Samsung Glyde

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
I want this damn phone so bad! My current phone, the Samsung A990, has a broken hinge and can pop off the other hinge without much effort, but also doesn't pop off during normal operation. Found out after dropping it once again, that it could full well come off the other hinge without actually breaking that hinge (other one cracked)... but also that it draws power by a small little ribbon cable, which was the only thing that was now connecting the two halves of the phone! I put it back on and it is relatively stable, but need a new phone.
Well that, and the Voyager has been holding my attention since its release. But now I'm realizing, that while I'd like the Voyager in general (QWERTY, non-smart phone), the giant flip-open clamshell does not appeal. But the Glyde and its slider design, while still keeping pretty much the rest of the Voyager-esque navigation, definitely is selling itself to me. Now I just await its release, whenever that will be. It was rumored to be released in March.. that came and went. Then April.. well talked to Verizon and the rep hadn't even heard of the phone, and that it usually shows up in their system for employees a week or so before public release. Phonearena.com reports a May release, and some rumors from people talking with other reps, notably a Samsung marketing rep, point to a June release. Some places are just now resorting to May/June for targeted release. I'm too impatient for this lol.
I can get a phone whenever I want and if the Glyde were to come out within 30 days, I could just return it and pick that one up, but I risk it releasing after the 30 days. In that case, I'd have to return whatever phone I picked up and go back to my A990. I could handle that, but that's a good deal of hassle. But if I were to go that route, I'll probably pick up the Voyager just to compare, and I do generally like the Voyager.

Sucks though, because of the HTML browsing (nice), we'd have to switch from the America's Choice Family Share Plan to the Nationwide share plan. Same cost, and includes Mobile Web 2, but then requires data charges. That part sucks, because to get unlimited data, I'd have to get the $15/month vcast vpak. So I get unlimited access to video clips and whatnot, and I reckon if I pay for it, I'll use it. But that still leaves out the txt package. Currently have a txt package, I think costs like $10, and my mobile web 2 access is $5. So that might be $15 right there, but I still have to include a txt package... bummer. I guess to have access to the html gmail page would definitely be nice, being able to check that. On the more expensive Nationwide plans the vz navigator and email apps are free, but those packages are more expensive and my family don't need those. The plan that costs the same doesn't enjoy those benefits. :( Using navigator would be pretty nice when I'm trying to get around Columbus (don't know this city at all), but I'm not paying a monthly fee for that. The email would be nice to get notifications of new messages and whatnot, but I guess with no html email that it wouldn't benefit me so much, so going the internet route to gmail will probably be just more convenient.

hmm, now to ponder.
I guess to make this thread actually have a point... anyone have opinions on the Voyager? Or other phones? I don't really want a smart phone, as that's just too much for what I'd use it for. Not a big fan of the HTC phones anyhow, just too bulky. I like the style of the Glyde, at least from pictures. I really need to have a demo model to play around with and get a feel for it in my hand.
Any of you played with the Samsung F700? Same base phone, just using Samsung's UI versus the Verizon one. I guess the Glyde will be using the same UI of the Voyager, but possibly with a different and faster HTML browser and using a capacitive touch screen instead of pressure sensitive. These are all just rumblings from a test user at howardforums, who has been reporting about firmware changes and the feature set during his testing of the Glyde.

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RandomFool

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2001
3,913
0
71
www.loofmodnar.com
I've been keeping an eye on the Glyde as well. I would have picked on up if it was released in Mar/Apr but now I'm just going to pick up the EnV2. My phone fell in the toilet and now I'm using a phone I got ~5 years back. If the Glyde comes out with in my 30 day trial period I might grab it. really All I want it for is the web browsing and sliders >>>> clamshells. Personally I don't like the voyager mostly because of the clamshell design.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
The Voyagers nice, my mother has one. The touchscreen is fun to use on a daily basis, an it has nice keys, but the browser is not the best on it. It's slow to render pages and sometimes just doesn't work at all.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Well, Verizon insiders are now reporting a May 9 release, and to back that up is the fact that the phone is now in Verizon's information management intranet.
now I wonder if I'll be able to order this early like a few were able to talk to the right CSR and order the enV2 early. hmmm
screen

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destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
update:
anyone interested in this phone should call *611 and talk to a CSR.... I was just able to order one. :)

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YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
2,546
1
81
Yes these are available through telesales right now. Online release is May 9th with in-store release sometime the following week.
 

RandomFool

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2001
3,913
0
71
www.loofmodnar.com
I just picked up my Env2 today. It's a pretty nice little phone, and does pretty much everything I want a phone to do. Right now I'm glad I didn't get the glyde since I don't really need the extra features but they would be nice. I'll probably still check out the glyde out once it's in stores just in case...
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Thought I'd update:
I love my Glyde. :D
Have had a few moments with the touch screen, such as touching one area but it wants to register somewhere else on the screen. Turning off and back on cures that.
Another issue I discovered today, was it didn't want to turn off the screen entirely for some reason, but the backlight turned off but the screen stayed on, and thus never auto-locked. Even if I locked it, it stayed on. Again, a turn off and back on cured this.
Little issues that one day might be fixed in a firmware update, if Samsung/Verizon ever issue this. But it's not gonna kill me. I had random little bugs with my Samsung A990... I dealt with them when they sprung up. Not enough to make me change phones, as really, this phone is the best of the worlds possible on Verizon. I don't want a Voyager, too bulky and the pressure sensitive touchscreen bothers me, the capacitive screen on the Glyde is so much better. And smartphones... one I don't want to pay the data plans on those (the Glyde requires data service on the Nationwide plan, but only needs the Vcast pack for 15/month for unlimited data, unlike smart phones which start at $30 for data, or pay by megabyte), and two, I don't need all those features, and just don't really like any of the form factors currently offered.
There are better phones on other networks, but I'm not ditching my line on my share plan with my parents. Can't afford a plan of my own while I'm here at school... will deal with that once I'm on my own after school. Plus, I like the service and reception. No need to ditch Verizon.
It's a great phone with some minor issues, but the form factor is amazing.... great size! It's kind of small, but perfect size imho. I have no issues with the keyboard... browsing the web's a little tricky because it's kind of a small screen for that, considering a good chunk of real estate is taken by the UI during web browsing. But it serves its purpose as an HTML browser, but limited app support. Java is supported, but right now mobile youtube doesn't work. Maybe they'll fix that... maybe not though.

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destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Originally posted by: foghorn67
Brave early adopter. Sounds good so far.

Yeah. Half of the problem lies in the fact that Verizon has a bad selection of phones. The other American networks out-do Verizon consistently in phone selection, but oh well. But I needed a new phone since my A990 was basically on its way out, and didn't want to downgrade to a basic phone. Fit the bill perfectly as far as features I'd want. I'll make use of the browser every now and then, and when I want to waste time I'll probably make use of the Vcast streaming just because I got the package for unlimited data. But I'm going to see this month how much data I actually use, to see if it's even worth the $15/month, or if I'd be better off with the $2/MB data fee.

The Glyde really feels perfect in my hands. Absolutely love the thing.

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olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,120
776
126
Have you used VZ Navigator with this phone? Is the KB easy to use or are the keys too close together?
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Have not used VZ Navigator, as while the service would be great, I refuse to pay a monthly fee for something I'd use well... once a month. One day I'll probably give it a go when I need directions somewhere and will just pay the 24-hour access fee, something like a couple bucks.

The keys are kind of small, but really doesn't hamper much. You wouldn't really use your entire thumb, especially if you have big hands... I use the tip of my thumb, mostly just enough of what thumbnails I have to strike the key. I can type pretty fast with that method. I've had mistypes, but nothing to really complain about. I've never had a keyboard on a phone before.

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