Some kids can send out over 5000 text messages in a month. That’s a lot of abuse for a phone to endure, but the Samsung B5310 is able to stand up to even the heaviest texters with ease. The design of the phone itself is perfect for those who tend to email frequently, update their social statuses a lot, or stay connected with family and friends through text. The primary design feature is a keyboard that slides away from the main body of the phone.

Will the Samsung B5310 have the ability to meet your specific needs? Here are some of the specific features and advantages that this particular Samsung phone can bring.

The Slide Out Keyboard Is Excellent

There are a lot of keyboards on a lot of phone today that just don’t measure up. They are either too small to be properly functional, don’t offer the punctuation features that some people need, or are just too stiff to be usable. The full QWERTY keyboard on the Samsung B5310 isn’t any of that. The keys are nicely sized so that most people will be able to punt and not have to worry about hitting three or four other ones at the same time. All of your primary punctuation is also accessible without any combination keystrokes so emails and texts are quickly compose.

The only real fault with the QWERTY keyboard on the Samsung phone is the fact that there isn’t a shift key. This is been replaced by the caps lock key and it normally isn’t that big of a deal, especially with the predictive text input, but some users may find it to be problematic.

What About the Functionality of the Samsung B5310?

Like many of the Samsung phones from this era, users are able to access a number of widgets that come from a widescreen off of the home page. These are widgets, not apps, and the distinction must be made very clearly. You are not going to be able to access all networking pages through an app. You will be accessing them through the mobile web on the Internet. This tends to slow the process down a little bit, but not so much that it becomes a problematic issue.

It’s got the standard widgets that you’d expect, like Google and Facebook, but interestingly enough there’s a iPlayer widget installed as well. It’s a nice little widget to have because it allows you to access a 3G network or a connected Wi-Fi and download them directly to the phone so you don’t have the buffering that typically come with modern videos.

The one area of concern for those who want multimedia video is that the resolution of the screen on the Samsung B5310 is just 176p. Some videos are going to be quite watchable, but many of them are going to be pretty rough to see more than just once. Many users are going to decide to use this phone for data input purposes alone.

Some Multimedia Functions Are Nice To Have

Although the audio output of the Samsung B5310 could use a little help, there are a number of multimedia options from an audio standpoint that are quite nice. The music player has a pretty basic interface, but designing your own playlist is easy thanks to the information being split into album, artist, track, and genre categories. There’s also an FM tuner included in the phone so that you can pick up a broadcast as you’re working through the day.

The camera on the B5310 is just three megapixels in resolution, but that’s suitable enough for some outdoor pictures that you might want to take. Indoor images struggled to show up with any clarity unless there are large amounts of light present within room. There’s no flash included on this Samsung phone, so natural lighting is going to have to do for every image. Many images turn out vibrant, but it takes some practice to get there.

With this being a budget friendly phone, it’s a little surprising to see that there are GPS functions included with it. There’s also Bluetooth support and HSDPA is supported as well. Although there isn’t any natural navigation widget installed on the B5310, it does interact pretty well with the Google maps that comes with the phone in Java.

Many phones from this price point tend to struggle when GPS functions are enabled, at least from a battery standpoint. That’s not the case with this Samsung phone. Even with heavy use of 3G downloads and GPS data, most users are going to be able to make it through the day without needing to charge the battery. In regular use, the average person will find that they can get two or three days out of a single charge.

What’s the Verdict on the Samsung B5310?

If you are looking for an affordable phone that offers a modern features and you’re willing to live with it being not as smart as other mobile devices, then the Samsung B5310 has a lot to offer. It’s perfect for those who have heavy mobile data input needs so that users can stay connected in a way that best suits them. Although the quality of the camera and the lack of apps support might drive certain users away from this phone, the widgets are a good second option and don’t actually limit the overall use of the device.

The smaller screen is a bit of an issue, as well as the lower-end resolution that is available, so those who are looking for video playback functionality are going to want to look at other phones. If emailing, texting, or even MMS are your primary needs for a mobile phone, however, the Samsung B5310 has the goods to deliver some amazing results. The QWERTY keyboard is outstanding and useful, keeping users connected in their preferred method. If that’s what you need, then this phone is perfect for you.

Some people want to have a mobile device that will connect them to an extensive data network so that they are always connected to the Internet. Others want to have a smartphone that is filled with modern features and are willing to pay any price for that. When the tactile experience is more important to a user than the overall functionality of a phone, the Samsung B3410 becomes a viable option. Built with the texter in mind, the full QWERTY keyboard that is reminiscent of a Blackberry device will make SMS texts easy.

The Samsung B3410 Is a Basic Slider Phone

The first thing to notice with the Samsung phone is the fact that it is unable to connect to a 3G network. This fact might turn some users away, but the design of the phone itself might actually bring them back. The Samsung B3410 offers a capacitive touchscreen and an intuitive interface so that shoppers on a budget are going to feel like they’re getting a pretty good deal.

The aesthetics of the phone itself are actually quite nice. It has rounded corners and a streamlined look that give it a modern appeal. The flat back on the phone also makes it useful for those times when you need to set a phone down and talk to someone on the speakerphone. The primary feature of the design, however, is the sliding component of the phone which reveals the QWERTY keyboard.

The sliding mechanism on the phone is a little stiffer than one might expect. Although you don’t have to be a strong man in order to open up the phone, it does a surprising amount of effort and you almost feel like you’re going to break the phone and doing it. Because the keys of the phone are real, there’s also a particular stiffness to the texting motions that can bring about a high level of user fatigue. The mechanisms take a little getting used to it, but for those who like a physical keyboard and the tactile experiences that come with it, the B3410 will satisfy those needs quite nicely.

The B3410 Is a Generally Responsive Phone

With a 2.8 inch capacitive touchscreen, this entry-level phone gives you buttons of a nice size so that you can start in and calls with ease. It takes a little getting used to the back button, however, because it’s in a natural usage point where a menu button would be. Having the right controls for the phone be on the external casing is really nice to have, while the dedicated camera and record keys will be found to be useful for certain users.

Although there are smart components to the Samsung B3410, it isn’t really a smartphone by definition. It will access the Internet for you and display web pages on the small screen, but the widgets that are installed on your home screen aren’t actually apps that can be used. If you text the Facebook widget, for example, you will go to the mobile Facebook page instead of accessing the data through an app.

If you are used high-speed data connections, this Samsung phone is going to be providing you with some culture shock for a period of time. The 2G connections are good enough to access social networking or a web page in an emergency, but high-speed data transfer is not gonna happen.

The Samsung B3410 Is A Decent Multimedia Phone

Although data connections are relatively weak with this mobile phone, the B3410 is a reasonably good multimedia phone for those who like to take their tunes on the road. Not only is a music player included out-of-the-box, but so is an FM radio and there is expandable memory tanks to the microSD card slot. There isn’t any GPS or Wi-Fi connections, but the affordability of the phone tends to trump this fact. As long as you avoid any high data consumption tasks with the Samsung B3410, it’s going to provide the average person with a good experience.

With 30 MB of internal storage, you’re going to want to have the microSD expansion to make sure you can play your favorite playlist. It will play MP3 and MP4 files, however, and there is the option for pictures to be displayed in the JPEG format. A2DP Bluetooth is also available and the battery is both rechargeable and removable. It only way is 113.7 g, so you’re getting video and music playback with FM radio support in a relatively lightweight mobile device.

The operating system is a Samsung proprietary offering and its primary function is to help you get the most out of the 2 MP camera. With a screen resolution of 240p, the graphics on this phone are not going to overly impress you. For those who need a budget friendly phone and the option to MMS and email regularly, however, there are a lot of good things that can be found within this phone’s specs. There’s even a stopwatch feature that comes pre-installed.

Is This the Samsung B3410 the Right Phone For You?

The age on the Samsung B3410 is starting to show. When these components were first introduced, it was near state-of-the-art technology. With today’s innovations happening so fast, an entry-level smartphone is not going to cost a whole lot more while being able to provide many more features. The primary user who is going to enjoy this kind of phone is someone who does a lot of emailing or texting and wants to have the tactile sensations of a real keyboard.

Some might find that the physical keyboard is below average, but it just takes a little getting used to and it will become a very useful tool. There are phones in the Samsung line of products that offer a similar experience without the physical keyboard, like the Genoa, for those who want a similar phone as the B3410 without the slider hassle. Although the lack of 3G connectivity limits the market naturally, this Samsung device is still a decent phone that will meet the needs of those who use it.

If the Samsung logo wasn’t on the B3210, the average person might just think that the phone is a Blackberry instead of an Android device. The visual aesthetics are remarkably similar – from the small QWERTY keyboard that’s part of the base unit to the navigation components that are smack dab in the middle of the phone, everything about the Samsung B3210 says that it is a Blackberry clone.

The visual aesthetics are the only place where the two brands have similarities, however, because the B3210 is more of a value purchase. For users who are in the market to get a new phone, there’s only one question that needs to be asked: is the value of this purchase worth the features that will be received with the Samsung B3210?

Those Are Some Small Keys To Text On

The size of the tactile keyboard on this Samsung phone are about the same size of the capacitive keys that you’ll find on the modern smartphone of today when it is in the vertical position. With a little practice, you can get pretty good at being able to hit the right key with your large fingers, but it takes some work. The tactile response of the physical keyboard on the B3210 add extra definition to the experience, which is definitely nice at times. If the purpose of having the physical keyboard is to be able to text quickly, however, the design of the Samsung phone comes up a little short.

Even kids are going to find it a little difficult to manage the actual spacing of the keyboard keys on this full QWERTY keyboard. The issue seems to be the design of the keys themselves. They’re actually slanted with the intention of making them easier to access, but the reality is that the slanting of the keys makes the phone more difficult to use.

One of the more interesting features that come with this particular phone is that you get two extra battery covers out-of-the-box. It’s certainly a small touch, and doesn’t really do anything to improve the functionality of the phone, but it does allow users to put a personal flair to their smart device without having to spend any money on a third-party item.

The Samsung B3210 also utilized the threaded SMS texting that allows conversational tone to the messages that are sent. Text and client also supports the inclusion of PO P3 and IMAP email linking so that you can use the B3210 to stay in touch with your work responsibilities as you are taking care of some of your personal needs.

What About Some of the Technical Specs?

The Samsung phone has a relatively small screen at just 2.2 inches in size. The resolution itself is pretty modest at just 220×176. This causes icons that are displayed on the screen to look more like an old 8-bit video game than a modern mobile phone. When the screen is exposed to direct sunlight, it’s virtually impossible for a user to be able to see without covering the screen with some sort of shade. The colors are nice and vibrant indoors, however, if you can get around the pixel location issue.

Some users might find the placement of the microSD card slot to be a little problematic as well. It’s actually located under the SIM card slot and is designed to be a permanent installation. If you plan on managing multiple cards, will have a difficult time doing so.

There’s also a two megapixel camera incorporated within the design of the Samsung B3210. Picking capture videos with a frame count of 15 and a resolution of 176×144, so it’s not going to be everyone’s first option to create images that could go viral. The interface itself appears to be design from interfaces that first appeared when cameras first appeared on mobile phones. It’s simple and really easy to use, but the resolution of the camera itself is its own primary limitation.

Multimedia Options on the Samsung B3210 Are a Bit Slim

You have the option of being able to play MP3 and MP4 files with this smartphone, but there is no internal memory that is included with the phone upon purchase. You can solve this problem by installing the microSD card or you can just turn on the built-in FM radio to enjoy some local stations. The Samsung phone is also able to play AAC and WMA files if you wish as well.

As for the audio output that comes when you’re playing music or videos with this Samsung phone, the actual sounds are a little muted and a bit blocky. It’s a lot like placing the phone inside of an empty cardboard box, sealing it shut, and then listening to the music across the room. You’ll still hear the noise, but it’s not there is an authentic noise.

Although this is technically a smart phone, it is important to note that the data connection that the Samsung B3210 allows is 2G only. This means that data will crawl to your phone at a rate of 50 Kbps. Although this allows you to visit certain mobile sites and access your email, most modern web browsing is not going to happen on this phone. When you pull up optimized large mobile websites, you’re still going to get an error message produced from the browser because there is just too much data.

How Is the Performance of the Samsung B3210?

If one were to compare the Samsung B3210 to a feature phone, it would actually be a pretty solid device. The call quality is pretty loud and you’ve got a reasonable data access that can let you customize your phone and access the data that you need to access from your email accounts. Allowing for the ability to get used to the smaller keyboard, this phone really can be considered an upgrade to an older model feature phone in many aspects.

Most users are going to receive a full day’s worth of use from a single charge of the battery, but data consumption greatly reduces this capacity. If you primarily use the phone for music, the B3210 holds up pretty well over the course of 3-4 days.

As a smart device, however, this Samsung phone is a little disappointing. Data sketchy at best and nonexistent at worst. The design itself is pretty comfortable in the hand and the compact nature of the phone makes it easy to transport it, but the body of the phone is made of plastic that could be sensitive to certain work environments. The benefit is that you can customize the front of your phone with different casings if you want, but the downside is that they tend to break more often than not.

From a user standpoint, the two primary advantages that come with this particular phone are its visual aesthetics and its affordable price. Even the simple inclusion of a Wi-Fi connection would improve the user experience with the Samsung B3210 greatly. On the whole, users who need to do consistent email updates or prefer to communicate with others through texting are going to find that the Samsung design here in this phone lends to a pretty reasonable experience. From a performance standpoint in the other features, however, the affordability of the phone may not necessarily outweigh the lack of features that are received.

What Is the Verdict?

Samsung seems to be directing this phone towards to specific marketing demographics: kids who need to have their first cell phone and want to do a lot of texting and adults who have a need to stay connected to email accounts while on a tight budget. This phone will meet those needs pretty effectively and the additional features are just a bonus for those target demographics.

For those who are looking for a phone that has full power and data, voice, and texting, using the Samsung B3210 may become a disappointing experience. Although you can connect to your social networks easily and have access to information, it is all server-based information. Anything over the Internet is going to download to the phone at a snail’s pace and that speed made be enough to drive some users away.

There’s also the question of the customization features taking away some of the overall strength of the design. Being able to swap out components of the case is a nice feature to have, but it comes at a clear price. This phone is pretty susceptible to drops and although a cracked cases easy enough to replace, there is an associated cost with it every time that happens. The shape is good and the price is good, but the placement of the microSD card is not so good.

If you have specific needs that this phone can meet, then you can save a lot of cash by investing into this phone. If you are looking for a phone, however, that can effectively meet all needs instead of just specific ones, then you will need to look closely at the features of this phone before purchasing it.

Some mobile devices blow you away with the amount of features that there able to provide. Other mobile phones look to provide users with the best possible experience at the lowest possible price. In between these two extremes are a series of smartphones that the average person is going to enjoy using because it provides an average experience. The Samsung Ativ S is one of those phones that takes the middle road.

In many ways, the Ativ S is Samsung’s answer for those who want to have a Windows operating system on a smart device. The style of the Samson phone is very similar to that of the Galaxy line, so we can provide some serious punches in specific areas, but there is also a feeling that a lot more could be done without driving up the cost.

What Makes the Samsung Ativ S an Attractive Phone?

This Samsung phone has a nice lightweight design that most users are going to find attractive. There’s no fatigue involved when you are using this phone to meet your mobile connection needs. With the windows operating system tiles on the home screen, getting to favorite apps or a picture that a user wants to share is often just one touch away. The combination of this ease-of-use and compact, lightweight technology definitely makes this an attractive smartphone option.

There’s also added microSD support so that expandable storage is possible. Once you boot up this phone for the first time, you can’t help but feel like you actually have a portable computer in your hands. The more you tend to use it, the better it tends to be from a user standpoint.

The visual aesthetics also make this an attractive phone. With a metallic look and a hairline finish, it makes the Windows phone look like it is a premium handset instead of one that has an average price.

The Samsung Ativ S Has a Nice Display

With a 4.8 inch display and was a total thickness of 8.7 mm, one could hardly label this smartphone as a hefty piece of technology. There aren’t a lot of bells or whistles because the focus has been to design a phone that makes connections faster and simpler. With Gorilla Glass and a 720p resolution complimenting the 306 PPI pixel density, colors shine on this display and give users and authentic graphic representation of what they are seeing.

These graphics in the multitask functions of the Samsung phone are supported by a 1.5 GHz dual core snapdragon processor. This gives the phone enough horsepower to get through pretty much any task that a Windows phone is going to encounter.

The one place of improvement for the display would be the inclusion of sensitive touch technology so that the Samsung Ativ S could be used in multiple environmental conditions. With that being said, most users are going to find that the overall design of this phone will stand up to their basic needs.

Some Improvements Could Be Made to the Ativ S

The one definite place of improvement for this Samsung smartphone is in the placement of the home button. It’s right next to the bottom of the display and can be triggered with a downward swipe of the thumb or finger pretty easily. If you’re playing a favorite game or using a video chat app to speak with someone, it isn’t uncommon to accidentally shutdown the app by going back to the home screen by bumping the button.

There’s also a general lack of customization that comes with this Samsung will device. Where other phones are allowing for color customization or other feature enhancements, the Ativ S gives you the generic option to change the appearance of your home screen and the tiles from the Windows operating system.

Some users might find the lack of LTE support to be troublesome. When it comes to call quality and data access, however, this smartphone is able to compete with most phones. It delivers a fair experience with a level of dependability that the average user is going to want to have with their phone in case an accidental drop happens.

Many users will also feel a little frustrated by the fact that most of the included apps that come out of the box with the Samsung Ativ S need to have full update in order to be properly used. If you’re stuck on a cellular data connection, this can easily use up 1 GB of data from your plan before you even get to use the phone.

What Is the Overall Impression of the Samsung Ativ S?

At this price point, the Samsung Ativ S is going to be a good phone that most people are going to enjoy using. The 8 MP primary camera is going to meet most needs in the 1.9 MP is nice to have for a basic video chat. Everything is decent enough and you can edit pictures within the operating system of phone, but you aren’t going to get high-powered solutions that premium products are able to offer. You can also record video in high definition that is easy enough to edit as well.

Most users are not going to regret deciding to purchase the Samsung Ativ S to meet their mobile connection needs. If you want a daily use phone that can meet some basic business needs while being available for all of your personal connection needs, including sharing photos and data on your favorite social networks, then this mobile phone should be one of the top choices to consider right now.

For users who want to have a premium experience without paying a premium price, however, there are upgrade versions of Samsung mobile phones that can better meet those needs. The Samsung Ativ S is primarily for those who are on a tight budget, want a reliable phone, and want some useable features that they can enjoy using on a regular basis.

Samsung has provided mobile phone users around the world with some amazing technology over the years. Each market has some unique needs, so American cellular users, for example, will have different preferences than users from Malaysia. The Samsung Anycall brand is this electronics manufacturer’s brand for devices in the South Korean market. When you buy a Samsung in South Korea, you’re purchasing a Samsung Anycall.

Anycall is also sold throughout the greater China region. It isn’t just mobile phones that you can purchase from Samsung Anycall: internet access, digital television, and cameras are also available from this brand. It is technically a wholly owned subsidiary, but Samsung products are purchased from Anycall.

What Is the User Experience From Anycall?

If you’re used to a full Samsung experience from your mobile devices, then transitioning to the Anycall experience is seamless. Many of the products that Samsung delivers to the global community are also delivered to South Korea and greater China. From laptops to the latest version of the Galaxy, Samsung has been dedicated to making the world a better place through the development of technology for over 70 years.

Anycall is simply one of the many diverse business opportunities that Samsung has developed over the years. It is one of the few businesses that has a hand in many of the world’s top industries. Fashion, pharmaceuticals, finance, semiconductor development, architecture, and even hospitality all fit in with the Samsung brand. This makes Anycall a leading provider of high-tech electronics thanks to the global market that has been established by Samsung.

At the core of the Samsung Anycall brand is an emphasis on reliable products and services that are truly innovative. The ends don’t justify the means with this brand. Samsung takes a responsible approach to business in South Korea, China, and the world beyond. Customers aren’t just seen as a commodity or a budget line. They are seen as part of a global community of partners with a unique diversity that can power Anycall to new directions in the future that are only hindered by the scope of the imagination being used.

Samsung Anycall Benefits From Global Research and Development

Because innovation is so highly stressed at Samsung, and Anycall by affiliation, the brand benefits from the global emphasis of research and development that occurs every day. Samsung has an ongoing investment in collaborative technology development that spans across 50,000 employees and 42 different countries in the world today.

There are three divisions of research and development that are designed to all work cohesively together to create the great products that millions of people use every day.

SAIT
The Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology helps to look at global trends of technology use to see what problems may be encountered in the future. The focus is to solve these problems now so that they don’t become an issue in the future.

R&D Centers
The different research and development centers focus on honing the technological ideas that are developed so that effective products can be delivered to the marketplace in a timely fashion.

Product Development
This Samsung Anycall team is responsible for making the products which have been developed into commercially viable items.

When there is a business environment that is uncertain, Samsung believes that research and development will help to set their brand and all of their subsidiaries apart from the rest of the competition. That’s why you see high levels of investment into new technologies and why the Anycall brand is one of the leading mobile device providers in South Korea and greater China.

Samsung Anycall Is Ready to Inspire the Next Generation

Anycall is just one way that Samsung is looking to inspire the next generation of technology development. In 2013, Samsung committed $100 million in funding to inspire new organizations to inspire individual research and development into science and technology in unproven fields. Applications, commercial devices, smartphones, and sub-components are just some of the new points of emphasis.

Samsung Anycall is already distinguished as being part of a global network that is the world’s leader in mobile device technology. They hope to double their revenues by 2020 and networks like Anycall are going to help get them there. With over $180 billion in revenues annually, they are a global force that brings affordable technology into the palms and pockets of every mobile user.

One wouldn’t expect any less from the brand that was responsible for launching the first mobile phone in 2000 that was capable of playing MP3 files. What will the next innovation hold? Keep watching the Samsung Anycall brand to find out. You will likely be impressed by the results because this brand has a reputation of putting the customer’s needs above their own.

Are You Ready To Experience Samsung Anycall Today?

With six research and development centers in South Korea alone, innovation hits the market quickly thanks to the Anycall brand. The hottest phones from one of the most recognized brand names in the world today are available thanks to Samsung Anycall and users are the ones that benefit from this investment. Connect with family and friends at a moment’s notice, take care of your professional responsibilities, and access data in the way that you want thanks to this electronics manufacturer.

With mobile phones in every price range, it won’t break a budget to invest into a Samsung Anycall device. Fast customer service and technology that has been designed to stand up to the tests of time are just two of the highlights to expect if you decide to invest into this brand. You could spend more to invest into a premium mobile device from other brands, or you could spend less and get more with Samsung Anycall.

If you are ready to upgrade your current mobile device or you just want a reliable smartphone, Samsung Anycall has your answer. This company is one of the best the world has to offer right now.

The Samsung Alias 2 is actually the third revision of a messaging phone that was introduced to the general public in 2009. With a dual hinged design features an e-ink keyboard, which is the phone’s trademark feature, but there are also some useful additional items, like a 2 MP camera, that have also been included within the design. The end result is a phone that has aged well, still being function and with a reasonably good performance.

If you’re willing to put in the time to learn how to use this phone, then the Samsung Alias 2 still has the goods to deliver a good experience today. The extra data features of the phone can be a little cumbersome at times, but overall you will have a great communication experience with this mobile device.

The Design of the Samsung Alias 2 Is Rather Unremarkable

There aren’t any stunning features to the Samsung Alias 2 when you see it for the first time. It has sharp angles and straight lines, giving it almost a box-like appearance at first glance. It’s also noticeably thicker than the average phone at 17 millimeters, or about 10 millimeters thicker than the brand new smartphones that are hitting the market today. In total, the measurements of the Alias 2 are 4.01×2.04×0.67 inches, so it is a solid unit.

The box-like shape has been made for a specific reason: it’s needed in order to get all of the technology into the phone that has been included with its design. Even though it is thicker than the average phone, the weight is just 4.34 ounces, so it is just as light as most other phones. The added size gives the Samsung Alias 2 a little extra heft and that solid feeling lends to a perception of sturdiness that not many phones can provide any more.

What Are the First Impressions of the Samsung Alias 2?

Coming in a dark gray color with no other options, the next step is to take a good look at the exterior offerings of this phone. The Samsung Alias 2 offers an external display that is 1.3 inches in size and it supports 65k colors. That’s effectively 128×128 in pixels. You’ll receive all of the necessary data that the average person uses their phone for today: time, date, signal strength, battery life, and caller ID. You can assign photographs to numbers so their image shows up when they call.

The viewscreen also acts as the viewfinder for the 2 MP camera that has been included. It’s located just above the screen for convenience. The stock display is nice enough when you open the phone out-of-the-box, but customizing the contrast, clock style, and wallpaper will give the Samsung Alias 2 more of a personal feel. The one area of improvement here is that you can’t change the backlighting time of the phone, which is 60 seconds at best.

Directly below the display are the controls for the music player. It’s nice that dedicated controls have been included to play tunes and you can activate the phone to play music without actually having to open up the phone. You can also cycle through the songs with these useful controls and the same keys allow you to take selfies with the phone closed up as well.

Connecting With the Samsung Alias 2 Is a Little Difficult

Samsung has included some proprietary technology in the connection design of the Alias 2 that may turn some potential users away from this phone. Instead of using a standard mUSB connection, there is a Samsung exclusive charger port that you will need specific equipment on hand to use. Having the volume controls on the exterior is nice to control ring tone loudness or to turn up the music on a great song and voice dialing can be controlled by a button that is found on the left spine of the phone. Your standard headphones aren’t going to work, however, because it’s a 2.5 mm jack instead of a standard 3.5 mm jack.

You’ll also find places for a mSD expansion card, a locking key for the handset, and power controls on the exterior of the Samsung Alias 2.

It’s Time To Open Up the Samsung Alias 2

Once you pop open this phone, you’re given the impression that the Samsung Alias 2 is a lot like a portable workstation. The perception isn’t far off, since the 2.6 inch display has a fairly decent resolution to it. At 240p, it isn’t going to blow you away with HD graphics, of course, but it does support 262k colors for some added brightness. You’ll get crisp photos and graphics and that’s definitely what counts.

If you’re used to the standard Verizon menu system, then you’ll have an idea of how to navigate through the Alias 2. The one nice feature to note is that all of your pictures have a dedicated file that is easy to access from the menu system. You can change the theme of the display if you want, but all of the options are pretty basic. Using the icons is probably going to be your best bet. Unlike the exterior screen, you can change the backlighting time for the interior display. You can also change the font style and size to meet your needs.

It’s the Keyboard on the Samsung Alias 2 That Has Everyone Talking

As a sliding phone, one would expect that the Samsung Alias 2 would have a QWERTY keyboard waiting for you once you life the screen into position, but that just isn’t the case. Depending on how you open the phone, you may get one of four different arrangements thanks to the e-ink technology that has been incorporated onto the rectangular and square tiles. You have three arrangements that you can setup when the phone is in a horizontal position and there is one standard vertical set of keys that appear on the keyboard.

Instead of switching the different backlighting on the keys, something that you can find in earlier versions of ModeShift phones that hit the market about the same time as the Alias 2, the actual character on the key changes. Your number keys can suddenly be assigned a letter value or vice-versa. If a key isn’t being used in the design format, then it just goes white and doesn’t have any function at all. This eliminates the confusion that the previous generations of this phone had to offer.

Once you get the hang of the keyboard and get it customized to meet your needs, you’ll find that it is rather useful. The design is nice and clean, eliminates the crowding of the buttons like you’d see on a Blackberry, and you still get the tactile response that touchscreen typing isn’t really able to provide users as of yet.

When the keyboard is in its vertical mode, there are also a number of useful shortcuts that can help users have a fully functional phone. You’ve got keys that will take you straight into Bluetooth syncing, the messaging system, and your speakerphone. The Samsung Alias 2 also lets you access your games straight away, its voice dialing features, the camera, and even the alarm clock. As an added bonus, these shortcut keys tend to stay lit when you’re navigating through the various menus of the phone so that you almost always have one-touch access to the app or folder that you need to access.

The one thing about the keyboard that could be improved is the placement of the call acceptance and ending buttons. They’re stuck between the navigation buttons and the keypad, so they’re above where you’d normally dial instead of below. This is tough to get used to at first, but eventually the new habit will set in. They’re also the same color as the keyboard buttons, so there’s no red or green to help you stop or accept a call.

The Navigation Controls Are Central and Easy To Use

If the navigation controls were white like all of the other keys on the keyboard of the Samsung Alias 2, then this phone would be incredibly difficult to use for awhile. Thankfully a dark gray color differentiation has been included so that you can quickly move about the menus and folders of the phone thanks to the central cross design.

Another aspect that takes a little getting used to is the fact that the corresponding keyboard commands don’t quite sync up to the screen commands. Think about using a portable keyboard that is sitting well below a computer screen and trying to hit a shortcut command that your screen tells you is in the bottom left corner. That’s what using the Alias 2 is like. It’s not bad – it’s just different. Having the “clear” command key in the middle of the keypad is also a little hard to get used to and creates some accidental deletions that an cause a little frustration.

The feeling of the keyboard itself is quite nice. It’s like pressing down onto a slightly gel-like substance, so there is some substance to every touch. The buttons have a smooth surface that might get a bit slick on a humid day and the buttons are a little small for users that have larger fingers, but nothing worse than you’d find on a modern smartphone in the vertical position. The one problem that most users will encounter is pressing the wrong navigation button because their finger press was not quite precise.

The Features Make the Samsung Alias 2 Really Stand Out

If you’ve got a lot of friends or business contacts, then this phone is going to help you stay organized like never before. There is room for 1,000 contacts on the Samsung Alias 2 and each entry allows you to assign up to 5 different phone numbers. You can also put in street addresses, email addresses, and specific notes that you want to assign to each profile.

The one really nice feature about the contact section is that you can assigned a specific, dedicated emergency number. You can also assigned contacts into groups if you wish.

For people who want a real smartphone, the Samsung Alias 2 is not going to be able to deliver. It does offer USB storage, a file manager, and voice recognition, but there isn’t any Wi-Fi card included with this phone. You also have a tip calculator and a currency converter so that you can always know how much to pay. The clock also doubles as a stopwatch should you need it.

Because this is a messaging phone, the primary features involve your options here. You have access to more than SMS and MMS texts with the Alias 2. You can instant message, email, and chat with friends over your POP3 network. Linking your accounts isn’t a simple task, but setting up the push emails from work is pretty easy and will give you the results you want after a sync that takes a few months.

Is the Samsung Alias 2 the Right Phone For You?

With access to the 3G network and all of its services, including video and music streaming, the Samsung Alias 2 is about as close as you can get to owning a smartphone without actually owning one. Shuffle your playlists, repeat your favorite songs, and manage your content with ease thanks to the useful folders and menu system.

Use the video to record, sign up for GPS service if you want, and enjoy the improved communication that this phone has to offer. Once you get used to how the phone works, as you need to close the phone to open it up again vertically or horizontally, it becomes a fun little gadget that will still keep you connected to family, friends, and your email networks. For a phone that dates back to 2009, there is still a lot of good stuff that can be found on the Samsung Alias 2 and that’s a testament to the innovation of its design.

As a sliding phone, the weak point of the Samsung Alias is bound to be the hinge, right? That’s just not the case with the Samsung Alias. This second revision of the innovative sliding design has dual-flip features and a good size and weight that makes it a fun device to use. You’ll typically have good reception with this phone, it’s super sleek, and it looks good when you’re holding it. If you really love to text others and are looking for a highly affordable phone, then the Samsung Alias could be for you.

The Keyboard Is What Makes the Samsung Alias Stand Out

Although the dual-flip design takes a little getting used to because it changes the layout of the QWERTY keyboard depending on how the phone is held, the experience is one that most users will quickly adapt to after using the phone for some time. Even if you don’t like the keyboard or can’t get used to it, this phone can be practically run by voice command if you prefer. You can dictate texts, have voice dialing, and access your folders and features.

If you do stick with the keyboard, then at first the texting sounds might throw you off just a little bit. Instead of the typewriter-like sound that most phones have, the Samsung Alias sounds more like a touchtone telephone. Because it is different than the regular experience, some users might be put off by this change. The buttons may be a little small for some users, but overall the experience is quite nice.

You can also control music with keyboard or exterior commands, but it will only turn music on when the phone is in the horizontal position.

Almost Everything on the Samsung Alias Can Be Customized

From the font of your dialing numbers to the theme on the screen, you can make the Samsung Alias become your own phone with as much flair as you want. This customization can also be seen with the included camera. At 1.3 MP, it isn’t going to give your professional images, but you can edit your photos on the phone with the included program, add borders, make postcards, or take advantage of a number of included special effects. A real flash is also included with the Samsung Alias.

The hinge on this phone is rather sturdy, but like any other hinge that has ever been made, it will begin to wear out over time. The goal is to only open up the phone when you need to access the interior screen or to make a call. If you play with the dual-flip features a lot [because it is fun to keep flipping open your phone like it is fun to keep clicking a pen], then the hinge is going to wear out prematurely.

After a few uses, the menu options on the Samsung Alias also become intuitive. They can also become fully customized and you can always tweak the experience as needed. The end result is that you get a phone that may not be a true smartphone, but there are a lot of smart features that will make life a little easier.

The Sounds Are Amazing From the Samsung Alias

There are a lot of phones on the market today that offer music playing capabilities, but many of those phones have thin speakers that create tinny sounds that focus on the upper range and leave the mid-range and bass alone. That’s not the experience you’re going to have if you use the Samsung Alias. The sounds that come from the internal speakers are quite authentic and there’s almost a surround sound feeling to the experience. The bass is still a little weak, but for a mobile device, it isn’t bad.

The video that plays on the Alias is just as good. When you’re in landscape mode, it actually uses the entire screen. You can also watch videos while in the regular flip mode and control the video watching experience. It would be helpful if there was a dedicate headphone jack, but a Bluetooth receiver will help you get around that problem pretty easily.

The nicest feature, however, might just be the speakerphone that has been included with the Samsung Alias. Not only do the sounds come through crystal clear, but the mic also picks up your voice nicely and transmits it into the call effectively. You don’t even need to flip the phone open to answer a call if you don’t want to do so. Just activate the speakerphone and you’re ready to have a conversation.

Thin, Light, and Vibrant Is the Samsung Alias

Although there are modern smartphones that are thinner than the Samsung Alias, most of them do not have the dual-flip design, which makes this phone unique. If you can get used to the size of the buttons and the structure of the phone, then you are very likely to have an amazing experience if you use this phone for your daily needs.

If there was one area for improvement with the Samsung Alias, it would be with its internal memory. It can only hold 40 messages at a time, which for a messaging phone is rather low. Some users might find texting with the keyboard to be a little confusing at first, but you can use the T9 system or the full QWERTY keyboard for composition, depending on how you have the phone open, so it can meet with most personal preferences.

It also takes some getting used to the feature accessibility. You can not access many of the features of the Samsung Alias when it is in the normal phone mode. You’ve got to close the phone and then open it up again in the landscape mode to use these features. The battery connection tends to be a little weak in high humid environments as well because the phone may reset itself some days thanks to the battery connection.

From an overall perspective, however, the Samsung Alias is thin, light, and vibrant. It offers the features you need, the design you want, and the ability to connect with family and friends with ease.