Samsung SCH-U740 Review - Features

Features

While messaging is the u740's true raison d'etre, it's also a full-featured multimedia phone compatible with Verizon's VCAST 3G network.  The handset can play music in stereo from microSD cards either over its built-in stereo speakers or via wired or wireless headphones.  Music can be controlled from the main keypad or using three touch-sensitive controls mounted on front panel of the phone.  The controls (like most touch sensitive controls) were a bit erratic, but not as bad as some, and the external display provided access to relevant artist/song information when the handset was closed.  Full-scneen video playback is available, but hampered by the relatively low-resolution main display on the u740. 

The u740 features a standard suite of PIM applications including a contacts manager with photo, photo and ringtone caller ID, an organizer with calendar, appointment and to-do alarms,  and the like.  However, the many features of the u740 are hampered by Verizon's clumsy user interface system, which is made even worse by the fact that certain applications can only be accessed when the phone is in widescreen mode. 

While it stands to reason that users would do most of their message composition and video-watching with the phone in this position, I found it maddening that Verizon decided to make these applications (and a few others) unusable in regular flip position.  Just trying to remember which features require which orientation will certainly be enough to keep some potential customers away from this phone.  Verizon customers can access the full array of VCAST offerings on the u740, including the VCAST music store, video clips, and Get It Now games. 

I downloaded a few games and wound up getting hooked on Texas Hold 'em Poker.  Gaming on this handset was quite comfortable thanks to the widescreen orientation, though the D-pad wound up being much better positioned for lefties than righties.  The u740 is also compatible with Verizon's VZ Navigator turn-by-turn directions service as well as their new Chaperone Parent service.  Chaperone Parent is designed to help parents locate their children (or anyone locate anyone else, really) via GPS tracking. 

I should mention that it's not Samsung's fault the menus and applications are installed as they are; in fact, I'd love to see an unlocked GSM version of the u740, if only to see how the industrial design might be put to a bit better use. 

Samsung's cameras tend to be of average quality no matter how many megapixels they pack in there.  The 1.3mp model on the u740 is no exception - it takes decent pictures, particularly in good natural lighting, but it's not going to replace your digital camera.  The flash assist light makes low-light shots possible, but they tend to come out grainy and/or with distorted colors.  While the camera mode takes a few seconds to start up, shutter delay is pretty minimal, which is nice.  Standard picture adjustments and editing capabilities are included, and photos can be saved to phone or memory card memory and attached to MMS or email messages for sending. 

The camcorder can shoot video with sound at 15 frames per second at 176x144 resolution.   Clips can go as long as you want, provided you have sufficient memory available in the phone or on a memory card.  Cameraphone videos taken with the u740 were - you guessed it - about average for a cellphone.

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