The Samsung Instinct has gotten an update with the new Instinct s30, a sleeker version of the original. Unfortunately, most of the update is only skin deep; other than the new look, the s30 feels a whole lot like the original Instinct. Like that phone, which was launched last year, the s30 is available from Sprint.
Design
The original Instinct was largely seen as Sprint's attempt at offering an iPhone rival, evident in the phone's design; it looked very much like an iPhone, with its big touch screen and minimal buttons. The s30 retains that same basic design, but sports a curvier look that's more attractive than the boxy shape of the original Instinct. It also comes in two different colors: copper or cobalt blue.
You get a 3.2-inch touch screen and a few basic buttons on the phone itself, which are easy to identify and use. The s30's main page features a layout that attempts to duplicate what you find on the iPhone--neatly arranged icons that link you to the phone's various features. The layout makes navigating the phone's features easy, but it still lacks the simplicity and elegance of the iPhone's layout.
The touch screen has haptics feedback--a slight vibration that you feel when your touch registers--which can be helpful. Even with the haptics feedback, though, I often found the touch screen a bit cumbersome: It didn't always respond to my taps, and I often felt as though I had to drag my finger to scroll.
Another issue with the s30: It lacks an accelerometer, which is the mechanism that detects the movement of a phone and changes the display to a horizontal or vertical view depending on how you hold the phone. Some applications are displayed horizontally and some vertically, but you can't change that.
Making Calls
Overall, call quality was very good, though I noticed a slight bit of static on some calls. And the s30 is slim and light--it weighs 3.9 ounces--making it very comfortable to hold during calls.
Software
If you're looking for a phone with a full complement of office software, keep on looking: The s30 is not for you. You get a basic organizer, a notepad, a calendar, and some fun games, like "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" and "Guitar Hero - World Tour." You can add more games and applications through Sprint's service, but the selection is pretty meager compared to what you'll find in Apple's App Store or BlackBerry App World.
Browsing the Web
The Instinct s30 supports Sprint's high-speed EvDO network, so you can count on speedy browsing as long as the network's available. Unfortunately, though, it only supports EvDO Rev. 0, which is slower than the Rev. A band. The original Instinct supports Rev. A, so its omission is odd here. And the s30 doesn't support Wi-Fi wireless networks, so you'll have to rely on the cellular data network.
The phone's browser is so-so. It has some handy features, like the ability to easily switch between a desktop-like viewing mode and a mobile viewing mode. Unfortunately, the main browser window is framed by two sidebars that include links to features you might want to use (such as the zoom button and links to your home page), but the sidebars are simply too big. You can hide the sidebar on the right side, but the one on the left is anchored. I'd rather use that space to see more of the Web page. You do have the option of adding Opera Mobile, though.
Messaging
The Instinct s30 retains the excellent e-mail features found on the original version. Adding an e-mail account is a snap; in most cases, you simply enter your username and password. And the interface is neat and clean.
The text messaging tool is similarly easy to use, and supports picture messaging. You can download an instant messaging client that supports various popular IM services, too.
Multimedia
Like its predecessor, the s30 features a 2-megapixel camera that captures video clips. I really wish the camera had been upgraded on this model. It's serviceable, but that's about all. It lacks a flash and any sort of photo editing software.
Luckily, the rest of the s30's multimedia features are more impressive. You get support for Sprint TV, which offers a mix of live TV and pre-packaged video clips, and support for Sprint's NFL Mobile Live service, which allows you to watch live NFL football games on your phone.
The onboard music player is very good. You can transfer songs from your computer, or download them directly to the phone from Sprint's music store. And the phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack (so you can use standard headphones) and it supports stereo Bluetooth, so you can connect a wireless set of headphones, too.
The s30 retains the impressive GPS features found on the original Samsung Instinct. Sprint's Navigation app is preloaded; it delivers turn-by-turn directions to your phone.
Sprint is offering the Instinct s30 for $100 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) when you sign a new two-year service agreement. That's on the expensive side for a phone that doesn't have a lot of business features.
