8 weeks before so I decided to buy my first smartphone. Conditions were that it should be contract-free (the Iphone 4 therefore eliminated at the time of) that it is pockets tolerated and that a good navigation software is available.
For the Galaxy, I decided mainly because of the superior screen and the good reviews here and elsewhere on the Internet. Note form now my experiences:
- Due to the flat construction and low weight, it can be easily carry in your pocket, at least as good as the previous clamshell phone from Nokia. After 8 weeks, the front page looks like on the first day, the plastic back microscratches --- has as one might expect.
- When I use Navigon navigation software in the paid version with card (2GB) for the whole of Europe. The program I had earlier. In connection with a PDA and it works just as well in the Galaxy with the difference that the new version offers even more features The Galaxy lies in my car in the center console (ie without special holder, although the car has a glass roof.) I have checked the GPS reception of the Galaxy's under critical reception conditions and can detect no significant difference compared to other GPS devices.
- As smartphone newbie I am from Android Market enthusiastic because of the many useful and sometimes very original apps. So I really had not expected. The purchase and installation procedures are very customer friendly.
- The touch screen is awesome.
- There may be a Micro SDHC card up to 32GB are used. I have it filled with songs from my music collection. The transfer of the titles is quite simple, because the Galaxy is recognized as a mass storage device to the USB port.
- The included earplugs somehow sound tinny, but are actually not so bad. It is important however that the peg to complete really tight in the ear canal, otherwise the sound is bad in any case. I use as earplugs now Ultimate Ears TripleFi. They're getting better, but the difference is not so huge to the supplied. The recoverable volume is sufficient. A little more would be better. But my MP3 player from Sony also is not loud.
- The KIES software works on my Windows 7 32-bit computer problems. The Galaxy is detected at the USB port. Transferring Outlook contacts to work. Only when one logs out there, then it is no longer recognized on the same USB port of gravel. This could possibly create confusion. Upgrading from Android 2.1 to version 2.2 also went without a hitch.
- I was pleasantly surprised by the good hit rate of the voice recognition in the Google search box. This is the move really convenient because you need not touch.
- There is also a voice control for the general operation of the Galaxy's, but for example, to call, email, navigate, etc. This feature is available only for English. I was so, however, not very successful. Perhaps lags on the mixture of englichen commands with German search terms, maybe at my German accent ... Anyway, it is expected that this feature will be available sooner or later also in the German language.
- The Swype function for typing has not convinced me. She works Depending on the context, but what about if you want to tap a rare term? Then it does not work. If the phone is used in landscape mode, the virtual keyboard is larger and it can not be typed reasonably error-free with large fingers. I think that's better.
- Even with Android 2.2, the Galaxy is not 100% stable. If you play around and tried rarer functions and apps crashing it before starting --- with horizontal stripes on the screen and no response to touch inputs. Then only helps disconnection and reconnection. In "Normal" mode, I had no crashes with at least Android 2.2. The telephone function was hitherto never compromised.
- The battery Run time is expected to be: if the Galaxy is only used as phone keeps the battery at me as infrequent users 4 days (the predecessor-phone could be operated 1 week). Since the Galaxy is of course not only used as a phone you have to charge it every day. Every now and then it seems to need more power, and it heats up slightly. Then the battery life is shorter. Here then helps a reboot.
- Surprisingly good I find the camera, especially when the lighting conditions are not as good. Images that are taken outdoors, on the other hand are a bit dull, and lacks eg bright objects the tracing. Here the limits of dynamics are obviously achieved. A "real" camera can do better. However, I have already done for document purposes shots of small objects the little inferior in terms of image quality of a digital SLR. You could choose the focus point exactly, the autofocus has perfectly focused and the image was despite modest light levels not the least bit shaky thanks to image stabilization. Thanks to low minimum focusing distance (10cm), even small objects are displayed large.
A smartphone I do not want to miss now. By the Galaxy, I'm thrilled. Major flaws I have not been found. Therefore, 5 points.
