Samsung GLYDE
INTRODUCTION:
The Glyde from Samsung is another touch screen phone. The large touch screen design of the phone works and looks a lot like the popular iPhone from apple. The slider features a QWERTY keypad which is fast becoming a standard feature on most new models. The colour screen is bright and the images are surprisingly sharp and bold. It also features a 2.0 mega-pixel camera and has Internet and many other serviceable capabilities like emailing, browsing, VZ Navigator, etc. The Glyde offers all the Modern smart phone features.
DESIGN:
The Glyde is a shinny and sleek touch screen slider phone with an option of using the device as a bar phone also. It measures 4.09 x 1.97 x 0.7 cm and weighs 4.13 oz. Its screen size is excellent this screen takes up most of the front space of the phone. Sliding this phone shows off its QWERTY keypad. The sliding face of the phone is not exactly 90 degrees making the screen slanted. In general it is a sturdy phone but is not that light for a compact phone and the sliding mechanism makes the phone look less classy.
Sliding the phone to an open position allows the screen automatically to switch from landscape to portrait mode. When in a closed position the phone operates as a bar phone instead of the touch screen and it uses the keypad like an iPhone the screen is on portrait mode.
The touch screen operates well except for the occasional hiccup; you have an option to setup the touch-screen how you use it. The selection keys on its touch screen are very small making it difficult to scroll through the list. Users will most probably make use of the keypad for typing text messages opposed to the emails it works great for this purpose.
GLYDE TOUCHSCREEN:
The Glyde is fitted with a unique interface, preloaded background images, and also includes a Rubik’s Cube feature for fun purpose. A Shortcut menu is activated when you touch the pulsating blue box. There are many other quick launch keys on its home screen which includes: Menu, Contacts, Dial Pad and Messaging. At the bottom you would find more icons that dim or light up according to the alarm set, a missed call, a calendar appointment or new message. Besides the navigating menus, UI is very easy to apply, if you are familiar with haptic-feedback phone you will catch on easily. However we noticed that the option had to be clicked on twice before the input was registered by the phone.
KEYBOARD:
Glyde’s keyboard is firm and has simple to use buttons and has excellent punch/bounce response but the numerical keys were a bit too close to the top part of the phone. The black keyboard has white letters and every key is set with a white light.
INSTANT MESSAGING AND EMAIL;
THE Mobile IM application comes with Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo and AIM. The Glyde also offers built-in e-mail support AIM Mail, Verizon net, AOL, Yahoo mail, Windows Live Messenger and Other. Other feature on this phone allows the user to set up his own POP3 or IMAP e-mail account. Similar to LG Vu, Glyde is also able to read out SMS messages. For that you will have to setup voice command in the settings menu and the phone automatically reads every SMS when opened. The voice is robotic but understandable.
MULTIMEDIA: MUSIC AND VIDEO:
The Glyde packs a Verizon over-the-air service WHICH includes V CAST music, VZ Navigator and V CAST Video. Downloading music is speedy with EVDO connections. This phone supports MP3, unprotected AAC and AAC+ files and WMA MUSIC FILES. Music was crystal clear when played out of Glyde speakers.
BLUETOOTH:
The stereo Bluetooth works well after the first few minutes of putting on. The stereo BLUETOOTH is also used to watch videos. With Most devices you can walk 20 to 30 feet while connected and before it cuts out but with Glyde you can only walk 11 to 13 feet before it cuts.
WEB BROWSER:
Web browsing was pretty decent, it supports HTML Web sites, But we found that it is limited using Verizon Wireless’ poor performing browser. You will be able to connect too easily to Gmail, Facebook, AOL Mail, Yahoo Mail and Windows Live. Mobile version CNN.com was loaded in speedy 6 seconds, other full sites took about a minute or two.
CAMERA:
The Glyde has a 2-megapixel with 1600 x 1200 pixels resolutions, it also has auto focus feature which helps to keep images sharp. The camera also has a flash for night time or for poor lights. The video has a limited resolution of 176 x 144pixels.
GPS
The Glyde has the Traffic Enhanced VZ Navigator 4.1.0 software. This service is quite accurate; the new versions include traffic incorporation to help the user to avoid the congestion of the busy highways. The VZ Navigator searches for local gas stations, movies and weather. This latest version packed on the phone offers a 3D map which makes it easier in car navigation. The performance was excellent and the audio was quite loud even when the vehicle was moving.
CALL QUALITY:
Making calls in open spaces or busy places the call were not audible. But indoors, the phone call was loud and very clear. On sliding the keypad while on a call the speakerphone becomes active but the caller sounded fuzzy and the speakers were muffled.
BATTERY LIFE;
Glyde has 10.4 hours standby time and 3.5 hours talk time. Battery was still at half charge after using the phone over a 24 hour period on Web surfing, streaming music through Bluetooth and making calls. Battery life was every impressive.
CONCLUSION:
THE Samsung Glyde is an appealing phone with touch screen it has messaging also with fun messaging capability. The keyboard is easy to use. But the interface is a bit confusing which needs a lot of getting used to. The touch screen is not always responsive at first try. It is a slider phone which also can be used as a block phone.
