We often tend to turn keyed up whenever a new mobile device buzzes the technology sphere. If there’s anything that pops up the foremost across our mind, then it has be to questions like ‘which operating system does it run?’, ‘what are the most highlighted features?’ or the most obvious one – ‘what’s the price tag?’ Although manufacturers ensure to ease concerns like these, Samsung somewhere vows to pay a little more attention. After targeting high end devices, the company has now announced their latest Samsung Transform Ultra mid range smartphone which will be coming through Sprint. Designed with sturdy quality, the device aims at delivering power-pack performance and competitive functionality standards.
What is it?
Transform Ultra is a new smartphone from Samsung that comes powered by Android operating system 2.3 Gingerbread. With this one around, users can conveniently personalize their experience with the feature-loaded OS and Sprint ID customizable user interface. The touchscreen model features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for a comfortable typing experience while the intelligent
Key features
Weighing just about 4.9 ounces, the stylish device doused in aluminum grey catches attention for integrating an amazing 3.5” HVGA display with ample viewing area. Apart from enabling users to indulge in rich color and high definition videos and pictures, the handset offers a comfortable typing experience through a full QWERTY keyboard. At the same time, the Gingerbread platform puts forth access to more than 250,000 applications. Combining the platform benefits with the Sprint ID customizable UI lets users personalize their phone up one screen and down the other. The phone also features an efficient 1GHz Snapdragon processor that offers less buffering, faster response time and smoother streaming. For users who enjoy preserving good times, there will be a a front facing VGA camera for video chats and a rear facing 3.0 megapixel camera. Some other highlights include Intelligent typing (Swype), Text-to-Speech, support for Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, TeleNav GPS Navigator, Google Maps Navigation, one USB port and a headset jack.
What’s innovative?
Transform Ultra indeed transforms your experience through Gingerbread – an easy to use route to having easier internet phone calls, simpler video chat and enhanced user interface. The most consumer-friendly smartphone platform will also bring on more control over apps and pre-installed applications including Google Maps, Google Talk, Google Search, YouTube, Android Market, Gmail and Google Voice. Users will also be enabled to manage their photos with Picasa, manage music with Amazon Cloud Player and watch movies or favorite shows with Samsung Media Hub.
Price and availability
The new Samsung Transform Ultra is now available through Sprint for $79.99 with a new two-year contract after $70 direct and $50 mail-in discount.
The up side
Enclosed in a compact size of 2.4” x 0.6” x 4.6”, the smartphone intrigues by its fast and performance-driven 1GHz Snapdragon processor and Android 2.3. Since the latter one is uncluttered, the device ensures a clean and smooth user interface. The front-facing camera perks up the experience at the same time. Users who enjoy indulging in useful and entertaining applications can further benefit from the integrated support for Android Market and Samsung Media Hub. The powerful 1,500mAh battery that offers up to 420 minutes of talk time is another plus point. Users may even appreciate connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. Not to forget, typing on the slide-out keyboard topples as a breeze.
The down side
Although the smartphone manages to leave consumers impressed, the Transform does disappoint on certain areas at the same time. We feel Samsung could have more attention to its QWERTY keyboard in raising it a little higher. Also, the camera quality rendered by 3.0 megapixel could have been better.
The bottom line
The new Samsung Transform Ultra by Sprint appears to be a pretty decent pick for consumers seeking a comfortable QWERTY keyboard typing experience with a tinge of entertainment plunked down. As a mid-range smartphone, the Transform does a reasonably good job to keep your personal and professional lives going. However, we feel that one could snap up a better option by shelling out $20 more on other options that are currently available across the market.
