Samsung Mythic SGH-A897 (AT&T)

Pros: battery life (from full to half), screen size, camera (in macro mode), time to charge, speakerphone volume, handset volume, ring volume, sturdy feel

Cons: camera (autofocus mode), video without flash, no zoom when taking photo (can zoom after & on video) 20 of the 30 icons require data/internet use (if you want a phone without data plan), can move but not delete or hide the 30 icons/apps, more to tell

Summary: I purchased this phone because I wanted a camera to replace my Samsung SGH-D900 (see my review) which I sorely miss (still functional but weak signal strength). Anyways, I have had this phone since early feb (2 & 1/2 months) as my 1st touch screen. Not a fan but a side of that, I HATE this phone. You can run most pix, video, MP3's from the memory card which helps but sounds/songs of any length are too large to use as ringtones, alarm tones, etc. You must compress the file in to small bits of sound. Pictures in macro mode look clear but still require the camera to focus. Other option is AF mode which takes at least 2 seconds of not moving to take a picture. You cannot take a moving object. Other camera options allow you to edit/add to the photo but your hand or the object must always be stationary. I loved Samsung for their shortcut buttons from previous phones (this model is locked with call, messaging, mobile Web, Music Player, games & end all) I used Calculator, calender, new message and alarm (widgets that do not fill all on one screen). Yes, there are 3 widget screens that you can scroll thru (like iphone) they have pictures in the background. Then you have a memu button which brings you to 3 more screens (full of apps). If you buy or add more apps you may have more windows. These apps mimic some of the widgets that you can customize he 1st set of windows with. Speaking of widgets, 10 of the 32 require data use (just a warning, 3 are clocks & 7 are memo pads). Confused? I was too because there are 5 ways to create a text and more than 1 way to do everything else. If you like that great, but most ways require multiple buttons so it could get confusing either way. Other rants (silent using volume toggle, sound profile mode or key pad # button), memos are limited to 100 characters (up to 100 memos too), when you lock the phone and are NOT on the main widget screen, if you receive a text/missed call/voice mail, you must back out or end all to get to the memu bar that lists the inbox/call log. Customizable vibration and vibration levels are nice but you really can't tell the difference on your hip and the highest setting is still weaker than my other samsungs. Cannot use camera flash as a flashlight, charging port is at the top, must remove back panel to access memory card, no operations manual (CD-rom provides the link to the internet which shows you how to use the phone), alarm snooze has a swivel button to turn it off but you can also shut off the alarm (accidentally) using all other buttons (volume rocker, talk, back, end, lock, camera shutter or shortcut), address book contact info (birthdays) do not merge to the calender (no option to add), cannot check a text while on the phone, phone cannot multi-task well. It will freeze up for a second if you receive a text while doing something else, but it will remember how many times you hit the button if you tried to press the buttons again when it froze. You cannot use the volume rocker to scroll down to read a long text. Volume rocker changes the font size up and down. I have old text messages from the previous phones but they are useless for dates because the phone does not display the year, only month and day the text was received. Lastly, if video resolution doesnt match the video display, you cannot view them (i.e. I can store the videos from other phones/files, but cannot view them). I could say some good about this phone like the helpful ID Bar in locked mode and the tactile vibrations when typing but I am not trying to sell this phone to anyone who is not going to use a data plan. All games and even the Web TV (a primary feature of this phone) use the demo or require data use. My bill ends up $0.50-$1.00 higher by virtue of clicking on a button/app that loads to the internet. Contact me if you want to know more but I am thoroughly frustrated on a daily basis. All I want is a phone that dials and takes good pictures with flash. This did not do it for me. EGIRXBass@gmail.com