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- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 30 reviews Back to product review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Great all-around phone"
Pros: Has everything, short of being a PDA; stylish
Cons: Verizon interface is bland; does not come with USB cable, Music Manager CD, or headset; need to learn how to use camera; a little expensive
Summary: I read many reviews of the Flipshot before deciding to buy it. Several of the negative customer reviews (here on CNET and on other sites) seem to focus on the camera; the main complaint being that the shutter is slow and finicky (goes from photo to video when held down). But as I played with the phone, I realized that the issue is really with the AutoFocus and AutoFlash features.
For the AutoFocus feature, you first have to push down halfway on the button, let it focus, and then push the rest of the way. This takes longer than expected, my guess is that people using the phone get impatient so they push and hold down the shutter button waiting for the shutter to go, and then suddenly they're in video mode. This happened to me and I got annoyed. Then as I read the directions (which few of us really do) and played with the phone more, I realized the culprit was the AutoFocus feature. The solution? Turn off AutoFocus, it's easy to do and you don't need it. I took several photos without AutoFocus and they were fine. The only time you really need it is when doing a close-up of a still item. That said, the shutter button is still little finicky when AutoFocus is off; you need to give it a firm quick press, not a slow press, otherwise the camera will switch to video.
As to the slow shutter speed, I figured out this is primarily due to the AutoFlash feature. When in AutoFlash, there is a slight delay for the flash before the shutter goes off. The solution? Turn off AutoFlash, you don't really need it either unless it's quite dark. Sure, it helps, but non-flash photos were fine. I used the camera without AutoFlash in some dim settings and the photos were fine, better than my Razr and better than my wife's Krzr.
Once you turn off AutoFocus and AutoFlash, they stay turned off too, even for your next session of photo-taking. The camera on this phone takes great photos, better than most other phones, and has photo-related features that most other phones don't have. It is NOT, however, a substitute for a digital camera. If you are an ocassional picture taker, and want the convenience of having a good camera on your phone, then the Flipshot is an ideal choice. If, however, you take many photos and are looking for a camera substitute, this is not it. Also, Samsung or Verizon should have included a USB cable to transfer photos to a PC. You have to buy that separately.
The phone is a head-turner. It's not "sexy" like the Razr was when it first came out, but it looks and feels solid, even stylish in my opinion. A few people have seen my phone and asked me to take a look at it, since it has a nice design.
As a phone, it's fine. I've seen some complaints about the call quality, but I have had no problems (in San Francisco Bay Area). The volume is quite good. The are not many ringtones offeres, but I don't really care about ringtones.
The MP3 player is just okay, the standard bland Verizon interface. Verizon needs to get out of the phone OS software business, and just concentrate on phone service. Verizon phones have the worst interfaces. But it's functional.
So, if you want a very good overall phone that has everything but PDA functionality, then the Flipshot is a good choice and comes in an eye-catching style. It was only a little thicker than my Razr and thinner. I recommend it.
Finally, some have complained about a software problem with the Calendar. I don't use the Calendar for appointments, so this is not an issue for me.
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