Camera

The dedicated-hard camera button only works when users are on the home screen, which invalidates the main purpose of a dedicated-hard button - namely to allow one-touch accessibility to the button's application.

The camera is a 2.0-megapixel, and shot quality and resolution, while good in general, can sometimes suffer. Excellent camera features include a timer, flash, self-portrait mirror, ability to shoot multiple pictures, white-balance effects, brightness control, and three different shutter sounds. The phone can store 45 MB worth of photos, with the option of installing a microSD card for extra storage.

The phone records videos in landscape mode, even though it is easier to hold the phone in portrait mode. The Glyde features an intuitive pause/resume touch-screen button that does not intrude on the display during video recording. The recorder can store videos with audio that are up to 30 seconds long.

Basic Features

The Glyde features an auto-lock on/off option, a vibrate-level adjustment, and the touch-screen sensitivity level adjustment. The screen, which takes up nearly the full height of the phone, is bright and the resolution is clear. A useful help screen appears when the user first opens the contacts application, with instructions to press the green icon at the right of each contact to dial their numbers.

Quick learners can choose not to display the help message again. The touch-screen display also does a good job of recognizing when a user is scrolling and when his fingers are just selecting. The programs Samsung and Verizon have included here are well designed, by and large, but clearly not programmed for this particular touch-screen phone.

The Glyde also features a "status/agenda" screen accessible from the home screen. "Status/agenda" shows new messages, voicemail, missed calls, upcoming calendar appointments, active alarms and a link to the speakerphone on/off. It includes a space-wasting volume button, since volume can be accessed from the hard buttons and the home screen.

It also features an unnecessary back button that takes up keypad valuable real estate. In case the myriad icons become confusing, users can access handy icon glossary. The "notepad" feature is one of the more disappointing options, having an inexplicable 130-character limit, while the SMS character limit is 160.

The Glyde does not feature copy and paste or text select, and users cannot send notes via Bluetooth. The calculator performs basic functions and has a handy exponent function for math-geek users. An easy-to-use unit converter handles temperature, length, weight, area, and volume. The currency converter includes more than just major trading currencies. Sixteen are pre-programmed and there is an option to add more. Rates must be manually updated, which is a good thing, considering the Glyde comes with the outdating conversions of Euro at $1.32 and the Canadian dollar at $.081.

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