Review Samsung D410

Organizer. Current month is displayed in the Calendar, you can enter a note (40 symbols limit) for any definite day. Several notes can be set for one day, and you can set custom alert for each of them. The days that have some entries are marked with color during the Calendar view mode, you can also view common list of events. However, the number of appointments for one day is not shown.

To do list. Here you can create entries about your “things-to-do”, priority level can be set (high, low, common), you can also copy entries to the Calendar.

The unit converter is convenient, because you have to enter current exchange rate every time you use it. The whole operation may seem huge, but if you use it from time to time – it’s really convenient.

Date and time. From here you can view the world time in biggest cities and setup current date and time.

Dictaphone. Five voice memos can be stored, the length limit is 30 seconds for each. The phone allows recording conversation, in order to perform this operation you’ll have to enter the menu and launch Dictaphone from it. It’s not very convenient, however this is the only way to activate it.

Alarm Clock. Alarm clock can be set to daily and single time mode; you can also set the Alarm Clock working even if the phone is switched off.

Network Services. Usual settings for network functions, you can also choose the frequency manually (GSM900/1800 or GSM1900).

Funbox. Phone supports Java. 600 kb are dedicated to Java applications, same amount of memory is for Pictures and Melodies. The phone features four pre-installed games: BubbleSmile (really nice games, you have to form rows from bubbles) Fun2Link (interesting logical game), Ultimate Golf (it’s a golf, however the picture is not always clear, this game was most likely optimized for lower resolution), MobileChess (really nice chess games).

Wap-browser is 1.2.1, but it will most likely be updated to 2.0, considering that the phone will be released in February. GPRS class 10 is present.

Camera. This phone has VGA camera, however it wouldn’t be worth mentioning if it wasn’t for rebuild interface. From now on working with the camera is a lot easier, you don’t have to enter the menu, main functions are available right from shooting mode (when the picture is displayed on the screen). You can setup the Contrast level, zoom the picture (8x digital zoom), and change the resolution. Some standard functions are present as well, like timer and frames (a really wide variety to choose from, some of them are pretty nice). This phone supports MutliShot function, with two speed modes (normal and fast). Each series can have 6, 9 or 15 shots.

Camera supports the following resolutions: VGA (640x480), QVGA (320x240), QQVGA (160x120), Mobile (176x120). Four types of file compression are presented (Economy, Normal, Fine, Super Fine). Three megabytes are dedicated to photos; average picture’s size is about 60-70 kb. The camera’s quality doesn’t differ much from the one installed in Samsung E700.

Besides the interface during shooting mode, the interface for photo album was redone as well. For example when you’re browsing the pictures, the one you’ve selected gets slightly zoomed and highlighted. You will notice the second major change during viewing the picture’s details, it’s displayed right on the very same place with the picture it self in the background, which is rather convenient. To cut the long story short, I have to admit that the new interface is certainly done with decently good taste, and it’s fun using it. Photos can be uploaded to PC with the help of software that will probably be shipped with the mobile phone on CD.

The Camera allows recording short video clips (15 seconds, no sound) besides taking pictures. Three megabytes are dedicated for these needs. However I was unable to transfer these clips to PC, because of the lack of necessary software, and it’s impossible to transfer them via IrDA (same goes for photos). Video clip quality is not bad, and since it’s not a vital phone’s feature it looks almost perfect.

Exampels of photos

• Photo 1 640х480 pixels
• Photo 2 640х480 pixels
• Photo 3 640х480 pixels
• Photo 4 640х480 pixels
• Photo 5 640х480 pixels
• Photo 6 640х480 pixels
• Photo 7 640х480 pixels
• Photo 8 640х480 pixels

Impressions

No problems with network coverage quality were encountered; it’s typically good for Samsung mobile phones. The main advantages of this phone are: perfect display, loud polyphonic ring tones and new interface for several functions. Together this makes a good Samsung phone; this brand always had strong positions in these features. The phone is really great except for the size; it is cutting down the number of potential consumers due to that. Samsung most likely realized this problem and this model probably won’t be released in Europe. The main reason for that is another model to be released - D4x0 (for example D430). The main differences from D410 will be smaller size (half of 410’s thickness, slightly less height), and built-in antenna. This phone will most likely be released in July-August of year 2004.

As to D410, if it will be launched into serial production, then it will be released in February and cost about 550$. Considering that this is a product of narrow market part, it will not be sold widely. On the other hand, the phone is really nice, especially since it’s the first of a kind in its segment.

Ringtone samples D410 (mp3, 400 Kb)