Review of the 8-megapixel Samsung Player Ultra

 

The Samsung Player Ultra is a specific mobile in the range of the Korean manufacturer as it doesn’t put forward the advanced characteristics that a smartphone could have. Even though it is classified in the category of multimedia mobiles thanks to its camera and its functionalities, it is not its favorite playground either. The Player Ultra could nearly be ordinary if it didn’t take up the particularities of the Ultra range: upscale design finish.

 

The Samsung Player Ultra is remarkable thanks to its ultra-thin conception (only 12 mm-thick) with a metallic façade with brushed finish which gives an impression of superior quality and robustness.

 

Not to mention the tactile screen which uses the AMOLED technology that brings substantial contrast and brightness.

 

Samsung innovates by releasing a sliding mobile gifted with a large tactile screen and an interface adapted to finger-use. No Windows Mobile nor Android here, the operating system is home-made, a new confirmation of the cellphone positioning. It is easy to browse through most menus with your finger, especially as the system allows assisted scrolling when you brush the screen. The most wide-spread detail at the moment is the confirmation of an action by a vibration, and this can be found on the Player Ultra.  

 

 

Though this Ultra cell has a sliding numeric keyboard and a very handy virtual qwerty keyboard which is displayed on the tactile screen, we regret the absence of the usual functional buttons and of a directional pad which would allow using the mobile in a more standard way, without resorting to the tactile screen.  

 

 

One of the most interesting functions of the Player Ultra is its connected Widget bar.

 

 

Just like the widget bar of Windows Vista, this function lets you add and classify various applications with Internet access or not (e.g. clock, calendar, social applications like Facebook, My Space etc.). Each application can be maintained on the widget bar which itself can remain displayed permanently or fold out.

The Samsung Player Ultra has a new-generation photo sensor. The photos in 8-megapixel resolution have the advantages of being of a superior size and of containing, in theory, more details. JPEG files also gain weight and exceed 2 MB.

 

After using it, the 8-Mpix camera is satisfying because the autofocus isn’t too slow and the various detection functions (Face detection, triggering upon Smile detection) are reactive and efficient. Besides, once more, the tactile interface is intuitive with clear and easy menus and settings.  

 

 

As for the quality of the pictures, an image is worth a thousand words:  

 

 

Macro mode:  

 

 

Though the sensor is quite impressive because of its 8-Mpix resolution, it remains inferior to that of a digital camera which would be coupled with a more efficient lens. The pictures taken by the Samsung Player Ultra are therefore approximative, in terms of sharpness as well as colorimetric rendering. It is not a full-fledged camera.

 

 

Beyond the complete photo mode, the Samsung Player Ultra offers an interesting video recording mode in 720p high-def. Though, here again, the quality is rather average due to the miniaturized sensor, the definition and flow of recording are remarkable.

To sum up, the Samsung Player Ultra is very well-positioned: between a standard sliding cellphone and a smartphone. Samsung managed to mix both, especially as browsing in the menus and the tactile interface are up to the cellphone finish. As for the 8-Mpix camera, the resolution is a mere marketing argument, but you’ll appreciate its capacity to record videos in high-def, which gives the cellphone a clear advantage.

In brief, the Player Ultra provides the essential functionalities for a phone with a multimedia bonus and most important a flattering quality of finish. Not to be confused with an HTC Touch or an iPhone then.

+ premium finish
+ sliding design

+ tactile screen

+ 720p video recording

- no directional keys
- limited battery life

- rough Internet browser