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Samsung M8800 Pixon Mobile Phone
There was a time when hearing about an 8 megapixel mobile phone camera would have inspired a look of disbelief and awe to the average mobile consumer, now it’s pretty much a ‘ho-hum’ syndrome. Nevertheless, for the photo buffs out there who like having a good camera in their mobile handsets, Samsung’s M8800 Pixon may just be the one for you. But truth be told, this is how it really fared. You can decide if my opinion on the handset is a valid argument for or against the purchase.
Before I begin let me just state, for the record, Samsung, unlike some of the other manufacturers doesn’t usually provide me with an ‘out-of-the-box’ handset. By that I mean it’s merely a test piece and I can’t say with certainty that the handset is in pristine condition or won’t have issues. But some things are quite standard and universal to all handsets of the same model, so here’s what I can tell you anyways.
Form Factor
It's a simple enough design. If you’ve seen one touchscreen handset you’ve pretty much seen 'em all. The large display, in this case 3.2-inches with a 240 x 400 pixel resolution, is a bit of an issue when in bright sunlight. It tends to be overly reflective if not held at the right angle. It has three standard buttons under the display – Call Take, End Call and the center circular one is a Return key. A VGA camera is located just near the light senor that’s right beside the earpiece.
On one side is a microSD card slot followed by a shortcut key and a screen lock button. Samsung’s proprietary universal port is located at the top which is actually a good idea in terms of placement as it makes it easy to plug in the hands-free (which incidentally is equipped with a 3.5mm socket and volume control for the Audio out or earphones) and carry it around in your pocket without making the handset wider than it already is. On the side are the Volume/Zoom and two dedicated keys – one to access the library for media (video and image only) files and the other a shutter release for the camera.
An LED flash accompanies the 8MP camera at the rear. The camera itself does tend to bulk up the handset a bit though.
The all Black Pixon with the lined sides is in no way a bad looking handset. But like I explained earlier, it doesn’t really create an impact because of the rather generic design that handset’s like it tend to embody. There's not much one can do about it though if you’re in the market for a totally touchscreen handset.
Features and Performance
Interface
Samsung’s TouchWiz UI with its widget system is what helps run this piece of machinery. It’s so much smoother and more responsive than the F480 - then again it’s been a while since I’ve seen it and I did expect this. Not much has changed except that now there are a few more widgets added, all relevant of course, but I wish I could have added my own shortcuts. Some of the widgets have been refurbished a bit, like the quick-dial option for those saved in your favorites. This allows you to send messages, make normal and video calls to five of the top candidates in the favorites. There’s also a separate shortcut menu that pops up for quick access to some of the more important features so you don’t have to keep pulling out the widgets, dropping them onto the desktop and then accessing their features.
Handwriting recognition is also supported on the Pixon for data entry but that means you’ll have to use the LG mascara-like stylus. There are options for this too. You can use the full screen, boxes for various script or a simple screen divider. The easiest thing is to use the alphanumeric keypad that switches very smoothly to full QWERTY when the handset is held in landscape.
Audio
The music player could have used a customizable EQ setting but the WOW presets et al work just fine. What really impressed me is that the handset has a 5.1 channel, SRS sound engine on board that sounds pretty darn good when hooked up to an audio system that has the same support. Playlists can be created on the handset itself. Although the decibel level is a tad low for me, the audio quality is clear and well balanced. Since I’m not a fad of the in-ear style earphones that accompany the Pixon, I was happy to use my own.
The Stereo FM radio (With RDS) works reasonably well with decent reception even on the commute. It has a built-in recording feature as well. The Pixon also has a voice recording feature for voice memos and such. Music Recognition is Samsung’s version of TrackID from Sony Ericsson. You can record a section of audio from the radio or via the sound recorder and send it to an online database for information on the said track.
Video
The Pixon supports a wide range of video files viz. DivX, XviD, H.263 and H.264, WMV and MP4 formats. You’ll have to make sure the audio bit rate is at a high enough level as the video player tends to sound a bit low for some strange reason. Since the handset has an accelerometer you can simply turn the handset to the side and the display orientation of the video will switch to full screen. They look good on the display and since you won’t really have to convert too many files it’s even better.
Samsung has also included a video editor app that allows users to edit and create slideshows etc. of images and even edit videos captured via the handset’s camera. It’s a simple and self explanatory application but it doesn’t support all file types.
Images
The new image browser sorts out the files by their name and flick control can also be used to navigate the files themselves. The most innovative part is that it can be adjusted to sort out images via colors, time the images were taken i.e. month-wise and even the Face Tags created. It’s just brilliant. The flick control is smooth but Samsung has also utilized the accelerometer here to the fullest. By tilting the handset to the right, images will flow in that direction and the same goes for when it’s tilted in the other direction.
The biggest glitch is that this is only available from the photo browser section and this section will not let you view the image in any other mode except landscape. Turn the handset and the images start to scroll. But if you view the images from the My Files section, you can flick to go to the next and even rotate the image 360 degrees by simply turning the handset. You can also create face tags here or view existing ones that you may have created earlier.
Face tagging is great technology that enables users to tag a person in an image (like you would on Facebook) and link them to all the information in the phonebook under that person’s details. It even retains the recognition to such an extent that it will locate the same face in multiple images of the same person so you can click on the tag and either send a message to that individual or make a call. It’s extremely impressive and worked without a hitch. You can also select a Face Link option directly from the camera so it focuses on the person or person's face and allows you to tag the information from there itself.
Misc. Features
The Pixon is loaded with a few fun games but in these times of recession, Samsung has decided that all the games will have to be purchased in order to play continuously, or you’ll have to settle for the extremely short game play trials. Another fun application is Live pix with which you can create ‘works of art’ on the handset. It has tons of fun settings for you to create animated posters and edit images. You can save the edited or created file as an image again or if you’ve added motion to some of the parts you can save it as a .SWF flash file. Very cool!
All of the other standard features are present like a Calendar, Converter, Tasks, Calculator, Alarm etc. Samsung’s Mobile Tracker feature is also part and parcel of the Pixon’s makeup. Users will also be able to view Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files directly from the handset.
The handset also has GPS but no application has been provided, however, you can download and use Google Maps for the time being. The camera also has a Geotagging feature. Unlike Sony Ericsson handsets that have the same, the Pixon doesn’t have a provision for simply opting to see any particular image on Google Maps. In fact I couldn’t find any GPS information tagged to any image whatsoever. Another problem was that almost every time I selected the My Location option it was nowhere remotely close to where I actually was. One time it actually depicted that I was in another country altogether. So that didn’t work out too well at all. Google has preloaded Google Maps, a link to Gmail and Google search (which never seems to connect) onto the handset as a separate menu option. The links never seem to connect for some reason though.
Connectivity
Except for Wi-Fi, the Pixon is equipped with everything else - Bluetooth with A2DP for wireless audio streaming and file transfer, USB 2.0 for data transfer from the PC, EDGE and GPRS for internet access and 3G (with HSDPA) for when that becomes available. The browser can switch orientation depending on how the handset is held and it also has an option for full screen viewing. It supports flash, which is a very good thing and it’s quite easy to navigate and use.
Your POP and IMPA email accounts can be set up by following a simple step by step set-up process on the handset. If you’ve never done this before and are unsure of all the settings you can look them up online from your email account service provider like Gmail or Yahoo Mail. An RSS reader is also present. Images can be uploaded via a ShoZu account that you’ll have to set up. From there you can send images to your Facebook account as well as VOX and quite a few other blog sites as well including Flicker.
Camera
I loved using the 8 megapixel autofocus camera on the Pixon. It does take a bit of time starting up – 6 second sometimes, but it’s rich with features and settings galore. Aside from the auto stitch Panorama mode which works without a hitch it also allows you to choose the direction you wish to take the shot in – upwards, downwards, left to right and vice versa. Other features include – WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), Image Stabilization, White Balance, Exposure and Smile and Face detection technology with Face Tagging as well.
- Click the main image to have a closer look.
In Macro Mode you may be able to get as close to a subject as in some other handsets but the quality is still superb.
Even in cloudy conditions the level of detail the camera manages to pick up in a cluttered scene is pretty good.
I’ve always been impressed with Samsung digicams and their Night Mode. The Pixon doesn’t disappoint in this instance either, provided the camera is absolutely stable when taking a picture.
Battery
The battery life was the biggest disappointment. Pathetic would be an understatement in this case. However, I’m willing to chalk it up to this one test piece I received. I had to charge the handset on a daily basis even with minimal use. Talktime was a joke at just a little over 1 hour before the handset required charging. I’m sincerely hoping that this is not an issue you will face with a brand new handset.
The Bottom Line
The price tag on the M8800 Pixon is Rs. 28,750 which was a pleasant surprise considering their last 8 megapixel handset was a whopping Rs. 46,000. But the INNOV8 did come with 46GB of space and features like Wi-Fi. The Pixon on the other hand doesn’t have either. It has just 200MB on internal memory and has no memory card included with the package. With the lack of Wi-Fi, GPS software, a bundled memory card and free (full) games is it any wonder the handset is priced so well? Nevertheless it’s a great handset for the price irrespective of the few shortcomings and oddities. It’s equipped with great technology and it’s plenty of fun to use for multimedia. If you’ve saved enough and love your photos, I say, Go for it!
Before I begin let me just state, for the record, Samsung, unlike some of the other manufacturers doesn’t usually provide me with an ‘out-of-the-box’ handset. By that I mean it’s merely a test piece and I can’t say with certainty that the handset is in pristine condition or won’t have issues. But some things are quite standard and universal to all handsets of the same model, so here’s what I can tell you anyways.
Form Factor
It's a simple enough design. If you’ve seen one touchscreen handset you’ve pretty much seen 'em all. The large display, in this case 3.2-inches with a 240 x 400 pixel resolution, is a bit of an issue when in bright sunlight. It tends to be overly reflective if not held at the right angle. It has three standard buttons under the display – Call Take, End Call and the center circular one is a Return key. A VGA camera is located just near the light senor that’s right beside the earpiece.
On one side is a microSD card slot followed by a shortcut key and a screen lock button. Samsung’s proprietary universal port is located at the top which is actually a good idea in terms of placement as it makes it easy to plug in the hands-free (which incidentally is equipped with a 3.5mm socket and volume control for the Audio out or earphones) and carry it around in your pocket without making the handset wider than it already is. On the side are the Volume/Zoom and two dedicated keys – one to access the library for media (video and image only) files and the other a shutter release for the camera.
An LED flash accompanies the 8MP camera at the rear. The camera itself does tend to bulk up the handset a bit though.
The all Black Pixon with the lined sides is in no way a bad looking handset. But like I explained earlier, it doesn’t really create an impact because of the rather generic design that handset’s like it tend to embody. There's not much one can do about it though if you’re in the market for a totally touchscreen handset.
Features and Performance
Interface
Samsung’s TouchWiz UI with its widget system is what helps run this piece of machinery. It’s so much smoother and more responsive than the F480 - then again it’s been a while since I’ve seen it and I did expect this. Not much has changed except that now there are a few more widgets added, all relevant of course, but I wish I could have added my own shortcuts. Some of the widgets have been refurbished a bit, like the quick-dial option for those saved in your favorites. This allows you to send messages, make normal and video calls to five of the top candidates in the favorites. There’s also a separate shortcut menu that pops up for quick access to some of the more important features so you don’t have to keep pulling out the widgets, dropping them onto the desktop and then accessing their features.
Handwriting recognition is also supported on the Pixon for data entry but that means you’ll have to use the LG mascara-like stylus. There are options for this too. You can use the full screen, boxes for various script or a simple screen divider. The easiest thing is to use the alphanumeric keypad that switches very smoothly to full QWERTY when the handset is held in landscape.
Audio
The music player could have used a customizable EQ setting but the WOW presets et al work just fine. What really impressed me is that the handset has a 5.1 channel, SRS sound engine on board that sounds pretty darn good when hooked up to an audio system that has the same support. Playlists can be created on the handset itself. Although the decibel level is a tad low for me, the audio quality is clear and well balanced. Since I’m not a fad of the in-ear style earphones that accompany the Pixon, I was happy to use my own.
The Stereo FM radio (With RDS) works reasonably well with decent reception even on the commute. It has a built-in recording feature as well. The Pixon also has a voice recording feature for voice memos and such. Music Recognition is Samsung’s version of TrackID from Sony Ericsson. You can record a section of audio from the radio or via the sound recorder and send it to an online database for information on the said track.
Video
The Pixon supports a wide range of video files viz. DivX, XviD, H.263 and H.264, WMV and MP4 formats. You’ll have to make sure the audio bit rate is at a high enough level as the video player tends to sound a bit low for some strange reason. Since the handset has an accelerometer you can simply turn the handset to the side and the display orientation of the video will switch to full screen. They look good on the display and since you won’t really have to convert too many files it’s even better.
Samsung has also included a video editor app that allows users to edit and create slideshows etc. of images and even edit videos captured via the handset’s camera. It’s a simple and self explanatory application but it doesn’t support all file types.
Images
The new image browser sorts out the files by their name and flick control can also be used to navigate the files themselves. The most innovative part is that it can be adjusted to sort out images via colors, time the images were taken i.e. month-wise and even the Face Tags created. It’s just brilliant. The flick control is smooth but Samsung has also utilized the accelerometer here to the fullest. By tilting the handset to the right, images will flow in that direction and the same goes for when it’s tilted in the other direction.
The biggest glitch is that this is only available from the photo browser section and this section will not let you view the image in any other mode except landscape. Turn the handset and the images start to scroll. But if you view the images from the My Files section, you can flick to go to the next and even rotate the image 360 degrees by simply turning the handset. You can also create face tags here or view existing ones that you may have created earlier.
Face tagging is great technology that enables users to tag a person in an image (like you would on Facebook) and link them to all the information in the phonebook under that person’s details. It even retains the recognition to such an extent that it will locate the same face in multiple images of the same person so you can click on the tag and either send a message to that individual or make a call. It’s extremely impressive and worked without a hitch. You can also select a Face Link option directly from the camera so it focuses on the person or person's face and allows you to tag the information from there itself.
Misc. Features
The Pixon is loaded with a few fun games but in these times of recession, Samsung has decided that all the games will have to be purchased in order to play continuously, or you’ll have to settle for the extremely short game play trials. Another fun application is Live pix with which you can create ‘works of art’ on the handset. It has tons of fun settings for you to create animated posters and edit images. You can save the edited or created file as an image again or if you’ve added motion to some of the parts you can save it as a .SWF flash file. Very cool!
All of the other standard features are present like a Calendar, Converter, Tasks, Calculator, Alarm etc. Samsung’s Mobile Tracker feature is also part and parcel of the Pixon’s makeup. Users will also be able to view Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files directly from the handset.
The handset also has GPS but no application has been provided, however, you can download and use Google Maps for the time being. The camera also has a Geotagging feature. Unlike Sony Ericsson handsets that have the same, the Pixon doesn’t have a provision for simply opting to see any particular image on Google Maps. In fact I couldn’t find any GPS information tagged to any image whatsoever. Another problem was that almost every time I selected the My Location option it was nowhere remotely close to where I actually was. One time it actually depicted that I was in another country altogether. So that didn’t work out too well at all. Google has preloaded Google Maps, a link to Gmail and Google search (which never seems to connect) onto the handset as a separate menu option. The links never seem to connect for some reason though.
Connectivity
Except for Wi-Fi, the Pixon is equipped with everything else - Bluetooth with A2DP for wireless audio streaming and file transfer, USB 2.0 for data transfer from the PC, EDGE and GPRS for internet access and 3G (with HSDPA) for when that becomes available. The browser can switch orientation depending on how the handset is held and it also has an option for full screen viewing. It supports flash, which is a very good thing and it’s quite easy to navigate and use.
Your POP and IMPA email accounts can be set up by following a simple step by step set-up process on the handset. If you’ve never done this before and are unsure of all the settings you can look them up online from your email account service provider like Gmail or Yahoo Mail. An RSS reader is also present. Images can be uploaded via a ShoZu account that you’ll have to set up. From there you can send images to your Facebook account as well as VOX and quite a few other blog sites as well including Flicker.
Camera
I loved using the 8 megapixel autofocus camera on the Pixon. It does take a bit of time starting up – 6 second sometimes, but it’s rich with features and settings galore. Aside from the auto stitch Panorama mode which works without a hitch it also allows you to choose the direction you wish to take the shot in – upwards, downwards, left to right and vice versa. Other features include – WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), Image Stabilization, White Balance, Exposure and Smile and Face detection technology with Face Tagging as well.
- Click the main image to have a closer look.
In Macro Mode you may be able to get as close to a subject as in some other handsets but the quality is still superb.
Even in cloudy conditions the level of detail the camera manages to pick up in a cluttered scene is pretty good.
I’ve always been impressed with Samsung digicams and their Night Mode. The Pixon doesn’t disappoint in this instance either, provided the camera is absolutely stable when taking a picture.
Battery
The battery life was the biggest disappointment. Pathetic would be an understatement in this case. However, I’m willing to chalk it up to this one test piece I received. I had to charge the handset on a daily basis even with minimal use. Talktime was a joke at just a little over 1 hour before the handset required charging. I’m sincerely hoping that this is not an issue you will face with a brand new handset.
The Bottom Line
The price tag on the M8800 Pixon is Rs. 28,750 which was a pleasant surprise considering their last 8 megapixel handset was a whopping Rs. 46,000. But the INNOV8 did come with 46GB of space and features like Wi-Fi. The Pixon on the other hand doesn’t have either. It has just 200MB on internal memory and has no memory card included with the package. With the lack of Wi-Fi, GPS software, a bundled memory card and free (full) games is it any wonder the handset is priced so well? Nevertheless it’s a great handset for the price irrespective of the few shortcomings and oddities. It’s equipped with great technology and it’s plenty of fun to use for multimedia. If you’ve saved enough and love your photos, I say, Go for it!