vB Easy Archive - Samsung A717 Discussion of Features

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Samsung A717 Discussion of Features
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Posted by: Tjash2010

Since .7 hasnt put any stickies up, I thought I would start a discussion on some of the upcoming phones for Cingular.

Discuss here the features, release dates and such of the Samsung A717.

So far the features are known are --

Quad-band GSM/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
2-megapixel camera
2.3-inch, 262,000-color TFT screen, external OLED display
microSD slot
Stereo Bluetooth
USB 2.0
Measures 4.1 by 2.1 by 0.5 inches

Posted by: Laynie

lol wheres the outside screen?

Posted by: Tjash2010

Its at the very top. its not very big. Thats 1 thing I hate about it.

Posted by: shizri

they shuld of put bigger outside screen and buttens the pones sucs just because o those litle things if it had it it will bethe perfect phone

Posted by: Laynie

wow..this phone coulda had pontential.. ah well

Posted by: Tjash2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laynie

wow..this phone coulda had pontential.. ah well

Yea, I know. If they would've put a better screen on the front it woulda been really nice phone for me. Thats why I am getting the A727.

Posted by: Michael95GT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laynie

lol wheres the outside screen?

LOL, yeah at first I thought that was the back of the phone!

Posted by: FidoFan

I think because it's supposed to be a thin phone, that the external screen is pretty basic. A big colourful external screen isn't that useful in sunlight anyway, so why even bother.

Posted by: tuolumne

The display is actually very readable in light and such. Check out the Samsung M610 that Sprint carries if you want to see it up close. It's really not that bad.

Posted by: v13

I really like the M610 on sprint. Enough that i considered switching for about 5 seconds then thought the better of it.

Could someone explain the benefit of a full color outer screen? I have one on my 6131 and I think the only useful feature it provides me is a way to frame self potraits otherwise I just see it as a giant battery suck. I would much rather have a nice visible OLED like this that helps preserve battery life. Maybe thats just me though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuolumne

The display is actually very readable in light and such. Check out the Samsung M610 that Sprint carries if you want to see it up close. It's really not that bad.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

No it's not just you.

Give me a basic no-frills monochrome LCD any day. Battery, signal, and message waiting indicators visible 'round the clock.

Posted by: kyle16

Quote:

Originally Posted by WirelessAndy

No it's not just you.

Give me a basic no-frills monochrome LCD any day. Battery, signal, and message waiting indicators visible 'round the clock.

yep, i agree completely. wallpaper on an external lcd is just stupid and a battery waste!

Posted by: shizri

i rather buy cu500v it is more high endish than this(still not)

Posted by: i0wnj00

More pics of A717.
From MobileBurn.

I remember there was an old thread which mentioned that this was an triband UMTS and quadband GSM phone. There was a pic with the specs on a poster and the thing that caught my eye was the Triband HSDPA part.

Hopefully, the official specs do include the all three bands for 3G and not some goof from a Sammy rep. If it does, I'm hitting it..even with the small external screen.

Posted by: I have a phone

Quote:

Originally Posted by WirelessAndy

Give me a basic no-frills monochrome LCD any day. Battery, signal, and message waiting indicators visible 'round the clock.

that's exactly what you get here

Posted by: v13

Some of the shots I see of the A717 have a silver, etched, razor like keypad and some have the regular black keypad from M610. Was Samsung showing two different prototypes?

http://www.infosyncworld.com/mobili...g_sgh-a717.html

I'm thinking this will be the phone that replaces my 6131. I'm a big fan of the understated basic phone. It seems like every new phone has 4 outside buttons for the media player features that I will never ever use. Again maybe I'm the minority but I have an ipod(s) for listening to music.

Quote:

Originally Posted by i0wnj00

More pics of A717.
From MobileBurn.

I remember there was an old thread which mentioned that this was an triband UMTS and quadband GSM phone. There was a pic with the specs on a poster and the thing that caught my eye was the Triband HSDPA part.

Hopefully, the official specs do include the all three bands for 3G and not some goof from a Sammy rep. If it does, I'm hitting it..even with the small external screen.

Posted by: roots4x

I've always loved very basic OLED displays like that. 100% functional and no compromises. I mean, for current technology, I doubt they could make the phone that thin, and include an outer color display.

Posted by: HelloRobo

Quote:

Originally Posted by v13

I really like the M610 on sprint. Enough that i considered switching for about 5 seconds then thought the better of it.

Could someone explain the benefit of a full color outer screen? I have one on my 6131 and I think the only useful feature it provides me is a way to frame self potraits otherwise I just see it as a giant battery suck. I would much rather have a nice visible OLED like this that helps preserve battery life. Maybe thats just me though.

...and since the camera on the A717 rotates, you can use the internal screen to frame self portraits.

So yeah. I'm digging the minimalistic exterior. Hopefully it doesn't have a massive carrier logo like the M610.

Posted by: roots4x

you could just use a sharpie to black it out, right? I wish they made the outside metal or something because the bare plastic does kinda look weird.

Posted by: .7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjash2010

Since .7 hasnt put any stickies up, I thought I would start a discussion on some of the upcoming phones for Cingular.

Discuss here the features, release dates and such of the Samsung A717.

So far the features are known are --

Quad-band GSM/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
2-megapixel camera
2.3-inch, 262,000-color TFT screen, external OLED display
microSD slot
Stereo Bluetooth
USB 2.0
Measures 4.1 by 2.1 by 0.5 inches

I welcome it so thanks for taking the initative. I dont know everything thats coming down the pike.

Oh, and IMO A717=boring.

Posted by: v13

Boring is sometimes a good thing. If the battery life is at decent this will be my next phone unless there is something else in the 3G pipeline I'm not aware of.

Posted by: tuolumne

I just got the M610 and am in love with the phone. The screen is simply brilliant and the soft touch finish feels so posh! Also, the external OLED is so trick.

Posted by: MikeL0369

I agree with .7, very boring looking.

They could have at least made the exterior a metal or something better than an empty, plain black.

Other than that, it sounds interesting. Anyone know any price estimates yet?

Posted by: dsburto

Are there going to be any EnVy style phones coming to Cingular ever?!?

Posted by: Tjash2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsburto

Are there going to be any EnVy style phones coming to Cingular ever?!?

I guess we wont know til the time comes. Cingular has always been super competitive with Verizon, and especially lately.....so I guess we will see if the time ever comes....

Posted by: llnyp3ckll

phone scoop says the phone has only 1mp camera. anyone to confirm?

Posted by: shizri

http://phonearena.com/htmls/AT-T-ge...cle-a_1878.html

Posted by: Binx75075

Geeze..... looks like the Vxxx RAZR & the LG CU500 series.

Posted by: shizri

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binx75075

Geeze..... looks like the Vxxx RAZR & the LG CU500 series.

what??? the A717

Posted by: dole

if you've seen the m610 before, it has no resemblance to a Razr or the CU500 other than being a flip-style handset.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Does that external display stay on all the time, or does it go dark in standby?

Posted by: tuolumne

It turns off completely after a few seconds, which makes me a bit mad. The OLED on the SCH-a930, for example, will dim in standby mode and stay on indefinitely.

Posted by: tuolumne

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binx75075

Geeze..... looks like the Vxxx RAZR & the LG CU500 series.

maybe if you have no eyes...

Posted by: XxcyrusxX0526

I know it might be too early to know, but is anyone aware of any different type of colors this phone might be offered in? Honestly I'm not a big fan of the dull black color this phone will be released in

Posted by: v13

Just a guess but I don't think we will see any colors other than black. The picture in this thread also isn't the greatest. The M610 on sprint has much nicer finish. I'd be fine with that.

I realize it's probably too early to speculate on price but does any one have any guesses seeing that the N75 is going for $200 w/ a 2yr contract. The A717 seems like a step down from the N75 in terms of features seeing that it's not Symbian but who knows...it is thin and people pay for thin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxcyrusxX0526

I know it might be too early to know, but is anyone aware of any different type of colors this phone might be offered in? Honestly I'm not a big fan of the dull black color this phone will be released in

Posted by: at&t_hitman

This handset may be delayed?!

Posted by: v13

Where did you hear this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by at&t_hitman

This handset may be delayed?!

Posted by: Save NOLA

Delayed? lets hope not. i've been waiting to replace my 6131. phone scoop still says Q2.

Posted by: Joel954

Will the speakerphone work with the phone closed?

Posted by: xcrunner

looks like it will go for around $150 subsidized according to engadget.

Posted by: shortyd999

No outside screen, deal breaker.

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortyd999

No outside screen, deal breaker.

It has a outside screen.

Posted by: Joel954

This phone is being released on Monday, June 4th, 2007.

Click here for details.

Posted by: aw614

Quote:

Originally Posted by v13

Just a guess but I don't think we will see any colors other than black. The picture in this thread also isn't the greatest. The M610 on sprint has much nicer finish. I'd be fine with that.

I realize it's probably too early to speculate on price but does any one have any guesses seeing that the N75 is going for $200 w/ a 2yr contract. The A717 seems like a step down from the N75 in terms of features seeing that it's not Symbian but who knows...it is thin and people pay for thin.

reminds me of the softbank 706sc, I wonder if it would be possible to swap housings to get different colors

Posted by: '73-B

I picked up the phone yesterday. So far I like it, haven't had too much time to play though. I'll post more once I've had a chance to explore a bit.

About the front screen. I see no need to have a big front screen, just sucks battery life and is basically utterly uselss. I think the front screen is perfect on this phone, shows caller ID, basic info, etc. One quirk though, when you set the OLED to stay on, the time and date goes away after the screen dims, leaving only the battery level, voice mail, signal strength, etc. showing. I don't know why and I wish there was a way to keep the time and date showing as well.

Posted by: PhantomFone

I'm playing with one for a couple days. The Spring version looks better.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Quote:

Originally Posted by '73-B

I picked up the phone yesterday. So far I like it, haven't had too much time to play though. I'll post more once I've had a chance to explore a bit.

About the front screen. I see no need to have a big front screen, just sucks battery life and is basically utterly uselss. I think the front screen is perfect on this phone, shows caller ID, basic info, etc. One quirk though, when you set the OLED to stay on, the time and date goes away after the screen dims, leaving only the battery level, voice mail, signal strength, etc. showing. I don't know why and I wish there was a way to keep the time and date showing as well.

Huh? There's a way to get the external OLED to stay partially on?

I saw the 717 in a store the other day and could not find such a setting. I guess I didn't look hard enough.

Compared to the V3xx, how does the 717 perform reception-wise? The last Samsung I had from Cingular was the ZX10, and it left a very bad RF impression on me.

Posted by: CyberMoto

I went to two AT&T stores Thursday. No one had it. The 717 is on sale at the web site for $149.99 with $50 mail in rebate.

Posted by: jbzcar

For some reason, I really like the looks of this phone. I will have to pick one up when it gets cheap on Premier.

I really don't need it, but I collect phones, lol. My V3xx has not seen even one second of use since I got my Blackjack.

Posted by: myk03

This phone looks kind of interesting. I think I would have to see it before I actually bought it though.

Is there really a flash on it? I can't find one, I must be blind.

Posted by: ATnt-RSC

Quote:

Originally Posted by aw614

reminds me of the softbank 706sc, I wonder if it would be possible to swap housings to get different colors

No, the softbank is shaped like the m610, it bulges ever so slightly in the middle. a717 is a straight line from top to bottom, it looks a lot like the SYNC.

Posted by: aw614

oh ok, I guess I need to see both in person to see b/c on the sprint it doesnt have the tiny small bottom portion that sits flush when the flip is closed, but both the a717 and 706sc do. Dimension wise the a717 looks larger too

Posted by: tuolumne

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATnt-RSC

No, the softbank is shaped like the m610, it bulges ever so slightly in the middle. a717 is a straight line from top to bottom, it looks a lot like the SYNC.

softbank 706sc

samsung m610

Posted by: CyberMoto

I looked at the 717 Monday. Now if they would drop the price to $99 I'll buy one.

Posted by: Joel954

Yeah, $150 is pretty steep for this phone.

Posted by: CyberMoto

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel954

Yeah, $150 is pretty steep for this phone.

It's still new for AT&T. Nice they have lowered the price from $199 to $150 with rebate. Since all the V3s are $79.99 or less.

Posted by: archer6

I just received my A717, and this is one of those phones that looks so much nicer in person than in the pictures. I particularly like the small OLED external display, located near the top of the front flip, it leaves a clean smooth look. Nothing to worry about scratching when putting it in your pocket. The materials are first rate, plus they look and feel that way. The large 2.3" display is brilliant, colorful, and very easy to read. Call quality is great, every bit as good as my RAZR V3xx. I have both of these on AT&T so the comparison is fair. While I really like the V3xx, the A717 is the better of the two in my opinion. It's also lighter than expected and shaped just right so it feels very comfortable on long calls.

The keypad is very easy to use, fast for texting and it has great tactile feedback. Better than my V3xx, which also has a good keypad, just not this good. A nice surprise is how good the speaker phone is. With a wide range of adjustment all volumes from ringer, to receiver are sure to suit anyone. Even when using 3G and lots of browsing, battery life is very good. Viewing video clips is very clear, smooth and easy on the eyes. For those of you that have not used one of the newer Samsungs, the menus are easy to navigate and the UI is very logical. This is my second Samsung, the first being a Samsung Sync A707 on Cingular.

I chose the A717 for a few reasons.
1) I like the clamshell form factor when the phone is smooth and cleanly styled.
2) I like that it does not have a large display on the front. It has a totally different look than most flip phones.
3) The large internal 2.3" display.
4) It's 3G
5) Very high quality materials and assembly
6) Rotating 2MP Camera

Being very picky about phones, I can usually find a few things that I do not like. However this phone is an exception. I like everything about it and that's the real bonus here.

I highly suggest this phone to anyone that wants a high quality phone that is clear and fun to use. If you find the price a bit steep, compared to the heavily discounted RAZR's, I would wait a short while as I feel they will also be discounting this phone after it has been out for awhile. Just look at the huge discounts they are offering on the A707 now. It's a highly competitive market and this will push the price down on these shortly.

Posted by: cedar1

Some of you may want to see size comparison..

With V3xx

Posted by: CyberMoto

Thanks archer6. I liked what I've seen of the A717. I just got my new AT&T not cingy Plat V3xx yesterday. Now IF AT&T lowers the price in the next 3 weeks. I'll buy the A717.

Posted by: Robdec

The A717 looks like a great phone! I like the large display

Posted by: myk03

I have some questions for you..

Is there a selection of different skins?
Is the UI like the SYNC?
Is it as slow as the SYNC?
And is it as buggy as the SYNC?
And how is signal strength and overall volume?

Thanks in advance.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by myk03

I have some questions for you..

1) Is there a selection of different skins?
2) Is the UI like the SYNC?
3) Is it as slow as the SYNC?
4) And is it as buggy as the SYNC?
5) And how is signal strength and overall volume?

1) No
2) Improved
3) Faster
4) No bugs - What bugs have you experienced on SYNC?
5) Seems as good as my RAZR V3xx, which is excellent.

I'm very happy, much improved over my SYNC.

Posted by: myk03

Maybe samsung finally figured out how to make a loud phone that gets some sort of a signal :O

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by myk03

Maybe samsung finally figured out how to make a loud phone that gets some sort of a signal :O

Yeah, it is rather mind boggling that it took them this long. The call quality, clarity and ability to hang onto a signal are finally up to par. My A717 is as good as my RAZR V3xx. Samsung build quality on this phone is also very good, so it's a pleasant surprise all the way around.

Posted by: myk03

I like the fact it has an OLED display like my v551.

sounds good.

Posted by: tuolumne

v551 is just greyscale with a blue backlight

Posted by: myk03

Yeah, that's what I meant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuolumne

v551 is just greyscale with a blue backlight

Posted by: '73-B

So I owned the phone for about a week before I returned it. I really loved the OLED outer display. Looks very sleek. The thing I did not love about it is that the clock doesn't stay on. You can set it so the outer display dims, but when it dims the clock disappears. I found that to be incredibly lame. I loved the camera too, very slick and took good pics.

I also really liked the interface and inner display. Interface was fast and display was vibrant even with the brightness turned down. The thing that killed it for me is that it will not sync with my mac. I could send the card files over in one batch, which isn't bad, but there is no workable way to reverse sync.

I returned it and bought a V3xx, and I have to say I absolutely love it. Downloaded a patch so I can sync it with my mac and it does everything else the Sammy did. The camera is not as nice, but I could care less about that. As an added bonus, I picked up the V3xx for $49.99 and there is a $50 mail in rebate. That's $150 less than the Sammy after the rebate, so pretty much a no brainer for me.

One last thought, after a few seem edits, the V3xx is perfect for my needs.

So, long and short of it is, the Sammy is a great phone, solid UI, good RF, nice camera, but has a few quirks I found to be too annoying and what seems to be a pretty steep price point (for the moment).

Posted by: WirelessAndy

'73-B,

You say you set the OLED to "dim". I assume this is that setting to have it stay on?

When it does, what shows on the outer OLED? Battery, RF and missed messages?

Posted by: '73-B

You are correct, the setting was to have it stay on and when used in conjunction with the dim LCD setting it would also dim. The battery, signal, missed call information, and message indicator are the only things that would stay on the screen.

Posted by: johnsonic1

Hey - to see the time on the outer display, just press and the lower button on the outer rocker for a second, display will flash off, then come back with the time. It is dumb how they don't have an option to keep it on.

You CAN have signal strength, mode, and battery indicators lit at all times, just go to: settings --> display --> light settings --> backlight time --> front LCD indicator --> ON. All set.

Just got this phone a few hours ago, can tell I'm going to love it. The UI is a huge improvement over by d807. Irritated that they don't have a standard stereo headphone jack built in (can't use my really nice headphones), and there's no way to turn off the shutter sound on the camera.

Bought a samsung again because the workmanship is first-rate... my 807 got thrown full force at a brick wall the instant my girlfriend became an ex, and it kept going for 3 months!

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsonic1

You CAN have signal strength, mode, and battery indicators lit at all times, just go to: settings --> display --> light settings --> backlight time --> front LCD indicator --> ON. All set.

This method described above is what I used and it works perfectly.

I am very pleasantly surprised at how good the A717 is. I went into this purchase with tempered expectations as I had read and been told about Samsungs poor RF performance on earlier phones. And yet this model was so compelling once I saw it and read the specs that I just had to get one and see for myself. I also have a RAZR V3xx which is very nice, but I can honestly say from my perspective and experience that this Samsung is a better phone in many ways. The high quality materials that are used, the excellent design and build quality, as well as the overall performance make this phone a standout.

I like how well the flip lines up with the body of the phone when closed, and when open how sturdy it is. No looseness or wobbly feeling. The keypad is fast and comfortable, and the UI is improved as compared to the 707. It hangs onto a 3G signal perfectly instead of switching between EDGE and 3G as the Sync used to do. The call clarity, and ability to hang onto a signal are very good. I've traveled through areas that typically have a very week signal and the 717 has continued to function without any dropouts.

I'm happy to report that I can highly suggest this phone, as it's one of the first (of many) phones I've had that live up to all my expectations.

Posted by: mbranscum

Does the 717 have the nagging java permissions popping up constantly when you use something like Opera Mini?

Posted by: myk03

I too use a d807 and was thinking of upgrading to this phone. Is it comparable or do you like it better than your d807? It is probably my favorite phone I have ever used, and I don't really want to upgrade, but I can't pass up an offer for a new phone

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsonic1

Bought a samsung again because the workmanship is first-rate... my 807 got thrown full force at a brick wall the instant my girlfriend became an ex, and it kept going for 3 months!

Posted by: johnsonic1

The 807 was my favorite phone and I wasn't going to replace it unless I had to. Well, I did and I'm happy! The 807 had many annoying UI problems, and was super-duper quiet, and didn't drop signals much but did sound fuzzy to people on the other end.

What I found was, I was so used to a crappy signal, that now with the 717 it sounds like the other person is in the room.

Need to get used to a clamshell again though, that slide of the 807 was eerily satisfying.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbranscum

Does the 717 have the nagging java permissions popping up constantly when you use something like Opera Mini?

No, my 717 is working flawlessly, very fast, stable, and reliable with great call quality and volume.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by myk03

I too use a d807 and was thinking of upgrading to this phone. Is it comparable or do you like it better than your d807? It is probably my favorite phone I have ever used, and I don't really want to upgrade, but I can't pass up an offer for a new phone

I have a friend with a D807, it has been his favorite phone until I let him try my 717 and he was super impressed and bought one right away. Since I bought mine 3 other friends have upgraded to the 717 and all are very happy.

Posted by: Joel954

Does the A717 use the same charger as the A707?

Posted by: myk03

My one and only complaint with the d807 is the call volume, and that is the only reason why I want to switch phones..

Posted by: CyberMoto

Quote:

Originally Posted by archer6

Do you like the 717 better than the V3XX? I'm thinking of buying the 717. To replace the V3xx.

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel954

Does the A717 use the same charger as the A707?

Yes it does.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberMoto

Do you like the 717 better than the V3XX? I'm thinking of buying the 717. To replace the V3xx.

Yes I do. And I'm a big Moto fan, but I'm very happy to report that the 717 is a much better phone. Call strength, quality regarding tone of voice is simply amazing. I will admit that I was very concerned about that aspect of the phone before I bought one, as I had read so many reports of weak RF reception being an issue in Samsung phones. Well, not this one, they have finally fixed it. As much as I like the V3xx (I still have it) there is enough of an improvement between the two, that it's the 717 hands down.

I also really like the very small external display which gives the phone such a sleek, classy look. The finish of the body is exemplary and meets my admittedly picky expectations. Another really nice feature is the increase in the icon and text size over the V3xx. It's only about 10%, but that makes a huge difference when taking a quick glance at the screen. Also the phone appears thinner than it actually is due to the fact that the keypad is black just like the phone. Also it has a great feel in your hands. Not slippery, or a fingerprint magnet.

Due to the size and shape while it's actually 2mm wider and 5mm taller than a V3xx it feels much smaller, thinner and lighter due to the subtle design curves. These same curves make it feel much more secure in your hand. So far in now just two weeks I have not dropped it once. That as opposed to the rather frequent drops with the V3xx. The keypad is also a step up from the RAZR, and I really like the v3 keypad. It's just that Samsung has improved on it and the difference is quite noticeable. Another area of great improvement is the hinge for the flip. It's very robust, smooth, and has no looseness side to side. It aligns perfectly when closed. In fact it fits so closely and is so thin that it's a bit harder to open quickly when receiving a call until you get used to it. Then it's no big deal.

The camera on this phone is also much better than the one on the v3xx. Having the ability to rotate the lens around the pivot point of the hinge allows you to take pictures at different angles without having to hold the camera at odd angles. A small, yet very nice benefit.

I can definitely suggest this phone as a great replacement for the V3xx.

Hope this info helps you,
Cheers....

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberMoto

Thanks archer6. I liked what I've seen of the A717. I just got my new AT&T not cingy Plat V3xx yesterday. Now IF AT&T lowers the price in the next 3 weeks. I'll buy the A717.

While I do not wish to list the price I paid for the A717, I will say that I paid well below $100.00 total, including tax. They even shipped it for free. And I bought this phone the very day it was released. The person on the phone did not even know what it was until I insisted that it was indeed a phone in their lineup.

Here is how to accomplish this:

If you call in to AT&T customer service, then Sales dept, you can get a great discount if you are patient, pleasant, and ask for one. The key is to be patient and be prepared to spend some time on the phone. Tell them you are very happy with the AT&T service and you would be happy to extend your contract another 2 years. That you have a high lifetime value to them as a loyal customer and your current phone is acting up. Your not sure how much longer it's going to last and you do not want to be without a phone. Be specific, when asking for the Samsung A717. When they try to give you a deal on a A707 Sync, tell them that you really appreciate that offer, however it's the A717 that meets your long term needs.

We started out at $349 when I was negotiating for mine as I was not eligible for an upgrade as I'm always buying phones from them. I got them down in a few steps. It went from 349 to 249, at which point I thanked them for the generous offer, however it was more than I could afford (not really) and that I was thinking that since it's a lot like the Samsung Sync which they are selling at $24.95 that perhaps I could get the A717 for $49.99. They said no, but lowered the price from 249 to 179. Again I thanked them and kept talking. Finally settling on a price below $100 including tax as I mentioned above.

This would be a good time to buy one as the focus right now at AT&T is on a few other phones, especially the iPhone. They have lots of A717's in stock as well.

Hope this helps you,
Cheers....

Posted by: Joel954

I'm waiting for FedEx to deliver mine today. WooHoo!

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel954

I'm waiting for FedEx to deliver mine today. WooHoo!

Hey Joel954,

Congratulations on your new A717 you are really going to enjoy it!

After you have it up and running and have used it for a short while, be sure and give us your impressions.

Cheers....

Posted by: jzinckgra

damn, and I was just looking at the LG 500v. Anybody compare these two? I heard ATT might be coming out with the LG 575 in a couple weeks, so now I am really on the fence. I bought a 3xxx a week ago (ebay) and must have gotten a lemon, cause the call Q stinks. Reception is great though.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzinckgra

damn, and I was just looking at the LG 500v. Anybody compare these two? I heard ATT might be coming out with the LG 575 in a couple weeks, so now I am really on the fence.

I'm familiar with the two LG models to are referring to, however I have not used either of them. What I do have to say about LG phones after having more than 6 of them in the last year, is that I've been very disappointed with the call quality and lack of reception. In addition I find the build quality varies quite a bit from one phone to the next. I believe they have quality control issues that are not being addressed.

The Samsung A717 is absolutely the best flip phone of any I have had in the last 5 years during which I've had about 40 phones.

I'm on my third week with this 717 and I travel (by car) all over the state of CA. and it's performed ideally no matter what area I'm in. Since I have a rather set route for my work contacts, I know where the weak areas are as far as cell phone coverage. This phone has not dropped out, or even become noisy, nor do I hear static in the weak areas. It just locks onto the signal and performs. I could not be happier.

Cheers....

Posted by: Joel954

I received a defective one today. Darn! The earpiece buzzes when the person on the other end speaks. Sounds like the speaker is blown. The phone is awesome otherwise. AT&T is sending me a replacement. Hopefully the next one will be good.

Posted by: jzinckgra

Just checked the price. ouch, $349 from Att without discounts. I am not eligible for an upgrade yet. fleebay had a couple , but were pretty pricey too. any other places to hit?

Posted by: hmaiwand

I just got my A717 yesterday and I too am very happy with it. I don't have too much to add in terms of review because of the previous posts, but the phone feels, sounds and looks great.

That being said, there are a couple things that I wish they had done differently such as USB charger and stereo headset jack. Another issue I have is the Music hard-key below the left softkey. I have no intentions of using the phone as a music player and would really love to use that real estate for another function. Does anyone know of a way to re-assign this key?

Despite these few minor issues, the phone is great. I highly recommend it

Posted by: jzinckgra

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmaiwand

I just got my A717 yesterday and I too am very happy with it. I don't have too much to add in terms of review because of the previous posts, but the phone feels, sounds and looks great.

That being said, there are a couple things that I wish they had done differently such as USB charger and stereo headset jack. Another issue I have is the Music hard-key below the left softkey. I have no intentions of using the phone as a music player and would really love to use that real estate for another function. Does anyone know of a way to re-assign this key?

Despite these few minor issues, the phone is great. I highly recommend it

where and how much, if you don't mind me asking did you get yours? tx.

Posted by: hmaiwand

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzinckgra

where and how much, if you don't mind me asking did you get yours? tx.

I got mine at an AT&T store in Nanuet, NY. After rebate it is ~$170. May have been able to haggle a little, but it was on the company card

Posted by: jzinckgra

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmaiwand

I got mine at an AT&T store in Nanuet, NY. After rebate it is ~$170. May have been able to haggle a little, but it was on the company card

so was your rebate due to opening a new account or an upgrade?

Posted by: CyberMoto

Quote:

Originally Posted by archer6

Thanks for the info. This helps. Nice to hear no fingerprints that the V3xx. The 717 does feel lighter than the V3xx.

Posted by: CyberMoto

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel954

I'm waiting for FedEx to deliver mine today. WooHoo!

How much did you pay for ypur new 717? I'm still trying to buy one for $99. So far best price $149.

Posted by: CyberMoto

archer6 So far the hinge on the Platinum V3xx I have works well. Not lose. I've had it for two weeks. Plus it's an AT&T not cingy. But the outer screen stinks. You can't see it most of the time. I called Moto last week. They said they no about it. And are working on it.

Posted by: hmaiwand

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzinckgra

so was your rebate due to opening a new account or an upgrade?

Oh, sorry, no. It was a new account, but I just looked and it seems that you can get it for $150 now with a plan after rebate on the AT&T site.

Posted by: hmaiwand

I don't know how legit this is, but I found the a717 for $99 on amazon. Link

Just to reiterate, I did not get my phone this way, but I stumbled on this link. Thought it might be useful for some

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by archer6

I've had this phone for a little over a week now. It's a great phone! Better than the A707, as it improves on that phone. It's LOUD. The ringer is loud, earpiece is loud and speakerphone is loud. It feels really good in my hand. Songs can be played in the background in the Media Player and the songs pause when a call comes in and resumes playing when the call ends. Call quality is excellent. I love the simple screen on the front.

The entire phone is top quality. They used the good stuff on the inside. The camera is superb, the battery meter is accurate and the battery lasts longer than the A707 did. I also like the way it fits in my pocket. Very slim.

I'm have a feeling I'm going to have this phone for a long, long time. Best phone on the market right now.

Posted by: RYOBI

Does the A717 have a nag alert for when you've missed calls or VM, like the motos do?

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Quote:

Originally Posted by RYOBI

Does the A717 have a nag alert for when you've missed calls or VM, like the motos do?

I do recall seeing that setting. I haven't tried it because I haven't bought one yet.

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by RYOBI

Does the A717 have a nag alert for when you've missed calls or VM, like the motos do?

It does for voicemails, but not for missed calls.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

...and SMS'es too, right? (Assuming you haven't touched your phone)

Posted by: Joel954

Yes, any message alert including text messages.

Posted by: zoma4

Newegg now has this phone for ZERO with new activation. No rebate hassle either.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16875176041

Posted by: IdioTech

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel954

It's LOUD. The ringer is loud, earpiece is loud and speakerphone is loud.

I recently got this phone and I disagree, it's actually surprisingly quiet. Am I missing something or should I go try and get a replacement?

Posted by: pje200

Mine is pretty loud, you could go to inthesynchole.com and follow the instructions on how to increase volume on the a707 it also works on the a717.

Posted by: IdioTech

inthesynchole.com is either non existant or i just can't find it. Do you have a link by chance?

Posted by: Joel954

The Sync website

There's no "in". It isn't a Verizon phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Adeelr26

RE: that newegg offer.... I'm an existing ATT customer who'se out of contract. If I go through newegg can i get that deal (free 717) and keep my existing#? can I then change it to a family plan as I'm looking to do soon? Have a 15 perc corp discount on bill currently on my account...will I lose it if I go that route?

Posted by: Mojo_LA

A friend of mine got this phone and wow, I really like it.

I just bought a new phone and re-signed my 2 year contract with Verizon, but I have to admit NONE of the phones were exactly what I wanted... and for over a year I've been looking and waiting.

I ended up with the LG 8700, but this Samsung really "speaks" to me... it has everything I wanted - OLED outer display, 320x240 screen that can display pics FULL SCREEN (almost every Verizon phone squishes it to a small inner window), MP3 player and a good camera.

Can anyone tell me about the MP3 player on this phone? Does it sort by tags? Can you create multiple folders? All of Verizon's phones make you stick ALL your MP3s in a single "my music" folder.

Can the A717 address 4 gig micro SD cards?

Does this phone offer web access?

My only concern is coverage, because everyone keeps telling me that Verizon does have the best network... it almost seems silly to switch just for a phone, but I still have 3 weeks to return everything and opt out...

Any suggestions?

Posted by: archer6

My Samsung A717 just turned two months old and I've used it everyday since I got it. My other phones are just sitting. This is one of the nicest phones I've ever had. It's significantly better than my A707 Sync.

The 717 has everything I've always wanted in a flip phone, and nothing that I don't want.

1) Very thin, being all matte black it has the slick stealth look.

2) Samsung and AT&T logos are barely visible. Not big bright and ugly logos like on the 707 sync.

3) Excellent build quality with no creaks or movement. This phone is clearly from the Samsung Ultra line.

4) Very large, robust hinge, and the camera can be rotated to hide the lens, when the phone is closed. Therefore you cannot even tell it has a camera and the lens is fully protected against the elements and scratches. When using the camera, it pivots around the hinge and makes it a lot easier to aim, as you move the camera, not the phone. The 2MP camera provides excellent pictures. The best of any 2MP camera I've owned.

5) The 3G internet experience on this phone is awesome! I have four other 3G phones including the RAZR V3xx which is a very nice phone, but does not come close to the superior net experience the A717 provides. The Cingular/AT&T Video service on this phone is truly incredible. With a larger display than the V3xx, as well as it being a little brighter with much better color saturation and depth, it's truly amazing. This phone has been optimized for a great web and video experience and it really shows.

6) Best keypad of all, and I really like the RAZR keypad, but this one is much better. It has very small low profile horizontal dividers between each row of keys making it much easier to dial without looking, as you must do with the A707.

7) Terrific RF Reception. I have traveled all over California with this phone like I did with the others I have and this phone has never dropped a call. When traveling in areas that I know are weak areas, this phone continues to hand onto the signal and remains loud and clear. This is the first phone where nearly everyone I call, says it sounds like I'm on a landline. A huge improvement for Samsung.

8) Very scratch resistant, after two months of carrying it in my pocket, and without using a case, it's perfectly scratch & dust free.

9) Ergonomically it's the most comfortable phone, especially when using it one handed. The keyboard is placed up near the top of the phone so the bottom row of keys are about 25mm from the bottom of the phone. This makes it perfect and super fast for texting as the balance of the phone is perfect. Also since the sides have a slight curve from top to bottom (not straight like a RAZR) it makes the phone very comfortable and extra secure to hold. The first phone I've not dropped.

10) Battery life is a lot better than the A707 and the battery meter is much more accurate.

These are just 10 highlights (of many) from my perspective. After all the phones I've had, it's a real joy to find one that meets my needs perfectly. I have no complaints with this phone at all, and that says a lot, because I'm super picky. It's the first phone that I have not been able to pick apart. It's also a phone that I will using for more than just a few months as I typically do before getting bored and moving onto the next new phone.

I highly endorse this phone for anyone that wants a super high quality phone that is very durable, reliable and performs with great speed.

I could not be happier. Very refreshing to have a phone perform as well as this one.

Posted by: pje200

I agree with everything you said, its the best phone I ever had, and I had alot, a707,e50,6126,6131,w810i,v3xx,6270,z520,orig razr,and some I cant remember.

Posted by: Adeelr26

Thanks for the great reviews guys. I will likely pick mine up in then next couple of days.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

Hey, I have some questions about the A717 and started a new thread just in case people weren't checking this one... can anyone take a look and see if you can help me out with this phone before I commit to buying it? Thanks.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...922#post9683922

Posted by: Adeelr26

I am an existing AT&T customer who has been out of contract for a year and a half. I have a corp discount of 15 percent off my bill as a perk with my company, however my plan is an individual plan that I pay for, not my company. My question is if I go through newegg for the 717, will i be able to essentially keep the same account (my number and discount)?

Thanks

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adeelr26

I am an existing AT&T customer who has been out of contract for a year and a half. I have a corp discount of 15 percent off my bill as a perk with my company, however my plan is an individual plan that I pay for, not my company. My question is if I go through newegg for the 717, will i be able to essentially keep the same account (my number and discount)?

Thanks

https://www.wireless.att.com/business/shop/

This may not be the right thread for this question. This thread is about the Samsung A717, not equip discounts.

Posted by: bbechtel16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adeelr26

I contacted Newegg regarding this and they told me that the discount was for new activations only. I made a brief attempt at haggling with AT&T, which was completely futile. I am currently awaiting arrival of this phone through Amazon for $100. Pay for the upgrade from free shipping if you want this phone any time soon, they use USPS non-priority I believe.

Posted by: uncle buck

Does anyone know if you can sync the phone with outlook contacts?

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle buck

Does anyone know if you can sync the phone with outlook contacts?

Yes you can.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

Can someone post a link or post some pics taken with the A717? I can't seem to find any...

Posted by: uncle buck

Could you explain how (to sync with Outlook), becuase I have plugged into the usb and all the phone says is connecting?

Posted by: Adeelr26

Just picked mine up today.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

That you Adeelr that was a very helpful discussion of features.

Posted by: Baldilocks

Why did they have to make this phone so LONG when opened????!!! It's longer than even the Razr2 V9.

Posted by: Joel954

So that it would feel comfortable when held in the hand when dialing, texting and navigating through the menu.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

Is there any good reason to buy an unbranded/unlocked version of this phone?

Posted by: kaneman

This phone was released in Japan as the Softbank SGH-707SCII. The A717 is pretty much the same thing... I bought the Softbank version JUST before AT&T announced this. Given that the J-phone is 1900 only, has a locked browser, etc... I'm very happy AT&T rolled this out. Now if Amazon will just get mine here.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

Is there any good reason to buy an unbranded/unlocked version of this phone?

Seeing that there are only two carriers: AT&T & T-Mobile that use GSM sim cards for their GSM networks, the advantage of getting one unlocked would be if T-Mobile has better coverage in your area than AT&T. However noticing that you are on Verizon, you would have to switch to one of those two carriers anyway, so if you went to AT&T you can get the phone at the best subsidized price, thereby saving money on the phone.

I have mine with AT&T and have been with them of years. I travel all over Calif. on business and have been extremely happy with my A717. It's two months old and performs much better than my past RAZRS did. Good call quality, clarity and great reception. It has several features that my Samsung Sync A707 does not and beyond that, I really like the styling. It's much more subtle. The AT&T and Samsung logos are a dark grey against the black body and barely noticeable. On the 707 they were so big and bold it degraded the look of the phone. The OLED external display is perfect for me as I only care about checking the time that display, and positioned near the top of the flip and being very small also lends to a very classy looking phone.

Posted by: Adeelr26

I'm pretty happy with mine so far. I kind of wish the earpiece was a bit louder. My sister's CU500 is insanely loud on max setting, which is great for noisy areas. I can see myself having trouble hearing with this outside.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldilocks

Why did they have to make this phone so LONG when opened????!!! It's longer than even the Razr2 V9.

That's not true. The A717 and RAZR2 V, are exactly the same dimensions with the only difference being the RAZR which is 2mm narrower.

I like the extra length as it puts the ear piece speaker just where it belongs and the microphone is closer to your mouth. When calling people it's so clear than many ask me if I'm on a land line.

Another benefit of the size is that they have room to move the keypad near the top of the bottom half, thereby making texting much easier as you do not have to reach all the way down to the bottom of the phone for the last row of keys. This keypad is also much easier to use than a RAZR keypad, and don't get me wrong I have a RAZR V3xx which I really liked until I got the A717 which is just that much better. Thinner by 2mm it fits very easily in my pocket and I like the all black stealth look.

The A717 is everything I wished the 707 would have been. Needless to say once I saw this model upon it's release I bought one right away and could not be happier.

Posted by: grmorrow04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adeelr26

I'm pretty happy with mine so far. I kind of wish the earpiece was a bit louder. My sister's CU500 is insanely loud on max setting, which is great for noisy areas. I can see myself having trouble hearing with this outside.

http://www.thesynchole.com/

Look for information regarding the volume increase... the same process that is for the A707 can be applied to the A717.

If the A717 isn't loud enough for me when I get mine, I'll use that site as a way to mod it to my liking.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

Once again I kindly ask if anyone with an A717 can post some pics taken with the camera... there is not a single one in this entire thread!

Posted by: llnyp3ckll

just try to go to some website like mobile-review.com and look for reviews on other samsung phones with 2mp camera. they have some picture taken with those 2mp cameras in the review and picture quality should be same as with a717 cuz samsung most likely use same camera module on their 2mp camera phones.

Posted by: archer6

Quote:

Originally Posted by llnyp3ckll

just try to go to some website like mobile-review.com and look for reviews on other samsung phones with 2mp camera. they have some picture taken with those 2mp cameras in the review and picture quality should be same as with a717 cuz samsung most likely use same camera module on their 2mp camera phones.

Actually, the pictures are far superior on the A717, I know because I have them both. The A707 Sync is just a regular camera. The A717 has Autofocus, and many other adjustments that are missing on the 707. It also records Video, and has a Video Player, Video Streaming, Video telephony & Video messaging.

For some reason there is a general belief out there that the A717 and A707 Snyc are the same phone, just different styling and nothing could be further from the truth.

If you question that the info I'm supplying is true: simply go to Samsung USA and they have the details there to verify what I'm posting. Since I had the Sync from the day it was released, and now the A717, I'm in a position to share the side by side comparison and the user experience.

From my experience with these two they are like night and day. Styling aside as that is personal preference, in terms of functionality the A717 simply blows away the A707.

The A717 is a greatly refined and improved model with additional functionality that is very handy.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Whoah... I did NOT know the A717 was autofocus!

I had to look it up. You're right!

http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/...AATT&fullspec=F

Posted by: grmorrow04

Damn! I didn't know that either... AF? Man... where's the LED flash Samsung? That would make this PERFECT for me.

That site listed above even shows it as having an LED flash...

Wait a sec...

If they say it has a flash, but it doesn't...

Then how can we believe that it has AF, when the site is lying about other features?

Posted by: archer6

Just a typo, on that one feature. I know because I have the A717.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

I have looked up reviews online for the A717... there are only a few and none of them have example pics.

Come on Samsung owners, this is the A717 thread! Post a few pics and let other info-hungry thread readers get the "whole picture" for this phone, hee hee.

Posted by: Adeelr26

Quote:

Originally Posted by grmorrow04

apparently if you want to keep the mod'd settings you can't ever turn off you're phone!

Posted by: IdioTech

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adeelr26

apparently if you want to keep the mod'd settings you can't ever turn off you're phone!

Only for certain features. Handset volume isn't affected by this. I modded mine via the directions on that sight and I have turned it off and on and it has retained the boost in volume.

Posted by: BonafideZulu

Hey guys, I just exchanged my A727 for the A717. The A727 was just too small for my "man hands" and the camera sucked. For the 5 minutes I played around with the A717 (charging overnight before use), I appreciate the larger keyboard (which I needed), I guess candy bar phones are not for me. Anyway, I have a few questions:

1. Has anyone found a way to enable the games folder to show up in the Samsung PC Studio app? Any other methods?

2. Is there a way to make the external OLED screen stay on w/ time?

Thanks,
BonafideZulu

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonafideZulu

2. Is there a way to make the external OLED screen stay on w/ time?

I actually know the answer to this one! Yes there is. It's in one of the settings menu. I've tried this on all the 717's I've played with in the store.

Posted by: grmorrow04

Actually, unless I missed something in the menus, the only thing the setting does that you are referring to is keep the indicators on (Signal, message, and battery).

In order to show the time, you have to hit one of the side buttons for about 3 seconds until the time shows up.

I'm sure before too long, there wil be a hack (I hope) to enable the time on the outer screen either all the time or with a quick flick of one of the side buttons.

Posted by: BonafideZulu

Hmm, where do you see the option to make the time stay permanently on? I noticed that only the signal and battery symbols stay. Well, it doesn't matter, I usually wear a watch.

I guess no one has found a way to enable the games folder to show up in PC Studio or anywhere else?

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Whups, I misread that.

Yes, there is a setting to always show bars, battery...

No setting to include the clock.

My bad.

Posted by: BonafideZulu

No problem, that's good enough I guess.

Anyway have an answer to my 1st question?

Posted by: Mojo_LA

I'm still waiting for someone, after 10 pages of this thread, to post even ONE picture taken with this camera.

Or send a link.

Or email me some.

Posted by: grmorrow04

I should have mine in the next day or two... I'll post up pictures with it.

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

I'm still waiting for someone, after 10 pages of this thread, to post even ONE picture taken with this camera.

Or send a link.

Or email me some.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Well, that's boatloads better than my Nokia 6230b...! Then again, an Etch-A-Sketch does better than a 6230b...

The first shot I enlarged was the one of the pooch, and I was dissapointed. Then I realized the dog must have been moving!

Thanks for the pics, Joel!

Posted by: Mojo_LA

Yes, thanks a ton!

It looks like it's about average for a cameraphone... which is good - not the best, but nothing to really complain about - decent, solid pics.

Posted by: bbechtel16

How did you get those pics off your phone? I know I can email/text them to myself or w/e, but I'd prefer not to. Can you do it via Bluetooth? I assume you can copy to a Mini SD if you have one? I really don't want to buy Samsung's proprietary cable and software to move pictures off the phone and ringtones onto it.

Posted by: BonafideZulu

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbechtel16

How did you get those pics off your phone? I know I can email/text them to myself or w/e, but I'd prefer not to. Can you do it via Bluetooth? I assume you can copy to a Mini SD if you have one? I really don't want to buy Samsung's proprietary cable and software to move pictures off the phone and ringtones onto it.

Buying the cable is probably your cheapest ($12) and easiest way of transferring stuff of your phone...

Anyway, here are a few more shots:

Posted by: Adeelr26

bluetooth is the easiest way, no proprietary cables and software required

Posted by: bbechtel16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adeelr26

bluetooth is the easiest way, no proprietary cables and software required

Can you explain how to do this via BT? I was screwing around with it a little today and couldn't figure it out.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbechtel16

Can you explain how to do this via BT? I was screwing around with it a little today and couldn't figure it out.

Mac or Windows?

Posted by: bbechtel16

Both? :-) I have a Mac at home and a Windows laptop for work. I was trying the Windows route today. If I had to choose I would say with the Mac. Thanks.

Posted by: WirelessAndy

It's really easy. A quick google search turned up this, with pics:

http://aplawrence.com/MacOSX/bluetooth.html

Posted by: PDXMatt

Hello at&t peoples. I am Matt from T-Mobile.

I just got this phone Monday unlocked from a friend who is now using my unlocked Dash. Wooo GSM ftw.

Anyway, I like it a lot. I also have an unlocked D900, but I like that I can throw it my pocket and not have to worry about scratch the main screen (unlike D900). The one thing that annoys me is the at&t stuff that you can't seem to remove. The contacts like *NOW, and the Favourites. I like the discreet styling too.

Posted by: bbechtel16

Thanks for the link Andy. Unfortunately it only almost worked. When go to browse device, a folder structure appears similar to that in my phone. However, all the folders claim to be empty, when they are not. Is AT&T locking me out? Perhaps there is a setting in the "secret menu" used primarily to increase volume?

Matt I had the same complaint and found a solution. Save all your contacts to your SIM if they aren't already. Then go into Menu, Settings, Application Settings, Address Book Settings, and change your View Contacts option from both to SIM only. I also recommend setting Save New Contacts to default to SIM rather than Always Ask. I wish I would have set that option before manually adding like 70 contacts.

Posted by: PDXMatt

Most of my contacts are on my SIM, but a few have custom ringers and need to be on the phone.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

I think I this will be my weekend phone, I went to the corporate store today and played with it and the phone is definitely SOLID.

Samsung build quality is always top tier.

Posted by: ratcheer

I got my A717 Monday (five days ago). I really like it, so far. My favorite feature to date is that I can copy music directly from iTunes in the iTunes format. The ones I copied from my CD's play just fine, but the ones I downloaded from the iTunes Store will not play because they are DRM protected. Oh, well.

Today, I signed up for the Media Max 200 bundle. Then I installed the Opera Mini browser. It installed and surfed, immediately, but when I exited it and tried to start it again, I couldn't find it for a while. I finally found it in the Games folder.

I have been trying to use Gmail mobile, but so far it only gives me the full-sized Gmail web page. Gmail is supposed to detect when you are coming to it from a cell phone and adjust, accordingly, but it isn't doing that, for me. Then I found a new address, m.gmail,com, but I haven't tried it, yet.

Anyway, this is by far the best phone I've ever owned. I wanted to wait for the RAZR2 V9, but I couldn't afford it, anyway.

Tim

Posted by: HazelGirl

I got mine wednesday and like it except the earpiece and even ringer volumes are so low. I can bearly hear them even with the volume all the way up! I may return it but i wouldn't know for what. I don't want to go with a Motorola because of bad experience...i dunno...we will see.

Posted by: Mark Larson

There is no way the A717 has AF. The m610 is also listed as having AF, and guess what, it doesn't. Its very obvious when a camera has AF, these ones don't.

Posted by: ratcheer

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratcheer

I have been trying to use Gmail mobile, but so far it only gives me the full-sized Gmail web page. Gmail is supposed to detect when you are coming to it from a cell phone and adjust, accordingly, but it isn't doing that, for me. Then I found a new address, m.gmail,com, but I haven't tried it, yet.

The m.gmail.com URL does give me the mobile interface. I wonder why the normal address doesn't work? I wonder if it would work if I used the AT&T MediaNet browser? I am using Opera Mini, which I would think is a much better browser.

Tim

Posted by: Adeelr26

one really annoying feature is that you can't transfer a call to bluetooth if you didn't already have bluetooth switched on before you took the call.

Posted by: Adeelr26

Does leaving bluetooth "on" all the time even if you're not paired (and in non broadcast mode) drain the battery a lot more?

Posted by: HazelGirl

is there a way to force this phone into Edge only? just curious.

Posted by: Joel954

Clarivue has released screen protectors for this phone:

http://www.clarivue.com/detail.asp?key=Screen_Protector_Phone_Samsung_A717

Posted by: WirelessAndy

InvisibleShield has a full body skin.

http://www.shieldzone.com/item_desc...n/SAMA717F.html

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by WirelessAndy

InvisibleShield has a full body skin.

http://www.shieldzone.com/item_desc...n/SAMA717F.html

They have had that since the phone was released in June. The Clarivue protector is new!

Posted by: WirelessAndy

Great! More choices.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

Has there ever been a firmware update for this phone? I may be picking one up tonight and was hoping an update might have given the camera some features I've seen on other Samsung phones in the same class, using the same software...

Mainly, exposure control. The last time I saw the 717 is had "brightness," which made the picture you are about to take brighter or darker, but that's not the same thing as actually having exposure control.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

So I picked up my 717 last night... they price-matched Amazon and gave me the phone for free. I really like it so far!

I looked around HoFo but didn't see any FAQ or thread that discussed "how-to's" like adding ringtones, wallpaper, tips & tricks, etc... can anyone point me to a thread or a link that has this?

Thanks.

Posted by: Baldilocks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

So I picked up my 717 last night... they price-matched Amazon and gave me the phone for free. I really like it so far!

I looked around HoFo but didn't see any FAQ or thread that discussed "how-to's" like adding ringtones, wallpaper, tips & tricks, etc... can anyone point me to a thread or a link that has this?

Thanks.

I think that it pretty much identical to the SYNC as far as it's software. That might be a good place to start I suppose.

Posted by: Joel954

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldilocks

I think that it pretty much identical to the SYNC as far as it's software. That might be a good place to start I suppose.

You are correct sir. One difference is the A717 is mono and the SYNC has stereo speakers. The software and I
U are very similar and the hacks are the same. Check out: http://thesynchole.com/.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Hey on that price match was it a new line you were doing or an contract renewal/upgrade?

Posted by: Mojo_LA

It was for a new contract. Almost two days and my number from Verizon has STILL not been ported.

Here are the things I'm trying to work out on the a717 so far...

- earpiece volume seems pretty low even at highest setting
- mp3's transfered to be ringtones sound pretty bad
- the "profiles" thing is kind of confusing... it would be nice to just have easy to adjust papareters for key tones, ear volume, ring volume, etc, and just be done with it

Does anyone know what the latest firmware is? I'd like to be sure mine is the latest.

Also, has there been any discussion about flashing the phone, perhaps with the firmware of the a727 (I think that's the candybar version of this phone)? The camera on the candybar version has some tweaks in the software that make it perform better, but it's still essentiall the same software/phone.

Posted by: pje200

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_LA

It was for a new contract. Almost two days and my number from Verizon has STILL not been ported.

Here are the things I'm trying to work out on the a717 so far...

- earpiece volume seems pretty low even at highest setting
- mp3's transfered to be ringtones sound pretty bad
- the "profiles" thing is kind of confusing... it would be nice to just have easy to adjust papareters for key tones, ear volume, ring volume, etc, and just be done with it

Does anyone know what the latest firmware is? I'd like to be sure mine is the latest.

Also, has there been any discussion about flashing the phone, perhaps with the firmware of the a727 (I think that's the candybar version of this phone)? The camera on the candybar version has some tweaks in the software that make it perform better, but it's still essentiall the same software/phone.

Go to the thesynchole and follow the instructions on how to increase the volume if it is to low for you, you can adjust it as loud as you want.

Posted by: Mojo_LA

I managed to adjust the earpiece volume to the point where I'm happy, and I figured out how to turn off the automatic gain control (AGC) which plays havoc with volume (I posted a how-to).

The one thing I still can't figure out is which parameter adjusts the volume of ringtones when the phone rings... I've played with several volume setting in the service menus, adjusting them WAY up, but I can't seem to get ringtones to play back any louder...

Posted by: mts7

I'll look into the ringtone thing. I just got my camera to stop making noise. I got the phone on October 19.

I just bought the USB cable on eBay for $19.90 with a car charger.

I adjusted the volumes so the earpiece and speaker phone are up quite a lot. I hope this helps hear during calls.

My phone has dropped about 20% of my calls in southern CA.

Does anyone know how to make it better?

Does anyone know how to unlock it so I can use it with T-Mobile?

MTS