Boy, that slide-out keyboard will certainly help to keep that screen from getting all greased up. Good thinking, Samsung.

The iPhone has a real market problem now that Samsung has announced this phone. The lack of physical keyboard on the iPhone makes it a poor substitute for a Blackberry. Samsung has continued their streak of providing great design alongside excellent market awareness.

No CDMA love?

wait, the f700 supports bluetooth too. I'm sure the comparison will be much different once a price comes out for this and i'm pretty sure it supports real email, (not html crap)

If you travel outside the US, the iPhone wins on connectivity. Tri-band just doesn't cut it. Also the Samsung lacks wifi, which I'd rather have than 3G. It seems that all of the providers are having trouble delivering a solid 3G service, whether it's poor network capacity or policies that silently shut you off if you use it too much.

Man, I would get this phone if it only had Bluetooth 2.0 and Wifi support.

Seriously, I don't want an iPhone, I do want some of it's more practical features implemented into other phones, though. Dammit, Apple, am I going to have to wait neigh a year for your clones to surpass your original model again?

what i want to know is what is so #@$@ hard to add one extra band to make it quad band????

will there ever be a phone that has every feature that everyone wants?

I have to agree -- the keyboard is an iPhone killer. If Apple could put in a slide-out keyboard like this, then the iPhone has a chance of being useful. Until then, a device like this, a Treo, or a Blackberry are the way to go for anyone who plans on really using the device for email. (And if you are not, why would you be spending $600 for a phone anyway?)

What about all the other full touchscreen phones, like the LG Prada (KE850)? Seeing how it was the first, how does it compare?

The common problems with MOST Samsung phones:

- Weak RF for phone calls.
- Weak speakerphone with poor sound quality.
- Occasional oddball placement of connecting ports that may be convenient for engineers, but inconvenient for customers.
- Their phones are not so smart. They all have very poor software that is not intuitive; poor compatibility and interoperability with computer hardware, databases and file transfers are the norm.
- Software designs, graphics and icons with an Aisan influence that don't always appeal to business professionals or Anglos.
- Sexy and elegant "me too" hardware designs that usually aren't original, but instead are knock-offs of popular products first offered by other cellular manufacturers. I own the Samsung A900 Bluetooth/Music Player phone (a.k.a "Blade") that is a knock-off of the Motorola RAZR.
- Like all Samsung products, it's so-so as a phone, but worse as a music player and calendar/contacts manager. I only purchased it because it was one of Sprint's first Bluetooth phones. I have never used the music player because the file and music transfer capabilities are brain dead and just don't work well... And who in their right mind would buy songs from the Sprint Music Store? The AddressBook file transfers don't work properly either and Samsung will NEVER fix these problems.
- Stay away. Software is Samsung's Achilles heal...

the iPhone seems to win with its WiFi and I really like the multi-touch. However, 8GB for something that's supposed to be an MP3 player, a video player, and a camera/photo storage? Please. I have a 60GB iPod Video and that's nearly full with music, movies (I fly from London to SF so I need various entertainment) and photos. To me, the small storage size and high price is the real killer of the iPhone. And I also have to say i like an ACTUAL keyboard over having to grease up my phone even more than my face already does.

Hardware is nice, but it all depends on how you present it. If this Samsung uses WIndows (I sort of dounbt it) it will do no better than any other WinMo device, because those devices are in direct competition. 5MP, like wow.. I have a camera for that. Its trivial at best.

In the Apple camp, you have familirity, but a locked system. I wonder what OS this Sammy has?

You forget one important comparison, the OS. The iPhone has Mac OS Mobile, which is completely kick-ass, but which will apparently be kinda closed to external development. What about the Samsung? That aspect is majorly important to consider and discuss.

lots of holes in the info on this one (OS, wifi, bluetooth, etc) but as the info comes rolling in, so long as it doesn't say cingular anywhere near it, i'd definitely be in the market.

I love how everyone has decided a hard keyboard always beats the iPhone, yet none of them have ever used an iPhone.

I certainly have my doubts about the soft keyboard, but iPhone looks like it's got some pretty cool software magic going on, so I think I'll wait until I touch one before passing judgement.

wow, on design alone, this sucker is a winner. i expect samsung to come out with every version imaginable to fill every market. i also expect the price tag to be substantially lower than $500-600 bucks. lol.

i think the Verizon CEO was dead on when he said that we shouldn't compare the iPhone to what's already out there. He must have known that there will be next gen phones coming out (like this one) to compete with the iPhone.

I can't wait to see what else comes out. The Asus and Nokia concept phones look amazing. They should role those bad boys out.

c'mon... just look at the screen shots... you know the UI is going to be complete crap

"Samsung has continued their streak of providing great design alongside excellent market awareness."

Now if only that would translate into sales! The iPhone will smash it! Who wants a pull out keyboard?

Seen this design before.

i agree with Macgyver 100%.

Macgyver says: I love how everyone has decided a hard keyboard always beats the iPhone, yet none of them have ever used an iPhone...

still no word on price, weight, size... come on, before we kill the iPhone, can we at least know a little more on this?

right now I'm just intrigued.

I could NOT use a pda/phone without a full keyboard of some sort. I've used all kinds of onscreen keyboards, full screen, fitaly, etc, and none of them work half as good as the slide-out on my (old) trusty TMo MDA.
I automatically rule any pda off my list if it doesn't have a hard keyboard, I just can't get work done without one.
Now if only they'd update the Tytn again, give it a lot more internal storage, and a headphone port, with WM6, I'd upgrade.
But I do think a lack of a keyboard will REALLY hurt the iphone.

Nothing has beat Nokia e70 yet. It includes Wifi, 2mb camera, great video, qwerty, quad band...

I've used all kinds of onscreen keyboards, full screen, fitaly, etc, and none of them work half as good as the slide-out on my (old) trusty TMo MDA.

So none of the onscreen keyboards you've used to date have multitouch technology. They've most likely been little keyboards that you use with a stylus. That does not seem very productive. Before declaring the lack of keyboard is going to REALLY hurt the iPhone, you might want to actually, you know, try one when they hit the shelves.

After reading gmwedding's post, You're right, alot of the old samsung phones have had problems. But myself I've owned the Samsung SCH-A950, and it's been the best phone I've used. Very SOLID equipment. The OS is very simple yet with tons of features like the full organizer with notepad, GPS Navigator, Mobile TV and Radio, and Mobile MP3 music with the media keys on the front. My friend had a Samsung A900 with Bell, and it was CRAP. It broke down on him constantly. (that's what you get from trying to copy a piece of crap...another piece of crap).

I hope that Samsung did a good thing with this new one, and I hope it was a misprint about bluetooth, and jonyah is right, Bluetooth is a must, especially with a unit like that. Like who really wants to hold a big rectangle to the side of their face? And get their greesy face all over the nice shiny screen? blaah.

You also forgot no 850mhz support and the 3g goodness isn't US compatible...

Not much of a choice really. But then again, till the iPhone is more than just pre-announced, its all just speculation. The actual specs could change five times between now and June.

storage, widgets, google maps, and push email

Ahem! The iphone does NOT win on storage, because the samsung has removable storage.

The Samsung isn't closed to third-party apps, so that's a win for the samsung, unless you optimistically assume that every widget you'd ever want is going to be instantly available for the iphone for free.

Google maps has been available for almost two years now for a wide variety of phones. It looks great on the D807 and the Nokia 6682, so there's no way the iphone gets any points for that.

In addition, the Samsung is going to be available for cheaper, and will work fine with any level of data plan, not the $70/month plan which is the only one the iphone will be allowed to use.

WTF, dude?

so the backspace is the same ley as the enter key?

looks like that could get a bit complicated.

maybe they should re-work that one

the onboard memory is 75MB i think. but the micro SD is awesome.

if i had to choose, i'd get the f700 and i'm an apple fanboy.

...as for the question of which is "touchscreenier", I favor the Samsung. As for which one is better it all comes down to sound quality and real-world use for each individual. Phones are meant to be phones and all of these other features do not mean a thing if the sound quality/usability is unsatisfactory. (All from a Apple fan) But DO THEY COME IN PINK?!

since the screen is smaller than iPhone's screen, the overall package is probably more pocketable. which is a good thing.

now all it's missing is CDMA, EVDO r0/rev.A/mobile WiMAX, a hold switch and a contest giving one away for free. and an AIM client built-in to the OS would kick ass too.

musanti says:

so the backspace is the same ley as the enter key?

looks like that could get a bit complicated.

maybe they should re-work that one

it's two keys under one rubber cover, simple enough. press the top and the top (backspace) button triggers, press the bottom and the bottom (enter) button triggers.

and why is there a 5 megapixel camera? the business set that find smartphones the most useful, i don't think they need high-res shots. and the average multimedia customer only needs myspace-resolution (so 1.3 tops, maybe a little more to provide for good digital zoom).

Boy, a lot of people must've really used an iPhone already to form such a strong opinion - guess since you've used one touchscreen in your life, every other touchscreen will always be exactly the same? Guess you must've married the first girl you met also.

Yea, EVERY other smartphone out there has "looked" good in the photos or at the show but once you start using it? That's why they have a 3% marketshare after 10 years ... but hey, since ypu've already made up your mind about the iphone, guess that's another dozen less people in line.

(just don't be so quick to judge - come July, you might look foolish trying to break your Verizon contract).

and when the screen is off,the f700 is a mirror :).at the end of the day with 5 megapixels in comparison to 2 megapixels,and both phones come under the same price range(i think so)most of us dont have to think to make the buying decision unless apple decided to be cheeky and make this iphone compatible with all ipod docking station.

try writing sms while driving on touchscreen keyboard.. yeah.. all you can do after trying is make a crappy picture with 2mp camera of your car crashed...

Nothing has changed it seems...still far too many MAC haters. I GUARANTEE the OS and touch-screen keyboard will be nothing like you've ever played with b4. If you are familiar with Macs, then you know they are on their own level.

The Samsung phone is very nice on many levels, but personally, I dont think it will be able to touch the iphone. I don't see why everyone is already talking S*#% about the keyboard when they don't have a clue of what its like...

As always looks like you can't escape the wrath of sheltered MAC haters... I GUARANTEE this OS will be ultra smooth and user-friendly as all MAC OS tend to be. The touch-screen keyboard will be great too, for sure. I can't figure out why everyone is quick to talk down about it. You people do know what MAC is about right? And you're trying to tell me they will come out with some bootleg design touch-keyboard? Never. MAC is about innovation and their debut iphone will be the truth, you'll see.

The biggest issue for me would be who's the carrier. As far as Email and Maps, Google struck a deal with Samsung recently to have their phones come with Google Mobile Apps pre-installed. So, that and a web browser is all I need in that area. When the iPhone was announced and I saw the demos, I almost creamed my pants. Then I saw that it was Cingular :( Samsung would be smart to get this phone into as many carriers as possible. That would be a iPhone killer.

My second issue would have to be support. Apple is trying to hold onto the support channel for the iPhone. I hate Apple support. They will do everything to keep for replacing a bad machine. It's a pain. I think Samsung would have a leg up in that area already having a support network worked out with all the carriers.

Anywho, they're both cool gadgets, I think it will come down to a service issue.

I love all the iphone offers, but I really want a good phone too! I have the underated but fabulous samsung i730. I love it, touchscreen, push emal, web, bluetooth, wifi, no camera - I don't care. It has storage via SD but the phone quality is not great. I want to be able to hear callers and know that hey can hear me. I don't want EDGE.

lol the same line could be used for the Mac faithfull. How can you GUARANTEE anything untill you have touched one or tried to use it. Yeah it could be ok or it could be total shit.

I have to say the screen keyboard does bother me a little. Nothing like the tactile feel of keys. Is there no GPS on the iphone?? I'm suprised by that. I would think it would go hand and hand with the google map function.

As a consumer I love both these phones and it would be foolish to think the iPhone hasn't had a HUGE impact on the innovation and design in the newly announced cellphones. Big ups to Apple AND to Samsung and friends. But I am going to get the iPhone. I'm love my Macs, I want the iPhone to be a success, and when Apple wins, I win. I'll pay extra for the iPhone and accept EDGE speeds. In the many years of having Apple products they've been great. I've never had a hardware failure on any of my devices (6 apple computers and 4 different ipods, and yes I still have all of them) and when my one ipod had a bad battery they just gave me a new one. Granted this is my exp. with apple, yours may be different. But I dont see a problem with brand loyality if they have remainded loyal to me the consumer. Same reason every car i own will be an Acura, my cell phone service will always be cingular/at&t, and my photo supplies will be bought from B&H. They treated me right as a customer and I'm willing to pay the premium for the lack of headaches.

Never rely on these types of sources to determine what's gonna kill who why where and when. The iPhone hasn't even been released, and people are already launching campaigns to kill it. It's already gotten out of the vaporware stage, but no one in this forum can give us their take on the phone after actually USING it.

Ok lets sum things up, as the official summer upper of the universe. The Samsung has the keyboard for those who need it, the Apple has 802 and bluetooth for those who can't get a good connection in their home but have wireless, or want to use it in a car that supports handsfree with it.
Samsung has a better camera, but how many photos of importance you take with your phone will determine that issue.

I'm assuming the Apple will have an easier to use interface. If you send a lot of text messages then the keyboard on the Samsung will be a Godsend.

If you need easy to use and use it as a phone most of the time, then Apple. If you need to take photos, send emails or messages, then Samsung. If you need to use it in the car, or at home where you have wireless anyway and want connectivity in spades, then back to Apple. If you don't have or want to carry a laptop but need email access, then Samsung.

ok, first of all, there IS bluetooth on the samsung. if there wasn't, then why would there be a bluetooth symbol on the picture of the F700's menu???

Second, why wouldn't there be HTML Email if there was an HTML browser? of course there will be.

And third, some of you say the keyboard for iPhone's "multitouch" will probably be easier than the slide out....no way. a real QWERTY keyboard would be all-around much easy and quicker to use not to mention keeping your screen clean.

iPhone beats it on larger screen/res. and possibly quadband.
Lets just hope the F700 has quadband :/

iPhone, revolutionary? LOL. its a touchscreen with 2MPx. its made by apple so no wonder why its the first to use this opperating system. what would apple have used Windows mobile? how useful is the accelerometer? are you goiing to spend all day rotating your phone? although it has good memory, it lacks a card slot. Java (and maybe Flash) will not work on this (even basic phones have this feature). it lacks 3G (which several of the newer phones have got). i have not noticed any games on this phone and almost every phone even phones which dont have color have games. it lacks basic features most phones have. your paying $499 - $599 with a two year contract! Apple has no experience in the phone industry. you have to use iTunes for loading music and video. no other phone does this and this just allows apple to make even more profit. you can not use a stylus, or gloves or anything other than your fingers when you touch it, so its sure to get greasy. it does not sync using WiFi. it does not support wireless sync via Bluetooth. the virtual keys make it slower to use than a Blackberry. it does not include any speed dial features.

so why buy an iPhone?

This is unbelievably biased.
You can see just from the comaprison that the author of this already prefers the iphone without even giving samsung a chance.

But still Apple is Sh*t. End of story.
They restrict too much i think, having to use itunes to send music is just annoying.

i will go with an iphone... samsung has always let me down.

actually i think you will find the Samsung F700 has a 3 megapixel camera, not a 5 mega pixel camera. Although it still kicks iphone's ass!