Join Sprintusers.com Today
By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other sprint users (PM), download custom made ring tones, use our custom uploader (FOCUS), see LESS forum advertisements, upload photos in your own photo album and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

PDA


View Full Version : Samsung A940


RChris173
11-03-2005, 10:35 PM
Summary: The phone is bulky, yet powerful. The features packed in this phone will keep any phone freak entertained for hours, perhaps days. From the camera to the motion sensor, this phone is for the "phone geek".

Camera: The 2.0 Megapixel camera is a little confusing at first glance, after some practice, one will get used to the screen rotation that is required to use the camera. This unique feature has drawbacks, the current firmware prevents users from using the side camera button to take a snapshot when using the "auto focus" feature. The current work around is to use the "Menu/OK" button. This is a little annoying, but with enough complaints from customers to Samsung and Sprint, hopefully some action will be taken. In order to get quality pictures, one must hold the camera steady as it has a slow shutter speed. The camcorder is not as what I expected, the quality is okay, and the microphone can't catch the audio from any more than 15 - 20 feet, depending on the volume.

Bluetooth: Sadly, I was shocked to find out that the phone doesn't support the ability to transfer files over BT to the proper folders for usage. If I wanted to transfer a MP3 from my PDA or computer, it would establish a connection, however, the phone calls it a "vCard" and puts the file no where to be found, (other people state that it is placed in a BT_FTP folder, yet that isn't even happening to me). I would like to give some advantages of the BT that are currently working. I was able to establish a BT connection between my A940 and Lifedrive. Using this technology, I connected to the internet on my PDA using a HTML web browser, Blazer.

Overall UI: Knowing Samsung's colorful menu system from the past, I wasn't surprised to see improvements to the options and features inplemented in this phone. With different menu styles and background, the menu is always dynamic. The processor in this phone seems to make everything run smoothly without much hesitation.

Physical Appearance: As other members have stated, this phone is equipped with a full scale rocket launcher...just kidding...it looks like one for sure, with the camera poking out on the left side and the giant cylinder hinge. When first holding the phone, one may not like the phone, but I quickly got used to it.

MP3 Player: This is my first MP3 enabled phone, so I can't compare it to others, but I will say it is for the people who may decide between this and a device similar to the iPod. Why not get a phone AND mp3 player in one! :) Since my Lifedrive is equipped with a 4 GB mini drive, I guess the phone's MP3 player didn't make me very exicited, but for those who are wondering on the quality, this phone packs execellent stereo quality.

I can't think of any other important features for now, but if I have time, I'll try to get some pictures of the phone's UI and some photos taken from the phone's camera.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10.


RChris173
11-04-2005, 07:48 AM
Some more information about the A940 anf my reasons for rating it a 7 out of a 10 (taken from my post at the Bluetooth Thread):

There are a lot of people who bought this phone specifically for the BT function and if I didn't want the BT function, I would go with a non-BT phone that is cheaper. I wanted people to be aware of this problem as I was bummed out that I couldn't use this feature. When and IF it does get fixed, I'll change my rating. Since Samsung or Sprint didn't see this problem during the BETA stages, I am very shocked. Again, this is my opinion, and if you are not a BT fan, go for another phone. I give this phone a 7 out of a 10 by comparing it to other phones with different carriers like Cingular and the RAZR. I have seen better phones, and I am not an Anti-Sprint person, but Cingular does have BETTER coverage in my area. In addtion to the fact that one has to hold the camera VERY steady to get a clear picture because of the slow shutter speeds. People who were/are expecting a good 2 MP camera, BT phone will not get one until fixes come. I give it atleast a 7 for the efforts Samsung made to rush it out to Sprint and the execellent speaker and mp3 capabilties. If you are a BT fan, buy it now, but be aware that it isn't working 100% correctly. Someone needs to tell the truthful opinion. Remember, you have 14 days to try it out.

RChris173
11-12-2005, 09:58 PM
Photos taken with the A940 on 2 MP mode:
(some feature some damage from Hurricane Wilma :p )

[img=http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/9875/961901431098xl.th.jpg] (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=961901431098xl.jpg)

[img=http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/4180/961903020859ax.th.jpg] (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=961903020859ax.jpg)

[img=http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/4635/961904174132dj.th.jpg] (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=961904174132dj.jpg)

[img=http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/4936/961905309497ba.th.jpg] (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=961905309497ba.jpg)

[img=http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/5783/961912732216vm.th.jpg] (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=961912732216vm.jpg)

[img=http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/7179/961930709818dt.th.jpg] (http://img477.imageshack.us/my.php?image=961930709818dt.jpg)

Video taken with the A940:

http://www.funtimenetwork.com/misc/96190992517.mov

michelle
11-14-2005, 12:12 PM
what is this "motion sensor" you speak of? :intrigued:

RChris173
11-14-2005, 01:29 PM
what is this "motion sensor" you speak of? :intrigued:

Lets you use "Dice Game", "Random Ball", "Beat Box". These are applications built in the phones RAM work based on the way you move the phone in the air. I am guessing they are there for developers to be inspiried by the ability of a phone to detect motion and develop a useful application. As of now the only use for "Dice Game" is if you need two dice for a game if you lost any, and random ball could be used for the lottery, however it sets the max number to 50 instead of 53. And unless you are some hip D-J, Beat Box is pretty pointless.

SprintUsers.com was created in January 2002 as a resource for users of Sprint PCS products and services to learn about and share information. We have cll phone reviews, Cellular Accessories, Downloads, PDA reviews, Ringtones, all of the latest Sprint PCS news and information, an area where you can find help in creating a ring tone or custom image for you phone, and so much more. The most popular section is the message board where visitors can read and write messages, ask questions, and get advice about their cellular phone from other users.