Hands-on with Samsung's SGH-i780

Arne over at the::unwired had a chance to get a hands-on with Samsung's newest Windows Mobile 6 Pro -- yes, Professional, with touchscreen -- offering, the SGH-i780. This BlackJack lookalike packs a 400 MHz CPU, tri-band GSM with 2100 MHz UMTS / HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, an A-GPS receiver, and 256 / 128 ROM and RAM in an almost standardized Samsung QWERTY package. The i780 features a 320 x 320 resolution screen and the odd-looking d-pad seen above can actually be used as a mouse for on screen pointing. This looks like a serious bit of kit and here's hoping it zooms its way over here early in the new year -- though of course, no promises.















The screen has a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels, not 360 x 360 :)
Please, please, please make a CDMA version, Samsung! And preferably send it to Sprint! I beg of you!
This is almost reason enough to pack up and move to Europe :-)
There's a video of the scroll/joystick thing as well...
http://www.theunwired.net/?item=videoview-samsung-sgh-i780-optical-joystick
The have even more videos of the i780: http://www.theunwired.net/tags.php?tag=i780
Of course, Palm should have released this device as soon as WinMo 6 was out (allowing for the 320x320 resolution)...of course with quad-band GSM and US 3G bands and whatever Treo-mojo they could throw in. A 750'ish device with a 680 screen and updated features (GPS and Wi-Fi) is so needed. I really do wonder what is going on in Sunnyvale. They're a year out from releasing their Android wanna-be OS and that's a LOT of time to rely on Centro sales to carry them through.
Awesome. The sad part is that if at&t gets it they'll nerf/cripple it in some way.
It is running WM6 Pro meaning the only thing that gets crippled is the front camera. Its their WM6 Standard devices that also lose WiFi.
What are you talking about, Peter? There are plenty of other features to be crippled.
Can't you buy a carrier independet version? Here in Hungary you can buy almost all phones sim-lock free (though they'll cost a bit more)
@karatedog
Most phones sold here in the US are sold through the carriers. All phones sold through the carrier are usually SIM locked and the carrier sometimes sees fit to remove or disable hardware and/or features in order to get you to buy whatever garbage services they happen to be pushing. However, You can buy unlocked (fully featured) phones from third-party vendors. Of course they cost(a lot) more.
I want it I want it I want it I WANT IT!!! Oh my got I want this phone so badly. This is the "TRUE" Blackjack II :)