Verizon's SCHi920 Phone Review

[Guest geebox]

My Samsung Omnia II- SCH i920 Review

Ok I’ve had this phone since it came out on 12-2-09. I am finally giving a semi- full review. I know I left some things out, these are just the things that stand out to me. I will be uploading a full video review soon. I have been playing with and modding Windows Mobile devices since the Pocket PC days of 2000, and in my opinion this is by far the best Windows Device I ever had, tested and played with. I plan on getting another one strictly for modding and testing. Like most WinMo Carrier Specific PDA’s, it is loaded with programs from the carrier (in this case Verizon) that most smartphone customers don’t use. When a safe rom (that removes all the junk from the phone ) is released, I will be testing it on my test phone. Anyway let me get to the review.

Since this phone has so many good things about it, I will start off with:

The bad.

1.Windows Mobile- This is a Good and a Bad. Bad for new people to the Windows Mobile Platform. Newbie’s can get scared or discouraged with the thousands of info spread around the net.- but then again at least there is an answer to be found.

2.Samsung User Interface- With all the pre development on Windows Mobile UI’s, I don’t know why Samsung released this phone with such a poor UI, It wasn't that slow to me as I heard others say. But it is useless as for as customizing it. You can’t put your just installed programs where and how you want them without some serious modding.- Most people like me just installed a better UI.

3.No D-pad- though some people say that one is not needed, I think it should have been put on the phone. Some games and books that I already own need a dpad for quick direction, movement and turns. You get the point.- There are some Virtual dpads working on the HTC models, development is in progress for Samsung.

4.No Keyboard- Not sure if this is a bad thing. I loved my physical keyboard.- This has a couple of virtual keyboards.

5.Head Phone Jack on the side. This jack should have been kept at the top.

6.Camera Button & Lock Button To close. Pushing the lock button often accidentally starts the camera because the camera button is raised and right next to the lock button.

7.Internet speed. The installed Opera browser is an improvement from the past years but is still slow compared to the safari on the iphone. Actually the installed windows IE browser matched petty close to loading the same pages as the iphone.

8.External Storage Card location. – You have to remove the battery cover to get to the slot.

9.MEMORY- This is a issue with all windows mobile devices. Though it is manageable, it is both the Manufacturer and Carriers fault. Can’t blame the manufacture too much after all, they do have to make a device with a selling price that customers will buy. Not sure what a phone with a 1gig plus rom and 500+ ram in it might cost, but I’d bet that it would be will over $500 bucks. (still probably future). Verizon would probably put 700mb of junk on it any way. Lol.- This is why people put custom roms on their WinMos. Again its manageable. Most apps can be put on the storage card.

The Good (why this phone)

1.Windows Mobile- Windows Mobile 6.5 – better than the previous versions, Standard Window Mobile UI not bad. The ability to totally customize your phone practically any way you like. Plenty of already developed applications to do just about anything to want. Plenty of support and continual developers.

2.Amoled Display- Best Display I have ever seen on a WinMo device.

3.Fully Touch Screen- Stylus included if you need it.

4.Performance- After disabling Touchwiz, one can experience the true speed and performance of this phone.

5.Screen Size- large screen size is great for seeing things and watching movies.

6.Camera- @ 5meg pixels. This camera is awesome.

7.Call and Voice Quailty - The phones voice quality it excellent.

8.Office Mobile- Word, Excel. OneNote & PowerPoint- Enough Said

9.Swype- Virtual keyboard with writing is awesome, it even spells the words for you if you misspell.

10.3.5mm Jack Stereo jack-(not that **bleep** 2.5 jack. No need for adapters.

11.External Stereo Speakers- decent speakers to listen to music.

12.Multi Media- play full ripped DVD movies, music & video streaming on web and network.

13.FM Radio

14.External microSd Slot- up to 16gigs says the manufacturer. I believe up 32 gigs once one is released and tested.

15.Video -capture and play back is also awesome –DVD resolution

16.Voice Recognition built in.

17.Smart Reader- Business Card and Document scanner

18.Wifi Router- The phone can be used as a internet router/hotspot. Allowing a few computers to connect for internet use( this program does not come with the phone)

19.Battery Life.-this is a huge improvement on current and previous models. The battery life beats them all hands down.

There are too many programs to list that I believe only Windows Mobile offers that other platforms don’t have nor will ever have. On the other hand programs on other platforms, are on Windows Mobile or will be.

My most used apps: Excel, Slingmobile, Spb backup, Memory Maid, Bing Mobile, Roscoe File Explorer, Nuance Voice Recognition and or course WMWiFiRouter.

Edited December 20, 2009 by geebox

[Guest Dmordarski]

My Samsung Omnia II- SCH i920 Review

Ok I’ve had this phone since it came out on 12-2-09. I am finally giving a semi- full review. I know I left some things out, these are just the things that stand out to me. I will be uploading a full video review soon. I have been playing with and modding Windows Mobile devices since the Pocket PC days of 2000, and in my opinion this is by far the best Windows Device I ever had, tested and played with. I plan on getting another one strictly for modding and testing. Like most WinMo Carrier Specific PDA’s, it is loaded with programs from the carrier (in this case Verizon) that most smartphone customers don’t use. When a safe rom (that removes all the junk from the phone ) is released, I will be testing it on my test phone. Anyway let me get to the review.

Since this phone has so many good things about it, I will start off with:

The bad.

1.Windows Mobile- This is a Good and a Bad. Bad for new people to the Windows Mobile Platform. Newbie’s can get scared or discouraged with the thousands of info spread around the net.- but then again at least there is an answer to be found.

2.Samsung User Interface- With all the pre development on Windows Mobile UI’s, I don’t know why Samsung released this phone with such a poor UI, It wasn't that slow to me as I heard others say. But it is useless as for as customizing it. You can’t put your just installed programs where and how you want them without some serious modding.- Most people like me just installed a better UI.

3.No D-pad- though some people say that one is not needed, I think it should have been put on the phone. Some games and books that I already own need a dpad for quick direction, movement and turns. You get the point.- There are some Virtual dpads working on the HTC models, development is in progress for Samsung.

4.No Keyboard- Not sure if this is a bad thing. I loved my physical keyboard.- This has a couple of virtual keyboards.

5.Head Phone Jack on the side. This jack should have been kept at the top.

6.Camera Button & Lock Button To close. Pushing the lock button often accidentally starts the camera because the camera button is raised and right next to the lock button.

7.Internet speed. The installed Opera browser is an improvement from the past years but is still slow compared to the safari on the iphone. Actually the installed windows IE browser matched petty close to loading the same pages as the iphone.

8.External Storage Card location. – You have to remove the battery cover to get to the slot.

9.MEMORY- This is a issue with all windows mobile devices. Though it is manageable, it is both the Manufacturer and Carriers fault. Can’t blame the manufacture too much after all, they do have to make a device with a selling price that customers will buy. Not sure what a phone with a 1gig plus rom and 500+ ram in it might cost, but I’d bet that it would be will over $500 bucks. (still probably future). Verizon would probably put 700mb of junk on it any way. Lol.- This is why people put custom roms on their WinMos. Again its manageable. Most apps can be put on the storage card.

The Good (why this phone)

1.Windows Mobile- Windows Mobile 6.5 – better than the previous versions, Standard Window Mobile UI not bad. The ability to totally customize your phone practically any way you like. Plenty of already developed applications to do just about anything to want. Plenty of support and continual developers.

2.Amoled Display- Best Display I have ever seen on a WinMo device.

3.Fully Touch Screen- Stylus included if you need it.

4.Performance- After disabling Touchwiz, one can experience the true speed and performance of this phone.

5.Screen Size- large screen size is great for seeing things and watching movies.

6.Camera- @ 5meg pixels. This camera is awesome.

7.Call and Voice Quailty - The phones voice quality it excellent.

8.Office Mobile- Word, Excel. OneNote & PowerPoint- Enough Said

9.Swype- Virtual keyboard with writing is awesome, it even spells the words for you if you misspell.

10.3.5mm Jack Stereo jack-(not that **bleep** 2.5 jack. No need for adapters.

11.External Stereo Speakers- decent speakers to listen to music.

12.Multi Media- play full ripped DVD movies, music & video streaming on web and network.

13.FM Radio

14.External microSd Slot- up to 16gigs says the manufacturer. I believe up 32 gigs once one is released and tested.

15.Video -capture and play back is also awesome –DVD resolution

16.Voice Recognition built in.

17.Smart Reader- Business Card and Document scanner

18.Wifi Router- The phone can be used as a internet router/hotspot. Allowing a few computers to connect for internet use( this program does not come with the phone)

19.Battery Life.-this is a huge improvement on current and previous models. The battery life beats them all hands down.

There are too many programs to list that I believe only Windows Mobile offers that other platforms don’t have nor will never have. On the other hand programs on other platforms, are on Windows Mobile or will be.

My most used apps: Excel, Slingmobile, Spb backup, Memory Maid, Bing Mobile, Roscoe File Explorer, Nuance Voice Recognition and or course WMWiFiRouter.

I disagree with the Battery Life, I feel as though this thing runs the battery down way too quick. However I just got the extended battery from samsung its a 2400 mah and it only adds less then a quarter inch to the back... A must have for the I920

[Guest mike6]

I disagree with the Battery Life, I feel as though this thing runs the battery down way too quick. However I just got the extended battery from samsung its a 2400 mah and it only adds less then a quarter inch to the back... A must have for the I920

I tend to agree with most of the review but I concur with Dmordarski that the stock battery is way too weak. It runs down in less than a day with NO activity. Just ordered the extended battery and I'm hoping going from 1500 to 2400 maH will be noticeable.

[Guest getsoutalive]

I tend to agree with most of the review but I concur with Dmordarski that the stock battery is way too weak. It runs down in less than a day with NO activity. Just ordered the extended battery and I'm hoping going from 1500 to 2400 maH will be noticeable.

I have been very pleased with battery life and with light to mild usage I get 2 days no problem. Most of my use is indoor and with the backlight off, but I am certainly not looking towards an extended battery especially if it means making the device wider.

[Guest dwallersv]

geebox -- are you connecting to Vista with WMWifiRouter? I can't get it to work. WMWR never responds to the DHCP request.

Any clues?

[Guest geebox]

geebox -- are you connecting to Vista with WMWifiRouter? I can't get it to work. WMWR never responds to the DHCP request.

Any clues?

Yes I use a vista and xp, both connects at the same time, I used the default settings with no problems. I understand that there is an updated version. Might help. I used an older version that wouldn't work until I installed the internet sharing cab. The updated version, I'm told does not need it.

On the battery life. I am only speaking for myself, I use bluetooth and internet all day and only need to to charge sometimes and once a night. This is still an improvement on other devices as I could not use previous devices like i use this without charging and changing batteries all day. I am only saying that the battery life compared to other devices is way better hands down.

[Guest surgex]

geebox -- are you connecting to Vista with WMWifiRouter? I can't get it to work. WMWR never responds to the DHCP request.

Any clues?

Hey there...I actually just helped chainfire test the new version of WMWR on the Verizon Omnia 2 -- the reason why this happens is that Verizon stripped the phone of the MS IP Routing drivers \ ICS.  For the old version, you actually have to install the IP driver cab file.

However, the new version of WMWR will automatically install these files.  Please visit the site and update to the latest version, and it should work fine.

http://global.wmwifirouter.com/news/item/16/

Just a minor note -- You do NOT need to turn on "Use phone as modem" in the settings.  badword Verizon and their lame ass tether plans -- profiteering greedy fat pigs ;)

Anyways, back to original topic, I agree with most of the points made.

The default interface and touchjizz are laughable...Very laggy, and ugly.

I like some of the UI skins, and some of them I don't like..but that's the great thing about WinMo -- being able to customize whatever you want without worrying about "jailbreaking" the device or "getting root" -- badword that.  A phone should be open to the consumer to modify how he\she sees fit.  They paid for the device, it's theirs -- not the carrier's \ OS developer's.  Android calls itself "Open" -- Open my aching ass.  You need root to mess around with the cool s***.  

Also, very bad design with the lock button next to the Camera key.  There is so much wasted button space right above the microusb port...they should have put it there like it is on the Omnia HD!  Also SD slot under battery cover = fail...and I really don't like the battery cover itself either...you need really long nails to be able to "snap" it off.  It should slide lock into place like most other phones, not have snaps.  

The "cube" thing is worthless...they did that on the HTC touch cruise, and it fails...no one wants to play around with a pointless and laggy 3d cube...we want FUNCTIONAL UIs ;)

I like the retractable stylus -- very cool, although I rarely use it.

The orientation detector program at the innovator site is a godsend.  Works perfectly with all my apps, and I believe that this phone rotates faster than any other device I've seen, including the 3Gs or the Droid.

As for battery life, I thought it sucked at first, but then I found out that Parlingo has battery issues with the latest version -- so I disabled that from running overnight, and it's much better now.  What we really need though is for ChainFire to make WMLongLife compatible with the i920 -- this is an AMAZING program..hopefully he will have time to work on it more now that new WMWR is released!

Edited December 20, 2009 by surgex

[Guest dwallersv]

Yes I use a vista and xp, both connects at the same time, I used the default settings with no problems. I understand that there is an updated version. Might help. I used an older version that wouldn't work until I installed the internet sharing cab. The updated version, I'm told does not need it.

Thanks, geebox, that was it!

It's been so long since I installed this on my old 910 that I completely forgot about the ICS cab. In any case, I also didn't know that Morose Media had published 1.6 (just this month), went over and picked that up, and now everything's peachy, without having to throw in the ICS component. Even better, the 1.6 implementation is much improved!

I'm nailing 1.2-1.3Mbps down testing from speedtest.net... fabulous 3G performance over EvDO here in Scotts Valley, CA.

On the battery life. I am only speaking for myself, I use bluetooth and internet all day and only need to to charge sometimes and once a night. This is still an improvement on other devices as I could not use previous devices like i use this without charging and changing batteries all day. I am only saying that the battery life compared to other devices is way better hands down.

I'm with you, man. My battery performance is way better than it was on my 910. In fact, just overnight last night consumption was undetectable... I had it fully charged at about 8pm, didn't use it at all, woke up this morning and it was still showing 100% at 7am. Never had anything like that with my Omnia.

Of course, if I actually use the phone, the battery gets drained. Especially for many of the things I use it for (multimedia). That's to be expected, however. I expect in simple "standby" it would go many days, maybe a week or so. In my case, I never get past 24 hours, but that's due to my heavy usage patterns.

Edited December 20, 2009 by dwallersv