July 12, 2006

By Walt Zwirko / WFAA-TV

Computer Corner is a weekly video report examining the latest trends in technology. Helpful links are listed. Walt Zwirko reports from WFAA-TV in Dallas.

It looks very much like a modern digital camera. On the front, there's an autofocus lens with a 3.2 megapixel image sensor.

On the back, a big color LCD view screen helps frame your photos (or videos, if you choose).

On the side of the device, there's a slot with room for a Micro SD memory card to store your memories.

But hold on.

Flip out and swivel the view screen, and this pocket-size camera reveals its alter ego: It's a cellphone, too.

I've just described the Samsung SCH-a990, Verizon's new top-of-the-line, do-it-all wireless device.

Samsung

The SCH-a990 sure looks like a digital camera.

Because the a990 offers a high-speed, cable-free connection to a broadband data network, it's a snap to download music and video clips to your camera — er, phone. It also delivers solid performance when accessing the mobile versions of Internet Web sites (like WFAA.com/mobile).

But the main attraction here is the camera, which Samsung claims is the highest resolution available in a U.S. cellphone. It means that the 4.4-ounce a990 goes beyond the snapshot quality of most competitors to a level that can rival some single-purpose digital cameras.

I had a chance to check out this camera-phone's photographic prowess indoors and out.

Using a toy car as a model on my desk, I noticed right away that the press of the shutter triggered an auto-focus mechanism searching for the sharpest image. My subject was a little too close — the photo came out slightly blurry.

Next stop, the supermarket, where the camera reproduced appetizing colors under a variety of lighting.

And Samsung's creation easily took some solid outdoor shots at sunset.

I noticed several times after pressing the shutter button that the photo was a total blur. There is an unexpectedly long delay between the time the button is pushed and the time that the photo is actually snapped; in some cases, I was moving the camera screen to view when the shutter went off.

Overall, there's a lot to like about the a990. It has a very solid feel in the hand, with a high-grade plastic body and a metal chassis around the edges.

But I do have a few quibbles.

The a990 has a non-standard headphone jack. It looks like a mini-USB port, but different. So forget about using your existing wired headset for phone calls or music.

While Samsung showed the FCC a USB connecting cable in its original submission, there's no cable in the box from Verizon. That means you'll need an extra-cost Micro SD memory card to transfer photos and data from a computer to the phone (unless you dispatch pictures and video clips over Verizon's network).

It does come with a cable that lets you plug your phone in to a TV set to view pictures, however.

The phone is also equipped with short-range Bluetooth wireless communications, perfect for using a cordless headset. But Verizon has apparently disabled the phone's ability to use the Bluetooth link for other useful purposes, like moving photos from the camera to your computer, or transferring music from your PC to the phone.

For these reasons, the $350 Samsung a990 is not for me. I've been extremely happy with my Audiovox SMT-5600 smartphone, which is a little smaller and has few compromises.

It has a camera that lacks a flash and offers only VGA quality snapshots (480 x 600 pixels). But it came with a USB cable that lets me drag-and-drop photos, music and other files back and forth to my computer.

It doesn't have a particularly fast connection to the Internet, but the SMT-5600 is speedy enough to let me listen to live streaming radio broadcasts.

And the headphone jack of the 5600 is blessedly compatible with standard headsets (plus it came equipped with a wired stereo headset).

Alas, the 5600 is now almost two years old and no longer available from Cingular (although you can still track it down on eBay). The current Cingular 2125 model retains most of the 5600's good points and adds a better screen, upgraded camera and faster Internet connection; T-Mobile's SDA offers a similar form factor and adds a Wi-Fi wireless option).

I certainly can understand why some wireless companies want to restrict direct consumer access to phone features. They want you to use their airtime to send photos and download music because you're paying them $15 a month or more for the privilege.

Why would they want to provide a cable that could do many of the same things for free?

Microsoft announces several changes to Windows

I need to make you aware of a few Microsoft items before we move on.

• First, if you use Windows XP, be sure to update your PC with some fresh security fixes. Just click on Microsoft's page for Security Updates.

• Also, Microsoft chief Bill Gates said he expects the next-generation Windows Vista system to be available in January. But he says Vista will be pushed back if testing reveals problems in the next few months.

• And if you're still using Windows 98 or Windows Me on your computer, you're about to be orphaned.

As of yesterday, Microsoft officially ended support for the operating system that gave Windows its first connection to the Internet.

You can still find archived answers to Windows 98 questions online from Microsoft, but there will be no new drivers or security fixes.

It's all part of Microsoft's life cycle policy, that was extended a few years for Windows 98 after users protested.

Microsoft suggests that Windows 98 users upgrade to Windows XP.

But it's not likely that computers that old would meet XP's hardware requirements.

You might need a new machine.