Device Arena

The Samsung i560 is not officially announced by Samsung, but it is by Symbian, the system on which the GPS device will operate. The Symbian Smartphone Show takes place in London this week, where all news, facts, software and devices that operate on the Symbian system are shown to the public. The Samsung i560 was also present and was tested en photographed intensively.

Appearance The Samsung i560 does not really have a GPS appearance. The regular consumer would expect a large mobile phone which totally does not look stylish or nice. This story does not relate to the Samsung i560 at all because the device looks very modern, it is highly compact and it feels good. A real eyecatcher is the navigation key which has a highly stylish appearance and is implemented with a lot of allure in a good place.

The Samsung i560 is equipped with a nice keyboard that some among us may look a little familiar. The used keyboard can namely also be found in the Samsung Ultra II series, with the Samsung U600 and U700. The keyboard is quite large and, as we are used to with Samsung, designed with great eye for detail in exactly the same style as the rest of the slider.

Handy buttons and quick keys
The Samsung i560 is, as many other mobile phones currently are, equipped with several quick keys and buttons which make it easier to use the device. The Samsung i560 is also equipped with quick keys and that is why the user will find the port for the charger and the standardly delivered headset and besides this, the volume can also be adjusted at this side.

The top of the Samsung i560 is also equipped with a headset port. Some would think that this is strange, but when you know that the Samsung i560 also has the possibility to plug in your own 3.5 millimeter headset and knowing this it is clear what this headset port is used for. Furthermore, the on / off button is also placed at the top. Distinctive with this device is that Samsung has designed everything with great eye for detail and has covered all the ports with matching coloured panels.

The right side of the Samsung i560 offers only one key: the camera key. This key comes in handy when the Samsung i560 is held in landscape mode and when a photo is made in this position.

Menu Samsung i560
The display and the menu of the Samsung i560 are very clear due to the 262.000 colours. The menu is clarifying and the influence of the Symbian system can clearly be seen at this point. There can be absolutely no doubt bout what function the owner is using and the possibilities with the Samsung i560 are almost endless.

The Samsung i560 is equipped with a 3 megapixel camera which makes good photos. At our encounter, we made some photos of the Symbian Smartphone Show and the camera seems to be quite good for the middle section of the market. The Samsung i560 makes quick photos but the photos are also what one would expect from a 3 megapixel camera.

After all the things we mentioned it is still not clear what the device characterizes. The name of the device does not just have an "i" as a starter and with Samsung this can mean two things: it is a multimedia device or it is a GPS device. The latter is the case with the Samsung i560, this because the device belongs to the Samsung i500 series and it is equipped with a full GPS receiver and the possibility to install maps. WIth regular usage, the GPS function will find a fix with the GPS receiver within thirty to sixty seconds, after which the navigation fun can begin. The owner of the Samsung i560 can choose to install the full map of a certain country for a one-time fare of 65.00 euro. A full map of Europe can be installed for a one-time fare of 90.00 euro. After this it will also be possible to find the way without an internet connection.

The Samsung i560 is not officially announced by Samsung yet and it will become the follower of the recently announced Samsung i550. Main thoughts are the GPS function and the appearance of the device and it will probably be announced within a couple of months. The expectation is that the Samsung i560 will reach the shops at the beginning of 2008, this to stimulate the sales of the Samsung i550.

Mobile Phone Helpdesk