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Review Samsung P400

Samsung P400, live pictures

Standard kit:

Phone
Battery (720 mAh and 900 mAh)
User's guide
Portable handsfree
Data cabel
Software for synchronization

Р400 is the first device from Samsung which have rotating top part, it is the first similar device presented for GSM networks. In Europe this clamshell will be the first for certain, in Russia, maybe, it will be lurched by LG G7100. Whatever the case, this device is some kind of a transitive bridge between traditional clamshells and phones with rotating display or top part. It's impossible to practical application for this opportunity today, more likely it is purely fashion decision. Later, when appear phones with touch screens and the opportunity to enter the information using the stylus feather or navigation through the menu, such models will become popular.

But frankly speaking it's possible to find some applications for rotating display of the clamshell. First, you can carry phone so that the screen is always from above, then at you will always see the number of the calling person. A minus of such approach is that the screen becomes soiled quickly enough. Second, instead of rotating the built - in camera for shooting yourself, it is possible to turn the screen, i.e. one more degree of freedom. As a whole it's all the functions, which could find your obedient servant. I'll hold back about the fashion component, it's certainly present, but I don't presume to judge as far as frequently you will aimlessly twirl the screen counting upon the external effect.

The given model is constructed on the base of Samsung V200, general view, camera's location, even some features included in the software make the phones similar. Thus Р400 is improved version of V200, it has a lot of little changes, and they introduce a new qualitative component.

In the closed state you see, that this model has no external screen, there's light indicator instead of it. It has some work schemes by tradition, it looks attractively. There's metal strap around of the indicator which gives the certain charm to the phone.

You can see the camera in the range of the clamshell, it rotates on 180 degrees, so you can shoot yourself and associates. There are two volume keys, IR-port, and handsfree connector on the left side of the device. On the right side you can see the button for calling camera function. You can make photos using this button when the device is closed, but the screen is on the outside. They are automatically saved and you are ready to make other photos, it's convenient shooting mode.

You can open the device as usual clamshell, the fastening locates in one place as against other devices. The top part fastens to the basis reliably, the backlash is not present, and the top part does not dangle. Having opened the device, you can turn the display on 180 degrees and pull down it back. Opening angle of the clamshell makes 26 degrees.

The internal screen is made by UFB-technology, the colors are juicy and bright. The resolution of the screen makes 128х160 pixels (30х38 mm), it allows displaying up to 7 text lines and 2 service lines. The screen fades on the sun(especially in summer), the picture is practically invisible, it is necessary to peer into the screen. But in room the screen deserves all the praises, it displays 65000 colors, it is the maximum that you can wish from phone today.

The keyboard of the device is made of plastic, the keys are big and are moved off well from each other. The wap button (version 1.2.1) is inserted in 4-way navigation key, but ОК key would be more pertinent here. You should press left soft-key to confirm the choice, it is not always convenient.

This device has lithium-ionic battery, its capacity makes 720 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the battery is capable to provide up to 4 hours in talk mode and up to 100 hours in standby mode. The device worked 3 days at 40 minutes of talking and up to 30 minutes of using other functions. At less talking time the device can work about 4 days. Full charge time of the battery is less than 2 hours.

Some words about the form-factor of the device, it's focused on fans, as the device is massive enough. This model doesn't suit for women, though there are women which like this model. The phone is big enough 90.5х47.5х23 mm and weighs 105 grammes. According to our measurements the sizes of phone make 110х 47.5х23 mm taking aerial into account.

To enter the menu in standby mode you should press left soft-key. The main menu is realized as set of items with animated, you can choose one of two menu themes. The submenu is realized as lists, the shortcuts number navigation is present. You can assign up to 4 various menu items for the navigation key, then you can quickly call the necessary item in standby mode by moving the key. Let's examine the basic functions of the device.

Phonebook.You can save up to 1000 entries in the device, it can be phone numbers or e-mail addresses. For one name you can enter as many phone numbers, as you need. In the list are displayed numbers, from memory of the device, and from the SIM-card. You can create up to 10 groups of subscribers, it is possible to choose ringtone, melody or tone for SMS-message for each group. You can assign up to 8 fast dial numbers. As a whole all the functions of the phonebook are standard, it's impossible to correlate photo with subscriber's name.

Messages. The phone supports EMS, and also connected messages (up to 918 symbols). As consequence the set of small pictures is present (22 pieces), animation (24 pictures), you can also insert a melody in the body of message. In the memory of the phone can be saved up to 200 messages besides the memory of SIM-card. Typing message, you can call submenu where you can switch languages, i.e. the message can be written in several languages.

Picture Messages. As against other devices from Samsung the realization of sending and reception of MMS-messages is made on qualitative other level in this device. The first and the main change is that now you are capable to create some pages in one message, containing sound, graphics, text, you can adjust the interval between displaying of separate pages. 700 KB of the memory are allocated for MMS-messages.

Call lists. Everything is traditional here, here are lists of missed, received and dialed calls with date and time, up to 20 records can be stored in each list. There's no general time in call counters, but you can see separately the time of all dialed and the time of all accepted calls.

Camera. In this model the chamber precisely same, as well as in model V200, differences are not present. We shall remind the basic functions of the chamber. Phone display is used as a viewfinder, you can rotate an image 180 degrees using side keys. Other manufacturers don’t have such feature. You can adjust brightness of the picture pressing navigation key. Also there is a Zoom-function in the phone, it is quite acceptable. To make a shot, press a special key under the screen. Then you can save this photo or delete it. All photos can be viewed in Photo Album, some photos are presented as small copies. Navigation is simple and convenient.

An integrated CCD-camera enables to make images, which have a resolution of 352х288 pixels. Unfortunately, there is no software to synchronize the phone with PC. It is also impossible to transmit photos via IrDA and it’s doubtful whether it will be available in the future.

The quality of images is quiet good, all pictures look vivid, may be because of the screen capabilities. There are 3 Mbytes for the photos in the memory of the device. Only oneresolution is available.

Sound settings. Here you can choose a ringing tone (totally, 44 polyphonic melodies and animals voices). The phone supports 40-tones polyphony and a ring is very loud. There are several types of incoming alert: just sound, just vibrating alert and a mixed mode (firstly, vibrating alert and then a sound). One of 10 pre-installed tones can be chosen for SMS messages. You can also switch a minute minder, which works in a talking mode and set a tone that is played while connecting with the other side (subscriber).

Phone settings. An unusual option is Auto Light. In this mode you adjust the interval of backlight operation, and it starts working in the muffled mode in the specified time interval. I.e. the opening of the phone does not switch on the backlight to its full capacity. This mode is necessary, if you carry phone when the screen is on top, otherwise you can't see anything without backlight. A minus is that fact, that when this mode is enabled the backlight of the keyboard is not switched on, it is necessary to disable Auto Light mode. There are no analogues of this mode in other models, and they don't have rotating top part.

Also you can choose one of the animated pictures here.

You can choose color or mark style for text in standby mode.

Organizer. The calendar shows the current month, you can enable reminder for separate days (up to 40 symbols). There is no division into various events, as against V200 it is possible to enter several events for one day. When viewing separate day, the amount of records for it is not shown, it's more likely a minus of the device.

To-do list. You can add notes concerning your business, set a priority level (high, low, usual) and copy these notes to a calendar.

Date and time. You can view a world time in cities and set current local time and date.

Alarm.There are two alarm-clocks here: recurrent and the one, which can ring only once. Both alarm-clocks can work when the phone is switched off.

Calculator and currency converter are simple but they make their job.

The dictaphone allows making three records, 30 seconds each, all the records can be made only in standby mode, the dictophone does not work during talking.

Network Services. Apart from usual network settings the phone allows a user to choose manually a current band (GSM900/1800 or GSM1900).

Funbox. There are 512 KB in the phone which can be used for installation of games and 1945 KB for images and sounds (melodies). As you have already understood, the phone supports Java, that allows loading new games into it. As the proof of my correctness I'll list some photos. In my sample as games were preinstalled BubbleSmile, Fun2Link, Ultimate Golf, MobileChess.

Wap-browser (version 1.2.1) can help to download new pictures, melodies and games.

The device supports GPRS (4+1).

Impressions

As Р400 is based on the same platform as V200, both phones are practically identical by communication quality, any problems are not observed. It is quite worthy representative of modern devices, the volume of polyphonic ringtones is high, the volume in speaker during talking is excessive. The vibration alert is average by force, the device has liked by this parameter. Not everyone will lime the form - factor of the device phone.
The differences from V200 are in better realized MMS technology , updated interface, it became more pleasant visually. The memory size accessible to the user in each section (messages, games, sounds) has extended. The Java support which was absent in V200 but it is supported by the platform (do not ask how to enable it in V200, I do not know) has officially appeared.
The model will come into the market in the European countries in the middle of September or a bit later. At first time the price level will make 450-500 Euro. Within the first month of sales the price will stabilize at the level of 360-375 Euro.

Here you can listen to some of the ring tones (мр3, 600 Kb)

Eldar Murtazin ([email protected])
Translated by Andreas Von Horn ([email protected])

Published — 25 July 2003

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