First Look: Samsung i730 Pocket PC Phone Edition

Samsung’s new SCH-i730 is a major improvement over their previous i700. The most visible change is the slide-down QWERTY thumb keyboard, for e-mail and other text entry duties. Less visible, but perhaps more important is the enhanced wireless power built into the device. The i730 has a built-in EVDO/1xRTT capable mobile phone as well as integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability.

Samsung was very serious about getting a form factor out that will be attractive to anyone interested in an integrated tactical keyboard yet keeping the overall size small. Verizon Wireless will be carrying the Samsung i730 product and I have heard that the availability should be around July 7.

The i730 ships with an AC charger that plugs directly into the i730 or into the USB desk cradle that folds to easily fit in your Pocket. The cradle not only recharges your i730, it simultaneously charges a second high-capacity battery that comes with the unit. The extended battery is great to bring along with you if you use the battery-draining Wi-Fi capability.

The Samsung device ships with a carrying case in the increasingly popular belt clip style, with a plastic snap holder that allows the device to be clipped to your belt in with the screen facing in toward the body for protection. The phone clip is able to be rotated around the belt clip pivot. Samsung also included a second stylus in the package.

Fig. 1: The PalmOS Treo 650 (left) next to the Samsung i730.

The PalmOS-based competitor to this is the new Treo 650. Figure 1 shows the Treo 650 and Samsung i730 side by side. Although the i730 is slightly thicker, it feels great in the hand. The screen resolution of the i730 (240 x 320 pixels) is less than the Treo (320 x 320), however the i730 displayed my webblog in better detail. The Treo is a great form factor but the hidden keyboard of the i730 really gives this a WOW factor. I love the fact that the i730 gives me choices for doing input by using the QWERTY thumb keyboard or directly writing on the touch screen using the powerful handwriting recognition capability, which isn’t available on the Treo.

You can see the i730 here stacks up very nicely to the small Smartphone and imate JAM. The imate JAM which was by far the smallest Pocket PC not to mention Pocket PC Phone Edition.

Built-in software

The device is based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software for the Pocket PC Phone Edition. This suite includes the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition OS and “Pocket” versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and Windows Media Player 10. In addition, it includes a Phone Dialer to interface with the phone technology, a variety of configuration utilities, and a few other apps. A user-installable version of Microsoft’s desktop PC synchronization program ActiveSync is found on the Companion CD.

Fig: SRS WOW XT lets you fine tune the i730’s audio.

In addition to the standard software from Microsoft, the i730 comes with SRS WOW XT, an application that noticeably improves the audio on the device using its SRS 3D Effect, Focus, and TruBass settings. You can access the SRS feature directly from an icon at the bottom of the Today Screen. Also contributing to the enriched audio experience is the amazingly loud and clear sounding audio / phone speakers on the back of the device.

  Samsung added a number of cool applications to the i730, including a TV/VCR remote controller (left), Ringtone manager, and Launcher (right). Samsung also added Launcher (great way to use the device with one hand using the 5-way directional pad) CarKit Volume, Ringtone Manager, Today Screen Wireless plug-in, OBEX FTP, Remote Control (turns the i730 into a programmable universal infrared remote), Sprite Backup (an award winning way to backup your data and programs), VoiceSignal (use your voice to call and lookup contacts or even open a few apps) and the radically cool Picsel Browser.

Picsel Browser can easily show a full Web site screen as well as zoom in very close with superb detail by tapping the screen. I saw the early version of Picsel Browser (www.picsel.com/manufacturers/browser/) demoed a while ago, but this is the first time I have seen it incorporated into a Windows Mobile device. It is hard to describe how easy this is to use—it must be experienced to be truly appreciated. Picsel Browser allows you read most common document types and browse the Web. You can “pan” the viewed page by stroking the screen in any direction as if you were pushing around a piece of paper on your desk. You can zoom in or out by simply tapping on the screen, let go and then quickly touch the screen again with an up or down stroke. You can easily control the amount of zoom by keeping you pen on the screen as you stroke. Say “bye-bye” to those horizontal and vertical windows scroll bars when viewing with Picsel.

Under the hood

The processor is the Intel PXA272 running at 520 MHz. Combined with 64 MB of RAM (57 MB available), the unit runs applications very quickly. I can’t wait to send an i730 over to my buddies at Pocket PC Techs (www.pocketpctechs.com) to see if they can upgrade it to a full 128MB of RAM. The i730 ships with a whopping 128 MB of flash ROM, 86 MB of which is available to the user. Data stored in this “SafeStore” is non-volatile—secure even if you loose battery power.

The power/sync connector located on the bottom is the same as the i600 or i700 models, which means you should be able to use i600 or i700 accessories with the device. My SPH-i700 Series Lil Sync Pro Retractable Sync-N-Charge Cable from Pocket PC Techs worked like a charm, allowing me to sync the device and power my device from my laptop’s USB port. However, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth draw too much power and I had to turn them off to recharge the battery. I also highly recommend the screen protector for the device. I am very picky about screen protectors and I feel the WriteSHIELDS from Pocket PC Techs are the best on the market.

The well-engineered spring-loaded QWERTY keyboard slides smoothly down from the bottom half of the i730. This slide is much better designed than on the HTC membrane keyboard of the MDA3 line. The feel of the keys is very nice, and it’s easy to distinguish between them because of their raised button feel. The keyboard is backlit in blue, so you can see them in poor lighting conditions. Press any key and the back lighting comes on. You can adjust how long you want the backlight to stay on.

Wireless via Integrated WiFi, EVDO/1xRTT, Bluetooth, Infrared or CDMA

The WiFi runs just as you would expect with auto-configuration of Windows Mobile. When you are outside a Wi-Fi access point you get online with the blazing fast EVDO services. I wasn’t able to test out the high speed wireless data EVDO because my hometown of Albuquerque isn’t up yet. I have read I can expect it to check in at over 600 Kbps. I ended up connecting on using 1XRTT with speeds around 100 Kbps. I will be in Atlanta and Orlando so I will give it a go there.

I used the Bluespoon AX headset to answer calls and control the operation of the i730 via the built-in VoiceSignal software. The built-in Bluetooth worked fine for me also. I was able to pair up immediately with my Bluespoon AX headset and answer incoming calls by tapping the AX’s receive/call button. However the coolest thing was being able to use Bluespoon AX with the VoiceSignal software. I simply tapped the receive/call button and I could use my voice to directly dial any of my existing contacts or tell the i730 to dial any number. Although VoiceSignal isn’t as powerful as Microsoft’s VoiceCommand, the capability to use my Bluespoon AX is SWEET!

I had no problem getting the Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard to work with the i730. The Bluetooth Manager even includes a HID Connection Manager. It allowed me to connect to the i730 with my Think Outside Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard without the need to install additional software drivers. The built-in thumb keyboard, but it’s easier to input data quickly with this full-size mobile keyboard.

One very amazing Pocket PC

The i730 does not come with an integrated digital camera. It appears that Samsung left room on the back of the device for a camera. I hope they decide to include one in a future version of the device. The huge SafeStore size is great for secure data storage.

The keyboard was nice, but with Second Edition’s landscape viewing capability, I would love to have seen the keyboard slide out from the side of the unit, to be used with landscape mode. This would have allowed for larger keys, or for the existing ones to be slightly farther apart and easier to hit. Although I know many people who prefer thumb keyboards, I still find it easier and faster to use the touch screen interface to enter text.

Finally, Microsoft just released the latest version of its OS and application suite, Windows Mobile 5.0. Devices with integrated phone capability face a long testing period to insure that they work with the wireless networks they are designed for. Yes, it would have been great if the i730 had Windows Mobile 5.0 built into it. But if that were the case, we’d probably be waiting for this excellent device for another six months. Still, I noticed that the user interface for the VoiceSignal software has the two Smartphone-like “soft keys” at the bottom of the screen; a feature found on all Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs. Hopefully, this bodes well for a future upgrade.

Conclusion

Putting the minor things aside, the Samsung SCH-i730 is an amazing product. Its small size and QWERTY keyboard will attract many users, as will its fast wireless capabilities. Although I’ve been very satisfied with my i-mate JAM, I can hardly wait for the i730 to be released.

Updated since original writing;

Stuff to Love;

- Bunch of dedicated extra buttons; It has the expected Send and End phone buttons not to mention the 4 dedicated buttons on the front surrounding the 5-way Nav button. PLUS...

- The "Back" function button between the phone Send and End buttons. This makes for a greatly improved one handed operation of the device and again shows the forward seeking hardware design of the product. This hopefully bodes well for the potential upgrade to Windows Mobile 5 someday.

- The VoiceSignal button on the right side below the SD slot. This makes initiating the app very easy.

- The sliding spring loaded switch on the left side that in one position keylocks the phone int he up position. This gives you visual confirmation that the phone is locked to prevent accidental operation and it also triggers a small red KEYLOCK icon the home screen... This same switch also puts the unit in suspend mode and blanks the screen when slid in the down position. I typically slide it down to turn off the screen and then immediately up to keylock the device before I put in in my pocket.

- The earphone jack is more of the universal standard instead of the unique i700/i600 version with the wierd collar.

Stuff to wish for;

- The WirelessSync app that Verizon ncludes on the device makes it a little confusing if your intent is to directly sync to a Windows Exchange 2003 Server ExchangeSync directly using the Windows Mobile ActiveSync on the device.

- The battery life on this unit seems to drain faster than I would have liked although having the two batteries has been a super blessing and prevents me from running into any problems. I am only able to run two days before a recharge is necessary. I don't have the official released product so I don't know how this translates to the final product. 

Comments

[Eric]

What do you know about the i730 having blackberry support?

[Eric]

What do you know about the i730 having blackberry support?

[Lee Walton]

What sense does it make to have "blackberry support" on the i730? The i730 has native support for Exchange 2003, something that the blackberry is lacking. I don't see what problem "blackberry support" solves.

[Arsi Nmadar]

I have a Blackberry 7520 (Bluetooth) and cannot receive phone call if I am surfing the Net. So the problem is not specifically associated with i730s.

[Kal]

nice review; please excuse my ignorance regarding these questions. can you use the phone and pda capabilities simultaneously?
any experience with receiving text messages in areas with poor wireless phone reception (eg hospitals)?
thanks.

[Kenneth H. Cho, M.D.]

Since I work in the Department of Defense, they will only allow Blackberry push, so although we have the capability, we are not allowed to use it. Therefore, some other Blackberry work around would be nice, so I can stop carrying around both devices.

A second problem I am having is that the Voice Signal is very poor at recognition, especially for numbers. I am using a Motorola HS810 headset. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[John Hernandez]

Hi Dale,

What did you mean by:

"- The earphone jack is more of the universal standard instead of the unique i700/i600 version with the wierd collar."

I thought this meant I could plug any earbuds into the i730 unlike my i700 but this is not the case.

Also, I tested a NES emulator on my i730 and found that you couldn't press two buttons at the same time. I remember having similar problems with my old iPAQ years back. This was not the case w/ my i700. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

[cupra4]

Does anyone has more info of the release of the GSM versions of the i730 and i750 ? I cannot find it anywhere and am looking for one. Thanks to all.

[cupra4]

Does anyone have more info of the release of the GSM versions of the i730 and i750 ? I cannot find it anywhere and am looking for one. Thanks to all.

[cupra4]

Does anyone have more info of the release of the GSM versions of the i730 and i750 ? I cannot find it anywhere and am looking for one. Thanks to all.

[cupra4]

Sorry, very slow connection. Please remove the duplicates. Thanks.

[Dave McCombs]

Hey Kenneth Cho. You said you work for the DOD and they only allow Blackberry Push email? This seems crazy since it is routed through Canada and falls outside of US control. Is this really the case?

[Arsi Namdar]

I just received my Samsung i730 offered through Verizon in my area. Upon the initial inspection the phone passed every aspect except that it did not fit properly in the cradle. the problem had to do with the battery charger's port size (almost 1 inch) that did not connect tightly to the phone. I am used the LG chargers that accept round, 2.5mm plugs and the Blackberry with a USB power connection and this incompatibility frustrated the heck out of me. The result? the phone was immediately sent back to Verizon and the account cancelled. I'll never buy another device that has this kind of design again. THEY ARE TROUBLE AND NOT WORTH IT.

[J.C.]

Sorry to hear it uses the same charger/cables/cradle as the i600. I have constant connection problems with the pins in these chargers/cables (replaced 3 car charger cables in 1 year) and is the one thing I dislike about my i 600....OH WELL!

[J.G.]

One problem with the i730 is that leaving my BT-capable car turns BT OFF on the i730, which means I need to remember to turn BT back ON. Fortunately, a fix is available for this: http://www.exposecorp.com/i730bt.htm

[Chris]

I Received my first I730 on Friday 7-15-2005. Off the bat the phone worked great, but found that the phone was jumping into Roaming when making or receiving calls. May hours to tech support revealed nothing and I got a replacement. 3 replacements later and about 15 hours with the Verizon store and online support it was revealed that there is a run of phones out there that have the wrong software. For instance, my phone only allows for Home and Automatic Reception. Well my plan and particular area requires Automatic B. This ended up being a huge issue. With the phone constantly in roaming with in service area, the phone will not work properly. I am to receive a new phone today 7-20-2005 with the newer version of the software. I believe that this has to do with the Verizon Certification. There are a lot of these phones out there, and this particular problem will only affect a small amount of users, but please be aware of this issue.

The phone is great. The user capability is nice whether using the touch screen or using the keyboard. I definitely agree that the phone should be manufactured in landscape mode. Maybe future release.

Also note, that to use full real-time e-mail capabilities like the Blackberry is possible without the re-director software or wireless sync installed, but it requires a little more thinking. Basically you use normal active sync, but don’t sync the inbox, then you set up a redirector account through VZ and it pushes the e-mail to the device. Its rather clever and it does work. The drawback is that is has to be on an interval that you set up.

I’ve had no problems with charging, or using any of the advanced functions. Bluetooth works great, the WI-FI does use more battery, but the speed is incredible. All in all, this device is truly one of a kind and is definitely the best of all the Pocket PC PDA's. I am hanging in and being patient until my problem is fixed. I cant wait to really start hammering on this thing. Oh yeah, make sure you get the replacement insurance. These are pricy even with the discounts.

[Nathan S]

How are you running WM5.0 on the Blue Angel MDA3 device. Is it possible that you could distribute the rom. Alot of people are trying to do this.
Thank You.

[Bruce McClure]

Hi, great thread. One really dumb question I have after using an i730 for a few weeks. How do you power the thing down with out taking the battery out? I'm new to this modern a device and the OS, and for the life of me I can not get it to turn all the way off! Thanks, Bruce

[Bobby]

Hey J.G.,

I'm having the same problem you are with the phone constantly in roaming mode. I also have been through 3 phones with no resolution yet. I'm curious to see what happened with your situation. Did it ever get sorted out?

As for Nathan S, you have to use the keylock slide lever on the lower left hand side of the unit to power the PDA off.

[Bruce McClure]

Got the PDA power down with the slide, but I work in areas where the entire device, including phone, needs to be powered down. Anyone know how to do that without removing the battery?

[Bruce McClure]

Got the PDA power down with the slide, but I work in areas where the entire device, including phone, needs to be powered down. Anyone know how to do that without removing the battery?

[Styles]

Powering Down..

PDA
Depress the slider on the bottom left (quickly release) turns off the pda.

Phone
The Red button lower right face.. Just hold it down to turn off the phone.

[i730]

The i730 is a great fully featured phone. The extra features, such as WIFI do eat up battery time. Thankfully, Samsung ships the phone with both a standard and extended battery. Use the standard for light use and the extended for heavier use.

Note: if you do buy a case, make sure the phone fits with each of the different sized batteries. The extended battery is thicker than the standard.

[Tom Doerr]

Dale, thanks so much. This is the best review I have found. One quick question, please. C-NET said that about half of the people that they called with the i730 complained that they had trouble hearing the person who talked into the i730. How often does this happen for you? Did you find a workaround by tweaking something?

[Carey Northington]

I have never owned a PDA but I would like one as I begin a new ministry with Crown Financial Ministries in the Dayton, OH area. I'll be organizing teams, meeting others for lunch, working out of my home, etc. I need to be organized, go online while I'm out, maintain a calendar. My email is all web based rather than POP3. I use Verizon for my cell phone. What do you suggest for a PDA? And when is a good time to get a good deal? Thanks for any help.