Where Epic stands next to its Galaxy S siblings..

[taylormah]

To its strong points - Epic has 4G, camera flash, a front facing camera, extra button (hopefully for camera) on the right side and physical keyboard. From pictures, it also looks like the speaker is positioned towards the bottom on the outside of a curve on the back of the phone (kinda in a way Treo Pro does but on its side) - which probably wont stifle the speaker sound when phone is lying on its back. Epic will also probably have a soft touch feel to its back.

But it has only 1GB of ROM, whereas Fascinate has 2GB and Vibrant and Captivate have 16GB of ROM. Also, in all three other Galaxy S phones, you can add and remove the home screens (max number is 7) and can add new page/panels in app menu and can move the app icons between pages/panels whereas Epic supposedly lacks these customization options. However in all variants of Galaxy S phones, apps can be displayed in alphabetical vertical scrollable view or iPhonish grid view.

Other than difference in weight and physical dimensions, is there any other difference you know of which stands out between Epic and its other Galaxy S siblings?

EDIT: Shadnic pointed out in post#6 below that it is possible to customize the number of home screens.

 

[ConceptVBS]

I believe the EPIC has an LED indicator where as the others do not. The LED indicator is located on the upper right hand corner of the phone right next to the camera.

 

[taylormah]

I believe the EPIC has an LED indicator where as the others do not. The LED indicator is located on the upper right hand corner of the phone right next to the camera.

Interesting...

 

[whippingboy]

"Also, in all three other Galaxy S phones, you can add and remove the home screens (max number is 7) and can add new page/panels in app menu and can move the app icons between pages/panels whereas Epic supposedly lacks these customization options."

Where did you hear THAT? My understanding is the onscreen software is unchanged for the Epic lineup...I was really looking forward to movable app icons like my old Pre... Not a deal breaker- but disappointing nonetheless if true.

I did see a video where someone said the button can be used for shutter activation (perhaps programmable) which would be very cool... but I'm not holding my breath- programmable configurable buttons are so very...TREO these days.

 

[taylormah]

"Also, in all three other Galaxy S phones, you can add and remove the home screens (max number is 7) and can add new page/panels in app menu and can move the app icons between pages/panels whereas Epic supposedly lacks these customization options."

Where did you hear THAT?

Watch this video by MobileBurn. If you watch videos on youtube covering other Galaxy S devices made by mobileburn, you can see home screen number customizations but Epic does not have it. Software has been tweaked on Epic to disable this kind of customization. I hope there be some kind of update or patch (its android afterall) which will enable it since its possible.

 

[Shadnic]

Watch this video by MobileBurn. If you watch videos on youtube covering other Galaxy S devices made by mobileburn, you can see home screen number customizations but Epic does not have it. Software has been tweaked on Epic to disable this kind of customization. I hope there be some kind of update or patch (its android afterall) which will enable it since its possible.

One of the first comments on that video says:

"You CAN add and delete home screens. All you had to do was put it in landscape mode."

To which the uploader replied:
@ConceptVBS Cool, thanks. That's how bada worked. I should have tried it. Each of the 4 devices at the even handled that stuff differently. It was confusing.

 

[taylormah]

One of the first comments on that video says:

"You CAN add and delete home screens. All you had to do was put it in landscape mode."

To which the uploader replied:
@ConceptVBS Cool, thanks. That's how bada worked. I should have tried it. Each of the 4 devices at the even handled that stuff differently. It was confusing.

What a good relief .. Now I just hope same can be done for the app menu.

 

[Cav3000]

Daily Briefing

I realize the videos aren't the best quality so I may have missed it but, has anyone seen the daily briefing app on the Epic 4G? Its prominent on the Fascinate, you can see it in videos, but I haven't seen it on any of the screens for the Epic. Does anyone know why it wouldn't be included?
It may not be that big of a deal, but I like the concept and it was one of the things (among many) that attracted me to the Galaxy line to begin with.
I have a note into Samsung to see if they can clarify but I don't expect much.

From Samsung (not a big help)
"Dear Eric,
Thank you for your inquiry. We appreciate your interest in the Samsung Epic 4G. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide information on any future releases, as it may be inaccurate at the time of release.
For product availability and pricing please contact your local service provider.
* Online at http://www.sprintpcs.com"

 

[linuxguy#AC]

plus point for me are the keyboard, flash and front facing camera. Wish tmobile had the same one.

 

[taylormah]

I realize the videos aren't the best quality so I may have missed it but, has anyone seen the daily briefing app on the Epic 4G? Its prominent on the Fascinate, you can see it in videos, but I haven't seen it on any of the screens for the Epic. Does anyone know why it wouldn't be included?

I havent paid any attention to this but I dont see there is any reason why they wont include it in Epic4G. Plus, its one of the main parts of Galaxy S phones, so it has to has to be there, but I will check the videos again.

 

[taylormah]

One of the first comments on that video says:

"You CAN add and delete home screens. All you had to do was put it in landscape mode."

To which the uploader replied:
@ConceptVBS Cool, thanks. That's how bada worked. I should have tried it. Each of the 4 devices at the even handled that stuff differently. It was confusing.

I was seeing this video today and its the only video I found where we can see the available options upon menu button press while the phone is in landscape mode (at 1:27), and unfortunately there is no edit option here as well. So I am kinda loosing hope about being able to add/delete home screen panels.

 

[drizek]

Why would you want any fewer than 7 anyway?

 

[Darth Pooh#CB]

Why would you want any fewer than 7 anyway?

I use 2 - 3 panels on Sense. The rest are taking up empty space.

Sometimes... people don't need that much. A few at-a-glance widgets and links to frequently used apps is all they need to make it an efficient device.

 

[drizek]

The precious weren't using final software, im assuming, so there is a chance that they will add it on later.

Have you used the epic btw?

 

[steveholtam]

I saw a video where the unwanted panels where removed. That is part of TW3. I've looked at so many of these videos lately though I can't remember where it was. The reviewer was comparing Sense to TW3. He clicked customize or something and a little red minus symbol showed on the top right corner. One press and the panel would have been gone. He didnt kill the panel in the review, just showed how to do it. The red minus is the same symbol that you can use to uninstall apps from a homepage.

 

[liquidxit2]

The number one thing that makes it standout is the fact that it isnt a slab. Im so tired of all these new phones with all the coolest hardware and software coming out without the most necessary component...a keyboard. No matter how good the virtual keyboard is I will NEVER be satisfied with one as I NEED feedback. I cannot express how happy I am that this sweet iteration of a smartphone is coming to sprint, because I was not going to settle for imho a lesser network just because they have better phone selections.

 

[steveholtam]

Oh, just found the video that shows how to remove panels with TW3. This is on a T-Mobile Vibrant, but it should be the same for the Epic.

Samsung Vibrant Meta-Review Extravaganza | TmoNews - Unofficial T-Mobile Blog - News, Videos, Articles and more

View part 1 of 2. The whole video is very good, but he removes panels around the 6:30 mark.

Both videos are the best I have seen of TW3. Check them out!

 

[taylormah]

As Keith said, its a personal choice to remove empty panels, but its not important. However, my concern is not the home panel customization. If home screen panel customization is disabled, then I am afraid so is the app menu customization. In all other Galaxy S models, you can customize the bottom 3 app shortcuts on the dock, move the app icons around in the app menu and create new blank pages on app menu to categorize your app placement, and it is this kind of customization which I think is useful and important. But as shown in mobileburn video that I linked to in post #5 of this thread, Epic lacks both the customizations. As a commenter to the said video pointed out, is was probably possible to do it in landscape mode, but the video I linked to above shows it isn't. I am believing that since Epic has almost everything that its siblings are missing (flash, FFC, keyboard, 4G, camera key, LED notifications), samsung is balancing up its galaxy s lineup by giving Epic only 1GB ROM and leaving out some customization options that other galaxy s phones have. We will have to wait and see if they add these customizations to final Epic release.

 

[liquidxit2]

As Keith said, its a personal choice to remove empty panels, but its not important. However, my concern is not the home panel customization. If home screen panel customization is disabled, then I am afraid so is the app menu customization. In all other Galaxy S models, you can customize the bottom 3 app shortcuts on the dock, move the app icons around in the app menu and create new blank pages on app menu to categorize your app placement, and it is this kind of customization which I think is useful and important. But as shown in mobileburn video that I linked to in post #5 of this thread, Epic lacks both the customizations. As a commenter to the said video pointed out, is was probably possible to do it in landscape mode, but the video I linked to above shows it isn't. I am believing that since Epic has almost everything that its siblings are missing (flash, FFC, keyboard, 4G, camera key, LED notifications), samsung is balancing up its galaxy s lineup by giving Epic only 1GB ROM and leaving out some customization options that other galaxy s phones have. We will have to wait and see if they add these customizations to final Epic release.

I just dont see what they would gain from limiting the epic and not the other iterations of the galaxy series. Honestly I think we are thinking too far into it as most of the videos are pretty old and the phone hasnt released yet so only time will tell what the real situation is. Just my $.02

 

[karnovaran]

Why would you want any fewer than 7 anyway?

I actually only use one screen on my N1 with ADW Launcher:

And a swipe up reveals the app dock at the bottom: