Samsung Mythic a897 Phone (AT&T) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was really hesitant to buy this phone due to the conflicting reviews I read from various sources. I wanted to replace my Samsung Eternity, which I really loved, but as time went on I found that not having voice dial was a real annoyance, making my blue tooth headset virtually useless. Then again, I didn't like the idea of giving up a speedier interface. I made my decision. After getting the Mythic, I'm happy to announce that all my reservations were put to rest. This phone is everything the Eternity was, except that everything I felt that needed improvement was realized in the Mythic. No regrets here! My major complaint is that Samsung's New PC Studio no longer provides support for backing up your address book, or your calendar events. I'm sure this has more than a little to do with at&t's desire to charge you $3.00 per month to do this for you (address book only). You may want to think twice about filling up the 2000 entry capable contact list on the Mythic. If fact, the biggest problem with this phone is that just about every application it offers will suck you dry with a monthly fee, as opposed to a one-time purchase for it. Even Mobile Email with cost you $5.00 per month now. I guess we're just not paying enough for cell phone service these days. If you want your Outlook Express email on your phone, get a Gmail account with Google, set up their IMAP server, and you can link up with your email and make it look like you're sending and receiving from your Outlook account. Once you're all set up, simply import your contacts from Outlook Express to Gmail, then bookmark Google's link to their Gmail into your phone's browser, or download their Gmail app to your phone for free. All your contacts from Outlook will be available either way. UPDATE: After reading a post by E. McGlynn, I can confirm that "New PC Studio version 1.2.1 IH1" will allow you to back up your contacts and calendar events. Why this version isn't packaged with the Mythic is beyond me, except for maybe the reasons stated above. Thank you, E. McGlynn, so much for your valuable post. Here are some of my impressions of the Mythic:
The Interface - Yes, the interface isn't as snappy as it is on the Eternity, but you will forget about this when you see the gorgeous 3.3", 360x640 pixel screen. I'm guessing this has something to do with the sluggishness, due to the increased amount of picture data that has to be switched around to form a new screen, or change from landscape to portrait mode. If this is so, it's a worthwhile trade-off. The print on web pages is so sharp; I don't need to zoom in to read the smallest. If you're switching from a phone like the Eternity to the Mythic, you just need to learn to relax and slow down a bit when touching your way around the screen.
The Touch Screen - There is definitely a learning curve with the touch screen. At first I thought there were times it was unresponsive, and sometimes it still does seem to be, but after a little experience with the phone, these "unresponsive times" are few and far between. The screen is not only sensitive to touch, but also to how long you touch it for. This is necessary so you're not always moving widgets all over the place every time you swipe the screen. When using the browsers (there are two), a prolonged touch will give you more options on the screen. If you're somewhere in between with your touch, I feel that this can sometimes confuse the software as to what your intent is, so it does nothing. So you need to practice. Whether you're on the home screens, or the menu screens, there are 3 horizontal dashes, side by side, at the top of the screen. When on home screen 1 (or menu screen 1), the first dash highlights. Screen 2, the second dash highlights, etc.. When swiping your finger across the screen to change it, it's very easy to activate the widgets, causing great frustration. Swipe too hard, you activate the widgets, too soft, the screen doesn't move. Solution: swipe your finger or thumb across those dashes at the top of the screen. This works so well, it leads me to believe that this was Samsung's intent. It only takes the slightest pressure to move the screens, first time, every time!
The Virtual Keyboard - I love this keyboard. As much as I liked the Eternity's, this one is better. The keys are offset like a computer keyboard, as opposed to block style, and there are spaces between the keys. The keyboard is plenty roomy enough, and I make much fewer mistakes on it than my previous phone. I can move right along on it with no lag. When changing the keyboard from portrait mode to landscape mode, there is more lag time than I'm used to on the Eternity, but guess what....I compared it to my nephew's iPhone, and the lag time is the same. Texting is a breeze with this phone. If you're in a hurry and need to type super fast, keep the T9 on. It will work like an auto-correct feature.
The Camera and Video - Sorry to say, the Eternity, at 3 mpix, no auto-focus and no flash, takes better pictures under more conditions than the 3.2 mpix Mythic WITH auto-focus and a flash. In fact, I'm finding that the auto-focus is just a time consuming farce. I've been taking identical pictures using the auto-focus, and then just taking the picture without waiting, and there is no difference. If I crop a picture, I find that sometimes the result is clearer WITHOUT the auto-focus. Nice try, Samsung. There were times when my Eternity, under best conditions, took pictures that rivaled those taken with my camera. The pictures on the Mythic can at times be very good, but mostly they are a little fuzzy. Subjects at the edges of the pictures will suffer a little with barrel distortion, but I've found this true with any camera-phone I've owned. Any movement by your subject will show up as a blur in the photo. Under very dark lighting conditions, the Mythic wins over the Eternity, due to its flash, but the pictures will be grainy and the colors will be distorted and washed out. Having said all this, many people will find the pictures to be very good, and in all fairness, they are better than on some popular smart phones I've seen that have 5 mpix. The video recorder on the phone is just adequate. Along with two resolution choices, there are three viewing modes: Small (picture box), Medium (fills screen top to bottom), and Distorted (fills screen left to right). This last mode is horribly pixilated with choppy motion. You choose the mode with the little box in the upper left with the circle in the middle and the arrows radiating out towards the four corners. Oddly enough, the playback of the videos defaults to the worst viewing mode. UPDATE: The default viewing mode for video playback can be changed during the playback of a video. Simply touch the edit icon (the lined page on top of the horizontal pencil)at the bottom-left of the screen, and you'll see the "Display Mode" button. Touch this and choose your new default viewing mode.
The Internet - There are two browsers on this phone. There's the Mobile Web, which at&t seems to promote with its dedicated widget, and then there's simply "Browser" over in applications. Mobile Web is powered by Opera Mini. You must choose your viewing mode, landscape or portrait, mobile or HTML. You do this in "settings". This browser does a very nice job rendering web pages. It's also the more finicky one when it comes to touch. At first I was touching links three or four times to activate them. You really need to get the hang of it. Once you do, you'll find it's very responsive with the quickest and lightest of touches. The other browser is the old, familiar one I had on the Eternity. It automatically changes from landscape to portrait, but chooses how the page will load best. This is the browser that the Facebook widget uses. Sometimes the Facebook page loads extra tiny for some unexplained reason. When this happens, the screen can respond strangely when you try to navigate. It will seem to freeze, but then "catch up" and start moving on it own. Luckily, this happens only sporadically. This browser also allows you open multiple web pages at one time, for tabbed browsing. Also, any links you bookmark with this browser are stored in the "Favorites" widget on the widget tool bar. Both browsers have their advantages and do a good job. One may render the same page better than the other. The "Browser" may be better for quickly checking things like weather, sports, etc. The Mobile Web is probably better for surfing content rich websites. It's strictly a personal preference. They both have their own personalities, and I use both equally.
Voice Commands - This is a great feature for some people. I am a carrier for the U.S.P.S. At certain times during the year, my phone is under 3 or 4 layers of clothes. Two layers cover my head. I don't have time to stop and make phones calls, but if I did, reaching for my phone under those layers with a gloved hand is an invitation to send the phone tumbling to the asphalt. With voice commands, problem solved! Even with my bluetooth headset under my headwear, people have no trouble hearing me and I have no problem hearing them. At the touch of the button on my bluetooth, I can check time, date, go to voicemail, call the Post Office with a problem, check the phone's battery, signal strength, or whether I really did feel my phone vibrate with a new message, and more, all while leaving my phone safely in its holster under all my clothes. This is invaluable for me, though probably not for everyone.
The Battery - The battery life is excellent for a phone with such power hungry features. My phone is turned on at 5:30am, and shuts off at 10:30pm. If I use the phone only when needed, there will be at least 4 out of 5 bars at the end of the day, sometimes 5. If I'm out and about on a day off, constantly texting, checking Facebook, surfing...Read more›

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With one-touch access to features including AT&T Mobile TV and social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, the Samsung Mythic for AT&T is a portable entertainment powerhouse. It features a 3.3-inch touchscreen with virtual keyboard and Samsung's innovative TouchWiz user interface, which allows you to simply drag and drop widgets for your favorite and most commonly used features and functions on the phone's home screen.
This phone can quickly download video, music and more over AT&T's lightning quick HSPDA 3G network. And the Mythic is the newest AT&T Mobile TV-capable device, which enables you to subscribe to around-the-clock access to full-length simulcast and time-shifted programming from FLO TV, including such channels as CBS Mobile, CNN Mobile, Comedy Central, FOX News and the movie channel Crackle. This GPS-enabled phone can access the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions as well as its Video Share service, which enables you to send video of yourself to another compatible phone while making a voice call. See more details on optional AT&T services below.
Other features include pre-loaded social networking applications, a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, digital audio player, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion, multi-lingual text display, and up to 3 hours of talk time.

Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity via AT&T's HSDPA/UMTS network (850/1900 MHz bands; 3.6/7.2 Mbps speeds with network availability).
GPS navigation capabilities via AT&T Navigator service includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options.
3.3-inch touchscreen with 360 x 640-pixel resolution and 262K color depth. Vibrating response to touch.
TouchWiz user interfacewith specially designed widgets to customize and personalize your phone. The quick and simple drag-and-drop feature provides instant access to your favorite functions, such as the clock, music player, instant messaging and photos.
Virtual onscreen QWERTY keyboard lets you easily type messages and emails fast.
3.2-megapixel auto-focus camera with 3x digital zoom and video capture capabilities
Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity with stereo music streaming (A2DP) capabilities as well as hands-free headsets and car kits. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server (additional charges or subscription applicable).
Digital audio player enables you to create and manage playlists right on the phone; compatible with MP3 and unprotected AAC/AAC+ formats.
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 16 GB.
Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture and IM instant messaging (via popular services including AOL, Yahoo!, and MSN).
Access to personal email (AOL, Yahoo, Windows Live)
Organizer tools including calendar, alarm clock and more
Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off.
Internal phonebook stores up to 2000 contacts
189 MB internal memory shared between MP3 player and camera
Displays last 30 outgoing/incoming/missed calls

Vital Statistics The Samsung Mythic weighs 3.8 ounces and measures 4.49 x 2.06 x 0.5 inches. Its 1150 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of talk time, and up to 360 hours (15 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's dual-band 3G network (850/1900 MHz; HSDPA/UMTS).
What's in the Box Samsung Mythic handset, rechargeable battery, charger, USB cable, quick start guide, user manual
AT&T Services


AT&T Mobile TV allows you to watch mobile TV in broadcast quality. Tune-in to see full-length episodes of your favorite soaps, sitcoms, sports, or news programs from the networks you love. With just one touch you can see what's on now, scroll to find the next episode of your favorite show or select a time slot to reveal an episode summary of your next new favorite. Simple and easy to use the program guide is great for searching on the fly for Mobile TV to go. It provides access to 12 popular channels so you have everything you need to tune-in to your favorite shows when you're on the go. Channels include: CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, NBC2Go, Nickelodeon, CNN Mobile and Pix.
AT&T provides several packages for accessing Mobile TV, and it offers parental controls that provide content filtering and purchase blocking on your phone so that you can restrict access to content that may be inappropriate for younger viewers.

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