iPhone has a two-faced challenger

While the phone has real phone-dialing buttons and controls, the music player side has a touch-sensitive pad to handle all the features. I found these music player touch buttons are somewhat vague and difficult to control. They are especially annoying because you need to use them to control all of the phone’s internal settings. I personally prefer real buttons to virtual controls.

You control the music for the phone via Sprint’s Music Manager Software (for Windows PCs, CD included). The newly released Windows Vista refused to install on my computer (the Web installer failed in numerous tries) but the Windows XP version installed perfectly on my XP laptop.

You can download songs via the Music Manager software or directly onto the phone. Songs cost 99 cents (plus tax) for both a phone (very compressed file) and PC (less compressed MP3) download of the music file. By the way, that’s 99 cents for subscribers with the Sprint Power Vision data plan. Sprint Music Store users are not subscribed to a Power Vision plan will pay $2.50 per full-track download (and data transfer fees may also apply.)  

Samsung Skinny side view of the UpStart.

Tiny phone file downloads sound OK on the phone’s tiny speaker. The larger downloaded files sound OK on my computer. I also transferred a few large MP3 files from CDs I have burned. They sound even better than the downloaded songs. The only annoying fault I could find with handset's music playback is that there is an unexpectedly long pause (5-6 seconds) between songs.

On the other hand, the Music Manager software automatically found all the ripped music files on my computer and easily allowed me to synchronize those songs to the phone.  And I have to admit that it was fun to listen to the music — even using the phone's built-in mini-speaker. The UpStage turned out to be a neat little package for carrying everywhere you go.

The big question, though, is how the UpStart will compare to the iPhone. That’s difficult to determine until the final version of the Apple phone is released. I will say that the Samsung is very competitive. I like its size, shape and functionality.

Plus, despite what I said about the Samsung's music player controls, the UpStage has physical buttons rather than iPhone's software-only system. We’ll have to wait and see what it’s like having to constantly put your fingers on a phone’s screen to control all of its functions. 

Then again, I’m guessing that Apple will come up with a clever way of overcoming any and all obstacles to combine a iPod and a smart phone. We’ll see soon enough.

The Samsung UpStage is sold by Sprint for $149 with a two-year service agreement. A $50 service credit will be available with new activations when you purchase the phone on Sprint’s Website. 

MORE FROM WIRELESS

Wireless Section Front

Study: Most U.S. wireless users satisfied AT&T: Tighter control of cell data usage ahead 10 iPhone apps for the holidays that sparkle FCC questions Verizon about doubling fee Man in stolen cell phone pic turns himself in Think your kid isn't ‘sexting’? Think again No cell phone, brain tumor link, study says CNBC: Google searches for mobile edge GPS cell phone apps challenge standalone devices Using phone while walking perilous for seniors Wireless Section Front   Add Wireless headlines to your news reader: