Samsung SGH-T809 / SGH-D820
Officially Peeved....
Here's a short review of the phone:
The Good:
Really nice, crisp clear screen - nice photos and video shots. The sound is great and the reception is premium, so far. There's lots of space, 70 in total, including a 32 meg TF card (which does indeed come with a SD adapter, for those who have an SD card reader handy). Samsung includes the cable and the software. It's a great phone, but will take some getting used to if you've owned anything else. Despite what you may read, the phone does have a few profiles built in that you can assign people to. You can also ofcourse, assign each person/number a pic and a tone. None of my fears came to fruition, the phone does not open easily in the pocket and every time you close it, it locks automatically anyway, so you won't get any buttons pressed accidentally.
So far, so good....except for....ringtones (see: ugly)
The Bad:
There's no voice dialing, so for those with bluetooth who've owned a Motorola or any phoen that voice dials, whether speaker dependent or independent, you're screwed...prepare to get your finger ready to work on this phone.
The keys are also small (but that's obvious), so beware - it WILL take some getting used to, especially for men, or women? with big hands/big fingers. Most will hit the clear (c) key alot because it's right under the down arrow key and stuffed in the middle of the send and end keys, which as you can see in pictures, 0 space. This is a problem for people who are used to hitting these kinds of keys without looking. The menus aren't very intuitive or deep, you may make a few mistakes figuring stuff out (don't get me wrong, it's not rocket science either).
The Ugly:
You indeed, cannot use custom MP3 tones - and this has driven me bonkers. You can play them, but they're greyed out for use as any kind of ringtone, even though they're clearly detected, and play perfectly. This means that samsung has included some kind of protective DRM in the phone which only allows purchased files to be used as ringtones, and I'm going to see if I can call them right now and somehow get firmware to remove this, or I will return the phone.
The Good:
Really nice, crisp clear screen - nice photos and video shots. The sound is great and the reception is premium, so far. There's lots of space, 70 in total, including a 32 meg TF card (which does indeed come with a SD adapter, for those who have an SD card reader handy). Samsung includes the cable and the software. It's a great phone, but will take some getting used to if you've owned anything else. Despite what you may read, the phone does have a few profiles built in that you can assign people to. You can also ofcourse, assign each person/number a pic and a tone. None of my fears came to fruition, the phone does not open easily in the pocket and every time you close it, it locks automatically anyway, so you won't get any buttons pressed accidentally.
So far, so good....except for....ringtones (see: ugly)
The Bad:
There's no voice dialing, so for those with bluetooth who've owned a Motorola or any phoen that voice dials, whether speaker dependent or independent, you're screwed...prepare to get your finger ready to work on this phone.
The keys are also small (but that's obvious), so beware - it WILL take some getting used to, especially for men, or women? with big hands/big fingers. Most will hit the clear (c) key alot because it's right under the down arrow key and stuffed in the middle of the send and end keys, which as you can see in pictures, 0 space. This is a problem for people who are used to hitting these kinds of keys without looking. The menus aren't very intuitive or deep, you may make a few mistakes figuring stuff out (don't get me wrong, it's not rocket science either).
The Ugly:
You indeed, cannot use custom MP3 tones - and this has driven me bonkers. You can play them, but they're greyed out for use as any kind of ringtone, even though they're clearly detected, and play perfectly. This means that samsung has included some kind of protective DRM in the phone which only allows purchased files to be used as ringtones, and I'm going to see if I can call them right now and somehow get firmware to remove this, or I will return the phone.
...
I honestly think they did. I'm on the phone with them right now. If they don't have an easy resolution, I don't think I can stay with the phone. I've already sacrificed voice dialing....I'm not going to sacrifice freedom as well.
...
I got to level 2 support (firmware department) and the guy told me they don't have any firmware to disable the drm issue, and that they won't be making any firmware to resolve this issue.
So tomorrow, the phone is going back - and I don't think I will ever be buying another Samsung phone again.
So tomorrow, the phone is going back - and I don't think I will ever be buying another Samsung phone again.
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Kind of disappointing for a $250+ phone. Is looks enough to warrant spending that much? It’s something to ponder.
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Formatting Mp3s to DRM is not the biggest issue here. I actually did find a way, a 15 dollar program called Media Audio Cutter - but why should I have to go and buy a program AND spend the time, formatting my mp3s a second time for use with a phone that costs $300? There's too much wrong with the phone for me to keep it now. The battery time is ridiculous, and I have to go buy a special adapter to use it in my car because of that issue. Anyone who owns it - try listening to Mp3s for an hour and a half - battery, dead.
Anyway, those of you who love/like the phone - I'm glad you do....but it's definately going back for me.
Anyway, those of you who love/like the phone - I'm glad you do....but it's definately going back for me.
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not sure if this works since i don't have the phone and haven't tried for myself. but i spoke with a samsung engineer (a friend of mine works for samsung wireless, t809 was one of the phones they actually worked on themselves) and this is what they said about using mp3's for ringtones.
there's a work around for it. he said as long as you download the mp3 from a wap site, you can set it as a ringtone. doesn't have to be a tmobile site. so if you can setup a wap and load up your mp3's, then download onto your phone. you should be able to use it.
please let me know if it does/doesn't work. i'll keep talking to my friend. maybe i can figure it out for ya. =D
there's a work around for it. he said as long as you download the mp3 from a wap site, you can set it as a ringtone. doesn't have to be a tmobile site. so if you can setup a wap and load up your mp3's, then download onto your phone. you should be able to use it.
please let me know if it does/doesn't work. i'll keep talking to my friend. maybe i can figure it out for ya. =D
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I like the Mp3 its great to once in a boring while to be able to listen to your favorite song-but i really dont think you should buy a phone to listen to music--that why theres mp3 players and ipod. It will also be great to use your mp3 as a ringtone, but other than those reason if your complaining about battery life bye a real mp3 or ipod.
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I'll try the WAP thing. I have an account at Freeringers.net, which is perfect. I'll let you know.
And kitty....
Let's see....the TWO reasons I got rid of my Razr are 1. No mp3 player and 2. No transflash.
And for all intensive purposes, apart from a better camera, the memory and the tf/sd slot on this phone, the razr is so FAR superior, in construction, technlogy, features and software.
I already own an MP3 player, a Zen 20gb, but I don't carry it everywhere I go. I take it to the gym, the park or when I'm heading to a mall alone. But my phone goes everywhere with me, all the time. Having an album or 3 is something I'd like on my phone for situations that are unforseeable, maybe I have to wait at a train/bus station for someone or...
(continues)
And kitty....
Let's see....the TWO reasons I got rid of my Razr are 1. No mp3 player and 2. No transflash.
And for all intensive purposes, apart from a better camera, the memory and the tf/sd slot on this phone, the razr is so FAR superior, in construction, technlogy, features and software.
I already own an MP3 player, a Zen 20gb, but I don't carry it everywhere I go. I take it to the gym, the park or when I'm heading to a mall alone. But my phone goes everywhere with me, all the time. Having an album or 3 is something I'd like on my phone for situations that are unforseeable, maybe I have to wait at a train/bus station for someone or...
(continues)
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