Like peeking out from behind a curtain while other huge summer phones take the stage, the Samsung i8000 Omnia2 has shown up in rumored press pictures and even a hands-on video. Samsung Mobile is currently hyping a huge summer release to take place on June 15th in London, Dubai and Singapore, and we suspect that the i8000 could be just the phone they've been promoting.
The rumored spec sheet is a blowout of high-end features. The huge, 3.7-inch AMOLED screen wouldn't be the first time Samsung has used the impressive display tech on their phones. Considering this was a rumored feature that never came to fruition for Apple's new iPhone 3GS, this is a nice advantage for Samsung in the all-touch space.
The new phone (specs) will offer a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and VGA-resolution video recording at 30fps. That high megapixel shooter trumps Apple's newly-announced, middling 3-megapixel camera, though outside of the U.S. 8-megapixel cameras are showing up more frequently on phones from Nokia and Sony Ericsson (to compare 8-megapixel cameraphones, click here).
Since the rumored specs also list Windows Mobile 6.1 as the phone's OS, we're inclined to believe the timing is right for the June 15 launch. Of course, Samsung will also be using an updated TouchWiz interface, and we've even seen hints of a new, 3D menu system shaped like a cube. Clearly, Samsung isn't waiting for Windows Mobile 6.5 to update the aging WinMo interface design, and we say the deeper they go the better it will be for users. HTC has had great success revamping Windows Mobile for their Touch Diamond 2 and other TouchFLO 3D phones.
Our biggest problem with Samsung's Omnia and other TouchWiz tablet phones in the past has been the responsiveness of the screen and the phone's touch performance. Hopefully, the new TouchWiz 2.0 interface and the improved display will give the i8000 a serious boost in that regard.
According to Samsung Mobile, the Samsung i8000 Omnia2 will be available in Europe later this year, and a CDMA version will be offered by Verizon Wireless at some point.
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