russian

Phone Search:

RSS

Samsung Galaxy Note. First Look

Today, large companies, especially corporate giants like Samsung, do not surprise users with extraordinary products...

First look. Sony ST21i Tapioca Microsoft Windows Phone 7: Reasons for Failure First Look at Samsung Galaxy S3 as a 2012 Flagship

Reviews Editorials

Mobile Phones Editorials MP3 Forum

Review GSM phone Samsung X140

Samsung X140. Live pictures

Package:

Handset
Manual
Headset
Charger

Samsung is widening its share in the low-end segment and adds new possibilities to the existing devices. In the X140 case Samsung C200 is taken as a base and a radio is just added to it. Traditionally the design is changed a bit to stress the difference and side volume level buttons are absent. Speaking about the software the devices are similar and the only thing that is absent is a possibility to set a personal tag for moving down, that is firmly fixed for calling radio. In all the rest that is the old C200 known to everybody.

The dimensions are 107x42x16 mm and the weight is 75 grams. The design is opposite to the C-series and that is to stress its difference from very cheap solutions. The edges of the device are splay and the front panel is of dark plastic (the colour is a favourite one of the company just like a silvery one). The sides and the back panel are silvery. Functional keys are also silvery and the number keypad matches the front panel. There is a headset connector protected with a rubber cover fixed to the body on the left-side surface. And an interface connector is on the bottom end.

The most interesting thing about the phone is its display. It is 65K UFB with the resolution of 128x128 pixels (28x28 mm). It is capable of showing up to 4 text lines and one service line. The quality of the screen is not bad though the colours are not as vivid as on the majority of the TFT screens. The screen wins when compared to Motorola C380 but looses to Siemens C65. It fades in the sun but the picture is seen.

The navi button is comfortable to work with and the same may be told about other functional keys. Number keys are average in size and are well placed. That is a traditional keypad with a green backlighting, it's not very bright and that is pleasant if compare with C200.

The battery is also a back panel of the device and has no backlash by the way. That is capacious of 820 mAh and according to the manufacturer works for 150 hours in the standby mode and up to 3 hours in the talk one. In Moscow the device worked for about 4 days in case of 40 minutes of talks and up to 15 minutes of using other functions. The device works about 21 hours in the radio mode with maximum volume. So, in average you should expect about 2-3 days of work with actively used radio. Full recharging takes about 1.5 hours.

There are two ways of menu representing; they are a traditional vertical one with a list of functions and one function on the screen with a vivid animation. In general the menu is rather colourful and interesting. Fast navigation with number series is available. Entering the menu is possible by pressing a soft key or moving the navi button to the right.

Phone book. Up to 1000 numbers may be saved in the main memory while up to 3 numbers (home, work and mobile) and e-mail address for a name. While entering a new number you are offered to set its type and only after that type the number in, extra numbers may be entered from the editing menu afterwards. The organization has both advantages and disadvantages, so everything depends on how often you enter new names with one number.

An entered name may be assigned to a users' group which also may have a personal icon and signal.

Both numbers from the main memory and SIM one are displayed in the general list and you may take an advantage of a quick search by name. That's enough to enter the first letter of a name and the first entry starting with it will be displayed in the main list. Then a second letter may be entered and so on. The same search is realized for each group. Fast access keys may be set for 8 numbers.

Messages. Up to 200 messages may be saved in the main memory, the device supports EMS standard also. There is a set of rather interesting icons, melodies, sounds and animations in connection with this. A set of emotion icons is unusual - they have not only a funny face but a body also.

In all the rest phone possibilities are standard. There is a predictive text input T9 and up to 5 own templates may be saved.

MMS . About 700 KB are reserved for multimedia messages, input interface is plain.

Call lists. Lists with the last 20 outgoing, incoming and missed calls are kept here traditionally. Date and time are specified for each call. An interesting feature is that new numbers are not duplicated, the number is only shifted to the top and new date and time are specified. The absence of similar entries is achieved this way. This organization is most acceptable for the majority of users.

Sound settings. Here you may choose one of the melodies as a call signal, the set is not very big and is rather standard. There are no profiles in the phone but you may set personal alert signal (light, melody, vibra, vibra+melody) minute minder is turned on in this menu. It works during a conversation also.

Phone settings. The device may be set the most comfortable for you via this menu. Menu language, background image (there are 11 of them and they are all animated) for the screen in the standby mode. Screen contrast level and security settings are also here.

Organizer. Several applications are hidden in the menu.

A calendar with a one event possible for a day is the first item. More events may be added by copying a previous day entry that's not convenient. Calendar view for a month is set here. Days with an event added are of a different colour and there is a fast switch to a date.

A to-do list adds to the calendar possibilities. A task may be created, assigned a priority (high, low, normal). Tasks may be copied to a calendar.

Alarm clock. You may set it once, everyday or weekly (from Monday till Friday, from Monday till Saturday).

There is a calculator and a currency converter in the phone, everything is traditional.

Date and time. A current date and time are specified here, world time function is also available.

Dictaphone. Up to 5 entries 30 seconds in duration, up to 100 KB for notes. The Dictaphone is not possible to use during a conversation.

Network services. All the settings connected with operator functions are here.

Funbox. A usual browser version 1.2.1 is in this menu.

Games are also here. There are 3 of them - BubbleSmile, Fun 2 Link, Mobile Chess. Separate memory of 512 KB is reserved for games. 600 KB are kept for images and melodies. Downloaded melodies are impossible to use as call melodies for users' groups.

Radio. Up to 20 FM-stations may be saved in the internal memory. Search is made either manually or automatically. A name may be assigned to each station. Radio works only when the headset is attached as it serves as an antenna. The headset is standard with earphones having rubber insertions and a button for switching between channels on the cable.

That's pleasant the phone is possible to work with while the radio is on. You go to another menu items and the radio keeps on playing. Turning the radio off is possible only from the same menu, that's why that's better to use a hot button or just plug the headset out.

The loudspeaker settings are impossible to change fast due to the absence of side volume buttons and that is a disadvantage. The realization of the radio resembles the one in Nokia 8310. It sounds well for this class and the volume is enough almost always.

Impressions

The device rouses no cavils in the connection quality, the power of a vibra is a bit higher than average. The volume of a 40-tones polyphonic call alert is also higher than average and it may be missed in the street. In some kind the call signal refers to the previous generation devices since the elder models are more melodious.

The model should be expected in the end of March or the beginning of April. The price will be about 10 USD higher than for Samsung C200. And taking this fact into consideration we can expect the price of 120-130 USD. That is not bad for a device with a radio and a standard set of functions. The company is probable to make a wide advertising campaign and that will surely make the device demanded.

Melody samples for Samsung X140 (mp3, 232 Kb)

Eldar Murtazin ([email protected])
Translated by Maria Mitina ([email protected])

Published — 22 January 2005

Have something to add?! Write us... [email protected]

News:

[ 31-07 16:21 ]Sir Jony Ive: Apple Isn't In It For The Money

[ 31-07 13:34 ]Video: Nokia Designer Interviews

[ 31-07 13:10 ]RIM To Layoff 3,000 More Employees

[ 30-07 20:59 ]Video: iPhone 5 Housing Shown Off

[ 30-07 19:12 ]Android Fortunes Decline In U.S.

[ 25-07 16:18 ]Why Apple Is Suing Samsung?

[ 25-07 15:53 ]A Few Choice Quotes About Apple ... By Samsung