was powered on by mistake. The external microSD slot enables users to swap out cards. The screen froze sometimes. The call the ticker a "vortex sucking into a tantalizing vacuum," while an excellent choice for stock brokers. Voice quality is good. Battery life was mediocre. Photo quality was good like the Samsung Focus but not as good as iPhone. Video quality was above average and worked best in bright light. "Without the ticker panel, the Samsung Continuum is just as good as any other Galaxy S phone on the market, so let that be the deciding
Like the Samsung Fascinate, the Samsung Continuum comes preloaded with Bing as the default search engine. If you prefer Google, you can use voice search or use Google in the web browser. Google Maps, a very popular free mapping program, can be installed.
Preinstalled apps include Scrabble word game, Skype mobile, Twidroyd, Tetris, MySpace, V CAST videos, Kindle, Bing search, Swype, Voice Search, ALLShare media sharing, Voice Commands, and Voice Recorder. Preinstalled apps can not be uninstalled.
Verizon sells the Samsung Continuum for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement and data package. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
Along with free shipping, Verizon offers an added bonus for ordering online with the Wireless and Mobile News coupon-link so that you can get an Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchases.
Verizon recently reduced the price of the-Samsung Continuum to $99.99 for Black Friday only. In the meantime, online retailers like Amazon Wireless, offer it at a similar price point. Note: prices can change, so check back often.
An update to Android 2.2 Froyo is expected by the end of this year.
Summaries of Reviews Reviewed
Bonnie Cha at CNET rated the Samsung Continuum 3.5 out of 5 for it's small ticker window(for fast information), 1GHZ processor 5-megapixel camera with HD video capture, and mobile hotspot mode. She didn't like that by cutting the Super AMOLED screen into two screens a 3.4-inch top screen and 1.8 inch ticker screen, it makes typing more cramped, it runs Android 2.1, Bing is the default search engine and preloaded apps can't be uninstalled. The secondary screen can be good for accessing information on the fly but drains processor power. Slimmer than other Galaxy S phones and fits nicely in hands. The touchscreen is responsive. The grip sensor automatically activates the ticker screen which is handy for getting the date/time (no one wears a watch any more), to control the music player while getting Twitter updates can be too much information. To work around Bing search, you can use voice search which uses Google or go to Google in your web browser. Google maps can be installed and used. Email set up was easy and works well with an unified inbox and calendar. The media player is attractive and advanced with DivX and DLNA support. Photo quality was great, call quality was good, speaker phone quality was above average and battery life was good.
Sascha Segan at PCmag rated the Samsung Continuum 3.5 out of 5 for the ticker screen, smallness, lightness and well-built fee. He didn't like the mediocre voice quality, email/social media redundancy and that the ticker sometimes shows old data. He found that the ticker made him hungry for more data but didn't like the execution of the software "The punchy 3.4-inch, 800-by-480 main Super-AMOLED display looks really sharp and bright, but touch element sizes are reduced compared with other phones." Voice dialing worked with Bluetooth but not all the time. Battery life was good. The ticker was difficult to setup and showed old Facebook/Twitter updates. The Hummingbird processor is very good for graphics and games. Media Hub is called "among the best" Android music and video players. He likes the Droid Incredible and Droid X better from Verizon.
InfoSync rated the Samsung Continuum 85 out of 100. They found the shape peculiar - long and narrow. Because of the grip sensor the ticker was powered on by mistake. The external microSD slot enables users to swap out cards. The screen froze sometimes. The call the ticker a "vortex sucking into a tantalizing vacuum," while an excellent choice for stock brokers. Voice quality is good. Battery life was mediocre. Photo quality was good like the Samsung Focus but not as good as iPhone. Video quality was above average and worked best in bright light. "Without the ticker panel, the Samsung Continuum is just as good as any other Galaxy S phone on the market, so let that be the deciding
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