Entertainment
Common PIM (Personal Information Management) applications are incorporated
on the Samsung A950 as well. Featuring an Alarm Clock, Calculator, Calendar,
MP3 Player, Notepad, Voice Services (Dial and Memo), and World Clock, email
access to MSN Hotmail, AOL Mail, and Yahoo Mail is integrated as well.
Mostly limited to preinstalled software, the A950 makes a poor substitute
for a fully-functional PDA. But fortunately, the A950 also supports downloadable
Java-based programs using BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless),
a mobile platform for games and applications. Files that can be downloaded
from the web, these midlets are simple programs rather than robust applications.
But consumers can also take advantage of 3D games reminiscent of 90s
console games. Available through Get It Now, games cost about $10 for a
3-month subscription.
Currently a few games in a wide range of genres are available including
EverQuest: Hero's Call, Frogger, JAMDAT Bowling, Name That Tune, NBA Basketball
2005, Suzuki Motocross Challenge, SpongeBob Darts.
Internet
 Through
Verizon Wireless' EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) broadband service, consumers
to browse the Internet on the A950's Openwave UP 6.2.3 browser, stream videos,
and transfer high-resolution photos at theoretical speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps,
however more realistic rates are around 300 to 500 kbps.
Paired with VCAST, Verizon Wireless' video streaming and download service,
users can fully unleash the A950's multimedia capabilities. With VCAST,
unlimited access to more than 300 daily video clips is accessible for a $15
monthly fee. Combined with EV-DO speeds, consumers can watch mobile
television anywhere.
Providing live and prerecorded TV programs, VCAST allows users to stream
clips from news and entertainment from such programs as ABC News, CNBC,
MSNBC, the Weather Channel, the News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox studio,
and Viacom Inc.'s VH1 and Comedy Central cable channels. Also capable of
Video-On-Demand, by selecting preferences for favorite shows, subscribers
can receive text messages alerting them when new videos are available for
viewing.
< Prev Next
>
This article is Copyright 2002-2008 Mobiledia Corp. and the review in
part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed
medium without prior permission from Mobiledia. For information on
reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please
contact us. |
