Samsung Focus
Encyclopedia
The Samsung
Focus (also known as the SGH-i917 and Samsung Cetus) is a slate smartphone
which runs Microsoft's Windows Phone
operating system. It features a 1 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor, a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED
screen, and 8GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB via a microSD slot). As of November 2011, it is the 4th lightest and thinnest Windows Phone
, behind the Samsung Focus Flash, HTC Titan
and the Samsung Focus S
, a more high-end version of the original Focus.
. It was marketed by Samsung as being the only Windows Phone to feature a microSD card slot.
The Focus was also released on November 8, 2010 on Rogers Wireless
in Canada, Rogers handsets differ in appearance as they lack carrier branding instead having the Samsung logo appear at the top where the AT&T logo would normally appear.
, slated for release in Q4 of 2011.
, Super AMOLED
display like its Galaxy S cousins. The display is much brighter than LCDs and reduces power consumption. The high contrast ratio between dark and light colors produces exceptional quality even in sunlight. The nature of the capacitive touchscreen can cause some issues as some have noted placing the phone on a plush surface will make the display very unresponsive. However normal hand-held usage is very responsive.
and AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, AT&T myWireless and AT&T Uverse which can be uninstalled. The device also shipped with Samsung's "Now" application which displays weather, news, and stocks. The phone is capable of upgrading to Windows Phone 7.5 (mango).
stating, "The Focus is kind of the everyman of the Windows Phone line. It doesn't really have any fancy features and isn't especially stylish... but it gets the job done ... At the end of the day, a lot of people will find that the Focus hits the sweet spot -- for us, it just slightly misses the mark.". CNET
gave the phone 4 out of 5 stars and stated, "Anyone looking for an alternative to the iPhone, but who wants better multimedia features and a more organized user interface than Android offers, should look at the Samsung Focus ... which has all that plus solid performance and a sleek design." Gizmodo
praised the phone for its Super AMOLED
display and the thinness and lightness of the device although noting, "The glossy plastic and fake chrome isn't just tacky, it makes a phone loaded with high-end technology feel cheap. SlashGear said that the Focus "might well be the best Windows Phone device in the (North American) market." PC Magazine
said that the Samsung Focus is "probably the best of the Windows phones." In its annual Readers' Choice Awards 2011, PC Magazine gave the Samsung Focus the highest overall score among AT&T smartphones, besting the Apple iPhone.
has informed customers to buy a "Samsung Focus approved" microSD card in order to use the slot. After inserting an SD card, one cannot remove it as the card integrates with the phone's memory; doing so will completely erase the phone along with the card.
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
Focus (also known as the SGH-i917 and Samsung Cetus) is a slate smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
which runs Microsoft's Windows Phone
Windows Phone
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
operating system. It features a 1 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor, a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED
Super AMOLED
Super Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode or Super AMOLED is a display technology mainly for use in mobile devices such as mobile phones...
screen, and 8GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB via a microSD slot). As of November 2011, it is the 4th lightest and thinnest Windows Phone
Windows Phone
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
, behind the Samsung Focus Flash, HTC Titan
HTC Titan
The HTC Titan is an EVDO Rev. A Windows Mobile 6.1 Pocket PC phone manufactured by High Tech Computer Corporation of Taiwan. It is the successor to the HTC Apache upon which it improves by adding more ROM, GPS, EVDO Rev. A, additional hard keys, a scroll-wheel, spring-loaded keyboard, and a higher...
and the Samsung Focus S
Samsung Focus S
The Samsung Focus S is a slate smartphone which runs Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" operating system. It is the successor to the best-selling Windows Phone, the Samsung Focus, and was released on November 6th, 2011 in the United States. Currently, the Focus S is available exclusively through...
, a more high-end version of the original Focus.
Release & marketing
The Focus was released on November 8, 2010, along with the HTC Surround on AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
. It was marketed by Samsung as being the only Windows Phone to feature a microSD card slot.
The Focus was also released on November 8, 2010 on Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless is a wireless telecommunications provider offering mobile phone and data services throughout Canada using Global System for Mobile Communications and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System technology. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rogers Communications...
in Canada, Rogers handsets differ in appearance as they lack carrier branding instead having the Samsung logo appear at the top where the AT&T logo would normally appear.
Successor
The successor to the Focus is the Samsung Focus SSamsung Focus S
The Samsung Focus S is a slate smartphone which runs Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" operating system. It is the successor to the best-selling Windows Phone, the Samsung Focus, and was released on November 6th, 2011 in the United States. Currently, the Focus S is available exclusively through...
, slated for release in Q4 of 2011.
Display
The Samsung Focus features a Gorilla glassGorilla Glass
Gorilla Glass, manufactured by Corning, is an alkali-aluminosilicate thin sheet glass engineered specifically to be thin, light and damage-resistant. Its primary application is portable electronic devices with screens, such as mobile phones, portable media players, and laptop displays...
, Super AMOLED
Super AMOLED
Super Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode or Super AMOLED is a display technology mainly for use in mobile devices such as mobile phones...
display like its Galaxy S cousins. The display is much brighter than LCDs and reduces power consumption. The high contrast ratio between dark and light colors produces exceptional quality even in sunlight. The nature of the capacitive touchscreen can cause some issues as some have noted placing the phone on a plush surface will make the display very unresponsive. However normal hand-held usage is very responsive.
Software
The phone was released with Windows PhoneWindows Phone
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
and AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, AT&T myWireless and AT&T Uverse which can be uninstalled. The device also shipped with Samsung's "Now" application which displays weather, news, and stocks. The phone is capable of upgrading to Windows Phone 7.5 (mango).
Reviews
The Samsung Focus has had a majority of positive reviews at release. It received a 7 out of 10 rating from EngadgetEngadget
Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Though on appearance Engadget functions much like a blog and may be defined as such, much of its editorial content takes the form of an online magazine...
stating, "The Focus is kind of the everyman of the Windows Phone line. It doesn't really have any fancy features and isn't especially stylish... but it gets the job done ... At the end of the day, a lot of people will find that the Focus hits the sweet spot -- for us, it just slightly misses the mark.". CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
gave the phone 4 out of 5 stars and stated, "Anyone looking for an alternative to the iPhone, but who wants better multimedia features and a more organized user interface than Android offers, should look at the Samsung Focus ... which has all that plus solid performance and a sleek design." Gizmodo
Gizmodo
Gizmodo is a technology weblog about consumer electronics. It is part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton and is known for its up-to-date coverage of the technology industry, along with topics as broad as design; architecture; space and science....
praised the phone for its Super AMOLED
Super AMOLED
Super Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode or Super AMOLED is a display technology mainly for use in mobile devices such as mobile phones...
display and the thinness and lightness of the device although noting, "The glossy plastic and fake chrome isn't just tacky, it makes a phone loaded with high-end technology feel cheap. SlashGear said that the Focus "might well be the best Windows Phone device in the (North American) market." PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
said that the Samsung Focus is "probably the best of the Windows phones." In its annual Readers' Choice Awards 2011, PC Magazine gave the Samsung Focus the highest overall score among AT&T smartphones, besting the Apple iPhone.
Expandable storage issues
The Focus is marketed as the only Windows Phone that has a microSD card slot but many users found that installation can be tricky. AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
has informed customers to buy a "Samsung Focus approved" microSD card in order to use the slot. After inserting an SD card, one cannot remove it as the card integrates with the phone's memory; doing so will completely erase the phone along with the card.