Whilst the rest of the world has to do with a press release and a small selection of photos, we managed to get our hands on one of the only fully working models currently in the UK. So thankfully, at last, I get to tell you all about the Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition.
Firstly, call me sceptical or pessimistic, but ultimately I don't trust new handset models that just have the word 'Ultra' or 'edition' slapped onto the end of the existing model. It usually means as much to me as 'go faster stripes' and 'walnut dash', but hopefully the Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition , or Samsung S8300 by code, will prove me wrong.
Initially, we found ourselves gazing across the combination of handset and spec sheets with an element of confusion on our faces, mainly because we thought we had the wrong phone. The handset we were supposed to be reviewing has an 8 mega pixel camera, touch screen interface, 3x4 keypad, and a few other little delights my intrepid fingers were waiting to assault. So where on earth did this fashionably compact handset before us come from, incidentally measuring in at only 12.7mm thick, a full 5mm thinner than a Nokia N96.
After some deliberation, it was clarified that the handset we had was the Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition, so onward we ploughed. One of the major features of the Ultra Edition is the AMOLED touch screen, which Samsung claims to be a revolutionary progression in technology. Which I have to admit was extremely responsive and easy to navigate, with the new TouchWiz 1.5v enabling great personalisation. The vivid 2.8" 16 million pixel colour screen is complimented by 'Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes'(AMOLED), which delivers amazing bright clarity of images and videos, whilst offering better contrast, high definition, and deeper blacks. In a nutshell, the screen is phenomenally detailed.
The 8 mega pixel camera is enough to keep David Attenborough rolling through the jungle, with a video camera function boasting 30fps (which is good by the way). Whilst the static shot quality will make the paparazzi more mobile than ever. Additional benefits include auto-focus, face-detection, and geo-tagging for landmarks and friends. The actual functionality of the video capture delivers a studio in the palm of your hand, supporting video editing, trim video, audio dubbing, live dubbing, and add subtitle options. Not bad for handset 12.7mm thick!
Samsung have also added photo blogging, GPS, and online widgets into the Tocco Ultra Edition, making it the most advanced web access Samsung to date. All supported by a high speed 7.2 Mbps HSDPA Internet access service.
The music functions have been crossed over from existing range, so most formats will work. Add to this a memory of up to 16GB, and you now have a multimedia Swiss army knife neatly tucked away in your pocket.
Final Comments - Compact, stylish, extremely advanced, daft name, but worthy of carrying on the Tocco legacy.
