Display & Audio
4.3
DisplayThe 1.6" TFT screen on the Trace is quite nice. With a resolution of 220 x 176 pixels at 262,000 colors, the display is capable of sharply rendered photos and graphics, if not on par with the QVGA screens now found on higher-end phones. The screen isn't readable in direct sunlight, but otherwise performs quite well.
Samsung built the Trace with a simpler interface than the Flash-driven UIs common on their recent handsets. The main menu is a simple nine-icon grid done up in greyscale with the current selection magnified and animated in color. The UI isn't flashy, but it is easy to navigate.
The Trace supports user customization of the home screen wallpaper, as well as basic settings for text style and color. Wallpaper images may be loaded on to the phone via memory card, Bluetooth, or MMS/Web download. A number of wallpapers are pre-installed on the phone, as well.
Audio
I tested the Trace on T-Mobile's network in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Trace is a Quad-Band GSM handset, and reception and performance was generally excellent. Audio was clear on both mine and the other end of calls. Volume levels, however, were rather low on my end. I often found myself reaching for the volume switch only to find that the level was already high as it could go. This didn't make voice calls unbearable, but the phone was noticeably quiet.
Calls on the built-in speakerphone were clear but a little quiet, as well. Note that the speaker is rear-mounted on the Trace, which means that the phone must be laid face-down for true hands-free speaker calls. The Trace comes with a wired handsfree earpiece with an in-line microphone that worked quite well for voice calls. I would like to have seen a stereo headset included to take advantage of the built-in audio player, but one is available as an optional add-on.
The Trace supports Bluetooth audio devices. I was able to easily pair a Bluetooth earpiece with the phone, and voice quality with the earpiece was good. Stereo over Bluetooth is not supported.
