I can’t even begin to tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this particular phone to reach the US. I was completely enamored with it, the F700, when I first saw the press release more than a year ago. This was back in February and then I finally got a chance to play with it in October when I was in Korea. I knew right then and there that I had to have it, but I wasn’t really willing to pay the exorbitant amount for an unlocked version from Europe. Then I caught wind of a CDMA variant that would be coming to the US. I was told it would probably be announced sometime before the end of 2007, but we all know that didn’t happen.
So I have before me the u940, which has been redubbed the Glyde. Do I love it? Yes. Do I hate it? Yes.
If you’ve seen the F700 in person, then you would have immediately noticed that the Glyde is much smaller than its GSM counterpart. It also lacks the front camera and the 5-megapixel camera has been downgraded to 2-megapixel, but it’s still retains the AF function, so I can overlook that. I’m not in love with the keyboard, but that’s only because I’ve grown accustomed to the keyboard on my Curve and I still need some more time with this one. My first impression was that it was too flush and that the keys weren’t distinctive enough, but, again, it’s something you get used to. It’s an otherwise solid keyboard that’s easy to peck away at and the spring assisted slide mechanism is very nice.
The UI is relatively easy to navigate through and it’s supposed to be a variation of the Croix UI found on most of the European models, but it’s really not. The blue columns and rows appear when you tap on each icon, but that’s pretty much the only similarity. Once you dive down into the menus you’ll encounter Verizon’s proprietary menus. On the main splash page you’ll find an active task manager-like menu at the bottom that keeps track of your alarm clock, calendar, missed calls, voicemails, new messages, and volume. This remains regardless of whether or not you’re in landscape or portrait mode. However, there is one difference between the two modes. When in landscape, you have a messaging icon while this disappears when in portrait mode. The dial pad, menu and contacts icons remain either way. Hitting the blue square leads to user defined shortcuts. The one external hard button is the home key and does exactly that.
The haptic touchscreen is quite nice, but it’s a tiny bit finicky at times. Once in a while the back button won’t actually do anything at all and you’ll be tapping it two or three times before it responds. I fiddled with the sensitivity settings, but found that it didn’t do anything to alleviate the problem. But it doesn’t happen all that often so it’s something I can overlook. But be warned that when the sensitivity level is set to high, it can get a little schizophrenic if you’re attempting to fly through the menus. Like the Instinct, the Glyde does the flicking scrolling deal that I’m not fond of on any phone, but it works and I didn’t encounter many problems with it.
The 2-megapixel camera with AF is decent. Resolution goes as high as 1600×1200, but when it’s that high the zoom function is nixed. Cameras on phones generally suck and the Glyde fairs just above average. The flash does a decent job in low light, but you won’t be submitting anything for an award. The camcorder doesn’t fair much better, in fact, it’s pretty useless with a 176×144 resolution. There’s an option for 320×240, but I couldn’t get it to work as it remains grayed out.
The HTML Web browser is rather useless since the screen isn’t that big. Everything is truncated and you’re basically forced to use the optimized browser to see anything otherwise you’ll be scrolling horizontally and vertically to figure out what you’re looking at. Load times vary depending on your signal strength. But I blame most of this on Verizon’s browser portal. If you could load Opera onto the Glyde, you’d be cruising in style.
I don’t talk that often on my phone, but just for you guys I made a few calls from the Glyde. It’s relatively clear when there isn’t a whole lot of noise around you and it’s certainly loud enough until you step outside. It’s not the best, but it certainly isn’t the worst. When you slide open the keyboard the phone switches to speakerphone.
I’ve been using the Glyde for over 24 hours after a full charge and it’s down to three bars from the original four. I’m sure with a bit more Web browsing, navigating and calling it’d be down another bar, but I’d say the battery life is top notch. Then again, it is a CDMA phone so it’s not constantly connected like a GSM phone would be.
Overall, I’m happy with the Glyde and I’m glad Samsung decided to bring it here to the States. It’s definitely going to be one of Verizon’s more popular devices. It’s small and light weight at 4.1 ounces and measures in at 4.1 x 2.0 x 0.7-inches. Other than the minor touchscreen glitches here and there, I didn’t run into anything else that was remotely irritating and most of you know I’ll rip anything apart given the chance.
Ive had this phone for a little over a month now and I agree i miss some calls because i cant get it unlocked in time to answer. It has some minor problems but I do like the phone alot and just wish the touch screen wasnt so senstive!
ya, i was lookin for a new phone last year and day after day i looked at verizon and then one day the glyde poped up so i thought “hey this looks like a decant phone, oh i think i can manage using it for TWO YEARS” worst mistake of my life. I have thrown this piece of crap at sooo many things, it caused my girlfriend to break up with me and now my job is pissed at me because they cant get ahold of me when im out in the field. It is the worst thing ever made. i will never buy a samsung product ever again. thats for sure, and when i went to a verizon retail store they said “we cant replace it, you are going to have to pay full price for a different phone” i say FUCK verizon, im going to AT&T and getting an iPhone.
i love the samsung glyde it is the best and the peolpe that said it was crappy and that shit FUCK YOU
fuck you people who said it was crappy
FUCK YOU PEOPLE
FFFFFFFUCK YOOOOOOU
THE glyde is the best phone ever. fuck you people who said it was crappy and shityy
Does anyone know how to create my own shortcuts and have the blue square shown on the phone. thanks
well yeah so i hate this phone i want a new everything everyone has said happens with mine and like i’ve brought it in to verizon a handful of times and i know they know its a piece of shit but they just give me another of ’software updates’ honestly i think everyone who has this phone should get any other verizon phone they want just for putting up with the glyde for two seconds. I HATE THIS PHONE!
Really, this is the most horrible phone I’ve ever had. I’m so sick and tired of it. When I try texting on the QWERTY, it jumps to the line above and continues typing. It bugs out 24/7, and I have to turn it off for a while, because I always want to throw it at something. It has NO scratches or dents, no water damage, and I’ve never done anything to it. It SUCKS. Don’t waste your money!! I’m 14, and I just switched from an AT&T Samsung Eternity to this piece of crap. </3
Don’t get this phone if you get mad easily. I’m getting the Alias, I need a break from touch screens. LOL.
THIS PHONE SUCKS IM WARNING YOU
DO NOT GET IT.
DONT
EVER
GET
THIS
PHONE.
ITS HORRIBLE
i am get this phone but i might get the lg dare which one is better the lg dare or samsung glyde?
It is difficult to put into publishable words what I think of this phone. Some electronic gadgets irk me; few are downright frustrating; but none has evoked the level of pure hatred that the Glyde has. I think it was more sucessful at placing random calls and texts from my pocket than actual calls. Many times I had to resist the urge to chuck it into a wall. My Glyde is now fragmented thanks to the therapy session I just had in the garage with a large hammer. Thanks Samsung!
I am 25 years old and have been with Verizon since I was 17. I have never had any problems with any of their phones until I made the mistake of getting this one. This is the worst cell phone I have EVER had and do not recommend that anyone get it! I called Verizon today. I told them the problem, I told them that they know the phone is garbage, I refused to pay for a phone, discounted or not, I refused the reset or whatever its called. I was put on wait for a half hour at a time, talked to 4 different people, but I get a new phone on Monday. All I have to do is send this one back with everything it came with. And it doesn’t effect my new every two. Trust me, tell them what you want and don’t let them talk you into anything else. They’ll take it back.
i had the glyde for two years and replaced it once already…after getting it replaced the touch worked well but now the phone won’t charge…it charged when i bent the chord down and wrapped it around my phone but now it just completely won’t charge…i’m so pissed off and i wanna beat the shit outta samsung for making the crappiest piece of shit anyone could ever own…blackberries and iphones are way better and i’m never buying a samsung phone again
the touch screen sucks dont bye it