Samsung SCH-U740

Introduction

Coated in a soft metallic champagne color, the SCH-U740 is Samsung's answer to an all-in-one PDA, mobile phone and email messenger seeks to deliver a slew of multimedia options to its consumers. Users can switch comfortably between the U740's two opening methods: portrait mode, or a standard clamshell, and a landscape mode which reveals its QWERTY keyboard.

Consumers can type quickly using Wireless Sync, Verizon's proprietary email solution. With Wireless Sync, users can synchronize the U740 with a PC for easy access to their new email, calendar, contacts and task information.

The dual-band U740 is fairly compact at 3.84" x 2.04" x 0.58" and offers improved functions on standard applications like voice recognition. However, a confusing menu navigation system makes it difficult for users to access these improvements. Once they do though, Verizon's gateway to VCAST video and music allows for endless options to expound upon.

Design

Samsung pitches the U740 as the silver bullet to its consumers' multi-media ticks. Its design is innovative and comfortable with its reversible full landscape, QWERTY keyboard mode and clamshell design. With it's sleek black interior with comfortable bubble buttons and highlighted silver number pad keys, the phone is well on its way to becoming a light-weight multi-media winner (It weighs 3.6 oz.). Though it is a lightweight, the U740 still feels solid and keyboard pads firm.

However, while the double hinge is helpful for users not willing to fully commit to a landscape design from the more traditional clamshell is very useful, many of the phones entertainment functions only work when the phone is opened in landscape mode.

The soft, metallic champagne colored casing fits well with its fairly bright 1.1-inch external screen. However, the touch-sensitive music controls on the exterior are difficult to activate. Also, the left hand side charger outlet also serves as a headphone outlet, which means simultaneous charging and listening are impossible unless the two interior independent speakers are put to use. The buttons can only be used when the music player is on and the keys lock. Every time a track needs changing, the U740 must be unlocked and without a strict locking setting, those with wandering fingers might accidentally skip the track while grazing their finger over the pad. Smarter exterior buttons include a left-hand side volume control and expandable microSD memory card slot on the right hand side along with a speakerphone key.

The U740's interior has a slew of buttons in addition to its unique QWERTY keyboard. A typical rounded arrow button pad is customizable with its options. Also, an automatic camera/video camera button links to that function. A direct button also activates voice recognition, which is often spotty. But with all these great options, the keys are still crammed and users with fingers bigger than a regular pen-size point might find it difficult to use.

Out of the box, the Samsung SCH-U740 comes with an 800 mAh Li-Ion battery, Travel Charger, 2.5 mm Headset Adaptor, and User Guide.

Camera

While the built-in 1.3-megapixel camera produces fair quality photos, the difficulty in accessing the function proves very frustrating. First, the lack of an exterior camera button on the U740 makes it awkward to take self-portraits. Also, a special camera/video button often doesn't work and when it does, requires the user to hold it down for a few seconds before the options become apparent and the phone's frustrating menu patterns inhibits its offerings.

When accessible, the camera's flash is more than decent and photos can be saved in five different Resolutions (1280 x 960 px, 640 x 480 px, 320 x 240 px, 160 x 120 px) and three different Quality Settings (Fine, Normal, Economy). Many options allow for customizable photos, including 4x Zoom, Color Effects (Normal, Black and White, Sepia, Antique and Negative), Self-Timer (2, 5 or 10 seconds) and Multi-Shots.

Three "ready" sounds ("Say Cheese!," "Look Here" and a Countdown) are offered alongside four different Shutter Sounds, including a Silent option. Metering can also be selected an Average, Center or Spot. White Balance (5 variations), Light Metering and Flash allow for a finer picture, although neither can be controlled with a very find hand. Photos can be converted to black and white sketch drawings and sent with text messages.

For users who fidget with the difficult menu items, an Automatic Save option is available. Verizon makes it easy for users to share still camera images by sending them through their online portal PIX Place, which requires pre-registration through the company's Web site. PIX Place then helps create automated picture albums users can share with friends and family members.

Accessing the video recorder is equally as difficult, but once accessed, there are a decent array of options. Videos can be recorded in two modes: Messages and Normal. Multimedia messages are limited to 15 seconds and normal recording is also available. The U740 has 60 MB of memory and runs on 7.66 MB of RAM. Users can also buy a microSD memory card to add on. Like the still image side, the recording mode allows for Auto Flash, Self-Timers (2, 5 or 10 seconds) as well as three Quality Settings. The quality is a little blurry and without a flash or lighting option on the video options, dimly lit environments return disappointingly.