Samsung Focus

“The Focus is kind of the everyman of the Windows Phone 7 line. It doesn't really have any fancy features and isn't especially stylish... but it gets the job done. If you're in the market for a WP7 handset, here in America you don't have a huge amount of options. We prefer the Focus over the Surround (for you AT&T buyers), but there isn't such a wide amount of differences between the two that either one would be a bad choice. The Focus is thinner and sleeker to some extent, though its plasticky build leaves a lot to be desired. Still, it's a solid, comfortable phone that works exactly as you'd expect, and if you're the photo snapping type, you'll be pleasantly surprised by its prowess in that area. At the end of the day, a lot of people will find that the Focus hits the sweet spot -- for us, it just slightly misses the mark.”

“Based on our initial experience with Windows Phone 7, it's clear to say that Microsoft placed a lot of emphasis on its presentation – which is evident with its heavy usage of transition effects and dynamic tiles. Although it showcases plenty if stunning visuals throughout the platform, the constant theme of responsiveness reverberates throughout every aspect of the platform, from the smooth kinetic scrolling to the lightning quick pinch gestures. Sure it's still in its infancy and doesn't quite pack a deep experience that some of the other mature mobile platforms bring to the table. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic starting point for the platform as it'll easily attract those who are hungry for something new and stable. As much as some people might adore the various customizations found with other mobile operating system, the Metro UI in use with Windows Phone 7 is a healthy attraction for those who want a unique look.When looking closely at the HTC Surround, which is billed as one of the first launch devices for the new platform, it manages to differentiate itself from the other offerings solely because of its semi-sliding speaker and kickstand. Its design isn't anything we've seen before, as we should expect from a company known for their intricate industrial designs, but the HTC Surround's design doesn't blatantly take away the focus from the real star of the show, Windows Phone 7. Still, it's nice to see a wonderfully crafted device radiate a stunning and quality design that will easily attract some people to its uniqueness. And since Windows Phone 7 is a platform rich with media features, it's more than acceptable in accommodating the needs of users in a wide array of multimedia aspects”

“t's rather difficult to say whether or not this is indeed a make or break opportunity for the Redmond based company – especially when they're sitting on huge amounts of money taken in from their PC venture. Placing that to the side, it's a sobering fact that Microsoft has been steadily losing visibility in the mobile space in just the course of the last 3 years. Sure Windows Mobile had some humbling beginnings in the early days of the smartphone era, but things change almost in a heartbeat. And unfortunately for them, they were unable to adapt to the rapid changes in the industry to keep the light shining down upon them – thus giving up precious market share to the likes of Apple's iOS, Google's Android, and RIM's BlackBerry.Casting off all of their previous reputations, we're happy to say that Microsoft has done an impeccable job in becoming a relevant figure in the mobile space once again with Windows Phone 7. Naturally, there are a lot of expectations on their shoulders, but for something that's running on first-generation devices, the mobile platform quickly captures some noteworthy attention thanks to its dynamic presentation which is tastefully supplemented with some ridiculously fast speeds. There's no arguing that they have a hit on their hands, but it's going to take some serious refinements in getting the platform on par with the diverse offerings seen with other mature platforms. Of course it's not quite as complete in all key areas, but its level of presentation finally sheds that whole notion of using a stylus for navigation as it seamlessly adapts to an all touch figure.Ultimately, the Samsung Focus might not be the biggest and baddest device we've seen to date, but it shouldn't be this time around, because the attention is best reserved for Windows Phone 7. Granted though it does offer some pretty decent hardware, such as the 1GHz Snapdragon chipset and gorgeous 4” Super AMOLED display, which does well in showing off all of the glitzy eye candy that WP7 has to offer the end user. This well rounded device might not steal the show with its hardware showcasing, but it's undoubtedly Microsoft's wonderful looking and adaptive mobile platform that places the spotlight on them. Well done indeed.”

“If Samsung keeps on producing fantastic devices like the Samsung Captivate and Focus, there is no stopping them from creeping up to the top spot in the global scene. Even though they sport opposing platforms, the results in various categories are in fact relatively similar – and that's why they're both wonderful solutions in the smartphone realm. However, consumers that are shopping around right now are going to need to weigh the benefits offered by both platforms since they have their own unique perks. Windows Phone 7 is the newer of the two and employes a straightforward experience that's supplemented by its consistent responsiveness. On the other hand, Android 2.1 on the Captivate still manages to impress with its personalized look, equally responsive feel, and depth of features akin to any mature platform. All in all, you really can't go wrong with either of them!”