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Samsung Continuum Android Smartphone Gains Dual Screen, Eclair Browser
by Cameron Sturdevant
Samsung Continuum
The Samsung Continuum on the Verizon network includes a second 1.8" by .5" screen, called a ticker, beneath the home row of buttons. You see it here displaying the weather (sunny) and date/time.
Grip Sensor
The second screen can be activated by itself by lightly squeezing the bottom edges of the Continuum.
Right Side
Left to right: camera key and MicroSD memory card hatch.
Top
Left to right: power/lock key, 3.5mm headset jack.
Left Side
Left to right: volume keys, USB/power/accessory port.
Back with Case
Top to bottom: speaker one, 5 -megapixel camera, LED flash, speaker two.
Exposed
Battery compartment and accessible internals.
Home Screen
Typical starting screen for the Samsung Continuum showing both screens in active mode.
Ticker Choices
Tapping on the ticker screen activates the main display and shows selectable items including news, sports and social media options.
Eclair Browser
The eWEEK home page displayed correctly in the default Android browser.
Double Tap
Double tapping on a traditional web page zooms in to the text area.
Not Happy
Verizon’s V Cast media manager, a re-branded software offering from SmithMicro was not fully compatible with the 64-bit Windows 7 OS on my laptop.
Wicked
In a side-by-side photo comparison using two Samsung handsets, the Continuum photo has a decidedly greenish hue compared to the photo taken with a Samsung Vibrant.
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The Samsung Continuum Android smartphone on the Verizon network takes a radical approach to extending battery life by adding a second, very small 1.8" x .5" front facing screen. The second screen can display the time and a scrolling ticker with news, sports and social media feeds without lighting up the main display. I would prefer to see Samsung and Google—the power behind the Android throne—work on battery management schemes that extended battery life while providing a satisfying user experience but the dual-screen gimmick is a decent work around. Both displays use Super AMOLED screen technology and yield a clear and bright viewing experience. The Samsung Continuum runs Android 2.1 and started became available on November 11. The smartphone has a full retail price of $549. With contracts and rebates the price drops to $199. The Continuum is built around a high performance hardware platform. The device is equipped with a 1 GHz Hummingbird application processor and a 5-megapixel camera with a LED flash. The camera is also capable of HD video capture. The phone uses a virtual keyboard that can be used with Swype fingertip movements although I prefer the virtual keyboard. I got good reception on the street and in my office in downtown San Francisco. Otherwise, the Continuum uses a 3.5mm headphone jack, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity and can act as a 3G mobile tether for up to five compatible Wi-Fi devices. Read eWEEK Labs' review of Samsung Continuum here. If you have experience with Samsung Continuum, share your thoughts at http://labs.eweek.com.