Screen

Developed by consumer electronics giant Samsung, experience from making high-end televisions have undoubtedly been transferred onto the small screen. And the T509 doesn't disappoint.

Offering a brilliant 262K-color (24-bit) LCD, the T509's screen provides similar color and contrast to the SLVR's display, but with much better clarity. Due to more pixels (176 x 220 px) on its large 1.8-inch display (over the SLVR's 128 x 160 px LCD), the T509 provides sharper imaging with more detail.

Using TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD technology, the T509's screen is manufacturer with circuit transistors placed directly on the glass. Offering faster refresh rates from not having to each scan pixel location (compared to other LCD technology such as STN), the T509 is ideal for fast changing applications in various lighting conditions.

While many devices currently past 262K- and up to 16.7 million-color displays, the T509 offers an exceptional screen for its price point. Complementing its sleek design, the bright and clear LCD is the focal point of T509's slim design, and the foundation to all other multimedia capabilities.

Audio

With limited memory and the lack of an expansion card slot, audio capabilities are virtually nonexistent. Unlike Motorola which still included an MP3 Player on the L6, not enough memory was available to make it particularly useful.

Samsung instead decided just not to include it. Still supporting MP3 ringtones, the T509 users can download "HiFi Ringers" from T-Mobile for real clips of music.

Messaging

Something that isn't mentioned much about phones is well-designed numeric keypads. And as a drawback to optimizing its profile, the SLVR's wafer-keypad was difficult to type on.

Offering a conservative layout with individual keys (rather than a wave-layout on the SLVR), users will comfortably sending text messages on the T509. Providing tactile feedback necessary for quick and efficient typing, the T509 offers all the standards on present day cell phones including SMS (Short Messaging Service), EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service), and MMS (Multimedia Message Service).

As standard with T-Mobile devices, the T509 also comes preinstalled with AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger. Providing real-time chat from a wireless device, consumers no longer need to end the conversation with family and friends. With the T509, users can keep the conversation alive just as if they were sitting in front of a PC. Airtime charges may apply.

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