Samsung unveils the Continuum

[Musky]

Samsung unveils the Continuum

 

[tommy_ed]

does anyone know if it has a slide-out keyboard?

 

[lunatic59]

Android 2.1 and preloaded with Bing?

Gimmee a W

Gimmee a T

Gimmee a F

What does it spell?

 

[Frisco]

This is an Android specific thread, Musky, so I moved it out of the Lounge and into the Android Lounge.

 

[The Shape]

Another Galaxy S phone for Verizon? What's so different about this phone?

 

[Musky]

Another Galaxy S phone for Verizon? What's so different about this phone?

From what I can tell, just the second "reader screen" where your emails and text messages scroll across, so that you don't have to get out of any app you happen to be in to check your messages. Not that big of a deal I don't think.

 

[tbaker]

No, but it nice way to get sports scores, and quick news updates without getting into an app when your phone is off. Way to save battery. Plus, I would think once it is rooted there would be some useful to come from it, no?

 

[Musky]

No, but it nice way to get sports scores, and quick news updates without getting into an app when your phone is off. Way to save battery. Plus, I would think once it is rooted there would be some useful to come from it, no?

Very true, once you have control over what uses the screen the possibilities are endless!

 

[tbaker]

That is why I am stuck deciding between this and the D2. I like/use both form factors, but this has that unique ticker, but the D2 is just as good

 

[BumbleBbee]

does anyone know if it has a slide-out keyboard?

Saw a non-working demo of the Continuum today. They wouldn't bring a working phone out yet; said they didn't have a phone number to activate the demo. Anyway, no physical QWERTY keyboard. The phone is basically a smaller version of the Fascinate with a few extras...the second "ticker" screen, a dedicated camera button and maybe a couple other things. Note that it only comes with an 8GB micro SD card (Fascinate comes with 16GB). Other than that, very similar phones. Seems nice...can't wait to get my hands on the real thing! I love my Fascinate, but I'm very curious about the Continuum.

 

[tbaker]

I know the screen is smaller, but are you saying the whole device is smaller than the fascinate? Would say then it is more size to the D2 or DI?

 

[BumbleBbee]

I know the screen is smaller, but are you saying the whole device is smaller than the fascinate? Would say then it is more size to the D2 or DI?

The Fascinate is 4.92Hx2.53Wx.39D
The Continuum is 4.94Hx2.3Wx.48D
The Droid 2 is 4.58Hx2.36Wx.54D

So, basically, the Continuum is a tiny bit taller than the Fascinate and 1/2" less wide. That's what makes it feel better in the hands (I have small hands though LOL)

 

[jinwons]

I was interested in Continuum too. But that pricing and android 2.1 is a bit disappointing though it looks nice otherwise. I was expecting around 100 with 2 year contract. It's hard to choose this over Fascinate at the same price.

 

[BumbleBbee]

I was interested in Continuum too. But that pricing and android 2.1 is a bit disappointing though it looks nice otherwise. I was expecting around 100 with 2 year contract. It's hard to choose this over Fascinate at the same price.

One thing I really like about it is that it has a dedicated camera button. I hate that my Fascinate is like the iPhone...no camera button. I miss that from my Droid. I really want to see the ticker display in action. I am constantly "waking" my phone to check for messages, especially since the Fascinate doesn't have the Notification LED that the Droid has. I miss that, perhaps, the most. The Continuum seems like it's going to be a great phone...hoping it doesn't have the GPS issues that the other Galaxy S phones have. However, for some odd reason, my GPS has been behaving much better this past week. My biggest issue with the Continuum would have to be its decreased screen size... .6" smaller than the Fascinate. I watch a lot of media on my phone, so it makes a difference. Like you....very disappointed that it isn't launched with 2.2 in it, but since I don't have it in the Fascinate yet, I'm not too worried. I mainly want the Chrome to Phone app and Flash capability back when I can get my hands on 2.2. Been cruizing the forums hoping to find some chatter on how soon 2.2 might be available for the Continuum.

 

[jinwons]

I will need to take a look at it at store to see how I feel about its screens. 4" in Fascinate should be good for web browsing and typing for sure. Don't know if 3.4" in Continuum is bearable for me or not.
If the small ticker screen pops up for email notification, that would be nice. Does it stay off while in sleep mode and turn on with notifications or button press? Then it might help battery life a bit.

 

[BumbleBbee]

I will need to take a look at it at store to see how I feel about its screens. 4" in Fascinate should be good for web browsing and typing for sure. Don't know if 3.4" in Continuum is bearable for me or not.
If the small ticker screen pops up for email notification, that would be nice. Does it stay off while in sleep mode and turn on with notifications or button press? Then it might help battery life a bit.

From what I've read about it, it has some sort of soft buttons or something you can squeeze on the bottom sides of the phone that makes the ticker screen appear. Since I haven't been able to get my hands on a working demo yet, I can't say for sure how well this works. I am VERY interested in trying it out though! If it shows emails/texts/IM's, I would be very happy with it. Totally with you on screen size though. .6" is a HUGE difference from the Fascinate. I think that has to be what will hold me back most.

 

[tbaker]

I have an Eris, which is a 3.2in screen and I am starting to find that it is a bit on the small side. I dunno how much better the .2 could be, but it could be alright if you have small to medium size fingers.

 

[Musky]

One thing I really like about it is that it has a dedicated camera button. I hate that my Fascinate is like the iPhone...no camera button. I miss that from my Droid. I really want to see the ticker display in action. I am constantly "waking" my phone to check for messages, especially since the Fascinate doesn't have the Notification LED that the Droid has. I miss that, perhaps, the most. The Continuum seems like it's going to be a great phone...hoping it doesn't have the GPS issues that the other Galaxy S phones have. However, for some odd reason, my GPS has been behaving much better this past week. My biggest issue with the Continuum would have to be its decreased screen size... .6" smaller than the Fascinate. I watch a lot of media on my phone, so it makes a difference. Like you....very disappointed that it isn't launched with 2.2 in it, but since I don't have it in the Fascinate yet, I'm not too worried. I mainly want the Chrome to Phone app and Flash capability back when I can get my hands on 2.2. Been cruizing the forums hoping to find some chatter on how soon 2.2 might be available for the Continuum.

Quick question, I had "Chrome to Phone" working well with 2.1 and also now with 2.2. Are you saying that it doesn't work for you with 2.1?

 

[BumbleBbee]

Quick question, I had "Chrome to Phone" working well with 2.1 and also now with 2.2. Are you saying that it doesn't work for you with 2.1?

I don't even have the option. I do a search on it and...nothing. When I had the Droid (1), I couldn't get Chrome to Phone until it got updated to Froyo. So, I was assuming that Chrome to Phone does not work on any older OS than Froyo...

BTW...just searched again to be sure......nope. No Chrome to Phone

 

[Musky]

I don't even have the option. I do a search on it and...nothing. When I had the Droid (1), I couldn't get Chrome to Phone until it got updated to Froyo. So, I was assuming that Chrome to Phone does not work on any older OS than Froyo...

BTW...just searched again to be sure......nope. No Chrome to Phone

That is strange, I had it on 2.1 and then did a factory reset after upgrading to Froyo, after backing up with AppBrain. After the reset, I again used AppBrain to reinstall my apps, including Chrome to Phone, and it worked as well as it did on 2.1.

In researching it, they talk about an older, "pre-release" version of the app, so maybe that's what I had before, or maybe I've completely spaced it! LOL

Here is a link if you want to give it a try:

Chrome to Phone

 

[jinwons]

Has anyone got hand on it yet? I wonder how its call quality and GPS compared to SF. The screen is a bit small but should be crisper with the same resolution as SF. The only major gripe is the same price as the SF.

 

[BumbleBbee]

Has anyone got hand on it yet? I wonder how its call quality and GPS compared to SF. The screen is a bit small but should be crisper with the same resolution as SF. The only major gripe is the same price as the SF.

I tried again yesterday, but they said they wouldn't put it out until the 18th

 

[flyinjoe13]

I played with the Continuum at my local VZ store today. It's a really nice phone IMHO. I like the thinner width form factor compared to the Fascinate and the phone was nice and responsive. The screen is just amazing. Bright and vibrant colors, super crisp display. I'm not a virtual keyboard guy so I had a tough time typing on it, but for those that are used to using a virtual keyboard, i'm sure they'd like it. I believe it's Swype.

I was not a big fan of Samsung's Android theme and would prefer stock Android theme (don't know if you can switch to that or not). What I really hated was the ticker. Just seems like a waste of space. They could have removed it and made the screen a bit longer from top to bottom. I imagine that ticker is a battery killer if it needs to constantly update what's in the ticker. I looked through the ticker settings and saw no way to turn it off permanently, but there may be a way.

Overall nice phone especially if you like smaller phones. It's not as big and bulky as the Fascinate, X or Incredible becuase it's not as wide.

 

[BumbleBbee]

I FINALLY got my hands on a working Continuum this morning. I was a tad disappointed. Of course, just like the Fascinate, it has a beautiful display. I liked that the phone is not as wide (small girl with small hands ), but since I watch so much media on my Fascinate, I wouldn't want the smaller screen. .6" is a lot of lost real estate! LOL

As for the ticker, that was what I mainly was curious about. I don't think it was that great. They didn't have much info going through it. I liked that I could see the time without waking up the entire phone like I do now. However, the soft touch sides that are supposed to activate the ticker....I think they're a little tricky. I couldn't figure out how to always make it work (since there are no buttons).

All in all, it was a nice phone, but I think I'll stick with my Fascinate until the new phones come out...I'm hearing 4G in February. Actually, I'm excited to see the Nexus S whenever that comes out too (hearing next month). Very curious!

 

[jinwons]

Thanks for sharing your brief hands-on experience. I think 3.4" WVGA screen is fine for me size wise. My Ally is only 3.2" WVGA. My biggest concern is the small ticker screen with live update widgets in it. If those widgets can't be turned off, I think it could be battery killer. But then it has smaller main screen than Fascinate which could save battery a bit. I like to see someone's more in-depth review on it.