- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 378 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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5 out of 40 people found this review helpful
0.5 stars
"awful-Verizon excluded GPS"
Pros: several good features, but the absence of GPS makes it little more than any other Windows Mobile phone
Cons: awful- I just returned it. Verizon excluded GPS for anything but VZ Navigator. Even Google maps locator won't work from cell towers.
Summary: several good features, but the absence of GPS makes it little more than any other Windows Mobile phone
Updated on Dec 5, 2008Lessia, not an Omnia. That's what is should be called. It has less than advertised. I nationwide magazine ads last weekend, VZW said it had GPS. It doesn't have it available for anything except VZ Navigator
Updated on Dec 5, 2008In a surreply to cwlaw2, I stand by the very low rating for many reasons: here are a few. First, GPS was the reason I bought this. VZW ran full page nationwide ads last week saying it had GPS. GPS is vital to make use of dozens of new programs that a SMARTPHONE should be able to use to quickly locate all kinds of things. It's simply not a capable Smartphone if it cannot. So, this is just another cell phone, not a Smartphone, but a rather deliberately-dumbed-down one and - as so many others have pointed out - it has several quirks that, in my opinion, severely cut its rating. For some things you absolutely need a stylus, for others fingers suffice. The screen simply fails to respond to some actions. The video playback is halting, slow, unreliable. At first glance, this phone looks terrific, and I wish it worked as well as it looks, but it doesn't. So, the low rating is fully justified.
- 8 replies to this review
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While I am disappointed that the GPS is disabled by Verizon in this phone, and I am hopeful that they will choose to unlock it in the near future, every other feature has either met or exceeded my expectations. I haven't experienced any of the screen response issues. Mine responds extremely well to the slightest touch. Sometimes, I still use the stylus, but mostly for playing some of the games that I've downloaded for it. For normal day-to-day use, I use my finger for the touchscreen and navigate some of the menus that are too small for my finger using the mouse. I really like the optical mouse. I've loaded several videos to it and the playback is actually better than my old phone. It's smooth and very appealing with the large screen. It could be the frame rate for the video's that you're watching. I usually encode mine at 15, so the higher the frame rate may somewhat slow it down. I've only had it for 2 weeks, but I'm extremely pleased so far.
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This is another surreply, specifically to "seanh1231" below. VZ has unveiled a GPS unlocked phone in the past...The Blackberry Pearl...not sure what other BB models have/had an unlocked GPS..it worked GREAT!! I returned for other reasons but since then I am yet to find another device with the GPS feature. As far as the Omnia, you nailed it right on the head krcnet. In fact, I will be returning my phone in the next few days.
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I have had no problems with my screen. Maybe you have a bad phone. As with all things electronic there are always a few bad apples. Also, I use all apps and never needed the pen. Mouse works fine for me.
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I'm with you on this one. Google Maps and other GPS programs are extremely useful and to VW try to force you to use their proprietary software is a poor way to do business. Hopefully they don't drag their feet with unlocking the GPS on this phone. Oh and I don't know if its Samsung's or Google's fault, but you can't use the Samsung keyboard to type in numbers for Google Map. You have to switch to one of the other input modes.
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There is hope for this phone yet:
Verizon Unlocking the GPS on Some Windows Mobile Smartphones
BY: Ed Hardy, Brighthand.com Editor
PUBLISHED: 12/16/2008
Verizon Wireless offers several Windows Mobile smartphones that have GPS receivers with limited functionality. Specifically, these models only support Verizon's navigation software, and not third-party apps Like Google Maps.
Today, this carrier has relented and promised to unlock the GPS on some of its recent Windows Mobile devices: the Samsung Omnia and Saga and the HTC Touch Pro.
See the complete article here:
http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=14710 -
I don't know where you've been, but not a single VZW phone (with the exception of the Storm) has unlocked GPS. Every phone in VZW's lineup is locked to VZW's proprietary VZ Navigator. If you are looking for a phone strictly for its GOS capabilities, VZW is NOT the carrier for you. As someone said already, if you are looking for something as specific as this, do your research first. But I find it astounding that you actually believe that a phone with hundreds of extremely useful features that have no use for GPS, not to mention the thousands more 3rd programs available for it, deserves half a star. While I certainly cannot tell you what it is fair for you to feel, I can tell you just you will NEVER successfully argue that your rating is justifiable from a technical standpoint.
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Maybe you got a bad omnia, Mine works flawlessly. The touch screen is the best I have ever tried. Not one single lock up yet. I use a closed pen or the mouse pointer when I need a stylus. I use a TomTom for nav. Im too busy using my phone as a, well, phone to use it as a nav system. And lets see you read a business card or correct a spread sheet or write a word doc or compose an e-mail with what you would call a simple cell phone. Yes your rating is justified, for you. Good luck finding a phone. Try a storm? Too bad they don't allow negitave stars, right?
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The lack of any particular feature in and of itself should not result in such a poor rating for the phone overall. This phone excels at many things, the fact that Verizon has locked out an appealing feature doesn't diminish the many positives this phone has, but should be considered by anyone looking specifically for a phone to replace their GPS. The phone works great as a phone, it works great as a media device, it works great for simple web browsing, it works great for reading e-mail. It's ok for responding to e-mails, but it takes practice and two hands, and while it has mobile office suite, most people will never use it. Half a star for a feature that wasn't included on a phone is as useful as giving a Ferrari half a star because it doesn't have a back seat... do your research, know what you're getting before you buy, and if you want a phone will all the features... Verizon has never been kind in that regard.
Samsung Omnia (Verizon Wireless):
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