|
Average customer review:  |
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #11580 in Cell Phone Accessories
- Color: Black
- Brand: Samsung
- Model: Memoir
- Released on: 2008-10-08
Features
- Full touchscreen phone with 8-megapixel auto focus lens, Xenon flash, and easy access to popular photo sharing sites
- Compatible with T-Mobile's 3G network for fast downloads as well as quick uploads of photo and video to sharing sites
- Assisted GPS for turn-by-turn directions; Bluetooth stereo music streaming; microSD expansion to 16 GB; access to personal e-mail and instant messaging
- Up to 5.5 hours of talk time, up to 300 hours (12.5 days) of standby time
- What's in the Box: handset, battery, charger, USB cable, wired stereo hands-free headset, quick start guide
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
Is the Samsung Memoir a high-megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera or a full-featured 3G-enabled smartphone? It's both, thanks to the 8-megapixel lens mounted on the back of the device and support for T-Mobile's HSDPA 3G network, which provides fast web downloads and multimedia messaging.
The camera is outfitted with a Xenon flash, 16x digital zoom, video capture capabilities, and six shooting modes as well as easy access to your favorite online photo sharing sites. This touchscreen-enabled phone has a large, brightly colorful 3-inch screen, and it includes Samsung's intuitive and easily customizable TouchWiz user interface. It also offers built-in Assisted GPS (a-GPS) navigation, which allows you to utilize location-based services including turn-by-turn directions. Other features include Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion (up to 16 GB), and digital audio player, access to personal e-mail and instant messaging, and up to 5.5 hours of talk time.
 The Samsung Memoir's 8-megapixel camera makes it easy to capture photos and videos on the go without sacrificing the quality of your point-and-shoot camera (see larger version). |
The Samsung Memoir operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks and is compatible with T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA 3G network, which operates on the 1700/2100 MHz AWS spectrum. This phone is designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide faster data speeds when accessing the Web or downloading content from the T-Mobile Web2go content portal. T-Mobile is currently rolling out its 3G network, and it expects by year's end that its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services.
In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and e-mail on the go.
While this phone is optimized for use with T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network, many of its functions will also work well on the moderate-speed EDGE network. If you plan to access the Internet extensively on your phone, 3G network coverage may serve you best.
Activities that work well on EDGE or 3G networks:
- Email, instant messaging, and texting
- Downloading ringtones, CallerTunes, wallpaper, light data files
- Sending photographs via e-mail or picture messaging
- Viewing content-heavy websites (lots of images or videos playing)
- Viewing YouTube and other video files (they will play on EDGE, but require loading time)
- Uploading large files (photos, videos, presentations) to sharing websites
- Downloading large files from an e-mail or a website
Download cool new games, HiFi Ringers (real songs by today's hottest artists), MegaTones (instrumental versions of songs), and wallpapers quickly, as well as stay connected via the Web, instant messaging, and e-mail.
This phone is compatible with T-Mobile's Mobile Backup, a free service that stores your phone's contact information is case your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, so you do not have re-enter all of your contact information when you get a new phone.
Phone Features
The slim Samsung Memoir camera phone delivers impressive images on it large 3-inch LCD color display (240 x 400 pixels, 262K colors) and offers haptic responsive feedback that vibrates when you press a button. For easy operation and navigation, the stylish Memoir features three dedicated keys--call, end call and back--on the front of the device under the touch screen. The Memoir also provides quick and easy access to a customer's favorite features through Samsung's innovative TouchWiz user interface, which has specially designed widgets to customize and personalize your phone. The quick and simple drag-and-drop feature provides instant access to your favorite functions, such as the clock, music player, and instant messaging and photos. The Memoir's full-touch virtual QWERTY keypad and multiple messaging capabilities--including text, multimedia messaging, instant messaging and e-mail--make staying connected quick and easy while on the go.
 Other features include Assisted GPS, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, and microSD memory expansion to 16 GB (see larger version). |
The phone has a 180 MB internal memory, which can be expanded via optional microSD memory cards (up to 16 GB in size). The internal phonebook can store up to 2000 contact entries, each with multiple numbers per contact and support for caller groups as well as picture/ringer ID. You can download MP3 real-music and 72-chord polyphonic ringtones, and the phone also includes a vibrate function for when you need to keep things silent.
Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones.
Other features include:
- Built-in A-GPS navigation allows access to location-based applications
- Virtual, landscape QWERTY touchpad
- Instant messaging via AOL, ICQ, Windows Live, and Yahoo!
- Access to personal e-mail with document viewer for attachments
- Organizer tools: Calendar, calculator, alarm clock, task list, voice memo
- Digital medial player compatible with audio (MP3, AAC/AAC+) and video files (MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV)
- 72-note polyphonic ringtones and vibrate mode
- Sync contact swith Outlook
- USB connectivity with USB mass storage capabilities
- Voice dialing: Call someone with simple voice commands to keep your hands free for activities like driving.
- Hearing Aid Compatibility = M3
- Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, e-mail), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures)
Vital Statistics
The Samsung Memoir weighs 4.4 ounces and measures 4.17 x 2.11 x 0.55 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.5 hours of talk time, and up to 300 hours of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as 1700/2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA 3G frequencies.
Customer Reviews
Ahhhh so close!
I've been waiting for a good camera phone for a long time, and it seemed like the Memoir was the answer for me. Unfortunately, it falls just a little bit short on the camera side.
Pros:
*Looks sharp
*Good call quality
*Great music quality, I was surprised at the speaker quality, and it's easy to set any mp3 to be a ring tone.
*Nice voice dialing, never really thought I'd need it, but I used it.
*Great pictures in good light.
Cons:
*Touch screen isn't responsive enough, playing around with my Memoirs touch screen vs iPod Touch is night and day, you have to press a bit too hard, which ends up in misclicks.
*Shutter lag, the camera just flat out takes too long to take the picture once you hit the button. It takes too long to process between pictures as well, but really I'd be willing to overlook that.
*Flash issues, I'm not sure if this just stems from shutter lag as well, but taking night pictures is pretty bad. Overall action + night shots come out badly.
Overall I still like the phone, but as I really wanted the camera phone to be a replacement for my regular phone, it's a bit of a disappointment.
Not a SmartPhone, not for email use, decent camera, horrible touch screen
Was anticipating this phone for some time with it's 8 megapixel camera, stylish exterior,etc. With some time under my belt I can say that it does have some serious flaws which are not compatible with my needs. I use this phone on the TMobile network along with my hacked Iphone3G which in itself is a truly incredible piece of hardware.
Sound/Music quality:
Excellent. Phone exhibits great sound quality on both sides of the call. Music sounds good and on par with my Iphone. Speakerphone works decent if a little pitchy.
Reception: After having almost 10 phones with TMobile I can say this is on par with the best of them. No issues with reception and better than most of the phones I have had. TMobile generally has pretty decent reception where I am located. Far better than ATT, at least in Southern California.
Aesthetics:
Stylish and very portable. Fits nicely in my palm and though not the best for texting, it certainly can get the job done.
Touch screen:
Horrible touch screen interface. Now keep in mind I also use my Iphone often and can say this Samsung is not even in the same ball park in terms of touch screen interface. The Samsung is clunky and often times you will end up opening an application instead of just scrolling. Even when it does scroll it lacks any polish/smoothness that most phones have. This alone would have me return the phone. This is hardware, not software, as the Memoir uses resistive screen technology vs capacitive in other phones such as the Iphone.
Applications:
Extremely limited. Even Samsung's own PC Studio does not offer the full set of features. The Telenav GPS that comes with the phone will cost you $9.99 a month. Other phones offer free GPS without the annoyingly long start up time of this GPS. Also, nope, Google maps cannot be used on this phone. Not only that, to cancel this GPS you have to call and not only get transferred several times, the wait time is ridiculous.
Email, forget about it. You have to hack it to do POP3 email accounts, otherwise it converts your emails to Text and you get billed for them!!!! Even then you cannot give the POP3 accounts their specific names to identify them. You can use provider email services such as yahoo,gmail, etc.
Camera
Keep in mind one thing. Megapixels does not determine the quality of a picture just the same as magnification does not indicate the true resolve of a telescope. That stated, for a cel phone the images are good. They are not breath taking, they certainly do not compare to my pro equipment or even a cheap 5 megapixel $60 camera. Noise level is significant. Any motion will be captured as a blur even if the camera is placed in the action shot mode. Again, for a cel phone it is very good, as a camera it is not. EDIT: The Nokia N85 takes just as good if not better quality pictures even though it is 5mp which again proves it's the glass and sensor that count, not megapixels. The photos are certainly better than my new phone-HTC Touch Pro 2.
Battery:
Good, does hold a charge a while which is nice, and in usual Samsung behavior they placed the charging port behind a little silver door (another for the SDcard also) which must be pried out with your fingernails every time just to plug it in. Yes, this causes chips and wear on the door as my practically new unit is already exhibiting this.
Outlook compatibility/MS Exchange Service.
Ok, so this is where we separate the boys from the men and this is where this phone just falls on its face.
NO MS Exchange service to check corporate email accounts.
Outlook? Excel? Nope, PC Studio is NOT compatible with Office-any version-with this phone. I tried Outlook 2007, forget about it. What use is the software if contacts cannot be synchronized with the most popular email software on the planet? A search will review the countless complaints about this very issue. If you want to sync Contacts from Outlook your only option is to simply type them in. Now if your a hermit or someone with bad hygiene with only a couple of friends-fine, but if you have a list of contacts.......
Some would try to argue that this is not a SmartPhone even though it is priced above most SmartPhones and it requires the $25.00 data plan for internet use. I say that even cheapo $50 cel phones are available that offer real POP3 email and sync contacts with Outlook-not this phone.
That sums it up, if you are looking for a nice quality phone with a decent camera (for a phone) then this is for you.
If you are a road warrior of any kind and require your contacts to be sync'd with Outlook, and also require Exchange access, get an Iphone ,Nokia , or Blackberry, as this phone is not geared for the professional.
Wow..yellow and blurry pictures
Well, the title says it all. I was so excited to get this phone but after I took so many pictures I found out that most of my indoor pictures are yellow (flash is not strong enough) and blurry. It's on the way back to Tmobile now. The outdoor pictures are not great also. It's about the same as my old Tmobile Dash phone.
