The Samsung Epix SGH-i907 is a sort of big brother to the popular BlackJack and BlackJack II non-touchscreen Windows Mobile Standard smartphones released over the past couple of years. It has a touchscreen and a front-facing QWERTY keyboard, along with the standard array of connectivity hardware. But the item of particular interest concerning the Epix is that seemingly misguided touchpad. With today’s increasingly contrasted Windows Mobile experience, having an onboard mouse not only makes sense, it makes Windows Mobile better.
Design
If you’ve used a Samsung BlackJack, the design of the Epix will be familiar to you. Its design very closely follows that of its non-touchscreen predecessors both in look and feel, and it is practically the same size and weight. Its size when viewed from the front is also about the same as the iPhone 3G, though the Epix is a bit thicker.
The Epix can be most aptly described as a Messenger-class Windows Mobile device, as it has a QWERTY keyboard on its face for quick data entry, emailing and document composition - there are no flipping or sliding parts. Its exterior shell is dark gray and dark silver plastic with a smooth, shiny finish. I prefer matte coating as they show less fingerprinting, but the design is attractive and sleek.
Unlike the limited touch-only Windows Mobile devices we’ve seen of late, namely the HTC Touch and Touch Diamond, the Epix plays to Windows Mobile’s strengths and provides the user with hardware controls, toggles and buttons in addition to a touchscreen. The navigation center on the Epix includes OK and Start Menu buttons, which makes getting around the OS fast and easy. The 39-key keyboard provides quick data entry as well as dialing (you can also dial with an onscreen dial-pad). There’s an included stylus, but you most likely won’t need it since the Epix includes a mouse (more on that later).
Design missteps? First, I’d like to see a scroll wheel on either side of the Epix since it makes moving up and down through menus, web pages and documents easier. Rubberized side panels would also be a nice addition as the overall feel of the Epix is smooth and somewhat slippery.
Features
It’s rare for modern Windows Mobile devices to ship without every feature on the mobile market built-in, and in this regard, the Epix is no exception. Other than a VGA display, the Epix features every tech spec out there; onboard GPS, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a digital camera (somewhat limited at only 2MP), and 3G mobile broadband.
There’s also a built-in microSD flash memory card slot compatible with microSDHC memory cards up to 16GB, which allows you to add thousands of audio tracks, or a stack of ripped DVD movies for playback on the go. Unfortunately, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll have to use the included adapter to listen to music or video audio. How manufacturers can continue to leave something as simple and useful as a headphone jack off of their devices never ceases to amaze (and frustrate) me.
The charging port (which also doubles as a sync and audio port) is proprietary; no mini or microUSB here. You’ll have to use Samsung’s own cables and chargers or third-party solutions specifically designed for Samsung devices. Another aggravation.
The Touchpad Mouse
As I said, the inclusion of a mouse was not an idea that I warmed to at first. But the more I used the Epix, the more I found the mouse and pointer solution to be a fantastic one. Windows Mobile is powerful and useful in many regards, but it is not a touch-centric OS. Although Windows Mobile helped pioneer touchscreen devices, if you want finger-only navigation, you should look elsewhere. |
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What the addition of a touchpad mouse does for Windows Mobile as it exists today is to provide a fast and convenient way of navigating menus and clicking web links just like you do on a desktop or laptop PC.
You use the touchpad just like you do on your laptop. Move your finger around the touchpad and a pointer moves on the screen. Press the touchpad to make a selection. It’s as simple as that.
If you don’t really like the touchpad-mouse setup, you can also switch the touchpad to a five-way navpad.
To read more about my thoughts on Windows Mobile and the mouse, read my editorial here.
Software
The Samsung Epix runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional which includes standard features to manage your calendar, contacts, tasks and email, all of which can sync with Outlook or Live services. There's also Office Mobile with mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. Windows Mobile also allows for push email, contacts and calendar entries.
Samsung and AT&T have added additional applications as well. There’s a full array of AT&T service apps and links including GPS, AT&T Mall, AT&T Music and Video. Java is installed which allows you to install and run Java-based mobile apps, and there’s also a simple RSS reader, a stopwatch, Smart Converter for converting different measurements, an Instant Messaging program for chatting on AIM, Messenger or Yahoo!, and a MusicID program. You can, of course, add software to the Epix, choosing from thousands of free and commercial Windows Mobile software titles.
One software-related complaint I would level against the Epix is about Internet Explorer Mobile. Most other modern Windows Mobile devices ship with one of the newer third-party mobile web browsers pre-installed; the Epix does not. If you purchase the Epix, one of the first things you should do is download and install Opera Mobile 9.5. Internet Explorer Mobile is simply a bad joke at this point.
The Phone
The Epix as a phone is average for a mid-range smartphone; not great, but not bad either. In my tests, voices sounded clear and strong in most cases and I didn’t get any reports of a bad connection from anyone with whom I spoke. But there is a certain clarity found on other devices that the Epix lacks. That said, I saw excellent signal strength with the Epix compared to other AT&T handsets.
Phone features include voice dialing, speakerphone, Bluetooth headset compatibility, hardware or touchscreen dialing, and contacts dialing.
Subjective Analysis
Battery life on the Epix is great thanks to its 1800mAh Li-Ion battery. I went days without recharging the unit, with a moderate amount of voice and PDA use (web browsing, emailing, photo viewing, etc.) each day. Samsung states that the Epix can provide up to seven hours of talk time and up to two weeks of standby time; these are, of course, best case numbers. But suffice it to say that the Epix easily blows much of its contemporary Windows Mobile competition out of the water in terms of battery life.
The Epix is powered by a 624MHz Marvel PXA310 mobile processor, which makes the smartphone responsive and snappy. Programs launch quickly, and browsing the web with an updated browser like Opera Mobile 9.5 or SkyFire is also fast.
Conclusion
The Epix is one of the better Windows Mobile devices to surface in late 2008. It’s a powerful device, it’s affordable at $199 with service (lower at other retailers), and the included touchpad mouse allows you to use the not-so-touch-friendly Windows Mobile OS without having to reach for a stylus every twenty seconds. Throw in its excellent battery life and wide range of connectivity features, and the Epix is a worthy choice for any AT&T user who needs a device with a hardware keyboard.
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