29-08-2008: At the IFA in Berlin, Mobile Phone Helpdesk has the honour to shoot the first photos of and with the Samsung i8510 INNOV8. Here is a first preview of Samsung's 8 megapixel camera phone.
By: Willeke de Haas
In Berlin, Samsung has all the time and space of the world to shine with her mobile phone division. Despite competitor LG attends the IFA with an extremely large booth, they don't display any mobile phones and the world is open for Samsung. At the IFA, the Samsung i8510 INNOV8 was shown for the first time, and who is Mobile Phone Helpdesk if they wouldn't put the device to an expanded test before it comes to the shops?
Design and looks
Concerning size and looks the Samsung INNOV8 can be compared to the Samsung P960, the device is not exactly one of the smallest but you also get a lot for this in return.
Samsung INNOV8
The Samsung INNOV8 operates on the Symbian system and that is immediately clear when you look at the interface of the device. This also makes sure that you can expand the device with countless software titles. The Samsung INNOV8 is a slider and if you slide the device out a flat keyboard will be revealed, but more about this later.
Samsung INNOV8
An expanded smartphone such as the INNOV8 of course has countless quick keys. At the left side we find some handy keys that can be used for several purposes. When we go from top to bottom we first come across two keys that can be used to adjust the volume, but also to zoom in and out on photos. A little lower a 3.5 millimeter headset jack can be found and this enables you to use your own headsets. Last but not least, the port for the headset, charger and datacable is placed, of course neatly covered by a panel as we are used to with Samsung.
Left side Samsung INNOV8
The right side of the Samsung INNOV8 is just as interesting as the left. At the top we find a three-way pane that offer several camer functions. If the panel is placed on the symbol of the camera you can just make photos, if the panel is placed on the video symbol the camer will make a film and if you place it on the gallery symbol, the gallery will be opened as soon as the camera is switched on.
A little further down we find something that might be interesting for the photographers to be; the port for memorycards. Despite the memory is already eight or sixteen gigabyte it can still be exapanded with MicroSD memorycards. Now we reach the last quick key at the sides, this key is the shutter of the camera.
Right side Samsung INNOV8
The keyboard of the Samsung i8510 INNOV8 feels comfortable. The keys are separated by a small edge. Something we really liked was that the device doesn't only offer a regular navigation key. At first sight this looks like it, but in reality this also turns out to be a scroll key. Just as with a device such as the
Samsung i780, this works perfect, by moving your finger over the navigation key a virtual key is moved over the display. Of course, the key can also be used in a regular way.
Keyboard and navigation key Samsung INNOV8
Display
The display of the Samsung INNOV8 is really clear and offers 16 million colours with a QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels). The influence of the Symbian system is present here. The start display of the INNOV8 offers very handy quick access points with which zou can directly go to the most used functions. Here you will also find recent information, for example about your agenda.
Handy start display with quick access points
We can also say nothing bad about the menu. It is clear, looks like every other Samsung menu and it is clarifying. Of course, the menu is the place for all functions, settings and possibilities.
Clear menu
Media
The Samsung INNOV8 is full of media. A musicplayer is present, an expanded videoplayer with which complete films can be viewed, stereo speakers to offer you the perfect sound and lots and lots more. Of course, the internet is also represented well, this time by UMTS, HSDPA and WiFi. However, the function for which the Samsung INNOV8 is known is her camera. The Samsung INNOV8 namely is the first device of the Korean manufacturer that has eight megapixels. That is not all that matters, but here are our first experiences with the camera.
The camera of the Samsung INNOV8 can be switched on by navigating to the camera function in the menu. After having done this, zou first have to choose what kind of photo you want to make, because you really have to change settings with this device. That is why it would be quite handy if you already know something about photography. This might change in the actual device because the software isn' entirily ready for the market. Selecting what kind of photo you want to make is very convenient and better for the quality.
Selecting what kind of photo
Furthermore, it is important to get good illumination on the photo. That's why you choose a proper white balance that matches the light in the surroundings. We experiences that this is also very important because if you don't the photo will be too light or too dark.
Selecting white balance for light circumstances
Selecting a scene can also change a lot on the actual photo. When you're on the beach the colours are different than when you want to take a portrait photo. Of course, the scenes can also be changed on the Samsung INNOV8.
Selecting scene
Extras
Not only the standard settings of the camera in the INNOV8 can be changed, there are also some settings, possibilities and techniques that are implemented into the device that help you take a better photo. For example, you can switch on the Anti-Shake function, with which the device also makes sharp photos when you move.
Switching Anti Shake on
All kinds of recognitions have been implemented, not only face recognition is on one of the standard techniques that is on board, but also smile recognition and blink recognition. The smile recognition is something Mobile Phone Helpdesk also tested and this worked perfect. When a group of people can be seen on the display, one laughing, the device will automatically focus on the laughing person. The device also keeps track of open eyes. Normally, the device would warn you when the person you want to take a photo of has his eyes closed, but this function doesn't work properly at this moment yet. This might work better on the actual device.
Swithing on blink recognition
Than something that a lot of people might have been waiting for; four photos that were made with the Samsung INNOV8. Seeing the actual photos is always better than only reading about it.
Photos made with Samsung i8510 INNOV8 (Click for enlargement)
Quality
The quality of the photos as we can judge them at this moment is incredibly good. The photos are clear, true, the lines are neat and the details are fine. At this moment, we cannot say anything else than that the photo quality is more than fine, we are impressed.
The Samsung INNOV8 is not in the shops yet, but if you want to view her full specifications you can take a look at the
Samsung INNOV8 page.