Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I've had my Restore for about a week now, and over all, I'm happy with it. I could personally care less about all the greeny, eco-friendly hype surrounding it. I got it for its design, with the number pad on front and keyboard under a slide. I agree with the previous reviewer that the ringtones and 3 of 5 alarms suck, but its pretty easy to just search for a free ringtone uploader (funformobile is one) and have them texted to your phone.
Pros: I love that its *not* a touch screen, and that it looks like a phone with the number pad on the front, but if you want to type, has a full slide out keyboard that runs the length of the phone thats easy to use. The screen is good sized and displays clearly. It has good sound when I'm talking with people and is fairly easy to navigate. Its my first fancy phone and it was pretty easy to learn how to use, has a little built in tutorial that was helpful at first. The GPS is awesome. I've never had one, and have just moved to an unfamiliar city, so its incredibly useful to get around and find stuff in the local area. And since its real time, it can tell me traffic conditions and search for restraunts around where I am. It has both a note pad and a voice memo function, a full calendar and multiple alarms that you can set for whatever you want, daily, weekly, monthly, once. It comes with a 2GB chip and bluetooth, which makes it really easy to take pics with the 2 megapix camera and move them to my computer via bluetooth. It also gives plenty of room for some albums and audio books to play on the mp3 player (podiobooks are awesome!) The pictures come out nice in bright light, but the camera doesn't work so well in low light. I haven't tried the video camera yet, but it does have one. The texting is saved in conversations with the contact you are texting with, which makes it nice to find what you said to whom. I also really like the case for the phone, its a durable plastic that snaps on both sides to allow you to still slide the keyboard open, but has a nice rubbery coating on it which makes it kinda sticky and easy to grip. I did "modify" mine a bit, because you are always using the "back" button on the front and they didn't put a divit there to make it easy to press, so I did it for them :P
Cons: I'm not familiar with Sprint's operating systems, but this one seems to be almost a work in progress. I like the carosel, but I don't like that you can only put certain apps on it, instead of anything. For instance, I can't put apps I've downloaded outside of sprint like games or a text reader. I also can't point to phone features I use all the time, like the note pad and calendar. When I first bought it, it had a "Shortcut" tile that you could point 5 shortcuts to phone features, but for some reason, 2 days after I bought it, that tile was removed from the operating system. Its a bit annoying the phone can't multitask better. If you are in GPS mode, you aren't doing anything else. If you are surfing, same deal. You have to completely exit from either app to call someone or text, or look up a contact. Also, the browser could use a little more thought. I would make the optical mouse a mouse where you can move it around the screen and click links, because scrolling through all of them can be time consuming, and sometimes it won't scroll to the one you want, which means you can't click it.
I honestly have no idea how other phones might handle these issues, since this is my first "fully loaded" phone, but they are somewhat minor annoyances that I have just learned to work around. If I could get Sprint to add one thing, though, I would really love to have that Shortcut tile back, I use the calendar and notepad alot and its time consuming to have to dig for them all the time =/
All in all though, I'm very happy with it, and I think that any texters would be thrilled with it and its full keyboard, nice screen, and auto response when you slide the keyboard out after recieving a text. Hope this was helpful to you all!
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Samsung Restore Phone, Midnight (Sprint)Offering the perfect blend of technology and an environmentally friendly design, the Samsung Restore for Sprint allows you to go green without sacrificing the advanced mobile communication features you love. With a hardware casing containing 27 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, an Energy Star Version 2.0 qualified energy efficient charger, and packaging that is 100 percent recyclable, the Restore has many elements that make it sustainable.
But more than just carrying your green cred in your pocket, the Samsung Restore is a feature-rich messaging phone with a side-sliding full QWERTY keyboard and quick access to such social networks as well as mobile multimedia powerhouse. And with the intuitive Sprint One Click interface, you can customize the Restore with the things you use most like, including e-mail, TV, music, GPS navigation, and Web with Google Search.
In addition to fast 3G speeds from Sprint's high-speed EV-DO network, you'll enjoy GPS navigation capabilities for accessing the optional Sprint Navigation turn-by-turn direction service and Sprint TV's video-on-demand with full-motion video and vivid sound (see more details on optional services below). The Restore is also a great choice for a cellular audio player, with access to the Sprint Music Store for over-the-air downloads as well as the Sprint Music+ service, which enables you to purchase a bundle of song, ringtone, and ringback tone.
You'll be able to access all your personal e-mail as well as work e-mail from corporate servers via the Sprint Mobile Email Work service. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion to 32 GB (a 256 MB starter card is included), speaker-independent voice dialing, and up to 6 hours of talk time.
Eco-Friendly Features
The Samsung Restore and its packaging are designed with environmentally responsible components:
It also comes pre-loaded with Sprint's One Click Green tile, giving you instant access to a collection of green, earth-friendly information and tips, including Best of Green, a well-rounded collection of information to inspire a greener lifestyle, and Planet Green, providing tips and information to help make your life a little greener. The Restore also includes a unique typographic default ringer with a song called "Mother Earth" as well as eco-oriented ringers and screensavers.
Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity thanks to Sprint's EV-DO, Rev 0 network
GPS using Sprint Navigation for turn by turn directions, and points of interest searches
Fully customizable home screen with Sprint One Click for quick access to your favorite features. You can add, remove, and rearrange tiles in the Carousel. Choose up to 15 from up to 46 available tiles, including social networking (Facebook), sports, entertainment, weather, finance and more. (Learn more)
2.66-inch LCD screen (240 x 320 pixels, 262K color depth)
Slide-out full QWERTY keyboard
2-megapixel camera with video capture capabilities
Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
Threaded SMS text messaging allows you to see the full conversation for each contact in a chat-like interface. Never send a reply to the wrong person again. Organized conversations make it easy to go back and see the history of any conversation.
Web browser
Speaker-independent voice dialing enables you to say the name of any entry in your phone book and the number is dialed automatically without using the keypad. This feature is speaker-independent, so there is no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice. Receive an audible status report of your phone/s coverage and signal strength.
Organizer tools including calendar, alarms, tasks, and calculator
Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off
Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) with T3 rating
TTY compatible
Vital Statistics The Samsung Restore weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.6 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches. Its 1160 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of talk time. It runs on the 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO Rev. 0 frequencies.
What's in the Box Samsung Restore handset, rechargeable battery, charger, 256 MB microSD memory card, quick start guide
Sprint Services
Broadband-like 3G network: Supporting the EV-DO Rev. A high-speed data standard, this phone enables you to download and stream high-quality video, straight onto your phone. Where coverage is available, EV-DO Rev. A connectivity provides average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps, with peak rates up to 2 Mbps.
Sprint TV enabled: With Sprint TV, you can make your cell phone your always-on source for news, weather, sports and more. This comprehensive video service combines high-quality streaming audio and video from channels including the NFL Network, ABC, The Weather Channel, Fox Sports, E!, CNN, The Discovery Channel, and more.
Sprint Music Store enabled: The Sprint Music Store enables you to buy, download, and then jam out wherever you are with new songs or old favorites. Offering a growing selection of more than 1.6 million songs, the store provides you two copies of each song--one for the phone and another for the PC, as well as the ability to burn songs to a CD using Windows Media Player. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you.
And Sprint Music+ offers an easy way to discover new music and tones and manage all of your music content in one convenient place. Love a new song and want the music track, ringtone, and ringback tone? Save money and buy the bundle! SM+ is also a full-featured music & tone manager--you can create music and ringback tone playlists, assign ringback tones to play for different callers and times of day, and get recommendations based on your musical tastes.
GPS capable with Sprint Navigation: This GPS-enabled phone provides optional access to Sprint Navigation for driving directions on your mobile phone--by voice and onscreen. Along the way, turn-by-turn directions will be announced in a clear voice and displayed on your phone. For example, Sprint Navigation will say, "Go 1.2 miles and turn right on Elm Street." As you approach the turn, you will hear, "Turn right on Elm Street." Sprint Navigation also provides proactive traffic alerts with one click re-routing. And it's easy to find restaurants, banks, cafes, hotels and more from over 10 million points of interest across the U.S.
Sprint Family Locator: Locate family members anytime, anywhere from your phone or the Web without disturbing their activities. With Family Locator, you can locate your kids with interactive mapping, automatic Safety Check and a secure texting feature.
Access Personal and Corporate E-mail: With Sprint Mobile Email, you'll get easy access to your favorite home e-mail services including AOL, Yahoo!, Gmail, and MSN/Windows Live Hotmail and more. Additionally, you can access many other e-mail providers through the software's support of POP3 & IMAP. And Sprint Mobile Email Work enables you to access e-mail from corporate servers, including Microsoft Exchange 2000, 2003, 2007 and Lotus Notes Domino versions 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 (with the latest software update).
Sprint Mobile Email Work Calendar: Have instant access to your work calendar almost anywhere. The Sprint Mobile Email Work Calendar tool lets you sync directly with your work calendar in Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes. Enjoy one-click access to your calendar, plus the ability to add new events and get reminders when they come up. The best way to stay connected virtually wherever you go.
Stay Sporty with Sprint: With NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, instantly connect to the NASCAR information you want, when you want it. Follow NASCAR action from practice to race day with real-time leaderboard and alerts. Get exclusive access to your favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver with real-time driver stats, breaking news and more. Live in-car audio, race radio, NASCAR on SPEED and other audio/video only available on select phones. Visit sprint.com/speed for details.
To access, just text "NASCAR" to 7777 on your Sprint phone or visit the Sprint Digital Lounge to download NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile (standard text messaging and data rates apply).
This phone also provides access to Sprint Football Live--free for any phone with a data plan. You'll be able to follow all the live play-by-play action with the Live Game Center for both pro and college football games, as well as stay on top of the pro football draft with a Live Draft Tracker and in-depth analysis and bios on nearly 500 top prospects. Access by texting "FOOTBALL" to 7777 on the handset to download Sprint Football Live from Sprint Digital Lounge (standard text messaging and data rates apply).
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Sprint's Award-Winning One Click Interface
This phone features Sprint's One Click navigation interface, which places eight shortcut tiles along the bottom of the home screen. Instead of navigating through endless phone menus, you can put the things you use the most--features like call logs, texting, Web access and GPS navigation--right up front with instant information related to each feature. For example, when you scroll to text messaging, you'll see the number of new messages received and a single click takes take you to the newest messages. Here's how it works:
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