Samsung Omnia 7

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Samsung Omnia 7
Samsung Omnia 7 [1]
Manufacturer Samsung Electronics
publication November 2010
Technical specifications
display 4.0 inch / 102 mm
capacitive Super AMOLED ( multi-touch screen )
WVGA (480 × 800 pixels)
16 million colors ( true color )
Main camera 5 megapixels with autofocus
CMOS sensor , LED flash, video recordings with up to 720p ( HD ready ) at 24 frames per second
Current operating system Windows Phone 7
processor Qualcomm QSD8250 1 GHz Scorpion ( Snapdragon )
R.A.M. 512 MB
Internal memory Internal memory :
8 GB (standard)
16 GB (only in Germany)
ROM : 1 GB
Memory card Unavailable
Sensors

G-sensor , digital compass , proximity sensor , ambient light sensor

Connectivity
Cellular networks

GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), HSPA (900/2100 MHz)

Further radio connections

WLAN 802.11 b / g / n , A-GPS , Bluetooth 2.1 (with support for A2DP , AVRCP , HFP, HSP, PBAP)

connections

Micro-USB , 3.5 mm jack plug

accumulator
Type 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery
Battery life
(according to manufacturer)
Max. 390 hours
Talk time
(according to manufacturer)
Max. 8.6 hours
measures and weight
Dimensions ( H × W × D ) 122.4 mm x 64.2 mm x 10.99 mm
Weight 138 g

The Samsung Omnia 7 (also known as the Samsung GT-I8700) is a smartphone from the South Korean manufacturer Samsung Electronics . It uses the Windows Phone 7 operating system .

Background and development

The Samsung Omnia 7 is Samsung's first smartphone with Microsoft's mobile phone operating system Windows Phone 7 for the European market. The sister model Samsung Focus with an additional SD card slot is not officially available in Europe.

technology

processor

As a hardware basis is a Snapdragon - system on a chip of the type QSD8250 into play. The processor core called Scorpion, clocked at 1 GHz, is an ARM Cortex-A8 , it is supported by 512 MB RAM .
The Adreno 200 chip from Qualcomm , which, among other things, masters the OpenGL ES 2.0 and Direct3D standards, takes over graphic calculations .
The QSD8250 is the first generation of the Snapdragon product line and supports several cellular standards, including GPRS , EDGE , UMTS and HSPA .
In addition, all Snapdragons contain processing units for decoding HDTV with a resolution of 720p and a GPS receiver.

Display

The Omnia 7 has a 4.0 inch (10.2 cm) capacitive multi-touch screen with a resolution of 480 × 800 pixels ( WVGA ) and a color depth of 24 bits, which corresponds to around 16.78 million colors ( True Color ). The Samsung Omnia 7 is the only Windows Phone 7 released for the European market - the first generation smartphone with a Super AMOLED display.

Storage

In contrast to other models, such as the HTC HD7 , the Samsung Omnia 7 has a soldered NAND memory instead of an internal SD card slot . On the one hand, this leads to the fact that it is impossible to expand the internal memory, as is possible with the HTC models, for example. In practice, however, the use of the NAND memory leads to a significantly shorter loading time for programs or the operating system itself. A comparison of loading times between a Samsung Omnia 7 and an HTC 7 Trophy with almost identical hardware can be seen on the YouTube video platform .

camera

The integrated camera can take photos with a resolution of up to 5 megapixels (2560 × 1920 pixels). An active pixel sensor (also known as a "CMOS sensor") is used to measure light . In poor lighting conditions, the camera is also supported by a switchable LED light. Movies can be recorded with a resolution of up to 720p (1280 × 720 pixels) at a frame rate of 24 FPS . Various recording programs are also available to the user, including sepia , antique , mono and negative . A 4-fold digital zoom is available for taking pictures of distant objects. Photos are saved in the widely used JPEG format.

Radio links

The Samsung Omnia 7 communicates wirelessly via the WLAN standard 802.11 b / g / n , GPRS , EDGE , UMTS , HSPA and Bluetooth 2.1. An A-GPS antenna is also installed.
The Bluetooth profiles A2DP , AVRCP , HFP, HSP and PBAP are supported.

Radio standard Data rate (gross) frequency
WLAN IEEE 802.11 b 11 Mbit / s 2.4 GHz
WLAN IEEE 802.11 g 54 Mbit / s 2.4 GHz
WLAN IEEE 802.11 n 300 Mbit / s 2.4 GHz
HSDPA 7.2 Mbit / s 900/1900/2100 MHz
HSUPA 5.76 Mbit / s 900/1900/2100 MHz
GPRS 114 kbit / s 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
EDGE 560 kbit / s 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Bluetooth 2.1 2.1 Mbit / s 2402-2480 MHz

Sensors

The Samsung Omnia 7 is equipped with an acceleration sensor , digital compass , proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor.

measures and weight

The dimensions of the smartphone are 122.4 × 64.2 × 10.99 mm (H × W × D), with a weight of 138 grams (with battery).

accumulator

Samsung installs a lithium-ion battery with a nominal capacity of 1500 mAh.

According to information from Samsung, the battery in the 2G network lasts for around 520 minutes (8.6 h) of talk or 390 hours (corresponds to around 16 days) in standby . In the 3G network , the talk time is reduced to 370 minutes (6.2 hours) and the standby time to 330 hours (corresponds to just under 14 days).

In the smartphone forum PocketPC.ch a survey was carried out among Samsung Omnia 7 users to determine the average battery life.
The survey showed that with frequent use the useful life averages around two days, with intensive use the smartphone has to be plugged in every day. These values ​​are slightly above average compared to similarly powerful smartphones, which is due to both the large battery capacity of 1500 mAh and the energy-saving AMOLED display technology.

Specialty

A special feature of the Samsung Omnia 7 is the Super AMOLED screen, which is technologically superior to conventional TFT displays and which is otherwise only to be found in the Nokia Lumia 900 . In addition, together with the LG Optimus 7 , the device has the second largest capacity of all " Windows Phone 7 " smartphones behind the Nokia Lumia 900.

Deutsche Telekom customers receive the Navigon Select navigation solution free of charge with maps of Germany , Switzerland and Austria .

known problems

MMS issues with branding

If a Windows Phone 7 device is bought from a provider, the MMS settings are already permanently stored from the time of manufacture. This fact becomes problematic if the device wants to be used in a different network - Windows Phone 7 has not yet offered the possibility to change the MMS settings. Since many of the devices available in the free trade, which are sold without a subscription, are also branded, this inevitably leads to problems with MMS use.
This applies in particular to the 16 GB versions of the Samsung Omnia 7 available in Germany , as these are sold on the open market but still have T-Mobile branding .
All device manufacturers of "Windows Phone 7" smartphones are affected by this problem, but HTC and Samsung have already developed a tool that counteracts the problem.

With the Samsung Omnia 7 , the provider settings can be saved manually with the Samsung network profile application . The program can be found in the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace in the Samsung Zone category . The tool can also be used to resolve any connection problems with the Internet.

Issues with prep update

At the beginning of January, Microsoft announced a first update for Windows Phone 7 , which brings some new features and improvements - including the long-awaited copy & paste function. This update is called NoDo ( No Donut ).
On February 21, 2011, Microsoft released a first update , the only function of which was to prepare Windows phones for the upcoming NoDo update. This led to problems with many Windows Phones , particularly the Samsung Omnia 7 . Microsoft then recommended users of the Omnia 7 not to carry out any updates until the problem with the error code 800705B4 has been resolved. Devices on which the update has already been carried out and problems occurred could no longer be used in full. Microsoft offered those affected to have the defective device exchanged. Shortly afterwards, a Microsoft employee published a workaround for the Omnia 7 that could get some devices working again. However, since this workaround is not officially communicated by Microsoft, you do it at your own risk.

Due to the problems with the preparatory update, the delivery of the NoDo update planned for the end of February was delayed . A revised update, which was delivered in early March, continued to cause problems on the Samsung Omnia 7 .

Modifications

Activation codes

Diagnostic mode

Shortly after the delivery of the first devices it became known that a diagnosis mode can be started by calling a certain network number . This mode enables advanced settings that allow access to the system that was not intended by Microsoft . Such programs are often installed by manufacturers during the development phase to test the device and removed again before production. It is unclear whether in this case Samsung deliberately forgot to remove it in order to counter some of the restrictions of Windows Phone 7 .

Tethering

By far the most important function that can be activated via phone codes is tethering . Tethering refers to the connection of a smartphone to a PC or notebook in order to enable it to connect to the Internet via the wireless network ( e.g. UMTS or HSPA ). The mobile phone thus takes on the role of a modem. Tethering was officially not supported by Windows Phone 7 , unlike its predecessor Windows Mobile . With Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) it is now possible on all previous devices to set up your device as a hotspot and thus to share your own Internet with others or to release it for them.

To activate tethering, the following steps must be followed:

  1. Dial the number ## 634 # on the phone. This will install the Diagnosis application .
  2. Dial the number * # 7284 # in the diagnosis . This opens the Micro USB Test dialog.
  3. Select Modem, Tethered Call. The cell phone restarts.

It is now possible to establish a connection to the Internet using the dial function. It may be necessary to install drivers for the cell phone as the cell phone now appears as a modem. In this mode it is not possible to synchronize the phone with the Zune or any other software. To restore the sync functionality, just repeat the above steps and select Zune Sync .

View the MAC address

The fixed MAC address of a device is often required to configure network components . Windows Phone 7 does not have the option of displaying this address in the delivery state. Only with the update "NoDo" (version 7.0.7390.0) is the MAC address displayed under the settings. With the older versions, the owner of a Samsung Omnia 7 can get the address by using phone codes . Instructions have been published in the PocketPC.ch user forum, which specializes in smartphones .

Diagnostic functions

In addition to activating tethering and displaying the MAC address, it is also possible to carry out several system tests to check that hardware components are working correctly. The supported tests include a multi-touch diagnosis, an LCD diagnosis including compass and brightness, a test of the battery and others. An overview of all diagnostic options and a list of the associated codes can be found in the smartphone forum PocketPC.ch .

Reviews

In the worldwide reviews , the Super AMOLED display of the Samsung Omnia 7 was praised in particular, which is clearly superior to conventional LC displays . The processing quality of the smartphone , which is enclosed in a metal housing , was often positively highlighted, as was the above-average battery capacity of 1500 mAh. The main criticism was the 8 GB storage space, which is undersized compared to competitors like the iPhone . The rest of the criticism mainly concerned the Windows Phone 7 operating system , as its first version still lacks some functions that are already standard in other mobile operating systems. In trade magazines, the Samsung Omnia 7 is considered the best choice among the devices of the first generation of Windows Phones .

The following excerpts from criticism only deal with the device itself, but not with the Windows Phone 7 operating system. This is covered in a separate article.

“The Samsung Omnia 7 is the new star among Windows Phones. The hardware is not only on par with the HTC HD7 display bolide, it is even a little better in key points. Above all, this includes the battery, which keeps the cell phone alive for 2 days with normal use. In addition, there is the much more color-intensive Super AMOLED display, which is hardly smaller than the HTC device. Samsung does not charge a premium for this. On the contrary: […] The Omnia 7 is […] even a little cheaper than the HD7. The decision is not difficult. Final score: 92% "

- Areamobile.de

“The convincing feature of the Omnia 7 compared to the Windows Phone competition is its great Super AMOLED display. The camera and loudspeaker also collect plus points over their competitors. The design, on the other hand, is a matter of taste and the rest of the equipment is not that different from the competition. If you are interested in a Windows Phone, you can buy the Samsung without hesitation. "

- cnet.de

“In terms of hardware, there is little to complain about: super-fast processor, great acoustics, top-notch display - there is currently nothing better with a Windows Phone 7 device - [and] above-average battery performance. The 5-megapixel camera is good, although the results are not quite as expected, and with a fixed memory size of 8 GB it can get tight from time to time. The downsides are manageable and affect the operating system more than the manufacturer's performance. Final rating: 5.6 out of 6 "

- Tarifagent.com

"In the case of the Omnia 7, Samsung's one-of-a-kind 4" SuperAMOLED is a major incentive [...]. There are some good LCDs around but they don't quite match the vivid picture and superior black levels of the SuperAMOLED tech. [...] Samsung deserves a pat on the back for the metal wave-style body and the excellent 5MP camera too. To summarize the review in one sentence - the hardware is perfect. "

“In the case of the Omnia 7, the unique SuperAMOLED display is a very important incentive. [...] There are some good LC displays, but they never achieve such vivid colors or such a convincing black level as SuperAMOLED displays. […] Samsung deserves praise for the metal housing and the excellent 5 megapixel camera. The complete review summarized in one sentence - the hardware is perfect. "

- GSMarena.com

Web links

Commons : Samsung Omnia 7  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b Official specifications Samsung Omnia 7 . samsung.com. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  2. Overview of the Adreno GPU from Qualcomm (English) . developer.qualcomm.com. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  3. Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets product page (English) . qualcomm.com. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  4. "MicroSD cards slower compared to internal flash memory" . computerbase.de. November 3, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  5. "Retro Spaced loading time comparison HTC Trophy vs Omnia 7" (English) . User JonthanYong on youtube.com. November 2, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  6. Survey: "How long does the battery of your Samsung Omnia 7 last?" . pocketpc.ch. November 10, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  7. Use of MMS is problematic with branding . User tw_ on pocketpc.ch. November 20, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  8. HTC tool against MMS problem in the AppStore . User tw_ on pocketpc.ch. November 9, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  9. Samsung network profile tool for solving MMS problems . pocketpc.ch. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  10. "Windows Phone 7 Update NoDo comes in February" . Areamobile.de. January 5, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  11. "Update problems with the Samsung Omnia 7" . pocketpc.ch. February 25, 2011. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved March 18, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.pocketpc.ch
  12. "Restoring the Samsung Omnia 7" . pocketpc.ch. March 5, 2011. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved March 18, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.pocketpc.ch
  13. "Windows Phone 7 and Samsung Phones: New Update, Old Problems" . inside-handy.de. March 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved March 18, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.inside-handy.de
  14. a b Enabling tethering and more about software codes . User Moritz on pocketpc.ch. November 18, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  15. Displaying the MAC address on the Samsung Omnia 7 . User StevieBallz on pocketpc.ch. November 11, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  16. "Samsung Omnia 7 Review: The Best Windows Phone" . areamobile.de. November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  17. "Samsung Omnia 7 in the test: WP7 with Super AMOLED display" . Daniel Schräder for cnet.de. November 18, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  18. "Samsung Omnia 7 - Windows Phone 7 with a dream display" . tarifagent.com. November 15, 2010. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 3, 2010. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.tarifagent.com
  19. "Samsung I8700 Omnia 7 review: A whole new galaxy" . gsmarena.com. October 11, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2010.