Notes:
GSM Arena
Released on November 7, 2008. large touchscreen display--does not include wi-fi feature (like the iphone) which is a set back.
Mobile Media
"a built in accelerometer automatically switches the screen between portrait and landscape modes." Has TouchWiz interface--easy to drag and drop things to make the main screen personalized.
Samsung Behold.net
has a sleek, sexy design that's a bit smaller than other touchscsreen phones meaning a smaller screen but there is no keypad so most of the space is dedicated to the screen--maximizing usable space. it is eye-catching and caters to the trendy, tasteful crowd between the ages of 21 and 35 "who is business oriented, but still wants to have lots of fun on the side." Major competitors include: iPhone & Google G1.
C-net Taking the Samsung Behold for a spin
resembles both the Samsung Omnia and LG Dare with a bit of the Samsung Instinct in it.
Design: Has a candy bar design with a touchscreen that resembles the Omnia and the Dare. It's 4 ounces and it has a "comfortable, sturdy feel in the hand" and people like "the way it slips easily into a bag and a larger pocket when you're on the go." Has "bright and vibrant colors with sharp graphics." Has a "landscape QWERTY keyboard" when turned to its side with numbers, symbols and punctuations on a separate keyboard and an "alphanumeric keypad" when it is upright. Downfall: typing area is small so it requires a lot of scrolling. The only keys it has on the phone is the "call, end call and back" keys. Must remove battery to change or insert memory card.
Cell Phone News
Has haptic feedback mechanism (a slight vibration).
Phone Arena
"Behold has the smallest form factor" out of all the samsung devices already released. "Constructed out of a hard plastic with the outline having a glossy look to it." Has "stainless steel back plating for the battery cover which supplements its overall durability."
Interface: "There is minimal set of personalization options with the interface that leaves us wondering why Samsung did not take the time to correct this for the U.S. launch. Users can change some settings with the phone to an extent such as using a taken photo as the wallpaper. The Behold provided eleven wallpaper options and no screen savers." "You will find certain programs not rotating to landscape view when you rotate the phone. In other applications, you can only view the phone in landscape view rather than in portrait mode. The lack of offering the user to choose their positions to be a little annoying." There are vibrations to give user physical feedback. Home screen="widget" Idea of Widget is "to let you add certain given 'programs' and to let you arrange them the way you want. These can be found in the taskbar on the left side, from where you can drag them."
T9 is used for the alphanumeric keypad, QWERTY keypad for landscape view. Has a light sensor to keep the battery from draining as much.
Criticism: In phonebook, the only way to search for a name is through first name. In the email application, can only choose from the 13 different email providers and nothing else. Need a better browser and is lacking when it is compared to Safari on the iPhone. Browser is zoomed in 100% and will only allow you to see a portion of the website (if it is a larger one). With the camera, photos with the best quality are of the ones taken outdoors. The ones taken indoors always looked "fuzzy with colors being on the dull side when taking shots from far distances" and "flash on the device only works well when you are taking a shot of something that is three feet away at the maximum from you." "Disappointed to find that it only supports a maximum resolution of 320 X 240. (for video)" Very few options for the video application and sound was very low and had to listen very closely. There is an "unattractive and antique design" for the music player. "The Behold does not support viewing any Microsoft Office files" and also "PDF were unable to load as well."
PC World
There is predictive texting with the messaging application.
Criticism: "lacks Wi-Fi and a standard headphone jack, and its web browser is a bit counterintuitive."
Wireless and Mobile News
Criticism: "The on-screen QWERTY keyboard is small but functional."
A lot of the design and features of the Samsung Behold was comparable to the Samsung Omnia which was originally sold in only Europe and Asia and then introduced to the US a few days before Thanksgiving 2008. Also compared to the Samsung Instinct (Sprint), LG Dare (Verizon), Google G1, Samsung f480 Tocco, Samsung Eternity (AT&T), Apple iPhone, etc.
Electronista
"Samsung today claimed to have represented exactly one quarter of all touchscreen phones shipped in 2008. The Korean company estimates that it produced about 10 million models of various kinds and that its most popular has ultimately been theF480, which has alternatly known as the Tocco in some countries and was released as the Behold for T-Mobile; it accounted for 5 million of those phones, or half of Samsung's line. The rest included devices like the Instinct, Omnia and Pixon."
Samsung gussies up TouchWiz mobile interface
"flashy 3D effects, new gesture controls, better integration of photos and contacts, and more haptic feedback."