Posted by Mia in Samsung i7110 tends to be compared with its “predecessor” Samsung U800. Since the 800 is a “simple” device with firmware, and the i7110 is a smart phone with all updates; the dimensions of the new model are larger. Primarily, it refers to the thickness – 9.9 mm the U800 and 13 mm the i7110. On the one hand, the difference is not great, on the other – it is noticeable, especially when you wear device in the pocket of trousers.
Like the U800, Samsung i7110 is partly made of metal – the front panel and keyboard, and the lid of the battery compartment. This gives the device a solid and slightly unkempt appearance. The point is that after one-week exploitation the back cover was covered with a web of small scratches and this with careful use.
And with each passing day scratches are multiplied. This contradicts the idea that metal creates the impression of a “reliable and stylish” tube.
The device is made of a soft-touch plastic, which is perfectly compatible with the metal. The quality of the assembly does not cause issues – no cracks, no gaps, the details fit together perfectly. Samsung i7110 leaves the impression of a good- quality, expensive, competitive phone.
On the left lies the end of the volume swing as well as a universal connector, closed with a shifting bolt.
On the right – the memory card slot, the key of quick launch of applications, the camera key. As shown in the picture, the keys are of a decent size, easy to press on the go.
The upper end is the eyelet for the strap. A 3.5 jack for connecting headphones would also be to the point here, but alas, it is missing there, as well as in other parts of the tube.
Above the display are housed the compact thin strip of the speaker and the camera for video phoning.
Keyboard
The keyboard is an inherited legacy from the model U800, except for the modified content buttons and the confirmation key.
The point is that in the novelty a so-called touch-sensitive infrared touchpad is used (optical joystick). By moving the finger on its surface, you can move the cursor to the Internet browser, or go from one menu to another. To confirm your choice you simply need to click on this key.
Frankly, there is no need for a partly touch-management. Indeed, sometimes it even prevents navigation – the finger hits the magic key and the cursor moves involuntarily. However, the sensitivity can be adjusted in a wide range, or the optical joystick can simply be disabled.
The modified contextual keys can be seen in the illustration to the U800.
The difference is obvious. Of course, the i7110 is a smart phone and it simply needs an extra key, but it doesn’t make the matter easier for the owner of this tube.
As a result, it appears that the close-fitting keys increase the chance of accidental clicks, even among experienced users. So, instead of displaying on the screen the list of dialed numbers, the “Menu” button was constantly hit, and instead of getting into contacts the “c” button was often pressed, and a lot more to that effect. After a week of use some skill with those buttons was acquired, but to call them convenient is not possible.
The tactile, 4-position key of management, however, is comfortable you can work with it blindly actually.
The lighting of the milky white color is perfectly visible in any situation – to dial a number or write an SMS in the dark will not be difficult.
Display
The novelty has a display based on OLED-technology, instead of the usual TFT-display.
This is evident from the first seconds of acquaintance – the screen wallpaper is unusually bright, colors are intense and the contrast of the image is high. Frankly speaking, the picture even cuts eyes a little, especially at dusk or in a semi-lighted space. However, we have safeguarded large viewing angles and good resistance to the direct rays of sun – the image almost does not fade, all the icons and text are easily readable. Incidentally, the size of the screen is sufficient for most tasks, such as – the menu, internet, photos, and navigation.
Menu
Large icons or a list, well-distinguishable font (three sizes to choose from), three pre-set posters. In addition, the user is free to choose among the three suggested types of reflection of the so-called standby mode. In its two options a streak of five or six functions for shortcuts appears on the display.
In general, the menu is user-friendly, everything is logical and defaults are normally configured. In addition, let us not forget that additional themes can be downloaded from the Internet to adjust the smart phone to your liking.
Communications
The novelty can be connected to other devices via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or via USB-port.
The speed of file transfer via Bluetooth is 70-75 Kb / s, so via the “blue tooth”, you can transfer music to the i7110 or you can use a BT-headset for listening. That is what we did by connecting a good and inexpensive device – Stereo South Wing SA505.
A few words should be said about the accessory itself. The quality of the manufacture of the accessory is high; the plastic pleases the eye and is not erased after two weeks of use.
Among the merits we would like to mention the sound quality, decent working hours without recharging. Among the shortcomings are – the somewhat ascetic appearance of the management, among which the slider of the power on/off has a particularly poor look. So, with the SA505 the Samsung smart phone worked as expected – connected automatically after the activation, the sound was not interrupted no criticism to the sound quality.
The Wi-Fi is more than workable – it clung to free hot-spots confidently, with the office wireless (with password) local it also worked well, however, it took terribly long to enter the 14-digit password.
When connecting to a PC not only your phone memory is visible (about 65 MB) but also the memory of the expansion card, so it is more convenient to throw over the capacity content by using the cable.
Camera
A 5 IP module is installed in the new model, which already “lighted up” in some models of the tubes from Samsung.
The horizontally oriented graphic interface is friendly, you can see in the screenshots, though.
The features and the functionality of the camera are not bad, they have enough storage for most users.
And again the on-board features are evident on the illustrations.
Among the useful features is the function of determining people, which in most cases works correctly. The mode of “snapshot smiles” is also a treat, but there is no special need for it – the focus of the face is always done correctly, and the smile is a private matter.
Macro shooting is possible from a distance of 3 mm from the object, the camera focuses quickly, and it is rarely wrong in the assessment of distance.
The record of geo-marks (the data is taken from GPS-receiver) will also be useful when afterwards you’ll want to use Google Maps to find where it was shot on the map.
The LED flash is not weak and not powerful, something in between, it cannot be counted on, it just is.
The quality of images is at a decent level, but still far away from ideal.
Below you can see the test photos, and the archive with the photos can be downloaded here.
Music
The MP3-player of this model resembles that of Samsung INNOV8, with the proviso to minor cosmetic changes in the interface.
As in the already mentioned model, the user has a choice of three types of visualization; display of album covers is
supported. 17 audio blanks (EQs), including 3D-sound, are pre-installed, plus you can create your own settings, using eight lanes.
The device plays music well, however, the volume leaves much to be desired, because even with the tested set headphones, the music is not heard in the subway, and the volume is poor in other noisy places.
It is possible not only to play music through the BT-headset, but to broadcast songs on a regular radio through a built-FM-transmitter, only this time will have to disconnect your headphones.
However, you will not hear anything through the external speaker either, because in this mode, it also switches off.
The FM-transmitter has a weak power, and the smart phone actually will have to be put closer to the receiver, otherwise instead of music you will hear only a hiss from the speakers. Therefore, as in the devices of Nokia, the need for such a chip (meaning the transmitter) is reduced to zero.
The radio disappoints with its low sensitivity, because a lot of stations had interferences, which was in a ratio of 14 noises in the 25 found.
In addition to automatic settings, the desired frequency can be entered manually. By the way, the memory of the Samsung is for 50 stations, which is enough even for the over-loaded Moscow broadcasting.
If you liked any song aired on the radio, the song can be saved (recorded) in the memory in the format of MP3. Then, you can listen to it at any time, using the MP3-player.
GPS
Everybody has become little by little accustomed to the fact that many phones have a GPS-navigation. So in the i7110 too there is a built-in receiver and pre-set navigation software Route66 from the company Navteq. The program is well known form Nokia and Samsung devices, and the fact that it requires payment is probably known to many as well.
As an alternative there is the free Google Maps, which, though, consumes a lot of traffic for downloading maps and ranging. The cold start of the receiver was 4 minutes, while the «hot» one took 20-30 seconds; at the exit from a tunnel the satellites were found in some 10-15 seconds. The receiver sensitivity is the same as in the communicator Samsung WiTu, i.e., to speak clearly – it was good. On the open ground you can see 8-10 satellites, and by the window at the 7th floor, in case of a clear horizon – 4-5 satellites.
There is a minus though – when the GPS is on the battery discharges at high speeds, so the navigator of the i7110 can hardly be used as a pedestrian, and for a car, too, the novelty is hardly suitable – the diagonal of the display is small.
Outcome
The functionality of the new model is not very ggod, but quite adequate for a wide range of users, who will need to enhance the ability of the tube later. Of the minuses the absence of a standard audio jack must be mentioned, uncomfortable and not really necessary optical joystick, short time of autonomous work (not only with the GPS) in general, and of course the problematic keys of navigation.
But, as a whole, Samsung i7110 is a good machine and leaves a pleasant impression. It is possible, that one should get used to it at first, then fall in love with it, and in the future – just use it, not paying attention to different things, spoiling life.
