Samsung OMNIA Impressions

The Samsung OMNIA is Samsung’s latest Windows Mobile lifestyle phone. It runs beneath a combination of Windows Mobile 6.1 and its own proprietary user interface. Samsung’s own UI is divided into a (1) main menu and apps list and (2) the famous drag + drop widgets layout we’ve seen in the SGH F480.

The OMNIA also includes the touch sensitive trackpad mouse navigation seen in its “SamsungBerry” counterparts allowing mouse functions to roll into the UI. This function can be turned off anytime, thus converting the trackpad into a 5 way directional pad. The OMNIA comes with a built in accelerometer allowing for tilting between portrait and landscape modes for left and right handed people. It doesn’t tilt upside down. Samsung’s proprietary UI also adjusts to the tilts in a rather seamless fashion. Other Windows Mobile devices (like those from HTC) tilt with a certain lag. I think Samsung added the special effects to hide the delay. Absolutely brilliant!

The 5MP camera doesn’t have too many bragging rights. Blame it on Windows Mobile camera phones being so sub par. What may be considered as innovative is Samsung’s proprietary software for video editing and panorama mode which allows you to create panorama shots around you. A heed – since the camera isn’t very good, it would be best to practice this under daylight. The OMNIA’s flash isn’t impressive, as it really saturates. Not Samsung’s fault, I’d think. Again, a Windows Mobile issue.

All in all, the OMNIA is one of the prettier Windows Mobile smartphones in the market. It comes loaded with a hefty package of blogging and social networking software (i.e Twitter, blogging platforms). One reason why you’d want to get an OMNIA is if you find the widget interface interaction cool. It’s what truly separates OMNIA from the rest of the market. Widgets are developed in house by Samsung and it would be cool if one day these widgets were released by third party devs made available to the public. Methinks that the current deployment if widgets can only be downloaded from the Samsung online website.

The OMNIA, elegant as it is, does sport some semblance to the iPhone but it is in many ways different, and more affordable at roughly USD $600-$700.00.