Locking is handy so you can slide the phone in your pocket and keep it there without performing accidental actions.
Locking has defeated the all-too-famous scenario where a cell phone accidentally calls someone for a long time while only relaying the squishing sounds of your pocket.
The Instinct’s locking function, though, more than just locks. It actually hibernates the phone entirely.
This sleep mode makes it look like the phone is entirely off. It’s not, though, because when you unlock the phone it’s still powered up.
You can’t just touch the “Power/Lock” key once to wake up the Instinct. You have to hold it down for a couple seconds and then release.
Intelligent Features
The Instinct lacks in the department of intelligent features as compared to the iPhone 3G.
While you can tap the touch screens of both smartphones to perform certain actions, the iPhone 3G takes things a step further with smart sensors and other clever innovations.
For example, the iPhone 3G has an “accelerometer” that allows the phone to respond to motion. When you rotate it from portrait to landscape mode (or vertical to horizontal), the iPhone 3G senses it and changes your display accordingly. The Instinct doesn’t.
Also, the iPhone 3G takes advantage of environmentally intelligent smart sensors. These pick up cues from the environment and adjust the screen accordingly. An ambient light sensor automatically brightens the display when you’re in sunlight or a bright place and dims it in darker areas. The Instinct doesn’t.
Locking has defeated the all-too-famous scenario where a cell phone accidentally calls someone for a long time while only relaying the squishing sounds of your pocket.
The Instinct’s locking function, though, more than just locks. It actually hibernates the phone entirely.
This sleep mode makes it look like the phone is entirely off. It’s not, though, because when you unlock the phone it’s still powered up.
You can’t just touch the “Power/Lock” key once to wake up the Instinct. You have to hold it down for a couple seconds and then release.
Intelligent Features
The Instinct lacks in the department of intelligent features as compared to the iPhone 3G.
While you can tap the touch screens of both smartphones to perform certain actions, the iPhone 3G takes things a step further with smart sensors and other clever innovations.
For example, the iPhone 3G has an “accelerometer” that allows the phone to respond to motion. When you rotate it from portrait to landscape mode (or vertical to horizontal), the iPhone 3G senses it and changes your display accordingly. The Instinct doesn’t.
Also, the iPhone 3G takes advantage of environmentally intelligent smart sensors. These pick up cues from the environment and adjust the screen accordingly. An ambient light sensor automatically brightens the display when you’re in sunlight or a bright place and dims it in darker areas. The Instinct doesn’t.
Movie-Themed Marketing
The Instinct has invested in an extensive marketing campaign to spread its awareness and bolster sales. Its movie-themed campaign is designed to draw on its blockbuster nature.
While the prominent advertisement spots sport entertaining antics, you ultimately don’t just want to be sold on fun commercials and likely want a phone that does the job for the price you pay. The Instinct features several video comparisons of why it defeats the iPhone 3G on certain tasks.
In performing these various tasks, the Instinct demonstrations show simplicity and ease of use while the iPhone 3G finger seems like it’s a lost dog searching for its tail. An iPhone 3G user, though, knows he/she can easily rearrange the buttons and feature certain tasks exactly where they’re wanted.
The demonstrations are technologically inaccurate representations that are merely made for TV. They should be taken at entertainment value only.
The Instinct also made an interesting branding decision that’s quite the opposite of how Apple always does things with its powerful, fruit-branded products. The word “Instinct” is absolutely nowhere to be found anywhere on the phone’s case. Even if you dig under the battery cover, it’s just not there.
The Instinct has invested in an extensive marketing campaign to spread its awareness and bolster sales. Its movie-themed campaign is designed to draw on its blockbuster nature.
While the prominent advertisement spots sport entertaining antics, you ultimately don’t just want to be sold on fun commercials and likely want a phone that does the job for the price you pay. The Instinct features several video comparisons of why it defeats the iPhone 3G on certain tasks.
In performing these various tasks, the Instinct demonstrations show simplicity and ease of use while the iPhone 3G finger seems like it’s a lost dog searching for its tail. An iPhone 3G user, though, knows he/she can easily rearrange the buttons and feature certain tasks exactly where they’re wanted.
The demonstrations are technologically inaccurate representations that are merely made for TV. They should be taken at entertainment value only.
The Instinct also made an interesting branding decision that’s quite the opposite of how Apple always does things with its powerful, fruit-branded products. The word “Instinct” is absolutely nowhere to be found anywhere on the phone’s case. Even if you dig under the battery cover, it’s just not there.
Mention of the Instinct isn’t even there when you power on or off the phone – or even throughout your functions of using the phone – and all you see mention of is “Sprint” and “Samsung”. In fact, the only way you’d know it’s an Instinct at all is from the box in which it was initially packaged.
With the millions of dollars poured into its marketing and branding, this is inexplicably baffling.
Memory
Only 2 gigabytes of memory come standard on the Instinct. Don’t underestimate this relatively small amount. There’s a reason the iPhone 3G only comes in models with 8 gigabytes and 16 gigabytes. When it comes to storing music, photos and more on your phone, size matters.
While you can upgrade the Instinct’s memory to 8 gigabytes for extra money, only coming with 2 gigabytes and only being able to upgrade to 8 gigabytes may present an issue for some looking to carry a lot of media.
Camera
The Instinct’s 2-megapixel camera is comparable to the iPhone 3G’s 2-megapixel camera. For a cell phone, this camera is better than most cell phones today but still pales in comparison to the kind of quality you’ll receive from standard point-and-shoot digital cameras.
Your cell phone camera is designed to capture the essence of a moment. It’s not for professional photography.
With the millions of dollars poured into its marketing and branding, this is inexplicably baffling.
Memory
Only 2 gigabytes of memory come standard on the Instinct. Don’t underestimate this relatively small amount. There’s a reason the iPhone 3G only comes in models with 8 gigabytes and 16 gigabytes. When it comes to storing music, photos and more on your phone, size matters.
While you can upgrade the Instinct’s memory to 8 gigabytes for extra money, only coming with 2 gigabytes and only being able to upgrade to 8 gigabytes may present an issue for some looking to carry a lot of media.
Camera
The Instinct’s 2-megapixel camera is comparable to the iPhone 3G’s 2-megapixel camera. For a cell phone, this camera is better than most cell phones today but still pales in comparison to the kind of quality you’ll receive from standard point-and-shoot digital cameras.
Your cell phone camera is designed to capture the essence of a moment. It’s not for professional photography.
Overall
The Instinct indeed kills all other Samsung phones to date and indeed blows away any other device on the market from Sprint. If you’re with Sprint now or specifically want Sprint with the best smartphone your money can buy, the Instinct is where it’s currently at.
In a direct comparison, though, the iPhone 3G is in a league above. While the Instinct is a valiant adversary, overall it succeeds in being an excellent smartphone on its own right but fails in its ability to trump the iPhone 3G.
Cell Phone Chooser: Want About.com to reveal to you your best new cell phone? Let our exclusive, 20-question cell phone chooser do all the work for you. Here’s the first question:
What cell phone size do you prefer?
A) Small.
B) Average.
C) I prefer big phones.
D) I don’t care.
Your Two Cents: Have a comment or question related to this smartphone review? Chime in on the forums!
The Instinct indeed kills all other Samsung phones to date and indeed blows away any other device on the market from Sprint. If you’re with Sprint now or specifically want Sprint with the best smartphone your money can buy, the Instinct is where it’s currently at.
In a direct comparison, though, the iPhone 3G is in a league above. While the Instinct is a valiant adversary, overall it succeeds in being an excellent smartphone on its own right but fails in its ability to trump the iPhone 3G.
Cell Phone Chooser: Want About.com to reveal to you your best new cell phone? Let our exclusive, 20-question cell phone chooser do all the work for you. Here’s the first question:
What cell phone size do you prefer?
A) Small.
B) Average.
C) I prefer big phones.
D) I don’t care.
Your Two Cents: Have a comment or question related to this smartphone review? Chime in on the forums!
