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Text Messaging
As with any device I get for review it is used as my main phone for a few days before I get into the nitty gritty of a review. However, as I am probably among the youngest 10% of Kitguru’s readership I am not sure how many of you are interested in texting these days.
Upon opening the messaging application, from either the homescreen or the application drawer you’re presented with the option to compose a new message or browse through existing threads.
Composing a text was a straight forward and easy; ignoring the fact that sending texts are generally easy to send. Just start typing in a name or number and you’ll be shown a list of possible contacts.
Going into a conversation you will find the standard threaded view, which alone is worth buying a smartphone over a featurephone these days. You’ll find your own sent messages in a pale blue and any you recieve in a yellow.
Up the top of the screen there is nothing, save for the name of the other person and their number. If you wish to view their contact card, insert a smiley or add a subject it will require you to bring up the menu bar.
Keyboard
There are two keyboards installed by default on the xCover, the standard Samsung one and Swype. I didn’t find myself as a big fan of Swype so I used Samsung’s QWERTY keypad the majority of the time I had my unit. There is also handwriting recognition support which is just plain horrible.
Straight off the bat many people will notice the lack of readily accessible smilies. You will either have to long press ‘.’ which gives a small option of smilies and some commonly used punctuation or go to the alternate keyboard and flip through to the third page.
Typing on the 3.65 inch screen was easy enough, both in portrait and landscape modes. Input lag was not noticeable at all except when entering forms on script heavy websites.
Samsung’s predictive system works well; if a little aggressive through transforming words automatically as you type. Entering caps lock required a long press of shift rather than a quick double tap.
Call Quality
I admit I am not a big user of phones for what they were originally designed for but the calls that I did make the sound quality was good and the speaker was satisfying loud, loud enough for a quick call in a shopping mall.
Whoever was on the other end of the line never had any problems understanding me, an impressive feat considering I live in somewhat of a dead zone for mobile coverage on my particular carrier.
That is one hell of a review blair!
Well I have this phone and I think it sucks. id be harder on the product. I am on my third now via the phone company as the first two started developing problems (call dropout etc).
Its a pretty looking phone but its not the greatest.
Thanks Roger!
And Davis, I encountered none of the major issues you have mentioned. But trust me if I did you would hear about them
Like the benchmarks.
What is it like for playing app games? screen no use?
For Angry Birds and the like the display is fine, anything that involves a bit more of a 3D experience it won’t be that amazing. I didn’t really test many games on it to be honest though.
Unfortunately I have to go with any phone I purchase in 2G mode (T-Mobile USA). I am considering the Galaxy Xcover or purchasing the USA identical (Samsung Rugby Smart). But neither are getting rave reviews as far as I can see.
When the Motorola Defy continues to beat the Samsung(s), it really makes me reluctant and I don’t want a Defy.
The Rugby is more like the xCover’s long lost cousin, rather than the USA version of it. The Rugby has the better display, processor, camera and by noticeable amounts as well. That being said I have never seen the Rugby in person, nor used the Defy for long enough to say what it is best out of the two. But I imagine the xCover would come in third
I have an Xcover. It is okay, but it occasionally locks up and I have to remove the battery to reboot. The other thing, something I dislike far more than the phone, is the software that backs the phone to my computer is very limited. For instance I can find no way in which I can backup my txt messages and access them on the computer. The phone has too limited memory to be bothered with music. And why would I put a podcast on the thing? But I can and back it up. But no capacity or messages! I won’t be replacing it with another Samsung when my contract runs out in a year. The camera is okay, the images are quite clear even at quite large magnifications.
Sanda is what men and females call heer but it’s not the most feminine
title out there. Guam is thee only location he’s
beewn residing in. After becoming out of his task forr
years he becawme a dentist and her salary has
been truly fulfilling. Thee favourite hobby for my kids
and me is to go to ballet and I’m attemjpting too make it a profession.