This Android powered device comes with some decent specs that might make the lower end users appreciate the device. Starting off with the display, this device comes with an innovative two display technology. The device is marketed to the people that might want to be constantly updated with sports information or news, but the problem with that is you actually have to turn on both screens for the little one to show you anything unless it’s updated automatically, and then new news updates pop up and vibrates to let you know of changes. Now in test I found this too be less useful than I would like to think and the practicality for that being a selling point to be lower than desired.
The other features in terms of hardware are pretty typical. Wi-Fi, which seems to have become standard for just about all the devices in the world. GPS, which sadly is not Google Maps rather it’s Bing. 3G, Verizon will be putting this on all new phones till next year when 4G comes in the world so maybe you should take note of that. The device has the Wi-Fi hotspot hardware, and the software is also available without charge, which is becoming uncommon in due to carriers trying to make a little extra by charging for the service. The processor is 1GHz, but in use, it feels like I am running on some last gen 800Mhz processor. The lag on this device is just too much.
This device certainly has all the needed hardware inside. But sadly I think the whole second screen idea is not as great as it sounds. The main screen itself is much too small for anyone to even enjoy using it, much less me, using the second screen for anything. I am split on the hardware aspect of this device, but one thing I can say is that this device is nowhere close to the other Galaxy S devices in terms of hardware features (mainly thinness).
Software
The core applications don’t change. The Gmail application is the same as you will see on other Android devices, and all the basics are still just there. The real difference between this and a Droid, other than the UI overlay, is this runs on Bing software. Meaning you will not get any turn by turn free from Google, or simple Google Maps. You only get a Binged out device, with Google Android roots.
Video experience on this is very dissatisfying. The main screen is just too small to get the real movie experience or even just make you slightly interested, but at least Samsung used a great video player to enhance the software side of all this. Playing any game on this device is also not very fun because of the screen size, but that’s relative to what you are used to.
The overall experience I had with the software was not too great. I mean it was leggy regardless of the 1GHz hardware aspect. Menus loaded very slowly and apps constantly crashed. I did an SMS Bomb test, and this device failed it. After I sent 400 messages to the device… It slowed down and practically crashed after 50 text messages and that says how weak the processor is because my Windows Phone 7 device and G2 did not have even one problem while getting all these texts (slight slowdowns, but not too bad).
Wrap Up
Would I recommend this? No!
Hardware rating: 7/10—The hardware specifications meet today’s standards with everything but that screen does not cut it, and the thickness of the device is peculiar next to the others that we get from the Galaxy S Line of phones
Software Rating: 6.5/10—The software is laggy, but is still the essential Android experience and so you cannot down it too much.
Overall User Experience: 7/10—The lag of this device makes user experience a bit unpleasant, and for might not be the best for someone just coming to Android or upgrading.
Total Rating: 7.5/10 Decent device, but not really anything next to the other great Droids and the Fascinate that our beloved VZW has to offer.
I am reviewing this as a high end power user, and as such, my views are more towards meeting the heavy users’ standards. Some, not all, of you readers might see this the same way I do.
