Samsung Finesse - Reviewed Apr 7th 2009 (updated to Mar-2010)- by curtis

first of all hello, my name is Curtis and I'm the proud owner of a computer and networking company based in SW Florida, I have hacked many a phone so i'm no noob. I decided that AT&T's craptastic service had to go, so I shopped around and decided that metropcs was a no brainer. Unlimited web alone was enough for me. Unlimited calling and text was a bonus. anyhoo nuff bout me let move to the juicy stuff, first and foremost i love this phone, its got its weaknesses but it was only 350, an unsigned, network free blackberry storm or iphone would run you 500+ easy and that's outside my budget as far as use-to-value goes.

PROS:
1.) The screen is bright and colorful, not quite 32bit color shading but close. unlike a lot of other smart phones with touch screens it is pretty fingerprint resistant and the touch sensor is spot on (after calibration).

2.)Expandable memory, up to 16gb. I have a transend class6 16gb card in it, works great. this is the reason i didn't get an iphone, 8gb cards are 20 bucks and you can carry 50 in a match box; why limit yourself...(I'm so Punny).

3.)Despite the lack of an app store type setup the widgets are surprisingly useful, the calendar and alarms are especially useful to me, as I would forget my head at home if it weren't attached. The bundles apps from metropcs are great and unless you use them, they don't take up any space as it installs on first use.

4.)video capture and playback are smooth, but kinda low res. I converted 5 movies from DVD to completely full screen and they playback fine @ 2500kbps aac stereo 96k audio 25 fps.

5.) both the mp3 widget and the full player are great, sounds good over headphones and no skipping even at 320bit mp3, still haven't figured out how to load images for the album covers but I will.

6.)VOICE ACTIVATED DIALING WITH THIS PHONE IS LEET!!! once you have people in your phone book you just push the button and say their name and which number and bam!, no training it, no prerecording your voice, anyone who wants can use it to dial numbers (great if you share a phone), and if you fuck up it asks you if you meant this or that and will figure out what you wanted. I'd buy this phone again just for this feature.

7.)web browsing is better than dial up, even w/o evdo. allows playback of mp3s over the web and the interface is very clean / functional, zooming using the volume control was smart, the back button on the physical buttons is great and you can go fullscreen which is nice.

8.) the 2mp camera is great a lot of settings and you can pull it up by holding the camera button so the shot won't be gone while you finger the phones menus trying to find the camera.

9.)Pc connect mode for small files is great, just plugin and the memory card comes up ready to transfer stuff.

10.) tactile force feedback is adjustable for battery savings, so is the back light and it fades to half bright rather quick during nonmedia playback so its ok.

11.)the phone has to actual weight to it, feels substantial, not a plastic pos feel to it anywhere.

12.)call logs and messaging are great, interface is clean.

13.)metrobackup is a nice touch.

14.)mobile IM is aim and msn compatible.

15.)Has handwriting recognition for those who have the phat finger problem of touchy qwerty.

16.) people on the web are saying the covers for the slots are hard to open, they are stupid. lift more weights and less IHOP lazy fat ass.they open and close easily and shut securely, the back cover for the battery however is a nightmare to open.

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CONS:
1.) the interface is a little sluggish at times and can be a bit aggravating when your risking the lives of your passengers while looking up movie times, whilst driving on the interstate, hehe.

2.)YOU CAN"T DELETE THE PRELOAD GARBAGE!! all their girly flower pics and shitty ringtones are stuck their till the phone is hacked by someone, i especially hate the widget that says metropcs that doesn't do anything but can't be put away, really metro wtf!? the phone powers on and SCREAMS: METROPCS UNLIMIT YOURSELF isn't that enough advertising for pete sake..

3.)the samsung PC studio software isn't compatible, so no tethering the phone of making personal ringtones with it. (I used motorola phone tools 5.0.5 to make the ringtones and saved them to pc then moved it to the phone). hopefully an update soon will fix this issue.

4.)movie and music playback over the loadspeaker crackles a bit, sounds like dung. Bluetooth stereo headphones to the rescue !!!

5.)ASCENDING RINGTONE IS FRIGGIN GAY (and i don't mean in the perfectly acceptable homosexual way, no offense fellas) first 4 seconds of every phone call i can't hear the phone ringing cause i was an idiot when i was a teen and had 2 15" speakers in my van. hence a few missed calls. train your friends to do the rules of 2 you will need it

6.)NO youtube / flash playback, not really that big of a thing to me but might be huge to some of you out there. /edit: they now playback the m.youtube.com videos, not as nice as an ipod but will suffice.

7.)the built in browser is locked to not allow downloads to the internal memory or card, no wallpaper saving, ring tone downloading, sorry guys you'll need a pc. /edit also fixed now, read the forums here to find out how.

8.)MY BIGGIST ISSUE, the phones lock is too fast. I'll call a automated piece of shit somewhere and by the time it says press one for blablabla, the phones interface is locked and i have to unlock and find dialer then hit the button, rinse repeat.. VERY UNKOSHER!

9.)the internal antenna is weaksuace heavy, unless you got a cell tower up your ass, the signal indoors is 1/2 what it is just outside, forget steal buildings like trailer parks or parking garages, unlimited walking to open spaces METROPCS..., I'm not going to review the phone service here just the phone so, grain of salt guys.

10.)email is not push, you gotta login and check em.. seems like this should have been a no brainer samsung, come on! /edit: FIXED!!! this one was huge for me delete the old email program and redownload it will push on a set interval and vibrate once you have new mail!!! woot!

11.)use the memory card in external reader, 7MB per second on external card reader, 200kbps internal mass storage mode through the cable. OK for ring tones and wallpaper but not movies.

12.)battery life is acceptable i can talk all day but web and movies are like cutting the femoral artery to the battery's heart. /edit: onry if you set the backlight to 3 or lower out of five.

13.)web interface doesn't allow the pinch and pull method of zoom.. but the volume control does this so its kind of a wash.

14.)metro nav isn't a real gps, understood? if you get lost it has a where am i? button, you'll need it; lol. /EDIT: major upgrade here, its now replaced my copy of MS streets and trips 2009.. works ery well in citys(where you'll need it)

15.)no predict or correct on the messaging system, can you say FAIL...

Screen: 8/10
interface: 7.5/10
construction: 9.5/10
speaker: 5/10
features: 8.5/10
annoy factor: 2.5/10
value: 8.5/10

I whole-heartedly recommend this phone to anyone who doesn't need push on email (blackberry) or need useless crap added nonstop to the phone through an app store (iphone) or need super speed qwerty messaging (get the moto hint)

hope this help you make the right decision for you.

/edit: March 2010 - hand the phone a year the scrren is still scratch free, only one ding in the bezel, so holding up well, the internet is still weak now that i have an ipod touch 2g 64gb its night and day for browsing but useful when there is no wifi, still could use some new widgets but all together pretty sweet still. and metro lowered the data plan to 50 buck including taxes and fees, go metro. Grin