Gang it is time for the Spotlight’s second edition of the Samsung Epic Touch and a lot has been going on. After tinkering with the device’s interface, soliciting app suggestions, and examining case options I think I’m finally at my operating state for the foreseeable future. In addition Samsung came in last Thursday and put on a heck of an event allowing attendees to get hands on experience with some 400 demos. As we discussed in the first edition the display quality really caught people’s attention successfully turning them into zombies completely unaware of their surroundings and the other 2,000 people in attendance. This week I would like to continue our review of the UI features Samsung built into their take on Android and what you can do with it. We’ll then close with some of my takes on the device’s form factor and my personal need for a protective case.
Don’t like it? Customize it.
Let’s start off with a quick lesson in Android fragmentation to help us understand the differences in Android from manufacture to manufacture. Legendary in IT circles fragmentation is the byproduct of Android’s open architecture approach where manufacturers can twist and bend the operating system to suit their intended device experience. Open architectures are a wonderful thing but when it goes unmonitored aspects like software updates can be challenging as multiple UI versions must be accommodated for slowing down rollout timelines and elevating risk for pesky release bugs. There are three main variants of Android which are as follows; HTC devices are suited with their Sense UI, Motorola quietly calls theirs Blur, and Samsung’s dawns the title of Touchwiz. So why am I telling you all of this? Because it is in your interest to understand the main difference between the three so you pick the right one to suite your tastes and your customization abilities. The delineation between the three variants is largely determined by how much stock customization options, and in turn internal resources consumed, are included on the device. On one side of the spectrum you have HTC’s Sense which loads up their devices with tons of stock widgets and UI features for manufacture guided device customization. Samsung on the other hand seems to take the approach on the other side of the spectrum providing a fewer UI features largely leaving it to the user and the Android market to address customization and widget integration. (Motorola is somewhere in the middle) So if you are new to Android and haven’t spent endless hours sifting through the thousands of applications on the market place I would recommend a Sense based HTC device. If you are a tech savvy or seasoned user with applications on hand looking for a device with less bloatware but still has some rather unique UI features a Touchwiz device might be your answer. (end of lesson. . .)
We’ve talked about the entertaining motion features in the previous post so let’s review what else Samsung has up its sleeve. True to what I’ve deemed as their non-intrusive mantra Sammy has provided a couple of really cool organization features that allow you to customize your application list. Traditionally manufactures have handled application list views by simply providing page upon page upon page upon page. . .of applications organized alphabetically. Honestly stated this is quite annoying because it takes forever to find anything and normally an app is needed on quick demand. When we reviewed the Photon Motorola’s solution introduced the ability to create app list categories allowing users to create categories, assign apps to those categories, and then filter app list views by those categories. Samsung has introduced a similar capability by extended some of the customizable features normally found on your homescreens into the application view screens. Let’s take a look at those features:
1. Customize your App View Type-
Users have the ability to select one of three application list views represented above, two of which allow you to view alphabetically so if that is your thing go for it. For those more adventurous there is the customizable grid view which is where the fun begins.
1. Folder/Page creation in Customizable grid mode- Like the Photon’s category assignments Samsung decided to let users organize their applications but employed the approach of leveraging the same folder views available on your homescreens. Once you have selected the customizable grid view press the menu button, select edit and you are letting your inner muse go to work.
In the view above I’ve created three subfolders and grouped icons accordingly, allowing me to substantially cut down on the application clutter I would have seen in the alphabetical list views. If subfolders aren’t your thing and you like seeing your app icons notice that Sammy also gives you the opportunity to create pages as well. Organizing by page vs. folders will allow you to maintain direct visibility to your app icons while providing the ability to have some semblance of organization. Beware though that I’ve found once a page is created it looks like it can’t be deleted so choose your next steps wisely young grasshopper. (I’m sure this can be edited as well but I’m just not seeing it) One other thing I would like to quickly mention is the carouseling ability between the app pages, nice touch that doesn’t require you to trace back the other direction once you’ve navigated to the extreme left and right app pages. HTC’s sense UI employs this feature in their homescreen and I wish Samsung would have taken this one step further and implemented the same thing with their homescreen navigation capabilities.
1. Icons viewable on Folders- I will save some space here by leveraging the previous image to illustrate the cool little feature of being able to see what apps are tucked into your subfolders. Although subfolders are standard fair across all Android devices the presentation of the first six apps signed to that folder isn’t. This is not a huge feature but pretty cool and useful if you can’t remember if you assigned say Google Navigation to your “Search” or “I’m fricken Lost” subfolder. The above view probably makes the icons too small to view but know when presented on the device screen they are easily distinguishable.
The Form Factor and the need for a case:
I want to quickly mention the physical dimensions of the device because the profile and weight are going to be two things that initially really jump out at you. Light weight and slender design make the 4.52” screen very manageable pocket device. The dimensions are as follows: (providing the original Evo specs as well for reference)
Epic Touch:
Size: 129.9(width) x 69.6 (height) x 9.59mm (depth)
Weight: 130g
Screen size: 4.52”
Evo 4G:
Size: 122 x 66 x 13mm
Weight: 170g
Screen size: 4.3”
Yes the screen is larger than most large display phones, yes you would think this would make it less friendly from a pocket standpoint but the slim profile and weight successfully mitigates that concern. With the device being 30% slimmer and 23% lighter than our most popular device to date it slides rather easily in and out of your pocket. (too easy if you ask me and back to my cracked screen dilemma) Aside from the slim profile and low weight you will notice that the device’s backside and edges are made from a hard, textured, but slick plastic. For folks like me that lack coordination the device is a bit of a challenge to hold on too. I’ve taught myself to slow down and be very mindful of my grip as I grab the device but the first couple of days saw several near drops and inevitably I finally pulled off the suicide dive that cracked my screen. Hardware specs that rock your world, Android UI features that blow you away, all packed into a shell d#mn near impossible to hold on to! J With that said I would highly recommend a case that at least provides an increased level of grip via a rubbery or tacky surface. (and Total Equipment Protection if you are as coordinated as I am) I’m not big into the bulky ultra-protection cases so here are a few slim options I’ve found:
Sprint’s Gel Option:
Silicon Option:
Rubberized Slim Option:
(This is the one I purchased)
I’ll wrap it up with a little grip I have. As good of a job Samsung has done keeping from overloading this device with bloatware and knickknacks they missed what I would consider a standard feature. If you use your device for music and are a widget junkie like I am read on, for the rest of you leave now as this will seem inconsequential. The native music application on the Epic Touch doesn’t have a widget display option!!!! (thank you for letting me vent. . . I feel better now) I guess I took for granted that every phone’s native music app would have this capability along with lock screen integration so I was completely shocked when the option wasn’t there. Don’t fret my fellow audiophiles because this can be easily overcome by leveraging Doubletwist and Widget Locker. I won’t go into great lengths here but Doubletwist is one of, if not the best, music app on the market and Widget Locker provides the ability to fully customize your device’s lock screen. Once both are downloaded Doubletwist allows for homescreen widget creation and Widget Locker will give you the opportunity to incorporate the Doubletwist widget into the customized lock screen view. Here is a quick pic of what mine looks like, until next time!
Link to previous Samsung Epic Touch Post:
http://mblspt.blogspot.com/2011/09/mobile-spotlight-scores-beast-from.html
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